Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“When you mate with a shifter, you’ll have the ability to communicate with me in my animal form.” Dustin squeezed Notalus and kissed him over his mark, making him shudder in his arms.
Dustin had longed for that kind of intimate link with a mate for as long as he could remember. And now he had it… with a man he loved. “Mmmm,” he hummed at the thought, sending warmth and gratitude through their souls.
“I can feel you… and him,” Notalus whispered. “My gods, it feels good. Your beast is peaceful and full of nature. But also extremely strong.”
“And he’s all yours,” Dustin promised.
Notalus faced him, his eyes hooded and his face flushed. “And I am his,” he confessed back, touching Dustin’s cheek as he gazed reverently into his eyes.
Iulien sent their meals to Notalus’ residence instead of the dining room for two full days while they consummated the hell out of their union. On the third morning, Dustin was sitting at the small table in the receiving room, devouring a hearty breakfast of brisket, scrambled eggs, and about ten more sides, after he’d devoured his mate once again. Dustin had a lot of years of abstinence and loneliness to make up for.
Notalus emerged from his bathroom after a long, steaming bath just as Iulien and his chamber attendants were coming in with his wardrobe of the day.
Dustin stopped eating. “Are you leaving? Does duty call?”
“No, handsome. I have an heir that handles those duties. I’m dressing because today marks the beginning of our festival for giving and thanks. There will be feasts and gatherings all over. I’m ready to show off my consort to the realm. And from what I’ve heard from the other lords, everyone is eagerly anticipating seeing the alpha again.”
Emotion tightened Dustin’s throat at Notalus’ words. He watched as five men and two women dressed Notalus in his royal garments while he tried to keep his dick from thickening under his thin robe.
“And then after our little stroll through the main square, I have something special for you, my moon-god.” Notalus winked while the servants blushed at their affection.
Dustin’s neck warmed. “Will you stop calling me that, please? I prefer Dustin, or if you must, I’ll even settle for Dusty.”
“But you are a descendant of the goddess Consus, Moon Tribe. A child of the grain, the alpha of the harvest moon.” Notalus held his head high while Iulien straightened the neck of his olive-green tunic. “That’s why you felt its pull the moment you landed here and probably still do. Yes?”
Dustin nodded because he couldn’t deny that. He’d wanted to stay in his animal form and run through the realm, exploring and rejoicing in the ethereal world until he was exhausted. “Alright,” he relented. “I’ll get dressed.”
Dustin refused Iulien’s persistence to help him dress again, wondering what that guy’s deal was. Dustin shook his head at the weird look of rejection on Iulien’s face. He had prominent features and porcelain skin, but his radiance and mood seemed to practically fade and sag before Dustin’s eyes. He’s so weird. Dustin was out the door and almost to his designated rooms when he heard Notalus’ strong presence in his chest, his rich voice in his mind.
“Iulien and most of his staff are Galins, Dustin. It’s in their nature to provide—they need to serve in order to survive. The same way you feel the pull of the moon and need to shift, serving is the same craving for a Galin. If their charges are in need of attending, it’s torturous to deny them.”
“Shit, Notalus,” Dustin grumbled, spinning around before he reached his room. “I didn’t know what his species was. I would never intentionally upset anyone in your home. Everyone has been so kind.”
Dustin popped his head back into Notalus’ room to see a dejected Iulien still with his head bowed. “Um, Iulien, will you come help me in my room, please? There are so many closets and chests of drawers that I have no clue where to look for a pair of socks.”
Iulien perked right up at those words as if he had a switch that turned his good mood off and on. “Of course, my lord.” Iulien held his nose toward the ceiling as he preceded Dustin to his room like he’d just paid him the ultimate compliment.
As the courtier finished assisting Dustin with dressing—which he admitted went a lot faster than when he’d done it alone—he met Notalus in the foyer, which looked more like an indoor park than a formal area of a palace. The first thing Dustin noticed was Notalus’ hair was styled differently. Dustin was used to it being swept back and flowing over his shoulders, but today, someone had gathered it into a ponytail at the base of his neck and woven the tresses into a thick braid down to his waist.