“I am not your queen,” I whispered. “I am your princess. Even when you are king and I am your queen, please, Cass, don’t call me that anymore. Since we started, I’ve been your princess, and you my prince.”

Another growl emitted from him, his arms locked around me, and he rolled us over clouds of pink organza (for, in divesting me of my dress, there was so much of it, tossing it aside didn’t get it very far).

He did this negotiating his hips between my legs along the way and entering me splendidly when he had me to my back.

His thrusts were not languid.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I whispered my encouragement, my eyes drifting closed, my body jolting in taking his drives.

“Look at me,” he grunted. “I want to see my night in your eyes.”

His new obsession, giving the night to me.

As well as mine.

“Yes,” I breathed, giving him what he desired and opening my eyes.

“My princess,” he ground out.

“My prince,” I gasped.

“My wife,” he bit.

“My husband,” I said.

“There it is,” he whispered, staring into my eyes, his expression shifting from fierce to soft.

Then he kissed me.

And then he made love to me.

Under an Airenzian moon.

That shone from the ceiling of our bedchamber.

143

The Discussion

Princess Selena

Outskirts of Dunlyn

AIREN

The whipping about ended, and her feet struck ground walking as she formed, Chu’s arms about her face-to-face meant he formed too, walking backward.

And as Brix was on Chu’s back and Gal was on hers, they formed too.

They stopped, Chu standing strong, Serena not the same, and both gnomes immediately jumped to the ground.

But Serena swayed.

“That was bloody humiliating,” Brix groused.

“Mouse,” Chu murmured, dipping his face down to hers.

“We could hardly make hundreds of miles in a trice if we hadn’t done it,” Gal retorted to Brix.

“Serena,” Chu whispered.

“If you tell anyone I climbed aboard a man’s back and rode the magical plane, I will gut you,” Brix threatened Gal.

Chu cupped Serena’s face in both hands and clipped, “My love.”

“Who am I going to tell? I rode a woman,” Gal retorted. “And not in the manner I prefer.”

Chu took her by the shoulders and shook her.

“Serena!” he barked in her face.

“I need a minute,” she whispered, staring, unseeing at his chin.

Chu put pressure on her shoulders until she was on her arse on the ground.

He then crouched before her, pulled her cloak about her, undid and swung off his mantle, and he tossed that about her as well, pulling it close under her chin.

“Too much?” he asked.

She nodded.

“What’s happening?” Gal queried, coming to stand to one side of Serena.

“She’s used too much magic,” Chu said, staring into her eyes. “That’s it. Keep looking at me.”