“I'm the fucking horned god,” he growled out, his words colored with truth. “You're the maiden aspect of the goddess.”
“So if I am?” I asked, because I knew that to be true. The Veil Keeper always held the title of maiden, the youthful and energetic manifestation of the goddess, the feminine aspect in nature. Out there somewhere in the world, the mother and the crone would be watching me.
“We're meant to be mates,” he snarled, and that, too, rang truthful.
“I'm not interested in fated bonds or destiny. What I'm interested in is freedom of choice and dedication. Don't feel obligated to me, Arlo. I don't want that burden.”
With a violent snarl, Arlo dropped to one knee and dipped his head. Every impulse in me cried out for my fingers to reach forward and curl around one of his horns. But I didn't. I stood stone-still and stared at his dark hair, the leather vest draped over his back with the words The Wild Hunt.
“I pledge my life to you, Veil Keeper,” he growled, more beast than human.
“I need more than a life, Arlo,” I said, and I wasn't trying to be greedy. It was just pure and simple truth. I needed knights with passion and not just obligation.
“Take everything I have then,” he snarled, “but it's not much. I don't have a lot to give.”
It broke my heart to hear those things—especially because the truth in them was more vibrant than anything he'd said to me thus far.
“But if you want it, it's yours.”
Arlo was panting now, his eyes downcast. I could see the shadows of demons tracing across his skin, dancing behind his eyes. I knew what they looked like because I had so many. I'd been beaten, torn apart, put back together, and then ripped to shreds all over again. I couldn't remember the faces of my enemies, only that they had eyes that gleamed like fresh blood under cold moonlight, and disembodied smiles.
“I want it,” I blurted, before I could stop myself. My breath hitched and I spread my wings wide. The moon caught on the edges and cast shadows over my knights. My lords.
My wings were different, like no other creature on earth, with three distinct segments on either side, their colors as vibrant as fresh paint, their shimmer as bright as stars.
Three knights, offering themselves to me at once.
This would be a … messy fucking ritual, wouldn't it?
Sex was to everything to the fae. Currency, threat, promise, love, hate … and the ties that bound.
Glancing up, I saw Rafe watching me through the window, his red eyes flashing with something primal as he stared out at us. I looked back at him, my gaze full of defiance. Another staring match would’ve ensued if Amelie hadn’t covered his eyes with her hand this time. She really was the perfect righthand woman. I wondered if she and Rafe were an item?
“Arlo,” I said softly, turning my attention back to my third Lord, “complete the oath. I need to know you're sure.”
Also, the magic needed to know he was sure. It simply wouldn't work if he weren't invested in this decision with his whole heart.
Arlo's glittering emerald eyes held mine, and he spoke without hesitation. “Veil Keeper. My body, my soul, my life, my heart; these I offer up to you freely and un-coerced. Will you accept my pledge as your Lord of Spring?”
“Arlo,” I breathed his name, “a pledge freely given I humbly accept. Let it be known, my Lord of Spring has been appointed.”
This time when the magic snapped out of me, an almost overwhelming rush of euphoria hit me and I staggered. I would have fallen too, if not for Arlo's strong hand on my waist, steadying me while I blinked away the dark spots from my vision and rolled my shoulders.
My wings flexed and stretched, spreading wide before settling once more against my back and I sighed blissfully as I surveyed my three Lords. My knights. Sworn to guard me with their very beings until the end of our combined existence.
Inside my broken mind, Gràinne sobbed with joy, her love and hope flooding my body as a small smile curved my lips. The ritual was not yet complete …
“Reece,” I prompted, and he needed no further encouragement.
Rising to his feet, he slipped one huge hand into my dark hair, cupping the back of my head and pulling my face to his. As our lips touched together, his magic flared to life between us and I groaned.
My nipples tightened, straining against the thin fabric of my top, and I pushed my body against Reece as our tongues danced with one another, spurred on by the raucous cheers radiating from the clubhouse. We had spectators, as was the way of our kind.
The appointment of a Lord was a joyous occasion, and the completion of that ritual was a glorious thing to behold. I couldn't have denied my people the honor of watching. Instead, I owed them a damn good show.
Reece needed no guidance, dia gnéas that he was. His fingers tugged firmly at the fabric ties which held my halter top to my body, freeing my naked breasts and palming them in his rough hands.
“Ma déesse,” he groaned, rolling my hardened nipples between thumb and forefingers before dipping his face to kiss me once more. His kiss wasn't possessive nor wild, it was worshipful.
The black pencil skirt I wore was embellished with a gold zipper, running the entire way from waist to knee, and given how tight it was I'd opted to go sans underwear. Thus, with a deft movement of Reece's fingers, the fabric dropped away from my body, leaving me totally naked except for my four inch stiletto heels and my glorious, glittering wings.
To my left, Killian whispered under his breath in French, while to my right Arlo’s eyes burned laser-like patterns as they trailed across my skin, but my attention was solely on Reece. For now. Their turns would come, as was required to complete the magic of the bond.
“Reece.” I pushed him back a couple of steps toward the old wooden picnic table sitting on the side of the dock.“Pants. Now.”
Given his hands were already at work unbuckling his belt, I really hadn't needed to say anything, but after so much tender emotion from their pledges, it felt good to reassert my dominance.
Reece's big beautiful penis had barely been freed from the denim confines of his pants before I pushed him to sit on the bench, not bothering to strip him any further before taking what I needed from him.
Placing my knee on the bench beside his hip, I balanced my hands on his shoulders, bringing my other knee up so that I straddled his waist. My wet heat pressed against the rigid length of his shaft and his lips captured mine once more in a kiss of worship.
Ever the gentleman, Reece's calloused palms slid around my waist, lifting me slightly and allowing me room to reach between us and line the head of his cock up to my opening.
No foreplay was needed. Not during a ritual like this and certainly not with the god of sex radiating his magic over me. My cunt was already wet and throbbing, begging to be filled and I wasn't about to wait a second longer.