My pussy tightened around him so hard he had to fight to move. I was out of my mind with pleasure. And my whole world threatened to shatter as each movement seated him deeper and deeper until we were one and the same.
I came with a cry, my body clenching around him. White streaked across my vision, and for one long, blissful moment, there was nothing but me and him. Emmett followed, his body rigid as his cock pulsed inside me, pumping his seed. A roar shook the cave and echoed in our ears.
Fire engulfed us, lighting up the cavern in dancing flames. The nest was on fire, but Emmett didn’t look concerned one bit. I didn’t have time to be concerned either, because the base of his cock was swelling now, knotting within me.
I closed my eyes, breathing through the intense sensations. I knew better than to pull away this time. I gasped as he shifted, and a thick ridge pressed against my G-spot. Then I was cresting again before I even had the chance to come down. I was filled so tightly that I couldn’t even milk him; there was no space for me to move. But he felt it anyway.
“Fuck, Elana,” he growled through gritted teeth. “You’re killing me.”
We lay there, tangled together literally, our breaths ragged, our bodies slick with sweat. The fire had gone out now, leaving the sheets half-charred. The treasure around us glittered in the dim light. I was surprised parts of the nest survived the inferno.
“The fire, was that a bonding ritual?” I asked.
“Yes.” Emmett pressed his forehead to mine, his wings around us like a blanket. “You’re mine now,” he murmured.
I smiled, my fingers tracing the ridges of his horns. “Yours.”
He kissed me, slow and sweet. “I love you, my treasure.”
My heart swelled in a way I never thought I’d ever experience. This was it. This was love. Real love. Emmett wanted me for me and nothing else. And I knew it was true in the deepest part of my soul.
“I love you too.”
We lay there in each other’s arms for a long time. And I decided that it was one of the things I liked about his knot. It forced us to cuddle.
It was I who broke the silence. “You’re right, the acoustics in here are exceptional.”
He chuckled. “They really are. Though I’d prefer not to share your sexy cries with the entire mountain.”
I laughed. “Jealous?”
“Possessive,” he corrected, rolling us so I was pinned beneath him again, his weight a delicious pressure. “Youaremy most coveted treasure after all.”
“And what does that mean exactly?”
“It means that tomorrow, you’re moving into the castle permanently. We’ll set up a portal directly to Darlington so you can visit your friends and family anytime you want. But you’ll always come home to me.” He tilted my face up to his. “You’d do that, right? Stay with me and Melly? She needs you.Ineed you.”
And for once, I had no objection, because it was exactly what I wanted. I needed him too.
Epilogue
Emmett
Autumnhadarrivedinmy little corner of the planet. The valley was filled with the scent of pine, woodsmoke, and spiced cider as the townsfolk assembled together for a very important day.
Elana, Melly, and I stood in the center of the square, along with most of the attendants from my castle. Meera and Graham were here too. The square had been decorated with harvest garlands, cornstalks, and hollowed-out pumpkins and gourds glowingwith candles. It seemed everyone in town had turned up today, wrapped in thick wool coats and colorful scarves.
Mayor Halvorsen stepped up to the wooden podium wearing an oversized flannel shirt over a pair of jeans. He cleared his throat, the sound loud through the speakers, and the bustling crowd fell silent.
“People of Solstice,” Bjorn boomed, his deep voice carrying through the crisp autumn air. “Today marks the first day of the Solstice Harvest Festival. This is a time of gratitude and celebration. And what better way to begin than by honoring the dragon who made it all possible?”
Bjorn turned to me, holding up a massive, gleaming golden key set on a heavy wooden base. My dragon wanted to hide. In the past, when an entire town of humans turned their gaze on a dragon, it usually didn’t mean good things. The last time it had happened to me, they’d come at me with pitchforks. But a single touch from Elana was enough to keep my beast from freaking out.
“Emmett, the dragon of the mountains,” Bjorn said, stepping down from the stage to stand in front of me. “It is my honor to officially present you with the key to our town and name you the Dragon of Solstice. Thank you for everything you’ve done to keep this town safe.”
“Thank you, Bjorn,” I said awkwardly, taking the key from him. “But it is I who need to thank you. All of you. For being there to help save my family.”
“We take care of our own.” Bjorn clapped me on the back so hard that it would’ve knocked me over if I hadn’t been a dragon. “You adopted us, dragon,” Bjorn said with a booming laugh, clapping. “Now accept the consequences and let us buy you a drink!”