25. Drakar
25
DRAKAR
" S tay back!" Seth's tail whips out, blocking his path. "The circle must remain unbroken. Interfering could destroy your own bonding."
"She's hurting!" Kaelor's growl reverberates off the stone walls.
"Liri?" Seth's voice carries a tremor I've never heard before. "We can stop?—"
"No!" I grit my teeth tighter, steadying myself. "I won't... won't waste this chance."
The ancient chamber fills with an eerie green glow as Lirien begins the ritual. Her hands tremble as she traces symbols in the air, her silver hair floating around her face. I watch, mesmerized, until her first scream tears through the silence.
Liri! My mind screams her name, my mouth unable to form the words.
Kaelor lunges forward, his massive form casting shadows on the stone walls.
Sethrys's tail whips out, blocking the beast-man's path. "Stay back! The circle must remain unbroken. Interfering could destroy your own bonding."
They argue with each other, but all I can do is stare at Lirien. At the tears forming in her eyes as she resists the pain, the heartbreak.
Another scream rips from Lirien's throat, her back arching as tears stream down her face. The bond between us writhes like a living thing, burning through my veins. My stomach churns, acid climbing up my throat.
"I will still love you," Lirien gasps between sobs.
I hold her gaze, and the pain in those green eyes cuts deeper than anything I've ever known. Her fingers clutch at empty air, reaching for something I can't see. Magic crackles across her skin, leaving angry red marks in its wake.
My skin crawls, every instinct screaming that this is wrong. I shouldn't feel like this – like poison seeping into my soul. Lirien's next scream sounds like it's being torn from her very core.
"STOP!" The word explodes from my chest. "Stop the ritual!"
But she doesn't listen. The sensation burns brighter, and I have to force myself up onto my feet through the weight pressing on my shoulders. I grab her shaking hands.
"For fuck's sake, stop this!" I scream again. "Stop, Lirien! Stop—I don't want to break the bond!"
The magic dissipates like smoke in wind. Lirien crumples, and my heart stops. I drop to my knees, catching her before she hits the ground. Her skin burns against mine, silver hair plastered to her tear-stained face.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, pulling her close. The words tumble out between shaky breaths. "I'm so sorry. I didn't understand. I don't want to break it. Please, Liri. I can't lose you."
She trembles in my arms, fingers clutching my shirt as sobs wrack her body. My own tears fall, dropping onto her cheeks and mixing with hers. The bond flickers between us, raw and exposed. Wounded.
"Can you forgive me?" My voice cracks. "For being such a blind fool? For causing you this pain?"
Lirien's hand finds my face, her thumb brushing away a tear. "The pain would have been worth it." Her voice is hoarse from screaming. "To give you your freedom?—"
"No." I press my forehead to hers. "I don't want freedom. Not anymore." The truth of it settles in my chest like an anchor. "I want you."
I capture her lips with mine, pouring everything I can't say into the kiss. Her surprise melts into need as she kisses me back, her fingers tangling in my hair. The bond sings between us, stronger than ever.
Seth mutters something behind us. Kaelor growls. I ignore them both, lost in the taste of Lirien's lips and the feeling of finally, finally being exactly where I belong.
Lirien pulls away, her eyes glistening with tears. "Don't. Please don't say these things out of pity. I couldn't bear it if?—"
"Pity?" A laugh escapes me, raw and honest. "You think this is pity?" I cup her face, thumb tracing the scar I gave her that first day. "I could never hate you, Liri. Even when I wanted to, I couldn't."
Her lips part in surprise, and I capture them again, tasting the salt of her tears. The bond between us is ecstatic, alive and electric. When we break apart, I press my forehead to hers.
"You said the bond could be sealed permanently. Let's do it."
"Darak..." She tenses in my arms. "You're not ready for?—"
"I'm tired of thinking only of myself." My fingers thread through her silver hair. "I want this. With you."
Lirien bites her lower lip, gaze dropping to my chest. "There's something you should know first." She takes a shaky breath. "The sealing ritual... it requires… intimacy. With all bonded parties."
My eyes dart to Seth and Kaelor, who've been unusually quiet. Seth's tail twitches, and Kaelor's amber eyes burn with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
"All of us?" The words come out hoarse.
Lirien nods, not meeting my eyes.
I let out a slow breath, considering. The warrior in me balks at the idea, but something deeper – maybe the bond itself – whispers that this was inevitable. These men are as much a part of Lirien as I am now.
"Alright." I lift her chin, making her look at me. "I accept."
My fingers tighten on Lirien's waist as Sethrys slithers closer, his emerald scales catching the dim light. A possessive growl builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. The bond thrums between us, and I feel Lirien's mix of anticipation and nervousness.
"So, he does have a brain," Sethrys smirks. He moves with fluid grace into the circle, positioning himself behind Lirien. His scaled fingers brush her silver hair aside, exposing her neck. "You did well, pet. I'm so proud."
The sight of his lips on her skin sends a jolt through me – not quite jealousy, but something deeper, more primal. Through our connection, I feel Lirien's pleasure at his touch. Her green eyes find mine, seeking reassurance or perhaps permission. I give her hand a gentle squeeze.
Kaelor's heavy breathing draws my attention. The massive Waira paces at the edge of the circle, his amber eyes burning with barely contained desire. His claws flex and retract, leaving marks in the stone floor.
"Come, Kaelor." Lirien's voice is honey-sweet, a tone I've never heard from her before. I can feel the certainty of her want, her need for all of us.
"I may break you," he snarls, muscles rippling beneath his dark fur. The beast-man's restraint is clearly slipping, his massive form tensed like a predator about to pounce.
Lirien's lips curve into a wicked smile that makes my blood run hot. "Good."
That single word shatters what remains of Kaelor's control. He stalks forward, raw power in every movement, and I feel our bond stretch to accommodate him, binding us all together in ways I never imagined possible.
Kaelor's massive hand hovers in the air, his amber eyes seeking mine in silent question. "Can I?" His voice rumbles like distant thunder, a stark contrast to the soft vulnerability of his request.
I nod, my throat tightening.
He lifts her with ease, settling her in his large lap. Her skirts ride up, revealing shapely legs that I've come to know over the last weeks. Kaelor grinds against her, a low growl escaping his throat as Lirien moans in response. The sound sends a shiver down my spine, and I feel the bond between us flare with heat.
Sethrys, ever the serpent, slithers closer, his nimble fingers working to undress Lirien. The laces of her robes come undone with practiced ease, exposing her bare skin to the cool air of the chamber. My mouth goes dry as I take in the sight of her, the curves of her body bathed in the eerie green glow of the ritual magic as it hums back to life.
I move forward, my heart pounding in my chest. The warrior in me has faced death a thousand times over, but this... this is a different kind of battlefield. I reach out, my fingers brushing against the soft skin of her shoulder. She turns her head, her green eyes locking onto mine as she runs her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer.
"Darak," she whispers, and the sound of my name on her lips ignites something within me. I press a kiss to her shoulder, my tongue darting out to taste her skin. She tastes of magic, as if she embodies it.
Kaelor's hands roam over her body, his claws carefully retracted as he explores her. Sethrys watches with a hooded gaze, his own desire evident in the way his scales shimmer. Lirien's breathing hitches as Kaelor kisses her deeply, and I feel a surge of possessiveness course through me.
I want her to look at me like that. I want to be the one to make her moan, to make her lose control. The bond reflects my need, a silent plea that Lirien seems to understand. She reaches for me, her hand finding mine and squeezing it tightly.
"Join us, Darak," she murmurs, her voice thick with desire. "Be a part of this."
I swallow hard, my gaze flickering between her and the others. This is uncharted territory for me – a dance I've never learned the steps to. But the bond urges me forward, whispering of unity and shared pleasure.
Lirien's green eyes glisten in the pre-dawn light, her silver hair haloed by the faintest hint of sunrise. "It's time." Her voice resonates with the weight of the moment, the magic of the ritual thickening the air.
She extricates herself from Kaelor's embrace with a grace that belies the tension coiling in the pit of my stomach. I'm on my back before I realize it, my thoughts scattering as Lirien's deft fingers unsheathe my desire, baring me to the cool air. I can't help but suck in a sharp breath as her hand wraps around me, her touch both familiar and thrillingly new.
Her body, exposed and luminous in the dim light, is a sight to behold. She straddles me, her every movement a dance of temptation and power. The head of my cock nudges against her slick entrance, and I grip her hips, my fingers digging into her soft flesh.
With a breathy moan, Lirien sinks onto me, impaling herself on my length. The sensation is overwhelming, a perfect symphony of pleasure that reverberates through our bond, amplifying every indescribable feeling. We are one – in body, in magic, in soul.
She begins to move, her hips rolling with a rhythm as old as time. The circle glows brighter, a verdant green that mirrors the untamed magic of the Purna poised above me. I'm transfixed by the sight of her, the way her silver hair cascades over her shoulders, the way her eyes darken with desire.
"It's okay," she murmurs, sensing my hesitation. "You can touch me."
Her words unleash something within me. My hands roam her body, tracing the contours of her waist, cupping the weight of her breasts. She arches into my touch, her nipples hardening beneath my palms.
A low growl rumbles from behind us, and I turn my head to see Kaelor positioning himself. His amber eyes are locked on Lirien, his desire a palpable force. With a grace that belies his size, he moves into position, his cock sliding into her from behind.
The feeling of him joining us, sharing Lirien's body, is indescribable. It's a mingling of pleasure and shock, a sensation that is both alien and exhilarating. Through our bond, I feel the added fullness she experiences, the way her body stretches to accommodate us both.
Our movements become synchronized. Lirien's moans grow louder, her pace quickening as she rides us both with wild abandon. I can feel the pleasure building within me, a fire that threatens to consume me whole.
Kaelor's hands grip her hips, his movements growing more frenzied as he drives into her. I match his pace, noticing immediately as Sethrys joins us, stroking his dick with his hand. Lirien's full lips part in anticipation, taking him into her greedy mouth.
The world around me narrows to the sight of Lirien, her body undulating between Kaelor and me, the glow of the ritual magic casting an ethereal light on her skin. Her green eyes meet mine, and the bond between us pulsates with an intensity that borders on pain. It's a heady mix of pleasure and something deeper – a sense of unity I've never felt before.
Kaelor's hands grip her hips tightly, his claws retracted but the promise of their lethal potential ever-present. His eyes are half-lidded, a low growl vibrating in his chest as he thrusts into her with wild abandon. "You're ours," he rumbles, the possessive note in his voice echoing through the chamber.
Sethrys, his emerald scales shimmering, watches with hooded eyes as Lirien's lips stretch around his girth. A hiss escapes him, his tail flicking in rhythm with his hips as he thrusts gently into her mouth. "Such a good girl," he murmurs, his voice dripping with praise.
Lirien moans around him, her body trembling with the force of our combined attentions. The sound sends a jolt of pleasure through me, my cock pulsing inside her. I can feel the walls of her pussy fluttering around me, the wetness of her arousal coating my length as I drive into her, over and over again.
Her hands clutch at my chest, her nails scraping against my leather armor. The sensation grounds me, a reminder of the world beyond this ritual – a world that has become inextricably linked with the woman currently impaled on my cock.
I can't help but grit my teeth as the pleasure builds, my balls drawing up tight against my body. Kaelor's pace increases, his movements growing more frenzied as he, too, nears the edge. Sethrys' golden eyes lock onto mine, a knowing smirk playing on his lips as he recognizes the signs of my impending release.
"Fuck, Liri," I groan, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her thighs. "I'm—I'm close."
Her response is a muffled moan, her attention divided between the three of us. The bond flares between us, a rush of energy that pushes me over the edge. My vision whites out as I come, my cock pulsing as I fill her with my seed. The sensation triggers a chain reaction – Kaelor roars his release, his body shuddering as he, too, empties himself inside her.
Sethrys is next, his tail coiling tightly around Lirien's body as he thrusts deeper into her throat. "Swallow," he commands, his voice strained. Lirien obeys, her throat working as she takes everything he gives her.
We collapse in a tangled heap, our breaths ragged and our bodies slick with sweat. The ritual magic fades, the green glow receding as the bond between us solidifies. Lirien lies limp between us, her body still joined with Kaelor's and mine, our mixed fluids leaking out of her and pooling on the stone floor beneath us.
For a moment, there's only the sound of our combined breathing and the distant echo of the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs outside. Then Kaelor stirs, his amber eyes meeting mine over Lirien's prone form. There's a new understanding between us – a silent acknowledgment of what we've just shared.
Sethrys slithers closer, his tongue flicking out to taste the sweat on Lirien's brow. "Well," he says, his voice laced with satisfaction, "that was... enlightening."
I can't help but chuckle at his choice of words, the tension in the room easing slightly. "That's one way to put it."
Lirien stirs, her green eyes fluttering open. She looks at each of us in turn, her expression one of wonder and exhaustion.
"Is it done?" I ask, my voice hoarse.
"It's done," She confirms with a sloppy smile.
I grin, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "We're bound, for better or worse."
She smiles at that, a small, secretive smile that warms something deep inside me. "For better or worse," she echoes, closing her eyes with a contented sigh.
And as the first rays of dawn filter through the cracks in the stone walls, I realize that I wouldn't have it any other way.