Tirigan circled the closest male, one hand lightly resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Yes, I was a pleasure slave. Elite even among my highly trained brethren,” Tirigan purred in a voice that carried easily. “I’ll even flatter myself and say I’m the most skilled of my kind; as is only right and proper for a Blade destined to perform for a royal, a queen who is also well advanced in the training of a High Priestess of Ishtar.”
The room had gone silent, even the most inebriated of individuals were lulled into listening to Tirigan’s voice.
“You speak of performances?” Tirigan stated, his expression cold and hard, giving nothing away. “Queen Asharru and I are a matched pair. We will put on a grand performance for the gods themselves on the night of the Sacred Marriage.”
Tirigan’s words finally penetrated the nobles’ wine-soaked thoughts, for both men’s expressions shifted to surprise before turning fearful. Suddenly the man remembered Tirigan was a Blade and Asharru was his queen.
“Sacred Marriage?” the first noble said as he licked his lips nervously.
Standing, Asharru surveyed the gathering of nobles as if bored and then descended the stairs. Her Shadow Guards flowed down the stairs and into flanking positions. She halted before the drunken males and circled them.
Then looking to Tirigan, she arched a brow and asked, “Have these males insulted you, my Blade?”
Tirigan looked bored as he decided the men’s fates.
Before he could answer, a woman with a tall, willowy frame, dark brown hair and eyes done heavily with kohl rushed up to stand with the second male. “Queen Asharru, Blade Tirigan, please forgive my mate. He’s indulged a little too earnestly in his cups tonight as one sometimes does at such happy occasions.”
“Hmm.” Tirigan turned his gaze back to the male. “I believe your mate is trying to save your worthless life. Go before her effort is wasted.”
Looking to the first male again, Tirigan frowned. “You. Go with them. If I see you again, I can’t promise you’ll still have your head in the morning.”
Tirigan turned his back on the court then, starting back toward where Asharru waited on the lower stairs with her Shadows all around.
Behind him, the drunks were pulled away from the dais by relieved mates and friends. The few other rowdy members soon melted through the crowd and disappeared toward the back of the hall.
The disturbance dealt with, Tirigan held out a hand. Asharru placed hers in his and allowed him to lead her back up to her throne.
“I’m sorry that had to happen during your coronation feast,” Tirigan whispered.
“It’s not your place to apologize. I should have instilled basic decorum into the members of my court. My brother would never have allowed that to unfold in his court.”
Tirigan snorted. “Short of banning wine and other spirits from festivals, there’s nothing you can do to control the actions of fools. You can only handle them afterward.”
“Perhaps.” Asharru sat heavily on her throne and soon she was battling a yawn.
Tirigan, ever observant, was soon beside her throne. “My Queen, it has been a long day. Why don’t we retire for the night?”
She grunted in acknowledgment of his words. They were tempting. “I should stay and watch over my court until morning to be sure they behave themselves.”
“I have left explicit instructions with the Shadows to allow no more such events as we witnessed earlier. Your court won’t self-destruct simply because you go to bed before dawn. And you need the rest.” A slow grin spread across his lips. “I could do with some sleep myself. Although, when we leave together, most of the court will probably think we’re doing something much less innocent than just sleeping.”
She battled with herself, trying and failing to stop an answering smile from touching her lips. He was correct though. Her body was weary. And there was something else she needed to discuss with her Blade, and that was better done in privacy.
Asharru rose from her throne. “Very well, let us seek our beds.”
But first we need to have a long chat about my impatient gryphon and whether you are in love with me yet, my Blade.
Chapter 19
Once they were back in Asharru’s quarters, Tirigan made to retreat to his own smaller chamber and allow the servants to divest her of all her finery like he had every night since the last Blooding Ceremony. Her Blade had been avoiding being alone with her.
Or perhaps he truly was exhausted. None of them had had much in the way of sleep for the last few days.
Still, she needed an answer.
“Leave us,” Asharru ordered the servants.
They hesitated a moment before dropping into swift bows and backing away.
Once they were gone, she nodded to the guards along the walls in a silent order to move out into the outer chambers and the balcony. The Shadows were silent as they departed.
“You’ve trained them well,” Asharru commented.
“They are coming along nicely,” Tirigan agreed, drawing her gaze back to him where he stood next to the hearth, one hip cocked as he leaned against the stone of the wall. “But you didn’t just send everyone away so you could talk about my Shadows. What did you really wish to speak about in private?”
Sighing, she told him the truth. “It would seem my gryphon has run out of patience and is tired of us dancing around each other.”
“You’re entering a heat cycle?” he asked, his tone calm, giving nothing away.
“Yes.” Asharru glanced into Tirigan’s eyes, wanting to see if his gaze would reveal something when his voice hadn’t. But there was nothing to see. His expression had settled into a neutral mask.
Tirigan pushed away from the wall and reached for his sword belt, beginning to unbuckle it.
“Tirigan, that’s not why I asked for privacy. I really do just wish to talk.”
He paused and arched a brow in question, then his gaze softened. “We can talk until you are comfortable. You have my word; I’ll take things as slowly as you need.”
“That’s not… It isn’t what you think.”
“My Queen, there are many things one can discuss, reason out, and even change one’s mind about. However, a female gryphon’s will isn’t something so malleable. If she has made her choice, then you have none left. To fight your gryphon’s instincts can be dangerous for you both.”
“Under normal circumstances, you’d be correct.” Asharru turned from Tirigan’s intense gaze to pour herself a cup of herbal tea the servants had set out. While she was waiting for it to cool enough to drink, she continued her tale. “There is an herb that grows only on the island of Uruk, in a small section of the garden behind Ishtar’s great temple. It allows a female gryphon to regulate the timing of her cycles.”
One of Tirigan’s eyebrows arched. “Why haven’t I heard of this plant? If it were capable of such miracles, it would be in every herbalist’s shop.”
“Because it is scarce and only grows in Uruk. Long ago, when the gryphons first came to these islands, they brought items from the motherland. One priestess, knowing the value of the herb but also knowing its picky nature, ordered a ship to transport earth from her old gardens to New Sumer so the plant would survive.”
Tirigan’s eyebrow arched even higher. “Someone shipped dirt that far? A shipful of dirt?”
Asharru grinned at his look. “Yes. It’s a good thing, too. The plant has died in all other places they planted it.”
“So, the supply is understandably limited.” Tirigan looked thoughtful for a moment and then his eyes widened. “Of course. It’s rare enough they reserve it for the priestesses’ use.”
“Yes. And females of the royal line if there is ever a need.”
“Does this plant pose any danger to you?”
Asharru wanted to hold back that bit, but he’d know if she told him a lie. “There is a slight risk. Some react unfavorably to the herb.”
“Then put that idea out of your mind. I won’t have you en
dangering yourself over some misguided notion you are protecting me.” Tirigan stepped closer. “Your gryphon chose me. I knew she would since shortly after we met. I accept her choice and willingly serve my queen.”
He moved closer, and she recognized the determined glint in his eyes. If she wasn’t mistaken—and she knew she wasn’t—Tirigan was about to attempt seduction.
She held out a hand to forestall him. “I’m not done talking yet.”
His teeth flashed white against his dark skin and beard. “Feel free to continue talking.”
His sense of duty was admirable, but she wanted the decision to become her mate to come from his heart, not his sense of obligation.
“I love you,” she began in the most honest tone she’d ever used in her life. “It’s not just my gryphon’s choice. But I also promised I’d never force you into anything. I won’t allow you to serve me out of some notion of duty. I only want you as my mate if you love me in return.”
She watched as his cocky smile faltered and fell away. She’d surprised him, revealing the true Tirigan in one of his rare unguarded moments.
Reaching out, she stroked her knuckles along his jaw. “You once made me a promise, that you would always be honest and truthful with me. I need that truth now. Do you love me, my Blade? I need to hear the words come from you.”
His expression continued to soften into a look of tenderness. “I love you more than anything, my Queen.”
That was far too straightforward. She arched an eyebrow and speared him with a look which showed her skepticism.
Humor glinted in his eyes, warring with the tenderness. “Oh, I fought it and denied it and tried to pretend I didn’t feel anything for you. But I think I’ve loved you since shortly after we first met. I think I began falling in love with you all the way back in the slave trader’s tent when we first met, and you wouldn’t leave my friends behind and wouldn’t accept them as ‘gifts’ either.”
“I—,” she began, but Tirigan placed a finger against her lips.
“If my Queen still doesn’t believe me, I am willing to talk as long as she needs. But if she is ready, so too am I.”
He was offering himself, but also leaving it up to her to decide.
“Are you certain you wish to be my mate?” she stepped into him and gently placed a kiss on one corner of his lips.
“My co-ruler?” She pressed a kiss to the opposite corner.
“My King?” Leaning into his body, she kissed him as she’d wanted to do since waking this morning.
“Yes.” He said the one word in a husky whisper. One of Tirigan’s hands came to rest against the small of her back while the other caressed her shoulder. He leaned down to press his lips against her jaw, nipping and nuzzling his way to her ear. “I will be all those things for you.”
His magic flared along her senses. She didn’t know what he was about, but soon his power was flowing into her everywhere they touched. Then, in the moments between thoughts, he was a part of her, his mind touching hers, his emotions easy for her to feel.
He was sharing his innermost self with her. It was his gift to her; one he gave along with his heart so she would know his love for her was real.
“You are the one I’ve waited my entire life for. I know that now,” he whispered.
“As have I waited for you.” She stretched up on her toes to press her lips against his, claiming him as her gryphon urged. Finally, they could be together without guilt or fear she’d somehow stolen his will. “Our promises to each other have served us well, but I think it’s time to make some new ones.”
“New promises?” Tirigan leaned back to look her in the eyes, his wicked grin back in place. “I like that. I promise to be the best lover you’ve ever had.”
Asharru snorted and then leaned forward to nip his shoulder. “Cocky Blade.”
“Is it cockiness if I’m stating a simple fact?” He waited for her answer, and when it wasn’t forthcoming, his grin grew broader. “Well?”
“I think it’s time for you to back up those claims.” Asharru reached for his belt buckle and undid it.
Tirigan’s gaze glinted with a sultry heat, but he didn’t aid her in removing his clothing, instead focusing his attention on her, stroking his hands down her sides.
Between lengthy kisses and heated touches, they stripped each other out of their clothing. When they were at last naked, Tirigan gently urged her toward the bed.
Once there, he pressed her back onto the linens, his weight coming down on top of her. Asharru’s gryphon stirred, enjoying the feel of her mate’s substantial body pressing and rubbing against hers. Her thighs parted, allowing Tirigan to settle more firmly against her.
He hissed in pleasure and rocked against her slick heat, lost for a moment, a feral wildness entering his gaze. His hands came up to caress her breasts, his thumbs pinching and then caressing. Warm, firm lips kissed their way down her neck, stroking and sucking and nipping.
She ran her hands along his sides, then back up and over his shoulders, delighting in the expanse of supple skin over hard muscles. Her fingers skimmed along his spine, caressing his sensitive mark. Grunting, he thrust between her legs, driving their arousal higher but he didn’t enter her.
Instead, he growled and bit her shoulder, telling her in a most primal way to behave. She grinned. How unlike the very controlled Tirigan to lose himself. But she liked it, liked the feeling of his weight against the length of her body, his fierce need—that feral wildness she felt bleeding off him.
Her gryphon, purring her mental encouragements, liked this new, wilder Tirigan, too.
Then Asharru understood. She reached out and cupped his face in her hands, using her gryphon strength to force him to stop what he was doing and meet her gaze. His eyes still held a look of wildness.
“Tirigan, your gryphon nature is rousing. Mine can sense it. You may experience instincts foreign to you, but they won’t be foreign to my gryphon.”
He blinked. Once, twice, a third time and then he gave himself a little shake as intelligence returned to his eyes. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t…”
Asharru silenced him with a long, heated kiss. Eventually, she needed to breathe again and broke away. “I wasn’t suggesting you stop or apologize. I was just warning you that you might feel different until you learn to control the beast. Many Blades never take on enough of their monarch’s essence to become gryphons themselves, and even if they do, it can take years before they shapeshift for the first time.”
“Ah. That’s why I feel… out of sorts.” He started to pull away until Asharru drew him back down into another heated kiss.
When Tirigan came up for air, he met her gaze. “Tell me if I do anything you don’t want.”
Asharru grinned up at him and then in answer to his comment she stroked her way down his spine again, caressing the mark of Ishtar which elicited a soft groan from him.
“I know what you’re doing,” he hissed softly in her ear and then took the lobe in his teeth and gave her a gentle pinch. “Behave yourself. I want to savor this moment, not finish as prematurely as an adolescent gryphon mounting his mate for the first time.”
Asharru laughed. “I expect a Blade of Ishtar to have a little more staying power than that.”
He growled softly and kissed his way down to her breasts, suckling first one and then the other until it was her losing control, a series of soft moans and gasps escaping her.
Satisfied with her responses, her Blade kissed his way lower. She knew where he was heading and knew with his level of skills, he could quickly bring her to the peak and on over using only his mouth, but that wasn’t what she wanted this time.
She snatched his hair. “Back up here.”
After placing a lingering kiss on her navel, he lifted his gaze. Then he pushed himself into a sitting position. “Your gryphon isn’t ready to allow me to go that far?”
“I..” she started, not sure how to explain it to him.
His one hand came to rest on her knee.
He stroked his fingers up and down her thigh in a soothing manner. “It’s fine. We’ll go slower.”
While that was very patient of him, that wasn’t what she wanted either.
But how was he to know if she didn’t tell him?
He was just placing his hands on either side of her shoulders when she stretched up to capture his lips. Soon he was losing himself in her kisses and heated caresses again. Asharru enjoyed the power she had over him.
“I don’t want you to go slow or stop,” she purred against his lips. “But I want you in me this time when I find ecstasy.”
Asharru reached between their bodies and gripped him with strong fingers, stroking him until he closed his eyes and arched his back as he helplessly thrust. She didn’t want him thinking and controlled. Her gryphon wanted him wild, wanted him to claim her as a gryphon male would.
“Asharru, easy,” he gasped. “I might be skilled, but I’ve wanted you for months, and I am not made of stone.”
She released him from her grasp but switched to stroking her fingers along the base of his spine.
“Goddess, Asharru, that’s almost the same.” His hips jerked, his firm length rubbing against her slick heat.
Purring, she dug her nails into his buttocks and urged him on. “This time, coming together the way the gods intended, I want you inside me. Later we can experiment with other ways.”
“Who am I to argue with my Queen.” He kissed her then like he was trying to suck the soul from her body. His lips, his tongue, his touch, it was making her as wild as him. Her body clenched.
“Tirigan,” she hissed against his lips, “I just need you now. Please,” she added, trying to make it less of a command but failed.
His lips nipped his way along her jaw and back to her ear. “As you command, my Queen.”
He reared back enough to line himself up then slowly thrust in a bit at a time until he was fully seated.
Asharru arched her back and gripped at his muscular ass, forcing him deeper. “That’s it. That’s perfect,” she crooned and held him tighter to her. “Don’t move. Just stay right there. So perfect.”
The Blade's Shadow (Ishtar's Legacy Book 4) Page 10
