*Xamara*

The victory celebration in the courtyard fades away as Julian and I step inside the castle. Music drifts faintly through the halls, but tonight, the inside of the castle feels like it belongs only to us.

He opens the door to his chambers with a lustful look that tells me he knows exactly what I need, and I step inside, letting him guide me forward. The fire in the hearth has dimmed, embers glowing like molten gold. He locks the door, and by the time we reach the bed, our clothes are on the floor.

Julian lays me on my back on the bed and kisses me. I reach...