Seron’s mouth was a tight frown. He looked at me and then he reached out and gripped my shoulder before Aurek could steer me away.
I was surprised at the touch. It bore a hint of possessiveness that Seron had never displayed before. He always let Aurek take the lead. It made my heart pound faster, a faint sweat breaking on my skin. When I was with Oszin earlier, I could only think of Oszin. But now, I wanted them. I couldn’t seem to control these feelings.
I want all of them! What’s wrong with me? I’m not a priestess…I shouldn’t be thinking like this.
Aurek stopped when he felt the resistance as I was caught between directions.
“Be careful. Don’t split me in two,” I said, with a faint laugh, but my nerves spiked as they drew back together, with me in the middle.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Seron
Don’t get me wrong—there was no one in the world I loved more than Aurekdel. I considered him my brother, closer than blood.
But, at the same time, we were both only imperfect mortals. Since the age of three, when we returned to the palace from our exile, he was surrounded by protectors and servants who had spent three years worrying sick over whether he still lived, and were dismayed to find that he was blind. Everyone was aware that there was a fine line between loving a child and spoiling them, and I guess they managed it all right. He was a responsible kid and not a holy terror, after all. That was something.
But I was the other three year old kid. The one people still cared about, but mostly because of my proximity to Aurek and his insistence that I stay at his side. He was the one who gave a nobody kid the title of ‘Lord’. My mother was the daughter of farmers and an unmarried mage’s assistant, not even a member of the great warrior families.
It took a long time before I got much credit from anyone except Aurekdel himself. He got everything, and I got whatever he gave me out of that.
A lot of what he got, I definitely didn’t want. I didn’t want everyone marking their days by when I woke up. I didn’t want to have to give blessings or be the center of attention during parties or give speeches. I mean, it was bad enough I had to announce him everywhere we went. But being the one who was announced? Ugh. Even worse. I really don’t know how he could stand it. Sometimes I told him he was lucky he was blind so he didn’t have to look at people.
“Are faces so horrible?” he retorted, ribbing me for my shyness.
Anyway, I’d only cared once before that he received all the rewards of royalty. Once, when we were little and they showed us the royal treasure room, and Aurekdel was allowed to handle all the swords and knives and even pretend to fight with them—with a guard hovering very close. But they wouldn’t let any other kid touch them, not even me.
As soon as I was old enough, of course, Aurekdel let me handle them, and soon he gave me Grin’nger for my own.
This was the second time.
Since that first night, when I wasn’t near Himika, I was dreaming of her.
I didn’t want to let him call the shots. Not all the time. Half the time. At best.
Her back was pressed against me, my cock stiffening at the very thought of her. But I was so much taller than her that it was poking her in the back. I put a hand to her mouth, a little clumsy, and leaned down to claim her mouth. Right in front of Aurek. Without letting him have her first, without his permission. Or hers, for that matter, but then…
I felt her twist to lean deeper into the kiss and I was gratified. I hadn’t mistaken her signals. She really was attracted to me and not just going along with it.
“Oh…Seron.” She sounded surprised and pleased. Then she looked at Aurek.
“I was about to do the same thing,” he said. “Seron.” A faint note of warning.
“So I have to wait for your word,” I said. “If we disagree about the mist dragons in a more…contentious way in the future, I suppose I won’t see her anymore.”
“We always work things out,” Aurek said. “I’m not worried about that.”
“Still.” She was still pressed so close to me that I knew she could still feel how hard I was for her, and I had an increasing urge to touch her in other places. “If I were to fall in love with her…I’d better stay on your good side.”
“Why would you say something like that? You’ve always been on my ‘good side’. I barely even have a bad side.”
“You have a vengeful side.”
“Only when it is justified.”
I cleared my throat. “Damn it. I’m sorry. You don’t deserve this from me. You’ve always treated me well.”
“I want you to be honest with me. But I’m not going to hold back my own feelings either.”
“What about my feelings in all of this?” Himika asked. “I see why Seron is upset. It does feel a little wrong to allow him to share our bed but not allow him to…that is… My head knows which one of you is my husband, but how is my heart supposed to know that when you’re both so close to me? And isn’t the idea that Seron and I should have a close bond?”
“Of course.”
“Then he should feel as free as you do to say so, and act on it. We all have…our feelings.”
I could guess she was also thinking of Oszin. Gods knew what they’d been doing together, since Aurek had given the human free rein to be alone with her.
“Very well, Seron. Go right ahead,” Aurek said, almost teasingly, knowing it would make me feel on the spot.
Himika looked up at me, and her eyes were so soft and sweet, but also so bright, like everything in her light-drenched world. She really stood out among the dragon women, in her fine silken dresses from Gaermon, fastened and tied in so many different ways. Dragons were always prepared to shed their clothes and transform, but it took time to undress her. I knew I would fumble with the knots.
“You are both too tall,” she said.
“We could go to the baths,” I said.
“My handmaidens told me some things to do in bed…,” she said, blushing.
Aurek laughed. “What did they tell you?”
She clammed up, her ears bright red.
Damn, she was charming. Sometimes she would get very bold for a moment and then back down in embarrassment. Seeing her get so embarrassed made me feel far more confident.
I squeezed her shoulders. “Come on. What did they tell you?”
“They said, ah, to start, you should taste…down there. And eventually, maybe I would reciprocate.”
“Eventually maybe. Sounds like quite a compelling bargain.” Aurek reached for her mouth, running his claw across her lower lip while she stood paralyzed and, I thought, somewhat fascinated. “Is that what you want, my gem? Do you want our tongues between your legs?”
The way her breath came soft but quick out of her slightly opened mouth was in itself a sound to die for, and suddenly I swept her into my arms. I couldn’t stand it anymore. It felt like she hardly weighed a thing.
“You’re coming with us,” I said, carrying her up the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Himika
Oh my goodness…
If Aurekdel was commanding, he was also gallant. Once emboldened, there was something more brusque about Seron. He might take Aurekdel’s command, but he was also a commander himself, and I felt like he’d been waiting for permission to unleash that on me.
Who was this man now putting me down on the bed on my hands and knees and throwing up my skirts? His claws hooked on my underwear and yanked them off my ass.
Maybe I should have been afraid. But Aurek’s smoothness scared me more than this. Being shoved down and stroked between the legs without asking permission didn’t make me think of the Emperor at all.
I think I like this…why would such a thing be?
It gave me that thrill again, the one that made me realize they didn’t just see me as a sweet, chaste girl made of delicate bones and aching flesh. They wanted me. They respected my fragility, but it was treated with sheer practicality. They respected
my desire, my strength.
Even Oszin, I couldn’t imagine being like this.
“Not to put a damper on the proceedings but…by our best reckoning, she’s at her most fertile right about now,” Aurek said. “And however much I might want to, I’m not taking that kind of risk. Don’t fuck her today.”
“Is that why she already feels so ready?” Seron’s big hand moved along my nether lips.
I made some attempt to protest. “Don’t look at me like that there!”
“You seem to like it when I gaze into your eyes,” Seron said. “But you don’t want me to admire the rest of you? You’re very beautiful here, too…in a different kind of way. Pink and wet…very wet.”
“Please! If—if anything else, that’s somewhat inconsiderate to Aurek, isn’t it?”
Seron kept stroking and then I felt Aurek’s hand join his, both of them exploring me thoroughly with their fingers. Now I shoved my face into the bed clothes and moaned. Kajira, of course, came flying in all interested. Nothing seemed to intrigue that silly kitten more than my moaning.
“Not really,” Aurekdel said. “If anything else, I would like to hear a thorough description of your charms.”
“Hmm,” Seron said. “Well, I’m no poet.”
“Humor me. I’m sure Himika would like to know just how beautiful she is to your eyes.”
I was getting too embarrassed for words. “No, please don’t.”
Seron pulled his hand away and took my shoulder, turning me onto my back and putting his knee on the bed, looking at me closely. “Well…I really should begin at the beginning, then. The princess has a rather round face, and beautiful brown eyes. She looks annoyed pretty often, but you can also tell she’s a very sweet person. She’s brave, so she has that way of setting her jaw to face her fears head on. But…despite all her frustrations, she doesn’t take it out on anyone else very often. She reminds me of you in that way, Aurek. Spoiled, yes; selfish, no.”
“I don’t think you’re telling me anything I don’t know,” Aurek said.
“Her lips are full…and soft pink…and finally starting to not be chapped. Her nose is, in a word, cute. Her hair really makes her look like a queen. The hair of our women is never so fine and well-behaved like strands of black silk. When she smiles genuinely, her lower eyelids puff up a little. But when she’s not happy, she’s a match for any of our women in ferociousness. I don’t think she’s as well behaved as her hair.”
Aurek chuckled. “I think I know that too.”
“Do you imagine how I look, Aurek?” I asked.
“I try. I was so young when I lost my sight. Sometimes I think I remember what it’s like, but I’m not actually sure. Perception is already strange, when you think of it, like the old question of whether everyone sees the same color. All I know is…” He cupped my face in his hands. “In your voice, I hear someone who is impatient to live. Your tones are like music. Your clothes are so much softer than ours and every step you take is like a whisper. You’re dignified…yet saucy. All in all…a woman of breathtaking charm.”
“It must have sounded bad when I was limping, though…”
“No…”
I couldn’t imagine being in love with someone I could never see. But I also knew how loathsome it was to think anyone pitied me, so I would never say anything about it.
“You’re both very flattering. It’s not really necessary.”
“It is for my own entertainment,” Aurek said. “Go on, Seron, please,” as Seron was already attempting to untie my sash.
“Hmph. Out of the way.” Aurek pushed Seron’s hand aside and took the lead, stripping my gown off me down to the waist.
“Do you trust us yet?” Aurek asked, trailing his finger down between my breasts.
I had asked them not to touch my breasts, and they respected that. I still wasn’t fully relaxed with Aurek and Seron. I covered his hand with my own. “Not…quite yet. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Seron said. “If you don’t feel comfortable yet, that’s that. I don’t ever want you thinking of me with dread like the way you talk about that guy.”
“You’re nothing like that guy. Which is also how I’ll refer to him from now on.”
“Then, Aurekdel, I shall just have to tell you that her breasts are magnificent. Round, pert…her nipples are always stiff, at least, whenever we’re around.”
“This is torturous to hear,” Aurek said.
“I think the right one is a little bigger than the left,” Seron said.
“Gah!” I covered my breasts. “Do you have to say that?”
“I just didn’t want Aurek to feel left out of all the information.”
Aurek stood up with a wicked grin. “I need some wine for this. Seron—just when I thought you were surprising me with your command of my lady’s sex. You are far too married to honesty.”
“I’m glad she isn’t utterly perfect,” Seron said. “None of us are in this world. I like your chapped lips and annoyed squint and dirty fingernails.”
I suddenly thought of my hands. “Oh no, I meant to clean them! I went through all of dinner like this?”
Aurek handed me a glass of wine. “I think it’s time I resume control of the situation before all romance is lost in favor of cleaning one’s nails,” he said, putting an arm around me. He opened my legs with his hand and his fingers found my sweet spot and stroked me right into a state. “Tell me how she looks…now.”
“Unbearably…sexy,” Seron said. “She’s…”
“Go on.”
“She’s blushing and wet and…I want her. She’s…very beautiful.” Seron’s voice was thick and it was still hard to believe that this sort of reaction was really for me.
“You must be coherent if you want a reward,” Aurek said. “Don’t you think so, Himika?”
“What…kind of reward did you have in mind?”
“I think I would like to hear the moans you make when my tongue is fucking you, and Seron’s cock is in your mouth. Would you indulge me?”
I flushed with desire, thinking again that I was quickly getting too far from my promises to Oszin. These dragons would corrupt me and make me into one of them, and he would be shocked to see me in this position. Oh no…I wanted this. But I didn’t want that—the losing of Oszin, the betrayal of Oszin.
“What’s wrong?” Aurek sensed he had suddenly lost me, and he sounded surprised by it.
“Oszin…,” I blurted.
Aurek paused and I thought, Well, I’ve really gone and blown it now.
And then Aurek said, “Seron. Find Oszin and tell him the queen wants him here.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Himika
“Aurek, no…I didn’t mean it!” Now I was panicked. “Seron! Wait! Oszin wouldn’t want to be here anyway.” I glanced around frantically for the gown Seron had cast aside.
Seron stopped in the doorway.
“Calm down. I’ll help you get your clothes on. Seron, take out the cat while you’re at it, she’s not helping anybody. The truth is, I already invited Oszin to share our bed and he refused.”
“You did? He did? You should tell me these things!”
“He didn’t want you to know. He said you’d ask for him. But you’ve asked for him anyway, so what should I do? I know you love him, and why shouldn’t you?”
“Do you still love any other women?”
“I don’t. But I’ve always known my destiny. You were not given that knowledge.” Aurek helped me into my dress. “I think perhaps you will never truly love me if you are kept away from loving Oszin. And I have no problem at all seeing you take pleasure from another man, as long as you remember who your husband is.”
I wondered if Seron was upset. He’d initiated this night, and now Aurek had steered it off course to include Oszin. He was still standing there, listening to every word, but not saying anything himself.
And Oszin refused.
That stung a little. If he cared about protecting me no matter w
hat, shouldn’t he have jumped at Aurek’s offer to be present? It must be too much for his pride to share me with other men.
“Aurek—this—is a mistake,” I said. “It sounds like Oszin already made it clear what he wants.”
“He might change his mind if he saw you.”
“Then, I need to talk to him alone. He’s my guard.” The very thought of discussing this with him made me sweat. Other than the priestess, who had only been a legend until so recently, we had no tradition of sharing. I took the sash from his hands. None of the dragons ever tied it correctly. “You’re very bossy, Aurek.”
“The king is bossy!” He chuckled. “Borne of necessity. Really, do you think I’d get anywhere if I didn’t take charge of everyone around me? I’ve heard the new emperor and empress are struggling a little in that regard. Was your brother bossy?”
“No…not really. What do you mean, struggling?”
“We haven’t had time to go over all the reports yet, but the uprisings have been gaining strength. Any time you have a change in authority, there will be uprisings. But your brother needs to tamp that down as soon as possible. He’s new. He’s a nice young man, that’s the impression I get. But he’s going to learn the hard way that it doesn’t always work.”
“Is he in trouble?”
“I’m not sure. Probably not yet. But I can’t help him. I have enough of my own problems.” He sighed, dropping his hand on my head, smiling a little. “We can talk about this in the morning.”
“This night was for Seron,” I said, glancing at the tall warrior.
Aurek bowed. “You’re right. I did say that. I suppose I am bossy, after all.”
“At least you admit it.” I walked over to Seron. He seemed shy again, like when I first met him. I held out my hand to him. “I’m sorry. I really shouldn’t have gotten dressed again.”
His slow grin made me tremble inside. “I guess we can take care of that problem easily enough.” He paused, looking at me, and I understood. Seron couldn’t put Aurek in his place in quite the same way a queen could.
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