Fire shone in his steel blue eyes as he smiled down at her. He moved even faster until he joined her in that perfect moment of bliss. And he let out a fierce cry of pleasure. While he shuddered in her arms, she cradled him with her whole body, and she drifted back from the rippling edge. He felt so wickedly good while she ran her hand over the muscles of his back.
She hadn’t felt so at peace in a long, long time, and for that she was truly grateful. Overwhelmed by the feeling, she pressed her cheek to his so that she could feel his prickly whiskers against the smooth skin of her cheek.
Completely content, Falcyn laid himself against her body while his racing heart slowed its frenetic beat. For the first time in years he felt a deep-seated peace and he didn’t even know why. There was something magical about this moment. Something magical about her.
He lay on top of her, unwilling to move while she played with his hair and ran her other hand along his spine. “I’m not too heavy, am I?”
“Definitely not,” she said dreamily. “I like the way you feel.”
Growling as another wave of desire hit him, he wiggled his hips against hers, driving himself in a bit more. “I like the way you feel, too.”
Medea smiled at him as he traced small circles around her breast. “I don’t ever want to get up from here.”
“Neither do I.” But no sooner had he uttered those words and lifted himself up to kiss her, then he felt the air around him stir.
Unsure of who would dare invade his domain, Falcyn manifested his clothes on his body, and held a cover to shield Medea while she quickly followed suit.
He stepped away from her to confront the newcomer and he was grateful that he hadn’t hurt her when he withdrew so quickly from her body.
A few feet to his left, a shadow began to materialize. Shock caused him to freeze as he met Maddor’s hostile gaze the moment his son solidified in the cavern with them.
For a full minute, no one moved. Not until Maddor came forward and, to Falcyn’s utter surprise, handed him his dragonstone. The heat of it singed Falcyn’s palm.
His jaw slack, he glanced from it to Maddor. “I thought you’d given this to Morgen.”
Maddor let his hand linger before he withdrew into the shadows. “I know better than to put my trust with her. With you…” He shrugged. “At least kill me before you betray me.”
Falcyn clenched the stone in his hand as he met his son’s wary gaze. “I won’t betray you. Ever. Bastard I might be, but I’m ever loyal. Even to those I want to put through a wall.”
Instead of comforting him, those words brought even more torment and sadness to Maddor’s eyes. “I’m not used to having anyone catch me when I stumble.”
Simi tsked as she appeared behind him, and then pushed him forcefully with both hands.
Losing all balance, Maddor stumbled into Falcyn’s arms. Instinctively, he held his son against him.
“There now!” Simi grinned. “Sometimes we all just needs a bitty push.” Satisfaction shone in her dark red eyes. Her feathered wings flapped.
Falcyn would have snorted at her, but right then … all he could do was hold his child.
For several seconds Maddor was tense and rigid in his arms.
Until he melted to embrace him back. “You really didn’t abandon me?” His voice was scarce more than a hoarse whisper.
“I tried everything to get to you. Damn my brother for it. Morgen had me locked out completely.”
“I still hate you.”
“I hate me more. Trust me.”
Maddor ground his teeth against Falcyn’s shoulder before he patted him on the back and took a step away.
Falcyn didn’t miss the way his eyes glistened in the dim light. Clearing his throat gruffly, Maddor forced himself to look stern. “You need to get out of here before Morgen realizes that I’m not bringing her the stone. You don’t want to have that here in her realm. She’ll tear you apart.”
“Come with me, then.”
“Can’t. I’m locked in here.”
“Maddor—”
“It’s all right,” he said, stopping Falcyn. “I’m used to it. Take the stone and help as many as you can with it. If Morgen uses that to release Mordred, all hell will descend on the world again. As bad as I hate her, I hate that little prick more.” He handed Falcyn a small, round amulet that was engraved with a dragon.
“What’s this?”
“Key to the portal. With that, you can leave this realm.”
Falcyn clenched it in his hand. “I will return for you. I swear it. And I will demand Morgen’s head if she argues.”
He smiled sadly. “I won’t hold my breath. But it’s nice to have someone finally offer.” And with that, he opened a portal. “Think of your home and it’ll guide you to it.”
Simi stepped forward to hug Maddor. “You a good dragon-man. The Simi will help them dragons get you free! That a promise. And the Simi never breaks her word.”
“Thanks, Simi.”
Falcyn waited until the women went through before he jerked Maddor into his arms. “I love you, Maddor.”
Xyn would be proud of him. He hadn’t choked on the words at all.
As expected, Maddor didn’t repeat them. He merely pounded him on the back, then shoved him through the portal.
Hard.
But as he was sucked through the dimensions, he heard his son’s faint voice. “Love you, too, you worthless bastard.”
Falcyn wanted to return to his son, but it was too late. The vortex sucked him straight to Sanctuary. Back to the room on the third floor where all preternatural creatures were drawn to because of the shields here that the bear family had put up to ensure no human would accidentally be exposed to their supernatural powers.
Colt Theodorakopolus stood up as soon as he saw Falcyn entering. Tall and dark-haired, the were-bear Sentinel was a regular on staff who worked as a bouncer and played guitar for the house band, The Howlers.
“Ah, it’s you.” Disinterested, Colt sat back down and returned to his e-reader.
Falcyn grimaced at him. “Where’s Medea?”
He jerked his chin toward the door and reached for his beer. “She headed off to see Max as soon as she came through.”
That thought caused his stomach to shrink. What in the world could she possibly want with his brother?
Unless …
Ah, shit. He knew that answer without asking.
A bad feeling went through him. He could only think of one reason Medea would seek out Max.
Terrified by the mere thought of the shit she would start, he teleported to Max’s attic room to find Medea tangling with Max’s Amazon wife, Seraphina.
Yeah, just what he’d figured.
“Hey!” He grabbed Medea straight up in his arms and pulled her away. She kicked her legs in the air, but strangely didn’t kick at him.
When Sera started forward, Max grabbed her to keep her from reengaging in the fight. “Thank the gods you’re here.”
With Medea still thrashing in his arms, Falcyn growled at his brother. “What’s going on?”
Titian-haired and Rubenesque, Sera gestured at Medea. “She went to attack Max!”
Falcyn arched a brow at Medea. “Seriously?”
She stopped squirming and waited until he set her back on her feet before she answered. With an indignant tug, she straightened her clothes. “Payment due you for what he did to you and Maddor.”
It took everything he had not to smile at his wild Apollite. Only Xyn had ever protected him in such a manner. And before he could stop himself, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.