Page 14
Chapter Fourteen
Valen
The soft morning light filters through the curtains of my room, painting the ornate furniture in muted gold. The air is heavy with the scent of sandalwood and a faint, lingering trace of Marek’s skin on mine.
My limbs ache, a bittersweet reminder of the hours we spent tangled together in the cottage. Every kiss, every touch felt like a desperate bid to hold on. But time, relentless as always, brought us here. To this room. To this day. To the start of years spent apart in all the ways that matter most.
Marek is quiet beside me as he buttons his ceremonial coat. I mirror him, my hands going through the motions of dressing without much thought. The material feels heavier today, the silver embroidery like chains binding me to the role I’ve been born to play.
Marek catches my eye in the mirror. His dark gaze is steady, resolute. But I know there’s more he’s hiding behind the calm. I know it because I’m hiding my own.
I break his gaze and tug on the ends of my coat, my thoughts turning to Stella. Is she nervous? Scared? I know she’s strong, stronger than she gives herself credit for, but this marriage is as much a sacrifice for her as it is for me. She didn’t ask for this. She didn’t choose this life, this performance we’ve choreographed for the benefit of the court and the kingdom.
Yet even through the grief of what I’m losing with Marek, there’s something else I can’t ignore. There’s an undeniable spark of anticipation, an unexpected warmth at the thought of seeing her walk down that aisle.
My feelings for Stella are real. As real as the vows I’ll speak today, even if the ceremony is a charade for everyone else. Even if the foundation of this marriage is a web of necessity, deception, and duty, I can’t deny the truth of what I feel when I look at her.
But the world doesn’t bend for love. Not all of ours at least.
A sharp knock shatters the stillness, snapping me from my thoughts. Marek glances at me before he strides to the door. He opens it, and the sight that greets us takes my breath away.
Stella stands there, radiant and otherworldly. Her wedding gown shimmers, the silks and jewels seeming to shift with every movement. The delicate tiara perched on her head catches the light like a crown of stars, while her curls frame her face in a way that makes her beauty almost unbearable to look at. She doesn’t just look like a queen—she looks like our queen.
“Stella?” I manage, stepping toward her, concern blooming as the determined set of her mouth registers. “Is something wrong?”
She draws in a shaky breath and steps inside. “I’ve been up all night,” she says, clasping her trembling hands in front of her. “I couldn’t sleep. It isn’t right that you two will have to be apart for years.”
Marek stiffens beside me, but I can’t take my eyes off Stella. “We’ve already explained why it has to be this way,” I say, though my own heart twists at the reminder. “It’s not forever. We’ll make it through.”
She shakes her head, her gaze darting between us. “What if it doesn’t have to be like that?”
Marek and I exchange a confused glance. “What do you mean?” he asks cautiously.
Stella swallows, then lifts her chin and straightens her shoulders. “When I landed in Towerfall, you made me a proposal,” she begins, her voice growing steadier with each word. “And I accepted. Now I have a proposal for both of you.”
My heart squeezes as her words hang in the air. Marek shifts beside me, but I don’t dare look at him.
She takes another deep inhale and continues. “I never thought I’d want to be in another relationship, much less married. But the Universe dropped me here, between you two, placing me exactly where I needed to be. And before I knew it, I’d fallen for you. Both of you.”
The confession strikes like lightning, setting every nerve in my body alight.
“I love you,” she says, her eyes shining. “Both of you. And now that Elara is here, I have no reason to go back to New York. So what if I stayed? What if we made our triad official? What if we were each other’s happily ever after?”
My heart leaps, a wild, unbidden hope surging through me. It’s everything I’ve wanted, everything I never dared to let myself believe could be real. Her words crack open something deep inside me, filling the hollow spaces with light.
My gaze flits to Marek, searching for a glimmer of the same hope, for some sign that he feels what I do. But Marek would never—he’s too bound by his honor, by the weight of duty he’s carried since the moment he was old enough to understand what it meant.
Stella’s gaze bounces between us, her breath coming fast, her chest rising and falling as if she’s run through worlds to get here. She’s searching, pleading without words, for answers, for something—anything—that might give her a sign this isn’t just a beautiful, impossible dream.
And gods, I want to give it to her. I want to reach for her, pull her into my arms, and promise her the world. I want to turn to Marek and see his walls crumble. But the weight of his silence is a living, breathing thing creeping in to blanket us all.
What if he says no? What if his sense of duty is stronger than his love for us? What if this spark of hope Stella has ignited is snuffed out before it even has the chance to burn?
“Yes.”
I blink, my head snapping to Marek. “Yes what?”
Marek doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze settles on Stella. Then he shifts his focus to me, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I see it. The walls are down, his emotions laid bare.
“Yes,” he says again, his voice firm now, as though daring the gods to challenge him. “I love you both. And I can’t imagine a more perfect life than spending it together.”
I step toward Marek, my hands trembling slightly as I reach for him. I cradle his face, running my thumbs over the roughness of his jaw as I force him to meet my gaze. “Do you truly mean it?” I whisper, my voice cracking under the weight of what this moment could mean.
His hands come up to cover mine. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be with you. But I never realized something was missing—some one was missing—until Stella arrived and completed us. She’s the missing piece, Valen. She makes us whole.”
A sharp ache blooms in my chest, and I press my forehead to his. And then I kiss him. It’s not a kiss of desperation, like the one we shared the night before, but one full of love, hope, and the promise of a future that’s suddenly here.
When I finally pull back, my heart pounding, I turn to Stella. She watches us with wide, luminous eyes, and my heart swells all over again. I take her face in my hands just as I did Marek’s. Her skin is soft beneath my fingers, her breath hitching as I lean in.
I kiss her, soft and tender. It’s a kiss meant to convey everything I feel for her—gratitude, affection, and a deep, abiding love that terrifies and exhilarates me in equal measure. She melts into me, her hands clutching at my wrists as though afraid to let go.
As we part, Marek steps forward. “My turn,” he declares, and before Stella can react, he captures her lips in a kiss that’s unmistakably Marek—possessive, commanding, leaving no room for doubt about what she means to him.
When they part, Stella is breathless, her cheeks blazing and her lips swollen. Her gaze swings between us as she struggles to catch her breath. And then, with a trembling but teasing smile, she says, “So, does this mean you accept my proposal?”
Marek and I answer in unison: “We do.”
Before she can utter another word, I scoop her into my arms. Stella gasps, clutching at my shoulders in surprise. “What are you—”
Marek falls into step beside me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. No words are needed; we know each other well enough to move as one.
“What are you doing?” Stella demands through bubbles of laughter.
Marek answers first. “Consummating our marriage.”
Her mouth falls open. “That doesn’t happen until after the wedding!”
I push past the door to my bedchamber with my shoulder. “Then it’s a good thing I’m a prince and can make up new rules when it suits me.”
I stride into the room and set her down at the foot of the bed, her feet just brushing the floor as Marek steps in behind her and his hands find her hips in a way that leaves no room for retreat.
Stella makes a valiant attempt at protest, though her voice is breathless, trembling under the weight of what she knows is coming. “It took hours for me to look like this. You brutes will make a mess of me.”
Marek dips his head, brushing his lips against the exposed column of her neck. “We’ll be careful,” he murmurs against her skin.
“People will be looking for us,” she tries again, but her resolve is already cracking, her argument faltering as I step closer.
Her breath hitches as I trace my fingers along the intricate neckline of her gown, the weight of the enormous necklace resting against her collarbone. My lips follow the path of my fingers, trailing kisses along her bare shoulders.
“Let them look,” I murmur, my voice firm as I trail my mouth along the delicate curve of her jaw.
“They’ll know what we’re doing,” she whispers, her hands clutching at my sleeves.
Marek smirks against her shoulder. “Good. Then they will know you are truly ours.”
Her protest melts into a soft gasp as Marek’s lips find the sensitive spot just below her ear. The sound sends a ripple of heat through me, and I tilt her face toward mine, cradling her cheeks in my hands. My lips find hers, savoring the taste of her warmth, her sweetness, the way her body yields to me.
Marek’s hands glide up her waist, deftly finding the fastenings of her gown. He works them loose, and the fabric begins to yield, slipping off her shoulders to reveal more tantalizing glimpses of her bare skin. She shivers under his touch, her hands catching mine as her gaze flickers between us.
“The dress…”
“Will be perfectly preserved,” Marek assures her, punctuating it with a nip on her ear that elicits a shuddering whimper.
I step back to give myself space to drink her in. The gown is exquisite, but it’s Stella that holds my attention as Marek eases it down her body. It pools at her feet, her bare skin glowing in the soft morning light. Taking her hand, I help her step out of it while Marek drapes it carefully on the nearby settee and disrobes in record time.
“I swear you’re more beautiful every time I see you,” I murmur, my voice thick with awe. My fingers brush a strand of hair from her face, lingering against her cheek as her lips curve into a soft, hesitant smile.
“You make me feel like I am.” She blushes as Marek wraps his arms around her from behind, pulling her back against the hard planes of his naked body. “You two are impossible,” she says, but there’s no real protest in her voice.
“Impossible,” he echoes, his lips grazing her ear as his hands begin to explore her curves. “But yours.”
I quickly strip off the layers of ceremonial attire I only just put on, letting the gilded fabric fall to the floor in a heap. When I rejoin them, I claim Stella’s mouth again. Her lips part beneath mine, her surrender as sweet as it is inevitable. My hands frame her face while Marek’s roam lower, tracing the curve of her hips and teasing at the edge of her curls. She’s caught between us, her body trembling, her protests long forgotten. My erection presses against her belly, and every soft sound she makes fuels the fire roaring inside me.
Stella is light and warmth, her body a sanctuary of silken softness beneath my hands. Her curves mold perfectly against me. Her kiss is honey, slow and sweet. She quiets the storm. She’s the calm I never knew I needed. With her, I find peace.
I break my kiss with Stella and fist my hand in Marek’s hair, pulling him toward me to claim his mouth next. Marek is fire and power. His hard muscles ripple under my touch. The rough scrape of his scruff singes my skin. He’s ferocious, wild, relentless. He burns through every part of me.
Between them, I’m whole. Stella’s soothing light heals my soul, while Marek’s fire fuels it, setting me ablaze. Together, they anchor me and set me free.
“Get on the bed,” Marek rasps. For a moment, I think he’s speaking to Stella, but then I feel the weight of his black gaze. The command is meant for me.
My brows shoot up in surprise. Marek’s natural dominance is no secret, but he’s never attempted to dominate me .
He draws Stella more firmly against him and takes a step back, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “Do you trust me?”
The answer comes without thought. “Always.”
“Then get on the bed.” He pauses, then one side of his mouth lifts. “Please.”
That single “please” does two things for me: it reassures me that Marek isn’t attempting to reverse our roles entirely, and it guarantees he won’t be punished later with the chastity cage. I could push back. Usually, I would. While he’s not outright taking control of me, he is taking control of the moment, steering the scene in a direction outside our norm. It’s bold, unexpected, and tempting.
I let the curiosity win. Slowly, I climb onto the bed, deliberately holding his gaze as I move. The mattress dips under my weight as I settle back, lacing my hands behind my head and propping myself against the pillows.
“Does this suit your needs, Captain Drayk?”
“It does indeed,” he says, turning to face me while still holding Stella, his arms wrapped around her middle possessively. “Our sorceress is about to become our princess. With your permission, my prince, I’d like to teach her what it means to serve you.”
Heat surges through me, as if he’s set fire to my veins. My blood pulses hot and thick, and a clear drop of arousal beads at the tip of my cock. “Permission granted,” I manage, my voice sounding like I dragged it through gravel.
Stella’s cheeks flush as Marek whispers something in her ear, then she turns to me, her gaze molten. She crawls toward me on the bed, sin and seduction, her curves shifting, mesmerizing. When she reaches me, she straddles my hips, settling her weight over me and sending a jolt of anticipation through my body.
Behind Stella, Marek kneels, his powerful thighs bracketing her hips as he presses close, his chest brushing against her back. His hands slide over her curves, steadying her while his dark eyes lock on mine.
One of Marek’s hands slips lower, brushing between Stella’s legs. Her body responds instantly, a soft gasp escaping her lips as his fingers explore, moving in deliberate, teasing strokes that leave her trembling.
“You’re perfect for us,” Marek murmurs, his lips grazing her ear. The low rumble of his voice sends a shiver through us both. “And soon, you’ll understand just how much we mean that.”
He adjusts his position and begins to guide his thick cock inside her. I watch, captivated, as Stella arches, and her head falls back against his shoulder with a gasping cry. Inch by inch, he fills her, his length swallowed up until he’s buried to the hilt. The sight of them together—the way they fit so perfectly—steals what little breath I have left.
Marek’s movements are unhurried and deliberate as he fucks her above me. One hand slides up to knead her breasts and pinch her nipples while the other works tight circles around the bundle of nerves between her legs.
I’m enthralled by the sight of his cock coated in her slick honey as he impales her sweet cunt again and again. My fists clench at my sides, my body taut with restraint as I watch Marek worship her with his touch, his lips grazing her shoulder and his voice a low growl of praise meant only for her. It takes every ounce of discipline I have not to take control, not to take what I want.
“First, princess,” he says, his authoritative words mixing with Stella’s moans. “Out there, we are equals. You are ours as much as we are yours, and we will cherish you and treat you as the queen you will one day become. But here…” He pauses to thrust, eliciting another soft moan from her. “Here, behind closed doors, we serve our prince. We treat him with respect and address him as such. He is the sovereign ruler over our bodies, our pleasure, and our pain. In return, he will love us and care for us, always.”
Emotion swells in my chest, so potent it nearly drowns me. I grip Stella’s thighs, needing to touch her, to anchor myself in this moment.
“Second, in respect to you and me,” he continues, “I will always defer to our prince, but when allowed or when we’re alone, I will be your captain. You will address me as such and give me the same respect you would the prince. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Captain, I understand,” she answers breathlessly.
“Good fucking girl,” he growls at her temple. His next thrust is almost violent with the force of his lust from hearing those words from her lips.
Stella cries out, an expression of sheer ecstasy on her face and the proof of it dripping down her inner thighs.
“Third and final thing to remember, princess. While we may find pleasure in each other alone, we are only whole when the three of us are together. Do you want us to show you how good it will be?”
“It feels like I’ve been waiting for this—for you— my whole life,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion and desire. “Yes, I want this. I want us.”
Marek holds still inside her and shifts, lifting her slightly, his strong hands steadying her quaking body. With a sharp nod, he signals me forward. I grip my cock, the sensation almost too much to bear as I guide the crown to Stella’s entrance. Even with how much she’s dripping from Marek’s efforts, this won’t be easy.
Stella gasps as I slowly press inside. The dual sensations of her silken inner walls and the veined, rigid underside of Marek’s cock feel like fucking heaven. “That’s it, pet,” I croon. “Nice and slow. Relax for us. Let me in.”
Marek leans down, his lips brushing against her ear as his fingers find the sensitive bundle of nerves between her thighs. “You’re incredible, Stella,” he murmurs. “You’re taking us both so perfectly. Just breathe, love.”
Her body trembles, her soft moans spurring me on as I press deeper. My hands move to Marek’s thighs, guiding him to move them up and down on my cock in shallow strokes, easing me inside bit by bit, until I’m fully seated.
“Gods,” I groan. “You feel…perfect.”
Marek’s hips begin to move, and my own thrusts are shallow at first, matching his pace. Stella’s moans rise in pitch, blending with Marek’s guttural growls and my soft grunt as the three of us move as one. The wet glide of our bodies, the whispered praise, gasps and sighs—it’s all-consuming. My hands slide to Stella’s waist, gripping her firmly as I thrust deeper, harder, my movements aligning perfectly with Marek’s.
Time loses all meaning. There’s only us—the push and pull of our bodies, the shared breaths, the synchronized rhythm of our hearts. In this moment, we aren’t three people. We’re a singular force, a union forged in love, passion, and unbreakable trust.
We don’t need a ceremony; that’s for the rest of the court. This is our vow. This binds us in ways words could never. And when we crest together, a shared cry tearing from our lips, the world shatters into light and heat, pleasure and love—a vow etched into our very souls.
As the waves of ecstasy ebb, we collapse onto the bed, limbs tangled and hearts drumming. Stella rests her head on my chest, her tiara askew, curls damp and wild. Marek’s strong arms wrap around us both as our breaths slow and sync.
For a long moment, we bask in the afterglow.
Stella shifts slightly, her fingers trailing over my chest before she lets out a breathy laugh. “What was that about not making me a mess?”
Marek chuckles, the rumble of it vibrating through the bed.
I tilt my head down to kiss her damp curls. “You’ll forgive us, won’t you, pet?”
She hums softly, a playful smirk curling her lips. “I don’t know… It’s going to take a lot of effort to fix this.”
I grin, brushing a thumb over her flushed cheek. “Then let’s get started. Marek, order a bath for our bride. We’ve thoroughly ravished her. It’s only right we make her presentable.”
Marek props himself on one elbow, his dark eyes glinting. “As you command, Your Highness.”
I press a kiss to Stella’s forehead and another to Marek’s lips before sliding out of bed.
Marek raises a brow as he watches me pull on my discarded clothes. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To find my parents,” I reply, buttoning the silver swords that decorate the front of my coat. “I’ll tell them to push the ceremony back an hour—and prepare them for what’s to come.”
“And after that?” Stella asks.
“After that, we set the stage for our future.”
Marek sits up. “We should all go. The three of us should stand as one and let them know our duty will not only be to the kingdom but to each other.”
“You’re right,” I say, meeting Marek’s steady gaze. “If we’re going to do this, we need to start as we mean to go on.”
“Together.” Stella smiles.
“But first.” I pause in the doorway, my lips curving into a smile. “I’m off to the market.”
“The market?” Marek echoes. “What could you possibly need at the market?”
I glance back at them, my grin widening. “A third wedding ring.”