by Helene Gadot
My hands fisted in the blankets as I writhed against his face. I shot Whist a pleading look, wanting him, his touch, his scent, his taste.
"Please, Whistler." Using his full name always got a reaction from him.
Something that hadn't changed. He lunged onto the bed beside me and latched his mouth around one of my nipples. A desperate, pathetic noise escaped from my mouth as the heat built inside of me.
Right before it exploded, they both pulled away. I grasped for Whist, trying to bring him back but he ducked away with a smirk.
I sulked, frustrated and unfulfilled, not in the mood to play.
Aster put on the full force of his charm in his smile. "I believe you are owed a little punishment from the last time I saw you. I told Whist how you behaved and what I promised you." His eyes darkened with anger as he scowled at my bandaged wrists and ankles. "Though we'll have to wait before we tie you up again."
I shuddered and almost begged him to do it anyway, but I didn't want to undo the progress Bastian had made in my healing.
"I didn't bring my toys, but I'm sure we can come up with some way to make you scream."
"I know exactly how to make her scream." Whist's lips curled into a dark smile as he removed his clothes, revealing his lean muscles and smooth skin I couldn't wait to have my mouth on. I wanted to lick each and every one of his freckles.
Aster reached out for Whist once he was bare and drew him into a heated kiss full of tongue and teeth. I rose onto my knees, keeping my hands clenched at my sides so I wouldn't reach for them. Aster wrapped his hand around Whist's length and pumped up and down while Whist removed Aster's clothes.
My core clenched with lust and need, my breaths short and tense as I fought back the wave of desire trying to overwhelm me.
At last, we were all naked, and they joined me on the bed, somehow synchronizing their movements without a word. How often had they shared a woman between them? I shoved away the jealousy shooting through me, focusing completely on my two men. They were mine now.
Whist laid on his back in the middle of the bed and hauled me up to straddle his waist, grinding me onto him. I leaned over to brush my lips against his, wanting to taste him. He growled and smacked my ass when I sucked his bottom lip into my mouth. I moaned and wiggled against him, his length sliding between my slick folds.
He slapped me again, harder this time. "Be still."
The sharp sting of pain morphed into warmth and pleasure. I circled my hips again and grinned against his lips. A different, harsher hand connected with my ass in a trio of strikes. Aster.
"Listen or I will put you over my knee again."
I moaned and glanced over my shoulder at him with a pout. His eyes darkened.
"I think she likes the idea," Whist said.
"She won't like having to watch while you fuck me instead of getting fucked herself." Aster's grin was pure wicked evil.
It made me even more desperate for them.
I whimpered and dropped my head into the crook of Whist's neck, trying to calm myself, but his scent and the feel of his heat and skin against mine made it impossible.
They were killing me.
The bed dipped, and I peeked through my hair to watch Aster crawl further up the bed and straddle Whist's legs. Whist gripped my hips and raised me up, giving Aster room to slide his hand between my legs.
The tip of Whist's cock teased my entrance before he jerked me all the way onto him, swallowing my gasp. Aster slid his finger inside me, right next to Whist's cock, before sliding it out and replacing it with the head of his dick.
I stiffened in shock. This was very new to me, in fact something I hadn't even heard of doing, much less to consider it.
Aster ran a calming and gentle hand down my back, shushing me. "Relax. We've got you."
Whist cupped the back of my neck and drew me into a hot and heavy kiss, renewing my interest and banishing my nervousness. Aster sank in deeper, his cock sliding against Whist's. Once he was all the way inside, they moved, filling me, stretching me. Whist ran his hands up my sides until he reached my chest where he paused to play with my nipples, twisting and teasing them until I cried out. I clutched Whist's shoulders to keep myself steady as they picked up the pace, pressing in and pulling out of me together.
The climax slammed into me with such sudden strength, I did scream like Aster promised.
The door crashed open right as Aster and Whist stiffened around me, joining me in bliss. Bastian froze in the doorway, staring at us in shock, taking in the sight of me impaled by two men, naked and sweaty and gasping.
Aster slapped my ass again as he slid out of me and grinned over at Bastian. "Care to join us?"
"I heard her scream. I didn't realize it was that sort of scream."
Whist helped me off of him since my limbs didn't appear to be working and I was still trying to swallow Bastian's appearance and wrap my mind around what my kindreds just did to me.
Bastian's nostrils flared as he scented the spent desire, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. He turned to go, but Aster stopped him.
"We should probably talk. Give us a minute to clean up and we'll join you in the sitting room."
Bastian nodded curtly and hurried out the door.
SIXTEEN
There was no sign of Indigo and Elora when Whist, Aster, and I joined Bastian in the sitting room. He paced before the fireplace, frustration pouring off him in waves, stopping at our entrance, his eyes shuttered, his expression blank.
Aster sprawled out on one of the couches and tugged me down beside him, half on his lap. I curled into him, glad to finally be able to give in to the urge to touch him without fighting myself. He looked down at me with a soft smile and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then squeezed me so tight it made me squeak.
Whist perched on the arm of the couch and glared at Bastian. "You're Rhapsody's fifth kindred?"
Bastian paused his pacing and met Whist's glare with one of his own. "It seems so."
"And you aren't interested in completing the bond?"
"No."
"Are you sure?" Whist asked. "We have no objections and feel confident enough to speak for the other two that they'll feel the same."
Bastian's eyes widened a bit before he covered his reaction. "I was not concerned over your feelings or objections."
Aster adjusted me until I was plastered against him. "You know, it would be a smart political move if you did join us. For both countries."
Bastian raised a brow. "If we decide to help you. Which we haven't yet."
"May I ask why you are uninterested in the bond?" Aster asked. He sounded almost offended on my behalf.
It was sweet, but it wasn't helping, it just made everything more difficult.
"It's none of your business. If you need to know that badly, Rhapsody can fill you in. I explained it all to her."
"I saw the way you watched her. You want her. You're fighting it." Whist snorted. "You two make an excellent match. She always fights it too."
I scowled at him, but kept my mouth shut. Mainly because he was right.
Bastian shook his head and tightened his jaw. "It doesn't matter. It's just the bond trying to force us together. It'll pass once the lot of you are back in Faligrey."
I rubbed my chest, the dull ache pulsing at his words denying our bond. Now that I had the support of Aster and Whist, I found myself more tempted by Bastian. He noticed my movement, and an apology shone from his eyes.
I elbowed Aster since Whist was too far away. "Leave him alone. He has his reasons. You're not going to bully him into accepting it."
"Is that what they did to you?" Bastian asked, a growl in his voice.
Whist stiffened and jerked to his feet with a snarl, but Aster's laughter kept him from moving farther.
"Have you not spent any time with this woman at all? She can't be bullied or cajoled into anything. And we aren't complete dicks. We would never try to force the bond on anyone."
Bastian's scowl didn't lessen.
"Your king's laws make it that way."
"Laws we're trying to change. But we can't do that until my father is out of power."
A thoughtful expression took over the anger. "Why haven't you simply killed him? You have assassins on your side, I'm sure you could make it look like an accident."
"We don't want to steal the throne through bloodshed and rebellion. It could spark a civil war. He still has many followers who would gather in his name if anyone ever suspected." Aster grunted as Whist sat back down and took me from him.
I rolled my eyes and wriggled until I was between both of them, uninterested in being the rope in their game of tug of war.
Bastian's brow furrowed. "And how do you plan to convince him to step down?"
Aster gave a lazy shrug, every inch the careless prince. "My sister plans to explain it all when we meet with your assembly again. But basically, if we can gather allies in other countries along with our own council, we can prove to him his reign is over. And with his actions towards Rhapsody, we have proof of him breaking his own laws."
Bastian sighed and sat in a chair across from the couch. "Trying to have his son, the prince's kindred killed is certainly against his laws."
Aster straightened, his charming facade dropping away. "There are precedents, we just need enough backing to keep him from declaring war."
"You need so much backing, you're looking from it in other countries?"
"Partly. We aren't sure who to trust in Faligrey past a select few. And Indigo is looking farther into the future than dealing with our father. She wants to build trade and peace between the countries surrounding Faligrey instead of the silence and closed borders."
Bastian leaned back. "Interesting. She'll have her work cut out for her convincing the Assembly to open our borders."
"What are your thoughts?" I asked, curious and wanting him to keep talking so Whist and Aster could get to know him a bit.
"I'm not against it, but I'm not completely for it either. It depends what she offers. And don't look to me to sway them. I get a vote, but they will probably believe Rhapsody is effecting my choices if I vote for it."
"And is she?" Aster asked. "Effecting your choices?"
Bastian scowled. "No. I wouldn't let something like that change my mind. I'm a historian. Opening our borders and taking part in overthrowing a king of a bordering country would make history. I'd be willing to try it just out of curiosity. But my people come first. We will only agree if it's best for them. If I were you, I'd discuss this with your sister before the meeting later and make sure you have enough incentive."
Bastian nodded at me and then strode from the room, closing the door behind with with a firm click. Whist cursed and ran his hand through his red curls.
"We expected this. Indigo knows what she's doing. And after seeing what little we've seen of their home, I'm more confident." Aster turned to me. "Tell me about their food."
"It's good, especially their meat and bread, but their fruits and vegetables aren't fresh or plentiful. I don't think things grow well in this climate and type of soil. I've seen signs of fresh herbs and lemons, but that's it. Everything else was tinned."
"Good. This is good. Tell me everything you've noticed about them since you've been here."
All I wanted was to curl up with the two of them in bed, but I knew how important this alliance was and I wanted to do whatever I could to help bring it to life. So instead of dragging them back into the bedroom to fuck for another hour or so, I spent it giving them every little detail I could think of, including the things I'd read in the books I borrowed from Bastian's study. Indigo and Elora came in halfway through the discussion and added their own questions and thoughts.
At the end, we had a decent plan in place for how to win the dragons over to our side.
"I don't think I should be there at the meeting," I said.
"Why?" Indigo asked. "You're the prince's kindred. You'll be involved in these sort of meetings for the rest of your life."
"And that's fine, but since I'm also Bastian's kindred, it splits focus."
"You said they are hoping you and Bastian complete the bond, right?" Indigo's mind whirled behind her eyes as she thought it through.
I nodded. "Yeah. Before they found out I'm connected to the prince of another country. It was one thing when my kindreds were unnamed regular people who could easily move here. It's quite another to find out they're a prince and three assassins. I highly doubt they'll want us to relocate and make our homes here even if we were willing."
Indigo stilled. "Would you be?"
My forehead wrinkled in confusion and surprise. "What?"
"Would you be against living here?" Indigo asked.
"I don't understand." I glanced over at Whist and Aster, but their blank faces were no help.
"If you and Bastian are able to overcome your fears and complete the bond, would you be willing to live here with him and your other kindreds? Aster, Whist, would you be willing?"
"What are you thinking?" Aster asked.
Indigo crossed her legs. "If we want to truly ally with the dragons, what better way than to prove it by combining our families? But I will not suggest it without your agreement. Think about it and let me know. I won't bring it up today."
"How long do you expect the talks to last?" Elora asked.
"They won't agree right away. They'll want to hold off and see how much I'll offer and how much I'll ask for. But we can't stay for more than three days or our father will grow suspicious." She turned to Whist. "Whist, will you stay with Rhapsody while we go to the Assembly?"
"Of course. Elora is more than capable of keeping you safe if the situation calls for it."
Indigo grinned over at her kindred. "That she is."
Bastian swept into the room. "It's time."
SEVENTEEN
They left Whist and I alone and I buried myself in his arms. He held me tight, positioning us on the couch until I huddled in his lap.
"How long before Sky and Saber get here?" I needed them, missing them so much I ached.
He ran his hands through my hair, taking away some of the sting. "Depends on how far out they were. I'm hoping they'll be here by morning at the latest."
"I miss them."
"They miss you too. They've been going crazy since you disappeared. We all have." He dropped a kiss on the top of my head. "Ready to talk about Aster?"
"What about him?" I raised my head to frown at him.
"He was worried he ran you off."
My heart skipped a beat. "What? Why?"
He settled me back against him. "Because you were gone right after you slept together and you hadn't talked yet. He thought you regretted it and took off."
"Even if I had regretted it, I wouldn't have just left. Especially without the rest of you." I traced circles on his chest, unable to stop touching him.
"I knew that. And so did Sky and Saber. But Aster didn't know where he stood with you, so he had a hard time believing it."
My heart broke a little and tears stung my eyes. "I wanted to tell him. I was going to tell him as soon as he returned."
"I know, gorgeous. He knows now. I just want you to be prepared for him to be a little crazy when it comes to you for a bit."
A soft smile curled my lips. "I can handle him."
"I think you're the only one who can."
"You handle him just fine too."
I grinned, thinking of the two of them together the night before.Whist snorted. "What are your thoughts on moving here?"
I gnawed on my lip. "Ever since I got here, I've imagined what it would be like living here, but there's too much to still do and change in Faligrey."
He twisted my hair around his finger. "True. But it wouldn't be until things are sorted there. What else will there be to do if we succeed in getting the king off the throne and replacing him with Indigo? The changes you've fought for fo long will happen. Your mission will be over."
A fantasy flashed through my mind—living here
inside a beautiful mountain with five kindreds, teaching music, finally having the time to get to know my guys on a deeper level.
I shook it off. "We're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Bastian doesn't want the bond. We haven't stolen the throne from the king. Hell, we haven't even formally cemented our bonds yet."
"It's okay to think about your future."
"Would you want to move here?"
"I don't care where we live. As long as I'm with you, Sky, Saber, and Aster, I'm happy."
I huffed. "That's not a real answer."
"It's true. I'd want my mother to come along wherever we decide to live. But I'm happy if we all run away to one of our safe-houses or here in a mountain or back in Faligrey in the castle."
"I'm not against the idea. Honestly, I'd prefer it to living in the palace. But I think Aster should be the one to choose. It'll eafect him the most. I mean, he's a prince in Faligrey. Here, he'd be what?"
"The prince of Faligrey. Possibly a nambassador. The kindred to an Assembly member. Who knows? He'll choose to do whatever is best for our country."
"Then that's what we should do." That's what it's always been about for me. Making our country better, freer. For the people like my parents.
"Now tell me about Bastian. What's he like?"
"He's...I don't know really. An asshole? He buries himself in books and work to forget the losses of his wife and child. I think he's scared to open his heart again after living through that kind of pain. He's stern but can be kind. Music fascinates him."
"Would you be happy with him as your kindred?"
A sigh blew past my lips. "I don't know him well enough yet to tell. I certainly won't try to force or seduce or push him into it."
"I know, gorgeous. We'll see where the next few days take us."
"He's been avoiding me."
"Probably because he wants you, but is trying hard not to."
"Something I can relate to."
