Page 70 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
I expected the Spring Court to be obsessed with sex, but I didn’t realise it would be this bad.
“Won’t you partake of my concubines?” she asks, as the first male bows and moves behind her, starting to kiss his way up her neck. “All of them are skilled in the art of bringing a female to pleasure. I find it refreshing to take a new lover after my fever. It keeps the others from getting ideas about their own importance.”
My mouth opens, then closes, completely flabbergasted. “My Guard are my mates,” I hiss.
“Are they? I don’t see any marks. Wise of you to escape that trap, I say. No one needs to be tied to the same lovers for our ridiculously long lives.” She snaps her fingers in the other male’s face. “Please the Nicnevin. I’d hate for her to find our reception lacking.”
The male bows low, not even daring to meet my eyes as I try my best to formulate a response. His hands rise, as if to reach for my legs, and less than a second later, I flinch back as his head rolls forward and lands in my lap.
I never even saw Lore move, but he stands behind the body with satisfaction blazing across his face. Even with Aiyana blocking his powers, he’s still lethal. Worse still are the approving glints in the others’ eyes.
They don’t care that the male died. In their minds, he dared to try to touch me, so Lore’s actions were justified. I can’t even censure them for it, because I know I’d do the same. Ihavedone the same, when Bree was surrounded by other females back at the ball.
Still, two deaths in the space of an hour is not how I hoped this would go.
“Interesting,” Aiyana murmurs, accepting a kiss to her ear from the male behind her, who continues as if nothing has happened.
I expected her to be furious, but instead she simply smiles and leans into the caress. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. She’s learned one of our weaknesses already, and my Guards’ possessiveness is something she can use against us.
Lore bends, letting his hat absorb the blood before he kicks the body out of the way, throws the head to Jaro like a macabre ball, and takes the dead male’s place between my legs.
“Mine,” he growls, hugging my thighs and pressing his face into my lap.
“What are the terms of the trial?” I ask, trying to ignore his breath fanning over the crease of my sex.
“My people will organise everything.” Aiyana waves my concerns away. “In the meantime, why don’t you tell me a little more about your Guard.”
Lore’s hands are tracing up my calves, a silent question, and my hands find his hair and tug it lightly in rejection. Aiyana may get off on being pleasured while in my presence, but I don’t trust her enough to let my guard down. Plus, I’ve only just gotten used to sex in front of the rest of my Guard.
Thankfully, he gets the message, and his head tips to one side, letting me stroke his hair twice before he shifts, massaging my calves instead.
The same hands that just killed a male for even thinking of touching me are so gentle on my muscles, finding knots with ease.
“It’s obvious you allow them far too much leeway,” Aiyana continues, watching. “A queen can’t let her lovers walk all over her and tarnish her name. That’s just setting a precedent for everyone else. You should take other lovers and order them to do the same. Break them of the possessiveness before it becomes a problem.”
“I’m not interested in opening our relationship.” I work hard to keep my tone cool and even.
Take other lovers? The very idea makes my gut churn and my mind boggle. I can barely manage the five the Goddess has given me, let alone more. And the idea of ordering my males to touch other fae… I want to throw up and rage all at once.
Mate bonds are sacred. She knows that. So she’s pressing my buttons on purpose, and damn her, it’s working.
Aiyana scoffs. “Your loss. I can’t say I’ve ever had the issue of my males being caught in an illegal underground fighting ring.”
“And I can’t say I’ve ever experienced the desire to punish someone for the sins of their dead father,” I retort. “Now. Tell me the details of the trial.”
Aiyana hums, deliberately ignoring my demand a second time. “It’s funny, isn’t it? Despite being this all-powerful Nicnevin with a crown on your head and a Goddess on your side, you’re still required to get my approval to rule.” Her subtle jab stings, and I fight not to let it show. “Rather shows how little the Nicnevins trust their successors, if they have to hobble them like that, don’t you think?”
“It’s not there to hobble me.” My ire, already poked by her words and actions, prickles further at the latest jab. “I think it’s there as a reminder for you.”
She cocks her head to one side, still smiling. “How so?”
I meet her eyes. “When was the last time your people cheered for you like they did for me when I rode into your city?”
Her mouth snaps closed, grey eyes going from stormy to thunderous in a snap. But I’m not done. My filter has been destroyed, burned away by a combination of the Goddess’s fury and my own—oh, who am I kidding? It’s my own.
“I think the pilgrimage is here to remind you that you rule by my leave, and if you choose to play games with me, your people might not be as loyal as you’d hoped.” I stand. “I’m done with this. When you’re ready to stop talking in circles and start focusing on saving our people from the Fomorians, come and find me.”
I make it to the door before she can reply, the guys hot on my heels.
