I sighed. “They cannae be worse thanYer enemies have allied and are coming to attack those ye hold dearest.”
“Nay, they are no’,” the Battleborn chief announced with another quick grin. “But ye have new allies now, and what I have to say to ye I would prefer to be in private. I’ll return?—”
“Ye and yer giant can stay in the barracks,” Vartok offered, squeezing my shoulder briefly. Thinking I might object? “And meet with my brother tomorrow.”
Stormseeker hesitated, then inclined his head and shoulders slightly. A bow of respect?
“Thank ye,” he said simply. “’Tis a cold night for camping, and we’ll take ye up on that offer.” His dark gaze switched to me. “Tomorrow, chief?”
“Aye, tomorrow,” I mumbled, flicking my fingers in another dismissal. I heard the other male—the male whoshouldbe my enemy—snort as he turned away, murmuring to his lieutenant.
Were the Islay Battleborn our enemies? Or had he been referring to himself when he’d spoken of new Bloodfire allies? Gods below, why did he have to drop this riddle on my lapnow, when my head pounded and my bones ached?
“Go to yer Mate,” Vartok murmured to me. “I’ll see our guests settled, and ye can tell me his tale after he’s left.”
“Aye, and my thanks.”
I might be home, but things were never going to go back to how they were before. I was a different male, and so was my brother. Lillian had been right to suggest I continue leaning on the council my brother’d set up, and I would be foolish to deny this advice.
So I stumbled home and my Mate met me at the door with a worried look on her face.
I wanted to ask her how she’d spent the evening—she appeared distracted—but she wasted no time in peeling my new cloak from my shoulders, leading me to bed, and kneeling to unlace my boots.
“I should be caring for ye—” My admonition was interrupted with a yawn, and Lillian glanced up to send me a soft grin.
“Mates care for one another, Kragorn, and you are still very much in need of caring for. Get into bed.”
Any other time, I might have made a joke about her being so eager to get me in bed, especially after the pleasure we’d shared that day…but she’d called usMates. She’d acknowledged our bond.
Whatever came tomorrow—whatever news Vrogul Stormseeker brought, whatever horrors the Bladesedge wrought—tonight, my Mate had accepted me.
I fell asleep holding her.
Kragorn
My cock wokeme in the morning with its incessant throbbing, and myKteerwasn’t far behind. I suspected neither would be satisfied until I had claimed Lillian and our Mating Heat was behind us.
How soon could the Mating ceremony be arranged? The new moon was past, but I refused to wait another month for the next. Nan would have to be satisfied with the inauspicious waxing crescent, for fook’s sake.
I might not be able to sink my cock into her delicious cunny, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t pleasure my Lillian. As the light peaked around the shutters, I pulled her to me and showed her how much I wanted her.
The second time she came on my tongue, with my thick fingers deep inside her, she yanked my hair as she whispered my name. I grinned against her cunny, loving the sound of her wonder.
“Ye ken, love,” I told her, crawling up her body, pressing kisses to her skin, “nae one will judge ye for making noise when yer Mate pleasures ye. In our world, sex isnae something to be ashamed of, and kitlings learn early what their parents do.”
Her cheeks flamed adorably as she rolled over to bury her face in my shoulder.
“I know. I have seenmuchin these last weeks and have learned to knock very loudly before entering any of my friends’ homes.”
Chuckling, I gathered her close, pleased my Mate was settling into her new home. Although my cock still jutted beneath the blanket, I was content to lick her dew from my lips and hold her close.
“Ye please me, Lillian.” I rubbed my palm up and down her back. “Malla the Beginner chose well when she paired my soul with yers.”
Slowly, my love lifted her head to peer at me.
“Did she?” Lillian whispered. “I am no leader, Kragorn. The thought of achiefpicking me…”
“A male picked ye, Lillian. Did I no’ tell ye, in yer father’s dungeon, that ye were the most desirable female I’ve ever seen?”
