Oath of War (The Cursed Bonds #2)

8. Chapter 8

V erbena-scented steam billowed into my face, the warmth instantly misting my lashes. I blinked the droplets away, my breath catching when my eyes landed on Alaric lounging in the crystalline water of the deep pool. He was completely naked, his lean, muscled body on full display, and his smirk turned wicked as he caught where my gaze lingered.

‘You could’ve opened the door normally instead of flexing,’ Ari quipped, his tone light. ‘Annike already knows how strong you are.’

Orm’s deep laugh rumbled through me. ‘Maybe I just felt like it,’ he replied, setting me gently on my feet before turning to a lingering servant. ‘Fetch food from the kitchen. Tell the cook Lady Annika will be dining here and bring a bottle of sweet wine as well.’

I tried to ignore the loud grumble of my stomach, focusing instead on the two men before me. Ari stepped out of the water, his movements so fluid and graceful he barely created a ripple. Water cascaded down his toned frame as he approached, and my throat suddenly felt too dry to speak.

‘Will you let me stay?’ he asked, his voice low and inviting.

‘I . . . Yes, but Orm . . .’ I hesitated, feeling completely at a loss. I wanted to be with them both, but I didn’t want to impose anything on Orm, who, surprisingly, seemed quite comfortable seeing Alaric in all his naked glory.

‘As if I’d let you leave. There’s no need for false modesty, so help me undress her,’ Orm answered before I could form a sentence.

I blinked at him, stunned, as a wave of heat spiralled down my spine. Ari’s smirk widened, and as he passed his discarded clothes, he picked up a small dagger. The sinful gleam in his eyes made my breath hitch.

‘This dress,’ he murmured, his voice dark and velvety, ‘offends your beauty. Fortunately, I have a solution.’

The blade’s tip slid beneath the delicate lace of my bodice, and I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. His hand moved in a blur, and with a soft hiss of fabric, the laces fluttered to the floor. Cool air brushed my skin as goosebumps rose in the wake of the dress falling away.

‘Hrae, you are perfection,’ Alaric murmured, his voice reverent. He stepped closer, guiding me until my back pressed against Orm’s broad, firm chest.

The dagger’s edge traced featherlike paths over my skin, cutting away the remnants of the dress. My knees buckled, but four strong arms caught me, holding me upright.

‘Steady, Nivale,’ Orm whispered into my ear, his tone both teasing and protective. ‘A single drop of your blood could send our fae into a frenzy. You know how serious dark fae are about bloodletting. Look—he’s already hard for you.’

A whimper escaped me as molten heat replaced my shivers. Ari’s eyes turned into a crimson maelstrom at my reaction. He moved with liquid grace, his lips trailing heated kisses along my neck.

‘If I wanted to draw blood,’ he murmured against my skin, ‘I wouldn’t need something as crude as this.’ He discarded the dagger, taking my hand. ‘Come, my lady. Let me care for you while this oaf undresses. Let’s see how well his famous control holds with my hands on your body.’

He led me towards the water, Orm’s deep chuckle rumbling behind us.

‘Teasing me, fae? Aren’t you supposed to respect and admire your lord commander?’ Orm called out, his voice laced with amusement as he shrugged off his shirt.

Ari glanced back, his lips curving in a playful smirk. ‘I’ve always been a rebel. That’s how we ended up in this mess.’ His hand covered my breast as he added with a wicked gleam in his eyes, ‘The question remains, can you control your beast, Ormond?’

Fuck, these two will be the death of me .

My heart thundered in my chest, and I squeezed my thighs together, trying to quell the heat pooling low in my belly. ‘What is going on with you two?’ I demanded, my voice breathless. ‘I was gone for a week. What happened?’

‘Having you taken from us was ... enlightening,’ Alaric admitted, his tone softening. ‘We realised our connection had maybe grown more than we understood. I hope that doesn’t bother you?’

‘You thought I’d be upset?’ I asked, baffled by his doubts. I turned to Orm. ‘And you’re okay with this?’

Orm’s expression relaxed. ‘These emotions ... they feel right. As for what they mean or where they’ll go? I’m taking it as it comes.’

Ari smiled and drew me into the pool, the warm water enveloping us as it rose to my chest. He lifted my hand to his lips, gifting me soft kisses along my fingertips and up the inside of my arm. My pulse fluttered as he nibbled lightly at the sensitive skin of my neck before claiming my lips in a searing kiss.

‘I live for you, my Domina,’ he muttered against my mouth. ‘For your courage, for the taste of your lips. You are the light to my darkness. Of course I was worried.’

The intensity of his words left me reeling, but a sudden draft sent a shiver down my spine. Orm joined us moments later, carrying an enormous tray laden with food and wine. Setting it beside the pool, he slipped into the water, his hands finding me almost immediately.

The slow, deliberate caresses of his fingers trailed water down my back, and I arched into the touch, my body responding to the double onslaught of their attentions. Whatever had changed between them in my absence, I knew one thing: I would never feel this cherished, this utterly adored, by anyone else.

‘Share, Alaric. I missed her too, and my control has its limits,’ Orm said, taking my chin in his hand and slowly turning me towards him. I was drowning in their sensuous heat, and when he kissed me, his tongue slipped into my mouth, teasing me mercilessly.

Yet even in this wonderful fantasy, a distant need gnawed at my awareness. My fae’s hand roamed down my body, leaving sparks in its wake, just as the warm, intoxicating aroma of fresh bread and melted butter invaded my senses.

A loud, insistent growl erupted from my stomach, breaking the spell. Alaric froze, his hand pausing mid-descent as a bubble of laughter escaped me. The absurdity of the moment—the visceral need for food clashing with the electric heat between us—made me grin.

‘Why now?’ I sighed theatrically, placing a hand on each of their chests. ‘This is perfect, but please, a woman has to eat.’ I dove for the tray of food, earning twin chuckles from my lovers.

Before I could claim the golden, sugar-crusted bun that had captured my attention, Orm’s strong arms caught me mid-lunge. ‘Oh no, you don’t,’ he teased, holding me effortlessly in place as I squirmed.

‘You’re digging your own grave, dragon rider,’ I growled playfully, glaring up at him. ‘You can’t just deny a hungry woman her bun. Ari, do something, I’m starving here.’

My theatrics earned more laughter as Orm settled us onto a submerged seat, his grip firm yet gentle. ‘Patience, my heart,’ he murmured, his voice a soothing balm. Alaric, grinning mischievously, slid the tray closer, finally allowing me to grab the bun and take a triumphant bite.

‘Gods, you’re delicious,’ Orm said, one hand holding me against his chest while his other picked up a ripe, juicy piece of fruit. ‘Be a good little mage and open your mouth for me.’

His irises filled with gold when I licked the sweet juices off his fingers. ‘Just like that, Nivale,’ he purred as his cock jerked under my arse. ‘You want me to take control, yes?’

The growl in his voice was an unmistakable sign that the inner beast was holding the reins, but he still asked for my consent.

‘Please,’ I whispered, and he inhaled deeply as if my words had released some pent-up energy.

Alaric, ever the tender contrast, knelt in front of me with a soft cloth and scented soaps. His hands moved with reverence, creating a fragrant lather that he swept over my arms as he healed my cuts and bruises and washed away the grime of captivity. Every touch was a silent promise, every glance a reflection of his devotion. His lips curled into a silent snarl until his spells left only unblemished skin.

‘You don’t have to do this,’ I protested half-heartedly, enjoying his attention.

‘I don’t have to do what?’ he asked, and the low timbre of his voice sent another shiver down my spine while his dextrous hands eased my legs apart. He raised his head to look at me, and he looked so breathtakingly beautiful that I forgot what I was going to say.

‘T-This,’ I stuttered, gesturing at him.

‘What if I want to? What if this makes me happy?’ he said, leaning to kiss the soft skin of my inner thigh. ‘You still don’t understand, my love. While Orm is happiest by your side, I am happiest kneeling at your feet.’

What have I done to deserve you? I thought.

I studied the beautiful male kneeling before me, and I saw a strength that humbled me. I couldn’t resist reaching out and trailing my fingers over his soft lips, a radiant smile transforming his features as he nipped my fingertip.

‘Why?’ I asked, trying to understand.

‘Ani, what you did for me—’ He paused. ‘Why do you think Valaram mentioned the trial? He was testing you because deep down, despite all his magic and power, he envied me.’ Ari placed his hands on my thighs. ‘It is a privilege and the highest honour bestowed by the Dark Mother to have a domina willing to fight for you, and you proved in front of the most powerful of the dark fae court that I’m worthy . . . Ani, you gave me back my pride. How can I not kneel for you? How can I not worship you?’

Gods, I want him. I want him so much it hurts , I thought as Orm growled a curt command.

‘Show her, my fae. Worship her as she deserves.’

Alaric’s lips quirked into a roguish smile as he glanced at Orm. ‘As you command, my lord, but I cannot breathe underwater.’

With a shared understanding, Orm lifted me to the edge of the pool. Alaric’s hands slid to my knees, parting them with deliberate care as he placed kisses along my skin. I sighed, relaxing under his touch, and turned my head to the side to nestle it in the crook of Orm’s neck. Orm’s hands, rough and commanding, cupped my breasts while his lips teased my shoulder.

The world dissolved into sensation—their touch, their warmth, the quiet reverence and unspoken promises woven into every movement. I was theirs, wholly and willingly, and in their arms, I found something I’d thought lost forever: a sanctuary.

Orm’s lips brushed my ear, a soft caress that sent shivers racing down my spine. ‘Do you like it?’ he murmured, his voice low and heavy with desire. ‘Fuck, I’ve dreamt of this—watching as he touched you, my powerful Nivale, surrendering to your men.’ His calloused fingers traced fire along my skin. ‘Gods, your skin is burning hot ... You love it, don’t you, sweetheart?’

‘Yes,’ I moaned, letting him guide me, my body ablaze with a sensation so intense it left me trembling. Helpless, yet so right. Alaric’s lips pressed a languid path downwards, his mouth brushing ever closer to my aching sex. I reached for Orm’s hardness, my fingers encircling him. He groaned, his fingers pinching my nipples, his teeth grazing my shoulders and neck in a flurry of sharp, biting kisses.

‘What are you doing to me?’ I whimpered as anticipation coiled tighter in my belly. My Ursus lifted me effortlessly onto his lap, spreading my legs wider.

‘Whatever I want,’ he growled, his commanding tone resonating with molten heat. ‘Let Ari make you ready because I’m going to fuck you so hard you forget your name. Now, are you done protesting, or should I take you right now and tell our fae to quiet you with his cock?’

Orm’s words burned through my defences, leaving only raw desire. ‘I’d prefer to have my fill first,’ the dark fae remarked with a smirk.

‘Ari, please ...’ I gasped, trembling as his tongue found me. Pleasure spiralled out of control, my body arching, but Orm held me firm, spread open for Alaric’s wicked attentions.

‘It’s too much. Please . . .’

I didn’t know what I was asking for—too lost in the feeling, breathless and needy. Even Orm’s breath against my neck was another maddening caress. The aether swirled around us, awakening and growing stronger, reacting to my pleasure and tugging on my connection to Ormond.

‘Gods, Nivale,’ Orm groaned, his voice thick with longing as magic filled our bond. ‘I’d fight a thousand battles for this. For you.’

Alaric chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through me. His fingers traced an electric path across my stomach, teasing sparks of aether with every movement. ‘Wait until I make her come undone. I want to see what it does to you, Orm.’ He pressed a finger into me, and my body instinctively tightened in response.

‘Shh, my love,’ Ari crooned as I cried out, the feeling as he added another finger overwhelming. ‘Relax. Let me take care of you before this brute sticks his big cock inside you.’ The damned scholar was studying my reactions for his own deliciously perverse pleasure, all while teasing and testing me.

My nails dug into Orm’s thighs, drawing blood, as I fought to ground myself in the storm of pleasure. But Alaric’s relentless teasing pushed me higher, closer to the edge, only for him to pull back again and again.

‘Please, Ari,’ I begged, desperation colouring my voice. ‘Stop fucking around—let me finish!’

He finally relented, his thumb finding my clit and unleashing a tiny spark of aether that left me gasping. ‘She’s ready for you,’ he declared, and Orm wasted no time, positioning me above him. His thick length pressed against me, and I groaned as he filled me, inch by excruciating inch.

Orm kissed me deeply, claiming my lips as completely as he claimed my body. His thrusts were deliberate and unyielding, each one igniting every nerve. Through our bond, his emotions poured into me—desire, pride, and an overwhelming love that suffused my being.

But it was more than that. Ormond Erenhart was a commander, not just because he was a leader, but because that was who he was. The man dominated everyone he encountered, and that force of nature now revelled in controlling Alaric and me. Deep down, my loving and respectful Anchor was bound to a beast that was no longer caged and, now that he accepted that part of himself, never would be again.

Orm’s chuckle as he broke the kiss was filled with dark desire, leaving me wanting more. ‘Open your mouth, Annika. Ari has served you well. Now it is time to reward him.’

Alaric stood, his arousal heavy in my line of sight. I obeyed, taking him in my hand and guiding him to my lips. His groan was music to my ears as my tongue traced his length, savouring his taste.

‘That’s my girl. Feed her, Alaric, and ensure she swallows all of it,’ Orm commanded before quickening his pace, his growls reverberating through me as Alaric’s hand tangled in my hair, urging me to take him deeper.

They worked in tandem, their movements pushing me beyond reason and beyond control. Orm’s growled encouragement spurred me on, and I surrendered utterly to their demands.

My instinct took over, reaching for the fae, the binding words forming in my mind, trying to force the Anchor bond. Alaric must have sensed my magic because he shook his head, pulling my hair to distract me as he pushed deeper into my mouth while Orm took me from behind, pounding my flesh with sweet abandon.

‘Hrae! Domina, can you—’ Ari grunted. His body shuddered, and I grabbed his thighs, sinking my nails into his silvery skin. He tensed, crying out words in his native tongue, so melodic that they sounded like a prayer.

‘Do it again, Ani,’ Orm instructed, his hips bucking when my core tightened, reacting to Ari’s ecstasy. ‘Again, Nivale. Make it good for him,’ he growled, slapping my arse and ramming his hard cock to the hilt. Stars exploded across my vision, and I scored Alaric’s flesh with my nails.

I felt the swell of Ari’s cock, his hand tightening on my hair when he unleashed himself in my mouth. My throat instinctively constricted when a salty taste hit the back of it.

‘Swallow, Ani,’ Orm grunted, his hips bucking in reaction to my fae’s ecstasy. Pleasure blinded me with its intensity. My body spasmed in a powerful catharsis that wiped my mind blank. Orm came with a roar, his cock pulsing as he filled me while I sucked Alaric dry.

My warrior crushed me in his embrace, his hands soothing me as my body quaked in the aftermath. ‘I think I died a little,’ I murmured, barely able to keep my eyes open. Gentle hands wiped away the evidence of our lovemaking, but exhaustion pulled me under. They had worn me out, and I was falling asleep in Orm’s arms as Ari finished washing my body.

‘Dark Mother, she’s perfect,’ Alaric whispered reverently. ‘... And she’s asleep.’

‘She is,’ Orm replied, his voice thick with emotion. ‘And I’ll destroy anyone who tries to take her from us again. Look at those bruises . . . Damn it, Ari, they starved her. I am going to destroy them for this, I . . . Double the patrols and ensure one of us is always with her. Ihrain is still dangerous, and several disgruntled nobles will be trying to oust Reynard. They will use anything and anyone to their advantage.’

‘I will enlist the Brotherhood to watch over her. So far, they’ve delivered on their promises.’

‘It would be better to set them on Ihrain’s trail. I won’t be calm until I see his dead body at my feet. That man is fucking vermin ,’ Orm whispered angrily, and I fought my exhaustion to keep listening.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to ask the mages?’

‘The mages? If anything, they’ve caused more trouble than anyone. For now, concentrate on preparing for the trial. What is it exactly, and why was the empress so sour about it?’

‘I’ll tell you more later, but it’s a political tool that can give your brother not only the army but also the support of the entire dark fae empire.’

‘No discussing things without me,’ I mumbled, trying to argue, but a big yawn interrupted my tirade. Orm bent down and kissed my forehead.

‘Let us take you to bed, sweet flower. We can talk tomorrow. It will be a difficult day, but for now, you must rest,’ he murmured into my ear as he lifted me out of the water. ‘Ari, tell the kitchen to send snacks and bring some mead to the room. I’ll be returning to the palace to see Reynard, but I want to make sure Annika is comfortable.’

I grumbled under my breath, and Orm chuckled before shaking his head.

‘Try to relax, Nivale. Thanks to our brief interlude, I have a little too much energy and I intend to use it while Ari cuddles you in bed.’

‘But I want you to join us.’

‘And I will, but later. After you regain your strength, you can come with me anytime you want, but only if you can keep your eyes open.’

Unfortunately, he was right; my eyelids kept closing no matter how hard I tried to fight them. ‘Fine, but you have to tell me everything . . .’ I muttered.

‘I will. Every single detail,’ he promised with a smile as I slipped into the land of dreams.