Page 81 of Crown of Flame
“You often hold me up as some pinnacle of humanity, but I didn’t feel human when you met me,” she says. “I was completely lost.”
I think back on the despair she felt, having lost people she loved and cared about, and I’m reminded again of her strength.
“I don’t know how long I’d been lost, because it wasn’t just the one bad mission at the tower. I think, for the longest time, I’ve been running blindly forward, consumed by rage.”
She scrutinizes me, as though afraid her confession might cause me to reject her. But I’ve always seen her pain.
It only makes her more beautiful in my eyes.
“Then you came forward, and you started asking me what it meant to live in this realm - what it meant to be human. And that only reminded me what I’d been hiding from, and what I so desperately wanted to reject about myself.”
I’m starting to understand the importance of these ceremonies, and why they mean so much to her. Even peering into her mind, I see a beauty now that was hidden from me.
“I guess what I’m saying is, although you claimed to be totally lost in this world, with no idea how to acclimate yourself, your presence here made me more human. You reminded me what I was fighting for.”
She looks out at the crowd, as though suddenly remembering their existence.
“So thank you Cinis,” she says. “And I think now, we kiss.”
I grip her tightly, then bend her down, pressing my face into hers as we embrace.
I feel potential I’ve always seen but never understood. Fires rage across my vision, as I close my eyes, cherishing her warmth.
As deeply and as passionately as I can muster, I kiss her.
As long as I can, I want to cherish this moment. I can feel bliss radiating from her like I’ve never known, and her bliss elevates me to new heights.
As we break our kiss, looking deeply into each other’s eyes, our audience applauds.
We walk out of the cavern, hand-in-hand. I don’t know what the fates of this realm might have in store for us, but if it’s anything like what we’ve already seen, it’s bound to be worthy of consideration.
30
CINIS
With the mating ceremony and this tradition finished, I can’t wait to get Serena back to the hovel.
She has taught me so much about what it is to love and how to show it.
The longing I once felt - the void - has been filled by her. As we step through the threshold, I pull her close to me. I look down into her eyes and watch as her lips part. She watches me intently as i dip my head down to kiss her.
She parts her mouth more, letting my tongue twist with hers. Our breathing becomes quicker, faster as she presses her body against me. My cock thickens and swells, ready to take her, my mate here in our hovel.
I lead her to the bed, my arms wrapped around her, not breaking the kiss, and lay her gently on her back.
I take the time to undress he while kissing every bit of exposed skin left in the wake of her wedding clothes. She smiles at me as her hand reaches out and undoes my clothing, letting my cock spring free.
Her gasping moan at the sight of me sends a shudder running through my body.
“I’ll never get used to how good this feels with you,” I say to her, my breath husky with arousal. The heat courses through Serena and I can sense it burning at her entrance.
It makes me feel ravenous with need.
I climb over her, kissing up her stomach to her breasts, stopping to flick my tongue against her nipple. She moans in response and writhes beneath me as I take the other one between my fingers and roll it into a perfect, hardened bud.
I kiss her neck, trailing along her jaw until I reach her parted lips.
Her breath is warm even on my face as I trace the curve of her mouth with my tongue.