Raven gripped her legs around my waist and twisted, throwing me to the mattress to sit atop me. She leaned down and pressed her lips to mine before she started working her hips vigorously.
With each heavy motion of her hips, she moaned into me, not letting her sounds escape our conjoined lips. She slid her hips up and down in delight. Finally, she rose as her hands went to my chest. She dug her fingernails in and gyrated her hips, swaying side to side as she built up her tempo.
Raven ground against me faster and faster. Her breasts bounced with each riveting roll of her hips. Her breathing deepened as sweat poured down her body. She worked back and forth in hypnotic rhythm as she built to her climax.
As she reached her peak, her thighs clutched tight against mine, and she screamed in ecstasy.
Her fingers stained red, Raven arched her back, and her midnight wings unfurled from her back, bathing us in stygian feathers as they drifted lackadaisically to the bed.
She collapsed on top of me, panting, trying to catch her breath.
Her hair stuck plastered to her porcelain skin in waves. I brushed it out of her face and down her wings. When her labored breathing finally calmed enough, she propped up on her forearm and gave me a lazy smile.
“Fuck,” she breathed.
“That was the gist of it,” I said, smiling.
Her lips found mine, and this time, it was a gentle kiss, bereft of anything but Raven’s desire to be here with me, in this moment. I returned it, caressing her neck as I held her close.
“I think I enjoyed that more than I had a right to,” I said, stroking her hair.
“I’m just glad you gave in to my little quirk,” she replied, her voice lifting.
“That was mostly the Aspect’s influence on me, I think…but I enjoyed it as well.”
She took my chin in her hands. “Does that mean you’ll do it again?”
“If that’s what you want.”
She smiled wide. “Oh, absolutely.”
We stayed curled together for a while while we both enjoyed each other’s company. But we had to get up eventually.
I went to move, but Raven stopped me, her hand locking around my wrist and guiding it to her breasts. My fingers uncurled as her bust filled my palm, her heart beating gently under her softness. I glanced at her, eyes narrowed. I didn’t mind where my hand was at, but I was a little confused.
“I noticed you didn’t get off,” she said with a smirk.
I shrugged. “Wasn’t focused on that, was entirely focused on you.”
“Well, I can’t have that, darling. That won’t do at all.”
Her eyes smoldered, and she drew me to her, my previous plans dashed as she enraptured me with her body once more.
***
By the time we both got out of the bath, we were both exhausted, and only marginally cleaner than when we entered.
I dried off with a towel, while scarcely taking my eyes off Raven. Maybe I was wrong. I love Eris more than my own life, but there has to be something said about having both sides of the coin. Eris was short, petite, and I loved it. But Raven was tall, nearly hourglass shaped with her full chest and thick hips.
Think I need a whiskey and confession after that.
I still wasn’t sure how to feel about the situation, but when I stopped thinking for half a second and just enjoyed it, I had to admit how good it felt.
Once we were dry, we exited the steam-filled bath and back into my bedroom. One look at my bed, and I knew I needed to change the sheets. We made a mess of things, didn’t we?
My saliva healed all of Raven’s wounds, and a sip of a health potion had fixed me right up, but even with crimson sheets, I could still make out the bloodstains.
The door opened, and Eris walked in while both Raven and I had only towels on. Eris had given us both express permission to do it, but as I stared into her eyes, I couldn’t stop the guilt that rose in me. Like I’d committed the worst crime possible.
Through our connection, Eris knew at once what emotions ran through me, and she padded across the stone and leapt into my arms.
“Hello, love,” she said, placing a chaste kiss on my lips.
I easily supported her with one hand while I brushed her hair back with my free hand, and in that moment, I threw away every emotion I had for one simple fact.
I loved Eris, and she loved me. Nothing or no one in this world would ever change that.
“I love you, so very much.”
“What about me?” Raven asked, coming over to us.
I smiled at her. “You’re all right.”
She laughed and punched me lightly in the chest. “Just all right.”
“I think you’re pretty great,” Eris spoke up, winding her hand through Raven’s while still holding mine.
“So—are we all okay with this?” I asked.
“With what?” Raven said, acting coy.
I held my hands up and circled my fingers. “With this, with us.”
“I dunno ab─”
Eris grabbed Raven’s arm and pulled her into a heavy kiss. Raven stiffened for a single split second, letting the towel separating them fall. Then Raven relaxed before returning it with equal passion. They both pulled away quickly, Raven’s face as red as a tomato.
“That was…yeah, I’m okay with this. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
She poked me, her eyes stern. “I get to call you Sam too. It’s not fair that Eris is the only one allowed.”
“I don’t…” I began, then sighed. I just didn’t care anymore. I couldn’t run from Sampson Acre. Eris had been right all along. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Good, then I’m happy.”
I shook my head with a smile on my face. “How did this become my life?”
“Because your wife is amazing,” Raven said.
“That she is. Now let’s get dressed and call a meeting, there’s lots to discuss.”
Chapter 26 - Reunion
Eris
After the three of us got dressed, Sam told us a little of what he needed to tell the guild.
He stood and walked to the door. “We’ve been here a lot longer than any one of us first thought. I was going to wait to tell the guild, but it’s something I can’t keep to myself. I’d want to know if it was me, so they deserve the truth. Then Raven and I are going to take the Heart back to Magnus and get some answers.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Like hell. I’m not letting you anywhere near Magnus.”
Fire burned in my chest, hot enough to hurt. I loved Sam, knew he meant well, but this was my choice to make alone, not his. “I know you want to keep me safe, love. But I’m not as weak as I once was, and even if I was, this isn’t a decision you can make for me. I’m going to see my mother, and you can either join me or get out of the way.”
His eyes lit up in surprise at my tone, but he quickly composed himself and smiled. It was his lifted half smile that I loved so much. It told me that everything would work out, but behind the smile, the light in his eyes dimmed, and I knew he was terrified for my sake.
“I’ll be fine, Sam. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.”
He sighed. “I nearly lost you once already. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
“Then we’ll just have to keep each other safe,” I said sharply and left the room, not giving him any time to argue with me.
Sam followed after me as I headed to the guildhall. He called a meeting while we walked. By the time we reached the double doors, Sam had finished speaking, and we went inside to wait for the rest of the Gloom Knights.
It took them over half an hour to arrive, and after forty-five minutes it was clear a few members wouldn’t be joining us.
“Well, it appears Adam and Evelyn will not be joining us this morning,” Wilson said.
“Can’t even call them, names are grayed out,” Gil replied, running his finger through thin air as he used his interface.
&nb
sp; Everyone stared off into space as they doubled checked what Gil had said and a round of confused mutterings circled the room.
“Where do you think they went?” Makenna asked.
“I’ll give you one guess,” Sam said.
“Magnus? You think?”
“Only thing I can think of.”
“Those idiots. They’re going to get themselves killed if Magnus is a strong as you say he is.”
“I don’t know about that,” Sam said, drumming his fingers along the edge of the table. “Magnus is, without a doubt, powerful beyond my understanding, but so are those two. Evelyn could rule this world through her strength alone, and Adam is beyond a genius. He and his guild built Machine City in just three years, after all.”
“And how did that turn out for them?”
Sam rubbed at his chin. “Point taken, but you know what I’m getting at. Those two are stronger than anyone, and if anyone has a chance against Magnus, my money is on them.”
“What about Aliria?” Makenna asked, shooting a glance my way. “She’s an entomancer, like Eris, right?”
I couldn’t hold the pain from my heart as I breathed out slowly. I reached for Sam’s hand under the table for comfort. “Aliria is my mother.”
Makenna furrowed her brow, narrowing her eyes. “I thought you said your mom was dead?”
“She was. I don’t know how she is alive. It’s impossible.”
“Necromancy, perhaps?” Wilson offered.
“Doubtful. You didn’t see it, Wilson,” Sam began, running his thumb over mine. “There was nothing left but ash. Nothing left for any necromancer to use for resurrection, and even if there was, this happened before we arrived here─”
“Duran?” Wilson asked at his pause.
“Um, there’s something else I have to tell you all, something Magnus told me. Something that’s going to be difficult to understand.”
“Well, let us have it, bud,” Gil said.
So he did.
I didn’t really understand the significance of his revelation; a thousand years had passed while I was stuck in the void, so I didn’t get why they were upset out until Sam told us about losing their memories. I understood that well, since the Hive placed a high amount of reverence on memories and a person’s story. It was why what happened to my mother was such an extreme punishment; her being erased from history meant her memories died along with her.
How are you alive, Mother? It’s a wish borne from my darkest nightmares and my wildest dreams. I loved you so, and I hated you for what you became. I never understood that, and maybe now I can.
By the time everyone calmed down and accepted what Sam said, I came out of my thoughts and waited for what we were going to do.
Wilson pulled a flask from his vest pocket and took a small drink, running his fingers through his gray beard. “I─I don’t know what this means for us, can’t know if what you say is true, but I know you would never lie about something like this, so I believe you believe it’s true. Whether Magnus was telling the truth is a different matter.”
“I don’t think we can take the chance that he isn’t,” Sam replied.
“I agree. And unfortunately, it does make sense. All the little details we skipped over in our rush to kill things in this world are starting to make a whole lot of sense now.”
“So what do we do about it all?” Gil asked.
“We work with Magnus,” Sam said. “Whatever’s coming affects our entire world. This goes beyond any perceived retribution we owe him.”
“Agreed. So, I guess we hand over the Heart and go from there.”
“All right. Me, Eris, and Raven will get prepped and head out.”
With that, the meeting adjourned, and Sam and I left to get ready. While the others looked like they wanted to head to the bar. My hunch was proven correct when Gil piped up. “Anyone else need a drink?”
“Save me one,” Raven said as the others all voiced similar things.
Sam laughed and thumbed over at Raven. “Just watch your drinks around her, she’s not above snatching them from you.”
Raven laughed. “I would never do that to Gil!”
“You met him half a day ago!” Sam said, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah, and it took less than that to learn that he’s a lot nicer than you! And besides, you make it so easy.”
“I’ll show you easy,” he grumbled.
“You already did, four times.”
At that, Sam couldn’t stop from laughing, and Raven swiftly joined in.
I couldn’t help but smile at their antics. It’s good to see both of them smiling. I was right. Raven is going to be good for him.
I smiled sweetly at them as they composed themselves.
Sam’s eyes lit up as he gazed at me. “And whatever we do, don’t give any alcohol to Eris. She’ll have her clothes off trying to seduce us both after one glass.”
“That happened one time!”
That had been the wrong thing to say, as they both started laughing again.
Once they stopped, Sam and I made our way back to our room while Raven said she had to go pick up something.
“She’s something else,” Sam said as we both watched the sway of her hips as she ran down the hall.
“I really like her.”
He turned to me. His eyes widened ever so slightly. “I didn’t think you’d spent any time with her.”
I nodded. “We talked.”
“About?”
“That’s between the two of us,” I said and went inside our room.
We both changed into our armor quickly. I threw on my cloak and pulled it closed. Sam, meanwhile, changed into his new armor. It was pretty, as black as my eyes, with lovely splashes of green at his waist where a belt of some kind held his sword.
I walked over and ran my fingers over the sheath. “It’s like a leaf. It’s so pretty.”
“Yeah, I found it fitting.”
When Sam was finished, he went over to his nightstand and knelt, opening the bottom drawer. He paused when he opened his coin chest. “Huh, someone’s been in here. The strand of hair I placed between the lids been moved.”
“It was me,” I said immediately.
He turned, smiled at me and shrugged. “Okay. Was just curious.”
“I borrowed some money since I didn’t want to ask the guild. I’m sorry.”
Sam waved me off, grabbing several coin purses and stuffing them full. “Don’t be. You’re welcome to anything I own. And it’s not like I don’t have plenty of money.”
“Thank you. I have noticed you’re rather generous with your money.”
“I’m not reckless with my money, but I usually overpay wherever I go.”
“Why?” I asked, moving to lean against the bed. “It seems humans value gold more than anything else, why give it away so freely?”
He sighed. “Because I know what it’s like to not have it. When we first arrived here, most of us took to adventuring, completing quests for rewards. It was fun, but the pay wasn’t always consistent, and some months we struggled to make ends meet. It wasn’t just that way for players, but NPCs too.
“So now that I have an abundance of money, I don’t mind spreading a little around. I hope it helps people who might be going through what I went through once.”
I couldn’t help my heart as it swelled. “You really are a kind person. You just have different ways of showing it.”
Before he could respond, Raven walked back in. She wore black leather armor that fit her incredibly well; it hugged her body, and I couldn’t keep my eyes from her plunging neckline, as the leather left a good portion of the top part of her chest visible.
Sam looked up and tilted his head. “New gear?”
“Gil improved it for me. I wasn’t just joking earlier. He really is a nice guy. I can see why you’re friends.”
“Yeah, he’s the best.”
Sam stood and stowed his money in his inventory. “All right, then, if everyone’s dressed,
let’s get ready to go. We’ve got a busy day today.”
The three of us packed in haste. I ran down to storage and grabbed everything I thought we would need, which wasn’t much. Sam knew better than I about what he needed, but I followed Adam’s guideline and just stuffed as much as I could into our three packs.
When everything was packed away, I hefted all three bulging bags in my arms and met Sam and Raven in the outer bailey. Sam took them from me, and they disappeared into his inventory.
“I’d step back if I were you,” Sam said, backing away from Raven.
I did as he asked and took a few steps back in the dirt to stand beside him as we both stared at Raven.
In a magnificent display, Raven grew wings and folded them over herself, letting a rain of sleek black feathers obscure her from us. When she reappeared, it was as a huge black raven.
“Amazing,” I gasped. “I’ve never seen a shapeshifter so large before.”
“Thank you,” she said, her voice projecting without a source.
I walked up to her and ran my hands gently through her soft, downy feathers. “You’re so unbelievably beautiful,” I said, turning my thoughts into words.
“All right, enough admiring the pretty bird. I’d like to put as many miles under us as we can today.”
“Ass,” Raven said, laughing. “Though you did call me pretty, so I guess I forgive you.”
Sam climbed on first and helped me up. I nestled against his back and still kept my hands firmly on Raven.
She crouched and took to the skies with a burst of speed, and suddenly we were flying. The wind whipped furiously at my hair, and the chill in the air offset the beating rays of the sun as we soared over Lake Gloom.
Sam held me close while I leaned over and stared in wonder at the landscape rushing past in a blur as the grayish-green outskirts of Gloom-Harbor territory opened to the vast Rolling Hills. We flew for hours, and I eventually settled back into Sam’s arms and just enjoyed the journey.
I cherished the simple alone time we shared while we flew.
As the sun dipped, Raven’s speed slowed, and we began looking for a place to set up camp.
Hive Queen Page 38