Page 78 of A Dance of Water (Moon Song #2)

SHARING IS CARING

BASTIAN

T he demon carried Luella into the bathing chambers with a sharp look at Bastian. He raised a groomed brow as the door shut behind Azgorath’s large frame.

Save for the constant pouring rain, Luella’s room was quiet. The white canopy fluttered in the candlelight, and he parted the swaths of fabric, reclining on her bed with a sound of relief. It smelled like her. Strawberries and creamy sugar. Sweet and innocent.

He pillowed his head on his arm, letting his eyes drift closed as he breathed her in. He could almost trick himself that she was lying beside him.

His fangs pulsed like a heartbeat as he listened to the faint splashing of water and low murmurs from the bathing chamber.

His mind conjured up an endless expanse of pale skin and soft thighs, the perfect swell of her breasts made for his hands. Gods, he wanted to sink his fangs in her supple flesh. Maybe she would let him—one day.

A sensual smile broke free on his plush lips at the mere thought.

Wrapped in a dreamy cloud of her scent, he drifted. Banished all thoughts of darkness and war. Thought only of her.

It worked for a time. Until it didn’t.

He hadn’t lied when he told Luella that he believed in her. That was the problem. He believed in her and the Fates too much.

The door to the bathing chambers creaked open, and steam drifted from within the dimly lit space, smelling of vanilla, lavender, and her .

Bundled in Az’s arms, her white hair hung in lazy, damp curls around her slim shoulders. A white, fluffy towel was wrapped around her body, tucked under her arms, revealing her neck. He ran his tongue over the point of his fangs as he watched her.

Too soft. Too sweet.

War would break her.

She couldn’t even bathe alone. How could she lead armies and become their Queen as the prophecy demanded?

Water dripped from Azgorath’s bare chest and left dark stains on the plush carpets adorning the floors. He walked to the bed and lay her down in the middle, shooting Bastian a distrustful look as he made sure the towel was tucked tight around her.

"What?" Bastian mumbled, raising a hand before him in taunting placation. He was careful to be quiet. Luella seemed to have fallen asleep. Good. She needed the rest.

"No winding her up," the demon said. "It will only hurt her." He settled down on Luella’s other side, pressing against her as he swept away a few drying strands of her hair.

"I wouldn’t dream of it." Bastian rolled onto his side and held himself up with a fist against his cheek, staring down at her. The gauzy fabric of the canopy mingled with the flickering flames, casting unique shadows on her pale skin.

The blindfold on her delicate face, the towel clinging to her, and the steady rise and fall of her chest were nearly obscene. His mind spun with fantasies…

The three interconnected circles of the Binding mark were visible from the low cut of the towel, and he skimmed a finger over the ink, tracing the shapes as he thought of Tharen and Graves.

The amulet was nestled between her breasts, and the blue stone complemented her skin.

Bastian knew that wasn’t Tharen’s intention when he had crafted it for her, but he wondered if the Prima found pleasure in her wearing something he had made—Bastian knew he would.

Every time she accepted his gifts, he preened.

"You didn’t say anything, about the bath…" Azgorath prodded .

"There’s nothing to say, beast. I already knew." Bastian continued stroking over her chest. "And I’m not the only one."

"What do you mean?"

"It’s hard to keep secrets from one with Mind magic and one who loves to watch, is it not?"

Bastian knew. Her dreams. Where she had gone when her glamor had been lifted.

The fear of water, the thoughts of not being enough.

Graves knew, as well—the male loved to watch.

Bastian had heard his thoughts of obsessively stalking their little captive throughout the halls, freely trailing after her now that she couldn’t see.

Azgorath’s amber eyes grew dark as he stared down at her.

"What do you think of it all? Her dreams, these… these visions. She went somewhere different when her magic awoke. She said it was a place of stardust and darkness. She told me she saw us in the Fate’s lair.

" He looked up at Bastian, curving horns casting shadows on his cheeks. "I don’t know what this means. I’m worried for her. "

Bastian was, too. "I think there is something much grander at play here than us."

He thought of darkness and light, stars and shadows.

The journey to the Temples of Aedis loomed.

A place of worship to the gods who had abandoned them—but that didn’t stop them from honoring the gods to earn their favor back.

Maybe it was working… The gift of Vincire, once freely given. There hadn’t been Vincire in centuries.

And they were the first to break the drought.

"Graves and Tharen will be back in two days. Perhaps they will bring answers," said the vampire.

"Do you think they’ll be able to find her?"

Bastian hummed. "Tharen’s predecessor has been hiding, but if anyone were to find her, it would be those two."

Tharen was like a hound with a bone; he wouldn’t let up until they found the prior Prima.

He worried for when they found her, however. Would Tharen’s lead ring true? Did his predecessor have something to do with the glamor on Luella?

The Prima had come to them all with his suspicions, saying that he had been digging around on who could have been powerful enough to place such a glamor on Luella. He had kept circling back to the prior Prima…

They had been discussing it when Luella had dropped onto Tharen’s lap, flushed and needy. Perfect timing, because they had just discussed what they were to do if she showed up at Tharen’s feet when they were gone.

Bastian gritted his jaw at the thought of the King’s command. He hated forcing her, but this time, it was for her own good.

Under his careful touches, she stirred. He felt it before he saw it—the hitch in her breath, the way her brow furrowed then relaxed, until finally, her pink lips parted, and she mumbled, "Bastian? Az?" Her head shifted on the pillow. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yes, pet, while I was reading to you. You looked so comfortable, we didn’t want to wake you." Bastian skimmed the tip of his finger over her blindfold.

"You’re both h-here?" Luella felt around the bed.

Her fidgeting made Bastian grit his teeth as she brushed up against his thighs.

He wanted to ruin her.

She reached up and touched her damp hair, and then patted along Azgorath’s bare chest. A pretty flush overtook her. "It wasn’t a dream… you bathed me."

"You were sleepy, but I asked, and you told me it was okay so long as I didn’t leave you alone, Lu. I didn’t remove all your clothes, or mine. I thought it would be good for you to relax. You’re still burning up," Azgorath murmured.

"Oh, okay," she replied breathily. "Are you…"

Her teeth dug into her plush bottom lip. Bastian couldn’t stop himself from chasing after it with a soft brush of his thumb.

"None of that, pet. Speak your mind. It’s just the three of us here."

"I was going to say, are you both planning on s-sleeping here… with me?"

He looked away from her to find Azgorath staring at him with a strange look in his amber eyes. Bastian arched a brow, and slowly, he reached out with his Mind magic, finding the demon’s thoughts as lovelorn as he had assumed .

So safe. I want this for her forever.

Between us, tucked away, unable to be harmed.

We’ll keep her safe. I will keep her safe.

Bastian dug a little deeper.

There it was.

Sin.

The demon’s vices were wicked and tempting. That was something Bastian could get behind… Thoughts of her, between them, underneath him.

Softly, the vampire let his voice echo: Can’t you see it? Her, undone.

Azgorath’s eyes narrowed. Untrained in mind speak, he simply mouthed the words, "Get out."

Bastian’s red eyes flashed. I don’t think I will. Who knew for a virgin, you’d be so creative, beast?

"Why are you both quiet?" Luella’s hands curled in each of their chests as if to bring them together.

He wondered what shade her face would turn if she knew of the nature of their thoughts.

"No reason," Bastian quipped.

Azgorath grumbled and tore his gaze away. His tan skin was alight with an amber glow from the dim flames in the room, but Bastian swore he saw the faintest blush on the demon’s cheeks.

How about we put Vale’s order to a little test? Bastian let the words drift through the demon’s mind like smoke.

Out loud, Bastian said, "We can behave, pet. We won’t tear each other apart, I promise. I’ve shared before, it’s not something I’m unfamiliar with." Let her mind fill in the blanks.

"That’s not what I’m w-worried about," she stammered. "It’s improper to share a bed like this."

Azgorath smiled. "Let them talk, angel. You’re more important." He kissed her cheek, and she melted into him, a soft sigh escaping her.

"This is purely medicinal. Think of us as you would any tonic," said Bastian. He leaned down over her, running his tongue over the tip of a fang. "Would you like a kiss?" At her noise of protest, he amended, "To help heal you, of course. "

Luella’s hands tangled in his silken shirt. She stayed quiet, so he sought the answers for himself.

Her mind was tinged with sickness and desperation.

She was doing a good job of hiding it, but he felt the pain in her head and limbs, the way each breath made her lungs ache.

He felt the way she yearned—too scared to ask.

He gathered the thoughts close to him and let them flow into Azgorath’s mind.

The demon’s eyes grew wide as he felt her pain and desire.

"Lu." Azgorath pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Let us settle this sickness."

She touched the mark on her chest. "But we can’t."

"Vale said you were not to feel desire. A kiss won’t hurt. We won’t push too far," Bastian assured. He was playing the noble hero, but gods, looking at her… his motivations were utterly selfish.

Kiss her , he whispered to the demon.

Azgorath tightened his hands on her, thoughts warring against each other. Bastian felt his desire and his protectiveness battling. Finally, one won.

The demon took her chin and gently leaned down to press his lips upon hers. She whimpered, arching into him.

Ravenous, Bastian watched, head in his hand. They were so close to him, he saw the firelight play off their hair, hers white and frizzed from the way it had dried after her bath, and his brown curls. Her nose nudged against his, and he tilted his head, mouth opening hers beseechingly.

Her small hand reached out, tapping against Bastian’s thigh, and he took it and brought it up to his face, breathing over the soft skin of her wrist. Her veins were blue and green. Bastian ran his nose along the lines of them, fangs throbbing in need.

Her fingers stretched out, then relaxed, as the demon took her mouth, battling against the order Vale had placed upon her.

"My turn." Bastian cupped her cheek and turned her head away from the demon, breaking their kiss.

A string of saliva connected them, and Azgorath licked his lips as he stared down at her.

She was utterly debauched under the two of them, lips swollen and blindfold keeping her in the dark.

"I want more than a kiss," Bastian purred.

So much more .

The words made her cheeks flush a brighter scarlet. Somewhere outside, thunder drummed like the pounding beat of a war cry.

She’s getting worked up, Bastian said into the demon’s mind.

Azgorath’s response was not a clear one—Bastian would have to train him to project his thoughts better. The vampire tilted his head, listening to the increasingly violent tempest.

Azgorath growled. "Are you okay, Lu?"

Her lips glistened as she spoke. "I feel better, my head hurts less. But my chest—"she touched her Binding mark with a wince—"it aches."

Bastian turned her head, smiling at how she fumbled under him, searching for where she thought him to be. "You had your turn, beast." To Luella, Bastian said, "May I kiss you, pet?"

"This is so wrong," she breathed, but she made no move to get away.

Lightning cut through the darkness as a bright flash of white light illuminated her room.

"Resplendent," he murmured, and then, he closed the scant distance between them and pressed his lips to hers, uncaring that the demon had just done the same. She was made to share, after all. Bastian wasn’t the most fond of it, but out of all her Vincire, he was the most open to the idea.

The kiss was lazy and sensual; he was careful to keep his mouth closed and not deepen it further, in tune with every little wince or hitch in her breath.

When she stiffened against him, he pulled away and let her relax before taking her lips again.

It was a slow push and pull, and she was constantly chasing after more, more, more—but couldn’t quite get there.

Her thoughts were a maelstrom of desire, her hand rubbed against the mark on her chest to soothe the bite of pain.

Bastian pulled away and pressed a soft kiss to her brow. "Thank you."

Her breaths were light, but she was utterly relaxed between them, limbs languid as Bastian laid her down. Azgorath pulled her into him and arranged her comfortably, tucking the blanket around her.

"Thank you… Bastian." With a sleepy hand, she reached up and se arched for his cheek, placing a soft touch to his skin. He licked his lips, tasting strawberries. "Az," she hummed, burrowing into his side.

And just like that, she fell asleep.

Bastian let out a low breath, head thumping on the pillow as he stared at the ceiling, tracing the wooden swirls etched into the wood of her canopy posts.

"I meant what I said, Azgorath. I wouldn’t mind sharing her with you." Bastian didn’t look at him as he spoke.

"If it means keeping her safe…" Azgorath trailed off. "I would do anything for her. I don’t need Mind magic to know you feel the same."