Chapter 28 Folami
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Folami
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit, ayaba?” Ilyas’ deep voice rumbled through his and Lex’s room, inadvertently making goosebumps erupt on my exposed skin. It was difficult enough that Lex elicited this bodily reaction, but for his Pleasure Vessel to do the same was dangerous.
“I thought we could spend some time together.” My words came out harsher than I intended in an effort to disguise how much his presence affected me, and I internally winced. Luckily, the affable Pleasure Vessel didn’t so much as blink.
A slow smile spread across his face, crinkling the skin around his ocean-blue eyes as he leaned back against the wall.
His tunic was still untucked, the neck open, likely from bathing moments earlier, and I was utterly transfixed by a drop of water leaking from his hair to fall down the side of his face.
My cheeks heated as I made eye contact with Ilyas, my slow perusal of his body not unnoticed.
“Getting to know us, hmm?” Ilyas teased, his voice full of dark promises. “In what way would you like to know us?”
I opened my mouth and shut it again, floundering in the sea of desire that suddenly engulfed the room. I gripped my hands behind my back, not wanting him to see my fingers as they twisted together.
“That’s enough, Ilyas,” Lex admonished lightly as he stepped out of the attached bathroom. If I thought my mouth was dry before, it now resembled the desert surrounding the Stepstones.
Unlike my underwear, which was slowly soaking with arousal.
Damn my physical reactions.
I was hoping to spend time with Lex and Ilyas today in a concentrated effort to know them beyond what this pulsing in my chest desired.
It seemed like that may have been a fool’s hope.
Lex was dressed similarly to Ilyas, his cream tunic untucked and unlaced over brown pants that were unfastened.
My eyes widened as I tracked Lex’s movements; his strong hands moved to his waist and tucked his tunic into his pants before lacing them up, either oblivious to my presence or uncaring.
“What did you have in mind, Folami? We would love to spend time with you,” Lex said earnestly. My eyes flicked to his, all previous thoughts of fleeing banished when I saw the unabashed hope shining in his fawn-brown orbs.
There were no foul intentions, no underlying motives, at least that I could detect.
He simply enjoyed my company.
The thought made me both uncomfortable and giddy.
“I don’t do much for fun,” I admitted bluntly, frustrated that I couldn’t soften my words. I’d never been worried about the way I spoke, but I found I now desired to be something someone else desired.
The thought was nearly gag-inducing.
“That’s okay,” Lex said with smooth ease. “I’m certain we can find something to do around here. What do you say, Ilyas?”
The big man shrugged, his shirt now laced but still untucked.
A silent conversation passed between the two of them, and I longed to be a part of it, to be able to decipher the minute eyebrow movements and twitches of their facial expressions.
“Why don’t you show us what makes you happiest, Folami?” Lex finally suggested.
I sighed in relief, the sound audible in the quiet bedroom.
The two men chuckled as my cheeks heated to levels I didn’t think possible.
“Is spending time with us outside of training that daunting a task?” Ilyas teased, my heart fluttering as his deep chuckle rolled through the space.
I shook my head mutely, beads tinkling with the movement.
“No,” I admitted. “I just didn’t want either of you to think me boring if I suggested the training yards. It’s . . . all I’ve known for quite some time.”
Mage and Vessel shared another unreadable look before Lex turned to me with a brilliant smile that I found myself wanting to return, despite the fact that I didn’t smile.
“Lead the way, Folami.”
I took Lex and Ilyas on a tour of Imena and the training yards that were just outside the Capitol.
They asked questions at the appropriate times and seemed genuinely interested in my work, in me.
I found myself flustered on more than one occasion when I caught Lex staring at me with an intensity I couldn’t articulate.
Despite the foreignness, it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was like he could sense my unease, though, as he pulled away at the last second each time with a small smile.
The love and respect between Ilyas and Lex was palpable.
They held hands nearly the entire morning and exchanged small touches that spoke of their comfort and devotion.
A quick kiss here, a gentle rub of Lex’s shoulders there.
It was simultaneously bizarre and comforting to see a Mage and Vessel interacting in such a way.
As if that wasn’t enough to show Lex’s true disposition, his constant desire to hear Ilyas’ thoughts and opinions only further displayed his loyalty and love.
There was no animosity when Ilyas spoke, no cutting glares or harsh words of rebuke.
Simply soft eyes and even softer smiles for the large Pleasure Vessel.
It was clear, now more than ever, that Lex was nothing like the Mage that once held my Bond Mark.
Instead of reassuring me, it only tied my chest into tighter knots until I could barely breathe.
“Folami? What do you say about a picnic on the coast?” Lex asked once we’d finished our tour. “You can invite Itanya and Peytor, if you’d like.”
There was no disgust or hesitation at Peytor’s name, just an innate understanding.
I’d smiled wider at that suggestion and watched as both Lex’s and Ilyas’ faces illuminated in tandem with mine.
“Yes. Yes, I would love that,” I breathed, reaching out to squeeze Lex’s hands in thanks.
A jolt shot through me when our skin touched, and both of us widened our eyes in surprise.
Instead of releasing me, Lex only held my hands tighter, his warm, calloused fingers enveloping my cold ones until our body heat was balanced.
It felt right—more than right. It felt inevitable.
I hurriedly pulled away, leaving Lex and Ilyas on the training field while I rushed inside the manor to find Peytor and Itanya.
Itanya was easiest to locate—she’d spent the morning with the Bondsmith, learning to read and draw runes. As expected, she took to it with ease, her natural artistic talent shining through as she drew progressively more complicated patterns.
“Would you like to go on a picnic with Lex, Ilyas, and me? Maybe Daddy, if he says ‘yes’?” I asked.
Itanya’s radiant joy illuminated the whole room. She set her charcoal stick down before carefully stacking the numerous sheets of parchment crowded with hundreds of runes.
Despite her obvious desire to join us, she looked first to the Bondsmith for approval.
“Go,” the Bondsmith said with a wave of her hand, a smile tugging at the edges of her lips. “Have fun.”
With that, Itanya bolted from her chair, clutched her hand in mine, and pulled me from the room, both of us laughing as we half-walked, half-ran down the hallway.
“Where is Peytor?” I asked, ducking my head into almost every room in the manor.
“The stables,” Itanya said with a shrug at the obvious question in my eyes. “He wanted to be around the horses this morning.”
While she didn’t admit it, I knew my ‘date’ with Lex and Ilyas had forced him away from our rooms and out of the manor completely.
Over the past few weeks, I’d divided my time between Lex’s rooms and our own in an effort to get acquainted with my True Bond.
Despite his assurances that he understood, Peytor’s expression grew darker each time I emerged from Lex’s and Ilyas’ room with a smile on my face.
The guilt I felt over Peytor intertwined with the excitement I felt about Lex and threatened to tear me apart.
In an effort to make it easier for everyone, I avoided Lex and Ilyas while in the manor and tried my best to minimize our interactions at the training grounds.
It was like I was drawn by an invisible string, though, my gaze and body constantly in tune with the affable Mage.
That gnawing feeling in my gut only intensified as we made our way down gilded staircases and through ornate doors to the very plain stables near the back of the manor’s property.
The smell of horse, straw, and manure was almost overpowering in the late afternoon humidity, but a cleansing breeze full of salt and brine floated from the ocean. The earth was quiet out here, and I understood why Peytor retreated to the stables.
Itanya was silent at my side, hand clutched firmly in mine, as we entered the stables, boots making twin clacking noises against the stone floor despite the hay strewn about.
The stables were massive, easily holding two dozen horses on each side. We peeked into a few, cooing over the mares and stallions, but never lingered long. Itanya’s stomach was growling in earnest, and, despite my apprehension, I wanted Peytor to come with us.
It felt right.
“Peytor?” I called, a few of the horses poking their large heads over the stall doors in response to my voice.
There was a banging and shuffling noise before Peytor emerged from one of the very last stalls, straw stuck in his ever-growing chestnut waves. Despite the heaviness I knew he felt, his steel-grey eyes were light—excited to see Itanya and me.
“Daddy!” Itanya called, releasing my hand to run through the stables and launch herself into Peytor’s waiting arms. Despite the sweat that coated his skin and the dirt and grime marring his tunic, Peytor swept her into a hug and twirled her around, laying kisses on her face and hair the entire time.
“Daddy! We’re going on a picnic and you’re coming, too!” my daughter declared once she was back on her feet, leaving no room for argument or refusal.
Peytor laughed slightly, shooting a look at me before focusing on Itanya once more.
“Is that so? And who all is ‘we’?” he asked, setting his rake down so it rested against the stable door.
“You, me, Mama, Lex, and Ilyas,” Itanya declared, ticking each name off on her fingers. I watched Peytor’s expression slowly fade at the mention of Lex and Ilyas. My heart fell in tandem, settling somewhere near my feet.
“That so?” Peytor asked, voice suddenly tight.
“Please, Peytor,” I begged softly. His head whipped up at the tone of my voice, brows furrowed in concern. “Please,” I repeated. It wasn’t a word I used often, and I was certain my expression conveyed my desires.
Peytor blew out a breath, cheeks puffing with air, before he nodded his head once. “If that’s what you want,” he said, words directed at me even though he gazed at Itanya.
Itanya leapt with joy, grabbing Peytor’s hand and racing toward me to grab mine as well. “Let’s go!” she called, happy giggles preceding our quick trek out of the stables and toward the training yard.