Page 151 of Blackheart

“What are you?—”

The cloud blanket sent a quick electric shock of cold air over my skin. He pressed his thumb down, lightning striking through my body the precise moment he thrust inside.

I cursed as an ocean erupted from me, splashing Ansel’s white shirt with a loud smack.

The audience gasped. Avan fuckingclapped.

Evidence of my orgasm puddled around us, dripping onto the floor.

With unsteady breaths, I tried to speak, but lightning rippled through me again, in sync with him, jolting every part of me with fiery euphoria. I couldn’t think straight—couldn’t move my arms. There was nothing except for intense release, over and over and over again. Thrust, by thrust, by thrust.

By the time Ansel finished, rumbling a low moan, the mattress beneath me was drenched, and the floor was likely the same. As Ansel caught his breath, the cloud blanket evaporated. He firmly tugged my dress back over my wobbly legs.

Zipping his pants back up, he glanced at his shirt and then at me, before slowly shaking his head. “I need to change.”

The wide-eyed audience said nothing as Ansel stormed out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

I glared at the councilmen, nostrils flaring.

Avan winced. “Okay, okay, the ceremony is over. Shoo now,” he said, waving people out with his drink still in hand.

Once everyone else had exited, he approached where I still lay on the edge of the bed and peered at the floor.

“Well,” he began, examining the puddle. “Let’s not tell Sir Riven about this.”

My face burned, and I nodded, too exasperated for words.

Avan left, but Jocelynn walked in.

“Are you alright?” she asked, hurrying to my side.

“Yep.”

She let out a startled breath, taking a step back and lifting the skirt of her dress protectively. “Oh my word, let me send someone in with a mop.”

I covered my face with my hands, shaking my head.

Jocelynn allowed me to exit the premises discreetly from the kitchen, sparing me a word or even eye contact after the puddle incident. I stepped outside into a light rain, thunderous vibrations still reeling through my body. Crossing my arms, I jogged back home.

There were no lights in the windows, but there was an overly conscientious Blademan posted by the entrance.

Riven stood there in the rain, bags under his eyes and hair sopping wet, waiting for me.

I’d never seen him look so broken.

While I had no words of comfort to offer, I did have my presence. I approached him, tilting my head up.

“Escort me to my room, Sir Riven.”

He nodded somberly, but led me up the stairs all the same. We both tossed our wet clothes to the floor, and shamelessly entangled ourselves in bed, skin to skin. Nose to nose.

I fell asleep, but found no peace.

Instead, Xavian delighted in sending me a fond memory. Examples of him moving out of the way when an arrow was nearing him, over and over again.

I woke up frustrated and exhausted, even after my night full of training. I should’ve sent him a memory back, perhaps the one where I’d saved Beck’s life in the midwinter games. I’d been the one to stop a hurling object from killing him. But no, I had no control over what Xavian could see. Onlyhehad the privilege of learning how to control it.

As my brother, I hoped for both of our sakes he hadn’t been subject to watching anything too disturbing. Shaking my head, I gave my best effort to erase that horrifying thought.