I approached slowly. Mason seemed upset, but he wasn’t on edge, so I guessed these were the Accleshians sent in advance of the Princess. The woman turned towards me, her regard traveling from the top of my head to my toes. Her skin was golden brown, but her eyes were instantly arresting. They were a silver blue, similar to Mason’s. In her dark skin, they appeared almost ethereal. A glittering chain hung suspended from her right nostril to the shell of her right ear. She was gorgeous but frightening. I hoped she was on our side.
My matches noticed me the moment I stepped from the house but waited for me to come to them. Once I neared grabbing distance, Mason pulled me into his side. I caught Reed with my other hand, needing to be close to him. The woman watched curiously. Her eyes glowed with intelligence and fire.
“You must be the Queen,” she said without preamble. Her voice was high, lyrical, and commanding. She wore armor like the three men surrounding her, but it didn’t hide the coiled muscles of her arms and legs. Taut abs peeked from beneath a shirt that stopped three inches above her tight breeches. I felt frumpy, soft, and inconsequential next to her.
“I am,” I managed to say, trying to instill some false confidence into my voice. I considered asking Mason through mind speak what bothered him, but it might be considered rude. I didn’t want to start relations with this woman on the wrong foot. “Who are you?”
She bowed shallowly, and I might have thought it was a mocking gesture, but it appeared genuine. “My name is Lyra. I am the commander of Princess Ahnika’s forces and her personal bodyguard when traveling.”
“You command a whole army?” I squeaked, my voice getting away from me. Her chuckle was deep and sensual. If I didn’t believe my men’s attentions were entirely devoted to me, her beauty and impressive presence would have drawn out my insecurities.
“Just as you rule an entire country,” she quipped.
My cheeks reddened. “Not quite yet.”
Her eyes hardened. “Soon,” she replied as if it were a foregone conclusion. Her faith in me erased a measure of the hesitancy I experienced in her presence.
“Where is the Princess?” I asked, glancing around as if she might be hiding somewhere. Chancellor Drummond spoke with another of the hairy brutes, one who looked enough like him to be his brother; and I wondered if the unknown man was one of his mate’s matches.
“She will be here shortly,” Lyra answered. “We came ahead to scout the location and learn what we can.”
I nodded in response but glanced at Mason. His jaw was set, his full attention not on the interaction between the warrior woman and me. “Mason,” I said softly. He glanced at me, weariness in the set of his shoulders. I asked him with my eyes if he was all right.
Lyra excused herself to check on perimeter security. Her men glanced at me curiously as they walked away, but none of them spoke. I smoothed my hair self-consciously, wishing I had thought to take a bath. I probably smelled like sex, sweat, horses, and the spell I had unraveled the night before.
Mason turned to me, and my matches surrounded me. They were all there, Clay relaxing on his crutches. I kissed him lightly on the cheek and followed with a kiss for Seb. We had only been apart an hour, but I still craved their touches. Clay sat down on a nearby stump, stretching his legs out in front of him. I raised my hand and brushed it along Mason’s jaw. I liked that he had taken the time to shave before leaving the house.
“What’s wrong, Mason? Is it the Accleshians?”
Mason shook his head and swiped a hand over his fuzzy head. “No,” he said with a sigh. “Lyra is – interesting, but not an enemy. I have had a hunch confirmed. Last night, when I met with the enchanted Soldiers who arrived here, I noticed something. I asked one of the men to confirm my theory, and I have just received word that I was right.”
I waited. A muscle clenched in his jaw as he looked off into the distance. My hands clasped his, smoothing over his scarred knuckles and callused palms.
“All the enchanted men were part of my regiment.”
Shock slapped hollowly into my chest. “Your father,” I murmured, making the connection instantly.
Mason nodded, his pale eyes again meeting mine. “Yes. I knew he would join the Prince, but I thought he might change his mind once he realized Everett employed dark magic. That is obviously not the case. He told the Prince or the Baldonian which men were under my command and specifically targeted them.”
“I’m sorry.” I wrapped my arms around Mason, resting my head on his chest. He held me, his cheek pressed against my hair.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to fight him when we returned,” he whispered, and I tightened my embrace. I didn’t know how to respond. I was worried about having to face my sister as well. We had never gotten along; her ambition had ensured any sibling intimacy was impossible. When Rowan told me Delia was Prince Everett’s destined Soul Match, I hadn’t been surprised, but I had been worried. We tried to find her before we left the city, but she had gone missing. I feared she had already been turned to Everett and Synlair’s cause.
Mason’s father was the more significant concern, though. Delia could hopefully be persuaded, and she was not a fan of violence. It sounded as if the High Commander didn’t intend to surrender without a fight, and I didn’t envy Mason his fears or possible future. We held each other for several minutes before he took a deep breath and released me. He smiled, the worry easing from his face as he kissed the tip of my nose.
“How do you feel?”
I glanced at Reed standing nearby, his eyes on me. I reached for his hand again, and he snagged it. “Incomplete,” I answered honestly, looking at all my men. Clay and Seb nodded in understanding.
“Yes, Indrasa, we feel it too. We are not whole yet.”
I nodded. I was stronger, more intuitive, faster, and more calculating, but I still needed Reed’s wisdom, whimsical hopes, and hidden desires.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Seb asked. He made a shooing motion. “Move your asses.”
Reed’s lips quirked and I met his electric blue gaze. I could see a hint of fear in them that worried me. Was he getting cold feet? I leaned forward to reassure him and remind him how much I wanted him when we felt the vibration of hooves galloping toward the farm. I continued leaning forward anyway, holding his gaze with mine. “We aren’t finished here, Scholar,” I whispered to him. “I want you within my soul and within my body. I will have you.”
His eyes flared with desire, and he caught my lips in a passionate kiss that sent heat flooding through my veins and caused my sex to clench with need. Reed was so reserved that when he let go and displayed the depth of his passion, it nearly toppled me with its force. My body just couldn’t get enough of my men, no matter how often I had sex. It wasn’t only the bond. I needed these men like I needed food or water.
I lost track of what had delayed our plans in the first place. When a low clapping sounded to my left, I jumped away from Reed with a blush on my cheeks. His eyes followed me, hot with need, and I snapped myself out of his spell with effort.
“Now, that is how a kiss should be,” a feminine voice declared. My eyes widened as I looked upward to see an angelic figure perched on a black stallion. The massive beast made her seem even smaller than she was. Her red lips, dark in a pale face, curved in a smile. “If he’s not yours, can I have him?” Her eyes traveled to the other men around me. “Ooh, can I have all of them?”
I couldn’t prevent the possessive anger that rose within me. One moment I was considering how best to make a good impression; the next I was baring my teeth and growling like a feral cat in heat. She didn’t appear offended. Instead, she threw her head back, her silver hair glistening in the sunlight, and laughed far too loudly for such a tiny girl.
“I was just kidding, Cousin. Your men look too tame for me anyway.” The girl on the horse flicked an elegant hand, and one of her warriors approached. She balanced her hands on the tall brute’s shoulders and slid from the massive horse without even looking at t
he man who had helped her down. Her hips swayed as she walked toward me. I watched, open-mouthed. This was my cousin? She looked and acted like a princess. But I hadn’t met many princesses; any in fact.
The girl stepped closer, and I was surprised to find she was my height. She looked more petite because she didn’t have my substantial curves. Her silver hair glistened in the sun, strands of black and darker gray fading into the moonlit elegance. Her eyes, though, were exactly like mine. They fluctuated with green, blue, and gray as she approached. The only difference was a dark ring of cobalt surrounding her irises. She was paler than me, too, despite her darker countrymen, a cute bunch of freckles dotting each cheek.
“Ahnika,” I greeted. Her red lips curled. They didn’t seem to be cosmetically enhanced, but the dark red shade wasn’t one I had ever encountered naturally.
“Kiarra,” she greeted me with a grin and threw her arms around me. I hugged her back uncertainly, nearly bowled over by her enthusiasm. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she exceeded my expectations. Her commander, the warrior woman, watched with a smile. Her pale eyes held a tenderness which made me wonder how long the two had known each other.
“I’m so glad to meet you outside that stuffy city,” she said as she pulled back. Her full lips pouted. “I don’t want to step foot in those walls; I would feel like such an utter failure. None of your Houses would hold me.”
My own grin answered hers. “Me neither, Cousin.”
She laughed again, the sound filled with joy. “Well, that is because you are meant to be Queen. I suppose it is the same with me. How has the bonding progressed? Who are your men? Introduce me!” She bounced on her toes, and I hid a smile. I pointed to each of my men and introduced them by their names and Houses.
When Mason held out a hand to shake, she threw her hands up in surrender and stepped backward. “No offense, honey, but I’m not going to touch you without leave from your bondmate. I have seen people’s heads taken off for lesser offenses.” Six sets of surprised eyes turned to her, but she didn’t appear to be joking. It was true. I had felt my spine prickle dangerously when Mason stepped closer to the beautiful, exuberant young woman. It must be similar to the jealousy my men had struggled with when Jeff approached me. Unbonded, potential mates were seen as a threat from those who didn’t have completed bonds.
My suspicion was confirmed when she turned her gaze toward Reed. Though I felt a prickle with Mason and the others, it was nothing compared to the storm of anger that flooded me when she looked at my Scholar. I stepped in front of him to hide him from her eyes.
She quirked a dark eyebrow at me. They were a smoky gray, much darker than her hair. “You haven’t bonded completely with this one, have you?”
I shook my head, hearing the worry in her voice. Her tone was serious for the first time. She held my hands in hers and drew her face closer. “You need to fuck that cutie, sweetie. We have dark magic to fight, and you need to have your bonds in place. They will be stronger if they have more time to settle.” Her deep, slate grey eyes were solemn. Her concern reached inside me. Ahnika might act like a snobby young Princess, but she was not a pushover. Her lips curled again as she pulled back from me. “Besides, you must be aching for a piece of that.” Her eyes flicked to Reed and my fists clenched at my sides. She laughed. “Oh, honey, you’re far too easy to tease.”
She turned back to Lyra and the men waiting. I had barely noticed, but an older woman had arrived with the Princess. The plump woman with graying hair was wrapped in Drummond’s arms, and he looked happier than I’d ever seen him. He was reunited with his bondmate.
“The Queen has some royal business to attend to,” Ahnika announced, causing me to blush.
I grabbed Reed’s hand. His neck was red. He had heard every word the Princess had spoken. My men trailed behind me at a short distance. Once we were out of hearing distance, Mason heaved a sigh. “I do not envy that woman’s bondmates,” he said quietly.
“What?” I asked with a smirk. “She’s cute.”
“She will keep her men on their toes,” Ian remarked, a thoughtful look on his face. I wondered if he was thinking about Jeff, the Mishokian Spy who was destined to have a bondmate. I hid a snicker. That would be interesting. He believed in a culture where the men bonded with multiple wives. If Ahnika was his Fated Soul Match, their matching would not be as smooth as ours. I kissed my men again and said my apologies for running away, but they shushed me.
“We feel his lack, too, Kee,” Seb reminded me. “Secure the individual bonds, so we can all go back to piling on top of you.” He laughed jokingly, but there was also seriousness behind his tone. Their desires flared again, even Ian’s, though we’d just emerged from the bedroom. I walked with Reed back up the stairs, hoping we defeated this Sorcerer and his puppet Prince sooner rather than later. I had better things to do in my spare time.
Chapter 15
Reed
Reed was accustomed to meeting life on intellectual terms. While the others were debating how to kill the Sorcerer and focused on growing the bonds, he was frantically seeking knowledge about magic and how to help Kiarra survive the impending battle. If his intelligence could find a way to prevent her from facing the evil now controlling the throne of Megreria, he’d willingly give up all his new abilities in exchange.
Reed understood the importance of strengthening the connection, and he felt the lack as keenly as the others. However, he was uncomfortable with how much emphasis the bond placed on sex. He wanted Kiarra with a passion that knew no bounds, but a stranger casually discussing his sex life was not a situation he’d expected to encounter.
Kiarra read the reserve on his face or through their fledgling bond because she turned to him once the bedroom door closed behind them. The sheets were still crumpled from her time with Ian, but that didn’t bother him. He had become accustomed to sharing Kiarra and hadn’t lied when he told her that he was accepting and enjoying the new dynamic.
He stood rigidly by the door for several seconds, and she patted the bed beside her. “Come here, Scholar. I can see that your mind is running around like a hamster on a wheel. What has you thinking so much?”
There was no judgment in her voice, and Reed relaxed his shoulders and spine. This was his Soul Match, the one person in the world who understood him better than anyone else. He sat next to her on the bed, enjoying her scent and the way her deep blue eyes regarded him thoughtfully. “I can’t stop thinking about the upcoming battle and your newfound magic. I want to ensure you have all the correct tools at your disposal.”
She hesitated. “And it bothers you that our private life is practically a spectacle.”
He nodded, pushing a hand through his messy hair. “In some ways. I understand your grandmother’s reasoning. I do believe that sex is the ultimate energy transfer. It’s also the fastest way since we don’t have years to grow together first, but I don’t like that matters are being forced.” He shrugged uncertainly.
Kiarra assessed him, drawing her plump lower lip between her lips. “Do you feel forced into making love to me, Reed?”
Reed sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Not at all, Kiarra.” He grasped her hands, stroking his thumb over her soft skin. “If it weren’t the bond urging intimacy, my body would. I have wanted you since the moment I heard you cursing like a Barbar pirate in the corridor of your housing building. That desire hasn’t diminished. I treasure our first time together, regardless of who else was present.”
Kiarra’s lips curved upwards. “You’re just stubborn. You don’t want to do something because other people tell you should, no matter how much you want it.”
Reed chuckled. “Ah, Kiarra mine, you do know me. Yes, that is true. I have always been somewhat of a rebel.”
Her eyes brightened as they coasted over his messy hair, his high cheekbones, the veins of his corded forearms, and the breadth of his shoulders. Desire poured through him when heat followed her gaze. “Thus, why you have the body of a Soldier and the mind
of a Scholar.” She moved to kneel on the bed beside him, and he turned to fully face her. “Do you want me, Reed, as much as I want you?” She took the hand she was holding and put it on her breast. His mouth dried as her nipples tightened beneath his palm. She had the most amazing breasts. He couldn’t keep his mouth off them the other night, and he wanted to taste her again.
“Yes,” he replied in a choked whisper.
“Then stop thinking. Forget what everyone thinks we should do. This is you and me in this moment; no one else. I will understand if you don’t want to do this. I will wait for you, regardless of the consequences, but I want you, Reed. I want your brilliant mind, your amazing passion, your broad shoulders,” her voice lowered and her cheeks brightened, “and your thick cock. But I will wait.”
“Kiarra,” Reed groaned, hardening immediately. He had saved himself for his Soul Match, but he had dreamed about sex often and had masturbated whenever the opportunity arose. He had lain awake many nights and thought about sex with the perfect woman. At the time, she had been faceless, but he had known it was always Kiarra. His body recognized her as an extension of himself, the perfect face and form to provoke him to unthinking lust. He had imagined a woman saying the exact same things she had just said to him, the specific key to arouse and please him. He forgot the people outside and the expectations. She was his entire world.
His mouth met hers, almost harshly, as desire roared through him. He had iron control most of the time, but Kiarra stripped it from him as effortlessly as she tore away his worries and fears. The world faded and left only the feel of her. Energy snapped and crackled between them. The blood raced through his veins and throbbed in his cock.
“Reed,” she moaned against his mouth, accepting the assault of his tongue and lips as her hands gripped his biceps. He lowered her to the bed, following her down, his kisses moving from her mouth to her jaw, the smooth column of her throat, and the area exposed above the neckline of her shirt.
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