(August 2021) READER SHOUT OUT: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for the very, very generous gifts you gave in July. I am always a little embarrassed when readers give extra on top of paying for my content. I am truly humbled. I want to say a special thank you to these readers whose generosity made my jaw drop: DaoistDavPrw, PBMamaRae, Nessa52283, MoonGoddess21

*****

AARYN

Still panting—more from kissing her, than the run—he set her down on her feet. Her hands were on his shoulders and she looked down at him, scanning his chest, her eyes following her hands as she traced the lines of his shoulders down to grip his arms.

Then her eyes slid up to meet his and he prayed she saw as much heat in his gaze as he found in hers in that moment.

He walked her backwards, pushing the door open over her shoulder, then kicking it closed behind him, never dropping eye contact. Her breath ratcheted up, and her fingers traced the lines of his shoulder, but it wasn't until they'd gotten inside that she started on his buttons.

And, with shaking hands, he started on hers.

She was biting her lip, wrestling with the little shell discs, and he couldn't resist. He had to kiss her, free that plump lower lip from the trap of her teeth and take it in his.

She got the last of his buttons undone and slid her hands inside just like she had under the weeping tree, but this time, as his breath thundered, she slid her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, pushing the shirt off. He shrugged and stopped touching her just long enough to pull it off his arms and let it drop to the floor, then returned his attention to her blouse—which she was already working loose and tugging out of her leathers.

And then, her shirt was open and free and as Aaryn grasped the flapping edges to tear it off, it hit him what was about to happen.

He froze, his eyes snapping up to meet hers.

Her eyes were wide and fixed on him, her chest rising and falling as quickly as his.

"El," he whispered… "Are you sure? We don't have to. I mean… I can stop." Light, he didn't want to stop.

A smile grew on her face and she shook her head. "I'm so glad it's you," she whispered back. "So glad, Aaryn. I'm sorry I've been so blind."

He cupped her face then and kissed her—slower this time, deeper, desperate that she know how humbled he felt, but unable to find the words.

*****

ELRETH

The look in his eyes when he dropped his chin, when his thumb traced her jaw and he tilted his head to kiss her… the tenderness in that gaze—the fierceness of him. Her breath rushed out of her. Then he took her lips and between long, searching kisses he spoke against them.

"No matter what, Elreth. I'm here. You know that, right?"

"I know."

He kissed her again.

"This isn't a game for me, El."

"I know. Me either."

He chuckled, and the rumble of it in his chest was gravel tumbling through water. She wanted him to do it again just so she could feel it under her palm. He dropped his chin to kiss that spot under her ear again and she shivered.

Then, just when she thought he'd finally peel her shirt away—when she was arching into his stomach to encourage him, he pulled back to meet her eyes again and she froze.

"What's wrong?"

He smiled and combed her hair back with his fingers. "Nothing at all. I'm just… taking a second," he said in that low, rough voice she'd never heard from him before.

She loved it.

She let her fingers trail over his chest and he dropped his chin and closed his eyes for a moment. "Light, El," he rasped. "That feels amazing."

"My turn," she whispered, then tugged her shirt off her shoulders and let it drop behind her.

Aaryn's eyes popped open—and widened as he sucked in a breath.

"Holy shit, you're beautiful," he murmured, letting the fingers that had been in her hair drag down her neck, to her collarbone, then down, until his fingertips caught on the peak of her breast, and her already hardened nipples stood proud.

She gasped at the sensation that crackled through her at the simple touch.

He met her eyes and his brow furrowed. "Are you… are you really sure, El?" he whispered. "Because… I can't go back. If we do this you'll have me to my soul." Her heart lurched as his throat bobbed.

For a split second, fear spiraled through her and she was speechless again. Then she looked at him—really looked at him—and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Aaryn."

He blinked and she realized she was scaring him, so she took his face in her hands and pulled him in. "I'm sorry I was so blind. I'm sorry I made you wait so long," she said, her own eyes pinching when his face crumpled. "Aaryn… I… I love you. I think I always have. I just didn't realize that's what this was."

His jaw dropped and he stared, stunned.

"I mean it, Aaryn," she whispered. "I want that forever you were talking about."

*****

AARYN

He tried to speak, but his throat closed. "El—" he broke off, eyes squeezed tight against the emotion he was feeling, pulling her in, as that call erupted from his throat—louder this time, and deeper if possible.

And she answered him. Strong and sure, she made the mating call and Aaryn wanted to weep.

Instead he pulled her into a kiss that threatened to steal her soul.

And as their bodies met, skin to skin for the first time, a piece of his heart broke off and spun out, through his veins, through his hands that stroked and would hold her apart from the world, through his body that always step between her and danger, and through his lips that vowed to never leave.

Aaryn gasped her name and she clung to him. He called her again, uncertain what was happening, but sure only that he had to keep her close, that he was being changed, and that she was the answer to the question his heart had asked for years.

And when she leaned in, chest-to-chest, something between them shattered, exploded in light and sensation, the pieces combining and returning to each of them… each of them carrying a piece of the other's soul.

"What was that?" Elreth whimpered.

"The mating bond," he whispered.

Trembling, he picked her up and carried her over to the long couch, laying her on it gently, then sliding over her, covering the parts of her that were naked, with himself.

"I love you, El," he sighed against her mouth, then kissed her again. "I love you so much."

*** URGENT INFO RE GOLDEN TICKETS -- STARTS TOMORROW! ***

The new App update which opens all of this up is supposed to land tomorrow (ish) so keep an eye out for it. We learned new details about the gift system. Please read below carefully and do NOT give multiple small gifts in the hopes of earning Golden Tickets. This new system does not work that way:

You can earn Golden Tickets in the following ways:

1. Spend over 300 coins in the previous month and earn 1 ticket. (So, all those small gifts will earn you a ticket for next month!)

2. Have a membership and earn 1 ticket each time the membership renews.

3. Buy a gift worth over 300 coins IN ONE PURCHASE for a book and THAT BOOK will automatically receive a golden ticket. (Big gifts, like a wand, or a crown, will give the book multiple tickets.)

4. Every 500 coins you spend on unlocking chapters or privilege tiers will earn you a new ticket to be given to the book of your choice.

THANK YOU for all your support. Once we have gotten through August and I can see what QUEEN needs in terms of tickets, I will provide a reward system for you to gain a mass release or other rewards in gratitude for your Golden Tickets! Watch this space!