Page 53 of The Song of Sunrise (The Prentice Teller #1)

Try Harder

L acerta’s funeral procession has wrapped around the entirety of the Watch’s grounds until ending in front of the frozen lake where chairs are now set up in clean rows, slanting downward facing the rocky beach.

The morning sun peeks from behind the distant mountains, bright against the clear blue skies, making it look deceptively warm outside, though it’s the middle of winter.

The Hevel family is clustered together at the front, hugging, rubbing backs, and wiping tears from their eyes.

Yet one figure stands still, watching as the casket is carefully lowered by tendrils’ myst into the ground.

Leo’s shoulders remain taut and his jaw clenched as he watches his twin being laid to rest.

Sure, becoming a Watcher has its risks. WatchTowers across the human territories each expose their guards to danger, from aggressive bands of nomads to rogue Underling attacks that require assistance. Even entering the Summit has been known to be deadly.

It is one thing hearing the stories.

It is another thing experiencing them.

Leaf reaches from my right and laces his fingers in mine.

I find Ramona’s hand, and she, Castor. And in a moment, we are all linked.

Our hands woven together in the tightest of braids, silently recognizing how quickly life can unravel.

I’m sad, happy, grateful, and terrified at the same time.

Terrified to lose these people next to me I’ve come to love, and so dearly grateful for them as well.

No words properly describe this immense pressure within my chest knowing that I have these people in my life, and somewhere out there, my other family exists too.

In my vision, I saw Rosie, Bane, and Nickel alive and well.

I’m not sure if Row made it, but I can only hope.

One day, I will find them. A stronger version of me that can protect them from harm, ideally with the Helios Stone in hand.

Leaf squeezes my hand, always keenly aware of my emotions.

I rest my head on his shoulder as the service finishes.

As a Sun’cher, he is naturally warmer than most, which I would normally find comforting to shield against the crisp winter air, but today, the cold doesn’t bother me. In fact, I can barely feel it at all.

After the service, I happily lose myself in Battlefield class.

I’ve been practicing with Marrow’s staff, which has a doubling effect in my training due to the amount of energy it takes to channel a myrage , disguising the golden staff as a regular wooden one while fighting an opponent.

I’m happy for the amount of mental and physical exertion spent in the class, even earning a rare comment of praise from Commander Hogsmith.

I’m utterly exhausted. Physically spent.

So when the note arrives later in my room to meet Atlys in the caves tonight, I know I’m going to struggle keeping my mind focused for Starwatcher practice.

“ Try harder, ” Atlys commands. The soft glow from the turquoise hot springs next to us illuminates his furrowed profile. Water trickles and drips in a staccato rhythm as irregular as my heartbeat. We have been working together for an hour already with no success.

I cannot seem to spread my awareness outside the cave walls above us, let alone to the stars.

Vines with small glowing buds of blues and greens wrap around the stone, climbing up the walls until they disappear into the high reaches of the cave ceiling.

Only the occasional stalactite jutting downward punctures the darkness above.

If I squint my eyes, I can almost pretend that those little glowing buds are stars.

I jab my right arm into Atlys’s side, punctuating my words. “I. Am.”

“Are you now?” he growls and reacts so quickly, I can barely register his movements.

His body is inches over mine, holding himself stiff.

Only the cool brush of the two silver chains dangling from his neck tickle my skin.

He grumbles impatiently. This close, I can see the moisture on his pale skin from the warm steam of the springs.

His pupils dilate, darkening his stare to nearly black.

He looks as if he is going to devour me, hungry and dominant. The ground trembles slightly beneath us, and I know he is holding in his power on a tight leash.

Even though I’m terrified, I cannot help but test him. See how far his control will stretch before it snaps. I lift my chin higher in defiance. “I am trying, but if you think I’m not, why don’t you motivate me?”

Sparks crackle and simmer between us as Atlys lowers himself onto me, pressing his thickness into my thigh. My breath hitches, and the stone floor beneath me vibrates in unison with his chuckle. He stays there, waiting for my response.

I hate that I love this feeling. This thrill.

Then I do something so reckless I just might die. I tilt my chin upward and kiss him.

He goes unnaturally still.

Embarrassment flushes my cheeks and I start to pull away, but his composure cracks and our mouths clash in hungry swells. He tilts his head and slips his tongue along my teeth.

I shudder and let out a breathy moan, which only ignites him further. He tastes just like he smells, leather and smoke and seabreeze, and I want more. More.

He must be reading my thoughts as his smoky shadows envelop us. Atlys grinds his hips into mine, and I arch in response. His hand slides upward, massaging my scalp and ever so lightly pulling on my hair.

Wanting to touch him, feel him, I press my hands on his chest. Gods. Even through his ridiculously expensive looking shirt I can feel his muscles flexing.

Atlys growls in approval at our contact. Something about it is so primal, as if my touch awoke a beast inside. He pulls away in a slow, prowling movement, watching me like any predator would prey, then slowly uncurls to his full height. His fingers flex and straighten in and out of fists.

“I’m not sure I can control myself any longer,” he grits through clenched teeth. Shadows pool around his feet in slow, smoking swirls.

Towering above me with darkness licking his boots like a snake, he looks like the lethal, powerful creature aptly named Soul Eater.

Carefully, I rise to my feet, trying not to make any sudden movements, but my boot gets caught on the hem of my dress, pulling the arm down to expose my shoulder. Fuck.

His eyes turn completely black, pure instinct taking over. Black wings materialize outward from his back. “Run.”

I scream and run between the scattered pools of water. Each stride makes me painfully aware of my throbbing core. Exhilaration takes over and I run, winding through the caves as fast as I can.

But he’s faster.

Large arms wrap around me from behind. I can feel his arousal as he purrs into my ear. “We are not finished.”

I turn toward him, smirk, and jump upward, straddling my legs around his tapered waist, knowing full well how our two bodies are meeting in the center. My smirk deepens into a cocky grin. I wore a dress tonight… and nothing underneath.

His nostrils flare, scenting my arousal. He carries us to the edge of the largest hot spring and gently sets me down, sliding my body along his front until we stand toe to toe. The silver of his eyes are visible again as he begins to gain control over whatever primal instinct that was.

I reach to lower the sleeves of my white nightgown off my shoulder.

“Please, let me.” Atlys promenades around me slowly, as if admiring a piece of art.

He stops directly behind me and, with an extreme amount of focus, trails a finger along my collarbone before slipping the gown off my shoulder.

It pools on the floor, and I’m tempted to go lie down next to the flimsy fabric just to give my trembling legs a break.

I turn to face him and try to suppress any feelings of self-consciousness. I am completely exposed before the Lord of Terraguard, Soul Eater, and most powerful Underling known in all Tellings.

“You are exquisite,” he says as his eyes slowly trace every curve and dip of my body.

I step closer. “Your turn.”

Without breaking eye contact, Atlys reaches one arm behind his head and pulls his shirt off before throwing it to the side.

The other hand unclasps the leather belt buckled low on his waist, pulling it slowly through the loops then tossing it to the pile where his shirt lays crumpled. Last, his pants join the pile.

Fuck . I gulp.

He is remarkable. As if he was carved out of marble. I feel heat spread between my legs at the sight of his considerable length.

“You are beautiful,” I say, because there is no other way to describe his terrifying beauty. I see now that those swirling black tattoos wrap around half of his body, covering his arms and pectorals, dissipating at the two delicious lines of his lower abdomen that lead downward to his…

Oh, sun burn me! He is going to break me with that.

Atlys chuckles.

“That’s not fair. Get out of my mind!” I say, knowing full well he was eavesdropping on my thoughts.

Atlys palms his length, devouring me with his eyes as he prowls forward. “I am going to fuck you so hard, but I assure you that the only breaking will be your soul when it fuses with mine.”

His mood flips from ravenous to gentle in one heartbeat. He lightly grabs my chin and kisses me sweetly. We melt together, exploring each other’s mouths. Atlys’s fingers slide down my back until he hooks his hands under my ass and carefully lifts before setting me on the ground.

Our kisses turn harder, filling with need. The cold stone of the cave floor against my warm skin turns my thoughts to delirium. I need more.

“This,” I managed to plead. “I hate this. But I want this too. I want you.”

“I—” Atlys kisses. “Will—” A kiss to my chest. “Willingly,” he says, crawling backward and kissing my hip. “—oblige.” He kneels before me. His breaths are as quick and shallow as my own. “Show me all of you.”

I shiver at the pure command of his voice. Slowly, I lean back on my elbows and open my legs, spreading myself bare for him to see. His silver eyes darken threateningly as shadows curl in thick twists around his bulky frame.

He adjusts his muscular thighs to support his weight as he reaches for my wrists, pinning them above my head with one large hand as the other one trails down my stomach. Lower, and lower, until he reaches my core. My brain short-circuits as he fingers my clit in gentle circles.

A moan escapes my lips.

He circles the bundle of nerves. “Do you like this?”

I buck my hips, desperate for more. “Yes.”

“And what about this?” He slides a finger along my slick core, teasing my entrance.

“Gods, please,” I plead breathlessly, already chasing a building sensation of pleasure swirling inside.

“If I am your God, then you are the center of my universe,” Atlys purrs and squeezes my hands tighter, stretching my body upward.

I arch my back in response. He curls his broad torso down, towering over me until his lips touch my ear lobe.

My peaked nipples brush along his chest with each breath.

I already feel myself quickening, spiraling with pleasure.

“Come for me.” He plunges a thick finger inside me. Once, twice, three times and I’m already unraveling. His pace quickens and he adds another finger, curling them at the top, hitting that wall within that sends white hot pleasure waves through my body.

“Atlys, Atlys, Atlys,” I chant between moans, worshiping his fingers with every grinding undulation of my hips until I completely uncoil myself, coming so hard my vision blurs.

“Fucking beautiful,” he says, pulling his finger out and into his mouth. “I’ve been waiting to taste you on my fingers.”

I grind my hips under him in response. Wanting more, wanting to be filled by him.

“Divine.” He licks his fingers once more. “Now I’m going to fuck you, Akemi. Is this what you want?” He releases the hand holding my wrists and I cup around his neck, pulling him into a needy kiss.

More, more, more, I show him. But Atlys pulls back, eyes searching mine. His hips are perfectly aligned over me. I can feel his erection pressing against my entrance.

“Say it.”

“ Yes. ”

I explode in pleasure as Atlys drives into me in one deep thrust.

“Holy fucking Gods,” I pant. He fills me completely, almost to the edge of pain.

I curl my legs around his narrow hips, tilting myself upward until I feel his balls resting on my ass. He pulls out slowly, inch after inch, sliding easily from how wet I am for him.

I watch where we are connected, mesmerized by our joining. We fit together perfectly.

Greedily, I grind my hips, eager to take him deeper. He chuckles at my feeble attempt, then slides into me once more.

“Atlys,” I moan as he thrusts into me, again, and again, and again.

My mind is overloaded, registering the touch of his calloused palm as he grips my breast and every stroke of him inside me.

My thoughts are loose threads, unraveling impossibly fast in the sensation of him.

Of us. “Please, please.” I don’t even know what I’m begging for at this point.

“As you command.” He pulls out of me quickly and flips me over to my hands and knees. Two strong hands grab my hips and pull my ass upward, forcing my cheek to press against the cold stone floor of the cavern. “Hold on.”

I reach for something to hold, but cannot find any purchase beyond the unforgiving stone as he fingers my clit, circling it so fast that I lose myself.

I scream in pleasure as his cock slides into my slickness from behind. I squeeze myself around his length.

“Fuck,” Atlys groans, then continues his relentless tempo, crashing into me.

There is nothing to hang onto to keep me in place, so I submit completely to his control.

I transcend.

Dizzy with pleasure, I scream his name as I shatter into so many pieces that it would be impossible to put me back together as I was before him.

Atlys follows, roaring from behind while his fingers clamp into the skin of the sides of my hips. I can feel him pulsing inside me as he comes.

He licks the side of my neck and pulls me onto his lap in a way too sweet for his kind, treating me like I’m the most fragile possession in the world. I’m struck by his tenderness. So sweet and opposite of his demanding presence only moments ago.

“Are you sore, my Sunrise?”

I wince as I adjust my position on his lap. He is the largest man I’ve slept with, and we definitely did not take baby steps. “I’m… a little swollen.”

Without another word, he carries me to the bubbling source springs.

“I could stay like this forever,” I say as I float in the warm water, still from the safety of his arms. He seems unwilling to let me go, scowling at the water as if it will carry me farther away from him.

“Then forever it is.” He pulls me in tight to his chest, and I rest my head on his shoulder.