Chapter 16
Esiree
Iheard its call well before I gazed upon it.
A sweeping symphony of water. I had followed Tempus, of course, but had no recollection of the sights in this part of the Heart.
Only sounds. Initially, I captured the high-pitched pitter-patter of droplets careening into puddles below, followed by soft bubbling as the moisture meandered along the rocky surface, seeking the percussion-like booms of water that thundered all around us.
Torchlight illuminated corridors of shallow pools fed by the Falls’ runoff.
Some were more private than others. But the echoes of powerful water in every direction would soon give way to rhythms of a different kind.
“Welcome to Icaria Falls, Your Majesty.”
All around me, the sounds of carnal pleasure mingled with nature’s most powerful element.
Their moans and gasps were too many to count.
The distinct sound of flesh against flesh jarred me into a kind of sobriety that my eyes could not reconcile.
Hundreds of Vampyr, as far as the eye could see.
Most of which were entirely nude and soaking wet, engaged in what can only be described as a scene from the Gods’ first garden.
Like nymphs, they flitted about the place.
Some playfully chasing after one another, flaunting their true strength and speed.
Others lay rutting on the stone floor, their bodies littering every cavern and crevice.
I didn’t think I had taken a single breath since bearing witness to this exotic place, until Tempus reached for my arm. A wonder of the Heart, indeed…
“It can be quite overwhelming; at least it was for Kesna when she first bore witness to it.”
Too enamored with what was before me, I barely noticed the mention of her name.
Vampyr bodies contorted and moved in ways that had me tilting my head in accordance with the angle of their entanglements. None of them glanced our way or paid us any mind.
Tempus slowly escorted me through the narrow sliver of walkway in the center where it was mostly dry, but the length of my dress soon gathered enough moisture to add considerable weight to each step.
Time seemed to move slowly as we passed each encounter. Positions I did not know existed, movements I could only describe as fast as a flickering flame. The screams, grunts and growls of passion were barely muted by the sound of the Falls.
As we made our way farther from the entrance, I realized he had taken me somewhere even more deviant. A place that not even the darkest corners of my imagination could’ve conceived.
But with every passing moment the scenes before me seeped beneath my skin and coursed through my veins like wine, warming me from within.
My lungs felt tight in anticipation, and before I knew it my core ached for the familiar touch of another.
One set of partners were tied and bound tightly to the walls.
One male was on his knees, his face buried deep between a female’s luscious thighs, while another partner bared his fangs and bit into her sides just below the ribs, in between placing bloodied kisses on the rest of her soaked, bare flesh.
It was debaucherous. It was vulgar. It was fascinating, and I could almost taste copper on my tongue while watching them all.
Lord Tempus and I stood there, gazing like two guiltless voyeurs—but we were hardly the only ones.
Those not engaged in these activities sat or stood and watched, some while caressing their lovers.
No wonder Lailanor wouldn’t speak of this place, and for some reason the thought of Orin being the one to bring me here was even more displeasing.
Tempus gave me the peace and quiet to observe and satiate my curiosity without saddling me with questions or pressure.
For the briefest moment, I had forgotten they were Vampyr.
But here, I was surrounded by plenty who made no effort to conceal their animalistic side.
I was reminded that at any minute their bloodlust could turn toward me.
“Am I safe?” I whispered to my guide.
“From corruption?” he asked, his playful tone disregarding my worry. “From the smell of you, I think not…”
There was no denying how all of this had spurred desire in me.
I had been clenching my thighs, trying to ignore it since the moment one of them locked eyes with me and took his partner from behind with hard, even thrusts.
My mouth watered, my skin itched to be free of my clothes, and I wanted nothing more than to touch myself.
The ache for release was quickly becoming unbearable.
“This way.” Tempus nudged me past the display and toward a less occupied area of the Falls. Nerves began to settle in as I was now entirely unsure of his friendship. Did he want to eat me, court me, or simply fuck me? How had this day led us here?
“Would you like to experience the Falls?” he coaxed me.
“I would like to find myself with my head attached to my shoulders in the morning,” I said, trying to make light of the fact that I was entirely certain Vastion was going to be enraged if he discovered my whereabouts.
“As would I.” He jutted his chin at a narrow, rocky corridor to the left of us. “Through there is a private fall. I will stand guard so that you may rinse—or whatever you choose—in peace.”
“You promise not to leave?” I asked. Then I remembered I was a queen, and instead threatened boldly, “If you do leave, or attempt to breach my privacy, I will ensure you don’t sit at the head table any longer...or any table, for that matter.”
Lord Tempus smiled and nodded while stepping aside so that I could enter the narrow walkway alone.
Before me was a small fall overhead, feeding a tiny pool in the center of the room.
It drained into what appeared to be a natural waterway, ensuring it didn’t overflow.
A couple torches lined the walls, keeping it dimly lit.
I couldn’t believe I was about to do this, but I’d already convinced myself it was some sort of baptism for living in the Heart.
Maybe it would earn me respect from the Vampyr, or maybe Vastion would be looking for his next wife by dawn.
I quickly removed my gown, but left my thin, white undergarment on, telling myself that if I had to defend myself or flee, that I wasn’t going to do it in the nude.
Part of me toyed with the rationale that if Vastion was going to be furious with me, I could at least declare I hadn’t entirely crossed a boundary.
The cool temperature of the water caused my nipples to peak beneath the soft fabric, and I stepped closer to the rushing water.
The mist fanned my face, and I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes.
Visions of all the people we had passed came rushing back.
Turning my back toward the water, I submerged myself just enough for it to begin to pour over and past my shoulders, drenching my underdress.
I pulled the pin from my hair and threw it on the ground beside my gown, letting my red locks soak with the rest of me.
The pressure of the water pounding down against my skin felt divine, like the hands of the Gods massaging and kneading my muscles into submission.
I rolled my shoulders and neck, relaxing into the feel of it.
Each time I let myself get lost in the sensation, the images consumed me once again.
So many things I’d witnessed seemed like they might break someone like me.
Could my human body withstand all that from a man, let alone a Vampyr?
Gods, I wanted to know what it was like to break like that, beneath someone… in that way.
The sounds of their passions occasionally carried into my private bathing room.
Tempted, I ran my hand up my abdomen until I found myself cupping my breast, squeezing it.
A small moan escaped my lips, and I knew I was treading in very dangerous territory.
Could my faithful guard hear me? I bit my lower lip trying to quell my noises.
Maybe I could get away with it? Just this once.
I dragged my fingertips up my bare thigh, running them along the edge of my groin before I gently grazed my slick apex and shivered at the sensitivity of it.
I pushed down firmly and began to make gentle circles.
Gods help me, it had been too long. I moaned once more and knew if I didn’t stop, if I went any further, then the whole of the Vampyr kingdom was going to hear me, and my husband was going to be furious.
Maybe because he hadn’t been the one to elicit the moan from my lips, maybe because I’d given it so freely to an audience of his citizens.
Either way, I had to stop! I used every ounce of self-control remaining to remove my hand and step away from the water.
Quickly relinquishing the wet undergarment, I pulled the damp gown over my head.
I left the underdress on the ground, reasoning that it would be less of a scandal just seeing my wet hair than me carrying my soaked undergarments all the way back to the royal wing.
I departed the room feeling entirely unfulfilled, yet more intrigued than ever.
I was greeted by Lord Tempus, who had kept his word and remained vigilant by the entrance.
After thanking Lord Tempus for the illuminating adventures, I insisted that I make my way back to my room without an escort.
If someone was going to hurt me, surely they’d have done it when I was in the Icaria Falls, not strolling through the Heart.
I couldn’t bring myself to eat dinner in the Royal Hall, in part because I was avoiding Mina, and also because I dreaded the verbal lashing that Orin would no doubt deliver.
I was certain rumors of the queen’s exploits would travel quickly.