Bonus Scene 1

Solan’s grip is tight on my hips as I lower myself down, his massive frame tense beneath me. His golden eyes are locked onto me, glowing with arousal, his chest rising and falling in deep, measured breaths. The tip of his horn presses against me, smooth and warm, pulsing with his energy. The intrusion is perfect—stretching me just right, filling me so completely that I can feel every subtle pulse, every shift of his body vibrating through me. And then—

“Fuck,” I groan, shivering as the thick ridge catches my prostate just right, sending a bolt of pleasure up my spine. “That feels—”

“Intense?” Solan supplies, voice rough, his hair strands curling around my calf like he needs another point of contact. His tendrils shift, restless, brushing against my thighs and teasing the sensitive spots he’s mapped out over the last few weeks.

I let out a shaky laugh, dragging my fingers down his chest, feeling the heat of his skin. “Yeah, baby. Intense is one way to put it.”

Solan’s fingers twitch against my hips. “We do not have to—”

“Nuh-uh.” I cut him off, gripping his horns for balance and peering down so I can meet his gaze. “You’re enjoying this as much as I am. Don’t even try to play the noble mate routine now.”

His lips twitch, but a shudder wracks through him when I shift, deliberately grinding gently down, his horn pressing deeper, snug against my prostate. A ragged breath stutters from him, and his eyes flicker molten gold before he recovers, fingers tightening like he’s barely holding back.

“I am enjoying it,” he admits, voice hoarse. “Too much, perhaps.”

I grin, slowly rolling my hips just to see him clench his jaw. The sensation is mind-numbing—the firm, unyielding press inside me, rubbing in a way that has my entire body alight with pleasure. Each movement sparks something deep and visceral, pleasure tightening in my core like a vice.

“That’s the point, Sol. Let me take care of you for once.”

A guttural sound escapes him, his tendrils snapping around my waist, dragging me closer as his control frays. “You drive me to madness.”

I bite my lip, feeling the heat coil tighter in my gut. “That’s the idea.”

His chest rumbles beneath me, his entire body taut like a bowstring as I find my rhythm, riding his horn in slow, deliberate movements. It’s not just about the friction, though—it’s the way Solan watches me, his expression somewhere between reverence and pure, unfiltered hunger. His hands tremble where they hold me, his fingers digging just enough to sting, grounding me in the best way.

“Jack,” he growls, voice strained, like he’s barely holding himself together.

I press a hand against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat that perfectly mirrors mine. “You’re all right, big guy,” I murmur. “Just let go.”

His tendril tightens around my leg, his pupils blown wide, and when I lean down to lick his cock, bending in an Olympic-medal-worthy way, his control snaps. His arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against him as he groans, while another tendril wraps around my dick. The vibration, the firm grip, the feel of his ridged horn stretching me in perfect synchronisation—all of it becomes too much, setting off fireworks under my skin. The pleasure between us builds, amplified by our bond, until it’s a heady, overwhelming force.

Then everything shatters.

Solan roars, his whole body locking up beneath me as pleasure crashes over him like a tidal wave. His hands clutch me close, trembling, tendrils flexing against my skin, coating me with his release as he rides it out. I follow a second later, gripping onto him as my own orgasm rips through me, leaving me breathless and shaking. The sensation is so raw, so consuming, that for a moment, I forget where I end and he begins.

“I love you.” My words filter through our bond and immediately I feel his emotions wrap around me.

“You were made for me, and I you.”

A soft sigh escapes me at his words, and I relax, trying to catch my breath, and honestly, kinda scared to pull off his horn. There’s no way it’s going to be graceful.

But for now, we just exist in the aftermath, tangled together, his horn still buried deep inside me, the echoes of pleasure pulsing between us. His breath is ragged, his hands gentle now as they rub soothing circles into my back.

Eventually, he huffs out a shaky laugh, tilting his head back against the pillows as he helps ease me off him. “You are dangerous.”

I chuckle, only wincing slightly at the delicious ache in my arse as I nuzzle into his neck once he’s helped reposition me. “You love it.”

His arms tighten around me, voice filled with fond exasperation. “I do.”

I grin, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “Told ya it’d be good.”

Solan groans, covering his face with one massive hand. “You are insufferable.”

I just laugh, utterly satisfied, and melt into his embrace, knowing full well he wouldn’t have me any other way.

Bonus Scene 2

Everything feels really fucking strange, but there’s a legit pang in my heart when I see the tin roof of my home in the distance. It looks exactly the same: a little rust, a glare as it shines in the Terrafeara sun. It’s just the green sky that makes the colour of the metal roof look different, tinted in a way that makes it crystal clear that my house doesn’t belong in this world.

“There is no one around.” Solan touches my shoulder, no doubt feeling the mixed bag of emotions that are coursing through my body. “We don’t have to do this today.”

It’s kind of him to say, but it’s taken us four days to get here, and as painful and weird as this is, I want to get in and out safely. The sooner we do, the quicker we can get back to Dathanor, where Jamie is being protected by Calythra. With a nod, I finally respond, “I’m good.”

It doesn’t take long to trek through the bush, but every step over the once-familiar red soil makes me swallow hard. The grass is dry and there’s none of my cattle in sight. The knowledge sends a fresh jolt to my chest, but honestly, what did I expect?

I have no doubt that the queen has ordered for all living creatures to be taken.

“That is the entrance?” Solan points at the closed fly screen at the front of my old Queenslander.

“Yeah.” I glance at the verandah, at the overgrown veggie boxes as we step closer. It’s still here. There’s not a drop of wind rustling the leaves on the collection of gum trees to the side of the house. I spot my abandoned car, my old tractor, my side by side—all had let me down during the rift.

I exhale through my nose, then take the first step onto the verandah. The wood creaks under my weight, and a thick film of dust coats the boards, but the disturbances in the dust tell me I haven’t been the only visitor. It feels eerie—like my house is a time capsule, but one that has been tampered with.

Solan steps up behind me, his presence solid and grounding. His hand moves from my shoulder to the back of my neck, a warm, steady weight. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I swallow hard, then nod. “Yeah. Just feels weird, y’know?”

His fingers squeeze gently, reassuring. “You don’t have to do this alone. I am here.”

I manage a small smile and tilt my head slightly into his touch before stepping forward. “I know.”

The fly screen squeaks as I push it open, and the heavier wooden door behind it groans when I turn the handle. It’s unlocked, just as I left it. But as soon as I step inside, I know someone’s definitely been here.

The air inside is stale, carrying the scent of dust, wood, and something faintly metallic. Sunlight filters through the blinds, casting long shadows over the lounge. My eyes sweep over the familiar space—old couch, coffee table, the TV stand where my busted flat screen still sits. But some things are missing—small items, some of my tools that I had lying around on a half-finished job, even a few of the framed photos that once sat on the shelf. The queen’s forces have been here, thorough but not destructive. It’s been searched, not ransacked.

Solan steps inside after me, ducking his head slightly to fit through the doorway. His hair flickers around him, and his glowing golden eyes scan the room with curiosity. “This is… cosy.”

I huff a quiet laugh. “Yeah, well, it was home.”

He pokes at a shelf lined with dusty trinkets and framed photos. His large fingers hesitate over one of me and Jamie at the beach, taken years ago. “You should take this.”

I nod and grab the frame, tucking it under my arm. “Jamie’ll like that.”

Solan watches me carefully, his gaze lingering on my face. “This is difficult for you.”

I shrug, trying to downplay it. “Yeah, but it’s gotta be done.”

Without a word, he steps closer, leans down, and presses his forehead against mine, a soft, grounding touch. His warmth seeps into me, steadying the ache in my chest. “We take what we need and leave the rest. Your past is here, but your future is with me.”

My throat tightens, but I nod, stepping back with a deep breath. “Yeah. Let’s get to it.”

Moving further into the house, I head towards my old bedroom. The bed is still there, but the drawers have been opened, their contents slightly disturbed. I grab a duffel bag from the floor of the closet and start stuffing it with anything useful—some clothes, my old pocket knife, a few sentimental bits and pieces. Solan watches me, occasionally picking up something random and inspecting it. He lifts an ancient pair of board shorts, eyes narrowing. “What is this?”

I snort. “Boardies, mate. What, you reckon they won’t suit you?”

He grumbles something under his breath and tosses them back onto the bed. “They look flimsy.”

I shake my head and zip up the duffel. “C’mon, let’s check out the kitchen.”

We make our way down the hall, past the laundry and bathroom, until we step into the kitchen. The cupboards hold a few cans of food, which I shove into another bag, along with some old tools and a camping stove from the storage cupboard in here. Then my eyes land on something else—my DVD collection stacked haphazardly in a crate by the fridge.

A grin tugs at my lips. “Oh, now this… this is gold.”

Solan tilts his head. “More movies?”

“More than just movies. Classics.” I crouch and start sifting through them. “Mad Max, Crocodile Dundee, The Castle—oh, you’ve gotta see The Castle.”

He crosses his arms. “Will it be better than Terminator?”

I bark out a laugh. “Very different vibe, but yeah, I reckon you’ll love it.”

He watches as I pull out a few more. “I have not yet managed to fix the television I found. It remains… stubborn.”

I chuckle. “We’ll figure it out. Even if we have to jury-rig some weird-arse generator, we’re watching these.”

His hair flickers again, thoughtful. Then, after a pause, he reaches out and pulls me into a firm, unexpected hug. I go stiff for a second before melting into it, letting his warmth sink in. “You have done well today,” he murmurs. “I know this is not easy.”

I let out an unsteady breath and squeeze him back. “Thanks, baby. You’re a good bloke.”

His tendrils of hair flick playfully against my back and shoulders. “I am the best bloke.”

I snort and pull back, patting his chest. “All right, let’s finish up.”

Satisfied we’ve gotten what we can for now, I glance towards the back door. “Right. Let’s check Jamie’s place next.”

Solan nods, and together we step back out into the strange, foreign sunlight, leaving the echoes of my old life behind—for now.