Page 87

As Mehl’s eyes slit open to watch, Toren plunged forward at the same time he jerked Ria’s hips closer, claiming her in one stroke.

Her back bowed, and Mehl hissed in pleasure. But for a moment, Toren couldn’t move. He was too overcome—with her, Mehl, them. Power surged through him until his vision went blurry with it, and instinctively, he did his best to claw the energy back. To restrain it no matter the cost. His hands shook as he clutched Ria’s hips, afraid to move.

Then Mehl grabbed a handful of his hair, tugging until Toren leaned closer. As soon as he did, Mehl claimed his mouth in a fierce kiss. A hint of panic welled up, along with his energy, but Ria reached down and stroked her fingers along his outer thigh in a teasing dance.

Distracting.

Maddening.

Mehl drew back. “Let go, Tor. Just let go.”

Ria wiggled beneath him at the same time Mehl released his hair, and Toren let his head drop with a groan. Fortunately—unfortunately?—his vision was clear enough to watch Mehl pump into Ria’s mouth with increasing fervor, her cheeks hollowing as she worked him.

With a helpless cry, Toren lost his hold.

He could no longer consider his energy. There was nothing but Ria’s sheath gripping him as he took her. Mehl’s hand sliding down his arm. Ria’s fingers now digging into his thigh. Their cries rose and mingled. Pleasure magnified.

Almost together, they exploded, and in that moment, he felt it—Ria’s power grasping at his. This time, he let the power flow, much as he would for a testing, but for once, he allowed himself to be open. Vulnerable. When their thoughts began to merge, he threw the door wide to the darkest parts of himself and invited them to enter.

And in that lull, Mehl and Ria poured in.

* * *

This was it—shewas surely dead. Maybe Tes was a seer.

Intriguingly, the afterlife weighed Ria down rather more than she’d expected. If she’d been alive, she would have sworn that she couldn’t breathe. But what was air compared to this bliss? Maybe the weight atop her was merely there to keep her from floating away.

Then her anchor groaned.

No. Still alive. It seems I’ll need air after all.

Smiling softly, she wiggled, and her warm, gorgeous weight rolled away. Toren, who’d fallen atop her in the aftermath. She had instant regret as cool air rushed over her, prickling her skin and making her heart twinge with sudden loneliness. Not that she was alone. Though on his back now, Toren’s fingers curled possessively around her thigh, and Mehl smoothed her hair tenderly away from her face.

It was such a wonder to be connected to them so thoroughly that she didn’t have to look to see who touched her where. Their energy was hers now, and hers was theirs. Even feeling the link, Ria struggled to believe it. But as far as she knew, this type of joining couldn’t be broken without great effort. They were truly hers.

Had she ever had anything in her life that couldn’t be snatched away at a whim?

Finally, Ria blinked her eyes open and allowed sensation to set in. Her muscles ached blissfully. Her thighs felt sticky, and the salty tang of Mehl’s release still sang on her tongue. The kings had said they would claim her, and she certainly felt taken. Thoroughly possessed.

Mehl leaned over her, a soft smile on his lips but a hint of worry creasing the corners of his eyes. “We weren’t too rough, were we?”

“Gods, no,” Ria answered on a contented sigh. “That was nearly perfect from start to finish. The only thing better would be you taking me after Toren.”

Mehl sighed. “Indeed.”

A strange, giddy feeling bubbled over her, a euphoria she’d never experienced before. With a cheeky grin, she patted her belly. “His seed better work fast.”

Mehl returned her grin, but abruptly, Toren rolled back over, propping himself on his elbow at her side. He studied her face intently as his palm settled over hers on her stomach. “Does it bother you, then? Waiting like this?”

Had she not caught a hint of his true worry, she might have pinched him. “No more than it does either of you. Less than Mehl, I’d say. But it’s only temporary.AndI was only teasing.”

Toren relaxed, the fierceness slipping from his expression. As Mehl slid out of bed, Toren lowered his head to her shoulder and snuggled against her side. Now that they were linked, she could tell on a deeper level that his energy was still heightened, but there was a mellowness to it, too. It didn’t surprise her at all when his eyes closed and his breathing evened.

The bed dipped on her other side, and she turned her head to see Mehl kneeling next to her. She frowned at the damp cloth in his hand, but clarity hit with a shiver when he bent to clean the stickiness from between her legs. Echoes of pleasure trembled through her, but it was more than desire this time. His tender care twisted her heart.

Once he disposed of the cloth and returned, Mehl curled up beside her, too, his arm over Toren’s. Peace swept through her, and she let her eyes drift closed. Slowly, her mind floated toward slumber, at ease now that both kings rested against her.

But it felt like only moments before someone knocked on the door, jolting her awake.