Impure

by Kenna Bardot

  And the sad thing was that I would have given in by now if they had allowed things to progress naturally. Or so I thought.

  Maybe.

  Or maybe I would have stayed stubborn and continued to refuse to admit what they made me want. There was that part of me that reveled in having my choice taken away from me. That loved the ease with which we fell together naturally when they only stripped away my stubbornness.

  But perhaps it was time to show them I appreciated them and their efforts even when I pretty much still felt pain over the betrayal.

  "I forgive you," I whispered into the room, and Ryle was the first to move. He swept me up in his arms, lifting my feet from the ground to crush me to him in an aching hug.

  "You're crushing me," I protested with a laugh. I felt Tate's warmth when he stepped up behind me, sandwiching me between them in a way that was so like what they'd done that night.

  The memory of the two of them moving inside me was enough to make me shudder. Almost enough to make me take everything back when the memories of the pain trembled through.

  I didn't think there could ever be anything as intense as that. As potent as when Ryle slid inside me and filled me up while Tate was sheathed inside me.

  My feet slid to the floor as Ryle stared down at me with a grin. "Can I kiss you?" he asked, and I bit my lip to stifle my chuckle. The concept of those two asking permission seemed impossible, seemed so far-fetched that if I hadn't seen how genuine he was, I never would have believed it. I nodded, and he dipped his head to take my mouth with his slowly.

  There was no rush, no urgency. Like he knew that I wasn't going anywhere, compared to the other times when they had touched me like I was a ghost that would float away any moment, it was jarring.

  They knew I could float away, because they'd known that what they were doing was wrong. That it might cost them me, but they'd done it anyway out of their own selfishness. When I gave myself freely, they knew I was theirs.

  In a way, I hadn't been before. In the same way I belonged to Hollis and Shep.

  When his tongue traced the seam of my lips, I drew in a shuddering breath and opened for him. Those strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me tighter into his huge frame as he took what I offered. Only what I offered and nothing more.

  It was perfect. It was maddening.

  It was everything I should have wanted, and yet it aggravated me the same way it did when Hollis or Shep did it. Like they were so controlled, confined by the rules I'd put on our relationship. I missed the men who took control, even while I loved that they offered me the ability to control my life and my body.

  So when I arched my back and stood on tippy toes to shove my mouth tighter to Ryle's, that shameful part of me demanded he give me more. Demanded he take control. I knew if I so much as said the words he would stop, that they would listen when I drew the line in the sand and laid down the law. Maybe it was cruel of me, but I felt like I needed to keep testing it. Needed to test their resolve and see if they could pass the ultimate test, but it had never been a conscious decision. At that moment, all I knew was I wanted more. More contact. More tongue.

  More everything.

  My teeth nipped at Ryle's bottom lip, pulling away slowly and seeing those eyes burn down at me. He buried a hand in my hair, turning me to face his brother who didn't waste time the same way he had. Now that he knew what I wanted, he drove his tongue into my mouth, grasping my cheeks to help hold me where he wanted.

  The roughness of their possession, the way they both controlled my face was exactly what I needed. Everything I wanted at that moment. I moaned into Tate's mouth, wincing slightly when Ryle shoved my dress down to reveal my bra. Still so wrapped up in Tate, I couldn't even look when his mouth wrapped around my nipple and sucked through the fabric of my bra.

  He took the other one out, pinching at the pebbled flesh briefly before his mouth switched over and the heat of him enveloped the bare skin as he licked it and then sucked it into his mouth. I moaned again, trying to turn my head to watch, but Tate refused to release me. Our eyes met, and I saw him staring down at Ryle where he worked me with his tongue, releasing my other breast to give it the same attention.

  "Please," I panted into Tate's mouth. Ryle's fingers found the hem of my dress, shoving it up my thighs and spreading my legs slightly. Grasping my panties, he dragged them down my legs until they caught on my shoes.

  Tate pulled back finally, keeping his eyes on mine and refusing to let me turn to look at his brother as he knelt at my feet. "Ryle hasn't gotten to taste you yet, Mireyah. He's dying to see what I can't stop thinking about, talking about," he whispered.

  I whimpered, feeling Ryle's fingers coast along the inside of my upper thighs. He didn't touch me, waited and I could feel his eyes burning a hole into my core while he waited.

  While he wanted.

  "Can we have you?" Ryle asked, and I wanted to say yes. But something stopped me.

  Hollis and Shep weren't there. Char wasn't there. They'd been so good, so decent. I couldn't take the plunge and give in to any of them, not unless they were all present the first time.

  I shook my head, hoping against all probability that they might understand. Might forgive me for my indecisiveness.

  He closed his eyes for a moment but when he opened them, there was no anger in those golden depths. No annoyance.

  "Okay," Ryle whispered, pressing a single kiss to the inside of my thigh. Then he stood, tugging my underwear up and righting my clothes. They pressed me between them, content to just hold me as they moved me to the couch, and we settled in to cuddle.

  "I'm sorry," I whispered, because I felt guilty even as I knew I could never have gone through with it. That if they’d forced it on me, I’d have walked into the next challenge prepared to die.

  "Don't be. We should all be together the first time, anyway. We just got carried away. There will be plenty of time for us to have you to ourselves." Tate smiled, and I reached up to thread my fingers through his glinting silver hair.

  I grinned back, content in the knowledge that they understood. That our bond and the way I imagined it wasn't entirely in my head.

  It was reassuring to know I wasn't crazy. That whatever was between them all wasn't in my head. That maybe I had a chance of being the sixth to the five like I really wanted to be.

  At least for a little while.

  Chapter 24

  Mireyah

  I sat on the big sofa as though I belonged there. The guys surrounded me, lounging about with me like I fit with them. In that moment, no one thought to pressure me about what I could only assume were their needs that were likely going untended. Since I slept in Hollis' bed in his room where some of the guys joined us most nights, I began to believe it could be possible.

  They made me feel like I belonged, the sixth of the five, but there was never a price that they expected me to pay to be a part of that.

  Hell, that they were perfectly content for me to keep my clothes on spoke volumes, but it became harder and harder for me to keep things in the status quo. I knew eventually things would change and I would start them.

  I looked forward to it.

  I laid my head on Tate's shoulder, releasing a soft sigh when he wrapped his arms around mine. His touch didn’t frighten me.

  Somehow, he just brought me a sense of calm, but I know it had nothing to do with the fact that he could manipulate and manufacture my emotions. It was the product of my growing comfort in their company.

  "Tired, Snow?" Shep asked me even as my feet rested on his lap. I didn't know how it had happened, but he massaged them delicately.

  A Descendant massaging a human's feet.

  Someone somewhere was rolling in their grave.

  If anyone saw us, there would be no doubt that I’d be reprimanded. Although the four of them encouraged my comfort, to actually partake this way was a sign of me forgetting my place. But as I groaned from the way his hands pressed and kneaded, I couldn't care less.

  "F
uck, yes. Better than sex, that is." I heaved out a sigh, in heaven from his ministrations.

  "That's because you haven't had proper sex with us, Mireyah." I pried my eyes open to stare at Hollis from where he lounged on the other side of the room.

  He laughed and held up his hands when I just gave him a bland stare.

  "No pressure. Just thought I should state facts."

  I shook my head at him and stuck out a tongue. "Factual, sure. We might have to conduct a few experiments though. I don't think it's a good idea to simply trust what could be largely considered hearsay.

  "You get to name the time and place, Mireyah. But trust us, we are very willing participants and guinea pigs." I laughed as Hollis walked over and crouched down, so we were face to face. I leaned over to give him a kiss, lingering over it with a smile.

  The door opened and we all looked over to see who it could be.

  But, given where we were, we all had a good idea who it could be.

  He walked in, with that stark white hair and those pale, pale eyes that missed nothing. He took in the scene we made, and I admitted to myself that we probably looked cozy. I was certain that I was pretty well relaxed and pleased but to an outside viewer; we were surely quite an extraordinary scene to believe.

  Outside viewer.

  Since when had Char become an outsider?

  But as he just looked at us, taken aback and confused he quirked his lips up one side. "Don't let me bother you." His gaze drifted over me as they landed on me. I met them without shame, because I knew there was nothing I should be ashamed of.

  I felt Tate tense from his position beside me. Ryle got to his feet and Shep and Hollis just levelled their gaze at him.

  But no one spoke. Not a word.

  He raised an eyebrow at him, and I felt the weight of it - the judgment, the question.

  All unspoken and because they were, they would go unanswered.

  "Char!" I heard the shrieking voice of someone who could be none other than Annalee.

  Char lost his footing when Annalee launched herself into him like a battering ram, quickly wrapping her hands around his neck. I could see her breathing into his neck and the look of absolutely displeasure and disgust cross the white-haired man's features.

  I couldn't help it, I had to laugh.

  "What the fuck you laughing at, you whore? Four dicks not enough for you? You want my man’s too?"

  Shep surged to his feet but not to attack but more to grab Ryle's arm as he lunged at the giggling girl.

  "Need someone else to fight your battles, eh, Mireyah?" She flipped her hair, and I saw Charolais bend back a little to avoid getting hit on the face with it.

  "I won't even dignify that with a response, Lawrence." I feigned a yawn and rubbed a hand over Tate's thigh to get him to loosen back up.

  "Are you joining us, Charolais?" My voice was mocking - a challenge and a dare.

  Another eyebrow raised in my direction but complete silence even as his white eyes flashed. Annalee opened her mouth to speak, but Char held up a finger and she stopped whatever she was about to say.

  "Fuck off, Charolais and take your attendant. As it seems obvious that you can't be bothered to control her, get her out of here." This from Ryle, who still strained against Shep's hold.

  "You heard the Karfi." A purple fog built around Shep, and I heard a whistling gust of wind blowing.

  Annalee’s eyes shut and her hair blew back. Charolais, however, remained unmoved. He gave the wind a distasteful look. A moment passed then without another word or reaction, Charolais pushed Annalee out and closed the door and was gone.

  "What happened to Char?" Hollis protested.

  And my heart broke for them because I knew they missed him.

  Hell, I missed him too.

  The fucker.

  Chapter 25

  Mireyah

  How had I not noticed how Jason's hair was already thinning at the top? Pretty soon, all he’d be left with would be a ring around his head.

  That and the fact that dried spit gathered in the corner of his mouth was fascinating and disgusting to me.

  But the simple fact was I never spent much time in that room or any room with the man who was technically my boss.

  The only time was after I'd openly rejected Hollis taking me as his attendant and then in every other challenge after that.

  But, since I was not his favorite and there was no need for me to go to his office at random moments, I never spent much time in his presence.

  But Gods, the Academy had aged him. I could only imagine how frustrating it must have been handling a bunch of young adults with very healthy superiority complexes. Not to mention that these humans were in servitude to an even worse bunch of Descendants. I couldn't imagine it was a very fun job.

  Not even for all the money and privilege, I could only dream he had access to.

  "Miss Bolstad, are you listening?"

  I startled and realized that I'd gotten so caught up with the corner of his mouth that I'd not realized that he was saying something.

  "Sorry, Mr. Mann," I apologized sheepishly and tried to look apologetic. I didn't know why we were there.

  For all intents and purposes, I'd thought we would get the reward they had promised us we'd receive for our success and qualifying for the finals, but that didn’t seem to be the case. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.

  He huffed at me, straightening his tie as he did so. "Right, as I was saying, congratulations to the four of you for making it this far. I know you have worked hard and waited long for this." He paused, gaze sliding coyly towards me. "Well, at least most of you."

  Dennis, the other human who had survived besides Ryder and Annalee, snorted even as the other two laughed.

  My right hand bunched to form a fist, but I carefully counted to ten in my head to stop the onslaught of violent thoughts.

  Rehan Sutre walked in and nodded when he saw us. “Thank you, Jason. Are they ready?”

  Jason nodded and bowed to him before stepping back. "I know we promised you a reward for making it this far but before that is set to happen, the judges have asked that you divert them just one more time."

  Behind him, Jason smiled and there was such a quality of evil and malice in it, nervousness finally settled over me.

  The Sutre walked over and opened a tiny slate blue door I hadn't initially noticed was there when we’d first entered the room. "One by one, you will enter."

  He gestured to his left towards a green door. "One way or the other, you will exit through that door. What is to happen inside will be a check to see whether you have what it takes to move forward with the final Challenge."

  No one spoke, but I felt the tension in the room as as I could feel the heat creeping up my skin in anticipation.

  In nerves.

  And, hell, in fear.

  Not another fucking challenge.

  And not only did we not have any preparation, but we'd also been taken completely off-guard.

  "For this, there is no need for any equipment. All you have is your wits and your courage. It should be more than enough." He nodded when we just stared at him - horror, anticipation and in some faces, excitement.

  "Miss Bolstad, cumulatively you've done the best in our competition. Will your standing last?" He pointed to the open door that opened to darkness. "You may enter first if you wish or you may enter last. What is your choice?"

  I stood up and cursed inwardly when my knees buckled. I shook it off and squared my shoulders, walking towards the door with my chin held high. "You may take as long as you need. No one will enter until you have exited."

  I stopped just one step from entering and turned to face Jason who watched everything with an evil amusement. "May the Gods see you get what you deserve, Miss Bolstad."

  My lips set into a straight line, and I stepped forward. The moment my other foot stepped over the threshold, the door slammed shut behind me, and I heard the locks snick ominously, echoing in the deafen
ing silence that met me in that space.

  A dark hallway loomed before me. At the end, I could barely make out the slight outline of a door. I took one last long look around me and seeing that Jason and Rehan Sutre hadn't been lying - there was nothing there for us to use, I walked towards the dim light.

  The heels of my boots clicked against the hard ground, my breath bouncing off the walls.

  I strode as quickly as I could towards the glow but stopped in front of the faint blue light that filtered and flickered from inside the room.

  I reached up and grabbed the handle, surprised when it was slightly warm. Even with how creepy my surroundings were, I wasn't that keen to leave it and venture into what I could not see.

  I sighed and told myself I was being a coward. If they wanted me dead, I would be dead.

  I pressed down on the handle, thankful that it was easy to open and as I pushed open the door, it slid open soundlessly.

  The room was simple. A blue light pulsed in the ceiling, casting a diffused glow over the room. I walked around. It was small, smaller than my own private quarters and sparse. But for the tiny table in the very middle, there was a piece of parchment that floated right before it that gave off an eerie blue glow.

  I walked towards it and stared down at the writing - it was elegant and pointy, slanted just a little to the right. I read the text aloud, surprised because it seemed to have been made especially for me. "Miss Bolstad, welcome to the room of choice. There are no doors and there will be none until you make a choice."

  I turned around and noticed that the door through which I had entered had completely disappeared.

  How had I not noticed that?

  Well, seeing as I was stuck, there was really nothing better for me to do but keep reading.

  'In the table in the middle of the room is a pewter goblet that contains a deep blue liquid. Drinking it is like being blessed by the Gods. Should you decide that it is not something you want, you can pour it into the copper bowl. This is your choice."