Page 24

W hisperhold was quiet. Nico and Luca hadn’t yet returned. The sun had begun to set, blanketing the sky in a soft pink glow. Fallon was in the kitchen busying herself with the night’s meal.

“Hey! Just you and Lucius? Everything go okay with the Raven’s Hand?” she asked, a brimshade cigarette burning between her lips.

“Dove, why don’t you tell her about Maxfield. I have something I need to take care of. I’ll be right back.” Lu kissed me on the cheek before leaving me with his sister.

“Nice to see you too, Lucius,” Fallon called out after her brother.

“We’ve had… a particularly heavy day.” I wasn’t sure how much I should tell Fallon. Too much had happened since I’d last seen her—things I hadn’t even begun to untangle. “Levi brought us to a healer. Maxfield. He’s apparently retired from serving the throne.”

“Maxfield? I don’t remember that name.”

“He said the king he served had long since passed.”

“Gods, how old was he?” Fallon’s lips curled into a frown, trying to calculate Maxfield’s age.

I chuckled. “He looked… mature. A bit rough around the edges, but he offered me help. I'm going to work with him personally to learn how to harness my magic. In the meantime, he gave me something called sprite ash to keep the Tribulation in check.”

“Sprite ash? I’ve never heard of it.”

I pulled the vial out and offered it to Fallon. “He said it’s similar to faerie dust. Don’t ask how it’s made.” I scrunched up my face. “It seems to be quite powerful. Honestly, I’ve never felt better.”

“Finally, some good news.” Fallon held the vial up to the light. “It’s quite pretty.”

“I know, right!”

“Michaela,” Lu interrupted, reaching for my hand. “If you’ll join me.”

“Uh, okay. Fallon, we’ll fill you in on the rest later.”

“But what about the Raven’s Hand? Lucius, where are your brothers?”

“Later,” was all Lu said as he dragged me back toward the king’s room, ignoring his sister's questions. Fallon shook her head and went back to preparing the night’s meal.

Standing in front of the door, Lu placed his hand on the knob. “Close your eyes.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Okay.” Blindly, I let him lead me into the room. I could hear the crackling fireplace warming the space. The butterflies from earlier in the forest were back and swarming in my belly. Lu’s thumb caressed the back of my hand as I stood anxiously awaiting his surprise.

“Go ahead, open your eyes.”

The room was filled with flickering candles, casting a romantic glow over the space. The bedding had been turned down for the evening, beckoning me into its warm embrace. He was trying to romance me, and it was working.

“Aww, Lu, this looks beautiful.”

Pulling me in front of him to face the fire, Lucius wrapped his arms around my waist, nuzzling into the back of my neck.

“I thought maybe”—he kissed that soft spot below my ear—“we could further explore what we started in the woods?” Lu’s lips continued to roam my neck.

My nerves were fighting with my libido. Before I could stop myself, I giggled awkwardly, failing miserably to mask my nervousness. I wanted this, but I had no idea what I was doing.

“Lu, I…” I hesitated, spinning around to face him. I’d been waiting for this moment, and here I was, fucking it up.

“Do you still want this?” he asked.

“Yes!” I said, a little too excited. “I mean yes, I do. But I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t nervous.”

“And that is why we are going to take our time.”

He tilted my chin toward him and claimed my lips in a gentle kiss, his tongue stealing a taste before pulling away.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Dove.” Lu tugged at my belt, releasing the buckle and letting it drop to the floor with a thud. “I’m going to take care of you.”

I couldn’t believe this was really happening.

He pulled off his shirt in one fluid motion.

My God, his chest was chiseled perfection—artfully adorned with large, sprawling tattoos.

I’d always been attracted to Lu, but I’d never allowed myself to really look at his body.

At least not in a lascivious way. My eyes trailed down his abs, lingering on the V dipping below his pants.

His belt was next to go, joining mine on the floor. Lu reached for my trembling hand, placing it on his pounding heart.

“This beats for you. My body, my soul… my beast, is yours.”

Slowly tracing my fingers over the hard planes of his body, I explored his muscular frame. Musky, vanilla heat radiated off his skin, intoxicating my senses.

Lu turned me around. Tugging at my laces, row by row he untied the corseting, allowing my dress to slip from my shoulders.

I gripped the fabric to my breasts as I turned back around, afraid to bare myself to his gaze. Lucius was a perfect specimen. I was a skinny, sickly girl with virtually no curves. My breasts were small. What if he didn’t like my body?

Lu placed his hand on mine. “May I?”

I nodded, unable to say the words, and allowed him to slip the dress to my waist, where he paused for a moment before pushing it over my hips and to the floor.

His eyes were glued to my naked body. I fidgeted under his gaze, unsure what to do with my arms. At my sides? Covering myself? Heat crept up my neck as I shifted my weight, wishing for anything to hide behind—until his jaw went slack.

“You’re more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and smiled. He thought I was beautiful.

Feeling brave, I reached for his pants, fumbling with the ties. He was patient with me, allowing me to find my way. Slowly, I pulled the waist loose and dropped them to the floor.

Lu’s erection was massive.

“Is this okay?” he asked, checking in.

“Yes,” I said, biting my lip with anticipation.

Seeing his naked physique had me wet with desire. But I’d be lying if I said his size didn’t give me pause. Was a human man built like this? Would it fit? Was it going to hurt? My mind was reeling with the unknown.

“You can touch me, if you want.”

I reached for his manhood, gingerly exploring the shaft. I’d never touched a penis before. It was harder than I expected and covered in a labyrinth of veins. Lu groaned, placing his hand over mine, squeezing, guiding my movements. His breath hitched, and the tip of his cock became slick.

“I’m so hard for you,” he said.

The sounds he was making had me eager for more. Knowing I was the one making him feel this way empowered me, dampening the underlying fear of what was next.

Lu pulled me to him, bending down to meet me in a kiss, our bodies pressed against each other. I slid my hands up his muscled back and opened my mouth to allow his tongue inside. I relaxed into the feeling and let him lead me.

Lu’s hands slid down my waist, cupping my ass before he scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to the bed.

Gently, he laid me down, climbing in beside me.

“I’m going to touch you now.”

I nodded before speaking the words. “Yes.”

Lu’s caress was soft. I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation.

His warm hands felt like fire, the flames kissing my skin.

Slowly, he traced along my neck, finding my collarbone, trailing between my breasts before circling them with his fingertips.

Chills spread down my spine and goosebumps broke out along my skin.

My nipples ached for him, and I arched my back, chasing his touch.

Each breath against my neck was a tether, anchoring me to the moment as his hands traveled further down my belly, stopping at the curve of my hip.

His mouth descended upon my breast, pulling my nipple into his teeth and caressing it with his tongue.

I sighed with pleasure as he moved to the other side, distracting me from his wandering hand.

Fingertips slid down my thighs, gently parting my legs. Wetness dripped from my now throbbing core. I wanted to feel him touch me... there. I spread my legs wider, giving him more access.

“Feeling a little eager, are we?” Lu teased, coming up for a kiss and halting the assault on my thighs.

“My body’s aching to be touched,” I gasped between kisses. I felt like I was going to combust. “Please, don’t deny me any longer.”

Lu’s fingers found me slick with need. Growling with approval, a devious smile spread across his face.

“You’re so wet for me.” Tenderly, he stroked me, circling my swollen clit.

My breathing was becoming erratic, my body and mind were consumed with pleasure.

Lu explored my opening, gently pressing a finger inside.

“Ohhh,” I gasped at the foreign sensation.

“That’s my girl.” His words guided me through as he added a second finger, gently stretching me. “I want you ready for me.”

Tension built rapidly, and I found myself grinding against his hand.

“Not yet, Dove,” he said, pulling his fingers from my body. “I want to taste you.” Before I could protest, his fingers were in his mouth and he was purring. “Divine.”

Lu descended down my torso, spreading my legs before his face.

“So pretty, all wet for me.” His tongue was on me, bathing my most private parts, and I was far from ashamed.

It felt amazing—and I wanted more. I reached for his hair, pressing his head to my core, and he growled with approval.

His fingers were back, this time in harmony with his tongue.

The tension coiled, reaching its breaking point as my breaths became moans, and I fell over the edge.

Pleasure overpowered me and my legs clamped around his head.

My body was no longer my own. My core pulsed from inside while Lu continued to consume me, gripping my legs tight until the sensations subsided.

“I could do that all day,” Lu confessed as he climbed up my now-relaxed body. Reaching between us, he pressed his hardness against my center. “We’re gonna go slow, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Try to relax.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled as Lu slowly pushed against my opening.

I could feel the delightful stretch as, inch by inch, he entered me, claiming my virginity.

It was intense—a delicious pressure that filled me completely, leaving me feeling whole.

Like a missing piece had finally found its home.

“Michaela,” Lu groaned. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, unable to form words.

“You feel amazing.” He slowly rocked into my body, and that delicious tension began to build once again.

Together, we created a symphony of moans, both of us lost in the rhythmic pleasure building between us.

Lu’s thrusts intensified, each one driving deeper, while our cries grew louder and more animalistic.

I didn’t want it to end, but the tension grew tighter with every move.

I lifted my hips to meet his, finding a new sensation—so intense that I fell over the edge again, this time taking Lu with me into the depths of ecstasy.

He collapsed on top of me, sweaty and out of breath.

“Lu, that—I have no words,” I giggled in the post-coitus high. “Um, wow.”

“I knew we would be amazing.”

Wait, what? I clearly heard Lu’s words, yet he remained silent. How?

“Am I hearing things, or did you just say something?” I responded silently, simply thinking the words.

Lu turned his head, his eyes wide with shock. “How did you do that?”

“Me? You did it first.”

“I have no idea what just happened. I mean, I expected our connection to grow, but I certainly didn’t expect this.”

“Is this a fated thing?”

“I don’t know. But I meant what I said. We are amazing together.”

“I’d say,” I chuckled, not knowing what to think about our newfound ability. “When can we do it again?”

Lu laughed. “We have the rest of our lives to do it. And if I have my way, we will—again, and again, and again.”

I smiled at the thought of spending what time we had left making love to Lu. The two of us making up for lost time. “Can you hear all of my thoughts?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. Why, what are you thinking?”

“I was thinking I want to stay here in bed. I’m not ready to go back out there. I want to just lay here in your arms.”

“How are you feeling? Is the sprite ash still working?”

“I feel wonderful,” I smiled at the realization that, for the first time, the cancer had been completely gone from my thoughts. I couldn’t remember a time when my illness hadn’t plagued my every move. “The buzz wore off back in the woods, but I’m feeling stable.”

“That makes me happy.” Lu kissed my forehead. “I should probably get us something to eat. Check to see if the others have returned.”

“Oh God,” I gasped, hiding my face in Lu’s embrace. “Do you think they’ll know?”

Lu chuckled. “Would it upset you if they did?”

“No, I just… I don’t know. I don’t want to upset anyone.”

“Dove,” Lu tilted my chin to face him, “I assure you, aside from being jealous of me, no one will be upset with you. Remember what I told you in the woods? We are all fated, inexplicably connected. This doesn’t change that.”

I was still a little unsure of the logistics of the situation.

Nico and Luca had expressed interest. Hell, Luca had shared a very intimate moment with me only a few nights ago.

But what about Finn and Hunter? Jase had never really been happy that I came back to Hiraeth.

I wasn’t sure that simply being fated automatically meant they were all going to want me—at least not in that way.

What if it meant we were all fated to work together, to fix Hiraeth?

“I’ll be back with something delicious. Keep the bed warm for me. We’ll indulge here as long as we can.” Lu kissed me quickly before throwing on his pants. “I promise I’ll be quick.” He slipped out the door, leaving me with my thoughts. “I miss you already.”