Page 22 of Oath of War
The dagger’s edge traced featherlike paths over my skin, cutting away the remnants of the dress. My knees buckled, but four strong arms caught me, holding me upright.
‘Steady, Nivale,’ Orm whispered into my ear, his tone both teasing and protective. ‘A single drop of your blood could send our fae into a frenzy. You know how serious dark fae are about bloodletting. Look—he’s already hard for you.’
A whimper escaped me as molten heat replaced my shivers. Ari’s eyes turned into a crimson maelstrom at my reaction. Hemoved with liquid grace, his lips trailing heated kisses along my neck.
‘If I wanted to draw blood,’ he murmured against my skin, ‘I wouldn’t need something as crude as this.’ He discarded the dagger, taking my hand. ‘Come, my lady. Let me care for you while this oaf undresses. Let’s see how well his famous control holds with my hands on your body.’
He led me towards the water, Orm’s deep chuckle rumbling behind us.
‘Teasing me, fae? Aren’t you supposed to respect and admire your lord commander?’ Orm called out, his voice laced with amusement as he shrugged off his shirt.
Ari glanced back, his lips curving in a playful smirk. ‘I’ve always been a rebel. That’s how we ended up in this mess.’ His hand covered my breast as he added with a wicked gleam in his eyes, ‘The question remains, can you control your beast, Ormond?’
Fuck, these two will be the death of me.
My heart thundered in my chest, and I squeezed my thighs together, trying to quell the heat pooling low in my belly. ‘What is going on with you two?’ I demanded, my voice breathless. ‘I was gone for a week. What happened?’
‘Having you taken from us was ... enlightening,’ Alaric admitted, his tone softening. ‘We realised our connection had maybe grown more than we understood. I hope that doesn’t bother you?’
‘You thought I’d be upset?’ I asked, baffled by his doubts. I turned to Orm. ‘And you’re okay with this?’
Orm’s expression relaxed. ‘These emotions ... they feel right. As for what they mean or where they’ll go? I’m taking it as it comes.’
Ari smiled and drew me into the pool, the warm water enveloping us as it rose to my chest. He lifted my hand to his lips,gifting me soft kisses along my fingertips and up the inside of my arm. My pulse fluttered as he nibbled lightly at the sensitive skin of my neck before claiming my lips in a searing kiss.
‘I live for you, my Domina,’ he muttered against my mouth. ‘For your courage, for the taste of your lips. You are the light to my darkness. Of course I was worried.’
The intensity of his words left me reeling, but a sudden draft sent a shiver down my spine. Orm joined us moments later, carrying an enormous tray laden with food and wine. Setting it beside the pool, he slipped into the water, his hands finding me almost immediately.
The slow, deliberate caresses of his fingers trailed water down my back, and I arched into the touch, my body responding to the double onslaught of their attentions. Whatever had changed between them in my absence, I knew one thing: I would never feel this cherished, this utterly adored, by anyone else.
‘Share, Alaric. I missed her too, and my control has its limits,’ Orm said, taking my chin in his hand and slowly turning me towards him. I was drowning in their sensuous heat, and when he kissed me, his tongue slipped into my mouth, teasing me mercilessly.
Yet even in this wonderful fantasy, a distant need gnawed at my awareness. My fae’s hand roamed down my body, leaving sparks in its wake, just as the warm, intoxicating aroma of fresh bread and melted butter invaded my senses.
A loud, insistent growl erupted from my stomach, breaking the spell. Alaric froze, his hand pausing mid-descent as a bubble of laughter escaped me. The absurdity of the moment—the visceral need for food clashing with the electric heat between us—made me grin.
‘Why now?’ I sighed theatrically, placing a hand on each of their chests. ‘This is perfect, but please, a woman has to eat.’ I dove for the tray of food, earning twin chuckles from my lovers.
Before I could claim the golden, sugar-crusted bun that had captured my attention, Orm’s strong arms caught me mid-lunge. ‘Oh no, you don’t,’ he teased, holding me effortlessly in place as I squirmed.
‘You’re digging your own grave, dragon rider,’ I growled playfully, glaring up at him. ‘You can’t just deny a hungry woman her bun. Ari, do something, I’m starving here.’
My theatrics earned more laughter as Orm settled us onto a submerged seat, his grip firm yet gentle. ‘Patience, my heart,’ he murmured, his voice a soothing balm. Alaric, grinning mischievously, slid the tray closer, finally allowing me to grab the bun and take a triumphant bite.
‘Gods, you’re delicious,’ Orm said, one hand holding me against his chest while his other picked up a ripe, juicy piece of fruit. ‘Be a good little mage and open your mouth for me.’
His irises filled with gold when I licked the sweet juices off his fingers. ‘Just like that, Nivale,’ he purred as his cock jerked under my arse. ‘You want me to take control, yes?’
The growl in his voice was an unmistakable sign that the inner beast was holding the reins, but he still asked for my consent.
‘Please,’ I whispered, and he inhaled deeply as if my words had released some pent-up energy.
Alaric, ever the tender contrast, knelt in front of me with a soft cloth and scented soaps. His hands moved with reverence, creating a fragrant lather that he swept over my arms as he healed my cuts and bruises and washed away the grime of captivity. Every touch was a silent promise, every glance a reflection of his devotion. His lips curled into a silent snarl until his spells left only unblemished skin.
‘You don’t have to do this,’ I protested half-heartedly, enjoying his attention.
‘I don’t have to do what?’ he asked, and the low timbre of his voice sent another shiver down my spine while his dextroushands eased my legs apart. He raised his head to look at me, and he looked so breathtakingly beautiful that I forgot what I was going to say.
