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twenty-seven

Ereon

“ W hat the fuck happened here?” My voice echoes through the air as I yell at Ryul, and his face registers nothing but pure shock.

I was almost asleep, listening to Carnaxa breathe against my chest. She said little after we came back from training, she doesn’t say much anymore. I remember the Carnaxa in Antalis, sure she was sometimes quiet, but this is different.

“Still gathering reports from the Prel . But from what I’m hearing, someone was affected by the madness.” Ryul’s hair is strewn with sand and whipped around, minor cuts cover his face from the small stabbings of sand.

“The madness?” I ask as I look back into the tent. Carnaxa’s outline is evident from the candle lantern inside, and I can see she’s pacing.

Lelfait, Thylas’ man, comes running up. He pants as he puts his palms on his knees, bending to catch his breath. He has a bleeding cut across his shoulder and from the looks of it, he was cut pretty deep.

“I can’t find the Ambassador.” He looks around. “It was near me. The madness. One of the Prel was arguing with one of mine in the Shayi . They started fighting and then...” He breathes deeper. “It just — the wind exploded out of the soldier. Once it stopped, the men tackled him. They are to bring him here — to you, Prince Ereon.”

I nod my head while also inwardly groaning. I know that means I’ll have no other option but to put him to death. According to my father’s proclamation, it has been established that anyone showing symptoms of the madness must die in order to prevent the spread. Just add it to the blood that’s already on my hands.

“Where is Thylas? Has anyone checked on Bêlit Siphonie and Bêl Rhenor? Where you find one, you’ll usually find them all,” I suggest, looking toward where I last saw Thylas and Anara .

“I’m here.”

Thylas comes walking up, still running his hands through his hair to get the sand out, Anara not but a few feet behind him. I happily sigh, seeing that she is okay. Since she told me to leave, I’ve obliged — for now. Soon, I’ll want to talk to her. I found out years ago that she takes a few days to calm down after something bothers her. This isn’t the first time she’s been mad at me.

“Where is Carnaxa?” Thylas comes up on my right.

“She’s fine … in the tent.” I motion my head in the general direction and notice her shadow, now with two others, Siphonie and Rhenor, if I had to guess. “Anara, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Her eyes dart to Thylas. She looks at him and then to Carnaxa’s tent. Is she asking permission? Since when does Anara ever ask for anything? Thylas slightly nods and she turns on her heels, heading to the tent.

“What’s happened?” Thylas says plainly, not even looking at me.

Ryul and I update him as a man of the Prel is brought to me. His hands are tied tightly behind his back and he is forced down to his knees in front of me. I take in his appearance; besides the swollen eye and bloody lip, he looks as normal as anyone else here. Well, except for the fact that he’s crying; most people in the Prel would rather be burned alive than shed a tear.

“Prince …” His words come out sloppy as he fights his tears. “Forgive me. I didn’t ask for this.”

I glance toward Ryul who shakes his head, already knowing that I would let him go if I could. I can’t. We don’t know how the madness is being spread, we could all already be affected.

I pull a curved sword from the scabbard on my back. As I do, the man panics and pulls his arms from around him, the bonds falling to the ground. He stands swiftly and swipes a right hook at me and I swing my head to the side. Thylas barrels into the man, tackling him to the ground.

The soldier pushes against Thylas’ chest as wind flies from his palms — the madness. The gust forcefully pushes against Thylas, causing him to soar away from the man. Around the soldier’s hands, the sand gathers in the wind as he prepares to free it once more.

I take a step towards him and he releases the tiny particles. The sand cascades around me, cutting into my face and I hold my palm up. The surrounding air becomes cold and the sand is suddenly repelled by an invisible force. It’s not noticeable to those who are watching, but I don’t feel the sand pelting me anymore. Looking hastily over my shoulder, Carnaxa stands just outside the tent.

“Get my wife to safety,” I yell over the roaring wind that’s still building. I hear Thylas curse under his breath as he heads her way.

I keep my hand up, expecting whatever is giving me a reprieve to disappear. Making my way to the man, the sand continues to fall away from me. I grab his throat with one hand, it’ll be hard to wield anything if he can’t breathe. He struggles to pry my grip off his neck as I lift my sword in my other hand to hit him on his temple. He becomes clay in my hands as he passes out.

I release him and his body falls to the ground. Ryul comes beside me before speaking, “He could have had a quick death. Now, you’ll have to flog him for striking a Prince and then kill him.”

If one gets away with thinking they can take me on, others will try it. Looking at the tent, I notice Carnaxa isn’t there anymore. Good, I don’t want her to witness anything more. While I might have second thoughts about the unnecessary violence that my father requires of me, I have none with men who attack me because if they attack me, they’ll attack her. I rub my wrist that must have gotten injured during it all.

“Cut his hands off first.”

I feel her before I see her. Carnaxa comes from behind me as I wash the blood from my hands at the silver basin in our tent. She runs her hand up my back. This is the first time she’s touched me outside of duty or at night when she seeks my embrace. Nothing has happened since our first night, and I’ve missed her touch.

“Do you have to kill them?” she asks. “They can’t control what’s happening to them.”

With my hands resting on either side of the basin, I let my head hang limply, feeling the weight of exhaustion. “Are you asking because you’re worried that’s what will happen to you?”

None of us have talked about it. But I know what I saw in the pass in the Cartilen Mountains, when Thylas and I were fighting, along with earlier this evening. The coldness, the ice, the way the khind reacted to her. Even if she doesn’t remember it, we do. I take a breath, still not wanting to meet her eyes, because I have to ask, “Do you have the madness, Ryehro ?”

She removes her hand from my back and takes a step back. “If I did ... would you kill me for it?”

I turn so quickly, my knee pops. I grab her shoulders and look down at her. Her blue eyes blaze into mine. A strand of hair lays against her pale olive skin and I let my finger trace across her cheek. That she would even ask me such a question still shows she’s following the safety of the twin drop between us, but she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know how she came into my life and despite my trying, she took what little of my heart was there and now holds it in her hands. My eyes search hers.

“I would sooner watch you bring this world to ruin than ever lift my sword against you. I would stand at your side as Ashonara crumbled.” I can’t stand it anymore and I pull her towards me. She said before she wanted me, but it was the effect of the ripples between us — I wanted to wait, let her remember. Let her feel something for me again. Maybe I’m a selfish bastard, or the adrenaline is still flowing through my veins from the night, but I don’t care.

My lips crush into hers, the shell on my chest buzzes with heat as her own warms my skin given its proximity. I expect her to push me back, but she doesn’t. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me further into her. The blood is still on my arms and clothing from the soldier’s death, but that’ll have to wait.

Her head leans back, exposing her neck to me. I kiss along her freckles, nipping lightly at the skin there. Her nails rake against my scalp and I can’t help the growl that comes out against the curve of her neck. I wrap my hands around the back of her thighs and she willingly entwines her legs around my waist .

Too far from the bed right, I turn us, pushing her against the post that holds up the walls of our tent. Between us, the golden ripple is already making a vibrant humming sound. She pulls my face back to hers. Her lips collide with mine. My tongue begs for entrance and her own meets mine with our unique dance, as if we’ve done this thousands of times before. Her hands pull the tunic from my waist band, before she runs her palms across my chest. The thin strap of her gown has fallen to her shoulder, her breast slipping out. As I break the kiss, I lower my head and gently suck on her nipple, relishing the sensation of my tongue swirling around its peak.

“Ereon.” My name on her lips has my cock already pushing against the laces of my pants.

I look back up at her, her lips are swollen and her cheeks are flushed.

“Do you want this?” I ask her. I want to ask if she wants me, but I don’t want to scare her away. I know she did before we entered Shaston, but I will never be my father. I will never be a man who takes a woman who doesn’t want me. She moves her hips gently against me, making it difficult for me to maintain control. “That’s not a yes.”

Carnaxa smiles. “Yes.”

I know that she’s no longer a maiden, but I know that her experience is limited to the night of our marriage and her night with Thylas. Thylas was gentle, loving.

“If you need gentle ...” My words trail off. Those that came willingly into my bedroom were often looking to forget for the night, and never requested a sweet caress. The closest I have been to gentle was the night of the Nle Shom .

Carnaxa grinds against me harder before she leans in and whispers, “I just need to feel.” Her breath tickles my ear.

I release her legs, letting her feet softly land on the floor. If she wants to be worshiped, then I’ll do so. As I kneel before her, I can feel the weight of her leg in my grasp, carefully lifting it and resting it on my shoulder. The pink night dress clings to her body, riding up her thigh.

Very few times have I ever felt like I was in the presence of anything holy, but having her here with me now, I know I don’t deserve this blessing I’m about to receive. With her bare before me, I know this is the closest I’ll ever come to Mohasa .

I let my fingers glide over her thigh. Her once-reddened brand with the emblem of my house on her thigh catches my attention. It’s healing now thanks to the salve. I lean down, peppering kisses across the image as my fingers touch along her wet core. My tongue follows the same path as she grips her fingers into my hair. She tastes of sugar as I flatten my tongue, letting it graze her clit. I slip a finger inside of her. Her breaths are already quickening.

Alternating my tongue and my fingers inside her, her back arches, giving me even more access. Her leg clenches around my shoulder and I fumble with the belt of my pants. The belt finally releases, and I look up at her. The blood from my arms and clothes has stained her chest and arms, but she doesn’t seem to care. Carnaxa bites on her bottom lip as she trembles beneath my fingertips. She’s going to pull my hair out with the way her fingers are tugging and twisting, but I would let her. She looks down at me, her eyes hooded with desire, and I can’t wait any longer.

I stand up, wrapping her legs back around my waist. Her back is against the wooden pole, and I reposition my arms so that I can hold her with just one below her ass. Her legs wrap even tighter around me. My cock pushes against her entrance, but I have to know just one more time. I can feel her heart beating against my chest.

She doesn’t even give me the chance to ask before her legs pull me to her. I grab her wrists in my hand, wanting to give my head a little relief. I lift them above her head, letting the wood dig into the back of my fingers, and hold her there. I kiss her again, letting my lips drag along her bottom lip and push up into her.

The warmth that meets me unleashes everything I’ve tried to hold back. I pull out, thrusting hard into her again. Carnaxa presses her body against mine, gasping for breath as I fill her completely. I know the wood behind her has to be scratching at her back, and I slow my motions for a moment.

She notices and cracks a smile. “Don’t stop.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and I push back into her. I drop her hands and gently wrap my hand around her throat, feeling a tingling sensation at the base of my spine. Drenched in blood and sweat, and consumed by pleasure, she embodies a warrior. I thrust into her more, letting her know that wherever she goes, whatever she is, I’ll be there.

I sink my teeth into her shoulder as her nails scrape down my back, beneath the shirt that I’m still wearing. Pressing my head against the softness of her neck, I feel as her muscles contract around me. I let go of her neck and slide my hands beneath her thighs, desperate to bring her even closer to me. She screams my name loud enough I’m sure the entire camp heard and just that thought alone has me releasing my climax into her.