Page 48 of Legacy of the Heirs
Kazaar glanced at her mouth.
“You did not think I would have you once and then never again?”His voice whispered. She was about to reply, yet all thoughts escaped her as his mouth replaced his fingers. Elisara could not contain the sound that escaped her mouth. She flexed her hands, and a breeze rushed through the room, carrying her sounds with it. Closing her eyes again, she focused on the coaxing of his fingers as his tongue circled the spot she needed most.
“You’re so ready for me, angel,” Kazaar murmured. She shifted onto her elbows to watch him. His lips were plump, and she glimpsed the strain in his leathers. Elisara wanted him—every part. “Not tonight.” Elisara frowned, unable to disguise her disappointment. “The first time I have you completely, it will not be in a tent with your guards close by,” he said, locking eyes with her as he continued stroking. “I want to take my time and hear your name on my lips when you beg for more.” Elisara blushed, but not fromembarrassment; it was from the thought of losing all control and pleading with him for more. His fingers entered her, and she fell back with a whimper.
“Kazaar,” she breathed. The bed dipped as Kazaar moved, and she opened her eyes to find him leaning over her.
“What did I say about being quiet?” He trailed his left hand up her neck and squeezed gently; his right hand continued his movements, and he brushed his thumb against her with each thrust of his hand.
“What if I don’t want to be quiet?” she breathed. His hand stopped, and she whimpered again.
“What did I say about you begging me?” he asked. “Do you want me to continue?” Elisara’s stubbornness took over then as she wished to test his promises. Saying nothing, she narrowed her eyes, and he chuckled. “Do you really want to test this now, angel?” He removed his hand and replaced it with featherlight touches against her thighs. Elisara bit her lip.
“Answer me.” He gripped her jaw and angled her head, forcing their eyes to meet. Desire burned within his gaze, yet there was no amber glow or speckles of black and white. There was no sign of power at all; they were his usual deep brown. Just Kazaar. Her Kazaar.
“Yes,” she breathed, waiting for him to increase the pressure.
“Yes what?” he whispered.
“Please, Kazaar.” She felt Kazaar’s smile against her neck as he applied more pressure, quickening the circling pattern of his hands. His lips moved to hers, and she lost all focus, her mind switching between the taste of his lips and the feel of his hands. The pressure mounted. While she twisted one hand in the bedsheets, the other gripped his bicep, her nails leaving half-moons in his skin in the rise of her climax. His lips moved in tangent with his hand, and she groaned in release while his other hand supported her back as she arched into him. Kazaar pulled his lips away from hers to plant delicate kisses across her collarbone. He slowed his hand asshe came down from her high and evened her breathing. His hand moved to gently stroke her thigh.
Kazaar pulled Elisara’s legs around his waist and lifted her against him as he stood. Draping back the bedsheets, he placed her gently beneath them and stood to slowly undress. The raised sun on his collarbone was tinged the same silver as their blood, she realised as he climbed into bed beside her and leaned on his side. He propped his head up on his hand and smiled at her, tracing her arm with his hand.
Everything was different now. While Elisara could pretend she had given in to him, the reality was she had desired this for some time. Pieces of her heart had been handed to the commander over the past few months: when they saved one another on the Isle after he pledged himself to her during the Nerida ball, and when they stood in that alcove together. Slowly, Elisara handed pieces of herself to her commander, and she was unsure if any part of her remained that was not completely and utterly his.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Caellum
The foliage-covered cliffs of Doltas Island rose before the ship as they docked, unchanged from when he first met Soren at its peak. Much had altered since he last stepped foot on the island: his engagement to a princess, battling the threat of deadly creatures all while trying to uncover a prophecy. The realisation struck him more when he offered Sadira his hand to help her exit the ship. She stepped onto the dock of the place she once called home, a term stripped from her when she was forced to become his betrothed. The sun glinted on her golden hair as she smiled at him reassuringly. His stomach was in knots, though he was unsure if it was from the uneasy journey or the princess standing by his side.
He intertwined his fingers with Sadira’s as they walked down the narrow wooden dock, his footing uneasy. Caellum glanced behind him to ensure Sir Cain was close by. The commander of the Garridon army nodded firmly to him, and Caellum turned back, watching his footing as waves threatened to spill over the planks. The same surly men from his last visit greeted them yet their clothes appeared newer, their braids less frayed, and their skin less dirty. Sadira had forewarned him that the island would appear much different from last time and admitted that her family hid the reality of Doltas from any outsider who stepped foot upon it. Looking at Sadira now, with her straight posture and her head held high despite the weight of the Garridon crown, she looked different. She had offered to return the heirloom to him, but he insisted she kept it. It was as if the crown allowed her to present as someone else in her high-necked, thick velvet green dress, muchdifferent from her usual bright florals. Caellum could not imagine how odd it must feel for Sadira to return home.
He gripped her hand as the men bowed, though he quickly realised they bowed to Soren as she stepped around the pair and clapped the men on the back. They grinned and began climbing to the top of the island, deep in conversation. Sadira and Caellum exchanged a look. Silent communication had become common for them—an easy glance here or there, the squeeze of a hand, and the angling of a head. As traumatic as their engagement ball had been, it appeared to have brought them closer, as had Soren’s antics, though she would hate to know such a thing. After Soren had confronted them in the infirmary, an unspoken agreement was forged between Caellum and Sadira, neither of whom trusted her.
Sadira tensed at Caellum’s side as they reached the top of the Island.
“I can’t say I’d like to do that climb regularly,” Sir Cain huffed beside him, yet despite his commander’s age, he was fitter than most men Caellum knew. Behind him, waves crashed against the rock face, like a permanent warning against those who visited. His stomach turned at the thought of peering lower at the narrow steps they had climbed. Instead, he focused on the towering trees looming over him on either side of the clearing. To his left was a man with a bow strapped to his back and furs acting as a shield from the wind. Rigid, the man looked out over the ocean. A guard, Caellum realised.
Many footprints marked the mud before him, a sign the watch post was constantly manned. He glanced at Sadira, whose eyes looked anywhere but ahead of them, where a single track led deep into the forest. On the track was a group of men and one woman standing in a row, deep in conversation, except for one man, who watched Sadira intently. His strong build exposed his biceps through the cuts in his sleeves as though any shirt would be too small for them. Caellum peeked at his own arms before looking at the man again. A slit carved his eyebrow, though Caellum wasunsure if it was purposeful or inflicted. His hair was shaved at the sides, yet remained brown at the top, secured in a knot. It was not a hairstyle typical of Garridon; perhaps it came from his Wiccan culture.
“Is that him?” Caellum asked in a hushed voice, his lips barely moving. Sadira nodded. The pair had quickly realised their return to Doltas would involve Sadira crossing paths with her former lover, Rodik. Although Caellum knew Sadira loved Rodik, he was uncertain about her current emotions and whether she wished to reunite with him someday. Early in their betrothal, Caellum said he valued their friendship to make their marriage work, but he had not considered how either might feel if someone else was in the picture. Rodik stepped forward.
“Princess Sadira. King Caellum. Welcome back to Doltas Island.” Rodik’s voice was deep and matched his overall appearance. Caellum could not help but broaden his stance to match the welcoming, muscular man. Sadira remained rigid as she offered Rodik a polite smile. Behind them, Soren cleared her throat and stepped forward, peering intently at Rodik, who clenched his jaw, refusing Soren’s eye. “Welcome, Queen Soren.”
Soren smirked beside Caellum and pushed past the group. The three men from the dock followed suit, leaving Sadira and Caellum in Rodik’s company while others lingered nearby. The men dressed similarly to Rodik in fitted trousers, boots, accompanied by leathers, and furs. Each had an axe strapped to their backs, along with bows and arrows.Hunters or guards?Caellum wondered. The woman, however, would not look out of place in Nerida, if not for her thick cloak. Underneath, Caellum spotted the sandals on her feet, and a thin dress tied with woven fabric, similar to those he had seen on Neridian women. She wore nothing else but a small dagger on her hip, yet she tugged the cloak tighter to hide it and crossed her arms. When Caellum met her eye, her gaze was wary.
“Princess Sadira, I would appreciate a moment with you,” said Rodik, and Caellum held his tongue. He had expected Rodik towant time with her, though it was bold to make the request so quickly without meeting Caellum’s eye. Caellum squeezed Sadira’s hand in support of whatever decision she made.
“Very well,” she responded, a nervous lilt in her voice.
“We will take you to the quarter.” The woman in the Neridian dress raised her chin, her voice more certain than her previous expression implied when she addressed Caellum.
“Thank you, Eliza,” Sadira said at Caellum’s side. “I shall not be long, but I will meet you there. Please offer the king and his commander some food in my absence.”
Eliza glanced at Sir Cain behind Caellum before gesturing them to follow her along the winding path that led to the crumbling wall he had visited once before. Caellum felt Rodik’s eyes finally land on him. Caellum tugged gently on Sadira’s hand and turned her to face him. The engagement ring glinted beneath the streams of light filtering through the trees when he brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Sadira blushed, and their eyes met. He stepped away to follow Eliza.
***
