Page 21 of Oath of War
‘No, Little Flame. You need to rest. Go back to Orm before I steal you away, my precious treasure.’
I kissed his cheek, and Vahin uncurled, revealing Orm patiently waiting. The dragon lifted his massive head and locked eyes with the commander. Their silent telepathic exchange leftme feeling conspicuously excluded, stirring a vague unease. I braced myself for an argument, anticipating overprotective measures after my kidnapping. But just as I was becoming agitated over my own assumptions, Orm nodded, and Vahin nudged me gently towards him.
‘I sent Ari to prepare a bathing chamber,’ Orm said, his hand cupping my cheek. His thumb ghosted over my bruises, his scowl deepening as he surveyed the marks. ‘Once you’ve rested, food will be brought to your room. You must be exhausted, Nivale.’
‘Orm, I appreciate the idea of a bath and sleep, but I’m starving. Feed me, or I’ll whine about it until you plug my gob with a bun or I get so desperate I hide in the stables and steal the horses’ oats.Please, show me the way to the kitchen before I start gnawing on Vahin’s tail,’ I begged, causing both man and dragon to laugh.
‘I see Orm is being neglectful. I will hunt something for you. What game would you like, Little Flame?’
‘For fuck’s sake, I’m not being neglectful. I will order food to be brought to the bathing chamber. Every single bun the servants can find in this damned city.’
The promise of food was all the motivation I needed. Since Orm mentioned a bath, I couldn’t stop fantasizing about scrubbing away the grime that clung to me. My time in a cell felt like a stain that soap alone couldn’t erase. Combined with the sweat and blood from the fight, I was ready to scour my skin raw.
‘Lead the way,’ I said, already anticipating the relief of hot water. ‘I have so much to tell you. The Lich King—’
My words turned into a startled squeal as Orm pulled me into a fierce kiss, lifting me off my feet. Without breaking his stride, he carried me towards the mansion.
‘Not today, Nivale,’ he murmured against my lips before quickening his pace.
‘Orm!’ I laughed, clinging to him. ‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m making sure you end up naked in a steaming bath, a bun in your mouth, and too blissfully sated to complain when I fuck you so hard you see the stars you pray upon,’ he said, his voice a low growl. ‘I want to see you smile again, Nivale, and I will.’
His grim determination was so at odds with his words that I burst into laughter.
‘Wipe that stern scowl off your face,’ I teased, ‘and you can do whatever you want to me.’
Servants scattered like startled birds as Orm barrelled through the hallways, shouting for them to clear the way. I could hardly breathe from laughing as he carried me, his strength and stubbornness leaving no room for protest.
‘Orm, please, I can walk!’ I protested, squealing as he finally stopped before a set of massive, ornately carved doors. Steam seeped through the gaps, curling in the air like a promise of paradise.
‘I don’t care,’ he said, his tone rough and resolute. ‘I want to carry you, pamper you, touch you. I’m not above begging to have what I want.’ With a kick, he opened the doors, the heat of the bathing chamber rushing out to greet us.
I could feel the raw power coiled in his body, the need in his every move. With a contended sigh, I tilted my head to look at him.
‘After such a promise, how could I ever ask you to beg?’
Verbena-scented steam billowed into my face, the warmth instantly misting my lashes. I blinked the droplets away, my breath catching when my eyes landed on Alaric lounging in the crystalline water of the deep pool. He was completely naked, his lean, muscled body on full display, and his smirk turned wicked as he caught where my gaze lingered.
‘You could’ve opened the door normally instead of flexing,’ Ari quipped, his tone light. ‘Annike already knows how strong you are.’
Orm’s deep laugh rumbled through me. ‘Maybe I just felt like it,’ he replied, setting me gently on my feet before turning to a lingering servant. ‘Fetch food from the kitchen. Tell the cook Lady Annika will be dining here and bring a bottle of sweet wine as well.’
I tried to ignore the loud grumble of my stomach, focusing instead on the two men before me. Ari stepped out of the water, his movements so fluid and graceful he barely created a ripple.Water cascaded down his toned frame as he approached, and my throat suddenly felt too dry to speak.
‘Will you let me stay?’ he asked, his voice low and inviting.
‘I . . . Yes, but Orm . . .’ I hesitated, feeling completely at a loss. I wanted to be with them both, but I didn’t want to impose anything on Orm, who, surprisingly, seemed quite comfortable seeing Alaric in all his naked glory.
‘As if I’d let you leave. There’s no need for false modesty, so help me undress her,’ Orm answered before I could form a sentence.
I blinked at him, stunned, as a wave of heat spiralled down my spine. Ari’s smirk widened, and as he passed his discarded clothes, he picked up a small dagger. The sinful gleam in his eyes made my breath hitch.
‘This dress,’ he murmured, his voice dark and velvety, ‘offends your beauty. Fortunately, I have a solution.’
The blade’s tip slid beneath the delicate lace of my bodice, and I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. His hand moved in a blur, and with a soft hiss of fabric, the laces fluttered to the floor. Cool air brushed my skin as goosebumps rose in the wake of the dress falling away.
‘Hrae, you are perfection,’ Alaric murmured, his voice reverent. He stepped closer, guiding me until my back pressed against Orm’s broad, firm chest.
