“Kiarra mine,” he growled and she bucked under him, her hips squirming against his. His hands pushed her shirt from her body, and he groaned in appreciation of her unbound breasts. His eyes feasted on the enticing swells of her flesh, and the firm, dark peaks that begged for his attention. Lowering his head, he allowed her lust to fill him to the brim through their connection. The intensity of her desire for him almost bowled him over. He captured one of her nipples in his mouth, and she mewled, grabbing a handful of his hair. He sucked and nipped her gently with his teeth while his hand held her hips still. The wet heat of her core scorched him through the layer of fabric still separating them.
He didn’t rush, lavishing attention on each breast equally until she was panting and crying out beneath him. Finally, she grabbed his hair in her hands and pulled his head up. Her eyes were the darkest blue he’d ever seen, a sea he could drown in. The naked desire in her gaze captured and sung to the passion within him while simultaneously filling him with a strength and power he hadn’t thought possible. That this woman could both weaken and empower him at the same time never ceased to amaze him.
“Reed,” she moaned, “you’re going to make me explode if you keep doing that.”
A smile tweaking his lips, he ducked his head again. Lifting his hips, he stripped her pants from her quickly, gritting his teeth as the scorching heat of her sex pressed against the straining fabric of his own breeches. He honored her gorgeous breasts with a few more strokes of his tongue before ducking his head to her curls. She smelled divine. He breathed her in, grinding his aching cock against the bed to ease some tension.
He had never seen anything more beautiful than her womanhood. Her cunny, a word he’d adopted from his brother, was like a flower. The dusky petals glimmered with moisture, and her erect clit called him as certainly as a bloom calls to the bees. Spreading her legs with his large palms, he breathed over her sex. She shivered, and gooseflesh prickled upon her skin. His tongue began a gentle exploration, the taste of her more divine than any nectar. His lips skated around her clit until she bucked beneath him, pushing his face more firmly into her folds. He complied with her unspoken request, his breath panting as he flicked her aching bud with his tongue and followed with a gentle suck.
Feeling her thighs clench around his head, he pushed a thick finger into her tight passage. Her wetness soaked his hand, choking a strangled moan from his throat as he imagined himself sheathed deep within her welcoming body. Not yet, though. Forcing his own libido to the side, he ignored the unbearable need to bury himself inside her. His fingers found that special spot he had read about. She cried out beneath him, and he continued until her inner muscles convulsed around him. She lifted her hips off the bed with a cry as she shattered around him.
“Oh, Reed,” she panted in disbelief as her body slowly settled. He propped himself up to watch her, his fingers still buried within her. Her cheeks flushed as pink as the sunset, her eyes glittered with satisfaction, and her coral lips were parted and wet with moisture. His cock wept, and still, he waited. She groaned and ground into his palm, rubbing her clit against him again. “I need you inside me,” she gasped.
Heeding her wishes, he stripped off his pants and settled between her legs. Holding her gaze, he eased into her slowly, enjoying each spasm of her muscles as she stretched to accommodate his girth. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she mewled beneath him as he began to move. He clenched his jaw so tightly with restrained passion he feared he might chip a tooth. She met his eyes again, each thrust of her hips pulling him deeper. Her tightness gripped him.
“Harder, Reed. Let go.”
He couldn’t speak, so he answered with his body, lifting himself off her so he could stroke deeper inside her. Her inner walls sucked him within her and wound his passion so high, he surrendered all rational thought. He wasn’t thinking now; he was merely feeling, and he had never felt anything better. He lost himself inside her as his body focused on her soft skin, the wet heat of her cunny, and the glorious bounce of her breasts.
She climbed again, her sex clenching around him, and he circled her clit with his thumb. The single touch caused her to explode again. The intensity of her orgasm, her throaty cry, and the wetness that soaked his cock provoked his own climax. He pushed deep and hard inside her one last time, releasing his seed with a loud groan of satisfaction. The world disappeared around him as her essence flooded him - the combination of her compassion, intelligence, and the delightful duality of softness and strength.
The last link of the bond clicked into place, and his heart swelled in his chest next to his soul as he entered a new plane of awareness. His life filled with purpose next to the woman he loved and the men who loved her as deeply as he did. He sensed the motivations that drove her, the passion that always simmered beneath her skin, and her love for everything and everyone. The skills of his brothers and their combined dedication towards protecting her and doing the best for their Kingdom settled upon him with unerring resolve.
He wrapped her in his arms as his new reality washed over him. He was no longer alone in his mind. Although he maintained sole possession of his thoughts, he would never be alone again. The sensation was humbling and amazing. Their hearts beat in unison, the glowing of their souls merging to create a bright light between them.
“We are one now,” he murmured against her neck.
She inhaled shakily. “Yes. It’s almost frightening.” He nodded, understanding her apprehension. She felt vulnerable because so many people thoroughly relied on her. He pulled back to look into her bright blue eyes, a mirror of his own.
“You are magic, Kiarra mine. You do not need to learn how to master it. It is you, and it forms you into the unbelievable woman you are.”
She flushed at his praise, and he felt the beginnings of her insecurity rearing its head. He shook his head, pressing a finger to her lips. “No, Kiarra, you can’t deny your very nature. Accept it. It does not mean you will never do wrong, and it does not mean you will never make mistakes. Our connection does not mean we will not irritate each other or never want time away from each other. It simply means our destinies are entwined. There is magic within our bond and magic within our souls. It connects us. It does not make us infallible, and it does not force us to do things we don’t desire.” He understood now. The wisdom filled him as certainly as he knew his name.
Her wide eyes stared into his, searching out the truth of his words. Eventually, she nodded. She still didn’t honestly believe him, but her matches would keep reminding her until she accepted it with her heart and soul. Her good intentions and compassion were what made her magical. It wasn’t her beauty, or the royal blood within her veins, or the destiny the Fates had bestowed on her. She was precisely the magic their Kingdom needed.
Chapter 16
Kiarra
Reed’s words shocked me. I had memories of a lifetime of being dismissed; by my teachers, by my father, and by those in the tiers above and below me when they labeled me Houseless. It felt uncomfortable to be so thoroughly trusted. But, I could sense how sincerely he believed the words, and I couldn’t dismiss his conviction. It was a part of him, and I could never deny any of my men out of turn.
Reed hadn’t just made amazing love to me, he had also surrendered. He was so accustomed to controlling his life through his intellect. He had revealed his inner self to me through our shared passion; he had bared his soul to me, and I had taken it within me. We were all connected now. I felt the men’s combined souls within me as a living entity, instead of just a glowing light. I would never be alone again. The thought both scared me and filled me with joy. I didn’t want to be alone, but I was still just Kiarra, a girl who had been thrust into her Fate. I couldn’t do this alone. It was them who strengthened me, not the other way around.
Steeling myself with the newfound confidence in our bond, I kissed Reed slowly. I didn’t feel like going downstairs. I wanted to speak more with my cousin, but it had been a long couple of days. My body felt we
ary despite the restorative sleep I had last night. Reed brushed his lips across my forehead.
“I’ll see if Alyson can prepare a bath for you, Kiarra.”
I smiled at him, my heart melting further. A bath was exactly what I needed. He rose reluctantly from the bed, gathering his clothes. I watched his rippling muscles as he dressed, not feeling the need to hurry from the bed like I had earlier. In fact, I wished I could stay in this bed with my men surrounding me instead of meeting reality. I might have renewed confidence in our abilities, but I didn’t want to rush towards using them.
He pulled a sheet over my body and kissed me again. “Stay here, love. I’ll return.”
I nodded and lay back against the pillows, closing my eyes in satisfaction. The three orgasms from Ian and Reed had exhausted my energy. Before I knew it, I was asleep.
“I ride for three days on a horse to see you, and you spend all day in bed.” The female voice sounded both amused and irritated. I awoke quickly, my heart beating faster until I recognized Ahnika in the low light of the shadows filtering through the curtains. My first response, after I had determined I wasn’t in any danger, was to look around the room for my matches. The girl across from me laughed at the obvious reasons for me craning my neck. “They didn’t want to leave me alone with you, but relented when I told them I’d leave the door open.” She waved a slim hand towards the cracked door. I could feel Mason and Reed in the hall outside.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “Reed was going to get me a bath, and I fell asleep.” I was sure I had slept past the water getting cold.
“I think he realized you were asleep before he went to the trouble,” Ahnika commented. “But we do have things to talk about, and I am not known for my patience.”
I sat up on the bed, wrapping the sheet around my nakedness. “Can I get dressed?”
She lifted a dark silver eyebrow. “Feel free. I’ve seen it all before, Cousin.” When she didn’t move or leave me alone, I just drew the covers tighter around me and sat up against the wall to face her. Her leather armor had disappeared, and she wore a simple pair of animal skin pants and a loose blue shirt. The shade brought out the blue in her eyes. “Reassure your men so that I can reveal all my secrets to you.”
“Mason,” I said in my mind. The Soldier leaned his head in the door. For a moment, I was filled with giddy satisfaction that our mental communication actually worked. “I’m awake and all right. I’ll speak with Ahnika unless you need anything?”
Mason’s jaw tightened. Something about the girl didn’t sit well with him, and I wondered what it was. Mason was usually kind and fair-minded towards everyone. She did come off a little strongly, but my intuition told me I could trust her.
“We are fine, Kiarra. Is there anything you need?” He cocked a brow at my apparent nudity. I shook my head.
“I’ll be fine and hopefully won’t take too long. Then, I can get that bath and some food.” Mason nodded, glanced once more at Ahnika, and shut the door as he retreated into the hall again.
After the door closed, Ahnika’s face fell and her shoulders drooped. She morphed from competent future Queen to a simple woman in three seconds. Her eyes met mine. “You’re a lucky woman, Cousin. Your mates are loyal and sweet.” Pain laced her voice.
“Aren’t mates unable to be anything but loyal?” I asked in confusion. The thought of betraying my matches felt like a dagger shoved through the center of my chest.
“Yes and no. You appear to have a solid bond with your mates, despite the short amount of time you’ve spent with them. Alyson, the woman who lives here, also has dependable mates. It is not always the case. While a match can’t hurt their mate, they can betray them in other ways. My aunt’s men cause fights amongst themselves. They have been mated for over thirty years, and two still despise each other. They incite jealous squabbles amongst themselves which creates rifts in the entire bond.”
I gaped at her. “That sounds horrible.”
She nodded. “Because their mating is riddled with problems, their reign has been difficult. Petty conflicts amidst the hill tribes in our country that were solved in my grandmother’s time are now resurfacing. The health of our nation is directly dependent on the security of the bond between the Queen and her mates. It will be the same when you take the throne in Megreria.”
I studied her, seeing how very young she was. I had only carried the burden of ruling for a week, but she suffered under many years of worrying about her role in her Kingdom. “You’re worried your own match may encounter the same problems.”
She stared at me for a second, her eyes unreadable, before nodding. “Yes. If the Fates hadn’t chosen me, I would have been happy not to rule.”
My brows drew together. “The Fates chose you? How?”
She settled into her chair more comfortably, even though it was just a straight-backed wooden chair with a thin cushion. Wan afternoon light filtered through the curtains. It wasn’t that late, but the weather was taking a turn for the worse. Clouds shielded the sun’s rays from the earth.
“It’s in the eyes. The females are chosen in our bloodline before they are old enough to know how many partners they’ll have. My aunt, the Queen, has two girls of her own, both older than me. Neither have our eyes and neither will have five partners. One has three, the other believes she has two but hasn’t found them both yet. The Fates only choose one female per generation to rule. The eyes are the indicator at a young age; the five partners are the important factor when they come of age.”
My eyes widened in response. “So, my sister could possibly produce the heir for the next generation?” I shuddered at the thought.
Ahnika nodded. “Not likely, as I’ve heard her soul is touched by darkness, and the Fates will never choose a child born to corrupt souls; but it is still possible. There is much to tell you about the bond and your magic, although you seem to be doing a masterful job of figuring things out on your own. The Fates personally stepped in and guided your progression. The time was right for the Caden line to fall. So much rests on your shoulders.”
I sighed. “So I keep realizing. I never knew our country suffered so. I never realized women in the rural areas had more than one partner. I never realized our Commoners live in hovels without proper blankets and lack sufficient food, although our Kingdom does not lack in money. Then, there is Everett with his puppet master and the relationship with your country.”
“Some of those things can wait and some cannot. Acclesh faces problems as well. Not only do we face increased conflicts and battles among the hill tribes and the border with Avon, but the people are losing faith in our bloodline because of my aunt’s rule. Also, our women are increasingly drawn to seek their Soul Matches beyond our borders. Our people are angry about the new development; they wonder why our blood is no longer enough to support the bonds. We will both face many struggles during our reigns, and we can only efficiently conquer them if we work together.”
I nodded. “I will gladly work with you, Cousin. I am certain you know more than I do about ruling.”
“And you have much to offer Acclesh. Megrerians are ahead of us in technology, research, and city design. The emphasis on education and the formation of the Houses assists with your progress. But, we have time to talk about that later. Have you formed soul bonds with all your men?”
I nodded. “Reed was the last one I needed to connect with individually.”
She raised a brow, curious. “So, you had them together at first?”
I blushed. “Yes. I was burning up with fever from Queen Mellisande’s spell and meeting them all within a day of each other. The bond insisted I have them all at once.”
“That sounds fun,” she commented with a smirk. I smiled in remembrance.
“It was, but it’s good one-on-one as well.”
“Papa said all Megrerians were prudes. It’s nice to know you’re not.” She wrinkled her nose again, and I saw Advisor Carson in her features. When her eyes were gray, they exactly matched his, and they had
the same nose, although it looked different on each of their faces. My heart dropped as I considered Carson’s Fate. How was he doing in the city? Was he still alive?
“Most of them are, and I’ve had my moments,” I admitted. “I was a virgin when I met them, mostly out of circumstance. Their desire for me and my own increased confidence in myself made me a wanton quite quickly.” I smiled to myself before bringing us back to the situation at hand. “What is Acclesh like?”
Ahnika tugged on her braid, her eyes large in her face. “It is savage in areas. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, and Accleshians take that to heart. Sex, drinking, fighting, anything goes at any time. We are a boisterous, loud-mouthed people. The hill tribes are even worse, but they stick to themselves for the most part.” My eyes widened as I considered her society in comparison to the uniform, ordered lives of most Megrerians. I couldn’t imagine it, and yet I wanted to experience it. I hoped someday I would. If we could repair the rift between our countries, our citizens would spend more time together. I looked forward to their surprise.
“So, what do I need to know about the bond?” I enjoyed speaking to Ahnika, but I really wanted that bath and food. I hadn’t eaten in a while. I could also feel my matches. They were anxious because they couldn’t see me and didn’t know this woman.
“To fight the Sorcerer, you need to understand how the bond works. When you bonded with your men, you formed a two-way energy transfer. You boosted their individual energies so they could draw on the extra energy at any time. Your power works differently. Now that you have bonded with your mates, you can pull on their energies at any time and channel it to any of your abilities. Say, for example, you are fighting. You need only draw on your warrior’s essence and channel it into your strength or speed. You can give additional energy to your matches in this way, but they usually need to be in contact with your body. The same limitation does not apply to you.”
Harmony of Their Souls Page 11
