Elias slid his hand further up Gerard’s leg. He smiled brightly. “Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty.” He inclined his head.

  Gerard cleared his throat as Elias rubbed his fingers back and forth on his upper thigh, before Elias glided them higher. Gerard shifted in his chair.

  “And may I say how exquisite you look tonight in that turquoise gown,” Elias added.

  “Thank you, Prince Elias.” The queen smiled and then walked away.

  Elias nudged the growing bulge in Gerard’s trousers with his fingers.

  “What are you doing?” Gerard hissed.

  “It’s our wedding night.” Elias pouted. “And I want to touch my husband.” He exhaled. “And everyone keeps coming to talk to us. I have to smile and nod and say thank you over and over. They’re getting in my way of doing what I want to be doing.” He leaned towards Gerard. “And I want to be doing you.”

  Gerard swallowed. Elias moved his hand over the bulge and squeezed. Gerard inhaled.

  Then the grand monk approached. He steepled his fingers together, looking between them. “I wish to thank you both for the example you are setting for all.”

  Elias massaged Gerard’s bulge, feeling it grow stiffer in his hand. “Of course, Grand Monk. We, too, see the importance of obtaining peace.”

  “Ah. Yes. We do,” Gerard said, sounding rather tense.

  The grand monk glanced out over the hall. “It pleases me, to see so many who’ve been at war with one another coming together to find a new path, a better path.” He smiled. “It is truly wonderful!”

  Gerard’s cock continued to harden in Elias’s hand. Elias undid a button. Then another. He dipped his fingers into the opening, ducking beneath fabric and seeking the hard length.

  “I see such a bright future ahead for all the kingdoms.” The grand monk turned to face them. “And so many here, including you both, will play a part in it.”

  “We are honoured.” Elias’s fingers encircled Gerard’s erect cock.

  The grand monk looked between them, beaming. “Yes. You will play your part wonderfully. I can tell.”

  Elias squeezed Gerard’s prick. A soft grunt escaped him.

  The grand monk turned and walked away.

  “Elias!” Gerard turned to face him.

  Elias grinned. “I think we should go. Now.” He glanced around. “No one else seems to be approaching.” He released his grip on his husband’s cock and rose.

  Gerard glared at him. “We cannot! Everyone is still looking at us, and if I rise, all will be aware that someone made my dick hard.” He reached under the table. He glanced around as he did up his buttons. Elias could tell he was trying to be subtle.

  Elias laughed. He leaned his hip against the table. “I think people will understand. I am very beautiful, and so it is reasonable that you are affected in such a way by the sight of me.”

  Gerard huffed and shook his head. “Just give me a second!”

  Elias tilted his head back. He gazed up at the blue sky with small whisps of clouds painted on the high ceiling. “Would it help if I described what I want to do to you when I get you alone? Or more specifically, what I want you to do to me?”

  “No! It would not fucking help!” Gerard snapped. He placed his hands, palms down, on the table.

  Elias laughed. “Are you sure? I’d think you’d want to hear about how I want you to fuck me, all night, in every position possible.” He licked his lips.

  “I want to feel your hard dick deep inside my body. I want to feel your cock plunging into my body, over and over. I want you to fuck me so hard that I won’t be able to walk for days.” He rested a hand on the back of Gerard’s chair. His fingers teased the nape of Gerard’s neck.

  Gerard squeezed his eyes shut. “Everyone is watching us!”

  “I don’t mind. I’d let them watch.” Elias leaned closer. “You could bend me over this table.” He swept a hand over the wood. “You could fuck me in front of everyone. Claim me as yours. My desperate cries and moans would ring out as I begged you to shove your cock harder and deeper into me.”

  Gerard bit out a moan. “You’re making it worse!”

  Elias knew he was not speeding up their departure and subsequent fucking, but still he couldn’t stop himself from teasing Gerard. It was too much fun!

  Then Elias saw people approach from the corner of his eye. He turned towards them.

  “Oh, look, your siblings and Onyx are approaching! Perhaps we can tell them about your predicament. Maybe they can come up with solutions.”

  “No!”

  As the group approached, they congratulated the couple. Gerard remained seated. Senta cast him a look.

  “I hope your marriage is as successful as ours.” Luther glanced at Onyx before returning his gaze to Elias. “May it be filled with sparkles,” he said, referencing what Elias had said at their wedding.

  Elias laughed. Then he lifted his hands, and light darted across his fingers and shot upwards.

  The others applauded. Finally, Gerard rose, seeming to have gotten his errant erection under control.

  “Well, you might not be a strong sorcerer, Elias.” Senta clapped Elias on the shoulder. “But at least your magic is pretty. Like you.”

  Everyone laughed. Elias glanced at Gerard, who was smiling.

  Elias’s throat tightened even as he joined in with the laughter. Elias was capable of so much more than just pretty sparkles. He could bring down any of these dragons. He could inspire fear and terror. He was a lightning archmage, one of the best.

  If only I could show what I could do.

  Because he wanted Gerard to know. He wanted Gerard to respect him and his powers. He wanted Gerard to know that his husband was not a weak, useless sorcerer. He wanted Gerard to see that they were well matched. Equals. He wanted Gerard to be proud to marry him.

  But since he had taken a vow and could never reveal the truth, he just laughed along with everyone else as his stomach slunk deeper into his body.

  “And I hear that his magic is fun in the bedroom too.” Luther waggled his eyebrows.

  Gerard shot Elias a glance.

  Elias took Gerard’s hand. “And on that note, it is our wedding night and we have other duties to fulfil to ensure the marriage contract is sealed.”

  Then Elias tugged Gerard towards the door, waving as people applauded.

  Chapter

  Thirty-Eight

  Elias led Gerard down the corridor to the rooms provided for the royal family of Draconia.

  Elias had no plans to ever return to his room and be anywhere near his stepmother or half-siblings again. And honestly, he really didn’t want to see any more of his father.

  Of course, he would have to go and see Colette regularly. But perhaps he could move her into one of the Draconian rooms. They could both pack up their stuff and move into this part of the monastery, and Elias could avoid his family for the rest of the peace assembly. Perhaps his life.

  His lungs clenched at the thought of never seeing his father again. Because he didn’t hate his father. If he did, that might make it all easier. Elias knew his father cared for him and loved him even in his own way. His father just loved his stepmother more. And unfortunately, she despised Elias.

  He shoved those thoughts aside. He was married! It was his wedding night! There was no need to think of anything unpleasant now. He wanted to focus all his attention on Gerard.

  Elias threw a smile over his shoulder. “We’ll finally make it to one of our beds tonight.” They’d yet to manage that.

  Gerard smiled. But it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  Elias stopped. “What’s wrong?”

  Gerard glanced back towards the banquet hall. “You and Luther. Did you ever …”

  Elias laughed, shaking his head. “No! Never. But he did lead Onyx to believe that we’d had sex.”

  Gerard frowned. “What? Why would he do that?”

  Elias rolled his eyes. “You’d have to ask your brother. I don’t know how Luther’s mind works. But my guess is to make Onyx jealous.”

  Gerard nodded. “That would make sense. Luther did used to enjoy annoying Onyx a great deal.”

  “And it definitely annoyed him. Onyx used to glare at me like I’d … well, like I’d fucked his husband. But Luther must have told him the truth, because he doesn’t glare at me anymore.”

  “But what was that thing he mentioned?” Gerard asked. “The comment about your magic.”

  “Oh. That. I told him that although my magic is rather weak, the sparkles can be fun in the bedroom.” The word weak tasted like ash on his tongue.

  Elias had never minded lying to others about his powers before. The only person he’d ever wanted to tell the truth to was his father. And he’d been right to keep that secret. But continuously lying to Gerard rankled.

  “Really?”

  Elias winked. “I’ll show you tonight.”

  They walked the rest of the way to the Draconian quarters. Four Draconian guards saluted. Two of them opened the doors as one.

  “Well-trained guards,” Elias murmured.

  And as they entered the quarters, he noticed several more on duty, standing down the corridor. In fact, he’d noticed guards constantly trailing after several of the royal family, especially the king and queen consort. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you didn’t trust the warrior monks to protect you.”

  “We must be careful. Especially at present.” Gerard fixed Elias with a firm gaze. “In fact, I would like to provide you with your own personal Draconian guard to escort you when you leave our quarters.”

  “You don’t have any following you around,” Elias pointed out.

  “I can defend myself. I’m a dragon, and I’ve also been trained in hand-to-hand combat,” Gerard said. “But you are lacking in any ability. If you were attacked, you would be unable to protect yourself.”

  It wasn’t meant to be an insult. Gerard said the words so matter of fact. Because to Gerard they were. After all, how many times had Elias practically boasted about his lack of magical ability?

  When Elias didn’t respond, Gerard took his hand and squeezed. “We are yet to determine who Warden Flint worked with. I would not want you hurt or killed.”

  Elias lowered his gaze to hide his face. He swallowed. The thing was, he could defend himself! He just couldn’t tell Gerard that.

  “Fine,” Elias said.

  Gerard let out a breath, and they continued to walk.

  A guard stood by the door. Gerard slipped a key into the lock and turned it. “Only myself and one of our trusted servants has a key to my room. I’ll provide you with one too.” They entered.

  “So this is your room?” Elias asked.

  Gerard nodded.

  There was a seating area with some chairs, a large table, a dresser, a bathtub, and several cupboards. Candles flickered. A bottle of wine and glasses sat on the table along with a platter of food. But what most captured Elias’s attention was the large four-poster canopy bed.

  “Nice.” Elias strode straight towards the bed. He glanced at Gerard. “Whatever should we get up to now?” He pulled out hairpins and placed them on furniture as he passed. He dropped his clothes and boots onto the floor.

  All the while, Gerard watched him silently.

  Elias turned and sat on the bed, completely naked now. He tilted his head up.

  “Are you ready to consummate our marriage?” He reclined. “I know it is a hardship, but we really must do our duty.” He slid a hand down the centre of his chest and towards his quickly filling cock. “For peace.”

  He stroked himself and moaned.

  Gerard stood in the middle of the room, watching Elias. His gaze fixed on the motion of Elias’s hand jerking his length.

  “Well, if it is for peace, then we must,” Gerard said, voice husky. He tugged off his coat.

  Elias crawled back until he lay in the middle of the bed. Gerard turned away and hung his coat over the back of a chair. He removed his boots and trousers. Then his fingers reached for the ties of his tunic. He hesitated.

  Elias didn’t speak. That first day they’d been together, at the Tournament of Dragons in Gerard’s tent, Elias could sense Gerard had not wanted Elias to see the scars on his torso. Since then, Gerard’s chest had always remained covered in front of Elias. Elias hadn’t commented or pushed.

  After a moment, Gerard tugged at the ties. He took a deep breath and removed his tunic.

  In the dim light of the candles, Elias could see that the lightning scars covered a large part of his chest and travelled over his shoulders and half his stomach.

  But just like the scars on Gerard’s face, Elias did not find them unappealing. Not at all. Elias licked his lips as his cock throbbed in his hand.

  Gerard strode towards the bed, gaze not meeting Elias’s. Elias reached for him. Gripping his arms, he pulled Gerard down on the bed beside him.

  Gerard’s breath came fast.

  Elias cupped his cheek. “You’re beautiful. You’re so fucking magnificent.” And before Gerard had time to respond, Elias kissed him, hard and firm.

  When the kiss broke, Elias asked, “Is it okay if they are touched? Or would you prefer I avoid doing that?” Honestly it would be difficult for Elias to avoid touching them. But if Gerard did not wish for Elias to touch the scars, then he wouldn’t.

  He wanted Gerard comfortable more than anything else.

  Gerard swallowed. “It’s fine. But you should know they feel like … well …” He trailed off.

  “Like scars?”

  Gerard nodded.

  Elias kissed him again. This time, he swept his hands over Gerard’s shoulders. Not seeking out the scars but not avoiding them either. He just wanted to touch Gerard, his husband, the dragon warrior, the man who had almost killed him and who he’d almost killed.

  At first, Gerard tensed, but as they continued to kiss, his muscles relaxed beneath Elias’s hands and his lips softened against Elias’s. Their tongues entwined.

  Elias’s chest tightened. Gerard had let down his guard with Elias.

  And yet Elias still kept his lies. He wished, not for the first time, that he could tell Gerard his truths. But he knew he could not.

  It was just that Gerard was so strong and straightforward. He made Elias feel safe. And Elias hadn’t felt safe with anyone in … Well, not since his mother. He wondered what it would be like to tear down the walls between them. To be honest and be his complete true self for once.

  Their naked bodies pressed together. Gerard’s hard cock rubbed against Elias’s thigh. Gerard gripped his arse and squeezed. Elias groaned.

  Despite the fact they were both completely naked, wrapped up in each other, Elias could feel the lies between them.

  But he did not wish to think of that anymore. Not tonight.

  Elias rolled Gerard onto his back. He leaned over him. His hair hung down around them like a silken white curtain blocking them off from the rest of the world.

  “So do you want to see what my magic can do?” Elias had held back the sparkles with Gerard. He’d been uncertain about using his magic on the man he’d almost killed with it.

  But he’d been denying Gerard. And he didn’t want to deny him anymore.

  Chapter

  Thirty-Nine

  Gerard lay back in the bed, gazing up as Elias straddled his thighs. He’d thought he’d never feel comfortable enough with another person again to be completely naked with them.

  And although the candles only provided a dim, flickering light, Gerard knew Elias could see the scars on his body. But Gerard did not see a hint of disgust or repulsion in Elias’s gaze. Only appreciation and desire.

  Elias’s hands caressed Gerard’s body, from his throat, down his chest, over his stomach, and to his hips. Elias did not flinch at touching him. And based on Elias’s flushed and hard cock, he didn’t find Gerard’s marks any sort of deterrent.

  Gerard gripped Elias’s thighs. Then he reached around and squeezed Elias’s pert arse. His fingers delved into the crease, edging towards Elias’s hole.

  Fuck, his cock throbbed at the thought of plunging into that tight heat.

  Then Elias leaned forward and kissed him. “Not yet. I have other things planned first.” He pulled back, a mischievous smile on his lips.

  Elias lifted his hands, holding them in front of his own chest, facing each other. “Want to see what I can do with my magic?” Sparks shot between his hands. It crackled. The air fizzed. Elias grinned.

  “Umm …” Gerard stared at the zapping light. “Do I?” He swallowed.

  Even though Elias’s lightning did not approach him, he felt the tingling sensation in his scars. Why did Elias’s sparkles affect them like that? Were they just responding to the lightning magic?

  And how was this magic meant to be an enjoyable part of sex? Normally lightning sorcerers used their magic to harm, not cause pleasure!

  Elias laughed. “It won’t hurt.” He waved his fingers in the air. The lightning danced and jumped between the digits. “It’s more an … interesting sensation. It can be very stimulating. But we don’t have to if you don’t want. And of course, I’ll stop if you don’t like it.” His eyes gleamed. “However, it can be a lot of fun.”

  Gerard didn’t respond for a second. Then he nodded. “Let’s try. I trust you.”

  The wickedness in Elias’s eyes dimmed ever so slightly, replaced by something … softer. Elias surged forward and kissed him. When he pulled back, the softness had gone and the wickedness had returned in force.

  “All right.” Elias scooted down so he straddled Gerard’s calves. He glided his hands up and down Gerard’s legs, as if trying to soothe him.

  Still, Gerard tensed. His cock deflated slightly as he waited, uncertain what to expect or if he’d enjoy it. Then Elias lifted one hand off his left thigh. Lightning zapped from Elias’s pointer finger and hit Gerard’s thigh.

  “Oh!” Gerard tensed. The hair on his leg stood on end.

  Elias’s intense gaze flicked between Gerard’s leg and his face. Elias zapped him again, this time with three fingers. Gerard gasped. His skin tensed. It felt … alive. And sensitive in a way it never had before.