by A. M. Hardin
Without warning a third orgasm slams into me, I scream around Xander’s cock, all of them groaning as I fall apart between the two of them.
Xander’s thrusts faster into my mouth, his hand gripping my hair tight enough that I can feel the slight sting of pain, but it’s completely overridden by the pleasure of the moment. I manage to brace myself on one hand, with Andrei’s movements becoming faster and harder as he punches his cock deep inside me. I reach up with that hand, using it to play with Xander’s balls.
“Holy fuck,” Xander gasps as he erupts into my mouth, his hand keeping my head firmly in place and forcing me to swallow every drop until he’s empty. A long, drawn out groan from Kade tells me he just finished too. Xander pulls out of my mouth as Andrei starts thrusting harder and deeper, to the point that I can feel a bite of pain as he goes as deep as he possibly can.
A couple of hard thrusts later, with Andrei reaching around me to play with my clit, we come hard together.
Once my release has washed through me and Andrei pulls out, I lay flat on the ground, not wanting to move a muscle.
“You alright?” Kade asks, a smile in his voice.
I close my eyes. “No. I’m dead. You guys killed me.”
They all snort.
A cool breeze brushes against my skin, causing me to shiver. “Can someone hand me my clothes? I’m cold and I have no idea where they ended up,” I admit, shamelessly. I was a bit distracted earlier.
The guys laugh and the next thing I know I’m lifted off the ground. I look up at Kade and smile sleepily.
“Let’s get you dressed, then we can go back inside and sleep,” Kade suggests with a grin. Xander and Andrei come back towards us, already dressed, with our clothes in their hands. Xander tosses Kade his while Andrei helps me get dressed into mine before picking me up in his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, my head resting against his shoulder as my eyes close.
Chapter 17
Cherish
I bury my face in the book in my hands, shaking with laughter.
“I am not whining,” Lyra complains.
“Masha, you’re whining,” Xander states matter-of-factly as he crosses his arms over his chest.
Lyra snarls at her son. “Well, you would too if your only baby didn’t invite you to his wedding.” Lyra’s lip pushes out in a pout. “You didn’t want me there, did you? Is that why I wasn’t invited?”
“Masha,” Xander growls, clearly losing his patience, “we didn’t invite anyone.”
“It was kind of spur of the moment, Lyra,” I offer, attempting to keep the peace between mother and son.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Cherish?” Lyra asks abruptly. “Maggie knew, didn’t she?”
My eyes widen, and I gape at her for a heartbeat before answering. “No, Maggie didn’t know, either. The guys didn’t exactly tell me what was going on, Lyra. They kept the whole thing a secret from me until we were all standing there.”
Xander rolls his eyes and cuts his mother off when she starts to speak. “It’s already been done, masha. Now, can you please chill out?”
“You can’t blame me for being a little upset, Xander,” Lyra insists. “You would want to be there for your children’s wedding too.” Her eyes lock on me. “Speaking of children. I want grandkids soon. I’m too old to not have any grandbabies.”
My eyes widen in shock as Kade laughs and Xander sighs tiredly.
“Uh, I’m not ready for kids yet, Lyra,” I say slowly, hoping she’ll drop it. “I’m only eighteen.”
“Only?” Lyra scoffs. “Please, there are plenty of females that have children at sixteen. Eighteen is all grown up compared to that.”
“Masha,” Xander snaps. “Drop it.”
Lyra sighs sadly. “Fine. I’ll drop it.”
The library door swings open, and Andrei storms through the doors. I send up a silent thought of thanks because maybe this means that we can get off this subject and fast.
“What’s up?” Kade asks Andrei as he and Xander straighten in their spots.
I study the strain on Andrei’s face and without thought, I put my book down and move to him, cupping his face in my hands. “Are you okay?”
Andrei holds my hands to his face and bends over to place a brief, bruising kiss on my lips. When he pulls away it’s only to rest his forehead against mine. He’s silent for so long that fear over what is causing this reaction takes over.
“Andrei? You’re scaring me,” I whisper.
“We need to get you out of here,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“What? Why?” I frown up at him. “What’s going on?”
Xander and Kade move closer as Andrei pulls my hands away from his face. “What is it?” Xander asks.
Andrei studies my face before turning to Xander and Kade. “The Ikishri.” His attention turns back to me. “A messenger came, said he would only speak to the Queen, and clammed up after that. He turned chatty enough when I informed him that I was one of Cherish’s Kings.”
“What’d the messenger have to say?” Kade asks, warily.
“The Ikishri want us to turn Cherish over in two hours’ time. Or they’ll send their men and allies to destroy Tira and everyone in it.” Andrei keeps his gaze on me as he speaks, his expression a mixture between agonized and furious. My stomach drops as I swallow hard.
“Do we have enough men to stop an attack like that?” I ask cautiously.
Andrei shakes his head sadly. “No, and with only two hours to give you up, we don’t have time to call on our allies,” Andrei explains. “Which is why you need to go into hiding for a while.”
The room booms with a stunned silence. My heart aches at the thought of having to leave them, especially after getting married the night before. Even if it would only be for a short amount of time. But there’s no guarantee it’ll be for a short time. It could be years before I could come back.
I meet Andrei’s eyes. “No.”
His eyes widen briefly before narrowing on me. “Cherish, you nee-“
“I said no,” I snap before taking a calming breath. “Hear me out before you freak, okay?”
Andrei eyes me warily and I can feel Xander and Kade’s eyes on me. “Alright. We’ll hear you out,” Xander says, his voice hard and holding no room for argument. He probably answered because Andrei’s too busy glaring at me.
“We’ll turn me over to the Ikishri,” I start, but have to stop speaking when all three of them start immediately trying to veto that idea at once. I hold my hands up. “Stop!” They stop talking and I can see the anger and fear blazing in their eyes. “Listen to me.”
I eye each of them before they give me nods of agreement. “We’ll turn me over to the Ikishri. That’ll give you guys time to get our allies and our own men to Ikishri land. We won’t let them get away with this. We all know that something’s changed. They don’t want to kill me anymore.”
“Yeah, but who knows what the hell else they could have planned for you,” Kade snaps, running his hands through his hair.
“He’s right,” Xander mutters, his gaze burning into mine. “There are worse things than death, Cherish.”
“I’m aware of that,” I assure them. “I really think that this is the only way to find out what they have planned. Nothing else we’ve tried is working. Our informants in their Kingdom haven’t been able to get close enough to their King to learn much about what his plan is. This way we can stop the Ikishri from destroying our land and our people as well as find out what the hell he thinks he can use me for that would cause him to stop the kill order on me.”
“I don’t like this,” Andrei finally grits out after several moments of strained silence.
“I know, but what other option do we really have?”
“Hide you,” he states firmly.
“And lose the entire Kingdom in the process,” I counter softly. “My life isn’t worth all of theirs, Andrei. I know you want to protect me, but if it truly comes down to it, I know you’d do the right thing. Not
what you want to do.”
“Cherish,” he says my name with so much pain that it breaks my heart, “don’t make me agree to letting you use yourself as bait.”
I smile sadly at him. “You know it’ll work.”
“As much as I absolutely fucking hate this plan, she has a point, Andrei,” Xander says honestly, his voice rough, as if the words were hard to say.
“Yeah,” Kade mutters as he places his arm around my waist, his fingers gripping my hip tight. “I don’t like it either. Not a single fucking bit, but she’s got a damn good point.” Kade presses his lips against my temple. My eyes close as I relish the contact.
Andrei’s voice has my eyes snapping open to look at him. “Fine,” he grinds out between clenched teeth. “We’ll do this your way, Baby.”
* * *
“You’re sure about this?” Andrei asks again as he opens a portal to the Ikishri castle walls.
“Andrei,” I murmur reassuringly, “I’m sure. We’ll get this shit done and over with once and for all.”
Andrei stares at me for a long moment, almost as if he’s trying to memorize my face. Kade and Xander did the same thing before they went to Meryn and Phentis to get aid from our allies.
He puffs out a breath and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his body, holding me tight. “You be careful, Baby,” he mutters into my hair. “You know nothing can happen to you.”
I give him a squeeze. “I promise. I’ll be careful.” As careful as one can be when they’re technically being held prisoner, anyway. I pull my face away from his chest to look up at him. “Try not to worry so much. I’ll get word to you soon,” I promise.
“That’s a lot easier said than done, ma hai,” he expresses before brushes his lips gently against mine. He pulls back, his eyes roaming over my face again as he brushes his thumb against my cheekbone. “I never knew something could be so damn valuable to me,” he admits. “I didn’t think I’d ever know how to love until I met you.”
Tears fill my eyes. “Andrei,” I whisper shakily. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Baby,” he assures me. “You come back to us, got it?”
“You got it,” I respond with a shaky grin.
Andrei lets go of me and clenches his fists as I step closer to the open portal. I turn back and give him a reassuring smile that is incredibly fake before taking a step into the portal and into Ikishri land.
The portal closes behind me as I step on to the grass.
“Who are you?” a voice demands from the gate. I look up and see a guard glaring at me.
I swallow back my fear and clear my throat, speaking in a clear voice. “I believe your King is looking for me.”
The guard looks me up and down. “Oh? And what makes you so special, little girl?”
I give him a rueful smile. “My name is Cherish, Queen of Tira.” The guard straightens, and his eyes sharpen as they study me. “I’m here to speak to your King.”
“You understand I’ll need proof,” he says, gaze narrowed on me.
I raise an eyebrow. “Who the hell else would come here claiming to be the Queen of Tira? Knowing that we’re at war?” I ask, incredulously. His cheeks turn pink, from anger or embarrassment, I don’t know, but it’s hard not to laugh.
“You have a point,” he mutters before raising his voice. “Open the gate!”
He steps towards me, pulling rope out from behind him. Once he’s in front of me he grabs my hands and ties them together. So tight that it’s painful.
“You can’t loosen these, just a bit?” I ask, wincing.
He smirks at me. “Sorry, Your Majesty, but no.”
Dick.
He turns around, keeping hold of the opposite end of the rope, starts dragging me past the open gate and into a clearing.
Chapter 18
Kade – Meryn Kingdom
I grind my teeth as Queen Sana drags her feet in allowing her husband to send reinforcements with us. Every fucking minute wasted listening to her bitch, piss, and moan is a minute longer that Cherish is in danger.
“Your Majesties,” I interrupt Sana and Cyran’s argument over the better company to send. “It truly doesn’t matter who you send with us, as long as we get support. Sooner, rather than later,” I inform them bluntly. “I’m sure by now that my wife has already turned herself over to the Ikishri in order to save our people from meeting a devastating fate.”
“Your wife?” Sana echoes, incredulous. “I-I had no idea that you and the Queen got married.”
I stare at her, not giving her anything. “Cherish married me, Xander, and Andrei, last night,” I inform them. “Instead of getting to enjoy our time as newlyweds, we’re forced to be separated almost immediately. I want my wife back, Sana,” I say bluntly, dropping her title. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would stop making shit so fucking difficult so that we can get her back.”
Sana gapes at me. Cyran’s laugh echoes throughout the throne room. “You’ve got it, Kade,” Cyran assures me. He turns to the guard beside him. “Give him some of our best men.” When the guard hesitates for the briefest moment, Cyran snaps, “Now!”
I bow to Cyran. “Thank you, Cyran,” I convey, gratitude seeping from my voice.
“You’re welcome. Now, go. Get your wife and Queen back.”
My lip lifts into a smirk. “I plan to.”
* * *
Xander – Phentis Kingdom
I glare at King Gael as he smirks down at me from his throne. His gaggle of females draped across his body or along the floor around him.
“I don’t have time for games Gael,” I grind out.
Gael shrugs. “I’ve heard that the Queen has time.”
I stiffen. “Where did you hear that?”
Gael laughs. “You think you’re the only one with any kind of spies? I assure you Xander, you’re not the only one with spies.”
“I’m aware of that, Gael. That doesn’t mean I enjoy having to wait to get my own wife back from the enemy,” I spit out, my fury lashing out like a physical thing as a vase from nearby falls to the ground, shattered to bits.
“Wife?” Gael drawls. “That’s interesting. I didn’t know that you and the little Queen were a thing.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so full of shit. I know you, Gael. You already knew that Cherish was with me, Kade, and Andrei when we came to visit you the last time. You told Cherish that you would help. Was that a lie?”
Gael smirks at me and waves his hand. “Nah, that wasn’t a lie, Xander. You’ll have your men. You need them now, yes?”
“That would be great,” I slowly grit out, attempting to calm down and not snap at him again.
Gael grips the ass of one of his females in his lap and extends the other hand to the window, pointing. “You’ll find your men, all waiting outside, ready and willing.”
I bow to Gael. “Thank you, Gael,” I murmur as I turn around, ignoring the breathy moans of the female Gael decided to start playing with while I was in the room. I’m glad that he didn’t do that with Cherish in the room, she’d have kicked Gael’s ass. Deadly though he is, he wouldn’t stand a chance against my girl when she’s in a mood.
The thought of Cherish kicking Gael’s ass makes me smile for the briefest moment. Until I remember that by now, she’s already in the hands of the Ikishri. Castien is almost as depraved as her brother is, so who the hell knows what she’s going through right now.
* * *
Andrei – Tira Kingdom
“My men are ready, son,” Grams informs me as she walks beside me. “They’re at the meeting spot already, waiting for your men and your allies.”
I look over at my grandmother. “Thank you. I didn’t expect you to call them back to fight since you disbanded them when Cherish beat Forrest.”
Grams glares at me. “That girl is my granddaughter-in-law,” she states, making me smile, “you’re damn fucking right I’m going to bring everything I’ve got to the table in order to help her and you when you guys ar
e in trouble.”
I grin down at her. “Thanks, Grams.”
“No problem, my boy. Let’s just go get your girl back.”
“I just hope she’s in one piece,” I murmur, lost in thought of the fear and determination I had seen in Cherish’s eyes before she went through the portal to the Ikishri.
“Your girl’s strong, Andrei,” Grams reassures me. “She’ll get through this and get back to all three of you.”
“I know she’s strong, Grams. That doesn’t mean I like that she has to deal with this shit in the first place.”
Grams smiles sadly. “You can’t protect her from everything, you know. Eventually, there will be things that she hears or sees that will scare the living hell out of her. You can’t stop it. You can help her through it, but you cannot stop it. Once you accept that, the better.”
“I’m aware, Grams,” I mutter as we reach the meeting spot where Grams’ men and the Tira soldiers are standing in wait. A portal opens a couple hundred yards away and Kade trickles out with many of the soldiers from the Meryn Kingdom. While they’re still coming out, another portal opens a couple hundred feet away from the first one, showing Kade and the soldiers from the Phentis Kingdom.
“Good, we’re almost ready,” Grams declares, a feral grin on her face.
* * *
Cherish – Ikishri Kingdom
I keep my eyes focused ahead of me while also carefully watching around me in case anyone around here decides to say ‘fuck the King’s orders’ and attacks me.
“You’re a jumpy one, aren’t you,” the guard escorting me asks.
I roll my eyes. “No, I’m not. I just don’t believe that there aren’t people that are willing to go against your King and kill me anyways.”
The guard shakes his head. “While you’re with me, you’re under my protection until I take you to the King. Then your protection will transfer to him and he will be responsible for you,” he explains.
I frown. “I don’t care for protection from you guys. I just want to know why the fuck you demanded I turn myself in or you would lay waste to my Kingdom.”
