Chapter 18
Rosalind
HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL - NESSA BARRETT ?
So this is the man, well, imp, everyone is so worried about.
On the surface, he doesn't look like much.
His skin is like cracked leather, a weird grey hue to it, but nothing different to the other impish I've seen around the city.
Apart from his heavy gut bulging beneath his red and gold robes.
He lounges back in his oversized throne, giving off the aura of a child playing with his father's things.
I hold Steve's finger as we approach the Emperor. I wish I could properly hold his hand, our size difference making it nearly impossible. On the flip side, it is comforting having a giant orc at my side.
“I see you received my invitation,” he sneers, looking at where our hands join. “And it's true, you are bonded. I assume you’ve completed the ritual.” He looks off into the distance, appearing indifferent, but his need for control is oozing from him.
“Naturally, the ritual is complete. As you can see, I have my bond marks.” Steve holds up his forearm, showing off the two black bands that appeared after I couldn't stop humping him the other morning. I make a mental note to ask about the ritual and how it relates to our bonding. I’ve been privy to enough of these sorts of meetings to know how to read the room, and the last thing I'm going to do is undermine Steve and what he’s just told the Emperor.
“You understand that I have decreed all orcs are to be imprisoned, and I do mean all orcs. Green-skins are no longer welcome in Realm Six.” His eyes squint so hard you would think he was trying to read Steve's mind.
Several guards walk into the room, joining the two stationed by the Emperor.
“Of course, we will keep your human safe. She is a valuable possession to have in my kingdom.”
Steve clenches his hand, my own getting trapped within his hold.
“Yes, I am aware of the order. Need I remind you that I am from Realm Seven and your ruling does not apply to me or my bonded. I have committed no crimes in your city, but I have shared many Aureus coins. Tell me, Emperor, why are the impish so hungry?”
His eyes flare as he realises Steve's challenge.
“My imps are controlled!” he spits. “The city of Imperia forgot who was in charge, so I simply pushed them in the right direction.
Your damned brother–– ugh, never mind. Your brother belongs in the cells.
I've been informed he was removed without my permission.”
Steve’s breathing picks up beside me. “If I may,” I wave my hand in the air, gaining everyone’s attention, Steve's hand tightening once again, “I believe the inter-Realm rules state bonds must not be separated.”
“So the pet talks,” the Emperor smirks, looking to Steve for a reaction. Unfortunately for the Emperor, I'm not naive to his intentions.
“How original,” I say, rolling my eyes. Letting go of Steve's hand, I stroll forward a few steps, pretending to take in the large room.
“I believe the Devil monitors the inter-Realm rules?” I have no clue, but I'm trying to play off what Steve said to the guards down in the prison.
If they were affected by the reminder, then I'm sure everyone has to follow those rules regardless of status. It wouldn’t work if others were exempt from them.
“This is my Realm, human. Remember your place.”
The guard to the left of us slowly withdraws his sheathed sword, his eyes flickering a bright red as the steel drags across his metal chest plate, the screeching sound drawing everyone’s attention.
“Do you challenge the Devil’s rules?” I question. Even I'm shocked at my confidence. Earth Rosie could never. “Should we summon—”
“Enough! What is your point?”
“Bellator stays with us.”
“He is my prisoner!” the Emperor yells, his cheeks mottled.
“Watch how you speak to my bonded. She is right in her words. We can summon the Devil if you choose to igno—”
“No one is summoning the Devil,” he spits.
I bite down on my lips, trying to hide the grin that's threatening to come out. He clearly doesn't like being reminded of his place.
“My bonded is right. Bellator will stay with us. Any request of him can be sent to our lodgings. You already know where that is.” Steve's voice is like a command, leaving little room for further discussion on where Bellator resides. My shoulders sag a little, the tension easing, knowing we’ve made a little headway.
“You have no idea what you're messing with, orc. There are things at play that will carry on no matter how you interfere,” the Emperor declares.
“What happened to the water?” Steve asks.
The Emperor smirks at the words. He knows. “There's something magical about how the city looks now, isn't there. Like it's waiting to be brought to life again.”
Steve steps forward, practically vibrating. “Is that your plan? To tear the city apart and blame it on my brother.”
“Your brother should have kept his place,” He froths, spittle flying from his mouth. “The impish will learn who to love.”
Swiftly, Steve lifts me, carrying me in his arms while I grasp onto him.
“I think we’re done here, Emperor. I see what your plan is, and I will tell you now, it will fail.
You can take the food, you can even take the water, but you will never earn the respect of the impish. They will never love you.”
We walk away, a guard closing the door to the Emperor's throne room as we move over the threshold. The sound of broken glass smashing somewhere behind it.
Entering our room, I see Bellator sleeping in the far corner.
Propped up in a chair by the window, a clear line of sight to the door.
His mouth is parted, chest slowly rising and falling.
As soon as I saw him, it was easy to see they were fraternal twins.
They look similar but are not identical at all.
Bellator's hair hangs loosely from a bun on his head; Steve has none.
He has more chest hair than Steve too, but their thighs are equally thick.
Their abs both ripple, and the sharpness of their jaws leaves me salivating.
I wonder if Bellator's tusk feels the same as Steve's, or if it will have its own unique feel to it.
Biting my lower lip, I feel my cheeks heat at the direction my thoughts have taken.
I feel where we connect through the bond, but seeing the power he wields, knowing he is mine, has me clenching my thighs together.
I sit on the couch, backing onto the partition, closing my eyes and smiling to no one.
“That was amazing,” I whisper to Steve as he sits down next to me, stretching out his legs. “Did you see his face? I thought he was going to explode; he was so worked up.”
“You did well, princess. I am proud to call you my bonded.” He stares at me, his eyes softening as he places a hand on my thigh.
“I've never been allowed to talk to someone like that, and it just… it made me feel powerful for the first time ever. Imagine going your whole life never being able to say your opinion and then bam, take that, you knob head.” My head lolls back, and I return his stare.
“How long do you think Bellator needs to sleep before he feels better?”
“I am not sure. I would have thought he would have come around by now.”
“What’s the ritual?” I blurt out. Biting down on my bottom lip, wondering if he will tell me the truth or gloss it over.
“Ah, you heard that part, did you?” He takes his hand, rubbing it over his face.
“The ritual is the final part in cementing our bond. Technically, we needed Bellator to complete it anyway, but when we did the dry-humping, it activated the bond. That’s why our marks appeared.
The connection we felt was enough to spark it… we just haven’t finished it yet.”
“I don't understand? Finished it?” I furrow my brow, confused. Our marks have appeared, and I feel this pull toward them both, but he’s telling me there's more?
“Orc’s bond marks appear when extreme emotion for their partner is felt. It is by either fear for their life or lust for their being. There is no way to confirm if a ritual has been completed, so when the Emperor asked, I told him what he wanted to hear.”
“How do we complete the ritual?” I whisper, keeping my voice low as Bellator snores in his chair.
“We mate.”
The words hang in the air.
Mate?
“You mean sex?” I say, needing confirmation.
“I'm not sure what the sex is, but we must mate to complete the ritual. Because Bellator and I are twins, we must all mate.”
He leaves the words hanging in the air, and I look between Bellator and Steve.
“You won't fit?” I say, breathing out the words that repeat like a giant neon sign in my head.
“If it's the same thing, then mating is the same as sex,” I hurriedly whisper, getting up on my knees and facing him. “That means your—”
“Cock.”
“Goes in my—”
“Womb-Door.”
“Vagina.” We both say the different words at the same time.
My jaw drops. Scrambling, I quickly stand, leaning against him, plastering my palm over his mouth, looking over my shoulder, checking no one else magically appeared in the room.
“Are you fucking joking with that, Jesus Christ on a bike?” I panic.
“What in the Orwellian, 1984, are you talking about. Womb-Door.” A giggle bursts out of me, and I lean into Steve's neck to muffle my laughter. “Please never call it that again.”
“Womb-door is self-explanatory. I do not know what a Va-geen-ah is.”
“I'm not going into a full anatomy class here, but if you can't say vagina, then what about pussy?” I feel the stir of arousal in my clit when I say pussy aloud. It’s a word I've never been brave enough to actually say.
“Pu-say.” He sounds it out. “Pussy. Yes, that is fine.”
The need begins to build in my core. We look at each other, and I lick my lips, the pull toward him growing as my arousal builds. His throat bobs as his arm wraps around my waist, his hand resting against my ass. “Steve,” I moan.
“Princess?” he breathes out.
“Kiss me.” And I smash my lips against his.