Page 58 of Oath of War
Alaric’s eyes brightened with joy. ‘And you never will be with another,’ he said softly. ‘Do what you feel is right, and I will tell you if it becomes too much.’
My possessive fae had staked his claim and gave me the freedom to explore, but this wasn’t the teenage fumbling I’d witnessed in the barracks. I wanted something better for the both of us, and a sudden thought crossed my mind.
‘I know we’re both Anchored to Ani, but I ... I want a bond shared between the two of us, too, not just ... Is the ... Is it possible for us to share the blood bond, too?’
I was tripping through this like a nervous colt, my lack of knowledge failing me. I didn’t know if the blood bond was practised between dark fae males or whether it was only for a male and his domina, but I wanted it, and when he nodded, I acted on my craving.
My hand slid into his long, white hair, and I wrapped the strands around my fingers, twisting cruelly, never once looking away from his crimson eyes. With his lithe body pressed against mine, I kissed him again, licking across his lips until they parted, and I pushed inside. Ari moaned as I took control, and when my tongue slid over his fang, the soft flesh parted on its sharp edge, making him whimper.
‘Ormond,’ he gasped, breaking the kiss, his eyes searching mine. ‘Remember that for me, this is ... forever.’ His expression was so open and full of yearning that I wanted to pull him back to me, but he had to choose this.
‘I fucking hope so,’ I said, the words spilling out like a vow. ‘You’re the only one, Alaric’va Shen’ra. The only man I could ever love. You’re more than a friend, closer than a brother. I want you to know I want this—I wantyou.’
‘No regrets?’
‘Only that I waited so long,’ I admitted, cupping his face. ‘I was blind, Ari, just a man set in my ways, unable to see love when it smacked me in the face, but that changes now. I want the entire world to know you are mine, and if anyone ever questions this, we can just unleash Annika on them.’
Alaric laughed, the sound like a balm to my soul. ‘I wouldn’t wish her wrath on my worst enemy,’ he said, pressing his leg against my hard cock. ‘I want this so much, but Ani will always come first. You understand that, don’t you?’
‘Understand? She made all of this possible. You, me, Vahin. For all of us, she will always come first, but loving you differently doesn’t mean I love you less. So, are you going to let me in, my roguish necromancer, or will you continue stalling for time?’ I asked, and his breath came in shuddering pants.
Alaric reached up and gripped my shoulders, tilting his head as he answered. ‘I accept. Dark Mother, is this real?’ he asked right before leaning forward for a kiss.
He was shaking like a leaf, looking so overwhelmed that I let him set the pace. The caress, when it happened, shattered my world. Roughly sensual and masculine, his fingers stroked through my beard, surprising me with how different it felt from the passionate softness of Annika’s touch.
‘Make me bleed, Ormond,’ he whispered, his voice low and throaty. The words struck something primal within me. ‘Make me bleed for you.’
I didn’t hesitate. My teeth found his lips, biting down until the tang of blood filled my mouth, sharp and metallic. The coppery taste mingled with his essence, intoxicating me as I sliced my tongue over his fang, deepening the connection between us.
‘Making demands, are we, my fae?’ I growled, barely holding myself back. His eagerness had me questioning why I hadn’t seen it before. Looking back at all those moments when histouch had soothed my pain, when he had healed my injuries and lingered just a little bit longer ... It made me realise how much I had missed—how muchwehad missed.
Desire surged through me, and I bent him back as he yielded. Alaric’s submission wasn’t weakness—it was trust, freely given, and it set me aflame. His fingers moved to my chest, unbuttoning my shirt and sliding it off my shoulders, stripping me of my clothing as a dark aura flared around us.
I don’t think Ari even noticed his magic slipping loose as he kissed my skin, nails scratching over my chest, my abdominal muscles tightening in response to his touch. I was hard as a rock, my cock throbbing painfully in my breeches, but I wasn’t rushing this. I savoured the moment.
‘The blood bond is sealed,’ he said. ‘I’m yours. Hrae, I’m finally yours.’ Alaric’s laughter was pure and unrestrained, a sound I hadn’t realised I’d been waiting to hear.
‘So you are,’ I teased, a grin tugging at my lips. ‘And what are you going to do about it?’
His gaze dropped to my chest, and his lips followed, trailing kisses along my skin. I gripped the table for support, my breath hitching as his mouth moved lower.
‘Fuck,’ I snarled. I didn’t know why seeing him kiss his way down my body aroused me so much, but I had to close my eyes because the view in front of me threatened my senses. I was close to finishing without him ever reaching my cock.
‘Should I continue, my Domine?’ Alaric asked, looking up. Mischief flickered in his eyes, a long-forgotten spark that sent a shiver down my spine. This was more than acceptance. I had been gifted the position of prime male in our household.
‘Are you trying to make me beg?’ I breathed, unable to calm my racing heart, groaning when he toyed with my belt buckle before freeing me from my constraints.
‘Beg?’ he teased, his lips so close to my shaft that I felt his breath waft over the sensitive head. ‘Could anyone make my commander beg? But ... if you’re so impatient, show me what you want.’
‘Stop taunting me, fae,’ I rasped, the intensity of the moment almost unbearable. His hand wrapped around me, stroking, and my knees threatened to buckle. I reached for his hair, fingers tangling in the silky strands as I watched him. His tongue darted out, tracing over the sensitive head, and I hissed, overwhelmed by the sensation.
‘What do you want me to do?’ I murmured, tightening my grip on his hair and twisting just enough to draw a moan from him. He looked back up at me, his pupils blown wide, and when I pushed forward, he hungrily took me into his mouth.
I groaned as his fangs scraped against me, the hint of danger adding to the thrill. His mouth was hot and relentless, and I couldn’t stop myself from rocking into him, chasing the pleasure he offered so willingly.
‘Is this what you want, my love?’ I asked, my voice strained as I fought to maintain control. Alaric didn’t answer—he couldn’t. The deadly warrior was greedily sucking the very soul out of me. His hands gripped my thighs as he tried to hold himself back, but I didn’t relent until he swallowed every last inch, gagging on my cock until his throat relaxed around it.
‘Fuck, you’re perfect,’ I muttered. I knew his tastes leaned toward the darker, his love of pain a part of him both he and Annika had hinted at.Can he take the beast?The thought burned through me, but I held back, unwilling to assume.
