The tenderness I hadn’t realized I craved.
One of their thumbs—I thought it might be Shade’s—found my center, drawing out more pleasure from me. I clamped down around Kols, my ecstasy too great to hold back, and forced him to join me.
He never increased his pace, maintaining those thorough thrusts.
And after he finished, Shade licked me clean.
The two men had never indulged in each other this way, and I could feel their increasing interest through every intimate move. Shade kissed Kols once more, sharing the taste from our lovemaking, and groaned when Kols sucked his tongue clean.
Then they both looked down at me and kissed me at the same time.
It was erotic.
Hot.
Beautiful.
A fantasy I never anticipated.
And I lost myself to them all over again, allowing them to worship me and each other for hours. They kissed away my bruises, renewed me with fresh blood, and ensured I was physically perfect before finally lulling me into a dreamland.
I relaxed, more replete than I’d felt in a very long time.
Only to feel a prickle of heat in my mind, the dark source calling for my attention.Something isn’t right, I realized, following the strand of discomfort.
No, it wasn’t the source… but Midnight Fae.
I could sense them, the disruption, the agony rippling through the kingdom.What is it?I wondered, searching for the cause.
So much anger. So much hatred. So muchpain.
The village.
I could picture it, the tavern up in flames, Anrika’s body floating in the sky with a spell inscribed beside her.Risaleea.
I searched my memories and those of my mates for the translation, then recognized the spell from Shade’s psyche. It was a Death Blood charm cast by a dying Midnight Fae when someone wished to leave behind a message for a loved one.
Is this real?I returned to the village, noting the fires and billowing smoke from the buildings nearby. Everyone was silent, their focus on the stage.
Constantine stood at the center with a scroll in his hand, speaking.
I couldn’t hear him, my vision not quite realized.
But all the onlookers appeared distraught.
What’s happening?I longed to ask them. I whirled around, sensing the heat and embers of the attack.
Anrika’s body looked so alive, her long white hair floating around her like an angelic cape. Her green irises flared with life, but her marbleized skin suggested death.
She didn’t blink.
She didn’t speak.
Her lips were parted, perhaps from voicing the spell.
And her clothes were singed with ash.
Two more Midnight Fae were on the ground, their skin holding a similar texture. But their eyes were closed, their hands clasped together in peaceful death.
