Chapter Two
Bryn
T he next morning, Adi asks me to accompany her on an errand. After a quick shower, we head out of our rooms. I can’t tell if she truly needs me for whatever she has planned or if she just wants to give Nairna and Ossy some alone time, but either way, I don’t mind following my devious little mate. Just the swaying of her long caramel curls over the back of her emerald dress is enough to make me hard. I’m afraid I’m quite addicted to her. And what a lovely addiction to have.
She leads me down a hallway in the royal wing. However, instead of stopping at the queen’s rooms, as I had expected, she knocks at a different door. Given that her one aunt is dead—by Adi’s own hand—and the other is MIA somewhere in Alaska, it can only be her inept father’s rooms.
Sure enough, a disheveled-looking Aidan answers the door on Adi’s third knock. Adi says nothing, simply slips inside his room through the small crack he’s not blocking with his body.
“Father,” she casually tosses over her shoulder.
He blinks, surprised, but quickly recovers his court manners. “Please, come in, Priestess. Bryn. Sit. Make yourselves comfortable.” He steps back so I can enter without shouldering past him.
Prince Aidan’s reception room is set up more like a living room, with large couches in a semicircle around a low coffee table. A small wood stove stands on a stone hearth. I wonder if his rooms as a whole are small for his reception to be set up as such.
Aidan walks to a curio and pulls out three glasses and a decanter of bourbon. He brings them over and sets them on the coffee table.
Adi has plopped herself on one of the couches and tucked her feet up under her. I sit next to her and lean back, ankle on my knee. Theoretically, we can trust her father. I’ve never heard even a whisper of him being involved in any plotting or schemes. However, he’s cold as hell and never spends time with Adi. Obviously, I don’t care for him based on that alone. I would certainly never treat my child that way.
He pours the bourbon and offers us both a glass. I swirl the rich amber liquid before taking a sip. Grabbing his own glass, Aidan settles on the couch across from us.
He takes a large drink, his eyes flicking around the room, refusing to settle on either of us. Eventually, he says slowly, “Adelaide. And what can I do for you?”
She raises a brow. “You’ve heard of what happened at the unseelie court?”
“Indeed.” A pause and he adds hastily, “I am thankful to hear of your recovery and that guard’s survival.”
There was quite a bit more to it than that, and my eyes narrow at his dismissive tone.
“Before my, and Bryn’s, magical imprisonment, King Barclay pulled me aside and told me a bit of gossip,” she says smoothly, letting her words sink in. “Do you have any idea what that might be, Father ?”
I see sweat start to bead on his brow.
“No, Adelaide, I have no idea. As you well know, I generally stay out of court machinations.” His hands fiddle on his lap before he grabs his glass and downs the liquor.
I offhandedly wonder how much of a whipping boy he has been for his royal sisters. Doesn’t matter, really. He should have protected his daughter. And his wife. My disgust for the weak male grows.
Adi smiles easily and takes a sip of bourbon. She waits for her father to refill his cup and take a drink before she continues speaking.
“Barclay informed me that his wife murdered my mother.”
Aidan spits his drink all over the table as Adi and I quickly lean back. He coughs, trying to recover.
I’m sick of Aidan. He’s spineless and has no honor. My mate deserves a better parent. I pull out a small blade and throw it, hard, into the coffee table near his glass. It thrums back and forth quietly in the silence. I lean forwards, elbows resting on my knees as my eyes bore into Aidan. “Think well before you speak, as I’m not a male who takes kindly to liars.”
I sit back, confident my point was made. I smell Adi respond, her sweet cunt getting wet for me, for my actions, and I feel my dick thicken in return. I flick her a heated glance, making sure she knows from my look that I’ll thoroughly fuck her when we are done here.
Aidan stares at the embedded blade for several long moments before drinking again. He closes his eyes and says, “Yes. Barclay’s wife, Queen Blair, was responsible for the death of Elspeth and your sister.”
Adi leans forwards again. “‘Your sister,’ you call the babe. Not ‘my daughter.’”
Aidan sighs deeply. “She was not my child. She was Barclay’s.”
“And am I yours?” Adelaide asks, her voice tight.
I see a flicker of life in Aidan’s eyes. Finally .
“Oh yes, Daughter. Of that I am sure.”
I look at him again. He alone of Seren’s children has the dark curly hair of the long-dead king. The same as Adi’s rich curls that seem to shine auburn in certain lights. He has green eyes, unlike my mate, but I can see the similarities in their bone structure. I’d bet all of my cabins that he is indeed her father.
Adi sits back. “Why would Barclay think I was his?”
The smile on Aidan’s face is unexpectedly kind. “Are you sure you wish to hear of your parents’ sex lives?”
When Adi merely glares, he continues. “As you know, your mother killed a human man who tried to force himself on her. That ‘crime’ happened within the unseelie lands, in the old country, so the Dark Court had jurisdiction. Barclay was immediately infatuated with Elspeth and sentenced her to time as a servant in his court. She hated him initially, knew her sentence was unjust. But eventually, over many years, she came to care for him. They became lovers, but she would never agree to step into the spotlight, much to Barclay’s chagrin. No matter how often he offered to put aside his queen—given that they, at the time, had no heir—she always declined, though they stayed lovers. Shortly before The Call, the unseelie court visited ours. This was decades after her sentence was enacted. And, well...Elspeth and I fell in love. It was immediate, love at first sight and all that. We were not Goddess-blessed mates, but we adored each other from the first instant.”
“She loved two men?” Adi asks.
“Do you truly find that so odd?” he says, with the slightest hint of annoyance. He continues without waiting for a response. “Elspeth became with child, with you, quickly. Very quickly. She decided that coming to join the Green Court with a child of the blood was a better choice than trying to survive the unseelie throne with a babe that would be assumed, rightly or not, to be the bastard of the king, and thus, a target. Having the child there would make Barclay’s life hard. Make his rule unstable if his queen, newly delivered of a son, rebelled against his mistress bearing a child as well. But moreover, it would be dangerous for her and you. That is what swayed her decision.
“I don’t know if she ever told Barclay that you were mine. I never asked. But I was happy to have a wife and a child. I have never truly had a life here. Perhaps I would create a life, a family of my own, with them, I had hoped. Barclay continued to visit me and Elspeth regularly. They continued to have sex.” Aidan shrugs. “What did it matter to me? She was my wife. Barclay gave her joy and had little effect upon our life together. Why would I care?” He rubs his head, smiling at the memory of Elspeth. “She got pregnant with your sister while I was in FEC4 for an extended ambassador visit. So she told Barclay the child was his. I had no objections. She would be raised by Elspeth and me, in my court, and you well know nymphs don’t care much for parentage. But apparently his wife Blair did.”
Aidan falls into silence here, tears shimmering in his eyes as the memory of his wife, and his hope for a family and a life, haunt him. “Barclay and I should have protected her. Between the two of us, we should have known. Should have done something.”
I feel an unexpected swell of pity for this broken male. Adelaide’s eyes meet mine. Without breaking my gaze, she says quietly, “Thank you, Father. We’ll take our leave now.”
I PULL THE HEAVY WOODEN door to our rooms shut after Adi slips in ahead of me. Ossy and Nairna are nowhere to be seen, but I can feel from our bonds that they are here somewhere. Maybe playing pool. Maybe strangling each other. Toss-up, really.
I follow Adelaide to her bedroom, her hips swaying and the scent of her need in my nostrils. I’m removing blade sheaths as we walk, shedding them in a little trail leading to her bed.
She turns and I step up to her, pressing myself to her body, and step forwards with her, walking us until the backs of her legs are pressed to the bed. I wrap my fingers in her sumptuous hair and gently angle her face outwards. I hold her head still as I lean to lick over the exposed tops of her breasts and slowly up her neck. I start undoing the stays on her dress with my free hand.
She squirms, probably wanting to help and get herself naked quickly, but I’m not interested in that. I undress her slowly without removing my grip from her curls, licking and nipping at her the entire time. Eventually, her dress pools around her feet and she stands fully nude before me, her head still at a slight tilt from my grasp, and finally I kiss her mouth fiercely.
She melts under me, so Goddess-damned needy I could come right now. She’s so fucking perfect, and her every submission to me is a fucking gift. Eventually, I manage to pull away from her soft lips. “A chroí, you know I love you, right?” I search her big grey eyes as I ask this.
She smiles. “Yes of course, Bryn....”
“Good. Because I’m about to fuck you like I don’t.” And with that, I throw her soft, naked body on the bed. “Lay on your back and show me my pussy.”
She does as commanded while I strip. “I want you to understand something, sweetheart,” I purr as I crawl onto the bed, naked and rock hard. “I’m going to let you come freely. But I won’t be going out of my way to make you come. Do you understand?”
She’s propped up on her elbows, and she raises a sassy eyebrow in response to my words. I can’t decide if I want to spank her or kiss her.
“So I’m your fuck toy?” she asks quietly, legs still spread, and I can see the glisten of her need on that incredible cunt.
“I don’t know this term, but I’d say exactly right, a chroí,” I murmur as I climb on top of her, grabbing one of her gorgeous legs and putting it on my shoulder, then tugging her body all the way against mine where I kneel. Her eyes are half closed, and she whimpers as her hips rock against me, begging for my cock silently.
“What is our red word?” I ask her.
“Sunflower.”
“And you’re to say it if needed, because I intend to use your body hard, my heart.”
Her eyes open, meeting mine with a short nod before she relaxes back into the bed. Her beautiful acceptance at being used surrounds me as I start to take her. My thick cock slides in and out of her fantastic cunt as she arches her back and makes happy noises. I continue to take her, my hands holding her hips downwards as I quickly stroke the middle length of my cock in and out of her. It feels incredible, and the noises of pleasure she makes, as well as her utter subservience, bring me close quickly.
I moan, “Fuuuuck, sweetheart.” I am not ready to finish yet.
I pull out to roll her onto her belly and she whimpers piteously. I grin to myself. Poor needy love. I yank her hips upwards and she starts to raise herself onto her hands. But my palm lands between her shoulder blades, pushing her face back to the mattress wordlessly. She obeys, like my well-trained mate should, her head turning, and I gently pull her hair back out of the way so I can watch her.
I fuck her hard, for an indeterminate length, very careful to change my pace whenever she seems close. I smirk as she whines and wiggles each time I silently deny her. I know all this will only lead to an incredibly strong orgasm for her, and I want to reward my sweet mate. I close my eyes and focus on where her body grips mine, the feeling indescribable.
“Bryn, please, please,” she gasps out, after yet another denial.
“Please what, a chroí?”
“Make me come. Or let me rub myself. Please.” Her words are punctuated by the thrusts of my hips.
“Go ahead and come, my love, but you know that you’re not allowed to stroke yourself without my express permission. Your pleasure is mine by rights.”
I grin at her discontented and needy sounds. She shifts her hips, trying to line up her g-spot, but I move with her to make sure I’m not stroking against it. She’s so wet and ready to finish, I feel her pussy fluttering around me. I intend to frustrate her some more, though.
“Be a good little fuck toy, Priestess,” I growl as I let go of my control. My pace falters and my eyes close.
Her wet cunt continues to grip me perfectly and I come inside her. My muscles tense and I feel my seed add to her wetness. I’m holding her hips tightly as I thrust, slower and slower, as my orgasm fades. I love fucking my seed into her like this; it feels absolutely primal.
Adi’s panting and needy still, since I’ve continued to deny her. She whimpers, her face in the blankets. I pull my cock out slowly and she lets out a whining gasp, clearly frustrated.
“I know, sweetheart, I know,” I purr as I lay down next to her, hand running over her back, where she remains frozen, still kneeling, face down, to offer me her pussy.
“Come ride me, a chroí,” I murmur softly. “Use my cock for your pleasure. Show me how badly you need me buried inside you. Rub your clit against my body and scream for me, Adelaide.”
She rises up from the position I had taken her in and straddles me quickly. Her hand lines us up as her gorgeous breasts sway near my face. She sinks onto me smoothly and makes a noise of utter relief. I grin and watch her use my renewed hard-on for her pleasure alone, as I had just used her incredible body.
My eyes close and my hands grip her hips softly, merely because of my need to touch her. I’m not guiding her at all; I’ll let her take what she needs.
My love, my mate, my goddess. What would I do without her? The thought hits me out of nowhere, and my eyes open to stare at her. Her head is back, her curls tumbling down her back, grazing my hands on her hips, her breasts jut forwards with peaked nipples, utterly lost to her own pleasure, to riding my cock until she tumbles off the edge.
I unexpectedly feel myself close in on another orgasm. I was going to let her finish on her own, but she’s so gorgeous, so perfect, I’m going to come with her.
“Oh, sweetheart,” I whisper and she starts to come, her pussy clenching around me tightly with each wave of her orgasm.
“That’s right,” I groan. “Grip me like I’m the only real thing in this world.”
And then I’m lost in my own orgasm, holding her hips and thrusting up as she crests on a second orgasm before properly coming down from the first. I sink into the feeling of her, of the softness of our shared bed, of the perfectness of this moment.
I watch her melt into me as she pants, recovering, and she lays her head onto my chest. My arms wrap around her, holding her to me, as I kiss the top of her head. I start to twine her curls around my fingers. Her breathing slows and she purrs softly as she dozes off on top of me.
I tenderly stroke her. Her need today was related to both my actions with her worthless father and, more importantly, her desire to know that I’ll always have her, always protect and treasure her, always tell her if she’s making poor choices, always listen to her. While we butt heads sometimes, I’ll always support her. I trace her body, letting my love soak into her skin as she’s draped over me. I eventually drift off to sleep, her comforting weight atop me.
Adelaide
I AWAKE THE NEXT MORNING delightfully sore, curled up against Bryn’s lean and muscular body, sunlight filtering calmly in through the high windows. I close my eyes, drifting and letting myself wake slowly as my hands stroke his chest and play in the small patch of hair he has there.
Neither Ossy nor Nairna came to snuggle last night. I feel a pang at that. I want them all here, in my giant bed. If that makes me a selfish bitch, I’ll own that. I just don’t feel complete without them all. My aura wants them close so it can wrap around the four of us like a warm fog. It’s odd but I didn’t feel its pull so strongly before En joined us.
My mind wanders and my hands continue to ghost over Bryn’s arms and chest. I need Ossy and Nairna to do the dirty so we can have some hot group sex, but I’m loath to push either of them more than the vague suggestions I’ve already given. I’ll just have to wait, but patient isn’t a word that has ever been used to describe me.
I jump as Bryn’s hand wraps around mine, where I’ve been absentmindedly tracing his abs.
“A chroí, you keep that up and I’ll be bending you over the bed to take my seed.”
I purr. Sounds like a lovely plan. But I cut it off as the thought of seed and pregnancy hits me. Shit, I really do need to talk to the boys about the birth control thing. Tonight , I promise myself.
Bryn continues. “You have an early meeting with one of the royal houses, yes?” He tucks my hair behind my ear as he looks at me devotedly. He’s just as schmoopy as Ossy, I swear. He just hides it better.
“Yeah, I do. Thank you for the reminder.” Dammit . I lean over and kiss him, letting my tongue slip into his mouth. His arm goes around me possessively, and it makes me smile.
How the hell did I get this lucky in my mates? I really need to make an offering to the Goddess as thanks. They, between them, fulfill my every need and desire in a way no single partner could. I just need to get us all out of this clusterfuck alive so we can start a real life together.
“What house?” Bryn asks as he wraps my curls around his fingers in that way of his that always hits me right in the heart.
“Marchara.”
I feel him tense against me. “I see,” he murmurs, seemingly disinterested, but I know something is up, especially since I feel him thin the aura bond.
I decide to let it lie. For now, at least. I kiss him again and slip out of bed. “I’ll take Ossy since you had mentioned a quick mirror trip to see Rory and Weyland.”
I QUICKLY SHOWER AND get dressed and gather a sleepy Ossy from his room. Bryn has already slipped off, doing Bryn things. Plotting someone’s death, I assume.
Ossy and I march through the corridors to the side of Court where the eleven royal houses have rooms. The hallways in Court look eerily the same, and I think it’s because the sithen likes to mess with the Fae. Or maybe Seren instructed it to look like a maze. I don’t know.
I walk to the fifth door and knock loudly. Technically, I could walk right the hell in, as nearly every door in the sithen will open for my palm print, given, you know, the whole princess thing. But I really need this house’s cooperation, so starting this off on the wrong foot isn’t wise.
Marchara herself opens the door. An old nymph, older than Grandmother, she is tall and waiflike with dark-brown hair. Her face is familiar in an odd way. We’ve met many times over the years but never truly personally.
However, the rumor mill—that is, Maudey and Rory—has told me that Marchara has been fairly vocal in wanting Fae to integrate into human society. I’m not sure of her exact reasoning for it, but regardless, she’s a solid in to get the royal houses to agree. I need her support.
She opens the door with a smile. “Priestess Adelaide, I sensed your coming. I’m honored that you asked to meet. Please, come in and have a drink.”
“Thank you, Lady Marchara. I appreciate your hospitality,” I respond as she leads us through the tiny entry into a space that would best be described as a formal sitting room. Multiple floral couches and chairs are angled towards a large brick fireplace where a low fire crackles happily. I perch on one of the couches and Ossy sits next to me. I can feel he’s uptight, not fooled by the easy hospitality.
“Tea, coffee, or wine?” Marchara questions, voice polite, as three younger females who look very similar to her slip out of an inner door to take seated positions around the room.
“My daughter, Liliana, and my granddaughters, Rose and Iris,” Marchara intones politely as she starts to pour drinks.
“Wine for us, please,” I answer as I let my hand hit Ossy’s thigh. I’m feeling oddly on edge and hope that touching my mate will center me.
The younger two nymphs settle directly across from us and accept wine glasses from their grandmother. Both are pale wispy things, waves of dark-brown hair falling over their shoulders. I know they must be older than I am, though I never bothered to memorize the house lineages, given that Grandmother left me to my own devices and didn’t force me into lessons like my female cousins.
Marchara brings wine glasses for Ossy and me and, gathering her own, sits in a nearby chair. “So, Priestess, what brings you to my rooms, exactly?”
I notice Liliana resettle herself. I can sense she’s frustrated about something. Rose and Iris both seem...off, for lack of a better word. I can’t get a read on them. I try to let my selkie instincts give me some insight, but I can’t feel anything past that. I slowly turn my head away from them and back to Marchara, meeting her golden eyes.
I clear my throat nervously. “Lady Marchara, I was hoping to be an ally in your continued push for integration into human society. I believe the only path to long-term survival is to work towards integration. You’ve been an advocate for this in the past. I was hoping we could discuss appointing ambassadors to the human world and how you and I can go about suggesting this to the other houses. And how we can lay the groundwork for more impressive changes. Together.”
Lady Marchara leans back and sips her wine, obviously considering my words. Unexpectedly, Liliana says, “Perhaps...if you allow my sister Dahlia back to Court, we can...consider your proposition.”
“Lily.” Marchara leans forwards, hissing her daughter’s name in utter horror.
The realization of why they look familiar hits me like a train. They look like the female I caught attempting to grope Bryn, the one I nearly killed on the spot, before I realized Bryn was my mate. And just like that, my magic jumps to the surface, homicidal and begging for blood.
Ohh, this complicates things. I try to be objective and pull back my raging magic, tucking a leg under me and taking a deep drink of my wine to give myself a moment to think. I suppose I could consider allowing her back—with requirements. A strict probation, perhaps. I’m not going to lie, it galls me a bit, but I need Marchara. I don’t see a way forwards without the support of this house.
In my silence, one of the granddaughters speaks. “My aunt was only trying to partake in what we’ve all enjoyed.”
My skin goes cold. “Beg pardon?” I scratch out. Blood pounds in my ears. Magic dances inside me, dying to be let out.
The other female smiles cruelly. “When we first arrived here in America, my cousin Rose required Bryn to service her. I quite enjoyed watching it night after night.”
The first, Rose, smirks. “Bryn was rather reluctant at first. It took a few months, but I figured out how to motivate him.”
Ossy is rigid in fury, but I’m damn near having an out-of-body experience. I take a breath, doing my best to hold onto my senses. My magic seems honed to an edge and is galloping through me, seeking a way out. Tightly, I say, “Are you telling me that you raped my mate?”
Petulantly, Rose purses her lips. “He was my pet for nearly two years. I did what I wanted to what was mine .” She blinks her big brown eyes. “It was before he was your consort, of course. I wouldn’t bother touching him now.”
Something warm and sticky splatters across my face and I close my eyes reflexively. Screams surround me as I blink frantically, trying to clear whatever is on my eyelashes. Ossy’s big warm hand wraps around mine and hauls me to my feet just as I manage to get my eyes open.
Oh. That’s...something.
Where Rose was previously sitting is now nothing but gore. Dark red blood is quickly soaking into the couch, leaving large coagulated clumps. Blood and larger, wetter material is splattered across the entire room and everyone in it. I notice offhandedly that we are peppered in bits of skin, gristle, and bone fragments. I start trying to brush off my dress in an odd displacement activity. I stop when my fingers get tangled in something that feels like a cooked fettuccine noodle.
We’re not forging any treaties today.
I shake myself internally. I hadn’t really intended to explode Rose. Something about her violent death had flitted across my brain and my magic had simply lunged. However, I realize I better act as though I had acted intentionally.
I straighten myself and clear my throat, putting some force of will into my voice. “ That is what happens to those who harm what is mine. I do not take kindly to those who abuse the less powerful. Marchara, I will make a decision with Queen Seren regarding your house, but I will be petitioning for your removal from the royal roster.”
Marchara pales, but a noise of indignation emerges from her daughter, who has managed to stop screaming. I whirl, slightly distracted by the Adi- and Ossy-shaped negatives of clean couch. My magic continues to call for blood and retribution and I’m struggling to keep it under control. “You should be thanking me on your hands and knees that I am not wiping out your line! In fact, thank you for that idea. Upon further reflection, given that at least two of your females have committed assault, I will be bringing up extinction with the queen.”
Osmund
I QUICKLY USHER ADELAIDE out of the ghastly room and down the hall. Our fronts are covered in blood and gore, and I’m trying to get my little mate into our rooms before she breaks down. I can feel her through the bonds; she’s wavering between rage, satisfaction, and despair.
As soon as we’re in our rooms, I lead her to the shower and start stripping clothes off her.
“Baby, talk to me,” I murmur as I rotate her to unlace her dress. I pause to lean into the shower and turn it on to the boiling temperature that she prefers.
She steps out of the dress as I pull it down her body, and I press her gently into the hot water before I start to strip.
She looks at me as I step into the shower, her big grey eyes pleading as the water runs pink down the drain. “She hurt Bryn. She had to die.”
I growl, just as angry about what Bryn suffered as Adi is. “Of course she did. Your actions weren’t wrong, baby. Perhaps not the best timed, but eh.” I move close to her in the large shower space, the hot water raising goosebumps on my skin, and wrap my arms around her. She melts into me even though I still have gore on my face and arms. “ Why are you upset about it, baby?”
She laughs awkwardly. “What if I told you I didn’t intend to splatter Rose across the walls?”
My eyebrows rise as I grab the soap to clean Adi up. “Well...I suppose that could cause some future issues.” I lather my hands and start running them up and down her in the strong spray of the water. “Has your magic ever been linked to death before? I know you have strength in compulsion magic.”
“No. My natural inclinations are compulsion and blocking. I’m...I’m guessing it’s the Morrigan. Or related to her, at least.” She gasps, a thought hitting her. “And what is Bryn going to say?” she almost wails.
“Pfft. Nothing, I imagine.” I shake my head. “He’s not going to care that you killed an enemy.” I turn her in the spray of the water to rinse her.
At that very moment, I hear Bryn storm through the huge bathroom mirror.
“A chroí? What is wrong?” I hear the worry in his voice. He must have been drawn home by Adi’s emotions being all out of whack. I hear Nairna enter behind him. She’s probably in a murderous mood as well. I have the brief thought that perhaps the four of us would be better balanced with a mate who had more scruples about killing people, but such is our lot, I suppose.
Adi’s silent, looking up at me nervously, and my chest aches for her, even though I believe her concern to be unfounded. I answer so she doesn’t have to. “Adelaide...exploded Rose ferch Liliana of the House of Marchara. So we should probably look for other houses to align with,” I say as blandly as I can.
Bryn steps, still fully dressed, from behind the stone wall that partitions off the shower area. “Rose ferch Liliana?” he repeats. His voice holds an edge. Having heard what that awful bitch said she did to him, I can imagine why. Red overtakes my vision for a moment, and Adi yelps as the water hitting us cools dramatically.
I take a breath and Adi leans into me, tucking her head under my chin as the water returns to temperature. She shrugs. “Bryn. She mentioned that she abused you. So I killed her. Somewhat unintentionally. But I’m not sad about it.” Adi’s voice holds an edge of defiance; she’s still worried Bryn will be upset about this development. I palm the back of her head, holding her to my chest.
“Good. She had it coming,” Bryn answers simply, and just like that, I feel the tension drain out of Adi.
I take a deep breath. I don’t want to dredge up bad memories, but I must ask. “Metamour. How did that happen?”
“That” meaning Bryn’s abuse.
He looks at me, hazel eyes glistening, before locking eyes with Adi, then the floor. “I took my brother’s place.” Bryn pauses and sighs. “He had made a foolish bet, and lost. I knew...I just knew it would break him. And he took care of our sisters, despite his gambling, whereas I knew I would run off again the moment we were no longer in lockdown from The Call.”
Adi is sputtering in rage again. I can feel my blood heat in response to her.
“I thought you had good, kind parents, Bryn....” Adi looks more upset than Bryn does right now, but he’s masking.
“I do,” he starts, still looking down. He sighs again. “They just...love each other so much...that we often took a backseat. My brother and I raised our little sisters, more or less. And when that bitch Rose called in her claim...I knew Callum wouldn’t survive the abuse. He’d fade away and pass through the veil before his ‘term’ was over. I couldn’t let the girls lose him.”
Adi, soaking wet and naked, throws herself at Bryn, sobbing. He takes her in his arms and buries his face in her wet hair. His eyes flick up to me and I quickly step up, putting my chest to Adi’s back and wrapping up them both in my arms. A moment later, I feel Nairna’s tentative arms touch my sides as she leans into Bryn too. I feel Bryn relax, safe and protected by our love.
Eventually, Adi softly says, “We need to have a family meeting.”
I’M HUMMING SOFTLY as I putter about the kitchen. There’s something about feeding my mates that releases happy brain chemicals for me. I turn away from the large deep sink to slice the apple I just rinsed. The white subway tiles above the navy-blue kitchen cabinets are relaxing. I slide the thin slices onto the wide knife and drop them onto the platter with the olives and cheese. I pace to the fridge to grab some flatbread in order to finish off Adi’s favorite evening snack. Then, I grab the tray and bring it to the kitchen table. As I turn back to grab the wine, Nairna’s hand brushes my side.
“I’ll get it, Osmund,” she says. Her voice still holds her usual cold edge that she uses with me, but she’s been touching me more and isn’t a raging beast most of the time.
I smile internally. I’ve given her enough time to get used to the idea of being mate-bonded to me as well. I’m going to make my move soon, if things would calm down for three damned hours. I’ve already discussed it with Adi; I wanted to make sure she wouldn’t be upset if I bed Nairna. Adi had looked at me like I’d grown a second head, so absurd was the idea that she’d be hurt by it. When I asked Bryn, well, he couldn’t stop laughing long enough to answer.
Bryn and Adi slip in from the main bedroom. Bryn is wearing low-slung grey sweatpants, and my gaze roves over his naked chest for a moment before falling to eye the outline of his cock. He catches me eyeing him and grins, coming around the table to pull me to him, hand in my hair and mouth on mine possessively. “Later, hmm?” he asks in a husky voice as he pulls away.
I nod with a smile as he presses our foreheads together.
Adi, in a purple nightgown, smiles as she slips into a chair. “That means it’s you and me tonight, En.”
Nairna pours wine into each glass and flicks a glance to me before raising an eyebrow at Adi. “What if I want to join these two idiots?” Her tone is teasing, but both Bryn and I respond with heat.
“Ohh, pup, anytime,” Bryn growls.
Adi laughs and rolls her eyes. “Okay, okay. Enough, you hornballs.” But then her tone becomes serious. “We need to discuss some heavy stuff.”
We all sit and wait for her to continue. I take a sip of wine.
“I’ve decided I don’t want to be queen.”
I start coughing.
“And...I’m on birth control.”
I manage to swallow and get out a hoarse, “What?”
Adi winces noticeably and her eyes flick to Nairna. “I decided I wanted to stop attempting pregnancy back in the Dark Court, after I got the news about Declan and Eira using my mixed blood to rile up the houses and the news from Glario about the uprisings.” She sighs. “I wrote my lawyer to get some human birth control. Then the whole thing with Tavish and his mother happened, so I only just got on it.”
Bryn’s face is blank. He’s not happy.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” I ask, trying to keep the hurt from my voice.
Adi snorts. “I am telling you,” she snaps. Another big sigh slips out of her and I want to wrap her in my arms and pull her onto my lap, even though my mind is reeling from the loss of my daydreams about a curly-blonde-haired babe.
“Between the unseelies trying to execute En and this mess with Marchara today,” she continues, “I’ve only just come the decision to reject the throne, separate from the idea of not wanting a pregnancy.”
The silence is only broken by the sound of Bryn striding to the kitchen. He opens a cabinet and pulls a bottle of whiskey out, shutting the cabinet with more force than strictly necessary before yanking out the cork and taking a pull straight from the bottle.
Adi gives him a sideways look and continues. “They are evil. I can’t lead them with gentle change. They will never allow it. We’ll spend all our time trying to stay safe and battling for the smallest of small changes. I won’t do it.” She shakes her head mournfully and sighs quietly. “Instead...I think we need to dig out the roots and raze the land.”
The quiet stretches as we absorb what our mate has just declared, Bryn taking another drink obvious in the silence.
Nairna clears her throat. “What does that look like, birdie?”
Adelaide takes a large drink of her wine before slowly looking at each of us. “It’s time to burn it down.”
WE DISCUSS PLANS WELL into the night. Once we got over our initial shock, Bryn and I both got on board. Even though I had loved the thought of a child, I hadn’t truly wanted to raise him or her at this disastrous and dangerous court. Anywhere is better than here. And if I have my family with me, then I don’t really care where we end up. So I tell myself that mayhap this is just a rain check on Faelings of our own.
First, we need things settled here. Then we’ll see where the chips fall and go from there.
Bryn pulls me aside to ask if I mind if he spends the night with Adi. I can tell he is surprised and probably hurt by her omission about birth control, so I kiss him and shoo him off to her.
My eyes land on Nairna, who stands to help clear the table. I turn on the sink to wash the plates and glasses as she brings them to me.
“So, no babies for you either, huh?” I ask casually.
She snorts. “Do I seem particularly maternal to you?”
I laugh, and a smile quirks on her face. She grabs a towel and stands next to me to dry. As I finish washing, I wipe off my hands and slowly step behind her. I can feel her tense. I calmly place my hands against the counter on either side of her, bringing my chest almost to her back as I cage her in. She continues drying the plate in her hand, determinedly ignoring me.
“Nairna,” I breathe into her soft grey hair. Goosebumps rise on her flesh. “I’ll always respect our family red word.”
She snorts but doesn’t move an inch. “So, Bryn told you about our first tumble, huh?”
I smile at the memory of his description. “Mmm. A bit.” I nuzzle into her hair again and wait to see if she pulls away. She doesn’t, though she doesn’t lean into me either. “Are you interested in sharing my bed, mate?”
She whirls in my arms and I feel her anger along the bond, but I stand still, leaving us looking at each other face to face. She’s taller than Adi; I would not need to bend to her or lift her for her lips to meet mine.
“Why would you say that?” Her mesmerizing eyes flash in anger.
“Say what?” I ask calmly. “That you’re my mate? You are . So is Bryn. And, of course, our Adelaide. The Goddess has gifted us all with bonds. Do you think I’d look a gift horse in the mouth?”
Surprisingly, that seems to be all she needed to hear. Her body eases, resistance flowing out of her. Her eyes are worried, though, and I feel a pang at her concern.
Based on the energy I’m feeling from her, I take a guess. “I won’t leave you, Nairna. We won’t leave you. You’re ours now.” And I lean forwards but pause a hair’s breadth from her lips. I tilt my head and whisper, “Say yes , Nairna.”
Her lips crash against mine and my tongue delves into her mouth, delighted by her sudden decision. I grab her waist and lift her ass onto the counter. She moans into me and her legs wrap around my waist. Her body is toned and feels incredible against mine. She gasps and groans and rocks against me when she feels my hard dick. I smile into our kiss. She’s not getting it that easy.
I kiss down her neck and her head tilts back as she makes a soft noise. I press forwards between her legs, pulling her body tighter to mine, letting my hands wander languidly over her back as I kiss her. She’s settled some and is letting me lead, much to my surprise.
I slow my touches and my mouth even more. I want her to want this as badly as I have since I awoke last week to her—gloriously naked—rubbing my back and reading next to me in Adi’s bed.
I step back and take her hands. She hops off the counter and steps into my body. I wrap my arms around her, reveling in the feel of her against my chest.
“Ossy,” she says softly as her fingers touch my beard. It makes me smile. I’ve never heard her call me by my nickname.
“Yes, En?”
She raises one of her perfectly arched grey eyebrows. “I suppose that’s fair.”
I chuckle and lean to kiss her again before I sweep her up in my arms. She screams in surprise. The sound of it makes me chuckle again.
“My room,” she demands as I stride down the hall.
As I kick the door shut behind us, she murmurs, “Put me down.”
I do, directly on her tidy bed, in her tidy room. I smile; of course she’s a neat freak. I drop to my knees in front of her and grab the waist of her buttery-soft leggings. I pause, waiting, giving her time to process and object if she wants. But she smiles down at me, face soft, so I pull the leggings off and push her legs apart. I slide my middle finger into the crotch of her panties, so my knuckle is against her flesh. She squirms. I slide my hand up and down slowly, tugging her panties outwards as I look up at her. Her head is tilted back but I can see her eyes are closed in pleasure. I feel nothing but ease through our bond. I press my face into her and groan as I scent her fully. With a quick tug, I rip her panties to pieces and toss them aside and lean forwards again.
Nairna bites her lip. “I thought you wanted to fuck me,” she says breathily.
“Oh, I will . Don’t worry. I just need to get you ready to take me.”
She scoffs but I smile widely. “You have seen me nude, but not hard.”
And with that, I plunge into her. My tongue laps at her soft flesh. Oh Goddess, she tastes incredible. Sweeter than Adi, and earthy. Damn. What I wouldn’t give to have them both spread before me to go back and forth between.
“Your cunt is delicious,” I mumble before putting my mouth back to good use. She gasps and squirms. I feel her fingers burrow into my hair. I smile into her, tonguing her clit hard. I want her to come just from this, just from my tongue on her. I’m a patient male. I’ll take my time. I growl into her, working her body ever closer.
Suddenly, I feel her muscles tighten and she keens loudly, back arching as she comes for me, on my face, as I’ve imagined many times now while stroking my cock. Feeling satisfied with myself, I continue my attentions as she slowly relaxes back onto the bed.
A few heartbeats of my tongue gently sliding over her clit and she mumbles, “Ossy...come here.”
My eyes flick up her body. She’s still in her thin sweater.
I take my mouth off her long enough to say, “Take your sweater off, En.” She does, pulling it over her head, freeing her small breasts. I growl, but instead of going to suckle her nipples, I slide two fingers into her.
“Fuck!” she squeals. “Dammit, Osmund, come here.”
“Uhmm-uh,” I grumble into her, my face back between her legs as she clenches at my fingers.
I stroke over her g-spot slowly as I put my mouth back on her clit. She squeaks and sits up, tugging at my arm.
I lean back, fingers still buried in her wet pussy. “What is it?”
“Come fuck me. You’re surely bored down there.”
My face must show my shock at her words because she blushes, a hint of pink brightening her grey cheeks. Eyes locked on hers, I remove my fingers reluctantly, my eyebrows furrowed. We need to talk a moment here.
“Did Bryn tell you this? I mean, give you this impression?” I ask, horrified. He’d never, surely . He likes to eat pussy as much as I do, I’m quite certain.
“No, not Bryn. Anyway, I want you. Come here.”
I stand, insulted for her. Now it’s a damn challenge. I pull off my shirt. Her eyes rove my chest, lingering on my ink. It makes me grin. I quickly strip my pants off, my hard cock happy to be free. I hear her gasp.
“It’ll fit.” I smirk, then, softer, “Do you go down on Adelaide?” I ask, even though that is perhaps a bit too personal of a question.
“Yes,” she says quietly. I kneel on the bed over her and wrap an arm around her, lifting her easily to the head of the bed with me.
“And you enjoy that? You wouldn’t call it boring?”
“Yes. No, of course not. She’s delicious.”
I chuckle. “Yes, she is. So are you. And now , I won’t be fucking you until your pleasure is all over my face. I want the sheets soaked with your cum and you totally exhausted from orgasms.”
She makes a noise I can’t quite read as I sink back into her center. I slip two fingers back into her and start to press them into her g-spot as I lick her clit in small strokes. I look up across her gorgeous, muscular body and let my other hand go to her breasts. I gently pluck at each of her nipples in turn. I’m not sure how rough she enjoys being played with there, so I’ll be careful and soft for now.
I continue to bring her close to the edge with my mouth and my fingers deep inside her. It’s easy to lose myself in her, just as it is with Adelaide.
I try to focus on her body and her noises so I can learn her tells for finishing. But I’m distracted; the flavor and feel of her in my mouth is making it hard to concentrate. Suddenly, she’s screaming again, clamping down and hips rocking against my face.
Fuck yes. My cock aches. I want her so badly. Want this so badly. But I’m going to take my time.
I don’t let up with my hand and mouth, keeping an unchanging rhythm even as En’s body again relaxes slowly. She squirms, obviously trying to get my attention. I ease my body up next to hers but keep my fingers buried in her cunt. She reaches for me, her face gentle, and that look, on her normally indifferent face, is enough to light my heart. I smile up at her as I go to worship her breasts, pulling and nibbling each nipple as I press my palm against her clit and continue to work my fingers inside her. Her hips buck and I grin into the soft skin under her breast that I’m currently licking. I continue kissing and tonguing her nipples.
Eventually, I slide up to kiss her, though my hand continues pushing her to another orgasm. Our kisses are soft but full of need, and I’m ecstatic that she wants this, wants us .
It takes a little bit, but when she’s moaning hard, I slip slowly back down her body. My mouth waters as I go, pausing to suck and nibble her little peaked nipples. I bury my face in her, lapping at her clit hard. Almost immediately, she explodes for me again, coming hard enough that her grip wouldn’t let me pull my fingers out if I wanted to.
I gently remove my fingers and climb back up her body while her eyes are still shut with pleasure. “Spread for me,” I growl, pleased with her immediate obedience. She’s nice and wet, so I gently separate her folds, then slide my hand under my dick to help ease the wide head into her.
Her eyes open and she pulls me to her, kissing me as though she’d climb inside me. I prop on my elbows as I take her slowly, letting my hands caress her face and bury themselves in her soft hair. I nibble along her neck as I work my cock back and forth, just a bit at a time, as she squirms delightfully on it.
I lean back, eyes locked on where our bodies join. “Mmm, Nairna, you’re taking me so well. I’m halfway there.”
“Oh fuck,” she manages to gasp out as her hips rock up onto my dick. I press the rest of me inside of her in one slow stroke. As my body hits hers, her hips thrust against me, and that bit of contact brings her to yet another orgasm. She cries out and her body arches into mine. I stroke at a good steady pace, studying her face as she finishes, until she opens those incredible grey eyes again.
“Ready?” I ask softly.
She chuckles. “No. I wasn’t ready for a single one of you three.”
I smile at that and start to drive into her at a faster pace. She responds beautifully, moaning and wrapping her legs around me. She’s ready for more, so I grab behind her knees and press them down towards her body as I take her harder.
“Oh gods, Ossy. Yes,” she cries, and at that, I let go of my control and fuck her roughly. My hips slap against her thighs and ass and I know I won’t last much longer.
I lean forwards over her and whisper into her hair, “Can you give me one more, sugar?”
As if all she needed was that little encouragement, her sweet cunt clamps down on me yet again and she screams. I growl and my eyes close as I spill my seed deep inside her.
My hands hit the bed on either side of her face, keeping my chest propped up so I don’t squish her as I catch my breath. I feel her lips lay a soft kiss on my wrist. It makes me smile gently. I wrap an arm under her and turn us on our sides, keeping my dick buried in her heat. I brush her silken hair back from her face. Her eyes close under my attentions as I let my fingers stroke down her graceful neck.
Suddenly, she starts to chuckle. I lean back, eyes locked on her, and wait for her to explain the joke. When she finally manages to stop laughing, she shakes her head.
“Damn Bryn. He was right.”
I AWAKE WITH NAIRNA nowhere to be found. Given that I’m in her rooms, I find that odd, but a quick, nervous tug on our bond reveals she’s not far. I stand and stretch and, gathering my clothes, head to my room for a quick shower.
When I emerge, Bryn, Adi, and Nairna are in the kitchen.
“Sit.” Adi waves me to the table and brings me a plate of fruit and eggs on toast. Sitting with her own plate, she looks at me, worry written upon her face. “Bryn had a vision last night.”
I raise my eyebrows. Before she can continue, Bryn and En join us at the table.
Bryn sighs as he rubs his head. “Filib stood in a river, holding two tiaras. King Barclay floated, dreaming, in the river, next to his dead son.”
I can tell from the feel of Bryn’s aura that he’s nervous. He has told me before that the visions left him uneasy, but I think this is something more.
“What in the fuck is that supposed to mean?” En says.
“You could ask the Morrigan?” I suggest, as I start to eat breakfast.
Adi cringes. “I think calling on her like she was a Magic 8 Ball is going to piss her off.”
“What’s a Magic 8 Ball?” Bryn asks, bewildered.
Adi laughs. “Don’t worry about it.” She shakes her head and a huge smile spreads upon her face. “I can’t wait to show you Boston. All of you.” Her gaze sweeps across us as she continues to grin. “We just gotta get through this shit show first.”
“Speaking of shit shows,” Bryn says, “Ossy, I need your assistance with something today.”
Based on his smirk, we’re going to be killing someone who desperately has it coming. I smile back at him.