“You are the wind I sail upon,” I murmur so she can hear. “The love I never expected.”
Looking up at me, she smiles. “And you are the wings I always needed. I love you, gargoyle mine.”
I hold her tighter and keep her safe so that she may reign long and forever.
My mate.
My eternity.
My queen.
* * *
Cora leansover from her throne, her eyes alight with magic, as there is a lull in court duties. We’ve been sitting on the thrones for hours, listening to the plight of our people, who are struggling. So far, we’ve heard of a farmer who lost half his harvest to the arachne fey, a jeweler who can’t find a supply of diamonds good enough for the new crowns, a past gilded lady who refuses to do any work, and a halfling child who wants to become a scholar, despite the school refusing to allow a halfling girl in. We’d taken care of each and every problem, reassuring the farmer that someone would be out to help, offering the jeweler a stash from the royal jewels, instructing the gilded lady to focus on her skill in art, and making sure the school allows the halfling female to appeal to her ambitions.
Still, even though we’re doing good work, it’s boring to sit on the throne and wait for more to appear. There are always more problems, always things to address, but at least I’m not alone.
Cora, as she leans in, presses a kiss to my bicep before she sets a large package on my lap.
“What’s this?” I ask, staring down at the brown package.
Her eyes sparkle as she gestures for me to open it. “A gift for my king.”
Heat fills my eyes at her words, at the way her tone tells me she’ll kneel for me later. A queen kneels to no one but her mates, so Cora kneels only for us. Otherwise, we lift her up.
“Why so giving?”
“Can I not just spoil my monsters?” she asks innocently. “Why must there be a special occasion?”
I snort, and a tiny bit of smoke comes out. “Is this you trying to butter me up?”
“Of course.” She shrugs. “Anything to spread a little butter.”
I lean forward and nip her lip, and in return, she tickles the ring in my nostrils. “Open it.” Her excitement tells me it’ll be a good gift, one I’ll cherish.
Gently, I pull the cord tying the brown paper together before opening it to reveal the largest and most elaborate sword I’ve ever seen. I stare at it in surprise. The hilt features not only a crown, but a depiction of each of us—a gargoyle, a fey, an orc, a naga, a kraken, and a minotaur all standing with a human. It’s our family forever emblazoned on a sword fit for a king.
“You had this made,” I rasp out.
Nodding, she reaches forward and strokes a finger lovingly over the minotaur and the jewel embedded for him. “It took longer than I would have liked, but yes.”
“I… Thank you.” I gaze down at the sword I know will be my prized possession for as long as I live. The temptation to slay an enemy with it is strong, and that’s before I even realize there’s a bit of her magic infused in the rose quartz centered beneath the carving of her feet. “You put yourself in it.”
She presses another kiss to my bicep. “So I’m always with you, no matter what.”
With a guttural growl, I cup the back of her neck and jerk her to me, dragging her from her throne to mine, where I kiss her until we’re both breathless with desire.
“I accept your gift,” I say against her lips. “Just as I accept your heart.”
She grins and kisses me again. “Long may we reign,” she whispers.
My heart fills until it’s nearly bursting as I hold my little human tight while we absorb each other.
“Long may we reign,” I repeat.
And so we will.
And so we do.
