Amid Clouds and Bones

by Ella Fields

“You must put your mouth on mine and kiss me until I tell you to stop.” My foolish heart skipped. Still, I taunted, “But what if you never do?” “Trust me.” He dropped his forehead to mine. “I never fucking will.”

“We really shouldn’t consummate our marriage in the woods.” The challenge did as intended, and he straightened my back by sweeping his hand up my spine to my neck. “It would be incredibly indecent.”

“You were made to handle me.”

“I’ll protect you.” I stared down at him, a brow raised. “You once said that you were the one I’d need to be protected from.” “You remember.” The admission left me before I could think it through. “How does someone forget words that made them who they are?” Atakan blinked, but rather than show an inkling of remorse, the monster I’d married just grinned. “Made for me indeed.”

“I want you, Mildred. Always and incessantly, I’ve fucking wanted you.”

“If it isn’t my darling wife.” “If it isn’t my monstrous husband.” Finally, he looked at me, eyeing where I stood against the doors. “Afraid, Princess?” He hooked the crown upon one of the carved branches arching high above the throne’s seat. “Apologies, I meant to say queen.”

“I win.” Something within me both healed and bled at the relief staining his voice. I cupped his cheek and slid my thumb over it. “Congratulations.” Our eyes met as I kissed him, a quick caress before murmuring, “King.” Then I left him with his crown and his throne.

“Why does it smell so delicious?” “Please don’t eat her.” My eyes rose, thinning upon the male this land called their king. “Hilarious.”

“I’m going to collect my wife.” “Uh, wait.” She scrambled for words. “You cannot just take her, Atakan.” I huffed. “Believe me, I know.” I walked on, wanting to escape the reek in the room. “We’ll need to duel a little first.” She whispered, “Duel?” to her husband. He mumbled, “How should I know what faeries do?”

of a tremble. One Mildred felt, too. She looked over from where she sat across the grounds against a tree. The same tree we’d stood under when we’d first met. I’d loathed her then. Almost as much as I loved her now.

“If it isn’t my monstrous husband,” Mildred drawled, yet her eyes shimmered as she gazed up at me. “If it isn’t my misbehaving wife.” I scowled at the book on the grass and lifted a brow at her. “Who’s ignoring me for a book.” “I do believe I’m staring at you.” “I do believe you can do better after leaving me to rot for three weeks.”

“I’m assuming you didn’t come here just to be accosted by a helpless babe.” “Certainly fucking not.”

I no longer had any idea what we were talking about, let alone what I needed to say.

“I might not care for much of anything outside of my desires, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely heartless.” Her hand settled on my hip, and my clinical tone roughened. “That doesn’t mean I cannot love you.” I clasped her chin, my head lowering. “That doesn’t mean I don’t need you to be as obsessively in love with me as I am with you.”

“Is that what you’re doing?” “What I’m doing is collecting you, but I thought it necessary to make a sickly fool of myself first.”

“I love you, Atakan.” My chuckle made her face redden, but I kissed her before she could retreat and crooned, “Very good. Now, are you ready for your reward?” She nodded, waiting. “Here it comes…” I cleared my throat far more dramatically than necessary and declared, “I love you, too.” Her eyes narrowed as I grinned in victory.

Atakan was more than my mate—he was the edge I sharpened my armor upon and the safety I surrendered my softness to.

“Kneel.” Atakan stilled. His hands fell lax at his sides. His eyes gleamed wholly green, every inch of him defying the challenge. But he wouldn’t. “It would be my pleasure.”

“You could have denied me.” He scowled as if I’d struck him. Still smiling, I traced his bladed jaw until it relaxed. Then I kissed the tip of his nose. “Don’t pout.” “Don’t say asinine things.”

“For you, I would stay on my knees until they bled your name.”