by Maya Nicole
I looked at his mouth. A smile creeped up on his lips and he started to lean forward, but then a throat was cleared.
"Hate to interrupt, but you two need to see this." Kage turned and went out of the room.
We jumped up and followed him. He had been so confident in interrupting us that I was a little surprised, especially since he no longer had his rag.
Why my father felt it necessary to destroy it was something I struggled to grasp. But it appeared to be helping, or maybe that was Picard, who was always on his shoulder. Raphael had called him Kage's emotional support animal.
Once we were upstairs, we went to one of the guest rooms and Kage stopped at the cracked-open door. "I came in here to clean." He put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. "See for yourselves."
He opened the door and stood to the side for us to enter. My eyes were drawn to the bed where giant lumps were all over under the covers. I walked to it and pulled the covers back.
"Holy hell serpents." My mouth hung open at the large piles of nuts, seeds, and cones. "He's never hoarded like this before."
"Do you even have winter here?" Raphael walked to the bed and picked up a handful of nuts, letting them fall through his fingers.
"What's that?" I picked up a cone and examined it. He had so many on the bed, yet he would have had to carry them one or maybe two at a time. Unless he'd been munching on macadamia nuts again. He'd been busy.
"It's worse." Kage rubbed a hand down his face. "Look under the bed."
I didn't want to look, but did anyway.
Nuts were everywhere in neat little piles. "Where is he even finding all of these?"
"Mostly from the kitchen. The servants have been bringing them to him," Kage translated for Picard, who was ever present on his shoulder.
A sound brought our attention to the doorway. Nico stood there, almost twice the size he normally was. His eyes were wide open and his cheeks bulging. His mouth opened a little as if he was in shock and a few nuts fell out. He ran after them and held them in his paws.
"Nico." I didn't take my eyes off him as he climbed onto the bed, dropped the nuts in a pile, and then looked up at me. "It's time to come back now. No more of this."
I bit my inner cheek because all I really wanted to do was cry. I'd already thought I'd lost him once, and now I was starting to think I'd lost him again.
I laid my head back on the rolled-up towel and tried to relax in the warm water of the bath, which was now a nightly must.
Tomorrow was a big day. We were meeting with village leaders and I needed to prove that I could lead them.
Did I even want to lead them? Originally I had wanted nothing more than to enact change, but the costs of going against the status quo was higher than I had anticipated.
I wanted to be queen, but I also didn't.
"You shouldn't think so hard." I nearly jumped out of the tub at the sound of Val's voice right next to me. I put my hand over my chest in an attempt to keep it from escaping.
"I didn't hear you come in." He was a skilled hunter, through and through. I stared as he stood from where he was seated on the side of the tub and started removing his clothes. "What are you doing?"
He paused with his shirt halfway off. "Going for a walk. What does it look like I'm doing? I've been in that cell for days. I need a real bath."
"I'm relaxing." I took a sip of my wine. "Where's Amari?"
"Giving us some time alone." He dropped his pants and I stared. It was hard not to when his body was so enticing. It was almost as good as the wine. "Don't worry, I'm well fed."
He stepped into the tub and sat down across from me, grabbing a washcloth from the side. I drank more of my wine as he started moving the wet rag over his arms.
I put my glass down and moved onto my knees in front of him, taking the washcloth. "This was supposed to be a relaxing bath." I rubbed a bar of soap onto the cloth.
"No one said you had to help me bathe. Aren't there servants to help us if we need them to?" He leaned his head back onto the side of the tub and shut his eyes as I moved the cloth in circles on his chest. "We are the king and queen now."
"Unofficially. We should probably make it official." I quickly thought better of it. "It involves blood."
"Amari wouldn't have let me out if he didn't think I was ready. I'm not completely better, but right now I don't feel like ripping your throat out, so that's progress." His eyes opened and he watched my hand move down his stomach.
"The others don't trust you." I skipped his hardening dick and moved to his thighs. "I want to trust you." He was quiet but didn't take his eyes off my hand. "In your own sick, twisted way, killing was your way of getting me to trust you again. Right?"
"I didn't do it to earn back your trust, bruja. I did it because I love you and was tired of you having to look over your shoulder." The water sloshed as he lifted his hand out of it and tipped my chin up. "It may have been fueled by my vampire nature, but protecting you has always been my priority."
"What if I don't want you to be the king?" I searched his eyes as his eyebrows drew together in thought.
"If that's what you want." He put his hand over mine and stilled it. "As long as I'm with you and Amari."
"What if I wanted Nico as my king?"
Val smiled and brought my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "Would he have a crown made of nuts? That is the only way I would approve."
I laughed and then choked back a sudden sob. "He's stuck as a squirrel."
Val pulled me toward him, my knees landing on the sides of him, and he wrapped his arms around me. "He'll come out of it. There comes a time when we all need a little escape from reality." He put his head against my chest.
"Val..."
He flicked his tongue across my nipple and moved his hands up and down my back. "Yes, mi reina?"
"I have to finish cleaning you." I pulled away from him. "On your knees. Back to me."
"I like it when you're bossy." He winked and sloshed water as he moved as directed. "I would love to boss you around sometime."
I snorted. "You lost that privilege for a while." I washed his back and ass and then dropped the cloth in the water. "I'm afraid the washcloth won't do for cleaning the last little bit."
I moved closer behind him and reached around him, taking his cock in my hand. He shuddered as I began pumping my fist.
"Little bit?" His back moved with his breaths as my grip tightened.
"Mmm hmm." I kissed across his shoulder. "Definitely a little bit."
I smiled against his skin as he made a strangled noise as I swiped my thumb around his head. I reached between his legs with my other hand to massage his balls.
"I'll have to show you how wrong you are." His hips jerked forward as he neared release and I dropped my hands. "Fuck, Samara."
"Turn around." I stood and put my leg on the side of the tub. I was aching for him and wanted his face buried between my legs.
"You want me to-"
"Are you disobeying your queen?" My breath quickened as he turned and his eyes widened at me ready and waiting for him.
He moved forward, and I grabbed a handful of his hair. His eyes flared with need and he groaned. "You're killing me here."
"Good. Consider this part of your punishment." I guided his head between my legs and his tongue went straight for my clit. "Just like that." My eyes shut as his tongue flicked and circled. "More."
He alternated between licking and sucking at the sensitive flesh and my legs started trembling as my orgasm built. He thrust two fingers into me and I cried out.
This time I did hear the bathroom door open, and I turned my head as Amari stepped in and closed the door. He didn't say anything as he leaned against it.
"Almost-" I cried out again as his fang scraped across my clit as my orgasm nearly knocked me off my feet. I pressed my palms against his head as he continued to lick my sensitive flesh. "Val!"
He pulled away and licked his lips. "I hope disobeying always gets me a treat as
delicious as that."
He stood and stepped out of the tub, giving me his hand. As soon as my feet were firmly planted, he lifted me. My legs wrapped around his waist as he pressed his lips to mine.
I became extremely aware of Amari moving behind me and the sound of his zipper. The three of us hadn't been together in what felt like ages. Something felt so right about being with both of them at the same time.
Amari pressed against my back and Val sucked on my tongue and kneaded my ass cheeks in his hands. The wetness between my legs increased as Amari slipped his fingers inside me before sliding them between my cheeks.
They worked as one as Val moved his lips down to my shoulder and spread my cheeks for Amari. Words failed me and I writhed against Val, trying to get friction against my clit.
"Be patient." Amari kissed Val over my shoulder and slid into my pussy once before slowly pushing into my ass, his hands under me, acting like a seat. "You feel so good."
I dug my heels into the backs of Val's thighs and pulled him closer. "I need you inside me." Amari was fully sheathed, and the missing piece was Val.
Amari held firmly onto me as Val slid in, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. They both began moving in sync and I couldn't stop the sounds that escaped me. Val grabbed me under my knees and opened me wider.
"Oh, fuck." I moved one of my arms from around Val and wrapped it around Amari's neck, twisting my torso slightly to the side.
Their pace increased as I tried to stop myself from waking the entire castle. Val silenced me with his lips as I came hard, squeezing them both as they continued moving inside of me.
"I'm going to bite you." Val sounded nervous as he kissed my neck.
"Do it." I threaded my fingers in his hair and gave his head a little nudge.
His fangs pierced my skin and he hissed as he came inside me. Amari growled and increased his pace, following a few moments later.
We stood there as Val continued to drink from my neck, his long pulls making tingles spread all over my body.
"Val." Amari warned.
My feet hit the floor as Val stepped back and wiped a small trickle of blood from his chin and licked it off his finger. He smiled and turned on the shower.
"Care to join me in the shower?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me and Amari.
Who was I to say no to that invitation?
Chapter 8
Val
I was starting to feel normal again. As normal as a vampire could feel after going on a bloodlust-induced killing spree. I was lucky I hadn't had my heart ripped out and my head taken for it.
I didn't remember a thing from the time I bit into Sammy after the hippo fiasco until the time I woke in a cell. I was sure the memories would come back soon enough, but I really didn't want them to.
Amari wrapped his arms around me as I buttoned my dress shirt. Sammy said we didn't need to get dressed up, but we all did. Knowing her, she'd wear pants and boots to the bonding ritual.
"We should have bonded a long time ago." I selected a pair of cufflinks and Amari turned me by the shoulder and took them.
"If we would have, I don't know if this six-way bond would work. It might have thrown off the magic." He put my cufflink on. "You do realize that this means we'll be bonded to not only Sammy, but the other three? If it even works."
I watched as he slid the other cufflink into place. "I'm aware."
"And you're okay with that?" Amari put his hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him.
My fangs lengthened and a frustrated hiss escaped. "Yes." It came out harsher than I meant it to and Amari stepped back.
Vampire males weren't fond of other males being around their mates. They were over-protective and known to kill when another male got too close. Often, without a good reason. They would do anything for their mate and offspring.
I had seen my own father take a guard's head for looking at my mother's ass. I wasn't even bonded with Sammy yet and I'd killed an entire council and then some.
I honestly didn't know how I'd react to them being around Sammy and also being in a bond with all of them. Would they become like brothers to me or would I want to rip out all their throats for even looking at her?
Amari frowned. "I don't want to have to hurt you, Val."
"Have a little trust in me." Not that I had a lot of trust in myself at that moment.
I slid my jacket off the hanger and put it on. Amari's green eyes burned into me as I stepped forward to place my hands on his chest.
"I worry, Val." His brows furrowed. "This ritual might even set you off again. All of us bleeding will be a lot for you to handle, especially after just coming down from a bloodlust."
I adjusted his tie. "I'll be fine. I had more than enough blood at breakfast. If I have one more drop, I'll burst."
We exited the closet to find Raphael and Kage ready and waiting for us along with Picard and Nico. Nico was munching on a nut and I wasn't sure he even knew what was going on.
Sammy said he knew exactly what was happening, but how could he if he was hoarding nuts like it was the end of Inferna?
"You clean up nice, angel." Amari put out his hand to Raphael and the two of them shook.
A lot had changed in only a few days. Amari was getting along with everyone, Kage had finally grown a pair, and Raphael seemed more serious. Even Nico, before he turned into a squirrel, was more accepting of the entire situation.
Amari had explained in very vivid details the night they all shared to distract Sammy from her thoughts. Not to mention when he and Nico had both been inside her together, their dicks rubbing against each other.
A twinge of longing hit me in the gut and I backed into the closet and shut the door. I was always going to be the liability. If they always had to keep one eye on me, they might put themselves in danger.
"Val?" Kage walked through the door and I cringed. Seeing him go right through it made my entire body feel uncomfortable. "We're supposed to meet Sammy downstairs."
"I can't do this." I put my head in my hands.
"Is it the blood? Maybe we can stick something into your nostrils." He smiled. "There's those things that women use when they're bleeding."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe at the mental image that produced. "What if I fuck things up?" I dropped my hands to my sides. "What if I get you all killed or even worse, what if I kill you all?"
"Do you plan on that?" Kage leaned against the door and crossed his arms. "I thought you would be jumping at the chance to bond with Sammy given your history with her."
I rubbed at my jaw. "I do want to bond with her and Amari."
"But you don't want to bond with the rest of us?" He didn't sound hurt. He sounded annoyed. "You claim to love them, will kill for them, yet you won't do this because you don't like the rest of us?"
"I do like you." I stepped toward him and he pushed off the door to stand up straight. I put my hand on his shoulder, and he didn't flinch or even bat an eyelash at it. I'd missed a lot being locked in the dungeon. "I just keep disappointing everyone."
"Sammy hasn't kicked you out of the castle yet, and last night you were pretty cozy from the sound of it." His cheeks turned pink. "How do you even get her to make those sounds?"
I threw my head back and laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Two dicks, my friend. Two dicks."
"Should one of us go up there and check on her? She was supposed to be down five minutes ago. We don't have long to get this done and for her to figure her shit out before all hell breaks loose with the village people." Raphael was pacing at the foot of the stairs, occasionally wringing his hands. "I seriously doubt they'll be singing YMCA for us."
I was glad I wasn't the only one nervous, but I was a little surprised he was.
Inferna weddings weren't that much different from what I'd read about Earth weddings. Weddings in Inferna are just cause for partying. The true test of a couple's love and devotion comes during a bonding ritual.
"Sammy! Hurry your ass up!" Amari bellowed
up the stairs. I rolled my eyes because it was doubtful she could hear him.
"Why are you all shocked we have to wait for her?" Kage was standing still against the wall with Picard perched on one shoulder and Nico on the other. Wasn't he scared they would shit on him?
"She's coming." Amari straightened his jacket and we lined up in a row beside him.
I squeezed Amari's arm as she came down the stairs. She nearly took my breath away. She was in a full-length black lace dress that had a plunging neckline. Her hair fell around her in waves of purple-hued curls and sitting on the top of her head was her thin crown of red jewels.
Nico jumped from Kage's shoulder and scurried across to her. At least one of us had already picked our jaws up off the ground. She scooped him up and held him in her hands.
"Ready, boys?" She sauntered past us, eye-fucking us just as much as we were eye-fucking her.
I wanted to rip the dress off her and take her right then and there, but we didn't have time for that. Plus, there were guards spread strategically throughout the castle.
"You look beautiful." Raphael was the first to recover from the shock of seeing her all dolled up. "Let me carry Nico, just in case he decides to go to the bathroom."
I snorted back a laugh as Sammy glared at Raphael, but she handed over Nico. Nico put his paws on his hips and I laughed at seeing a squirrel move like one of us.
"When he's back to normal, he's going to kick all of your asses and I'm just going to stand by and have a glass of wine." She started walking toward the back of the castle.
"We've taken good care of him and his nuts; I think he'll be grateful." Amari grinned. My heart nearly stopped at the sight of him smiling so genuinely, the twinkle that had been missing lately returning ten-fold.
I brought up the rear as we exited into a courtyard at the back of the castle. Sammy looked around and then headed toward the empty patch of land between the castle and stables.