Page 24 of Oath of War
They worked in tandem, their movements pushing me beyond reason and beyond control. Orm’s growled encouragement spurred me on, and I surrendered utterly to their demands.
My instinct took over, reaching for the fae, the binding words forming in my mind, trying to force the Anchor bond. Alaric must have sensed my magic because he shook his head, pulling my hair to distract me as he pushed deeper into my mouth while Orm took me from behind, pounding my flesh with sweet abandon.
‘Hrae! Domina, can you—’ Ari grunted. His body shuddered, and I grabbed his thighs, sinking my nails into his silvery skin. He tensed, crying out words in his native tongue, so melodic that they sounded like a prayer.
‘Do it again, Ani,’ Orm instructed, his hips bucking when my core tightened, reacting to Ari’s ecstasy. ‘Again, Nivale. Make it good for him,’ he growled, slapping my arse and ramming his hard cock to the hilt. Stars exploded across my vision, and I scored Alaric’s flesh with my nails.
I felt the swell of Ari’s cock, his hand tightening on my hair when he unleashed himself in my mouth. My throat instinctively constricted when a salty taste hit the back of it.
‘Swallow, Ani,’ Orm grunted, his hips bucking in reaction to my fae’s ecstasy. Pleasure blinded me with its intensity. My body spasmed in a powerful catharsis that wiped my mind blank. Orm came with a roar, his cock pulsing as he filled me while I sucked Alaric dry.
My warrior crushed me in his embrace, his hands soothing me as my body quaked in the aftermath. ‘I think I died a little,’ I murmured, barely able to keep my eyes open. Gentle hands wiped away the evidence of our lovemaking, but exhaustion pulled me under. They had worn me out, and I was falling asleep in Orm’s arms as Ari finished washing my body.
‘Dark Mother, she’s perfect,’ Alaric whispered reverently. ‘... And she’s asleep.’
‘She is,’ Orm replied, his voice thick with emotion. ‘And I’ll destroy anyone who tries to take her from us again. Look at those bruises . . . Damn it, Ari, they starved her. I am going todestroythem for this, I . . . Double the patrols and ensure one of us is always with her. Ihrain is still dangerous, and several disgruntled nobles will be trying to oust Reynard. They will use anything and anyone to their advantage.’
‘I will enlist the Brotherhood to watch over her. So far, they’ve delivered on their promises.’
‘It would be better to set them on Ihrain’s trail. I won’t be calm until I see his dead body at my feet. That man isfuckingvermin,’ Orm whispered angrily, and I fought my exhaustion to keep listening.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to ask the mages?’
‘The mages? If anything, they’ve caused more trouble than anyone. For now, concentrate on preparing for the trial. What is it exactly, and why was the empress so sour about it?’
‘I’ll tell you more later, but it’s a political tool that can give your brother not only the army but also the support of the entire dark fae empire.’
‘No discussing things without me,’ I mumbled, trying to argue, but a big yawn interrupted my tirade. Orm bent down and kissed my forehead.
‘Let us take you to bed, sweet flower. We can talk tomorrow. It will be a difficult day, but for now, you must rest,’ he murmured into my ear as he lifted me out of the water. ‘Ari, tell the kitchen to send snacks and bring some mead to the room. I’ll be returning to the palace to see Reynard, but I want to make sure Annika is comfortable.’
I grumbled under my breath, and Orm chuckled before shaking his head.
‘Try to relax, Nivale. Thanks to our brief interlude, I have a little too much energy and I intend to use it while Ari cuddles you in bed.’
‘But I want you to join us.’
‘And I will, but later. After you regain your strength, you can come with me anytime you want, but only if you can keep your eyes open.’
Unfortunately, he was right; my eyelids kept closing no matter how hard I tried to fight them. ‘Fine, but you have to tell me everything . . .’ I muttered.
‘I will. Every single detail,’ he promised with a smile as I slipped into the land of dreams.
Warmth surrounded me, comforting and familiar, laced with the rich scent of clove and musk underpinned by sharp, exotic spices. Silken fabric rustled as I stretched, and I couldn’t help my sigh of pleasure when I realised the source of my serenity: both my men, wrapped protectively around me.
I turned to cuddle into Orm’s muscular torso, enjoying the tickle of his coarse hair against my skin. A firm hand tightened on my thigh as I shifted, and I glanced down, savouring the sight of our intertwined legs and the possessive grey hand gripping my thigh.
The memory of their coordinated efforts to drive me wild ignited a blush that warmed me from the inside out. I still couldn’t believe it. After all my worries, Orm not only accepted sharing me with Alaric, but if the relaxed intimacy between them was any indication, he’d also accepted Ari’s company.
Makosh, Goddess of Life, bless my family, I prayed silently, overwhelmed with gratitude.I can’t live without them.
The bed’s high canopy, made of deep blue gauze, diffused the morning sun into a soft glow, turning dust motes into tiny dancing faeries. The room’s décor—a mix of pastel walls, colourful drapes, and dainty furniture—was so incongruous against the rugged warrior and brooding fae beside me that a laugh bubbled up unbidden. Only their serene expressions held it at bay.
Careful not to disturb them, I slowly untangled myself, hissing as my bare feet met the cold stone floor. For a moment, I considered crawling back into their warm embrace, but a different urge took hold.
‘Vahin?’ I called out for my dragon, testing our mind’s connection before reaching for the aether. Strands of magic flew to me unrestrained, wrapping themselves around my body, the power caressing me like a long-lost lover.
‘Thank the gods.’ I breathed a sigh of relief when aethereal fire blossomed on my palm, unfurling as I shaped it into a peony. Whether it was because of the passage of time or our vigorous lovemaking, the lanara poison had finally been purged from my body, and I felt a need to use my magic.
