Chapter 54 Lennox
LENNOX
We marched the army east for two weeks. After nineteen days, we made it to Arcadia, where we’d rest for a few days before continuing on the last leg of our journey to Cel Nox.
Each day, we got stronger, and we grew more cohesive as a group.
The legions had been solidified, everyone was coming into their roles.
Endora and Caterina had been checking in with us and participating in our meetings via the communication crystal. Under Declan’s instructions, the Mystic Court and the Star Court legions would be prepared as the rest of the forces we’d been marching with were.
Somehow, with all the emotional family turmoil lingering in our group, nothing had blown up yet—Nico’s family had steered clear of him, and with Bergan rotting in the dungeon in Verbial, Declan didn’t have to worry about his monster of a father causing problems.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to have the Star Court forces come in from the North?” Luciana’s voice rang out in the tent. We were all gathered around the large circular table, a map of Lethenia placed in the center.
“It would give us the element of surprise,” Declan argued.
“Or it gives the Blood Court an easy opportunity to spot a small group of our forces and eliminate them swiftly.”
“She has a point,” Nico said. “No offense, Lennox, but the Star Court forces aren’t as strong as some of our other groups, and they’re smaller.”
I chewed my bottom lip as I considered both of their ideas.
“It will take at least two extra weeks for them to get here. That’s two weeks we sit here twiddling our thumbs. We can’t afford to do that. We can’t give Adreona any extra time,” Nico continued.
“Then we need to send someone to help them. My mother is no general. They need a leader.”
“What if you go.” Declan’s voice cut through the silence.
“Me?” Luce laughed, the sound bitter as she rolled her eyes.
“Yes, you. You’ve demonstrated in the past few weeks you’ve got a knack for strategy. You’re a good fighter and leader. You can go and lead them.”
“You can’t be serious.” Luce narrowed her eyes at the harpy.
“I am.” Declan’s golden eyes swung to me. “Lennox, what do you think?”
“I think it’s a good idea. I like the idea of having someone I trust leading them, someone I know rather than someone I’ve barely met. I would do it myself—they are my people, but I’m needed here.”
“But I’m needed here too, am I not?”
“Yes,” Luka interjected. “But someone can easily slip into your role, we can fill in for your absence. We don’t need you to do the spell on me until we meet Astria and Adreona in battle so you can go with the legion for now.”
“Do you not want me here? Is that what this is?”
“Luce.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “I would love nothing more than to have you here, fighting by my side. Goddess knows it would be less stressful. But I also need you to go where you’re needed. With the Star Court legion is where you’re needed.”
She was quiet for several beats. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Declan cracked half a smile. “Alright, General Ambrose.”
Luce’s lip twitched up. “I might like that title.”
“I have an idea, too,” Nico interjected.
“What if the wolves went with? In our wolf form, we can run fast, faster than any horse.” He looked down at the map on the table.
“If we keep up our pace, we should be able to intercept and meet you at a designated point outside of Cel Nox, to the North. That way, we buff up the Star Courts forces and don’t leave them vulnerable. ”
“The numbers would still be smaller.” Declan rubbed his chin. “But it would provide a great boost for the Star Court legion if Adreona did manage to scope them out and send a group there.”
He looked at me. “Lennox?”
“I think it sounds like a good plan. If you’re willing to let the wolves go, I think we should do it.”
Declan tipped his head to Nico. “How long do you need until you can leave?”
“We should be able to leave as soon as possible.”
“Tomorrow morning?” Luka asked.
“Yeah, the sooner the better,” Nico concluded.
“I’ll make sure the rest of the Generals know the change in plans. Luce, you’ll let your mother know?”
Her hand reached for the pendant on her neck. “Yes, I’ll speak to her as soon as we’re done here.”
“I have one more item to bring to your attention.”
All eyes fell on me, but I let my gaze land on Nol.
“Nol, I think you should go back to Alethens.”
Nol opened his mouth, but I continued before he could stop me, “I know you want to help, and I appreciate that, but we just got you back.”
Kara and Luce looked at me eagerly. I hadn’t told them about my plan, but I knew they both felt the same way.
“I don’t want to worry about Adreona targeting you—and I have no doubt she might.
She knows you’re my weakness; she’ll use that to her advantage all she can.
And, besides, we need someone to be the heir if something happens to me or Luka.
I need to ensure Lethenia will be in good hands no matter the circumstances—I need to ensure this war won’t be for nothing at the end of it all. ”
Nol scrubbed his hand over his neck before letting his hand fall to his side. I held my breath, steeling myself for his argument as he rolled his shoulders.
“Okay.”
I shook my head, trying to process his words. “Okay,” he said again. “I’ll go back to Alethens.” His eyes met mine, there wasn’t a hardness—not any resentment in his gaze, but relief.
I knew he had been holding it all together—not yet ready to deal with what he went through. I wouldn’t push him, not yet anyway. After this war was over when things were all settled, I’d help get him back to his new normal—whatever that looked like. We all would.
I’d help him heal like everyone had helped me.
“I’ll get a list of things for you to attend to while you’re there if you can. Even give you an official title and everything.”
“Not necessary.” He smiled softly. “Thank you, Len.” I dipped my chin, giving my brother a tight smile.
I hated letting him go, letting him out of my sight. But I needed to do this, for me and for him.
He was my older brother, after all, he always could handle himself.
“I know they’re necessary, but strategy meetings are kind of boring.” I tucked into Luka’s side as we made our way back to our tent.
“The first one was interesting, and it’s nothing against Declan, but I feel like I’m there to approve of plans and not much else. I know it’s war, but I’m ready to get fighting. That’s where I feel like I can do some good.”
“Give yourself more credit, Lennox. You add to those meetings.”
“Sure,” I scoffed. “All I do is follow Declan’s lead. And you know me, I’m not a big fan of following directions. I like to be giving them.”
Luka’s hand flexed on my waist. “I have an idea as to how you can practice following directions.”
“Hmmm. What’s that?” I spun in his arms as we entered our tent.
“Take your clothes off.”
I raised a single brow. “You need to practice following directions. So be a good girl and take off your fucking clothes.”
His eyes sparked with desire. Now this was my kind of following directions. The kind of following directions that had me clenching my legs together.
I lifted my shirt up over my head and slipped out of my pants, leaving me only in my black lace undergarments as I stood in front of Luka.
In front of my husband. My mate.
“Now the rest.”
Luka crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving my body as he watched me slip out of the rest of my clothing.
“Good girl.”
My chest heaved as I stood naked in front of him, goosebumps peppered my skin. I felt exposed with him fully dressed. But I loved the thrill.
“Now get on the bed.”
I took a step backward. “Turn around, I want to see your ass.” My heart rose to my throat, but I obeyed, giving him my back—my naked ass—as I walked toward the bed.
“Mmm. So perfect. The only thing that would make the view better is if it was marked by me.” The space between my legs throbbed. “Either by my handprint or fangs—either would look fucking perfect.”
Heat coiled in my veins.
His fingers danced over my spine, causing a shiver to wrack my body. He drew me up to my knees, his front against my back.
He moved my hair over my shoulder before letting his lips dust over my skin. “Does it make you wet? Being told what to do?”
All I could manage was a nod as his hand slipped down my stomach, toward where I wanted his touch. Where I craved it. Just as his fingers dusted over my pulsing clit he pulled his hand away.
“Flip over. Back against the pillows,” he commanded, his fangs scrapping over my ear.
He left me on the bed, my body instantly cold from the lack of contact, but I obeyed, flipping onto my back.
He perched himself in the chair next to the dresser. I lay there waiting for his next direction as he rolled up his sleeves. Revealing his corded forearms.
“Spread your legs,” he said finally. “Show me how wet you are from following my directions.”
His words send goosebumps scattering down my spine as I opened my legs, exposing myself to him.
“Show me how wet you are.” I ran my fingers through my center, gathering the wetness pooled there.
“I can see it from here, you’re already soaked.” He shook his head, a lock of dark hair falling across his forehead as his hands fisted at his sides.
“Keep touching yourself. Let me watch as you touch that pretty pink cunt. Show me how much you want me.”
I slid my fingers through my center, drawling small circles around my clit as Luka watched with hooded eyes.
“Put a finger in.” There was a rasp to his voice now.
I slipped a finger inside myself, my head falling back against the pillow.
“Eyes on me while you fuck yourself, Lennox.”
I clenched around my finger, tilting my head up to meet his heated gaze.
“Good girl.” He smiled. “Add another finger.”
A moan slipped from my lips as I added another finger, fucking myself as Luka watched.
“See, you’re better at following directions than you thought.” I bit my bottom lip between my teeth as I met his gaze.
“Let me see those fingers, Lennox.” I whimpered, I didn’t want to stop, I could feel my release building.
“Let me see them Lennox.” I whimpered, but obeyed as he made his way to me in two strides, holding my glistening fingers between us.
“Look at how wet following commands makes my mate.” His hand closed around my wrist and he brought my hand to his mouth, slipping my fingers into his mouth. His tongue swirled around my fingers before releasing them. “I’ll never tire of the taste of you.”
I reached for him, needing to touch him, needing him to touch me.
But he shook his head, stepping away from the bed. “Keep touching yourself but now you’re going to tell me what to do.”
“What?”
“Hands back down to that pretty cunt and tell me what to do. Do you want me to touch myself while you fuck yourself with your fingers?”
“Yes,” I blurted. “Goddess yes.”
“Tell me.”
“Take off your pants.”
“Hands back on that cunt first.” I slipped my hand back between my legs as Luka shucked his pants off. My mouth dried as his cock sprung free.
“Fuck.”
“Don’t you dare stop fucking yourself,” he growled. I continued to move my hand, my fingers slipping back inside as I kept my gaze fixed on him. “Tell me what to do next.”
“Shirt off, I need to see all of you.” He drew his shirt off with one hand.
“Add another finger,” he demanded.
I squirmed as I stretched myself. My fingers felt good but not nearly as good as he felt filling me.
“I want you to fuck your hand,” I panted as I squirmed against my hand.
Luka sat back in the chair, taking his cock in his hand as he watched me with hooded eyes.
“Do you wish it was my cock filling you instead of your hands?” he hissed.
“Yes.” I palmed my breasts with my spare hand.
“I wish it was your mouth fucking my cock instead of my hand.”
“Fuck.” I brushed my thumb over my clit. “I’m close,” I whimpered, not taking my eyes off his hand stroking his cock.
“Fuck yourself faster. But don’t come until I tell you to.”
Closer and closer, I crested to release.
“Luka please.”
“Come for me, Lennox.” My back bowed off the bed as my release barreled through me.
Incoherent curses slipped from my lips as Luka continued to stroke himself, his eyes stuck on me. “Fuck, that was hot,” he all but growled.
He quickly closed the distance from the chair to the bed. He took my thighs in his hands and dragged me to the end of the bed.
He was inside me in one brutal thrust. “Fuck!” I fisted my hands in the sheets as he thrust in and out of me, his hands digging into my hips.
It didn’t take long for me to fall over the edge again, this time him coming with me.
“Well that was fun wasn’t it,” he said as he fell into the bed beside me.
“You love being in control don’t you.” I swatted at his shoulder playfully.
“Gotta take any chance I can get with you.”
I let a laugh slip lose as he pulled me to his side.
“It will all be okay, Lennox.”
I didn’t say a word, letting my mind continue to wander. How he knew so quickly where my thoughts went, I’d never understand.
“How many chances together do you think we’ll get?” I finally let my thoughts slip from my lips.
“I hope we get an infinite amount chances. I refuse to think anything different, no matter how naive that may be.”
I pulled him closer. We were so different sometimes, but in times like these I was glad for those differences.