Chapter Twenty

***Mature Content***
**Astrid POV**
We continued walking, with Lily grumbling about her shoes the entire time. “I’m just saying... you could’ve given me a moment to change into my hiking boots. These shoes are killing me.”
Finn chimed in, “Why would you wear shoes that give you blisters?”
Lily muttered under her breath, “I’m still breaking them in.”
I glanced back at her. “I did tell you not to bring those on the dig, but you insisted.”
“You know what... wait, hold on,” Lily suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. “Is this... Rathguard?”
I nodded. “Yes. This is where I’m from.”
Both Finn and Lily stared at me, clearly confused by what I just said. I turned toward the palace in the distance. “Daros told me a bit about my past. My mother was from here. She was pregnant with me when she left and somehow ended up in the world I grew up in. Crazy, right?”
When I turned back, Finn’s face was filled with awe, while Lily stood there, stunned into silence.
“Let’s go. Someone is waiting for me,” I said as I continued walking toward my future.
Lily shouted, “That’s my girl! Let’s go!”
Finn glanced at her, then hurried to catch up to me. “Is she always like this?”
I smiled as I watched Lily practically bounce with excitement. “Yeah, she’s like that. But she means well. She’s got a good heart.”
We approached the front gate, where the guards eyed us cautiously. A few seemed visibly surprised, but after a brief exchange, they ordered the gate to be opened. Almost immediately, I spotted one of them signaling to a messenger, undoubtedly heading off to inform Kaden.
My heart rate quickens, knowing I’m going to see the man who has clouded my mind. I lead us through the gate, and right away, I see Torin running towards us with a small smile.
“One of my men just told me. Kaden is coming. Welcome home, my Queen,” Torin places his fist on his heart.
I smile, “It is so great to see you again, Torin. I’ve only been gone one day. Was it so bad?”
“Queen Astrid, you’ve been gone a week,” I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at Finn and Lily.
“I need to get to the palace. I will look into that later,” I said, and Torin nodded, leading us to the palace doors.
Just as we were about to go up the stairs, the main door swung open with such force that it made my heart jump. My eyes immediately locked onto his, and my stomach flipped. I had never felt this way about anyone before. His normally sharp features were softened by the unshaven stubble on his face, and dark circles hung beneath his reddened eyes. I had only been gone a day, but time worked differently here. For him, it had been a week without his mate, and seeing the toll it had taken on him made my heart ache even more.
He raced down the stairs, skipping steps in his haste. The moment he reached me, he wasted no time, pulling me into his arms with such intensity that it took my breath away. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured, his voice thick with worry. “I was so scared.”
“I missed you too,” I whispered, looking into his exhausted eyes. All I wanted was to sink into his embrace, to forget everything but the comfort of being in his arms. “Let’s go inside.”
Without hesitation, he scooped me up and carried me through the halls, not stopping until we were inside his room. Gently, he set me on my feet, closed the door, and rushed back to me. His eyes searched mine for a moment before scanning my body with barely concealed fear. “Are you okay? You weren’t hurt, were you?”
The concern in his voice made my heart ache. “No, baby. I’m okay,” I assured him, pulling him into a hug.
He leaned his head against my shoulder, his warm breath against my neck sending shivers down my spine. The steady rhythm of his breathing soothed me, grounding me in the safety of his embrace.
I guided us back toward the bed until we tumbled onto the sheets, our bodies tangling together. As I pressed my face to his, our lips met in a kiss full of fiery passion. The heat between us grew quickly, and his hands began to explore my body while mine mirrored the movement. My fingers found the hem of his shirt, and with a swift pull, I ripped it open. The hunger in his eyes deepened as he unclasped my bra in one smooth motion, tossing it aside along with my shirt.
I tugged at his pants, feeling the hardness beneath the fabric, and as my hand rubbed over him, he sucked in a sharp breath. His kiss became more intense, his lips devouring mine as his teeth gently grazed my lip, allowing his tongue to slide inside. In one fluid motion, he kicked off his pants and stripped me of mine, leaving us bare and breathless.
His lips trailed down my jawline, moving to my neck, where he sucked at the sensitive spot at its base, sending waves of pleasure through me. My body arched in response, craving more. He continued his journey down, his lips finding my breasts, and as his mouth closed over my nipple, his hand cupped the other, fingers teasing and squeezing gently.
The sensation of his warm mouth and skilled hands had my body burning with desire, every touch igniting a fire deep inside me, leaving me yearning for more.
I caught sight of his length, “You okay, babe? We don’t have to…” His voice was gentle, full of concern.
But I wasn’t about to let my nerves stop this. “I want to. I really want to,” I said, my voice filled with certainty.
A smile spread across his lips as he lowered himself between my legs, his touch electric. He kissed both sides of my pelvis, each kiss sending a shiver through me. He teased me with soft, feather-light kisses on my clit, his tongue barely grazing over it before he fully devoured me. My body arched instinctively, giving in to the pleasure.
He brought his hand over, gently pushing me down as his mouth continued to claim me. “You’re so sweet, so wet,” he murmured, his voice husky between strokes of his tongue. He swirled his tongue in slow, deliberate circles while his fingers slipped inside me, working in perfect rhythm. My stomach tightened as the pleasure built, but just when I thought I was about to fall over the edge, he pulled his fingers away. He brought them to his mouth, licking them slowly. “I want to savor how you taste. But you’re not finishing yet; I’m not done with you.”
My heart raced in anticipation as he positioned himself at my entrance. Slowly, he eased his length inside me, filling me inch by inch. He reached down to softly tease my nipple, heightening every sensation as he moved deeper. A sharp breath escaped him as I took him fully, our bodies connecting in perfect harmony. His hand cupped my breast, gently squeezing, giving me time to adjust to his size.
He began to move, slow and deliberate, each thrust setting me on fire. My moans filled the air, a plea for more. “Don’t stop,” I managed to breathe.
“You’re so tight... so wet. You’re mine, baby,” he growled, his pace quickening, his thrusts deeper. “All mine.”
“All yours,” I moaned, losing myself in him.
“Say it again,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire.
“I’m all yours, Kaden. Don’t stop,” I whispered breathlessly.
His rough, deliberate thrusts sent waves of pleasure crashing over me. The knot in my core tightened until it burst, and I cried out as my orgasm rocked through me. He slowed, letting me ride the high, but he didn’t stop. His mouth found my breast again, his lips and tongue working in perfect rhythm with his movements, sending aftershocks of pleasure rippling through me.
As he reached his climax, his body tensed, and he buried his face in my chest, kissing me softly. We lay there, breathless, tangled in each other.
I turned to him, meeting his honey-hazel gaze. “I love you, Kaden,” I whispered, feeling the depth of my words.
His smile widened, his eyes softening. “I’ve been waiting to hear you say that, Astrid. My Queen, I love you. You will forever have the keys to my heart.”