CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“I’m not asking for a kidney here,” said Khalida later on with a huff. “It’s a simple request.”
“It’s a nosy request,” I corrected.
“Why does that matter?”
Well, of course that would be her response.
“Come on,” she began, leaning toward me, “is Talon into any out there stuff or not?” As if to be sure that he hadn’t overheard her, she spared him a quick glance. He stood several feet away with Keyes, who’d caught Talon’s attention just as he appeared to be making his way to me.
“Let it go,” I told her, idly tugging on the courtyard’s short grass.
Her jaw firmed. “You’re my cousin. You have to tell me everything about everything. That’s the rule.”
“But we’re not actually cousins. And even if we were, it wouldn’t entitle you to know my private business.”
“Of course it would. Where do you hear such lies?”
Exchanging a look with a chuckling Jelani, I shook my head. The rest of our group were scattered around the outdoor space of the garrison, laughing and drinking and dancing.
It turned out that, by ‘celebrate,’ Ajax had meant we’d have a party right here sometime after the evening meal. There was no bonfire this time, but there was music and singing.
Nakoa and Soule were among the dancers. Quillen was talking with several other officiates.
I was happily lounging on the courtyard, proudly wearing my new uniform. The black tunic and breeches bore the Order’s insignia and were much better quality than the clothing that candidates were given.
The rest of my new and similarly branded clothes were tucked away in my closet near the bunkbed I’d earlier claimed. I now slept on the same floor of the same barracks as Khalida and Nakoa. Or I would sleep there whenever I wasn’t sharing Talon’s bed.
Until moments ago, when I’d noticed him heading my way, I hadn’t seen him since the Sovereigns’ speech this morning—we had both been busy with other things.
As such, I hadn’t yet informed him that I’d now be among those who worked at the stables every morning.
Keyes had easily agreed to assign me the position.
Apparently, not many people volunteered to work with the Arions and Laelaps. Go figure.
I looked up as one of the female Nemeans appeared and asked Jelani to dance. Seeming pleasantly surprised, he agreed and headed off.
“You’re not going to tell me what I want to know, are you?” groused Khalida, glaring at me.
I inwardly sighed at her persistence. “No.”
She pouted. “You’re even worse at the cousin thing than you were at being my bestie.”
“Where’s Quillen?”
“Who cares?”
“I thought you might. Last time I saw him, he was talking to … what’s the name of the Delphiae who’s got her eye on him?”
Khalida minutely tensed. “Trying to distract me won’t work. Especially since I know that you’re lying.”
I glanced to where I’d last spotted him and, yup, the Delphiae was still chatting to him with stars in her eyes. “See for yourself.”
Khalida tracked my gaze, and her face hardened. With a long inhale, she turned back to me. “It’s fine,” she bit out. “I don’t care.”
“Yeah, it seems like you’re good with it.” I stifled a smile as the struggle to remain here played out across her face. Eventually, she cracked.
“I’ll be right back.” She leapt to her feet.
I watched as she stalked over to the pair, her hands perched on her hips. Quillen caught her unimpressed expression and tensed. The Delphiae, too, seemed wary.
Someone plopped their ass on the ground beside me. “Hello, there.”
Meeting Skye’s gaze, I went rigid.
She lifted a reassuring hand. “I haven’t come over here to dump shit on your lap. You’re one of us now. That means something to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve actively tried to dislike you. Really, really tried. But you don’t annoy me—it’s aggravating.”
I snorted. “Uh, thanks.”
“I’m obviously not thrilled to hear you’re sleeping with Talon, but I have no right to bitch at you about it. The fact is I have no claim to him, much as I might wish otherwise.”
“It’s possible you remind him too much of how Eva once looked. He might find it weird.”
Skye gave a grim nod. “I did consider that. Whatever the case, he’s not interested in me. I can accept that. But I have to tell you, Anara, I’m going to look. He’s just so pretty.”
I snickered. “Just don’t touch, and we’re golden.”
A teasing gleam entered her eyes. “Hmm, possessive, are we? I don’t blame you. He’s certainly possessive of you. At first, I thought maybe he was just keeping you close because he needs to watch and report your every move to the Sovereigns. But no, it isn’t that.”
I didn’t believe so either. “Even if it was, I wouldn’t see that it mattered. He’ll watch me whether I’m in his bed or not. I might as well get some sex out of it.”
Her lips twitched. “I suppose. As of tonight, you’ll have your own bed. He’ll have no reason to take you to his bedchamber anymore. Think he still will?”
“Again, I don’t see that it matters. A bed is a bed.”
She tilted her head, eyeing me closely. “You seem to have your head straight where he’s concerned.”
“I’m a realist.”
“Generally, so am I.” She sighed. “But he makes me think with my lady bits.”
I chuckled. “That’s his fault.”
“Absolutely.”
A pair of legs materialized directly in front of us. I slowly looked up, unsurprised to find that it was Talon looming over us. “Oh. Hey.”
His gaze bounced from me to Skye, narrowing suspiciously. He studied my expression, as if searching for signs of discomfort or something. I gave him a reassuring smile, but it didn’t appear to relax him. He held out his hand to me.
I felt my nose wrinkle. “You don’t want to dance, do you? I’m not good at that. It won’t end well for either of us,” I warned, placing my palm in his.
He effortlessly hauled me to my feet and, keeping possession of my hand, led me away from the courtyard. His eyes briefly darted back to Skye before he shot me a raised brow.
“She didn’t say anything to hurt or piss me off, if that’s what you’re wondering. I’d tell you if she did.” I pulled a face. “Okay, probably not.” I was no snitch. “But she really didn’t.” I gave him a teasing grin. “It’s so sweet that you’d check.”
His eyes went slitted in annoyance as he glared at me.
I bit back a chuckle. “You’re making me think of Bitsy again.” I sighed. “Gods, I miss that cat.” I snorted at the impatience rippling across his face. “So, you’re not asking me to dance?”
His cranky Absolutely not look made clear what he thought of that idea. Apparently dancing wasn’t his thing.
I hummed. “Then what do you want?”
Talon gave me a slow onceover, taking in the sight of me in my uniform; intently stroking over my hair. His gaze returned to mine, heat bleeding into its depths.
My stomach flipped. “Well, once the celebration is over, we can have our fun.”
He gestured at the three barracks and then shot me a questioning look.
“I’m staying in that one,” I told him, pointing at the building in the center.
He carefully spun me to fully face that particular barracks and started ushering me toward it, his front pressed to my back.
I frowned. “Why are we going here?”
He plucked at both my tunic and pants.
I squinted, struggling to follow. “You want me to grab more clothes?”
He let out a grunt of assent.
Realization hit. He wanted me to have fresh gear for tomorrow. “I take it this means you want me to spend the entire night in your bedchamber again.”
He nodded against my shoulder.
“Okay. But we don’t need to do this right now. The party is still …” I trailed off as sharp teeth seductively grazed a sensitive spot on my neck, making my core clench. “Oh, all right.”
He released me when we entered the barracks, and our footsteps echoed up the stairwell as we climbed to the sixth floor. There, I pulled open the door and led him inside. It was empty of people, which I’d expected, given a party was in full swing outside.
I passed the common area, communal garderobe, and several rows of bunkbeds before reaching my own.
“Mine’s the lower bunk,” I told Talon as I swiped my knapsack out from under it.
I dug clothing out of my designated trunk and dumped it into the sack, along with my hygiene pack.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I met his gaze … and my belly did a slow tumble at the carnal intent in his expression.
Talon stepped into my personal space, swallowing it up. Hunger steadily darkened his eyes, firmed his jaw, and shaped his mouth into a thin slash.
I licked my lips. “Someone could come in here.”
Power blasted out of his palm. I heard the door slam shut and the lock snick.
Well. I gasped as he snagged a fistful of my hair. The small pain tightened my nipples, and tiny sparks of excitement skipped along my skin. “If someone comes up here and starts banging on the door, it’s gonna ruin the—”
He took my mouth in a kiss that burned. Possessed. Chipped away at my hesitancy with every lash of his tongue.
I sank into the kiss, dropping my knapsack and grabbing at his shoulders. He pulled hard on my hair and swallowed my answering moan.
He drew back and slammed a Get rid of it look on my tunic. I shed it fast while he tackled the laces of my breeches with sharp, impatient movements. He shoved down both my braies and pants as I removed my breast band.
Talon roughly spun me to face the bunkbed. I shot out my hands to steady myself and gripped the top iron rail tight. Plastering his front to my back, he took my hand and dipped it down low. He used both my finger and his own to play with my clit—rubbing it, rolling it, flicking it.
I moaned, I whimpered, and I really hoped my sounds didn’t carry outside these walls.
His hand soon disappeared, and I felt him fumbling with his breeches. His teeth grazed the hollow beneath my ear as he plunged a finger inside me from behind. He grunted in satisfaction—probably because I was wet—and then replaced his finger with the broad head of his cock.