He ground into me, and I writhed against him, even as his lips swallowed all the tiny noises I was making. Then he was carrying me to the sofa, pressing me into the cushion and pushing my dress up, until he was staring down at me, eyes dark.
“These are…interesting,” he breathed, one hand sliding to the lace band of my undergarments.
I blushed, unable to say a word.
“So this is how I make you quiet.” He smirked. I opened my mouth to snap at him, but he was already nibbling on my lower lip, slipping his hand beneath my underwear and along that spot that made my knees weak.
His tongue swept into my mouth, just as one finger slid inside me. I clenched around it, and he let out a rough groan as I pushed his shirt up, desperate to feel his skin. A second finger joined the first while his thumb teased my clit, and pleasure rippled through me. I let out a sound that would likely make my cheeks heat tomorrow.
He raised his head, his eyes on my face. “You like that.”
Arrogance dripped from his voice, and I snarled.
He thrust his fingers again and smiled at me. “I like you,” he said, and his voice was filled with something that sounded almost like wonder.
I opened my mouth, but a low moan came out, and Lorian cursed, his voice hoarse.
He pulled off my underwear, and then he was lowering his head in a way that made me squeak.
He just met my eyes, raising one dark eyebrow. I shivered at the sight of him, poised between my legs.
“I—”
He’d already leaned down once more, and I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to stifle the sounds I was making. His mouth was so warm, and he let out a growl as he slowly explored, his tongue teasing until I was panting, begging for more.
He lashed his tongue over my clit, and I bucked beneath him. He laughed, and the vibration, combined with his warm breath, almost sent me over. He caught my hips in his hands, holding me in place for him, and I slid my hands into his hair as I arched my neck, desperate, writhing…
“Knew you’d be like this,” he growled. He lowered his mouth once again, his fingers thrusting deep as he flicked my clit with his tongue. Then sucked.
I shuddered, my pleasure cresting in a wave, until my breath caught and all I could do was gasp, trembling through my release. Lorian continued playing with me, continued that steady thrusting until I was boneless.
“You…” My voice was hoarse.
Did that just happen? While it was difficult to believe I was just that intimate with Lorian, at the same time, it felt strangely…inevitable.
Lorian met my gaze, his cheekbones flushed. Then his gaze swept over me, spread out for him, limp and satisfied, even as my body craved more.
“Yes,” he murmured. “Me.”
I reached for him, but he was already pulling my dress back down, my underwear disappearing into his pocket.
“What—”
“I need you healthy for the things I want to do to you,” he growled. “Now leave, before I can no longer control myself.”
I took a shaky breath. The idea of Lorian—the man who was always in control—now having to fight for restraint…
“I feel fine.”
“Out,” he grumbled. I was standing before I realized I’d moved, hauled to my feet by the mercenary who glowered at me.
I couldn’t help it. I grinned.
He shoved me out of his room, ignoring my delighted laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Auria visited me the next morning, perching on the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?” She smiled at me, her eyes alight with her usual good humor.
“Ready to get back to work.” I almost winced when I said it. Calling my days of following the queen around work was an insult when Auria practically broke her back in the laundry.
“I think the queen probably wants you rested. Especially because the Gods Day ball is so close.”
Just days away. Blood rushed into my ears at the thought.
“Setella?”
“Sorry, mind wandering.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” She was studying me, and I raised one brow. “What is it?”
“The entire castle is talking about you and the prince.”
I winced, and she just laughed.
“I’ll leave you to rest.” She scampered out the door before I could reply.
I spent the rest of the day in bed, visualizing leading over three hundred prisoners out of the king’s tunnel only days from now. The tunnel he’d created to put them to death. My body broke out in a cold sweat, and I shuddered beneath my blankets.
By the time it was dark enough to risk going down to the dungeon, I felt more like myself. A little shaky, but ready to help Tibris hand out food. Since Tibris wanted to check Asinia’s and Demos’s wounds first, I got to work slipping pieces of bread, hunks of meat, and stolen fruit between cage bars.
Laurel held out her hand for her share, angling her head as she watched me.
She was a couple of years younger than me and had told me she thought she’d been here for at least six months. “Why are you doing this? At least when I was iron-crazed, I didn’t know how bad this really was.”
“Would you rather I didn’t?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I want out. But…”
I understood. Now, she knew the reality of her situation. And it was grim. When she didn’t know what she was missing, she didn’t dare hope for more. The iron had kept her weak, dazed, easy for the guards to manage. Now, her eyes burned with retribution.
“Eat,” I murmured. “And walk as much as you can. We need you strong.”
She nodded, and I finished doling out the last of the food, making my way back toward Asinia.
“Finished sulking?” Tibris asked.
I winced, slowing my steps. That was the tone he most often used when speaking to either Lorian or Demos.
Shuffling sounded, as if someone was sitting down.
“My mental state is none of your business.” Demos’s voice was so cold, I almost shivered.
“What is your problem?”
Tibris had never been able to leave anything alone. When I was angry as a child, he would poke and prod at me until I exploded. Then he would laugh. Most of the time, his amusement would shake me from my fury. Or at least ensure I trained that fury on him instead.
“My problem?” Demos asked.
“You’ve found your sister. After all these years.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“So, spend time with her.”
“Easy for you to say. You grew up with her. You got to see her turn from a child into a woman. You were able to be there for her. To protect her. To keep her safe.”
My throat tightened, and I stopped walking completely.
“I wasn’t able to protect her from the guards. Our mother tried and died for it.”
“That woman—”
“I know how you feel about that,” Tibris said. “And I can understand why. But that woman raised Prisca. She was the one who dried her tears after her nightmares. The one who taught her to hide her power and keep herself safe. My mother may be the villain in your story, but she died to protect our sister.”
A long silence followed. Finally, Tibris sighed. “I need to see your shoulder.” He let out a humming sound. “It looks good.”