by S. A. Price
His kiss swallowed her scream as she came, and her body shook. Goosebumps ran over her and she gripped his shoulder and Scur’s arm as she shattered between them.
She knew the moment Khalid joined her. Felt his body tense, his grip on her breast tighten before dropping to her hips to still her movements. “Fucking hell...”
“You’re not done,” she heard Scur say before she found herself being lifted off Khalid and placed on all fours. Khalid grinned at her from where he was still sitting naked and satisfied against the wall. Scur’s heat surrounded her as his chest pressed against her back and he kissed the side of her neck. Then he was inside her with one hard thrust. “Gods, now that’s what I was needing. Hot and slick and still wanting.”
She pushed back on him and closed her eyes. No one made her feel as full as Scur did. “You better gimme the ride of my life, Scur...” she hissed and looked to her captain, crooking a finger at him.
“When haven’t I?” He moved faster, his strokes almost punishing as he took her. Khalid pushed away from the wall and came closer, reaching out to brush the tips of his fingers against her lips.
“On your knees, Captain,” she said as she licked her lips. Having them both, Scur fucking her to hell and back, and her sexy captain down her throat, she needed to be filled by her men, she needed it for that power boost she knew was there to happen.
And if she loved Scur taking her this way, going down on Khalid was right up there, tied for first.
“Another demand from the princess,” her captain said with a smirk, but went to his knees before her. She could hear Scur snicker but then she forgot everything when he thrust even harder and smacked his hand down on her ass.
She looked up at her captain and then was down, licking his shaft, the evidence of them together that still glistened there. She moaned and pushed back on Scur, feeling the tightness build once more. This one...this was going to be epic. “Gods...” she said and licked Khalid’s cock again, and then slipped him into her mouth, careful as Scur was redoubling his efforts. She was going to be bruised and sore tomorrow and she couldn’t wait.
She felt her inner muscles clamp down on him and cried out around Khalid’s cock, her entire body shaking as the orgasm claimed her once more. Slipping him from her mouth she moaned, her shoulders slumped, her face in her captain’s groin. Stars exploded in her vision, and she hummed as her entire body felt like an open wound, wrapped in glitter. Her magic, the magic of them together, was primal and wicked and it embraced her, enveloped her, became her.
“Ah fuck, Alyx,” she heard Scur say before he sagged against her, pressing kisses along her spine. “I am seriously going to enjoy teasing your body for hours on end when we get home.”
“Amen to that,” Khalid agreed, stroking her hair. “I think someone might need a little break. Come on, love, we’ll keep you warm while you get in a nap.”
She yawned. “You better, though I would say you both earned a nap, too. I need you both on your A-game when we leave here. I don’t know what we are going to get into but...” she sighed.
Lying back on the blanket, Khalid held his arms open for her. “I think I can speak for both of us when I say, we’re always on our A-game. You’re smart enough to pick two guards who can take down a colony of trolls on little to no sleep.”
“Oh shit,” Scur said and lay back, leaving enough room for her to snuggle between them. “I forgot about that one. Alyx, remind us to tell you that story later.”
“I didn’t pick shit,” she said a laughed. “Faerie...” She looked. “You know, I have always wondered, if I wasn’t a princess, would either of you have ended up in my bed, even if it was just for a night? Or did Faerie have everything to do with this?”
“You already know the answer to that,” Scur said. “And Faerie or no Faerie, if I would have ended up in your bed, I never would have gotten out.”
Khalid lay on his back, his arm around her as she tucked up against his side. “If I was lucky enough to actually meet you? That would be an oh hell yes, I would have.”
She smiled to herself. Those was the right answers of course. “I guess being a princess means I get to have my cake and eat it too, as it were,” she said of having two lovers, because she didn’t think there was a shot in the nether hells she would have had them both on a permanent basis if she wasn’t royalty. Not that it wasn’t done, but men that were raised to serve were different that men that weren’t.
“Now stop thinking about what ifs and sleep.” Khalid kissed the top of her head. “We have a blizzard to wade through in a couple hours.”
She nodded. “And a sub-society of goblins that I hope aren’t a bunch of assholes.”
“Eh,” Scur said, “if they are then you’ll know just how to handle them. I’ve taught you well.”
“Insulting them and then challenging them to a gentleman’s duel?” she said with a wry smile.
“Pretty sure the word gentleman has never been used before when talking about Scur,” Khalid said. “Yeah, you must be tired.”
“Fuck you very much, Captain,” Scur said and brought his arm over her waist from behind.
Chuckling, she shook her head. “I love you. Both of you assholes, you know that?”
“The only asshole here is behind you, but I love you, too,” Khalid said. “Now go to sleep.”
She kissed his cheek. “Yes, sir.”
7
“Are you two almost ready to go?” she said after taking a drink from the camelback. They had napped, fucked again, had an early breakfast and then napped once more. Alyx thought it was the best weekend getaway they had ever had. It was presently almost five hours since they had holed up, and the winds had finally died down enough that they barely heard them. Lord knew what they were going to find once Khalid opened the cave.
“I’m hoping we can find the damn snowcat,” Scur said. “And it’s not covered in ten feet of snow.”
“If we can find it, I can clear it. My powers should allow me to move snow,” Khalid said as he strapped one of the packs on his back and hefted a duffle.
“I thought you could only fuck with stone?” Scur’s brows drew together, the man was obviously confused.
“That’s what most people think,” Khalid said, but didn’t clarify.
“You know, we might have to keep this little spot.” She winked at Khalid. “This reprieve from everything was...nice.” It also didn’t hurt that she was perfectly sore and sporting several love bites. “You know, weekend getaways...”
“I can think of way better places,” her berserker said, coming up behind her and leaning in. “Like a private island where it’s warm and you can lie around on the beach all day naked.”
“I second that,” Khalid said. “Okay, get ready, these boulders are about to move. The ground under their feet shook and she watched as the boulders started to move, loosening from their resting place. Instead of the gliding to the side, however, they shot out of the hole and went sailing into the snow-covered land beyond.
“Shit, Khalid,” Scur said. “Guess if anyone was waiting for us to come out, they’re a pancake now.”
“I’ma call you Ludo from now on, baby.” She grinned.
“You know,” Scur said, taking hold of her hand, “he does kind of resemble him.”
“Bite me, asshole. I know who she’s talking about this time. We watched that movie a couple weeks ago.” Khalid stepped outside before turning to look at them. “Stopped snowing. Snowcat is only about fifty yards west.”
“Well then, let’s hoof it,” she said as she followed her captain out into the world. “Jesus, it’s bright,” she murmured.
“Sun and snow tend to do that when they’re together,” Scur said, knowing he was being an asshole and not caring. He shielded his eyes, looking around before cursing under his breath. “Think I found the snowcat. There is a mini-hill not too far ahead.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Khalid said with a puff of breath. “Would be a hell of a lot easier if there
was some wind I could piggyback on.”
“I’m afraid I can’t help there,” Alyx said softly. They stopped just beyond the buried snowcat, and she heard the rev rumble the machine, cracking the snow covering it. Another rev and rumble and it should give Khalid the leverage he needed.
“Damn thing is still purring. Thank the bloody gods. You guys might want to back up, don’t play with snow often, no idea where it’s going to end up.” Khalid cracked his knuckles, but the sound was muffled by his gloves. The ground started to vibrate, but it seemed to be contained to where the snowcat sat covered. The snow started to blow away, and then the sound of ice shattering echoed through the air. “How the fuck can you do that?” Scur asked. “We’re family now, man. No fucking secrets.”
Khalid laughed. “I can manipulate the elements, move them, semi-control them, but only ones that are already near me. I can’t call on them or create them.”
“Wouldn’t that be fucking sweet.” Alyx grinned. “A master of the goddamn elements.”
“Think the demons would take issue to that.” It took a few minutes, but once the dust, or snow in this case, settled, the snowcat was once again ready for its voyage. “Whatever the fuck Anders had that kept this thing going for all those hours,” Scur said, opening the driver’s side door as Khalid opened the other door for her, “we need to make sure we have plenty of it on hand.”
“Anders is a fucking wizard of tech,” she said.
“I heard that,” Hendrix said across the inner mic. “I was wondering when you guys were coming back.”
“How the hell...”
“Camera system in the cat, for emergencies. When four hours passed and I didn’t get a call, I got worried something happened.”
“Good thing we didn’t stay in here for our siesta. Hendrix would have gotten an eyeful.”
“Pervert would have watched, too.” Scur put the vehicle in gear and they started moving at a snail’s pace again.
“Anything happen in the last few hours that we need to know about?” Khalid asked.
“Aside from the weather, no. Gogo did tell the queen what’s going on. Carrigan said Quinn said if you guys need backup, call.”
Of course he did. Alyx shook her head. “How the hell he would get here? Hendy, any info on the hobs?”
“Icere Noir is quiet. Cetus thinks too quiet, so keep a sharp eye.”
“Incanta quiet is not a good thing,” Khalid agreed. “Hendrix, have Quade get in touch with Jed. I want to make sure there isn’t any additional activity with the hobs going on at the Front. If there is, definitely a diversion.”
“Can do,” he said. “I’ll be back.” They heard him disconnect, leaving them alone in the cab.
“So, how long via GPS?” she asked as she snuggled closer to her captain.
“Two more hours by snowcat, then we got another hour or two before we reach our destination,” he told her. “Bet I can cut some time off that,” Scur said. “When we estimated the time, we figured on going slower than expected and doing it in the dark. With fresh snow down and the sun out, I can get us there faster.”
“Challenge accepted then,” she said and leaned into Khalid. “So, once we are to the first lake, are we looking at a completely iced waterway?” she said, not really asking him as they pulled up the sat photo. “I think the issue is going to be the second island and waterway.” She pointed to the second. “But the third island, it’s too grainy to see what we are getting into there.”
“Technically we’re on the first island,” Scur said, glancing at her with a smirk.
“The last island is the one we need to be on full guard for,” Khalid said, looking down at the small map. “If the little we know about them is true, they’ve kept themselves well hidden and protected for centuries, if not a hell of a lot longer.”
“The fact that they have remained that way...” She shook her head. “I don’t like going into this as blind as we are.”
“Come on, my little minx, it’s an adventure. We haven’t known dick about most of the places we’ve found ourselves. Of course, we knew no one was settled at any of them. So maybe you have a point.”
“Helpful as always, Scur,” Khalid said with a snort.
“Well, since there’s not much to do for a while, I’m going to take a nap,” she said and closed her eyes, the hum of the treads rolling over the snow lulling her to sleep.
Jolted awake, she sat up quickly. “Why did we stop? We here?” she asked as she looked out the windshield, a canvas of white before her. “Jesus, this looks like purgatory.”
“For all we know it is purgatory.” Scur looked over at her. “We’ve been here a couple minutes. Khalid,” he pointed out the windshield to where her captain was standing in the snow, “put another of Anders’ gadgets on the engine, so we’re good to go. You ready for the next leg?”
“Hell yeah. Can I sit on your lap while you drive?” She wiggled her eyebrows and then laughed.
He started laughing. “Sugar, we’re walking. You slept through the entire ride.”
“Oh well...” She yawned and then stretched. “Goodie for me. Seriously, easiest leg so far. What did the two of you talk about while I was unconscious?”
“Talked about your ass,” he said in a serious tone, though the smile was still on his lips. “Come on. We better get moving and to the next island before Khalid’s balls freeze off. And before we lose the light.” He opened the door and stepped out just as Khalid walked over to her door and opened it for her. “Well good morning, sleeping beauty. You’re just in time.”
“Scur said you guys talked about my ass. As in my ass or me?” she said as she jumped down, sliding her pack on.
“As in your ass.” Khalid scratched his chin. “Although I’m surprised your first thought wasn’t we were talking about your ass, as in Scur. Because he’s also your ass.”
“This is true.” She grinned. “What were you talking about involving my ass?” she asked and flexed her fingers in her gloves.
“Sorry, Alyx.” He grinned at her. “But I cannot divulge the conversations between your guard. It’s sacred.” He winked before taking her hand and leading her over to where Scur was standing, inches away from a frozen layer of ice.
“Well then...” She grinned. “I’ll remember that. Scur? Take point.”
He looked at her, brow raised. “Why do I feel like you’re using me to test the ice? Putting the biggest one out in front. If I go in, you better get me out.” He let out a breath and took the first step onto the ice. He bounced a bit, as if testing its strength, then shrugged his shoulders. “It’s not too far of a walk to the next island.” Khalid squeezed her hand and they followed Scur. “As long as the ice holds, should only take about twenty minutes.”
“It will hold. It’s been too damn cold up here.”
Twenty-seven minutes, to the minute, they made it to the shore of the next island. “Uneventful. Though I’m sure one of us has frostbite from that fucking wind.”
“There are times where I quite enjoy uneventful,” Khalid said, rubbing his hands together to keep warm. “Alyx, pull out the sat phone and see how far it is to the next island.”
“Half a mile from here to the next lake. Then a ten-minute walk to the land mass,” she said as she checked everything. “I’ll call Hendrix to let him know where we are. The sat has a note that coms will be sketchy from here on in.” She hit the button, calling the scourge.
“Yello.”
“We are at the PNR. Keep an eye in the sky, yeah?”
“You got it, toots. Oh, Abaxley came by, asked where you guys were. Told him, though I have no idea what difference it makes.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Nope. Looks like he hasn’t slept in a week, though.”
Interesting. He didn’t look that bad when they saw him last. “Okay, thanks, Hend.”
“Stay safe.”
The call disconnected, and she looked to them. “We are on our own.”
“Let’s
hope the skies stay clear and we don’t catch the attention of any of the locals. If there are locals,” Khalid said and started to walk. With each step they took, they seemed to sink deeper into the snow.
“If I don’t see snow again for another decade or twelve, it will still be too soon,” Scur mumbled.
“We live in Ohio,” Khalid said with a laugh. “Good luck with that.”
Alyx trudged through, her focus on the half mile before the last leg. And their destination. The snow was deep but the snowshoe attachments that Anders had given them were working like a charm. It was slow going, but they weren’t lagging, which was a godsend.
Her mind flittered to Abaxley and what he could have possibly found, since that was the only reason he would be looking for them. Certainly not because he missed her, or wanted her. And things were too cut and dry to discount Incanta. Her kingdom was quiet, but her spies wouldn’t have risked calling attention to themselves without a form of mobilization. And whatever this was they were after, she knew Incanta would want it, too, if for nothing else than to use it as a bargaining chip to enter the courts and start her play for the Nightmare crown.
Forty five minutes later, they were once again on the shores of a lake. She could see the island, Sub Victoria Island, waiting, a silent sentinel. It looked as if there were rock formations there, but then it could have just been snow buildup. No signs of life, though she didn’t see how anything could live there anyway. “So, looks deserted. What’s the spread? Pocket realm, hidden part of Faerie? Or they aren’t there anymore?”
“I’m thinking none of the above,” Khalid said, his focus on what was in front of them so intense, it was like he could see straight through the barrier. “I think they built up the earth around them, making it harder to access. I mean, they’re already living on an island in an island, and so on. But since they haven’t been heard from since practically the beginning of time, they made sure they couldn’t be found, or gotten to easily.”