39. Rosalina
39
Rosalina
D o not be afraid of the fire within . My father’s words replay in my mind. Today marks one month since we’ve arrived in the Autumn Realm, and it feels like there’s been nothing but fear.
I walk behind Dayton and Farron as we investigate the Emberwood for any signs of the winter wraiths. The brilliant glade’s trees bristle with berries. Some still shine bright orange, while others glitter with frost.
Farron and I have spent the last couple of weeks riding out to villages frozen by the wraiths. My heart flutters as I think of Farron thawing the homes people thought were lost, his touch both gentle and powerful. But word keeps coming that as soon as we free one village, another falls. Kel, Ezryn, and Dayton aren't making much progress either. The frost is spreading faster than we can contain it. And the closer it gets to Coppershire, the more on edge Princess Niamh becomes.
It’s been so busy, the five of us haven’t all been in the same place at the same time, except at night. All the princes have taken turns returning to Castletree. Farron explained the relationship between the castle and the princes is symbiotic; their magic is enriched by the castle, as their own presence strengthens the castle’s magic.
Today, we returned to the first place we saw a winter wraith in hopes there’s a trail, some clue of their origin that we missed before. Ezryn and Keldarion took the northside of the forest, but I’ve decided to stick with Farron and Dayton for now.
The ground below my feet is soft and squishy, wet earth and rotting leaves. The sun has set, and our path is lit only by the light of the full and brilliant moon.
A full moon.
Not only that, a Harvest Moon. There will be a party at the keep tonight in celebration. At least Farron will have a semblance of normalcy.
Dayton throws an arm over my shoulders, tearing me from my thoughts. “So, how come you decided to stick with us? Mommy and Daddy too serious for you?”
I roll my eyes but laugh. “Maybe I thought they were more capable than you two.”
Dayton waggles his eyebrows at Farron. “We did get distracted last time we were here.”
Farron’s cheeks redden. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Something electric shoots between them. “What are you two hiding?”
“Nothing,” Farron says. “Dayton’s just being an idiot, like usual.”
“Oh, come on.” Dayton spreads his arms out. “You didn’t call me an idiot in the ruins.”
Yes, I can see it in the hungry glint in Dayton’s gaze, the quirk of a smile on Farron’s lips. “Oh my god. You two totally did it last time.”
Farron blows out a breath, but Dayton laughs. “Don’t rat us out to the bosses. I’m sure you three had a great time.”
“Kel and Ez spent an hour debating a slimy pattern of ice on a rock until we realized it was snail goo,” I say. “Sounds like being with your crew would have been a lot more fun.”
Something feral flashes in Dayton’s gaze, his pupils darkening. Dayton moves so quick that I barely have time to register what he’s doing. He shoves Farron against a tree and pushes me toward him, caging us both with his arms.
“Dayton!” I cry out, but it comes out more of a breathy moan as he presses his hips into me, squeezing me between them.
“Day.” Farron tries to squirm away, but it just makes his body rub against mine.
“Neither of you are moving,” Dayton says, the muscles in his arms straining. “Not until Fare tells you who he was thinking about.”
“Come on.” Farron twists a hand free and grips Dayton’s arm.
“It wasn’t that long ago, Fare,” Dayton says. “Who were you thinking about as I swallowed your cum?”
I feel the reaction of their bodies on either side of me.
“Kel and Ez are close,” Farron says, but he’s stopped trying to get out of the hold. Instead, there’s now a desperate whine to his voice.
“Then you better get talking.” Dayton follows his words with a quick thrust, pressing his cock against my thin leggings. The movement pushes me into Farron, and my head tilts to his shoulder.
It feels so right to be caged in by these two tall fae males. A mixture of pure safety and unhinged desire floods through me.
Farron’s breath is warm against my cheeks, and my eyes flutter closed. “Tell me.”
“You, naturally,” he says.
Dayton lets out a purely male groan. “How did you like it, pup, being so exposed out in the open, fucked with the wind on your skin?”
“You know I fucking loved it, Day.”
“Rosie, how’d you like to feel it?”
My eyes shoot open. The fae Prince of Summer is gazing down at me with a predatory grin. “Feel what?”
“The open air on your skin.” Dayton drops one of his hands, but neither Farron nor I move. The top laces of my leather corset dangle between Dayton’s fingers.
“Kel and Ez are going to come back any minute,” I stutter. “They’re going to—”
“Then stop me.” He leans down to kiss me.
His lips are fire, the pressure pushing me against Farron. Dayton draws the string completely out of the front of the corset in a fluid movement. The front falls open, leaving me covered only by the loose cream blouse. A cold wind whips over the newly exposed skin, and my breasts feel heavy and loose without the support of the corset.
“Fucking perfect,” Dayton gleams. “Touch her, Fare.”
Farron lets out a pained sound, but then Dayton grips the Autumn Prince’s hand, moving it over me. Lightly, Farron’s fingers touch the soft skin of my breast.
He lets out a shuddering gasp, and even the briefest contact with him has me clenching my legs shut.
“I know that look,” Dayton says. “Tell me, Blossom, is he hard?”
I gasp as he pushes me against Farron, and yes, his hard cock presses against my ass. Farron groans, his hand slowly moving down my breast.
Breaking branches sound, and we all scramble away from each other as Ezryn and Kel burst through the leaves.
“Anything to report?” Ezryn asks, looking at each of our guilty faces.
Kel’s just staring at us. He doesn’t look mad but… pained. Then I remember he can feel what I do, or at least some version of it.
“Let’s get moving,” Ezryn says. “We have to brief the Princess before the festival.”
Keldarion shakes his head, then turns. “And for stars’ sake, lace your bodice, Rosalina.”
I look down at the shirt Dayton unlaced. Yep, I’m indecent. Without the thick leather holding everything in, my breasts hang loose in the thin fabric.
But when Keldarion wants me to do something, it makes me want to do anything else. “If you want it laced so badly, do it yourself.”
“It seems you are getting used to royal life, with servants dressing you,” he growls. “Do you enjoy being treated like a princess?”
When you’re the one treating me that way, I think. But I shake my head. “Whatever, I can do it—”
But he’s in front of me now, swatting my hands down, and delicately picking up the laces. His fingers are rough and calloused, looping the thread through the eyelets of the corset, stitching it closed. Every brush of his hands against my sensitive skin sends skittering pulses of heat through me, and I clamp my legs shut.
Damn Dayton for starting this all. And damn Keldarion’s hands for feeling so good against my skin.
The other princes move in a semicircle, watching as if in rapture. There’s something predatory in their gazes. Chills run down my spine as if Kel and I are cornered by hungry animals.
Maybe we are.
I take a deep breath, causing my chest to rise. It presses Kel’s hands against the delicate skin of my breasts.
His fingers tremble. “Rosalina,” he says, a warning edge to his voice.
A warning I want nothing more than to ignore, so I tilt my head at him, hair falling over my shoulders. So easy to tear, so easy to rip apart… Words I wish he’d say filter through my mind, and it’s like I can hear his deep voice etching a place within me. Lay you bare and have you here upon the forest floor.
“Move your hair,” he says. One of his fingers dips between the valley of my breasts. I press my thighs together, sensing I’m going to soak through my underclothes.
There’s a heavy presence behind me. Ezryn. “Let me.” A rough, gloved hand caresses my neck as he sweeps my hair away from my face.
Oh stars. Ohh stars . Kel’s gaze shifts from me to Ezryn. It’s like there’s a silent conversation between the two of them. I can’t handle this. I’ve already been pressed between two fae princes today.
I can’t help but let out a soft groan as Kel’s rough fingers delicately touch the last of my exposed skin, tying my corset together.
A small, matching growl escapes his lips, then he snatches my face. “Are you satisfied?”
My eyes flit over him, down the hard planes of his chest, until I see the obvious outline of his arousal. Hard and yearning. Yearning for me.
Ezryn gives a tight yank on my hair, and I fall against his hard metal frame. “Careful what you say next, Petal.”
But I don’t want to be careful. Not around them. “I could ask you the same question.” My voice comes out husky, dripping with desire.
Kel’s grip tightens on my jaw. Wild thoughts race through my mind as my body trembles. He just did up my laces, but I want to throw off my top, all my clothes, and toss myself naked onto the forest floor until one of these muscled idiots fills my aching—
Keldarion loosens his hold and turns. “You are going to be the death of me.”
Dayton clears his throat. “You know what I’m feeling? Forest orgy. Hear me out, we all get naked and—”
Keldarion storms away, and Ezryn gives a dissatisfied sigh, letting go of my hair and following Keldarion.
I giggle. Did he read my mind or something? I walk over to Dayton. “Sorry, Day, no forest orgies today.”
“It’s alright.” Dayton throws his arms around me and Farron. “There’s always tomorrow.”