Losing It: A Collection of VCards (22 page)

“Then show me,” I whispered, bringing my fingers to his face. Ull’s eyes deepened to an inky blue, and his hands slid down, removing the last layers of clothing between us. His fingers brushed against me in a languid dance, teasing me for one delicious moment with a hint at what was to come. I let out a whimper as he pulled his hand away and placed it beside my head. Before I could voice my protest my breath caught in my chest; now I felt him
—all of him—
pressing against me.

Oh my God.

Ull brought his mouth to mine; a soft kiss that built in intensity. I squirmed beneath him, desperate to close that last bit of distance between us. He raised his head so he could look me in the eye.
“Jeg elsker deg
.”

“I love you too,” I whispered, cupping his face in my hands. I pulled him closer, letting my kiss show him all the things I’d never be able to put into words. And in one sweet movement, we became everything I so desperately wanted us to be: partners; equals; teammates. We became two halves of one whole; the fulfillment of a divine union I hadn’t even realized I was fated to be a part of.

We were one. 

I woke up with a gasp, clutching at my sheets in a sweaty, panting, wholly undignified mess. My head whipped from side to side, searching for the god I’d given my dreamland V-card to just moments before. But of course he wasn’t there
—
we weren’t married; we’d barely even started dating. And in the waking world, Ull’s prehistoric code of chivalry would prevent him from doing anything even close to what I’d conjured up in my subconscious. It had only been a dream.

A really vivid, heartbreakingly beautiful, devastatingly-imagined dream. Crumbs on a cracker,
why
did I have to wake up?

I flung myself back onto my pillow, breathing slowly to still the butterflies doing a tango in my stomach. Ull had his rules, and there was no getting around them. But something told me I’d find a way to get what I wanted, eventually. After all, I was nothing if not determined.

And Ull Myhr was the ultimate prize.

***

Takk
for reading this exclusive look at the
rest
of Kristia’s dream! There’s much more to come for Kristia, Ull, and the rest of the
Elsker
crew as they gear up for Ragnarok -- the Norse apocalypse. To read more about the Elsker crew, check out the books of The Elsker Saga.
ELSKER
(Book #1) is currently free! Visit my website
http://www.stbende.com/
 to find out where to download it.  Skål, y’all!

About the Author

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga (TUR, ELSKER, ENDRE and TRO). She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food. Find S.T. on her
website
, Twitter @stbende,
Facebook
, or sign up for her
newsletter
to hear about her next release. While you’re at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr -- when he’s not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends. Especially the human kind.

Titles:

The Elsker Saga Box Set
(Books 1-3 + Novella)

Tur
(The Elsker Saga #0.5)

Elsker
(The Elsker Saga #1)

Endre
(The Elsker Saga #2)

Tro
(The Elsker Saga #3)

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

THE RELEASE OF RAE

by Tish Thawer

In this scene, Raeanne has just become the first Seelie Fae Queen and finds herself magically married to her
Hand
, Prayter. After exploring their castle, a first kiss ignites their passion and leads them to seal their enchanted bond.

***

Raeanne’s father came racing out the door, frantically waving in their direction.

“Rae, hurry. Something wonderful is happening.”

With a quick glance at each other, they both sprinted towards her house.

When they entered the living room her father slapped Prayter on the shoulder as if they’d known each other forever.

Rae would have questioned the gesture if her attention wasn’t transfixed on the portal shimmering in the corner of the room and the old fairy standing beside it.

“Raeanne, I’m glad you’re back. My name is Manix, and I’m a member of the fairy council. I was just explaining to your parents that the time to fulfill your destiny has come.”

“My
destiny
? But my trial isn’t for another month.” She sat the bread basket on the floor, then wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt.

“Your trial became irrelevant the moment you met your Hand.”

The confusion layering her mind was so thick that words completely escaped her.

Thankfully, Prayter spoke up instead. “Her
Hand
?” he questioned.

Manix gestured to the couch and waited as they all took their seats.

“The fairy spirits came to your parents when you were born, with a special request of what to name you. It was done so because you, Raeanne, are to be our first queen.”

The gasps that filled the room were the only interruption to Manix’s story. “The fairy spirits have been led by the Goddess Diana to name a queen who can lead our people. When you were conceived, your energy was fused with the silver magick of the fairy realm. Your Hand,” he gestured to Prayter, “was also chosen by the spirits to be your mate.”

With wide eyes, Rae stared at Prayter, amazed by the silver streaks that were currently threading their way through his hair.

When a mature fairy completed their trial, the magick that took root as they received their wings displayed as streaks throughout their hair. Anyone with water magick developed blue streaks, earth magick presented as green streaks, and spirit magick showed as silver, which held the highest connection to the fairy realm.

“Queen? My daughter is going to be the first fairy queen?” Her mother’s voice was quivering as tears filled her eyes. Raeanne moved to comfort her.

Manix interrupted their tender moment by saying, “Raeanne. Now that you’ve found Prayter, all you need to do is enter the portal to claim your destiny as our queen.”

***

The moment Rae and Prayter stepped out of the portal, they both gasped. In front of them stood the most beautiful castle, rising higher than the eye could see, against the brilliant blue sky.

Raeanne squealed and threw herself into Prayter’s arms as her mother, father, and Manix emerged from the portal behind them.

“This is a gift from the fairy spirits. The official castle of the Seelie Fae Queen. Welcome to your new home, Raeanne.”

“This is just so unreal. How can I be the Queen? I don’t even have my magick or wings yet.”

Manix walked forward, motioning for them all to follow.

“All you have to do is enter your castle to claim your destiny and take your place as our Queen.”

Rae bit her lip as she looked between her mother and father, then turned to Prayter, who gave her a reassuring nod.

As Rae placed her hand on the large iron handle of the intricately carved wooden door, a tingling sensation rushed through her entire body. The door suddenly began to glow, and Rae was lifted into the air, her body engulfed in a brilliant silver light. She could feel her wings beginning to form, and the amount of magickal energy coursing through her was so intense, it was as if the gods were actually touching her.

As she floated softly to the ground she found her parents staring at her with tears in their eyes and a sense of wonder on their faces.

“Mama, what’s wrong?”

“Raeanne. You’re so...beautiful.” Her mother covered her mouth in an effort to hold back her soft sobs.

Rae turned to Prayter and found him wearing a similar expression. Manix motioned for her to turn again towards the castle door. What she found had her sharing in their feeling of disbelief.

The door was now a mirror, and the image she saw reflected was that of a beautiful full-fledged fairy with pure silver hair, and the most amazing pair of white wings. They shimmered as if they were coated in diamonds, reaching far above her head and down to just inches above the ground.

Before she could say a word, the door returned to its wooden state and Manix spoke again. “Within this castle you’ll find many wonders, but one of the most enchanted is this special door. It has been forged from the Rune Tree, and will always protect you from those who pass through it. This is just one of the many gifts the spirits have bestowed upon you, Raeanne.”

Rae pushed off the ground and felt as though flying was the most natural thing in the world. She hoped that being Queen would come just as easily.

Before Manix disappeared back through the portal, he held out his hand and smiled as the first flakes of pure white snow fell into his palm. Bowing, he said, “Take the next month to make this castle your home, for on Christmas day there will be a celebration in your honor. The Rise of Rae, the first Queen of the Fae.”

***

Raeanne, Prayter, and her parents entered the enchanted castle, timid and unsure of what to expect.

“Oh, Raeanne, it’s beautiful,” her mother gasped.

The spacious entry was white marble, accented by gold and silver accessories displayed in every niche. A massive staircase swept up the side of the wall and contained scrolling metal work that was illuminated in a soft, silver glow, providing a never-ending nightlight.

A long corridor veered to the right, leading deeper into the castle. Upon closer inspection, they found it contained multiple chambers. The first one was clearly meant to be used as a meeting place for the fairy council, as their insignia was on full display, carved into the massive hearth at the back of the room.

“It looks like we’ll have plenty of visitors, Rae, if this is the meant to be the council’s meeting place,” Prayter stated.

“Yes, it seems we certainly will.”

They all moved deeper into the space, each looking at different pieces of exquisitely crafted furniture. Raeanne met Prayter’s eyes across the long wooden table and blushed when he winked at her.

After exploring the rest of the chambers, Rae and Prayter followed her parents back to the main entrance.

“I’m so proud of you,” Sari gushed. “My daughter, the first Fae Queen.”

Raeanne hugged her mother and father and bid them farewell, waving as they entered the portal that would take them home. She closed the castle door then turned to find Prayter pacing at the base of the stairs. 

“She’s right, this is so unbelievable,” Rae confessed. “I can’t believe I’m the very first Seelie Fae Queen, and that somehow we’ve ended up
magically
married,” she giggled.

A nervous tension layered the air as Prayter smiled, then stepped up and took Rae by the hand.

“It may be unbelievable to you, but I knew from the moment I saw you that we were meant to be.” He leaned in and placed a light kiss on her lips.

Lust sparked between them, which may have been magically enhanced, a result of the Queen and her Hand sharing their first kiss. But enhanced or not, their mated feelings were real and suddenly undeniable.

Prayter wrapped his arms around Rae’s waist, gliding his hands slowly up her back while gently minding her wings.

“I want you, Raeanne.” The look on Prayter’s face was heated as he gauged her reaction.

Rae’s passion matched his own when she crushed her lips to his. She wound her hands through his silver-streaked hair and let the wave of desire carry them both into the air.

It became obvious the castle was truly hers as she instinctually found their bed-chamber. Large wooden doors stood open, revealing a grand four-poster bed centered in a spacious white marble room. Blue and purple jewel-toned fabrics lent to the mystical feeling of the entire space, and the large domed skylight provided a magical view of the moon and stars.

They touched down near the bed and continued to kiss as Prayter began to unbutton his shirt.

Raeanne stilled his hands with hers and took over the task. With achingly slow movements, she worked each button until the soft fabric lay open against his chest. She opened her eyes to find Prayter’s heated gaze and pushed the shirt from his shoulders.

She remained silent as they continued to undress each other. The confidence Rae felt must too have come from being the Queen, because standing naked in front of a boy wasn’t something she would have considered even a day ago.

But Prayter wasn’t just a boy, he was her Hand, chosen by the fairy spirits and made to love only her. Rae soaked in the sight of his broad shoulders and smooth chest as he laid back across the feather mattress. Unable to wait a moment longer, she crawled up his body, brushing his erection with her skin.

Prayter sucked in a breath. “Rae,” he moaned.

The surprise of knowing just what to do should have thrown her off balance, but in light of the night’s events, she was done questioning her destiny.

Raeanne kissed her way up Prayter’s chest and neck, then after a few pecks and nibbles, she ran her tongue along the seam of his lips and flattened her body against his.

Prayter’s breathing became fast and heavy as he laid perfectly still. Following her instincts she lowered herself onto his shaft. She closed her eyes and quickly moved past the sharp stab of pain when Prayter grabbed her hips and began to writhe beneath her.

“Mmmm...Rae, you feel so good.”

Raeanne moaned in response as she gingerly started to match his movements. She leaned forward, her long silver hair encasing them in a curtain that blocked out the world. Prayter reached up and wound his fingers through the strands. “Open your eyes, Raeanne.”

She did as instructed and managed a sensual smile before tossing her head back when Prayter began to fondle her breasts. She continued to ride him, their mutual pleasure increasing with every stroke.

Raeanne felt something cold touch her back. She opened her eyes, assuming it was Prayter’s hand, but lost control when she realized their mated connection had burst to life in a display of elemental wonderment. Snowflakes surrounded them as they became lost to one another in a melding of flesh and emotion.

Raeanne laughed as she crawled off Prayter and snuggled into his arms. “Thank you for making my first time something I’ll never forget.”

Prayter tilted her chin up and kissed her passionately. “You are my Queen, and I’ll happily spend eternity making memories with you. I love you, Raeanne.”