Nikkava takes it in her long slender fingers, a smile softening her features as she rubs her thumb over the smooth surface. “Ah, I wondered where this went. It disappeared from my room after Chanísh’s ghost met the goddess. How did you get it?”
“Lyro gave it to me,” Delphie explains. “That’s how we found you.”
“He’s such a good greenling,” my mother says fondly, as though Lyro didn’t steal it from her. She pushes the pendant back into Delphie’s hands, closing her fingers around it. “He was right to give it to you. It has belonged to all the women in our family. You will carry it forward and choose its next wearer.”
Delphie nods, emotions running rampant on her skin, and then leans forward to wrap her in a long, heartfelt embrace. Nikkava meets my eyes over my Alara’s shoulder.
“My son,” she says softly. “You’ve made me so proud.”
We share lastmeal together there, Delphie and I sitting on the floor next to her cot, and I hear the painful stories about her time on the Eye. I learn that she chose to accompany my father—all the concubines did. They felt they could soften him toward their sons if they stayed close to him.
“Zomah was not a good influence on him. He brought out the worst in your father. His paranoia. His greed,” my mother adds, eyes downcast. I bite my tongue against what I want to say, that Chanísh was terrible even when we all lived on Irra together. But perhaps he was even worse to live with on the Eye. “I fear what the High Priest will do to you now, Nik. He angers easily.”
“He won’t do anything. He’s dead, R’Hiza take his ghost.” I grunt.
“We blew him up,” Delphie adds succinctly.
“Thank Alioth for this gift,” Nikkava breathes, blue and green pigment adding life to her skin. My mother wants to hear more about our victory, and more about me and Delphie, too, but I can tell she is tiring. She can’t rest here in the pits, though. The celebration is still in full swing, with noisy toasts to my Alara’s health and Zomah’s demise, reenactments of Y’len’s brilliant match with the shadowcloak, and loud songs about drinking.
“We should put the moms in our room,” Delphie says, noticing the same problem at the same time. “It’s the most comfortable.”
Gemeri, who’s finally made it down to the party, puts a hand on my shoulder. “Your mother and the other females can stay in my quarters. My room is large enough for two or three at least. I can sleep in the comm room. Cidro offers his as well. Says he will sleep in the lab if he has a chance to rest after the refugees from the Eye are examined.”
Delphie gives him one of her brightest smiles, and I let my gratitude show on my skin. As soon as we’re assured that the mothers have reliable escorts to their new rooms, we sneak out while another round of gresha is being poured.
“We need to build more rooms,” I say on the way to our quarters, already feeling the familiar strain of a new task. “We’ll have to expand the passageway network. Maybe we should bring in Ghudi labor from Endan to haul the rocks.”
My Alara extends her hand and clasps mine. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Tonight we have other plans.
Chapter 35
Delphie
Ifinally have him to myself. Today has been all about duty. I’ve shared him with everyone from his mom to evil priests, but now I want my turn. So when the door to our room closes behind us, I jump on him like a spider monkey, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck so I can kiss him with everything I’ve got.
He laughs into my mouth at first, his hand sliding to cup my ass, but as our tongues slide against each other and our teeth clash, his laughter turns to grunts and moans. His fingers dig in, kneading my flesh, and I can feel that I’m getting wet already.
Fuck, I needed this.
I’m barely holding it together after the long day we had today. The mission went well, and I loved meeting Nikkava. The Irran women are cool as shit, and their rescue means that Lyro is able to rescue Lena without anything standing in his way. One hundred percent worth it.
But those long minutes apart, when I was inside that transport ship and I wasn’t sure that I was going to see him again? They tore me to pieces, and I really need him to glue me back together again. Preferably with come.
Feeling feral, I bite his lower lip, then his chin, then the side of his neck and his shoulder. I want to swallow him so I can keepthem forever. “You’re mine,” I tell him. “Out there, you’re a son and a king and a warrior and a teacher, but in here, you’re mine.”
“Yours,” he agrees hoarsely. “Even out there. In every moment, in every lifetime, I’m yours.”
We fall into the bed, lips locked and hands frantic as we strip the many layers of sveli off each other. His skin is so warm when I finally get to touch it, alive and rippling and addictive. I want to kiss every part of him. I want to lick between his fingers and suck his balls. I want to whisper all the tangled, swollen emotions I’ve kept stuffed inside all day in his ear.
But all I can get out is, “Fuck, you make me wild.”
“Lesson six,” he groans, panting with urgency as he grinds his cock against my hip. “What is it? What will I learn tonight? I want to please you. I’ll do anything you ask.”
I grab his shoulders and push him back into the furs, then roll on top of him. I straddle his waist and plant my palms on his chest, leaning forward to steal a kiss. “Lesson six is selfishness. But it isn’t for you. It’s for me. I’ve been very patient about sharing you today, so now I get to be greedy.”
“You’ve been so good today, my queen. You can have whatever you want.” His hands span my waist, and he rocks my hips into his firm abs. As my swollen clit trips across them and my eyes roll back in my head at the intense sensation, he flashes a wicked smile. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? Use me to make your pretty little cunt happy.”
He pushes me down more firmly and I relax my thighs so my legs are spread wider, opening me to the friction. I arch my back, adjusting to the perfect angle, and...fuck, that feels good. I love how he can push my body around like I don’t weigh anything.
