ndresa estate into a profound, almost absolute darkness. Somewhere beyond the ancient, fortified walls, deep withi

on. But inside Luna's lavish chamber, it was not the distant sound of beasts that pulsed-it was silence, thick and

his presence a palpable weight in the room. His eyes were shadowed, unreadable, yet glinting with a cold, unwav

f the moonlight. Her long, black hair tumbled down her back in wild, tangled curls, a dark waterfall against the pale

ked inferno veiled by an illusion of calm. Every

se. The distance between them shortened like breath in cold air, each measured step a deli

w rumble that seemed to vibrate through the stillness, a

of her chest the only movement in the room. "Dreams are dangerous," she finally replied, h

yes catching his in the dim light. No hesitation in her gaze. No pret

he sheer intensity of her gaze, the silent invitation in her eye

ds a fragile admission, a desperate plea fo

ruth of her statement, acknowledging the peril, yet making no

dy loose, parted just enough to reveal the pale curve of her shoulder, the soft slope of her collarbone, the delicate valley between her breasts, the

nt steps, moving with the predatory

ered, trembling infinitesimally in the air inch

ot, steady, anchoring her to him, to the moment. Her skin ben

d, his voice thick with a mixtu

hisper, a brave, desperate defiance

yes boring into hers, seeing throu

na? Why does your pulse hammer ben

s, slightly parted, formed the words. "Because I

shattered the last vestiges of his control. This was a confession, a surr

hed his mo

ps collided with bruising force, teeth clashing slightly, breath catching in a shared gasp. Luna cried out against his mouth, a muffled sound of surprise and desperate pleasure, as he pushe

ensitive curve of her neck, finding the throbbing pulse at her throat. He kissed her jaw, tasting the salt

said, his voice a low, primal gr

turn you. Just

e a claim only

y fierce, grabbed the back of his neck, her fingers tangling in his dark

ing crescent marks in his skin. She moaned, a soft, strangled sound, when he slid his hands beneath the silk robe, finding her bare beneath, exqu

gold eyes devouring her, taking in every curve,

chest rising and falling with ragged, desperate breaths. There was

the words torn from him, an inv

surrender, uttered before she could think better of

trust in her voice, almost undid his carefully constructed control. For a split sec

bloody ambition and secrets stitched to his very bones, simply lifted her in his arms, his muscles straining with the effort, and car

e undr

. He watched her watching him, seeing the hunger in her eyes. His broad shoulders, the faint, network of scars

tting them fall to his ankles, she in

. Ready. An undeni

s with a heat that felt almost too much to bear, a sear

y whisper, hovering above her mouth, giving her the

di

ripped his head, pulling his mouth down to

second, a timeless eternity, he held still, his forehead against h

her with one dee

to take him, impossibly tight, her pulse fluttering wildly beneath his hand. Ethan groaned low in his t

, raspy with disbelief and profound pleasur

fire. He began to move-slow at first, letting her adjust to his invading presence, allo

cries torn from her throat. Her nails raked down

-a low, animalistic sound of

ped around him like demanding vines, binding him to her. With each deep, powerful thrust, her moans turned to

more, demanding everything

ain, a soft, repeated litany, like a

r, with just enough pressure to make her gasp, a sharp spike of pain that intensified the pleasure. His hand slid between

e arching, her neck thrown

er ribs, tightening, building, until she felt she

llably around his waist. Her orgasm ripped through her like wildfire, consuming every nerve ending, leaving her

d released inside her-his body trembling with the aftershocks, control slipping through his

ck on his skin, their bodies pressed to

their shared breath, slowly evening ou

gathering her soft, pliant body into his arms

a mark to claim

silent promise, a d

aking claim, not just on her

o the dark. Her breathing was soft now, shallow, the scent of their mingled passion filling the air. Her lips were parted slig

able riddle, a dangerous, beautiful mys

them could walk back from. The carefully cons

ve in a long-planned war. And yet... the moment his lips had touched her throat, something ancient had stirre

he had lost something too. A piece of his rigid control,

racing the delicate curve. He could still taste her on his tongu

profound quiet b

his mission. To the Council. To

as the

nlocked it. The p

rust she should never have offered, a cold, hard whispe

scovers the full extent of your deception, s

ueezing them shut agai

wouldn

her skin, the lingering taste o

aunt him for the

e a price he wasn't