Chapter 21
Bellator
Opening the door to our room, I step aside, gesturing for Rosie to enter first. I would argue that even against the most skilled warrior, I am talented in the art of reading expressions, and right now, with the scowl etched on Rosie’s face, I don't need to use the skill at all.
She is furious about the spectacle in the market.
“Bond me,” she snaps. “Bond me now, let's do the ritual.”
Quickly closing the door, Steve pours us all cups of water while I sit on the couch, observing as she paces back and forth.
“Soulbound, I wish it were that simple.”
“Well, why isn’t it? What makes it so difficult that we can't just do it now and have it done with?” She stomps her foot, her bottom lip trembling.
“Come, little female. Do not let your eye balls water.”
It’s not often I breathe a sigh of relief when a female’s eyes water in front of me. Emotions can be a wonderful thing, and having Rosie react like this means more than she could ever know.
Somewhere, not as deep down as I first thought, she cares for both my brother and I. Steve’s less than average looks, and my current status as a prisoner of Imperia has not swayed her opinion of us. We may be fated, but she could always choose to walk away.
She shuffles over to me, and I reach out my hand, letting her curl onto my lap.
Pressing her face into my cloak, her stilted breath stopping Steve in his tracks, awkwardly holding three glasses.
My hand leisurely rubs her back, gliding over her shapely hips and thick thighs.
Her breathing starts to even out, and with one stilted deep breath, she sits up, and I tuck a piece of loose hair behind her ear.
“Your skin is blotchy.”
“Bellator,” scolds Steve.
“What?” I question.
“You're a dick.” Rosie chimes in.
“You have been too long at war. You forget Rosie is not one of your soldiers and thus shouldn't be spoken to as such.”
Steve comes and sits next to me, Rosie scowling at us both. I don't understand why she is upset. Her eye water has made her skin red and blotchy, I was simply telling her.
“Maybe you're right, brother,” I say sceptically, observing the subtle nod of Rosie's head.
I must remember not to comment on these new experiences I have with her.
Steve is right, I have been away too long.
I've become accustomed to impish liking me because of the respect I’ve earned; I don't know how to navigate Rosie and her indifference to my station.
Rosie huffs, sliding herself across my lap until she's resting against Steve. Am I being punished?
“Can you tell me and my blotchy skin why we can't bond right now? Can't say I'm all that in the mood anymore,” she mumbles.
“I am sorry. Steve's right. I have forgotten a lot of how I'm meant to interact with others.
Back at the front, if you don't say what you're thinking when you need to, you may never get the opportunity.
Death is the only thing that is certain.
We are bonded. Our marks prove that. The Emperor's words were meant to scare us, but he does not dictate when our ritual will happen. The ritual merely cements what we already know. It allows us to connect.”
“He already thinks we’ve completed it.” Steve interrupts.
“Well, in that case, it is better to wait until you're ready to take us both. It will not be easy for you to let us both into your body and have to look at Steve's unfortunate face.”
Gasping, her jaw drops. “Bellator!”
“Rosie?” I say, unsure of why I'm still being scolded.
“I can't believe you just said that!”
“It is true, no?”
“No, it's not true!”
“We measured once when we were younger. Twins should be equal in all things, but my cock is a hair's breadth longer.”
“And you never let me forget it.” Steve mumbles.
“We will need to prepare you—”
“I’m not talking about your cocks!” she snaps.
“Steve? His skin is barely scarred?” Does she not understand the way orcfolk view scars? They determine so much for our kind.
“It is okay, Princess,” Steve says, rubbing her back just like I was moments ago. “Orcs see beauty in the struggle. Scars are highly valued, and I do not have many of them.”
“I think you're incredibly handsome. You both are,” she answered in a firm voice, calm but unyielding.
“That's all that matters then.” Steve smiles at her, and I’m in awe of how he brings her comfort. It is a skill I have never paid much attention to, but one I must learn to earn my Rosie’s tenderness.
She leans forward, her eyes drunk in lust as she looks at Steve.
He grins clumsily at her, but when their mouths touch, for the first time in my life, I am jealous of my brother.
My cock grows hard as I watch them. Soft little whimpers escape Rosie as she wraps her arms around Steve’s neck and shoulder.
Their tongues caress, exploring each other, the feel and taste of our bond throbbing between them, and I desperately want to be a part of it.
Awkwardly, I hover my hand near the back of her head. No, that’s not right, maybe the crook of her arm? The tips of my fingers graze her skin, and I immediately snatch it back. I want to worship her, to bring her body immense pleasure.
Sitting back in my seat, I see in my mind's eye the silken fabrics I want her adorned in.
The gold I wish to see around her neck. Her skin dripping in fine metals and gems. If I watch Steve, follow his lead, then that has to be a starting point.
There is a reason we are both bonded to her and not just the one.
A small feminine hand darts out, fiercely holding onto the collar around my neck. I'm used to the weight of it now, so distracted by Rosie that I forgot I was still shackled. It is cool, no sign of the burn before I am shocked into darkness.
“You’re overthinking it, Bellator,” she pants, trying to catch her breath.
“Soulbond. I don't like—”
“No Bellator,” She tugs on the collar, her fingers wrapping around, pulling me forward. “If this is going to work between us, you need to…”
Click.
The front half of the collar swings open, my neck exposed as it slides down my back, resting between where my body and the couch meet.
“What just happened?” Rosie freezes.
“Steve,” I growl. We talk with no words.
Immediately, he picks Rosie up, placing her by the bed, standing in front of her, blocking her from view. I can hear her protests, but I'm not bothered. She’s safe.
With caution, I turn and extract the open metal ring, examining it in detail while being careful not to activate its power. I still have no clue how he controls it, but seeing as there are no guards storming our suite, the Emperor is unawares it has been removed.
It looks like there are two half circles, held together with a hinge on one side and a lock on the other.
With it removed, I can now see the small hole that you would require either a key or some sort of small hook to release the mechanism.
Something like one of Rosie's fingers. She is so much smaller than an orc, or even the imps of the city, that there is no way they could have known my bonded would be capable of opening it.
This changes everything.
Holding it in front of me, I bring the two ends together slowly, waiting for the click of the lock.
Wait a minute?
I close it again, and nothing. No click, no alert that it’s locked, just nothing.
“Rosie, could you come here, please?”
“Finally,” she says, ducking under Steve's arm.
“I am going to reattach this around my neck. You see this small hole here? I need you to find it and press the release button if it locks.”
Her eyes are wide as she looks between Steve and me. “What happens if I can't open it again? I don't like this Bellator.”
Reaching out for her hand, I gently rub it, pulling her in between my legs and holding her against my chest. “If it works how I think it does, then this gives us a chance to end this the right way. You need to earn the sway of the impish. The Emperor does not have it, and we will not achieve it by storming his high towers.”
“This is madness.” She trembles.
I place the collar around my neck, showing her the small hole where the button will form once closed. It feels three times its weight when I fasten it, and the click cements its place back around my throat. They must really hate our kind if it only locks around my neck. A collar for their pet.
Tentatively, her fingers trace along my jaw before I feel her hand move under my chin and around the cool metal. Her brow dips as she concentrates on her task, her tongue peaking out just slightly as her small human fingers once again find the release button and the collar swings open.
“We need to form a plan.” I rush out. A world of opportunity opening up to us.
A whoosh sound comes from behind Steve, and we all look to see the familiar red and gold envelope slide from beneath the door, making it halfway into the room.
We need to form a plan now, because it may already be too late.