“We are still together, still yours.” Vale took her hands in his, his runic magic sending tingles of electricity up her arms. “However, we must ask ourselves what we will do with Bastian. If he wishes to stay with us—” There was a pause, as if he did not wish to say it. “—with you, or if he wishes to return to the embrace of death.”
Lena pulled away from him, shocked that he would suggest such a thing. “I could never send Bastian back to the grave!”
“You would instead force him to live a life he does not wish to live?” Vale shook his head. “You are not a cruel person, Lena. I know you think you know what’s best for him because of your shared history, but perhaps you should let him decide.”
The other man in the room, practically red from anger, spoke, “And what about me? What if I say I don’t like him? That I don’t want him near you?” Tamlen’s gaze was hot with fire magic, small wisps of flames flickering on his fingertips. Lena took an involuntary step away from him, from the fire. He calmed somewhat, noticing how uncomfortable she was, but she could tell he still raged inside. “Would you send me back to oblivion instead?”
It was not Lena who answered, but Vale, “Would you not be happy with Lena if he stayed? Are you giving her an ultimatum, Tamlen? This jealousy does not become you.”
“Do not tell me what I should and shouldn’t feel.”
“I’m not,” Vale said. “I only mean that Lena’s heart does not belong to only us. Love is endless.” His blue gaze moved to her, a small smile gracing his lips. “No one can control it. It is boundless and infinite.”
“What the fuck are you saying? There’s more than enough love to go around?” Tamlen crossed his arms, his tall frame scowling.
Vale sighed. “Yes, that is precisely what I’m saying, though I think my way was a bit more eloquent.”
“I’m not sending anyone back,” Lena said, unsure if she could even send anyone back if she tried. She’d never un-risen the dead before, though there was a first time for everything. “Unless they want to go.” She reached for them. “I love you both, but I would be lying if I said I could ignore my feelings for Bastian.”
That was all she wanted to say on the matter, for truly, it was quite the uncomfortable thing, admitting feelings for another man to the two men she was currently in a relationship with. Not something she wanted to do again. Ever.
Tamlen mulled it over. “I suppose, maybe, I could learn to ignore the bastard—but you’d have to convince me, first.” There was an undertone, an undercurrent of a hidden meaning that she could not nail down.
“Convince you?” Lena echoed, shooting a questioning look to Vale.
“Aye,” Vale said, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “I think I know what he wants.”
Oh.
That.
After the doozy of a day she’d had, she could certainly use a stretch of her muscles. Plus, dusk crept ever closer. She wouldn’t make it to Rivaini today. Maybe not even tomorrow. Who knew how long it would take to convince Tamlen that Bastian belonged with them, with her?
All thoughts of Gregain, of what had transpired—even all her thoughts of Zyssept—faded, pushed to the background as she stepped closer to Tamlen. She could already see the bulging outline in his pants.
She’d do all the convincing she had to.
It might have seemed to the others that Valerius was all right with the possibility of Bastian staying with them, even joining them—or at the very least, joining Lena—and that’s because he was. Mostly. The majority of him thought logically: if Bastian and Lena had a history together, one that involved pain and longing, it was indeed only a matter of time before someone broke. He was a firm believer in facing things now rather than pushing them off and waiting until later. When later came, things always seemed to escalate.
That said, there was a smaller part of him that didn’t want anything to change. They did not need another man in the equation, even if he was an attractive, foreign man. What he, Lena and Tamlen had was indescribably wonderful. Adding another to their relationship could theoretically mess everything up. But Valerius knew, regardless, he and Tamlen could only give Lena their input. The final decision would be up to Lena. She was the necromancer, so she could always force them to go along with it, force them to be happy.
He didn’t believe she’d stoop that low, but when magic was involved, one never knew. Valerius trusted Lena, and he hoped by playing Bastian’s advocate, the tiny part of him that didn’t want the new man to join them would be quashed.
He also did not particularly like the way her eyes seemed a bit puffy, as if she’d been crying.
Perhaps they all needed some release.
After Tamlen had mentioned convincing, Lena moved closer to him, running her hands down his chest, stopping only when they cupped the space between his legs, where an outline of his hard dick showed. She rubbed him over the fabric, and he let out a soft moan. The man was a monster on the battlefield with an equally monstrous cock, but the sounds he could make…Valerius felt himself growing harder just thinking about it.
Lena reached around herself, tugging the dirty yellow robe up and off her body. Her round breasts immediately bounced free, her nipples two dark points. She never broke eye contact with Tamlen as she kicked off her boots, so that all she stood in was her black underwear. She looked…like the perfect woman, even with the magically-changed hair and eyes. Valerius could not help but study her form, the soft, slow curve of her back, how her shoulders were less than half the size of Tamlen’s. She was achingly beautiful.
Tamlen’s rough hands grabbed her, pulling her closer, pressing her mostly naked body against his chest as he bent down to kiss her. She helped him out of his pants, and the very moment they fell to the floor, his cock sprang free, standing ready. Valerius felt warmth spreading through him at the memory of that cock pounding into him. Bent over the bed in that small inn, having Tamlen dominate him completely; he wanted to join them so very badly in that moment, but he wouldn’t. He would wait. Wait and watch.
At least, that’s what Valerius planned to do, until Tamlen broke off their liplock, spinning Lena around, slamming her back on him. Her breasts swayed with the sudden movement, her eyes clouded and hungry as both she and Tamlen stared at him. With a hand traveling beneath her underwear, cupping her, rubbing along those folds of skin Valerius knew had to be slick and wet, Tamlen moved his head slightly, a small gesture which meant he wanted the other man closer.
Valerius stepped nearer, placing his hands on her stomach, running his fingers up until he cupped both breasts. Lena arched her back, pushing her chest out more, her violet gaze fluttering shut as she sighed. Placing his lips on her neck, Valerius kissed her softly, trailing his mouth along her collarbone. He felt her weave her fingers through his hair, tugging his face to hers. Her soft, supple lips nearly drowned him in passion and heat. She gently nipped at his lower lip before her tongue slid into his mouth. He could feel Tamlen’s fingers working her as she started to buck and moan loudly, right into his mouth.
When she started to shake, her skin flushed, Tamlen murmured, “Already, love? Don’t worry, there’s plenty more where that came from.” Lena would’ve collapsed in his grip, had he not been holding her up. “Now, take it off.”
Lena broke their liplock as Tamlen withdrew his fingers from her, wiggling out of her underwear. Tamlen responded by picking her up, moving to pin her against the wall. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he was quick to position himself, thrusting once. Lena shook as he entered her, trembling with what Valerius could only call pleasure. Gods, how desperately he wanted to be joined in that mess of limbs, to either be inside her, or have Tamlen dominate him again.
Watching as Tamlen thrusted his hips over and over, Valerius touched himself over his pants. The moans escaping Lena were music to his ears. He wanted to make her moan like that. He wanted to make her tremble by his touch. Thoughts he swore he’d never think about a woman, until he met her. Or, rather, until she r
aised him from the dead.
Semantics.
After a few minutes of hard pounding, Tamlen’s body tensed, his ass tightening as he let out his own moan, nowhere near as soft and melodic as Lena’s, but still just as guttural and raw. He was sluggish in withdrawing from her, careful to make certain she was steady on her feet before he released her. His thick member was coated in a combination of her juices and his.
Before Tamlen could utter another command, which he surely was about to, given the authoritative expression on his handsome face, Lena moved to Valerius, giving him a sloppy, hungry kiss. Fire ignited in his belly; he had to have her now.
Valerius worked to take off his clothes as fast as he could, hyper aware of the throbbing of his dick. He wanted—well, he wanted both of the people before him. Lena, gorgeous as she stood there, utterly naked, and Tamlen, who still was encumbered by a shirt. But he would have her first.
Once he was free of his clothing, he reached for her, bringing them both down to the ground. It did not bother him that the ground was dirty, that the entire house was beyond filthy. Right now, all Valerius could focus on was the throbbing in his cock and the aching in his balls. He needed his release, and he would have it inside Lena.
He did not hesitate one bit as he pushed inside her. She gave way to him so easily, opened up just moments ago by Tamlen’s cock. In fact, Valerius realized as he began to move his hips in a slow but steady rhythm, the wet juices his cock felt inside her were both hers and his. The mere thought was almost enough to push him over the edge, but he stopped himself. It would be much too soon.
His eyes darted up to Tamlen, who watched with interest as he gripped himself. Knowing Tamlen was watching, perhaps even critiquing his technique, made Valerius work a bit harder, push a bit deeper. Lena writhed beneath him, running her fingers down his back, trailing her nails along his skin. Oh, yes.
Valerius pounded into her, unable to stop himself this time. He felt the pleasure building in his lower gut, the heat spreading throughout his body. His fingers clenched, his toes curling. The orgasm rocked through him, a wave of undeniable sexual pleasure. His seed spilled inside Lena, his thrusting slowing to a halt, though he did not immediately remove himself from her.
Tamlen’s dark eyes were heavy with lust as he asked, “Who’s ready for round two?” He moved to their side, positioning his dick—his hard, erect dick—right before Valerius’s face, wordlessly taunting him with its nearness.
Lena crawled out from below him, a small smile on her face. Valerius knew it was because she liked to watch them together. Gods, how did he wind up so fortunate that she was okay with it? More than okay, truly. She enjoyed it, probably as much as Valerius enjoyed it, too. Still on his knees, he turned to face the large cock, his blue eyes flicking up, locking gazes with Tamlen.
Tamlen certainly liked being in charge. He enjoyed telling others what to do. It was also so very fortunate for him that Valerius was more than happy to be the submissive one.
As he took Tamlen’s cock in his mouth, tasting the juices that lingered there, Valerius couldn’t help but wonder what the addition of another man would mean for them. Would he be alright with their strange arrangement? Would he look down on Valerius and Tamlen and Lena for their wanton ways? Was Bastian the kind of man who enjoyed anyone’s company, or only women’s?
Such questions would soon be answered, Valerius knew. Plus, it was so difficult to think of another man while Tamlen’s cock was in his mouth.
His head bobbed along the shaft of Tamlen’s cock, his eyes once more closed. It was not long before he felt his own dick growing hard again. And then a warm presence sat behind him. He felt her chest press against his bare back, and Lena snaked her arms around him, stopping only when they reached his hardening dick. He nearly stopped sucking on Tamlen when he felt her small, soft hands grip him.
That was…a very different sensation than he was used to, but it felt good all the same.
Tamlen grabbed the back of his head, taking charge now that Valerius was somewhat distracted by the hands on his dick and balls. His strong hips thrusted faster, pushing into his mouth deeper, the tip curving with Valerius’s throat. Lena’s hands held him hard, jacking him off as his mouth got Tamlen off. She kissed the back of his shoulder, swaying with Tamlen’s thrusts into his mouth.
“Gods,” she whispered, her voice husky, “that is…so hot.”
Her words were all Valerius needed to come. Apparently, they were also what pushed Tamlen off the edge. Both men came at once, Tamlen’s seed, warm and salty, shot down Valerius’s throat the same moment Valerius’s dick throbbed and released in Lena’s hands. His cum had nowhere to go; it simply shot up and out, landing on the floor not too far from them.
Tamlen pulled out of Valerius’s mouth, leaning on the wall behind him. He rose a single eyebrow at them. Lena still sat behind him, her chest pressed against him, her arms still around him. Her hands held onto him, though they did so with less fervor.
Valerius felt Lena smiling against his shoulder. “What?” she asked, sounding far too innocent for a woman who’d just had sex with both men. Her thin arms practically hugged Valerius, and he was far too content in her arms to move, in spite of the risen eyebrow the other man gave them.
“Yes, what?” Valerius said, lifting his own brows, though he was not skilled enough to raise one at a time. Simply something he could not do. “Jealous?” He meant it as a joke, but the shadow that passed over Tamlen’s eyes told him that yes, the other man was jealous indeed. Which was foolish, for Lena belonged to both of them, as they belonged to her. If he wanted her to do the same to him, Valerius was certain all he had to do was ask, and she’d be more than happy to oblige.
A slow smile crept onto Tamlen’s face. Clearly, the man had a comeback. Or maybe another order for either Valerius or Lena.
They waited to hear it.
Chapter Three
Shame washed through Bastian as he walked through the forest. Shame, guilt, and regret. Emotions he truly hadn’t felt in his life before now. They were strong, and they fueled his thoughts as he wandered. Where did he wander to? He could not say, though he knew he could not go far. He could not leave the area, could not leave Celena.
Celena.
She was the reason he felt so much shame for his thoughts, so much guilt over his actions, and even why he felt regretful as he ran away from her. When Bastian looked at her, he expected to see the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl who stared up at him with adoration. But he did not see that little girl anymore. Celena was a woman, grown in ways Bastian hadn’t been around to see for the last few years. If he had been around, if the King hadn’t…sentenced him to die, he would’ve seen it during his visits. He wouldn’t feel so conflicted about her. She would still be his little one, and he would be older, not closer to her age.
Alas, he hadn’t been around. King Philip had him tossed in a mass grave and told lies to anyone who asked. Died of the plague. How ridiculous. Bastian had never once been ill. He was a chevalier. He was clean and careful, all the time, every day. He obviously avoided the sick houses, especially avoided anyone who looked as though they caught an illness. The plague. A worse lie had never been told.
Since Bastian hadn’t been around, since he was brought back from the dead by his little one, he was shocked to discover how much time had passed, not to mention how broken his mind felt. He didn’t feel right, didn’t feel whole. Like parchment torn and shoddily pieced back together, he felt off. Not quite right, like he didn’t fit together as he should.
He didn’t blame Celena for it, though perhaps he should. It was her fault he was here, alive, when he should’ve been dead. She had brought him back…why? Because she needed him? Because she missed him?
She’d resorted to illegal magics. Magics that would have her executed both in Rivaini and Sumer. The only nearby kingdom that would look upon her necromancy use benevolently was Noresah, and that was a kingdom best left to its own devices, deserts and sand and scaled b
easts.
Bastian could not believe she’d used necromancy, given her history with magic. Anytime he’d visited her in the College, she told him she kept from using magic anytime she could, in fear it would spiral out of control again. He’d believed her. But now? Now the dark magic called to her too strongly.
Because of this Zyssept?
Bastian had never heard of Zyssept before. If it was an old god of death, it certainly was old. As in, eras ago old. Could this old god taint her? Had it already gotten its claws into her soul? Was Zyssept truly the reason why Celena had such power over blackfire?
Either way, it did not matter. Bastian was not certain he would be around to see it. After pulling her close, embracing her like that, and then running away with little explanation, he knew his hours on this world were numbered. She’d get rid of him, or she’d force him to be with her. But she wasn’t that kind of girl. Celena wasn’t the type to make anyone do anything they did not want to do—he knew she couldn’t have changed so much.
Yet she used necromancy.
Bastian was a walking ball of confusion in every sense of the word. He hated himself for what he’d done, for the thoughts he let run through his head as he had sat there with her. The parts of her body he’d focused on—her lips, her chest, her butt—those were places he knew he should not look, but it hadn’t stopped him. She felt forbidden, in a way. Maybe that was why he felt like he wanted her. Maybe it was simply because she was the first woman he’d seen after his death. Perhaps it was because she was his necromancer, and he was her thrall.
His feet halted. The boots he wore did not fit him; they were too large. Leaves crunched beneath his soles as he shifted his weight, suddenly wondering something else.
If Bastian indeed felt this way because he was her thrall, because he was only alive due to her magic, were the other two men—Tamlen and Vale—feeling the same? When they were at the table, sitting around and staring at each other, he’d asked about them, for they were utter strangers to him. The only thing he knew about them was that they each held magic, though one was different than the other. Celena had said it was not on purpose…did she raise them accidentally?
Blood and Sorcery: A Reverse Harem Fantasy (Unfortunate Magic Book 2) Page 4