Page 143 of A Throne of Blood & Vengeance

“Drav . . .” I rose onto my tiptoes so I could kiss him on the cheek. “Please go and make sure Kier doesn’t get carried away and that Roth doesn’t have a heart attack.”

“I will do my best, my love.” His dark brows furrowed. “But honestly, Roth’s parents frighten me, so if they push for something, I’m not inclined to push back.”

“Wise boy.” Thessalia nodded.

Draven smiled at her before dipping his head in a respectful nod and casually strolling down the path Roth and Kieran had taken. Alaric sidled up to my left and Vail to my right.

Roth’s aunt stared after Draven in bemusement. “It’s good that he didn’t take after either of his parents. Would have been a shame to kill one that pretty.”

“I mean?—”

Alaric grunted when I elbowed him in the gut and gave him a warning stare.

Be nice, I mouthed. He rolled his eyes.

“Why don’t the rest of you come inside so we can discuss the future of things?” Thessalia offered. “You’re welcome to get cleaned up first while I have some refreshments brought to my study.”

“That is honestly the best thing I’ve heard all day.” I picked at my sweat-soaked shirt in distaste. “I desperately need to get out of these clothes.”

Alaric and Vail both cleared their throats.

“And into fresh ones,” I amended. “Work first. Play later.”

“We’ve prepared a guest suite for you in the same wing as Roth’s room—not that they’ve used it in years. Your suite has an attached washroom.” Thessalia’s gaze slid to Alaric and then Vail. “And a silencing glyph for your . . . playtime.”

“We thank House Devereux for its hospitality.” I grinned. “I’ll have to spread the word about how accommodating you are.”

“Please don’t.” Thessalia laughed. “Come on, I’ll show you the way.”

“If you don’t need me, I’d like to go check in with the rangers here,” Vail said. “I’ll catch up later.”

“That’s fine.”

Vail gave me a quick kiss before striding off down a different path from the one the other three had taken.

I glanced at Alaric. “Looks like it’s just you and me then.”

His lips quirked up into a small smile. “I do so enjoy when I get you all to myself.”

An hour later, some servants kindly directed us to Thessalia’s study. Alaric had been very . . . attentive about helping me get clean in the washroom. Then he’d undone all his hard work by shoving me to my knees when I’d sassed him and fucking my mouth roughly until he’d come all over my face and chest.

He hadn’t even let me rinse off. Just carried me to bed and devoured my pussy until I’d begged him to fuck me, which he had.

After cleaning up for the third time, we’d successfully made it out of the room.

“Ah, there you are. I was beginning to worry you’d gotten lost.” Thessalia’s eyes twinkled, and she rose from her desk to take a seat at one of the four chairs casually set up to face each other in the corner of her study. The room was large, and weapons adorned most of the wall space. I suspected the enormous window behind her desk overlooked the sparring courtyard, based on the faint sounds of yelling and metal striking metal.

On the table between all the chairs was an assortment of bread, cheese, and fruit, along with several glasses of water and ale.

“Alaric wasverydirty,” I said with a completely straight face, even as I tried not to drool over the cheese. “It took a lot of work to get him all squeaky clean again.”

“I’m sure.” Thessalia grinned.

Alaric sighed and moved towards one of the chairs, pinching my side as he went.

I laughed under my breath and followed. We both chose a chair opposite Thessalia, and she watched as we tore into the food for a few minutes.

“Better?” She arched an eyebrow.

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