Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
He didn’t waste time since there was no time to waste. She needed him inside her and he needed to be there.
“Hurry,” she pleaded.
And he did just that. He hurried inside her, fast and hard and she let out a gasp, then a moan of pleasure.
He rode her fast and furiously, pounding into her again and again, as if needing to go deeper and deeper until he became part of her.
Elara’s hands tightened on his arms, relishing every thrust, wishing it could go on longer but feeling on the edge, feeling ready to explode, and she did. She locked her lips tightly to stifle her roar of pleasure for fear it would echo throughout the inn.
Dar followed right behind her, not caring who heard him as he let out a roar, spilling into her until he didn’t think he had any more seeds left in him. With one last groan, he lowered his head and kissed her gently before slipping off her to lay beside her.
He turned his head, and, a bit breathless, asked, “I was a bit rough. Are you all right?”
She grinned. “I loved every furious thrust.”
He turned on his side, his arm slipping across her waist to rest his hand at the curve just above her hip. His eyes narrowed as his brow creased and he appeared ready to speak, then stopped.
After a few moments, words rushed from his mouth, “You are a good wife.”
Elara stared at him. He sounded like he praised her for being obedient.
He dropped on his back with a mumbling groan, realizing himself how it sounded and offering the only explanation he could. “I am a Hunter.”
She turned on her side to cuddle against him. “And now, a husband, who has told me he doesn’t know how to be one, just as I don’t know how to be a wife.”
His arm went around her. “Yet you praise me with ease.”
“It is easy to say what I feel. What is truthful.”
“How can you love me when I betrayed you?”
“I was angry and bitter as well. I would have never believed you would do that to me. Then I recalled the words that repeatedly fell from your lips… I will keep you safe. You gave everything to keep me safe. You threatened the king, nearly gave your life for me, then surrendered it to marriage.”
“Hunters don’t surrender.”
It was clear what he meant, he wed her because he wanted to.
Elara smiled at the thought and poked him in the chest gently. “I don’t know about that. Only a short while ago, I’d say you surrendered quite willingly.”
“That was satisfaction, not surrender.”
She chuckled and poked him again. “One day you will surrender.”
“Never.”
“A word that is often regretted,” she said with another chuckle. She bounced up. “I want another honey cake and some wine.”
“Stay,” he ordered, slipping out of bed. “I will get us the honey cakes and wine, and you will tell me about your talk with Dea.”
She watched him, admiring the ease and confidence in how he moved, the way his body was defined with muscles, the way he kept his chin up, alert to everything around him. But it was when he turned and looked at her that he truly captured her heart, she saw love there, whether he realized it or not… she knew her husband loved her.
They ate, talked, drank, laughed, then slept.
The stillness of the night woke her. She was wrapped in her husband’s arms, warm and comfortable. She lay listening to the beat of his heart, strong and steady. She smiled contentedly.
Then she felt it, a vision coming on her and she encouraged it, letting herself slip easily into it.
She stood in a lush forest, not an ounce of fear touched her only contentment. She turned and there was the ethereal figure, her dark form floating just above the ground. Elara stared, not able to take her eyes off her. Like before, she could not see her face, but this time she heard her, a strong whisper in her ear.
“You will not find me. You are not meant to. You are meant to find another who will change the tides of war.”
“Elara. Elara. Wake up, Elara.”
“Go to him. He will be of help.”
Elara was yanked out of the vision with a shake. She opened her eyes to see fear in her husband’s eyes.
“You grew so stiff in my arms, and I could not hear you breathe, for a moment I thought you were dead,” he said, leaning over her.
“A vision,” she said, feeling a bit breathless.
“Tell me,” he urged, and took her in his arms once again, keeping her snug against him and the blanket pulled over them.
She hesitated, thinking about what her vision predicted. If she failed to find the healer, it could mean not only her life but Dar’s as well. But what about the other person she was meant to find that would change the tides of war?