Ian gifted me with a crooked grin as he patiently waited his turn. I took his callused hands in mine. "Ian, I will need your help navigating this new life and will rely on your insight. I appreciate your honesty and grant patience in return." My lips met his, the only set that I had already kissed before. The fourth round of electrical sparks wound its way across my flesh. Steeling myself, I moved to the last man in line.
"Mason, I need your strength, both of character and of body. I will always respect your directions when considering my safety. I ask humbly that you protect the men in this room as you protect me, if you are able."
"Always," Mason responded without a second's hesitation. Smiling, he leaned forward to accept his kiss as well. When I pulled back, his hands were fisted at his sides like he struggled to prevent himself from drawing me back to him.
I retreated a step, assessing them all and giving myself some much-needed breathing room. A nervous laugh bubbled from my throat. "I honestly don't know how to navigate this. A simple kiss from each of you has me burning up inside. Please, have patience with me as we try to understand how this works and continue to accept this unexpected reality. I will undoubtedly make mistakes, but I vow to not put any of you above the other. You are each special and invaluable to me in your own way." The admission of my own desire increased the level of need in the room. I had never made such a pretty speech before and I wondered if my personality would change as my skills grew in each House or if I would just become a better version of myself.
I evaluated pale eyes that flamed with heat, warm chocolate irises, jade jewels shining with love, hazel eyes that never lost their playful nature, and bright blue eyes so intense my heart thumped in my chest. Eyes are believed to be the windows to the soul. I had never considered it true until I met my men. I found myself eternally captivated by their amazing gazes. Sweat beaded under my breasts as the fire of their combined attention arrowed directly to my core.
"And with that," I said, "I'm going to discover where in this monstrosity I'm expected to sleep. I look forward to seeing you all soon." Each of them would be my teachers. I imagined they were eager to teach me more than just the intricacies of their House. Navigating one man's hunger was foreign to me. How was I ever going to manage the passions of five? The thought nearly made me faint with apprehension even as my body thrilled with excitement.
"My Lady," Mason said as I turned in an attempt to run from the room. "Please take one of us with you. Your safety is vitally important and I think we would all prefer that you are accompanied through the palace with one of your matches."
My eyes skipped across faces. I hated choosing but the answer was clear. "I haven't really had any alone time with Reed so I'd like him to accompany me. Is that all right?" I swallowed hard, but none of them seemed upset with my choice.
Reed gifted me with a small smile and held his hand out. When I touched him, the longings within me elevated. I forced myself to take deep breaths and focus on making it to my room before I collapsed in a fit of nerves. Since I'd met them, I'd only wanted to be closer to each of them, but now I needed space.
"Good night, all," I murmured. Reed muttered that he would return but I barely heard him.
A steward waited outside the door. He bowed low, but I saw the glitter of curiosity in his eyes as he led us along the corridor. With only one man beside me, my chest relaxed significantly. A guard followed at a larger distance but Mason was right. I felt safer having Reed's arm beneath my hand.
"How are you coping?" His handsome face was so serious. I predicted that I would spend some time in his presence provoking his beautiful smiles.
"I don't know, honestly," I admitted with another anxious chuckle. His far hand crossed to lie over mine, his fingers drawing gentle circles on the back of my hand. The small motion soothed my nerves even though my skin awakened again at his simple touch.
"We'll take things slow," he said.
I peeked at him. Despite the overwhelming emotions, I didn't want to move slowly. My imagination had been overreacting for days and the kisses had only primed me for more. Words were forestalled as the steward introduced our quarters. Reed and I listened in impressed silence as he explained the layout. Our rooms were set in a rough circle. My suite was in the center with a separate entrance. With a stoic manner that indicated why he'd been chosen for the role of introducing us to our rooms, he explained that each of my tutor's bedchambers circled mine. I had my own bath, Clay had a bath suited for his needs, and the other two baths were shared by the brothers and then Ian and Mason. I entered my suite curiously.
The first room was a large sitting room with an impressive bookcase, writing desk, and a table which sat six. A lounging area cozied into the corner. Every piece of furniture looked new and finely made. Inexplicably, I yearned for the broken comfort of the couch in our family unit. Reed stood in the center of the room, looking nervous, his hand repeatedly smoothing his hair. The steward had left us, but guards remained in the antechamber which connected to a circular hallway around all the rooms.
"This is quite impressive," Reed said after a moment.
My curiosity too great to cater to my patience, I peeked into my bedchamber. The bed was huge, the biggest one I'd ever seen before. My attention was soon eclipsed by another sight, though. Six separate doors ringed my bedroom. One opened to a gleaming, modern bathroom. The other five doors bore a House color and crest on the outer panel.
I squeaked in surprise and jumped when I felt Reed just behind me. I looked up at him, painfully aware of how close our bodies were. His form felt solid and warm. The Scholar robes couldn't hide the impressive breadth of his shoulders, but I appreciated he wasn't as tall as Mason and Ian.
"Is everything all right?"
"Yes," I managed to stutter, "I was just surprised to see that all the chambers are connected."
He shifted from foot to foot. His eyes snagged mine, the brilliant blue boring deep within me. He pushed another hand through his disheveled hair. "We can keep the doors locked until you're ready to use them. It looks like you can lock them from inside." His fingers twitched at his side. My attention was diverted by the inches still separating us, my mind contemplating how to bridge that gap.
"Kiarra, I know I'm not the warmest person to get to know. My brain often makes my decisions, far more than my heart. Ever since I met you, though, my heart has been begging for my attention. I can't rely on my brain to lead me in the right direction here and it's going to take some time to listen to my heart. I'm so accustomed to thinking through every situation and I live in my head. I don't know..."
"Reed," I interrupted him.
His beautiful gaze lifted to mine again. I finally gave into my impulses and smoothed back his hair myself, delighting in the springy, silky curls which tickled my palm. His breath caught. "Yes, Kiarra?"
"Kiss me." I no longer cared if I sounded wanton. I didn't give a Saint's ass anymore. These men were mine and only physical contact with them would keep me sane.
His eyes widened, his breath escaping him in a ragged release that instantly hardened my nipples. When he groaned, the low sound evoked a primal response deep within me. He met me halfway, his mouth swooping down upon mine. He had full lips, lips I wanted to suck and bite. I nipped playfully at his bottom lip and his arm came around me, pulling me tightly against his body. I reveled in the feel of his firmness against my softness, the flat planes of his chest meeting my heavy breasts.
Need sang through me, one hand clutching at his nape, the other exploring the tight muscles in his bicep. A moan opened his mouth to mine and I swept my tongue inside, meeting his own for a glorious stroke. The evidence of his desire pressed against my belly, unbelievably thick. I had never seen a grown male naked except in pictures, but I loved the feel of him. Wetness flooded my panties, far more than when I was entertaining my fantasies. My hips instinctively thrust against his hardness.
With another ragged moan, he stepped back and held me at arm's length. I whimpered, feelin
g cold and bereft. His eyes had darkened to indigo, heavy lidded with desire. I wanted nothing more than to drag him into my bedroom and tear off the wretched fabric which hid his body from my hungry eyes.
"Kiarra," he gasped, his voice hoarse. I worried for a second that he might be angry but a smile tilted his lips. "You will be the death of me." He shifted his robes, attempting to hide the evidence of his desire and I couldn't ignore the womanly pride which rose within me. I had done that to him. My kiss had elicited the desire I felt saturating the air around us. But, he'd had a similar effect on me. My lips were swollen and tingling, my nipples were almost painfully tight points, and my core clenched with need and emptiness. I pressed my thighs together in an attempt to ease some of the ache.
He addressed the look on my face. "Not tonight, my love. The others are waiting for my return and you have had a hectic evening." I sensed the determination it took for him to speak those words, though I pouted in response. He took another deep breath, his hand again smoothing his hair. "Do you feel safe here?"
I nodded. I had noted there were several locks on every door in my chamber. I would turn them the moment he left me alone. Though I didn't want him to go, I understood now was not the best time. "Soon, Reed. I think I have found a way to keep you from thinking too much and I'm looking forward to the next time I can get you out of your head."
He chuckled, his smile lighting his serious face with such sincerity and beauty, I had to grab the door jamb behind me to keep from launching myself at him.
"I await that moment, Kiarra mine." He stepped closer and tucked a curl behind my ear. New tingles erupted and I seized the door with both hands. His dark eyes blazed. "So much passion and fire within you, love. I can’t think of a better way to get me out of my brain and I can't wait to explore all those lovely desires." With a lingering caress upon my cheek, he turned and whisked from the room.
My body nearly collapsed. The stress of the evening piled upon the desire coursing through my veins conspired to melt all my bones to jelly. I managed to stumble to the outer door and push it shut, locking the deadbolt. The guards appeared to be professionals, but they weren't my men and their stoic blankness frightened me a little.
I retreated to the bedroom, my eyes immediately marking where each of my men would be when they slept that night. The thought of them so close returned the fire to my body. I clenched my fists tightly in an attempt to bring myself back to reality. Reed might have been right about the poor timing, but I wouldn't let them keep pulling away from me. Fantasies chased their way through my mind as I pulled the dress from my sensitized body. The rush of cool air against my naked skin deposited some sense into my overheated brain.
Despite the pretty words we'd exchanged, so much was unknown. Would my men tolerate sharing me? Would they still be interested in me when they knew me better?
I shivered as I crawled between the luxuriously smooth sheets dressed only in my panties. The wardrobe held nightgowns and day clothes, but they weren't mine. This huge, echoing chamber wasn't mine. I couldn't escape the feeling that I didn't belong here and everyone would know me for an imposter when the truth was revealed. The lingering question which chased me into my dreams was whether I'd even be alive to fall in love with any of my matches. Being Queen was more dangerous than being a Performer or a Commoner. My enemies lay in wait and I felt hopeless to prevent them from destroying us all. My hand clutched futilely at empty air. Mason spoke of them protecting me, but it was because of me they would all face untold danger.
Epilogue
The Shadow separated himself from the darkness shrouding the night, stepping foot into the manor house with no hesitation. To his surprise, the Crown Prince of Megreria didn't have several women clinging to him as was usually the case when he made his nighttime visits. He was, however, drunk as always.
"What do you have for me, Shadow?" the Prince slurred. The heir's mind was clear, though. Only the Prince could drink a casket of wine and still manage to hold a business conversation.
"Whispers, Your Majesty," the Shadow rasped. He had no other name. He had lost it long ago when he had lost his life.
"It's finally happening, then, the prophecies my little pet has spoken?"
The Shadow hadn't heard any prophecies. What the Prince did with his pets wasn't his business. His job was to find and deliver information. He had no doubts as to his usefulness. When he ceased to bring the Prince any information worth hearing, his own value would cease and he might find himself imprisoned next to whatever horrors existed in the dungeons of Bashir.
"Another will take the throne. The King is considering disowning you. By all accounts, he is replacing you with a woman."
Price Everett Caden laughed, the sound mirthless and hollow. His head tilted back as he poured more wine down his throat. "A woman," he sneered. "How perfect. Do you have any other information for me?"
"Not at the moment, Sire." The Shadow swallowed loudly. He had expected more from this exchange. No one else in the kingdom knew of King Caden’s plans except the people involved. He considered telling the Prince of the young Queen-to-be's Soul Matches but decided to retain the knowledge. He would need more information to give the Prince if he were called forward again before he learned anything new.
"Very well." Everett waved be-ringed hands in dismissal. The Shadow slipped out of the window as soundlessly as he had entered.
A moment of silence descended upon the room. So the rumors were true, the Prince mused. His own father considered him unfit for the throne. He had assumed secrets were brewing when he'd been sent away yet again. He hadn't minded overmuch though he'd thrown out the requisite protestations. Bashir was where he held his secret weapons. He had several but the most important one was the contact he had made with Megreria’s enemy.
In addition, he had a Soul Match to find. There was a sweet little Merchant girl who would give anything to meet his ambitions, one who would aid him in his bid to claim the throne which was rightfully his. His Mishokian pet in the dungeons had told him as much. Yes, his plan was coming along nicely. The unknown woman would never see the throne and his father wouldn't live to see the year's end. He took another sip of wine. The power was his for the taking. When he had the throne and the Soul Tenders performed his bidding, no force in the world could prevent him from reaching his goals.
About the Author
Serena has been writing stories since she was in second grade. She wrote her first novel when she was twelve and has been writing nonstop since then. This is her first reverse harem novel, but she is not a stranger to the concept of multiple partners. She describes herself as polyamorous and has more than one partner herself. Sadly, none of them have magical powers.
Serena currently lives in Upstate New York in a growing ecovillage. She has birthed two children and shares the care for more children with her partners. She believes in true love, multiple Soul Matches, the beauty of starry nights, and the power of touch. She’d love to connect with you on social media!
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