I could feel each thrust of Bastien’s transferred through Azrael’s body as the three of us became one beast, sharing breath and sweat and resounding pleasure as it coursed through us. The tethers, which till this point had remained distinct between my connection with Bastien and Azrael, tangled together, sending waves of heated lust and errant thoughts as we moved together toward the precipice of pleasure that loomed over us all.
Azrael was the first to shatter, clawed fingers sinking into the soft flesh of my thighs as he let a trembling whimper,leaning down to kiss me with feverish ferocity. Bastien’s pace became frantic, his mask of practiced calm cracking to show a certain desperation that stoked the heat in my chest. He gripped Azrael’s tail at the base, crashing into him with a sputtering exhalation.
Pulses of pleasure rolled down the tethers from both of my partners in carnality, pushing me to my limits. I reached for my cock, needing only to apply the slightest pressure to achieve release. My own climax swirled together alongside the others, washing over me in euphoric waves of warmth and relief.
“Gods above,” I gasped, still gripping my dripping cock. Azrael had collapsed on top of me, his breathing just as ragged.
Bastien leaned against the desk beside my head, running a hand through his locs. “Oh, look. Our tea is here.”
Sitting on the small table by the door, a tray of porcelain saucers and a teapot waited. I didn’t want to dwell on the thought of the poor soul who had delivered them.
“It’ll still be there after we get cleaned up,” I said, patting Azrael on the head. He’d already started to snore softly, and he jolted awake.
“Come now,” said Bastien, gathering all of our discarded clothes. “I think the shower is big enough for the three of us.”
With cleaned and mended clothes—Bastien’s doing while Azrael and I scrubbed ourselves in the stall—we returned to the office, settling into the cushy leather chairs of the seating area. Azrael grabbed the tea tray, surprised to find the pot spelled to keep the contents at the perfect temperature. Steam rose from the amber liquid as he poured each cup, setting them down in front of eachof us. The first sip was pure bliss, and I only then realized just how hungry I’d been. Taking two biscuits from the tray, I dunked them into the tea, then popped both into my mouth.
I expected things to be awkward between us after what had just happened. Yet, as Azrael settled into the spot next to me, and Bastien sipped on his tea, the only thing I felt was contented satiety. And, if I were being honest, that nagging sensation that something was still missing. The connections I’d established with the two men were wonderful, but now that I’d felt what it could be like between the three of us, I couldn’t help but imagine the difference if Tobias were there.
“We’re going back to Paradise, yes?” I asked, grabbing another round of biscuits.
“Azrael and I are, yes,” Bastien replied. “I would have figured you’d need to return to El Shaddith right away.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Church would be in an uproar over what happened at the Cradle. I wasn’t even sure if there was anything left of it at that point. It seemed as though the earth had opened up to swallow it whole. The bishops would need to be gathered so that my ascension to Cardinal could be officiated. That could take days if there was enough pushback from the bishops. And there would be. I didn’t have the greatest reputation when it came to the leaders. Though my biggest opposition did get her chest ripped out during my last visit to the Sanctuary City, so that would certainly help smooth things over.
“I’d like to be there,” I said finally. “For when Tobias wakes. I’ll send word to the bishops regarding my safety and buy myself a little time.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Certainly not, but I have already decided it. I carry the Source with me for the time being, so it’s not as if they can just replace me.”
Bastien rolled his eyes. “Glad you haven’t let the power go to your head or anything.”
“I want to be there. And not just for him. I told you before, Bast. You need not take everything upon yourself. So, I’ll be there to help. And when Tobias awakens, I want him to know that we came together to bring him back.”
Bastien exhaled, giving a short nod before his attention returned to the compendium sprawled across his lap.
“Have you thought about what to tell the Magi Council?” Azrael asked. “Sancha was such a strong voice in support of the ongoing negotiations for the Unseen. I can’t help but feel that we’ll lose ground without her being there.”
There were countless things that I hadn’t considered when it came to my new role. Sancha played her part so well that I often forgot just how many circles of influence she frequented across the Expanse. Her absence would cause a vacuum, there was no doubt. The question was, would I be able to fill it?
“I’ll do everything in my power to support the cause, Az. If that means I have to sit on the Council myself, then rest assured that is what will happen.”
He placed a hand over mine, those wide eyes filled with enough sincerity that it almost drowned me. “Thank you. I know you haven’t had the proper time to… grieve. But I’m here. You can lean on me as much as you need.”
I nodded, looking away from those pools of violet blooms before I fell in. Grief for Sancha would certainly come, once the shock had time to settle. Till then, carrying on was my only option.
Before the conversation could shift to other things, the bookshelf doors swung open once again, the Sleeper striding into his office accompanied by Reina.
“Ah, deepest apologies for keeping you all waiting,” he said, stopping short of his desk and leveling his masked face at thethree of us. “Cirian, you look well. If you feel as though you’ve recovered enough for traveling, Reina is ready to escort you wherever you’d like to go.”
“I am,” I replied, rising to my feet. At full height, I towered over the masked man. Even Azrael had a few inches on the slight fellow. “I’m afraid that I may have been rude earlier in not thanking you for all you’ve done.”
“Think nothing of it,” the man replied, hands clasped in front of him. “It is the small joys I find in helping my fellow man that keep life worth enduring. Not to mention you and I now share a kinship that only we can claim—those who have been touched by the Source itself.”
The others gathered themselves, Bastien closing the compendium and holding it against his chest, and Azrael tidied the tea set before joining us.
“May I ask one more question of you?”
