Ironling (Monstrous World, #2)

by S.E. Wendel

For the first time in his life, a woman flirted with him. His ears burned hotter than his forge fire thinking of it.

He rarely let Hakon or his grandmother pet him, let alone strangers, but was happy to make a fool of himself for the pretty heiress. That makes two of us.

Something heavy vibrated between Hakon’s ribs. Her sadness was apparent, and he hated it. A female such as this should never know sadness.

“I love it,” she said, “thank you. Here barely two weeks and you’re already spoiling me.” The words were out before she could think, and heat pricked her cheeks. He had no mercy on her, that deep voice rumbling, “It pleases me to please you, my lady.”

Nowhere is safer for her than with me.

So, he could chat with the heiress, admire her brilliance, and build her new contraptions to please and delight her. If he so happened to save the image of her smiles, the golden hue of her curls lit by the afternoon sun, or the angle of her brows as she puzzled over a problem, well, so be it.

Lady Aislinn held it out to him expectantly, and he knew, mate or not, he’d never disappoint her.

Just because Sorcha got a storybook love affair with a halfling doesn’t mean you’ll get one too, she told herself. And yet… And yet.

Words tumbled out of her mouth; she wasn’t sure if they made any sense or explanation, but that didn’t matter. He made noises of agreement and assurance as she told him of what Brenna did, of what Brenna expected, of everything Brenna had done for her and her family. She told him about Jerrod and his apathy and anger, how she often wondered if she’d been a better sister if he’d have chosen a different fate. And she told him how she’d so rarely left the Darrowlands, and even Dundúran, that she loved her place as Lady Aislinn and wanted to take on the role of heiress, but that the castle often felt like a burden, a prison of its own. Like she was nothing without it. “No, vinya,” he whispered into her hair. “You are everything.”

“You must be sure, vinya, for there will be no going back. Once I have you, you’ll be mine, do you understand?” He skimmed his lips across her brow, the whisper of a kiss, a promise of much more. “You’ll ruin me for any other, and I intend to do the same for you. So you must be sure.”

“Soon, you will understand you can ask more, much more of me. Anything at all, vinya, and you shall have it.”

Pulse beating a cacophony in her ear, Aislinn slid her fingers over the firmness of one buttock before trailing them over his flank and hip and finally rounded his other side to— Oh, bless his parents and every ancestor.

Soon, they’d know each other in every way. It was his purpose in life, his duty and his pleasure, to learn her and everything she liked. Always.

Perfect, she smelled so perfect. She smelled like home. Like his. Mate. Nothing would ever smell or feel or taste better than her. Nothing.

“Do you know how it feels to have you like this?” she asked him breathlessly. “To have such a big, strong man beneath me?” “Like the goddess you are.” She smiled wide. “Exactly.”

He’d risk his life and more—ever having her heart—if it kept her alive. That was all that mattered to him. She was all that mattered. She was everything.

“She is first in my heart.”

“I am not noble, nor full-human. What I am is in love with you, my lady. You already have my heart, and no matter what happens today, whatever you decide, you will always have it and my loyalty.”

“My loyalty, my strength, my heart, all of it is already yours, whatever you decide. In return, I ask only for you. I do not want title nor position, only to stand beside you. To be your mate, your husband, and the father of your children should you choose to have them. That is all I ask, for that is all I need in this world. Just you, vinya.”

Tonight, the Darrowlands came together in celebration. Tonight, Aislinn felt a happiness wider and deeper than she ever had before. One born of hope and prospect and dreams. Tonight, her people were safe, her mate was beside her, and she was free.

His eyes trained on her with an intensity that made her shudder with desire. She loved it when he looked at her like that, like she was the center of his world.