To Defend A Bride (Entangled with the Enduar #3)

Second Epilogue

Second Epilogue

MELISA

One Month Later,

T he dual’moraan and grutaliah bondyr ceremonies have never been performed for one person on the same day.

But today, we make history. I finally join the Enduares, along with my daughters. With Ra’Sa, we will bind ourselves to the mountain and each other for the rest of time.

The Fuegorra cavern glows red, just as it had during the dual’moraan ceremony I attended months ago. My daughters wear deep purple dresses that match my gown. Coco trails at my side, already sporting her own Fuegorra, while my mate holds my hand.

Ra’Sa is stunning in his deep purple clothes. He even wears a bracelet with four little charms, one for each of us, save him.

It was a gift from one of his stone benders.

We walk in procession with hundreds of others, but we are put at the front of the line, just behind Mother Liana and Estela.

King Teo, Ra'Sa's parents, Lord Vann, Mikal, and all the women who had joined me in my house this morning are following.

When we finally enter the cave, a song that I knew well, one that had called to me before I left for Zlosa, sings to me.

My eyes fill with tears. Before I left, that moment had been sad. It had reminded me of heartache and how much I missed my daughters. Now, it sings of joy, and the intricate tapestry of my life.

The rest of the procession stops just outside the cave, and all, save our witnesses, family, and friends, enter. Lord Vann hands hammers to me, Thea, and Wren. I show the girls how to hold them as Mother Liana reminds me of the instructions.

"Be very still, my children. Listen for the song that will be sung only for you. Remember that the pain of the stone will last only a moment," she says.

Thea looks up at me. "It will hurt?"

"Hardly," Ra'Sa interjects before she has a chance to grow afraid. "And I will be here the whole time. It will help you feel like you have magical powers."

Perhaps she will, I say teasingly through the bond.

Ra’Sa grins. I would love nothing more.

"Listen closely," I say again in the human tongue. "This is the stone of your mamá .”

I point to the gem, almost like an old friend. And then I strike with my hammer. The jewel comes loose immediately, but the second it falls into my palm, the song blows back my hair. It glows bright as its music and rhythm blow over me with the force of autumn winds.

Thea and Wren, delighted, run away from me and deeper into the cavern. Ra’Sa and I watch, corralling when necessary until both stand near their Fuegorras.

Once all the stones are selected, Ra'Sa and I help our children break them off the wall, and then, at last, the moment we have been waiting for comes.

"Approach, friends," Estela says, her face beaming in the red light.

We do.

I present myself first, waiting with sweaty palms as the gem is placed in my chest. A flash of light pain skitters across my skin as it bonds with my soul, and then... everything blacks out. I feel myself stumble into solid arms. And then, the world comes back into focus with dazzling light and sound.

The cave looks less dark, and the song between my mate and me makes tears well in my eyes. I look at him, utterly helpless as a world of magic blooms across all five of my senses.

He smiles at me with such love.

"Look at you, blossoming like the prettiest of cave flowers," he says softly. I push onto my toes and kiss him before ushering the children forward.

Neither of them cry; they are strong and brave. Much more so than I would've been at their age.

For a second, we take in the new world.

And then Liana raises her hands again.

"Now, it is time to bind this fine family together!" she calls.

King Teo has retrieved a small, cushioned bench from gods know where and places it in front of her.

"Approach, Lady Melisa and Lord Ra'Salore. Kneel before your gods," she commands.

We move slowly, but we kneel. My heart races as Ra’Sa squeezes my hand.

"Do you accept your matehood?" Liana asks me directly. Her voice echoes through the cavern, and the words sink into my skin.

A choice.

I swallow hard, looking at Ra’Sa, and then nod. "Yes."

A knife is produced and then handed to me.

"You'll need to cut my palm," my mate explains gently.

My heart races. I think of the last time I used the knife. It had been the right choice then, too. But for a very different reason.

“I don't think I can,” I say breathlessly.

Ra’Sa smiles and nods encouragingly. "You can. You are fierce, Ruh’flor. "

He’s right. I am.

I can make new memories. New meanings.

Bravely, I press the blade to his palm. I suck in a sharp breath and slice shallowly.

Perfect, my love, Ra'Sa purrs.

I smile, and he cradles my hand, only pricking my palm instead of slicing. My blood wells.

"Join hands, my children," Mother Liana says.

We do, and then the girls join us on either side, and we hold their hands as well. Estela produces stone silk ribbons dripping with gems on both ends and wraps them around our wrists.

I watch, mesmerized. I like seeing us tied together by magic.

Then the singing starts again. The red stones around us pulse in time to the melody, twinkling like stars in a cloudless night.

"Our gods bless your union!" Liana cries. "From this day forward, you are a family blessed by the earth and the stars."

A smile spreads across my face, wide enough to hurt my cheeks. I glance at the girls and find them beaming, too.

But the ceremony isn't over.

No, it isn’t my love.

Ra'Sa takes a deep breath, drawing my gaze to him.

"My beautiful, brilliant Melisa. I give myself to you in life and death. As I have in the past, I will continue to defend and protect you against all that seeks to hurt you. I will help you build and heal this family, bit by bit, until the end of my days. I love you. I promise you will never regret binding yourself to me."

His words pierce straight to my heart.

“Ra’Sa,” I begin. “I love you. When I was weak, you taught me to fight. When I was afraid, you calmed my heart. I will spend the rest of my days at your side. I will give you everything I can because you are the person I choose. You are mine, and… I am yours.”

Tears well up, and then the singing starts.

The crystals reverberate around us, singing of joy, life, and celebration of love. I let it all cascade around me.

I kiss my mate once again, and then, the ceremony is complete, and we stand. Coco nudges my knee and Estela helps us unwrap our hands before hugging the girls.

Somewhere along the way, Ra’Sa’s parents join us on both sides. I see Mer’Leuel looking at me, weeping.

I smile at her tender heart. My mother’s heart was never so soft.

She wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“Welcome to my family,” she says loudly, over the singing. “You know I lost my daughters long ago.”

My throat tightens.

“I am just glad to have gained another.”

I grin and pull her close.

“I am honored,” I say, loud as I can through the emotion clogging my throat.

She squeezes my shoulder and then pulls away, joining her mate.

The moment swells and shifts, and then, I find myself back in Ra’Sa’s arms. Thea and Wren have gone with Arlet, while Coco stands at Estela’s brother Mikal’s side.

My eyes turn back to my mate just as cheers echo from the outside.

I don't know if I've ever believed in omens, but this one seems like a good one.

Ra’Sa picks me up and spins me around.

"You are my husband!" I say, letting the laughter bubble up. Words that I never thought could be true.

"I am your mate," Ra'Sa says. "And you, my sweet love, have given me everything I've ever wanted."

"You have done the same for me.”

The music continues to swell, and then we walk out of the cave and into our new life.

"We should get the girls," he says, looking back to find them with his parents.

I hesitate. I’d made arrangements to have the evening to ourselves.

“Later. Your mother will watch over them at the feast,” I say brightly.

Ra’Sa focuses on me, and my heart skips a beat.

It has been a while since we’ve been alone, and while I don't begrudge my new life, I want to have him all to my self.

His eyes blazed. "Your wish is my command, Ruh’flor ."

From that moment, it takes a small eternity to thank and hug the well-wishes from our guests.

Once out of the caverns, we break from the group, heading to a little home three houses down from his mother’s dwelling. He picks me up, carrying me in his arms as he opens the door.

I laugh at the silliness of it all.

The simple bliss.

My laughter stops when I look at the ground and find the sticks and stones the girls and I arranged a few days earlier. Usually, he picks up our messages when he returns.

But this one was simple and sweet…

Ra’Sa meets my eye and gives me a shy smile.

My heart almost explodes as he takes me through the threshold.

And then the door shuts and I hear nothing of the outside world.

Everything smells like us. Gems the girls have already started hoarding and gifts from others are strewn about, and we walk past the living room and into the largest bedroom with a deliciously large bed—one that has had far, far too few uses.

Ra'Sa lets out a feral sound that emboldens me as we walk in. He closes the door behind him and walks to the bed, sitting down.

“Well, wife. We have arrived,” he all but purrs.

I grin. “We have, husband.”

He takes his time looking around the room and then setting his sights on me.

“What now?”

Heat flashes over my body.

"Take off your clothes," I say slowly. My heart races, and my breath mimics a stacatto. I want to enjoy this. I want both of us to love this.

Ra’Sa follows my directions perfectly. He starts with the fabric around his neck and then unbuttons the shirt that wraps across his body. He neatly places each article on a chair near the wardrobe. I watch the flex of his muscles, admire the jewels glinting in his ears, and admire the length of his hair. It has already grown long again, and he wears it in a low bun on the nap of his neck.

"May I approach?" he asks slowly.

I fight the smile that tugs at my lips. Not because his words are funny but because I deeply enjoy this part.

"Only if you help me with my dress," I say.

He does. He crosses the room in a second but doesn't envelop me. Instead, he hums and the stones around our room light and glow. He's so talented with his song, and it reaches deep inside of me. It coaxes out new depths that make my skin burn and my core tighten. My toes curl as the friction of fabric sliding against my skin makes my nipples harden and cheeks flush.

Once he's finished, and I sit there on the bed, I continue.

"Lay down," I say softly. Breathlessly.

He does. His long blue tail, splaying out to the side.

I look at it. Thinking of how it wrapped around me. Holding me tight.

What other wonders could it be used for?

My cheeks flush.

"What are you thinking of?" Ra'Sa demands.

I blink, and I feel my skin grow hotter.

"I think I would enjoy it if you bound my hands and held me tight today," I say.

A predatory smile spreads across his face. He sits up and reaches for me.

"Whatever you'd like," he says, and then wraps me up and pulls me close to him.

The feel of our skin pressed together heightens my arousal. Gods, he envelops me. Safe. So safe. So held together.

The soft, suede tail binds my hands around my back as he kisses me. I grind against his hips, feeling the slickness there. He growls into my mouth. He kisses my jaw, my earlobe, my neck, and then my collarbone.

When he returns to my neck, I feel half insane with desire.

"I'm ready, Ra'Sa. Fill me," I command. He smiles and then does that as well.

The sensation is sweet, but it is not quite as sweet as the knowledge that he complies to my wishes so eagerly.

The pressure at my entrance gives way to such exquisite fullness. It is beautiful.

"Yes," I sigh.

His lips return to mine as he moves. And then, slowly, I find them back at my throat. He presses on my tender skin in the exact location where his own mating marks show.

May I?

How could I have bound my life with his in every way while my neck remains unmarked?

I wanted it all.

"You may," I say softly.

I can feel the way his heartbeat races, pressed against my chest. When he returns to the spot, his movements are more frantic, more desperate. He moves too fast. This will be over before I finish. The thought makes me want to cry. The pressure, the fullness, the closeness, I can't let it end yet.

"Ra'Sa," I say, breathless at the pressure at the side of my throat increases. "This feels good. Don't come yet."

He grunts his acknowledgment as the pressure gives way to sharp pain in my neck. His movements slow, becoming more even as he licks the hurt. When he removes his mouth from my skin, I see his lips are slightly purple.

"Like this?" he asks.

"Yes,” I pant.

He groans and presses further into me. The slide of his skin against mine is beautiful.

"Gods, I haven't ever had it this good. Don't let it end,” I moan.

So he doesn't. He works and waits, sweating, desperate for me as we work ourselves back to the precipice of my climax.

When we reach it, and I start to fall, it comes with a cry.

"Melisa," he begs, "now?"

I grab his face and pull him back down.

"Yes, please ."

And then he releases my bindings and finishes with me.

I will never tire of the sweet, heart-stopping moments like this.

I will never tire of him —the stony-faced troll who cut his hair and became a human because I asked him. The one who crossed the world to protect me. The man who became a father to my daughters.

“Ra’Sa, thank you—for everything.”

He smiles, studying my face and only letting his eyes drop to the new mating marks on my neck for a second. “I would do it all again for a moment in your arms, Ruh’flor .”

My heart flutters with an emotion I never thought I’d feel.

“I love you,” I whisper.

He draws me close to him, stroking my skin.

“I love you, too.”

And what a miraculous thing that is.

The end… for now.

If you enjoyed To Defend a Bride , please take a moment to leave a rating or review—it really makes a difference! Book four, To Beguile a Bride , will be releasing in March, 2025! Join me for the start to Arlet and Vann’s duet.