Page 35 of Iris of the Crowned Flame

Our first time together was under the stars, while traveling to Ashenwoods. Ever since, that’s been our code for wanting each other when in mixed company.

Amyra whipped her head to look at Spencer. He clearly understood what I had just said. She turned back to me, shocked, but also… was that amusement in her eyes? She leaned forward, and before I could even understand what was happening, her lips were on mine, and I was tasting the honeyed raspberries I just imagined. My eyes closed, my skin tingled, and my core burned, aching for more. I reached up and pulled her closer, deepening into this kiss. The world disappeared around us, and I felt her hands on me, teasing my breasts. A fresh wave of fire rushed through me, ending between my legs. I moaned into her mouth and reached around her dress.

Spencer cleared his throat. Amyra broke her contact with me. I opened my eyes to see her entire face flushed with embarrassment. I took a few breaths to calm myself.

“Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but Lyla, you probably want to avoid such activities for a bit… the dirt flew out of the pot as you got into that.”

Spencer nodded towards the potted plant that had shifted, sitting crookedly in the pot and the mess of dirt around the table.

I jumped up and started trying to straighten the plant andwipe the dirt into the pot from the table. “They didn’t tell me that would happen! Ugh, thank you, Spencer.”

His lips curved, and his eyes sparkled.

Amyra smoothed her skirt back down while delicately saying, “I suppose we can take this moment as an opportunity to talk about what the future will look like?”

Spencer nodded. “Yes, that’s a good idea. I see the love you two have. Your traditions dictate that the King and Queen must share a bedroom, but I want to do whatever I can to allow you two the ability to nurture your love. I’ve never encountered a love like yours in all my travels. Your souls were clearly meant to intertwine.”

“Are we? That prophecy says otherwise. The Queen of the realm binds her fate to a King who sees the depths of souls,” I repeated from earlier.

Amyra looked confused. “Prophecy?”

“Oh, goodness, I didn’t tell you yet.” I filled her in on the prophecy we read earlier. I read it so many times this morning, then repeated it in my mind during the magic practice, that it’s now committed to my memory.

After I caught her up, Amyra took a moment, staring at her hands in her lap, folded neatly, holding her emotions in. “In the union of Queen and King lies not just the union of hearts,”she repeats quietly. A shaky inhale lets her speak a bit louder. “That doesn’t really leave much space for me, does it?”

I reached for her hands.

“It doesn’t close you out completely, either. I don’t know what will come for Spencer and me. Maybe our friendship is enough.”

I looked at him and offered a smile, which he heartily returned. My gaze returned to her. “But I love you, and Spencer promises that you and I will have our space. I will make sure of it, even if I need to use my magic to move stones and make the chambers a bigger room to fit another bed.”

Amyra looks up with amusement. “Could you even do that?”

I shrug, “The Priestess thinks I could. I lifted someenormous stones this morning, so it’s possible. And more importantly, Spencer, she can share our chamber, right?”

Spencer nodded. “I will use a second bed. You are her love, Amyra. I would be just her king.”

I felt a flutter within as he shared that. I didn’t know what I did to deserve him, or why he was so committed to seeing me happy with someone other than him, but his commitment to Amyra and me flooded my heart with so much emotion.

Amyra’s smile reappeared tentatively.

“I could just kiss you for that.” She said. Then she leaned towards him, as if she had decided she would. She planted her lips squarely on his. Spencer’s eyes widened, and he looked at me with confusion and shock.

I smiled at him. I was just as confused, but I didn’t feel any pangs of jealousy. He accepted the smile as reassurance and closed his eyes to return her kiss. I watched as his hands tentatively rose to the back of her head, where my hand had been just a moment before. Her hand reached for his chest, almost the same way she had held mine. On him, she trailed it up and to his neck, then to the back of his head and through his hair. My heart swelled watching them enjoy each other’s kiss. After a moment, they pulled apart.

“Uh, well, that was unexpected.” Spencer said.

Amyra grinned. “I don’t know why I did that. Please let me apologize. I just suddenly felt immense love for you, like I had known you for years and that you are mine.”

She held her hands to her eyes and rubbed them, as if trying to rub that feeling away. “Lyla, I am so, so sorry.” She turned to me and reached for my hands.

I offered her the same smile I gave Spencer before. “Amyra, love, no, please don’t apologize. I only felt love watching that. I wish I could explain. It felt like it was meant to happen that way.”

We exchanged looks with each other, not understanding what had just happened between us. Without warning, Amyra was back in my arms, kissing me again. We stood in unison this time, and we took our familiar dance to the settee nearby. Welost ourselves in each other. I ran my hand through her hair, and she lightly scratched my back with her nails.

This time, I remembered Spencer was in the room before I lost myself in her love. In my lusty haze, I held out my hand, inviting him to join us. He moved to sit behind me, unsure of what to do at first. I guided his hand to my breast, my fingers over his as I showed him how I liked to feel fingers on me, teasing my nipple. After a moment, I moved my other hand to Amyra’s breast to tease her and broke our kiss to turn and kiss Spencer. The moment my lips touched his was electrifying. I felt an aching need for more. All I could hear is my blood pounding, and I felt my skirt rustling as Amyra expertly weaved her hand between my legs to swirl her thumb and tease me. I moaned into Spencer’s mouth, feeling his free hand tangle itself in my hair as he passionately explored my mouth. Amyra tugged my cleave over my neckline, placing her mouth around my nipple, giving it the attention I’ve missed most from her. I felt my heart pulled to both.

Without warning, Spencer broke the kiss and pulled back.

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