Lira chanted something so softly I could not catch the words but the cadence seemed to repeat itself. After about a minute he raised one of his hands and the items on the floor flared up and burned themselves to nothing. My eyes move to the fire briefly and by the time I glanced back at Lira his eyes had cleared and he was smiling grimly. “Your Majesty, it is done,” he said, reaching for the leather pouch and tying it back onto his belt. “I was not here when the spell was cast,” he informed me, “or I would have questioned the need for feverfew.”
“Why, what does feverfew do?”
“Alone it affects the blood flow to the brain,” he informed me tightly. “But when placed together with chasteberry…” and he shook his head angrily. “I am sorry, Your Majesty. I should have checked the contents. We are fortunate that it does not last long.”
“And what does chasteberry do?” I asked, putting down my fork and watching him closely.
“It is used to increase blood flow in women… to treat cramping.” He glanced at the floor and his hands clenched tightly.
“It is also used when a woman with child wishes to… relieve herself of the burden of that child before birth,” Roral supplied. It is a foul herb and the Queen has forbidden its use in spells.
I nodded but was not surprised. She wanted to ensure I could not return. It seemed she also wanted to kill any child I might carry. How fortunate for me I was not yet fertile.
Lira glanced up at me his two tone eyes nearly glowing. “No, Your Majesty. You misunderstand,” he told me in a low angry voice. “Had you ingested the herb you would have hemorrhaged and lost a child you might have held within your womb. But used in the spell this way, it does the exact opposite of its name. It is what was used upon the King,” he informed me.
Behind me Dane made a low distressed noise and I turned to glance at him. His face looked pale and his eyes were haunted.
“So, her intent was two-fold. Kill me, and torture any who would aid me,” I whispered, adding, “I cannot say I will miss her all that much.” And my voice was devoid of emotion. There was little I could do, as the damage had been done already. For how could my men look at me now, and not remember being forced to repeatedly have sex with my cold lifeless body?
Dane cried out sharply and moved abruptly upon the bed. His actions flipped the tray onto the floor. “Nae!” he yelled, and yanked me against his chest while my emotions swirled and I felt as if there was a hole where my heart should be. His hands roamed my back under my hair as he tried to sooth me. Though truthfully it wasn’t clear which of us was more distressed. I found my face buried against his neck and closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of him into me as if I could not get enough.
“If I had known you’d handle this so badly,” Gareth informed Dane, “I wouldn’t have left you alone with her.”
Dane grumbled and held me tightly. “Tis easy to be criticizing as ye were nae the one having ta deliver such news, were ye?” he finally remarked, and I held my face against him, too afraid of what I might see in Gareth’s eyes to look. So I clung to Dane and hid instead. The bed dipped, several times, and I clutched at Dane tighter and made a distressed noise.
“Lexi, you are insulting us,” Jace informed me in a calm voice. I shook my head but did not release my hold on Dane.
“Honestly it was almost a refreshing change. She’s so demanding at times,” Owen replied in a sarcastic voice. “Although I did miss the way she purrs just so, right before she reaches her peak.”
“It is the way she wraps her foot about the inside of your knee and uses it for leverage which I missed. Although I also enjoy the noises she makes,” Amras offered and I pulled air in through my teeth.
“I missed her little red door,” Kit offered. “And of course, the look in her eyes when she feels me grow inside her.”
“Her fingers in my hair,” Cursed added and there was a general murmur of consent as I sensed the group of them nodding their agreement.
“I didn’t realize how accustomed I had become to sharing her pleasure, nor did I understand how much I would miss it once it ceased,” Gareth added and I shivered. “At first it was… distracting. Never knowing when it might bring a man to his knees gasping for air. But this past week I discovered just how much I missed the touch of her mind to mine. I do not wish to lose that ever again.”
“Don’t pull back from us, Lexi. Not now, not after everything. We could not bear it,” Jace coaxed in a gentle voice. “This past week has been terrible. It is not something any of us would wish to repeat. But it was necessary to keep you safe, and we would each of us do this, and more, if it meant keeping you from harm. Please do not make this more difficult than it has to be. We would all like to put these memories behind us, and I for one would very much like to forget this week ever happened. Besides… I miss Goldy,” he informed me, and there was a catch in his voice that caused my heart to squeeze painfully. Dane gave me a tight hug then placed his hands upon my waist and gently eased me back from him.
“There now,” he whispered as he untangled me from him. “I’d much rather be making love ta ye, or yelling at ye for dragging back funny colored Dragons,” he teased when I glanced up at him through my hair.
“He’s your brother,” I muttered, and he closed his eyes and shook his head.
“So it would seem,” he replied with a long suffering sigh. “Tis me right to fight with me own little brother then. I’ll not be thanking ye for jumping on him in the midst of any future arguments, ye ken?”
“He may have been born after you, but if he’s been living in the Everlasting for very long… he could be several hundred years older than you by now. I think.”
He frowned down at me and rolled his eyes. “Tis mean of ye to mention it and nae fun ta always be the youngest man in the room.” And then he grumbled softly and I couldn’t help the small smile that lifted the corners of my mouth at his teasing. His eyes lit up at the sight and I did some sighing of my own.
“I was wrong,” I admitted, and was careful to keep my eyes focused on him. “It really isn’t enough to know she’s there while I’m here. I’d much rather have beaten her to a bloody pulp before I had Kit send her away!” Chuckles and low rumbles met my statement and I finally pulled my eyes from Dane and glanced around at the others. “I’d like to go home now,” I told them as my eyes moved from face to face, seeing the relief and love reflected in their eyes.
“Bath first, then we talk,” Gareth advised me and plucked me out of Dane’s arms, then carried me toward the bathroom. I noticed Cam standing near the door with Roral and Lira and his face seemed almost sad. Jace jumped off the bed and started whistling as he pulled his black t-shirt over his head and flipped it over his shoulder. His dark green eyes met mine and his look caused me to murmur in anticipation. Gareth chuckled and kissed my brow while the others watched me with their eyes, and got comfortable on the bed. Their smiles followed me through the doorway.
Gareth sat me on the edge of the tub and I squeaked at the feel of the cool marble beneath me while he grinned and reached for the button on his pants. “Help me,” he urged and my hands lifted to the first button on his shirt and quickly worked it free. His eyes narrowed while I moved to the second and then the third as he shoved his pants down over his hips and kicked off his shoes. Jace climbed into the water and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
When the last button came free I helped him ease the pale blue shirt over his shoulders, and sank my fingers into the dark blonde curls covering his chest. “Drop your shield, Lexi,” Jace murmured next to my ear and I complied, immediately sensing their eager minds brush against and over mine. “Whatever you do, sweetheart, do not hold back,” he breathed and lifted me into the water and onto his lap while Gareth climbed in behind us.
Gareth went to his knees and ran his hands up my body while beneath me I could feel Jace’s length pressed against my bottom. Jace slid down farther into the tub, spreading our legs so Gareth could move between them. My body tingled where
his fingers touched me, and with our shields down I could feel the mutual pleasure both he and Jace were feeding me. His body moved against mine, the hair on his chest brushing my stomach, then my chest, as he braced his arm on the edge of the tub over Jace and my shoulders.
My hands rose up Gareth’s arms and over the muscles, caressing and kneading while he rubbed his lower body against me. His erection was hard and hot and caused me to tighten in anticipation. Jace’s hands slid between us, his fingers slipping in to my curls and lower as he spread my lips so Gareth could rub himself over my sensitive nub. Beneath me Jace lifted his hips, shifting himself until he was no longer pressed into my back and his fingers guided his hard length into me while Gareth lowered his lips to mine and swallowed my moan. Jace moved his hands to my hips and used his fingers to press me down onto him so that he was buried as deep as he could go.
My arms wrapped around Gareth as his tongue slid into my mouth. “Relax,” Jace whispered against my ear as Gareth moved himself to my opening and rubbed against me, his head seeking to enter along with Jace. I pulled air into my lungs and moaned as he reached between us and guided his head inside, stretching me to accommodate the both of them. And then he was in me and I moaned and dropped my head as my eyes closed and I nearly choked on the feel of the two of them buried within me.
Gareth’s mind caressed mine, teasing me with sensations, while Jace lifted his hips and worked me up and down his length. They moved together and then separately and I cried out and felt myself spiraling out of control as pleasure spread outward from my center and my body climaxed. My back arched forcing them deeper into me. I dug my fingers into Gareth and came again, my body clenching around them tightly. Gareth hummed and the tempo of his breathing increased, while Jace pulled air in through his teeth and held me tighter.
Gareth shifted closer and reached to lift my leg over his and I held my breath as the angle allowed him more penetration. “Lexi…” Gareth called to me, and I cracked my eyes open and glanced up at him. The skin over his cheeks was tight and his eyes whirled above me. “Your door,” he whispered and I blinked.
“Open it,” I told him, offering him the way to the door in my mind and standing back as he reached for it. Our eyes met as he grasped the handle and shoved it inward. Lust blew out at gale force rushing over me and coating all of us in a heavy layer. Jace cried out beneath me, his hands clutching painfully at my hips as he shoved me down onto him. His body jerked and rode mine urgently while above me Gareth reared back shoving his hips forward. I screamed and came while waves of red tinged lust rolled off us and skittered around the room.
In my mind I felt the tide sweep outwards, rolling over others who cried out. Some seemed to be consumed by the force, while other minds expanded to absorb the pleasure, like breath into their bodies. Gareth growled low and moved his hips against me, his breathing ragged, eyes whirling. He shoved himself into me repeatedly, then his face went taunt and his climax rushed over me, sweeping me along so that I came again. Jace cried out and I felt his release deep within me also. Caught in a loop, the three of us held on while our minds and bodies shuddered and the passion skipped amongst us feeding upon itself.
Hands held Jace’s head and shoulders out of the water beneath me. I dragged my eyes open and rolled my head on his shoulder. Kit leaned over the edge of the tub, keeping the three of us from sliding under and drowning ourselves. “It’s so good to have you back, Mistress,” he told me. I couldn’t help noticing the blush on his cheeks nor the excitement in his red eyes.
“Am I alive?” I asked breathlessly, and he chuckled while Gareth, who was slumped across my body, pulled air into his lungs.
“Oh yes, Mistress… and so are we,” Kit replied, then leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “That was wonderful. I am so proud of you.”
“Thanks Kit,” I muttered, then moaned softly when Gareth heaved himself off me and flopped onto the seat at our side. Kit pulled Jace back onto the seat and as he was still inside me, I came along too. Jace wrapped his arm around me and muttered something too low to understand. Something about… perfection.
“Not in the water… next time,” Gareth muttered as he lay with his head against the rim with his eyes closed.
My limbs felt like wet noodles and if Jace hadn’t been holding me up I surely would have slid under the water and drowned. “What was that?” I finally asked when my breathing was somewhat back to normal. I turned my head and glanced at Gareth who smiled then chuckled.
“We were… intrigued,” Jace admitted in a husky voice next to my ear. “It was a mutual decision after your time at the pond. We just awaited the right opportunity.”
Oh… my time at the pond… hmmm. “Did we kill anyone?” I asked Kit with a wry grin. “I seem to recall the feel of several minds blinking out.”
Kit chuckled and released his hold on Jace, who planted his feet more firmly and seemed to stiffen his spine. “I think the Sidhe knows you are awake. Or they will when they regain consciousness,” he informed me, and he couldn’t have sounded happier.
“Could you heat the water back up for us?” I asked Kit and snuggled against Jace’s chest. I’m a little chilly.” Kit moved to the other side of the tub and turned the facet on as we sat there in peaceful silence while the tub heated up again.
“Are you okay?” Jace asked and I realized I was a little tender. He lifted me off of him while I made small unhappy noises. He chuckled and placed me between them.
“I’d just like to point out that Kit made himself smaller for me,” I grumbled and all three of them laughed, while I felt my cheeks turn pink.
They were still chuckling when the corner nearest the vanity went black and split open. Gareth and Jace both jerked upright and we all watched in shock as Tdem stepped out of the rift in the midst of the shadow, his three men at his back. “What the hell are you doing here?” Jace growled while I stared at Tdem, who looked as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“You are alive,” he breathed, his black eyes searching my face as if he was afraid to believe that I was real. His hands moved to his shirt and he ripped it apart, sending buttons flying in every which direction. Gareth growled while Kit moved to stand between us and I stopped him with a sharp cry. The Dragon on Tdem’s body was a pale outline which began glowing and pulsing as we watched. His feet moved him toward us slowly and the Dragon began writhing just under his skin, his eyes moving between me and his chest. Another few feet and scales began appearing, their color shifting from iridescent to a rich golden color. My color. By the time he was within five feet of me, the image was clearly defined once again. It seemed to expand, almost is if was taking a deep breath, then it settled more firmly upon him. He shrugged the shirt from his shoulders, kicked off his shoes and reached for the button on his pants.
Gareth glared at him and moved his gaze to me. My eyes held his for a moment and I did not know what to do. Technically he was mine and had declared and I could not refuse him, but part of me might have wished to. A commotion at the door drew our attention and Dane strode into the room, followed closely by Cursed, who glanced at Tdem and went to a knee. “My King, what do you here?” he asked in a voice that seemed to border on disrespect.
Tdem stepped into the tub and turned to look at him, while his guards eyed Dane who had moved directly to the tub and crawled in from the other side. “Nephew,” Tdem growled and his body seemed to vibrate with his anger. “I believe you neglected to mention that Her Majesty lives.”
Cursed jerked as if struck and his hands clenched at his sides. He seemed to be in pain and my eyes moved between them in concern. “Tdem, stop,” I begged him softly. I moved from between Gareth and Jace so that his attention swung to me, as I raised myself off the seat and stood before him. He turned fully to me and from the corner of my eye I watched Cursed stagger and nearly go all the way down. Tdem’s black eyes moved over me and he hummed low in his throat. His body was excited and I swallowed and watched him cautiously.
“I th
ought you dead,” he whispered and his eyes rose to mine. “I watched you die.” His words caused me to close my eyes briefly as I relived that moment when I’d been smothered under red eyes and a blackness with sharp teeth.
“It was a spell Tdem. You were used,” I told him softly, and he seemed to expand and his skin to darken with rage.
“Who?” he demanded. I tilted my head and merely looked at him until he got himself back under control. He went to a knee before me and bent his head. “Your Majesty,” he murmured while my eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Forgive me. You are well?” he breathed, turning his face up to me. He’d moved closer so that he knelt within arms distance from me, and I shook my head and cupped his cheek in my palm.
“Now,” I said and fed him the events of the past week, taking care to show him my image in the mirror, and the past day and a half, right up to the point when I’d entered the bath with Gareth and Jace. Over his shoulder I motioned for Cursed to rise. He glanced between his uncle and myself and finally stood. Tdem’s hand came up to cup mine. He lifted his eyes and I was shocked to see the tears that shimmered there.
“I am truly sorry,” he breathed. “I would not have hurt you.” Then he wrapped his arm about my thighs and laid his head upon me. I glanced down at him, unsure what to do with him. My hands somehow made their way to his shoulders, which shook with the force of his guilt and sorrow.
I was standing there holding Tdem when Lira walked into the room and stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes widened as he glanced about the room taking in Tdem’s three guards, and then slipped to a knee. “Your Majesty, your father is here with the others,” he informed me, then stood and moved to the side, crossing his arms as if to say he wasn’t leaving. If Tdem’s guards could be there, then so could he.
“Could you tell them to come back later?” I asked and he frowned.
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