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The guard outside the door surely heardthatcry.

Mehl’s other hand wrapped around Toren’s cock over the fabric, but Toren batted his husband away. “Need to spill inside her. My control…” he whispered, his breath brushing across Ria’s nipple, making her shiver.

“Soon?” she asked, panting. Mehl ran his lips down the side of her neck, and she whimpered. “Please?”

Toren freed himself from his pants and caught Mehl’s gaze. “Brace her.”

More than physically, but he didn’t have to say those words aloud. He could see the comprehension in Mehl’s eyes as he gripped her thighs and adjusted her for Toren’s invasion. He would never be able to hold onto his magic during this. Never.

Toren positioned the head of his cock at her entrance and paused to ensure her consent. There would be no future question of her current willingness. “With this, our contract begins. I give my oath as High King that you and any children we create will be in my care.”

“I give my oath as King that you and any children we create will be in my care,” Mehl murmured against Ria’s neck.

An impossibility unless they remained together after the first birth, but Toren refused to think about that.

Ria nodded.

“Say it,” Toren said, his hands framing her face. “Swear it.”

“I…” She swallowed. “With this, our contract begins. I give my oath that you and any children we create will be in my care.”

The heat of her words slammed through him, the final part of her whispered promise one she wasn’t obligated to give. One that brought more complications than he could contemplate. So he didn’t. He let his willpower and his magic free.

Only then did he enter her.

Chapter8

Complications

Ria thought she was prepared for his invasion, but she was wrong.

His thrust was unyielding, his expression harsh and almost pained. A wave of his magic swelled around them. Through them. But he didn’t hurt her. Gods, no. Mehl’s fingers still worked at her bud, and when he nibbled lightly on the side of her neck she screamed from the combined sensations. Satisfaction lit Toren’s eyes at the sight, and he withdrew, only to thrust again.

And again.

She curled her arm around Mehl’s neck and held on, grateful for his grip on her thighs. Another wave of Toren’s magic crashed through her, but it didn’t recede. It filled and filled until she feared she could take no more. Then Mehl turned her enough to kiss her, and some of the power bridged over to him, linking them in body and mind and power.

Thoughts and emotions crashed around her. Real or imagined? She could barely process them as Toren took her, his thrusts almost frenzied. Ria tilted her hips up for more. He had to fill her. The only thing better would be having them both.

“She’ll sign the contract with my seed staining her thighs.”

“If only she bore something of me.”

Toren. Then Mehl. Were they speaking to each other mentally? Had she caught the edge of their thoughts? Ria didn’t care. She cried out against Mehl’s mouth, her body tightening around Toren with her release.

But it wasn’t enough.

Ria pushed away from Mehl. “Wait,” she gasped.

Though he groaned, Toren stopped at once. “You gave your oath that—”

“No, no,” she said, panting. “Together. Mehl must find release, too. With us.”

She didn’t know why, but it was vitally important.

Mehl nipped at her earlobe. “I can’t. The child must be Toren’s. Only after you’ve conceived can I take you.”

A heated look entered Toren’s eyes, and his magic surged until she gasped. But he pulled from her body, drawing an involuntary groan from them both, and tugged her to her feet. Her legs trembled beneath her until he lifted her against him and kissed her, so thoroughly she barely noticed the sound of cloth rustling behind her.