by Susan Hayes
Braxon left them to get dressed. That was another thing that would change. They were together now, in every sense of the word. It made no sense for Braxon’s things to be in another room. She said as much as she donned the most ornate of her Vardarian outfits, the one with gems embedded in the collar.
“We’ll help him move his things in here later today,” Tyr agreed.
He was wearing the same green and black outfit he’d worn the first time she’d seen him, and she realized the two of them matched. It made sense, they were both wearing the traditional colors of his family line.
Braxon reappeared as she was putting on her shoes. He was also dressed in green and black, and his collar was inlaid with what looked like black diamonds.
Tyr looked up and nodded. “So, this is what it takes for you to actually dress the part of a courtier?”
“I’m doing this for Phaedra, not your sister.”
She looked at her men and sighed happily. “You both look amazing. I have to say that I’m all for Vardarian fashion. Especially on the two of you.”
Tyr retrieved an ornately etched metal box from his things and set it down on the bed. “Our bands,” he explained as he opened the box.
Inside were three gold and silver armbands, one significantly smaller than the others. All three were made up of two flat hammered-metal strands that formed an interlocking pattern that reminded her of the figure-8 style symbol for eternity. “They’re beautiful.”
Tyr lifted the smaller band from the box, revealing there was a gap between the two ends, so it could be fitted properly. “Hold out your left arm.”
She did, and the two males carefully placed it on her upper arm, using the strength of their hands to close the gap enough that it stayed in place.
Tyr offered his arm to her, and she copied what he’d done, setting the band in place and allowing Braxon to press it closed. Then it was Braxon’s turn, and she swore he stopped breathing until the band was in place.
“You’re ours now, mahaya, and everyone who sees that band will know it.” Tyr was so smug it was almost radiating off him in waves.
She looked down at the elegant bands of precious metal and smiled. “Or they’ll think I’m seriously spoiled by the two of you. Which is also true.”
She touched their new bands. “And you both belong to me.” She paused a second before adding “And to each other.”
“We do,” Braxon agreed. He leaned in to kiss her but was interrupted by a warbling alarm that made both he and Tyr sigh.
“What the fraxx is that?”
“My sister is awaiting us in the audience room. She’s made the connection early.”
“I haven’t even met her yet, and I’m already starting to dislike her.”
Both males looked at each other. “I told you it would be this way,” Tyr muttered.
They made their way to a room near the front of the ship. It wasn’t large, but what it lacked in size, it made up for in opulence. It was a bit like a movie theatre designed for the richest beings in the galaxy. Every surface was polished, and there were thick falls of what looked like dark green velvet on the walls. Pictures of regal looking Vardarians, all with silver skin and solemn expressions, were carefully placed between the velvet hangings.
There were a number of silver chairs with black cushions set out in rows, all of them facing a much larger chair set on a dais at the front of the room. On the throne sat a silver-skinned Vardarian woman with gems woven into her dark hair. The image was so perfect it was hard to believe that it was only a projection.
Tyran stepped toward the throne and bowed slightly. “Empress Neha, it is good to see you.”
Neha sniffed. “I doubt you truly feel that way, given that you haven’t responded to my messages in days.”
Tyran stiffened. “It was one day, and the delay could not be helped.”
“I look forward to hearing about your reasons, along with confirmation that you are on your way home.” Neha glanced over at Braxon, and her eyes widened when she realized there was another being standing just behind him.
“You found another species?” She asked. “Why wasn’t I told of this? Introduce the female and tell me what you’ve found.”
Braxon sketched a quick bow and brought Phaedra forward so she was standing between her mates. “Your Imperial Highness, this is Phaedra Kari, a female of the species known as humans. She is also—"
“She is strangely colored.” Neha interjected.
“I could say the same thing about you, Your Highness,” Phaedra shot back in Vardarian.
Neha’s brows shot up on surprise. “Who are you to speak to me that way, human? And how is it you know our language?”
Phaedra turned to show Neha the band on her arm. “I am your brother’s mahaya. Which makes us family. I assumed that since you felt it acceptable to interrupt Braxon a moment ago, that things were more informal among family members. Was I wrong?”
Neha’s eyes narrowed. “What is this female talking about? You’re a member of the Imperial family, Tyran. Your mate has to be Vardarian.”
“It would seem the ancestors disagree with your assessment. Phaedra is our mahaya.”
Neha’s expression tightened into a mask of fear and spite. “Show me her scars, then, brother. I know you would never allow your mate to go with her scars hidden. If the sharhal has possessed you, then surely you’ve claimed her already?”
All three of them stood in silence.
“As I suspected. If you haven’t claimed her, then she’s not your mate,” Neha sounded triumphant.
“We were waiting until Phaedra was—”
“She is not your mate. You will not claim the female. I forbid it,” Neha snapped. “Send me your coordinates and I will send a negotiating team to continue what you’ve started. Say goodbye to your little pink pet and come home, now. Your empress has need of you.”
The hologram vanished and the three of them were left alone in the room.
“Your sister is…” Phaedra didn’t know a strong enough word in Vardarian to describe her.
“Vipa. The word you’re looking for is vipa.”
“If that’s your version of bitch, then yeah, that’s the word.” She looked at the two of them. “Now what do we do?”
Tyr reached out a hand to both of them. “I believe I’m about to commit treason. Care to join me?”
Chapter Sixteen
Phaedra took Tyr’s hand and hung on tight. She wasn’t letting go of either of them. Not now. Not ever. “I’ve been accused of a lot of things in my life, but until now, I haven’t been able to claim treason. I’m game.”
“And that attitude is one of the many reasons I love you.” Braxon scooped her into his arms without any warning and started carrying her back toward their quarters.
“Where are we going?”
“To commit treason.” Braxon told her.
“Naked,” Tyr added.
“But with the armbands. I don’t want to take mine off yet.”
Both men rumbled in approval.
“That’s not all I want.” She paused before putting her deepest desire into words. “I want to be bound to you both. Not even the empress can deny a bonded mating, right?”
Braxon came skidded to a halt. “Say that again.”
“He meant please say that again,” Tyr said.
“I know it’ll piss off your sister and probably land us in more trouble than we’re already in, but I want to be bound to you both. Forever. I want the scars that go with my mating band.” Zale had confirmed that there was no risk to her if they bound her and shared their nanotech. Either the Vardarian tech would replace the medi-bots, or the two would work in tandem. It was time to find out.
“So do I,” Tyr said.
She looked over at him, then at Braxon. “I can’t give you those scars, but I know a way around that little problem.”
“How?” Braxon asked.
“You could bond with each other, as well as with me. Give yourselves th
e marks that I can’t give you. Make it so we can never be parted.”
Braxon’s green eyes were as bright as lasers as he looked at Tyr. “Mine?”
Tyran didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Then let’s make this happen. I think we’ve all waited long enough.” Braxon was already moving before she got all the words out, but it didn’t matter. They were all thinking the same thing.
Tyr couldn’t think straight at the moment, and for once, he didn’t care. There was no one around to judge him, no one to prove himself to. It was just him and the two beings that had become the center of his universe. He was so distracted by what had just happened he failed to notice that Braxon had stopped until it was too late and he ran into him. Their bodies slammed together, and instead of stepping back, he wrapped an arm around Braxon’s waist and buried his face in the crook of his neck.
“In a hurry, highness?” Braxon asked.
Reluctantly, he lifted his head. “You stopped before we got to our room. I ran into you.”
“We’re not going to your quarters. We’re going to mine.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.” It was the first time in their lives Braxon had ever taken charge. Did he know how much Tyr wanted that? No, he couldn’t. No one suspected that his greatest desire was to let go and let someone else take command. His cock hardened instantly, and he had to step back before he gave away the secret he’d lived with for so many years.
They entered Braxon’s quarters, and Tyran looked around him in surprise. He’d forgotten just how different their quarters were. The furniture was similar, but there were none of the luxurious touches he had in his quarters. It was barely half the size of his, too.
“You’re moving in with us. Today,” Phaedra announced.
“Agreed, but not now. Right now, we need to be in here.”
“How come?” she asked before Tyr could.
“You’ll see.” Braxon set Phaedra down and then turned to Tyr. “Phae, will you help Tyr out of his clothes while I check on something?”
She bounced on her toes with barely repressed eagerness. “I can do that.”
Braxon moved out of his line of sight as Phaedra moved in. She slid her hands up his bare stomach, moving slowly upward until she reached the clasp of his shirt. She undid it and pushed the fabric off his shoulders, and he let it fall to the ground. Instead of removing his pants, she walked around behind him, running her fingers over his furled wings. He opened them, exposing the sensitive skin of his back to her touch. She placed one hand between his wings and reached around with her free hand to cup his cock.
He uttered an explosive groan and rocked his hips, grinding himself against her fingers. “Don’t stop.”
“I’ve no intentions of stopping,” she promised as she undid his pants and slipped a hand inside to grip his hard length.
Braxon walked back into view. He was already naked, his cock as hard as Tyr’s. He was holding something behind his back. “Give me your hands.”
Tyr’s brain started to melt around the edges as he offered Braxon his hands while Phaedra continued her sweet torments. He’d been so certain Braxon didn’t know his darkest secret, but now he wasn’t sure anymore.
Braxon’s hands closed on Tyr’s forearms, and something heavy and cold clicked into place, encircling his wrists. “Phae, finish stripping our mate, now.”
“What’s this?” Tyr asked. There were two identical metal bands around his wrists. There were no markings on them, and they looked more like shackles than anything else.
“Get on the bed and you’ll find out.”
There was no hiding the affect Braxon’s behavior was having on him. Not when Phaedra pushed his pants down over his hips, leaving him naked and exposed in a way he’d never allowed himself to be before.
Braxon reached up to stroke his cheek. “Trust me,” He whispered, then gave him a hard but brief kiss before stepping back and pushing him toward the bed. “Go.”
He could hardly breathe as he managed to nod, then made his way to the bed with Phaedra at his side.
“Lie down. Arms at your sides. Eyes closed.” There it was again, that no-nonsense tone that made his breath catch in his throat.
He did as instructed, his heart beating like a hammer against his ribs as he settled onto the bed. A few seconds later, two pairs of hands took hold of his arms and lifted them over his head. There was a sharp click, and when he tugged at his hands, they didn’t budge.
“Magnetic cuffs. You’ll get your hands back when we decide, not you.” Braxon’s voice was coming to his left, which meant Phaedra was on his right.
“No peeking,” Phae said. “And if it gets too much, all you have to do is say stop.”
He nodded. “How long have you known?”
The bed sagged to his left, and then Braxon was whispering in his ear, his lips brushing over his skin with every word. “We’ve been friends for most of our lives. Did you think I didn’t know?”
“I thought I’d done a better job of hiding it,” Tyr confessed.
Phaedra joined them, her whispered words caressing his cheek. “There are no secrets between the three of us. Not anymore.”
Braxon’s large hand stroked down his stomach, not stopping until his fingers brushed over Tyr’s aching cock. He arched his hips, craving more of Braxon’s touch, and Braxon obliged him by fisting his dick in one hand.
“You’re not in control, right now, remember? Lie back and enjoy.” Braxon pumped his hand several times in a row, but this time, Tyr didn’t move.
“That’s better. As a reward, would you like to taste Phaedra? Make her come with your mouth?”
“Yes.”
He caught the scent of her pheromones a split second before she kissed him, and he groaned into her mouth. When she raised her head again, she helped him into a better position, while Braxon continued stroking his cock and balls. It was hard to focus on either one of them. Especially when Phaedra moved above him and then straddled his face, lowering herself until her pussy was over his mouth.
He devoured her, licking and sucking her tender flesh until she was quivering. Just as he had her at the brink of an orgasm, Braxon’s tongue swiped over the tip of his cock and Tyr released her clit to groan aloud.
He fought the restraints for a moment, wanting to be free, but Phaedra placed her hands on his arms. “If you want it to stop, all you have to do is say the word.”
He didn’t want to stop, though. Not really. Once he realized that, Tyr let everything go but the pleasure they were giving each other.
Time stretched out into one seamless flow of sensations. He was drunk with pleasure, the sharhal setting fire to his blood. Every sense was overloaded. The scent of pheromones and sex, the taste of Phaedra’s flesh, the heat of Braxon’s mouth and hands. He could hear the three of them breathing hard, gasping and moaning as they moved together.
He wanted to hear Phaedra’s cries of pleasure as she came, and he used all his skill to make it happen. This time, Braxon slowed his sensual assault on Tyr as Phaedra started to moan and grind herself across Tyr’s mouth, allowing him to stay focused on giving their mahaya what she needed to bring her to orgasm.
The moment she cried out, Braxon sucked the entire length of Tyr’s cock into his mouth, and Tyr saw stars. He was on the verge of exploding when everything stopped. Braxon withdrew, and Phaedra moved away, though he could still feel the bed dip near his head, indicating she hadn’t moved far.
He opened his eyes to find her staring down at him, her face flushed and green eyes gleaming with desire. “No peeking,” she scolded him.
“If he can’t keep his eyes closed, we’ll have to do it for him,” Braxon said. Something sailed through the air to land beside his head and before Tyr could turn to see what it was, Phae placed a hand over his eyes. A second later a swatch of soft fabric touched his face and Phaedra removed her hand. He still couldn’t see. Without thinking he tried to remove it, but his hands were still cuffed over
his head.
“Lie still, lover. I promise you’ll enjoy this next part.” Phae stroked his chest and then moved over him, straddling his hips so that his cock was pressed along the seam of her pussy.
He groaned and fought the urge to thrust his hips upward.
“Do you want to fuck our mate, Tyran? She looks so beautiful right now, perched on top of you, waiting to take your cock.”
Braxon’s crude words almost broke him, and his dick twitched and swelled so much Phaedra had to know how close he was to the edge. She leaned forward, her breasts caressing his chest as she nibbled on his lower lip before whispering. “Say yes, Tyr. Tell me you want me, and I’m all yours.”
“Yes!”
She lifted herself over him, and someone’s hand reached between them to position his cock at her opening. It was Braxon’s, he was sure of it, and that awareness broke what was left of his control. He thrust into Phaedra’s welcoming heat, and she tore the blindfold away as he claimed her body.
Phaedra had never felt so powerful as she did at this moment. Tyr’s submission had been intoxicating to watch, and so had the moment that Braxon had joined in their play. She knew exactly what Tyr was experiencing, the push and pull of being pleasured while giving pleasure to someone else. Now, though, it was her turn to be the focus of her lovers’ attention. They’d told her what they wanted already, preparing her mind and her body every day since they’d first taken her to their bed. She was ready.
She leaned forward to kiss Tyr as he thrust into her, hard the first time, then slowly and gently as he got himself under control again. Braxon moved in behind her and she caught the familiar orange-and-spice scent of uli oil. He drizzled some of it into the small of her back, massaging it into her skin in slow, tingling circles as he worked his way lower until his fingers were stroking over the puckered rosette of her ass.