Chapter 15
Carrik
I’ve been reassigned to stand guard at the lift that leads up to the palace level.
Horek didn’t release me to carry a lethal weapon yet because he doesn’t want to raise too much suspicion, which I understand.
I no longer need to have direct supervision by a senior officer, but I am still required to check in via comm with the commander every few clicks.
Arvik argued with Horek when he was given the news, and when the senior officer stormed out of the command room I’d been standing outside of, he glared with pure hatred. Not that I care. My hope, though, is that he doesn’t try to make my life difficult.
Janik and Horek believe the more freedom I’m given, the more likely it is that Ryvik will contact me.
They also want me to use my lack of supervision to gather intel on Mohneek’s whereabouts.
Hopefully Ryvik or Tarrik, the guard who’d escorted me to the throne room, will lead us to her and Orvak.
Or at least get an idea of what they might have planned.
The fact that they’ve hidden themselves away this well and for this long is a bad sign.
It means she’s had—and continues to have—help. But from whom is the question.
To my surprise, more people than I expected visit the palace.
Ever since Alik became lost to the mating fever and imprisoned, Queen Veroneek no longer hosts dinner parties.
In fact, news is she stays mostly in her suites and rarely ventures out, other than to make brief visits to the pit to try to get through to her son.
So far, it’s been a wasted effort. He is lost, and there is no getting him back.
My thoughts drift to Lindsey. I can’t help but picture her.
Or remember the way she had been spread out over me.
Or the scent of her arousal. Gods’ blood, I need to stop thinking of her or I will forget every duty I’ve sworn to uphold and, instead, seek her out and sate my desire in her cunt.
Even her mouth would temporarily satisfy me.
The number of times I have used my hand to bring myself to release since leaving her rooms yesterday is too many to count. Each one left me unsatisfied, but until she is ready to seal our mating bond, my hand will have to do.
“Greetings, Bannik.”
I curse myself for the distraction and not hearing or seeing the approaching male before now. “Greetings, Ryvik.”
“I see you are proving your loyalty.” He gestures around. “No more supervision to make sure you stay in line.”
“As I said before, I swore my fealty to the queen, just as you—and countless other former rebels—did.”
Ryvik smirks. “Yes, we did.”
“Is there something you needed?”
“How is your brother? Carrik, isn’t it?”
I control my breathing. “My hatred for my brother is well-known. It is also known that I don’t speak to or acknowledge him. Which means I have no idea how he is, nor do I care to.”
“Yes, we are well aware of those things,” Ryvik says cryptically.
We? “Is there a point to this conversation?”
“I am merely wondering if you are certain where your loyalties lie. Rumor has it your brother may not be who he seems.”
My whole life has been spent training to never give away any of my thoughts. To never let emotions I can’t control be exposed. It takes every bit of strength and power I have not to react to his statement.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Am I appearing confused enough? Intrigued enough? I can’t stop analyzing if I am reacting as the true Bannik would.
Ryvik glances around. “Meet me inside Warik’s tavern tomorrow at three clicks after the sun descends below the horizon.”
He doesn’t wait for my agreement before striding away and melding in with a passing group of Jintiri priests.
I stare at the spot where he disappeared, but he’s gone.
What is it the former rebel knows about Carrik—me?
Or is this merely a ploy? Why am I suddenly becoming so impatient that this whole farce come to an end?
It can’t, though. Not until the entire rebellion is squashed and Mohneek, along with those loyal to her, have been brought to justice for the deaths they caused.
I don’t reach out to either Horek or Janik regarding my discussion with Ryvik. Who knows who might be watching me. Plus, I have never before been reliant on the prince on any of my missions. He trusted me to handle them all as I see fit. Until I’m instructed otherwise, I will continue to do so.
My shift is long and—aside from Ryvik—uneventful.
Boring, in fact. Being stationed in a single spot and unable to move around freely is not going to get me what I need.
It is also not an activity I am used to.
I despise it. There is a well of untapped energy inside me waiting to be set free after lying dormant for nearly half the day.
I should return to the barracks, but instead, the moment my replacement arrives, I head elsewhere.
Given how late it is, the streets are quiet as I make my way to the females’ housing complex.
Although the sun hasn’t fully descended yet, the faint evidence of night slowly creeps in.
Two guards stand at attention on each visible corner where the building sits, as well as at the front entrance. One stops me before I can enter.
“It’s late. Are you expected?”
“Yes.” I’m not, but if Lindsey wishes for me to leave, I will. But it will be her choice.
He studies me for a moment before finally stepping back and letting me pass.
The ride up the lift is swift, and soon, I am on the eighth floor, standing in front of her door.
I take only a short pause before I knock twice in quick succession.
While I wait, I suddenly regret my impulsivity.
So far it has done nothing but get me in trouble. What if she has no wish to see me?
It’s too late to leave, because the door opens and there Lindsey stands wearing a matching top and bottom with purple and white flowers designed within the fabric. Her bare toes wiggle in the plush rug that covers her floor. Wide eyes stare at me.
“I apologize for showing up unannounced and so late.”
She shakes her head and steps back, widening the opening. “No, it’s fine, really. Come on in.”
Before Lindsey can change her mind, I do as she says.
She closes the door and turns to me. Once again, an out-of-character impulse takes over, and I claim her mouth with mine.
I cradle her face and deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue inside when she opens in surprise.
She hesitates only briefly before returning my kiss fully and wrapping her arms around me. Her palms dig deep into my upper back.
She clutches my shoulder blades and presses herself harder against me.
I slide my leg between hers, and her cunt is hot and damp as she rocks herself over the hard surface of my thigh.
Without breaking our connection, I walk forward until Lindsey’s back connects with the wall behind her.
I slide one hand up and spear my fingers through her soft hair while I palm her jaw with the other and hold her in place as I devour her.
She releases breathy moans, and I swallow each one.
The hard pebbles of her breasts bite into my chest. I need to feel more of her.
My hand drifts down—past her throat—and I mold my fingers around the plush mound.
Beneath my trou, my cock hardens and aches to be released.
I draw on all the patience I have, because this is about my heart’s fire’s pleasure first. Lindsey is all that matters.
I gently pinch the rigid tip of her breast, and she whimpers against my lips. Cursing, I ease the pressure, because I have no wish to cause her pain.
“More,” she begs. “I need more.”
“I didn’t hurt you?”
She shakes her head. “No. Please touch me again.”
Whatever she desires, I will give her. I bring my hand to her breast again and shape it.
Between my fingers, I roll the beaded center, increasing the pressure slowly.
Lindsey shudders, and her blunt claws dig into my flesh.
She grinds her pelvis harder against my leg, and her cunt grows wetter, dampening the fabric of both layers that separate us. Two too many layers.
Our tongues parry, and I drift my other hand down her body.
Her breath catches as I stroke along the length of her ribs and lower.
My flesh is on fire, and my fangs ache with the need to bite and mark her.
I want to sink deep into her cunt, where she’ll feel me for days.
I dip my hand below the band of her pants, and my fingers graze a soft patch of fur.
“God, yes. I need…”
I pause all movement. “What does my heart’s fire need?”
“I need to come. Please.”
“You never have to beg. I am yours to command.” With that, I continue my task.
The scent of her arousal is overpowering, and I fill my lungs with the fragrance.
Her cunt is soaking wet, and my fingers glide easily through the fur that covers it.
A short distance above her seam is a fleshy nub, and when I caress it, Lindsey’s legs shake and nearly give out.
She cries out and throws her head back. Pleasure is written on her face.
Her eyes are heavy with desire. I circle and rub the sensitive kernel with my thumb, while my other fingers seek out her entrance.
I dip one inside, and it slides easily through the liquid heat that spills from her.
“Is this what you want?”
She nods, the movement frantic and erratic.
“I want to hear you say it.”
“Fuck yes. I need more. Your fingers. Your cock. Anything. Please.”
I thrust a single digit deep and crush my mouth to hers once more, matching the rhythm of my tongue to my finger.
Lindsey opens so sweetly for me, and I add a second finger, still drawing circles around the small bud where she appears to be the most sensitive.
My hand is soaked with her mating fluid, and I revel in the sound that comes from me pleasuring my heart’s fire.
My heart pounds, and I fear I’m about to combust. Still, I continue my efforts to bring Lindsey to release.
Tension builds at the base of my spine, and my cock threatens to erupt.
A third finger joins the other two, and she cries out once more.
I increase the speed and push even deeper inside.
My fingertip grazes a small, rough patch of flesh on the inner wall of Lindsey’s cunt, and liquid pours from her.
I lightly scratch it, and the scream she releases is so loud, I smother it with my mouth over hers.
Her whole body shakes and trembles. She can no longer hold up her weight, and she collapses onto me, which only shoves my fingers farther inside her. Her inner walls clench hard, as though wanting me to become a part of her. The power of her release is enough to trigger my own.
My seed explodes from my cock, soaking my trou as though I were an untried youth.
I’m barely able to catch my breath, and I rest my brow against hers that is damp with sweat.
The musky scent of our combined arousal fills the air around us.
Small tremors from Lindsey’s cunt continue to caress my fingers that I’ve still not withdrawn.
Slowly, so as not to hurt her, I pull them out of her tightness. She takes large, heaving breaths. I open my eyes and raise my head to get a good look at her. Tear tracks line her cheeks, and my heart stops beating.
“Lindsey?” Gods’ blood, have I hurt her?
Her gem-colored eyes lock on mine. They shimmer with wetness.
“That was the most beautiful thing to ever happen to me.”
It takes several ticks before her words penetrate my mind. Relief hits me hard, and I nearly collapse from the weight of it.
“I thought I had caused you pain.”
She lays her hands on either side of my head and rises up to kiss me. “Not at all. It was wonderful.”
For me, it was life-altering. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to recover.