The Rising Read online Kristen Ashley (The Rising #4)

Categories Genre: Dragons, Erotic, Fantasy/Sci-fi, Magic, Paranormal, Romance Tags Authors: Series: The Rising Series by Kristen Ashley
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Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 162269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
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“Chu,” she called.

At the door, his trousers rebuttoned, he turned to her.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why?” he asked in return, his head tipping slightly to the side, his expression puzzled.

She swallowed.

And all she could say to explain her question was, “Me.”

“I did note the copper hair and freckles,” he answered immediately.

She swept her gaze away.

“My princess.”

She looked back.

“Why me?” he queried.

“Sorry?”

He studied her then inquired, “Why have you convinced yourself you are unlovable? Why do you ask yourself why my heart belongs to you and you do not ask yourself why you gave yours to me? What makes me worthy?”

“You are…Chu,” she stated lamely.

His lips tipped up. “I am that.”

She felt his seed gliding down her thigh, not to mention she felt entirely uncomfortable with this conversation she, herself, foolishly instigated, and thus she murmured, “I must clean up.”

“And you are Serena,” he called after she’d begun to turn away.

She turned back.

“I have fucked many women. I have mastered many women,” he announced, and her stomach twisted. “Not one of them was like you.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“It means, when she is the one, she is the one, and when she is, she becomes known as just that. You are the one, my princess warrior. I do not question why. Why I love gazing upon you. Why I love the feel of your cunt. Why I watch you use your magic on a target and it makes me fight my cock getting hard. Why I watch you offer your sister your version of kindness in her loss and it makes my heart tight. Why I like the smell of your hair when I sleep. I do not question why because there is no answer, but one. It is the one you gave to me. The answer to why for you is that I am your Chu. And the answer to why for me is that you are Serena. And you are mine.”

“I think I wish to fuck again,” she declared.

He gave her an entirely different smile as he began moving in her direction.

“No tea and biscuits?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. Just Chu.”

When he was close, he dipped low, caught her belly with his shoulder, and powered her back until she fell on the bed.

He pulled himself over her and whispered, “You need to be cleaned. We’ll start with that and see where we go.”

Chu didn’t give her the opportunity to respond.

He slid down her body.

And thus, there was no tea and biscuits for Serena.

In fact, they almost missed dinner.

King True

Informal Salon, “The Red Room,” Sky Citadel, Sky Bay

AIREN

“They asked for concessions?” Ha-Lah inquired, her brows up, her face incredulous.

“They’ve demanded I roll back my proclamations and sit down with the gentry to hammer out a ten- to fifteen-year plan instituting the changes in a ‘much more manageable and palatable manner,’” Cassius answered.

He then tossed back a large measure of whiskey.

True felt Farah’s hand on his thigh give him a squeeze.

He looked down to her where she sat at his side on the sofa.

He then gave a short nod that this was true.

Her mouth grew tight.

True sighed.

Suffice it to say, their trip to Slán Bailey had been a waste of time.

Thus, they were all here, in the red room, having drinks prior to dinner, and those drinks were much needed.

“And your answer was?” Jorie asked.

“I gave them an option of where they could shove their ten- to fifteen-year plan,” Cassius drawled.

Jorie roared with laughter.

Still in the midst of it, he turned to Aramus and queried, “How did I not know these landed had such very big balls?”

“Because prior to Cass, there was Gallienus, and he only used his balls to think, and considering the way he managed his rule, it is clear they were very small. And prior to True, was Wilmer, and he didn’t have any balls at all.” Aramus then looked to True and said, “I hope you take no offense, my brother.”

“Would that one day I would find I am also of the Mer,” True muttered in answer, before he lifted his glass and drew in his own large measure of whiskey.

He heard chuckles about him, but he used his concentration to swallow.

“True,” Farah whispered.

He looked to her.

“I am not offended, sweetling,” he assured, and it was not a lie.

She studied him a moment before she nodded.

“Negotiations rather broke down after that,” Cass finished.

“Because you walked out of the room,” Aramus reported, smiling broadly at Cassius.

“Thus,” Ian entered the conversation, “I had the honor of sharing with Lord Felix that Cass is disbanding the feudal system and that, should he survive his term for treason against the crown, he will have no castle to return to. But regardless, in the now, he should endeavor to spend less time attempting to communicate with the AG in this ongoing conflict and more time trying to find someplace for his wife, sons and daughter to live for they’re soon to be turned out and their home made into an orphanage.”


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