Chương 81: Chapter 81: Celebration of Love (3)
Lilia POV
Lying embraced with Dane, Lilia felt her body quiver with the last shudders of pleasure. "It's just like before when I was pregnant with the triplets," she said dreamily. "EVERYTHING is more sensitive."
Tracing circles on her back with his hands, Dane gave her a smile of supreme satisfaction, pleased with her and himself. "Maybe it's just that we're in this delightful human bed."
"We've been in human beds before."
"But not in a human royal palace," Dane pointed out.
Lilia grinned. "Who knew you were so fussy?"
"Hmph. I'll put Cresta House or Sinsworth House up against this palace any day, and I can say so openly because the king and queen aren't here. And Jiro isn't here to glare at me."
Lilia snickered. "Well, as he loves to point out, he did get here before we did."
Dane huffed. "I suppose I have to give him that."
Lilia ruffled his hair. "Don't pretend you're anything but proud of him and Garnet. So proud you're bursting with it. And of Ravyn and Jude, too."
"Jude is unbelievable. I don't know how he endured all of that without knocking Melisande unconscious." Dane's voice was full of pride. "But you're right, Jiro and Garnet made shifter history–while causing the council to run around, howling at the moon."
Propping herself up on one elbow, Lilia faced him while lying on her side. "Kyon seemed very pleased, didn't he?"
Dane grinned, remembering the briefing she, Jiro, Garnet, and Dane gave the joint council after arriving at the royal palace. "The acting Alpha? Oh yes. Although it's difficult to tell for certain sometimes with that calm, mellow expression."
Lilia chuckled. "Well, Azandra more than makes up for that."
She pictured her sister-in-law, animated with joy, her smile as vibrant as her red hair, celebrating the successful rescue and first ever joint operation with the royals of Lugdunum–with humans. Lilia couldn't have imagined such a thing three years ago. The shifters had been cautious and suspicious of outsiders. Dane's brothers, especially Kyon and Dirge, acted territorial at the thought of her joining their family. They doubted that she was Dane's fated mate. Interestingly, Jiro embraced her, for all his caution. Patch was good-hearted and carefree, and thrilled to see his brother happy.
Dane laughed softly. "Azandra no doubt had a hint of this momentous event thanks to being a future Wise Woman. Although she never told us we'd be bringing Hades home with us."
Shivers went through Lilia's body, despite the warm fire in the grate. "Hold me tighter."
Dane kissed the top of her forehead, sensing her distress. "It's alright," he said soothingly. "The king and queen had a roomful of mages guarding our sleeping prisoner."
Lilia's mind whirled with different possibilities. "Yes, the king. What will happen, do you think? Will he and the queen tell their people about us?"
Dane paused, thoughtful. "If they do, it won't be an impulsive decision. They strike me as careful and wise leaders, and honorable people. And we would have to get the Shifter Federation on board. At least the parliament. Jiro, Jude, and I will be arguing ourselves hoarse, I imagine."
"With the Dark Goddess still determined to take over, I wouldn't blame King Odo and Queen Melisande if they wanted to tell their people everything," Lilia said.
With a grumble in his voice, Dane said, "I would. You can tell them about the demon without revealing the shifters."
"That's a fair point. But as you say, the king and queen will be careful."
"But will the staff in the palace? People gossip."
Dane moved restlessly, wrinkling the bed. In a bold move, Lilia pounced on him and pinned him to the soft silk sheets.
"HEY!"
"It's no good getting worked up and tying your tail in a knot. Nothing's happened yet. His Majesty and his people need to recuperate, too."
For a moment, she thought her hotheaded, impulsive, hard-charging Dane might argue, but he relaxed under her hands, the tension relieving his body. "Thank you for keeping me from causing a diplomatic incident that I'd never live down."
She kissed him, taking pleasure in the caress of her lips against his. "We'll face the situation together. We always have."
Dane exhaled, his hands stroking her hair. "And if Hades stays asleep, we'll be fine. For now, at least, we don't have any responsibility."
Lilia was contemplative. "Thanks to Cyran and Naomi. They went above and beyond, didn't they? They really are our not-so-secret weapons."
Dane snuggled with her, his big hands framing her face. "We owe them," he agreed, his tone heartfelt. "We owe all of our family who helped us. Especially your father. You know, I think I might get to like him."
Lilia snorted and tugged his hair playfully. "I never noticed the resemblance between you two until now, except for the different eyes."
Dane was quiet for a moment, his eyes full of emotion. "There was a time when I would have growled at you to bite your tongue if you'd said that. But then I saw Daxius in action."
"I'm very lucky. Now, I have two fathers." Lilia smiled seductively to redirect his attention. "And as for biting … I wouldn't mind if you bit me some more."
He answered her as only a wise mate could.
* * * * *
Jiro POV
Even Lindrat keeping watch over them didn't cool Jiro's passion. The dragonet, used to the Cresta mating habits, perched on a lamp, watching with a rather bored expression as Jiro and Garnet came down from their wild bliss.
Garnet gasped, catching her breath. "Moon Goddess."
Awestruck by her lovemaking, Jiro lay holding his mate, her slim, toned body beautiful. She was a little curvier after giving birth to their pups, and he loved and worshiped the changes in her figure at every opportunity.
"Escaping death certainly stokes your passion," he teased.
"It did that first night when we arrived home as a mated pair," she responded playfully.
Thinking about the fight against Hades and the enslaved Cyran the night before they arrived home as the new Alpha and Luna of the Crimsontail Shadows, Jiro shook his head, marveling at the incredible events that had unfolded. But his body stirred at the memory of first making love to Garnet on the unlikeliest of places–their dining room table.
"No offense to this beautiful chamber, but nothing will ever compare to that first dessert in our dining room," he murmured. "I swear that Sarina was trying not to howl in triumph when she chased us out of there afterward."
A lazy smile of remembering tugged at Garnet's mouth. "There was more than food being devoured that night."
"Yes, and the walls weren't the only thing that was red that night," he purred. "My face was red and flushed from all the activity. Yours, too."
She snuggled with him. "And now, look where we are. Hades is defeated for the moment, Cyran and Naomi are at the helm while we're away, and we Crestas are guests in a human royal palace!"
Jiro held her tightly as they lay on the cool, sweat-soaked silken sheets in the bedroom. Gold-leaf walls surrounded them, and the blue and white colors of King Odo's royal house added a calming atmosphere. The late afternoon sun filtered in through the window, bathing everything in even more gold. The fire in the fireplace crackled merrily. Despite his pride in his Crimsontail home, he had to admit that the human palace was a special place.
His mind pestered him with thoughts and scenarios. "It's wonderful, no question."
"But?"
He grinned. "You know me too well."
"The questions are like wasps buzzing in your mind. Shall I guess what you're thinking?"
"Well, you are the better intelligence chief of the two of us …"
Garnet counted her points on her fingers. "First, you're worried that someone in the palace might leak the events on the island. It wouldn't be one of the mages."
"Highly unlikely. But one of the soldiers might blurt out something, even though 'loose jaws deserve claws,' as shifters like to say."
Garnet's face wrinkled adorably in thought. "It's a possibility, but a slim one. More likely, a servant who noticed something might gossip, not out of any malice, but just because people talk. Especially humans. Next point. The king's advisors, who all seem to be level-headed people, might urge him to tell his people about the Dark Goddess, which could lead to us being exposed."
"King Odo and Queen Giselberthe strike me as being savvier politicians than that. They wouldn't tell their people anything without crafting their message."
Garnet looked relieved. "It's true that they kept a tight lid on our presence and conducted the raid on the tower quietly. But the heat of the moment has passed, and they'll have time to think about the next steps."
"So, you're saying that haste was safer for us?" he asked humorously.
"Odd, isn't it? You and I aren't known for haste, or for impulse."
"No, but when our family is in danger, we make an exception. What else are you thinking?"
Garnet wrinkled her nose. "Patch could always do something foolish–"
"The Duke of New Moon? Not a chance. Besides, Anneliese would throw him off the tower. Any more objections?"
Considering for a moment, Garnet shook her head. "Those are the main ones. Other than the Dark Goddess trying to pit us all against each other."
Jiro ground his teeth together, gripping the silk sheets, which might as well have been made of tree bark for all he cared. "Fenrir's teeth, I never thought of that."
"But she's regrouping, too," Garnet added hastily. "We dealt her a powerful blow. I think we should just wait and see whatever comes, and face it together, all of us."
The wave of desire and need that flooded her made Jiro smile wolfishly. He needed to forget the uncertainty and worry. His skillful hands roamed over her body, and he growled in triumph at her moan of pleasure. Lindrat, completely bored, closed her eyes and went to sleep.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
AmandaMadden
AmandaMadden We needed an intimate interlude after all the action and angst! But there's plenty of potential for drama ahead--what will the king and queen do now that they know anout the shifters? What about Hades' fate? Stay tuned...
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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