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He bent his knees and scooted back, never losing contact with Beryn as she continued to come, then flipped her over and drove into her, making her eyes fly open and her mouth drop in a gasp.

I needed to watch, so I moved to the head of them, feeling no guilt at my voyeurism as I watched Vanian pleasure himself and his wife, driving into her over and over as he reached a hand under her bottom to pull her tighter to him. She orgasmed again, her face a delightful thing to see, and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching down to test my own receptiveness to another round.

Biting my lip, I met Vanian’s gaze, and he uttered something unintelligible before driving into Beryn one last time and then bowing his back, the movement causing the small table of paints to topple to the floor, splattering all of us in a rainbow of colors and making me erupt once more.

It was all absolutely glorious, and something I will not soon forget.

When all was done, we simply lay together on that drop cloth amidst the paint, the colors making our flesh into the canvas. Beryn and I rested our heads on each of Vanian’s pectorals, the three of us still petting and scraping and kneading.

The portrait Vanian completed of me now hangs above my mantel, and every time I look at it, I remember that night.

And what a night it was.

Willa

EMIL DA’LAHR

Click here to see a full-size image of Emil by art.bymikki.

A core part of Poppy and Cas’s group, Emil features almost as prominently in my visions as Kieran, but always on the periphery and admittedly not very clearly.

Hair: Auburn waves.

Eyes: Amber.

Body type: Reedy.

Facial features: Strikingly handsome.

Personality: Easygoing. An enormous flirt. Snarky and sarcastic.

Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Very good with a crossbow. Likes to flirt with Poppy to get a rise out of Casteel. Always seems to be where Vonetta is.

Background: Like Kieran, helped Cas remember who he was and remind him that he wasn’t merely a thing after his captivity.

Family: Quentyn = unknown relation but share last name.

EMIL’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

Emil journeys to Masadonia to feed Cas while he’s undercover as Hawke and offers to stay, but Cas tells him that he needs him in Evaemon, keeping an eye on Alastir and running interference.

Emil arrives in New Haven with Alastir just ahead of the storm. The minute he’s introduced to Poppy, he’s greatly amused by her—and especially her mouthiness.

I kind of love her for that, too.

When Alastir tells her that he knew about her before, that she was the Maiden Chosen by the gods, Poppy replies that it must have come as a shock since their gods are asleep and can’t choose anyone. Emil agrees.

When Alastir questions how an Atlantian spent so much time near the Blood Crown without being discovered—they were all still under the impression that Poppy was only part Atlantian due to either Cora or Leo being of Atlantian descent at this time—and Poppy makes a comment about them being a blood bag, Emil agrees with her but sends a questioning look at Kieran when she reveals that she doesn’t know which of her parents was Atlantian.

Before dinner, Poppy greets Alastir politely, and he comments on it, alluding to the fact that none of the others in the room have manners. Emil grins.

While sitting down to dinner, Cas reveals that his fiancée is upset with him, and Emil quips that it’s not a very good sign if he’s already upsetting her when they’re not even married yet. As they make conversation about how Poppy and Cas met, Poppy tells them that he was her guard, and Cas corrects her and says that they actually met in a brothel—thanks to yours truly, thank you very much. Emil chokes on his food.

Alastir asks Poppy additional questions about her time as the Maiden and says that he assumed she was kept, given they were awaiting her Ascension. She confirms and takes it further, saying she was essentially caged. Emil is stunned to learn she was virtually imprisoned in her room all day, every day.

Poor Poppy. She really was nothing but a prisoner until Casteel, in essence, kidnapped her. Ironic, isn’t it?

Emil sets off for Spessa’s End with Alastir after he and Casteel discuss that it would be better to travel in multiple groups.