Page 45 of A Song of Saints and Swans
He needed his consort.
His mate.
While gel capsules containing my blood were now being used to heal countless shifters who’d suffered at the hand of the Facility, Jarilo demanded a drink straight from the source.
So needy.
It didn’t take long for our triad to hash out the terms of our consortship, since we all seemed to want the same things. Trust, support, mutual respect, unconditional love, and—most importantly—no more secrets.
Oh, and copious amounts of fucking.
Sometimes that meant sexy sandwiches where I got to be the filling, and sometimes it was just one-on-one playtime with me and either Marena or Jarilo. No matter how each night began, I always knew it would end with my two mates cuddling me until I fell asleep—safe and nightmare-free.
Immediately after our conversation, Jar claimed me with a mating bite, so he could regain his immortality and begin healing. Even though he offered for Rena to claim me at the same time, she wanted to wait until today’s springtime festival to become my consort with a bite of her own.
The competitive spirit is strong between these two.
Unfortunately, the focus of the festivities brought with it a revival of Jarilo’s princely attitude.
“While the parade procession this morning did display the appropriate amount of reverence,” he mused as we arrived at the nearest sacred grove, “I didnotapprove of the rider leading the way. Was that truly the best human they could find to represent me? Thehorsewas better looking.”
It sounds like someone’s asking to be put in his place.
Marena must have shared my sentiments, as she raised an eyebrow at her twin. “Do you need a reminder of what true worship looks like, Jarilo?”
He froze in front of the ancient stone altar before slowly turning to face us. Rena pressed her lips together, disapproval clear in her expression as she pointed a finger to the ground beside the altar.
“Kneel, and I’ll show you.”
Like the good boy he actually was, Jarilo hit the dirt and obediently placed his hands on his thighs. Although his gaze had already gone vacant, he tracked his sister and me as we approached the altar.
“I’m going to claim you now, dove,” Rena spoke calmly, although there was always more warmth in her tone than when she addressed Jarilo. “Would you like that?”
“Yes, goddess,” I murmured, already falling into a trance of my own.
We both pulled our traditionalsarafandresses off over our heads before Marena laid on the altar’s surface—spreading herself open in offering, despite her dominant nature.
Giving me an element of control, as always.
“Come here,” she commanded, and I obeyed without question, eager to complete our bonds.
Climbing onto the altar to join her, I stifled a smile when she tapped her bottom lip with a finger, telling me exactly where I needed to end up.
With pleasure.
Positioning my knees on either side of her head, I took a moment to gaze down at the goddess I’d grown to care for as one of my beloveds.
If it wasn’t for her patient friendship, I may have remained in my post-traumatic shell for far longer, struggling to navigate my emotions in self-imposed isolation. But thanks to her and her brother, I had a safe space to land—to continue reclaiming myself in whatever way I chose.
Both in and outside of the bedroom.
I sighed as soft moss suddenly sprouted under my knees, adding a cushion of comfort against the hard stone.
Glancing at the god kneeling beside the altar, I smiled. “Thank you, Jar. That was sweet.”
He simply shook his head, his expression showing all the reverence he’d expected at today’s festivities. “Thankyoufor giving me the honor of watching you come.”
This. Man.
