Page 236 of The Queen’s Shadow

One moment was really all we would need to snatch up The Flute and use it against our enemies… It was risky, but it was the only way I could see us getting close enough to the instrument to steal it back.

I leapt to my feet in excitement. It wasn’t perfect, and I wanted to keep looking in case there was a better solution, one that didn’t leave us vulnerable and without our magick… but we were running out of time, and this was at least something.

I couldn’t help but remember how Raven had asked the Orb of Heirisan if going to The Court of Envy was the right move, and the smoke had turned green.

Voidseed could only be found in The Court of Envy, and the orb had said I would be the one to find the answer to neutralizing the power of The Flute. I was beside myself with excitement. I needed to find Balveria. Raven needed to know about this before she arrived at the island court.

I grinned as I hurried out of the House of Knowledge. It felt good to finally have a breakthrough. We were one step closer to ending Ash Nevra’s nightmare reign, and I couldn’t be more hopeful.

Kasha

Iwoke up to a deep rumbling sound and found that Rycon was spooning me from behind. What’s more was he seemed to be…vibrating? I frowned as I slowly came to and tried to make sense of the sound. It took me a moment to realize that Rycon was purring. I clapped my hand over my mouth in an effort to keep down the giggle that escaped me when I realized what was happening.

Rycon was purring and it was the cutest fucking thing I had ever heard. I moved to turn around and face him but he tightened his grip around me and settled my hips more firmly against his. The purring wasn’t the only indication that he was happy to be waking up next to me.

Origin, spare me. He was huge!

“Morning,” he nuzzled into my ear from behind, kissing me on my neck just beneath my earlobe.

“Morning to you too,” I said with a grin, still amused that I had caught him purring.

“How did you sleep?” He asked, and I pretended not to notice as his hand slipped under my t-shirt. He began tracing feather light circles across my bare stomach, making me shiver against him. I felt him smile against my neck as I quivered under the lazy movements of his fingers.

“I slept great.” I said, hoping Rycon wouldn’t notice how breathy my voice was. For Origin’s sake my whole body was tingling. “What time is it? Should we get up?” I wondered out loud, though if I was being honest, I didn’t want to get up. I wanted him to trace little circles all over my body… forever.

“Soon.” He murmured against the back of my neck, before taking a gentle bite and pulling my skin into his mouth. I couldn’t help but arch slightly against the sensation of his mouth on me, putting my ass more firmly against the hard ridge of him. He growled in approval, pressing himself harder into my back.

“I want to make you feel good first.” He whispered in my ear, and he lightly brushed his thumb against the underside of my bare breast, making me gasp. He traced the top of my shorts with his other hand, gently asking permission. “Can I?”

I was having a hard time finding my words. There was a euphony of feather light sensations erupting over so many different parts of my body. His breath on the back of my neck, his thumb on the sensitive underside of my breasts and his fingertips along the pebbled skin of my abdomen. I was straining in anticipation of his touch in so many directions, it was difficult to know where I wanted him to touch me more.

Then, so gently I barely felt it, he grazed his fingers over the front of my shorts, making my clit ache. I whimpered.

“Will you let me make you feel good, Kasha?” He asked again, his breath tickling my neck and sending even more heat rushing through my body and between my legs.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for sex.” I whispered. I wanted him, I knew I did, but I could feel the size of him pressing against me, and it would have been intimidating for anyone let alone someone like me. He smirked against me.

“I don’t need to have sex with you to make you come, Kasha. You just have to let me touch you.” As if he wanted to prove it, he brushed his thumb against the underside of my breast again, making me catch my breath. I wanted him to move that hand higher. My breasts were aching to have his fingers on them. Finally, I nodded.

“Okay,” I breathed, and he purred again, smiling against me.

“If it gets to be too much just tell me.” He murmured, and I nodded again, before he finally gave me what I had been craving.

He caught the hardened tip of my nipple between his fingers and pinched, twisting it slightly as he did so. The sensation was so intense after all the teasing that I cried out and he chuckled against me.

“So responsive.” He murmured, sliding his other hand down the front of my shorts. “What sorts of sounds will you make if I touch you here?” He asked, before sliding a finger between my legs. I arched against him again, allowing him to lightly dip into the pool of heat that had already gathered. He didn’t press deep enough to penetrate me, just enough to wet his fingers before dragging them back up over my clit.

“Fuck, Kasha… you’re already so wet for me.” He growled into my ear as he started massaging me. I pressed back into him as he worked my nipple and my clit with the same firm movements, causing a tiny whimper to escape my lips.

Smirking at my reaction, he kissed my ear. “Mmm. You like how that feels, don’t you?” More wetness spilled out of me and he gently slid his fingers down again, before pulling them back up and resuming his soft, but unforgiving strokes.

“You’re fucking soaking my hand, Kasha.” The way his voice rasped against me made my scalp tingle, and I made another unintentional mewling sound as the fire he was building between my legs intensified. Without meaning to, I found myself rocking my hips against his hand, silently begging for more.

“You’re getting close, aren’t you?” He chuckled at my eagerness, grinding himself against me from behind in encouragement. My legs started to quiver and I felt more than heard myself moan as the heat intensified.

“That’s it... come for me, Kasha. Ride my fingers baby, take what you need.”

“Rycon…” I gasped, as he continued to relentlessly stroke me. The burning sensation built to a crescendo and suddenly, I was coming apart.