Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Lia
I run to Dane first. His blood is everywhere, and I don’t know what to do. The Harbinger lingers, watching and feeling as useless as I do as I watch him dying before me.
But then Isbeth is there next to me, her eyes closed as she whispers words in a language the Harbinger remembers.
‘She draws from the Underhill itself, ’ it says.
Dane’s blood flows back into him, and the color returns to his flesh. He takes a breath and then another, his arms reaching for me.
I hold him to me.
‘It’s all right,’ he murmurs. ‘Protect the babe.’
‘You aren’t going to die,’ Isbeth says almost fondly as she looks down at us.
She glances around. There are bleary-eyed fae everywhere, I notice, woken and drawn by the sounds of Varrik’s death. She begins barking orders, telling those with affinities for healing to help the fallen.
Dane groans. ‘How did it find him?’
I hold him close. ‘The Harbinger. It led the Dark Realms here.’
I let out a sigh as I see both Kal and Grey moving. The beast recedes, and Grey transforms into his fae form.
‘We won,’ Kal says as he sits up, holding his ribs as a healer stands over him, muttering words.
‘Did you know?’ Dane asks. ‘What it’s plan was?’
I shake my head. ‘I knew it was doing something, and it asked for time.’
I find myself trying to hold back sobs as Dane’s arms encircle me and draw me closer.
‘He’s gone,’ Dane says. ‘It’s over now.’
I frown into his neck, my mind going to Fiana. If she’s alive...
Dane seems to know what I’m thinking. ‘We’ll find her,’ he promises. ‘No matter what it takes, and if she’s alive, we’ll make sure she doesn’t stay that way.’
He draws back and cups my cheek, wiping away my tears.
‘Are you all right?’
I nod.
‘And the babe?’
‘Yes. The Harbinger says the babe is fine.’
The sheer relief in his eyes has me crying anew as he embraces me again.
‘You saved me,’ I whisper. ‘That conjure would have killed me.’
‘You saved me first,’ he says. ‘You saved all three of us, Lia.’
Grey and Kallum make their way over to us, each of them taking a turn to hold me, making sure I’m all right and that the babe is as well.
Despite my protests, Dane picks me up and takes me from the hall. He brings me to our apartments and draws my chemise over my head. He and the others scrutinize every part of me, looking for injuries, and I do the same. I pull off their clothes, my movements almost frenzied as I make sure the healers have been thorough, and it’s only when we’re all satisfied that they bring me into our room.
They lay me on the bed and join me, taking turns to hold me close. When it’s Dane’s turn, I gaze into his eyes.
‘What did Varrik mean?’ I ask. ‘When he said you had no magick.’
He looks away, his body going rigid. ‘I ... I’ve never told anyone,’ he whispers.
‘You don’t have to—’ I begin, but he shakes his head.
‘I want to.’ He sits back, regarding me and the others. ‘The Skilled of the fold ... I think all of them had lost their families before they came to Varrik. I've never thought to tell anyone my story because I had no such tragedy.’ He closes his eyes. ‘The truth is that my family was alive and well when Varrik came. Our line had little magick, so when it was found that I had a small gift, my father used me.’
His face twists in disgust. ‘I was paid to perform tricks in the street. It wasn't too bad, but when they needed coin, I was made to go to parties for the wealthy in whatever town we found ourselves in.’ He glances at me and the others and then away. ‘I won't bore you with the many things that happened at these events, but my family made a lot of coin from me,’ he sneers. ‘Varrik bought me from them. I was terrified. I thought he might be like the other wealthy I’d been made to serve. But he brought me to the fold where he and the others were. He was like the family I'd always wanted.’
I take his hand, angry for him and understanding how deep Varrik’s betrayal was. ‘You were closer with him than the others were,’ I murmur.
‘At one time, yes. But I realized after I purged myself of all the magick that was on me ... I saw everything. I was manipulated from the start. I can't believe I let you be treated that way, my love.’
I stiffen slightly in his arms. ‘My love?’ I ask, almost not wanting him to elaborate.
‘I’ve loved you for as long as the others have, but it was buried under all the conjures that were twisting my mind and my heart.’ He sighs. ‘I know that, after everything, you may never feel the same for me, but ...’
I surge forward and kiss him hard, stopping his foolish words.
‘I love you as well. I didn’t want to,’ I admit in a quiet voice. ‘When you’d come to me, I wanted you to stay. I wanted you to hold me and kiss me, but ...’
‘I’m sorry,’ he whispers. ‘And I know that so much of what happened between us was wrong. I understand if?—’
I sigh. ‘You aren’t listening.’ I make him look into my eyes.
‘I love you,’ I say again. I look at Kal. ‘I love you.’ My eyes find Grey. ‘I love you.’
Kal takes me from Dane’s arms, and he and Grey hold me between them.
‘And we you,’ Grey says, kissing my neck.
‘You’ll never be rid of us now, beautiful human of ours,’ Kal murmurs as his hands run down my body, but his eyes find Dane. ‘Perhaps, if our little slave is amenable, your punishment could be at an end.’
I glance at Dane. His eyes are on me, hopeful but resigned.
There’s no decision to be made, I realize as I move toward him.
I lean up and kiss him. His expression is surprised and uncertain.
I pull the coverlet down a little, bearing his chest to me, and I run my hands over his muscled torso, realizing that I’ve never seen him nor touched him like this before. His eyes drift closed, giving into my ministrations as his hardening staff presses against my leg.
I look up at his relaxed face as I reach under the blanket and drag my fingertips over the head of his hard cock.
He hisses, his eyes opening.
‘What do you want?’ I ask.
‘You,’ he says without hesitation. ‘I want you the way I’ve dreamed.’
I nod and shift closer. His eyes move over me, lingering on my breasts as he licks his lips, but he simply lies back, letting me decide.
I follow him, pressing kisses up his chest and along his jaw before my lips find his again, my tongue mingling with his. I stay there until I feel his body relax, and then I begin to lick my way down his chest, pausing to lave his nipples. I drift down his hard stomach to the V beneath and down still further to the hardness between his legs.
He jolts as my mouth closes around the tip of his cock.
‘No,’ he whispers. ‘You don't have to…’
I reach up to put my finger over his lips as I swirl my tongue around the head of his staff and draw it deeply into my mouth, sucking on it gently. He groans, and his hips buck. I chuckle as I move away from him, and his expression darkens.
I smirk. Does he think I’m finished?
I slowly move up to position myself over him, and I sink down. But only a little, so he’s just inside me, not letting him in any deeper. His hips rise, trying to go in further, but I don't allow it. I play with him, enacting my own little revenge as I make him wait.
He suddenly growls and moves so quickly that I don't register that I’m on my back until after it's done, and he's pinning me to the bed. I’m giddy with excitement, ready for him to plow me hard, needing him to lose control. But he doesn't take me as hard as I think he’s going to. Instead, he eases in slowly, taking me gently.
‘This is how it should have been that first time,’ he murmurs, and I nod, blinking back tears of happiness.
He kisses me almost reverently, his tongue dancing with mine as he leisurely fucks me.
My eyes find Kal and Grey, both enraptured by Dane and I. Kal gives me a questioning look, and I nod.
Neither of them hesitate a moment longer. The blankets are ripped away, baring us all to each other’s greedy eyes. Kal is on one side of me, kissing down my neck, while Grey grasps my wrists and holds them over my head. His fingers pinch my nipples, and I moan, locking my legs around Dane, who’s still moving maddeningly slowly. I grind against him, letting out pleading whimpers that make him groan as he picks up his pace.
Grey’s fingers twist my nipples, and I gasp.
‘Let go of Dane,’ he commands gently. ‘And open your legs wide so we can watch him fucking our little slave.’
I do as I'm told with a moan, my hips undulating as Kal and Grey take hold of the backs of my knees and pull me wider. All three sets of eyes stare at Dane’s thick length, moving in and out of me.
‘Is she wet, Dane?’ Kallum asks.
‘Oh, yes,’ Dane murmurs. ‘She’s very ready for a good, hard fucking.’
Gods, their words.
He drives into me, and I squeal, my release rushing over me almost without warning.
‘Good girl,’ Dane grinds out. ‘Milk my cock like the obedient little slave you are.’
His filthy ideas draw out my pleasure, my body tensing as I scream again, and I feel him finish inside me. He throws back his head with a low growl, gripping my thighs. The others’ hands and tongues are everywhere as I relax into the bed with a long, deep, satiated groan.
I think we’re finished, but I feel them moving around, and a finger enters me gently, spreading the wetness. I hum, my body wanting more already, and I growl as it leaves me.
‘Get on your knees for us,’ Kal says.
I open my eyes and nod, getting off the bed and sinking down. I wince at the cold floor beneath my knees, and a pillow from the bed is immediately placed in front of me. I move onto it gratefully and survey them.
Dane lounges on the bed, watching as Kal and Grey stand in front of me.
I take Grey’s thick cock in my hand and look up at him as I fist him gently before I lean forward, and my tongue flicks out to taste Kallum. I see Kal’s jaw pulse as he closes his eyes and lets out of groan. I take him in my mouth carefully, watching him to see what he likes. I lick him up and down his shaft, and I feel Grey shift as my hand on him moves a bit faster. My grip firms, and I pull on him gently, gratified by his low sound of need.
My eyes flicked to Dane, who was still watching us, his gaze unwavering.
I pump my hand over Grey’s staff as I bob on Kal’s, noting the differences between them, how Kallum’s is slightly thicker and Grey’s is a little bit longer. Both are perfect, and I moan as I think about having them inside me.
‘Stop,’ Grey murmurs.
I let go of him, and my mouth releases Kal with a pop.
Grey moves to the bed and sits on the edge.
‘Come here,’ he orders, staring at me as I stand up.
‘Lower yourself onto me. Fill yourself with me, slave,’ he says with a practiced sneer that makes my eyes widen as it’s so unlike him.
But my core heats at his commands, and I sink down on him slowly, my mouth opening on a small whimper, and then I feel Kal behind me, using the wetness from my cunt, rolling a finger around my back passage. He slips it in, and my belly flutters.
‘Do you like that?’ he asks in my ear. ‘You do, don't you? My filthy little slave.’
His finger eases into me, fucking me gently before he puts in a second, stretching me deliciously.
‘Are you ready for me?’ he murmurs.
‘Yes,’ I say almost frantically. ‘Yes.’
He takes his fingers out, and I feel his cock. Insistent. Pressing against me. He pushes himself into me slowly, relishing every inch as Grey’s hands grip my thighs, urging me down further onto him.
And then they begin to move.
My mouth opens on a gasp that I can't take. My lungs are seizing with the feel of them inside me. Filling me to the brink, the pain and pleasure warring together in a heady combination that I know will have me teetering on the brink of release very soon.
‘Gods,’ I moan.
Kal’s hand snakes around to grab my breast, kneading it hard. He fists my hair, pulling my head backward so he can kiss my mouth.
Grey watches, taking my other breast and twisting the nipple hard.
‘Come for us,’ he snarls.
Kal kisses me hard and draws back a bit. ‘You need to be filled by your masters. That hungry little cunt is so greedy now that you've been bred. You want more, don't you, little slave?’
‘Yes,’ I whimper. ‘Yes.’
‘Come for us, then,’ he growls. ‘Show us how grateful you are for your master’s cocks!’
I scream as the force of my pleasure hits me, my back bowing, thrusting my chest into Grey’s face as he suckles my teats, punishing them with his teeth as he finds his own release, and Kallum quickly follows. They fill me with their seeds, and my hooded eyes find Dane still watching with unbridled desire from his place on the bed.
He sees me watching, and a slow grin takes over his face.
‘Good girl,’ he murmurs.
And suddenly, my pleasure peaks again. I let out another cry as it washes over me. I’m caressed and kissed with a gentleness that belies their rough game, and I droop against Grey, my body replete.
A few moments later, I’m being held by Grey as Kallum cleans me with a warm, wet cloth.
‘Come,’ he says. ‘It’ll soon be morning, and you need rest, beautiful human of ours.’
I’m pulled onto the bed carefully by Grey and placed between Dane and him while Kal lies across the bed by my feet, his finger working some strange magick as he massages them.
I let myself bask in the knowledge that we’re all here together. Free. Alive. There may be some difficulties in our future, but I know that we can get through them together.
‘It’s really over,’ I murmur quietly.
No one answers, but I know they’re smiling. We’ve done what we needed to do and the Harbinger has fulfilled its true purpose. It feels at peace now that the Underhill is safe from Varrik, and we were able to save the Skilled.
I remember watching them all coming through the Gate. Gods, was it only yesterday? I frown a little as I see it in my mind’s eye. I saw none of the fae who’d hurt, tormented or neglected me, I realize.
‘The guards and the servants of the keep,’ I murmur. ‘I didn’t see any of them come through to the Underhill.’
Grey and Dane stiffen next to me, and Kal’s fingers on the pads of my feet stop moving.
‘You left them there to die,’ I say, but it’s not an accusation because I find I don’t feel anything, and even the Harbinger doesn’t seem to mind.
Dane’s hand cups my cheek. ‘Every single one.’
Want to know what happens next with Lia and her fae males?