He grunts an agreement, a small smile quirking his lips. “The only time my mind has stilled was while you were riding me, my love. Perhaps that’s the antidote to all my troubles forevermore.”
Amusement threads his tone, and he waits for the reaction. For the playful swat, the snort of derision, the eye roll. But Elyssara swings her leg over him, straddling his hips, and pulling herself to a seat atop him.
Her naked form aglow in the golden wash of the candles. It snags on every curve, every dip.
Holy gods.
“An antidote I’ll gladly administer,” she purrs seductively, leaning forward to brush her lips over his. “As long as you do that thing with your fingers that I like,” she adds, her tone playful and light.
He pushes himself to sit, scooping his corded forearm around her lower back, pulling her chest flush to his. “What about the thing with my mouth?—”
“KAEL.” Elyssara hisses through a laugh.
“Well, it’s good to see you two are making yourselves right at home,” a voice echoes through the cave, bouncing off the walls so they can’t escape it.
His eyes snap to the sound.
Rhaema.
“Fucking Stars, Rhae!” Kael snaps.
He nearly throws Elyssara off him in the scramble to cover them both, catching an elbow to the ribs for his effort.
Elyssara’s hand flies for a fur to wrap around herself.
“No point, love. I’ve seen it all,” Rhaema grunts, waving a hand dismissively. “Unfortunately,” she adds dryly. “Some things can never be unseen.”
Kael shakes his head in irritation.
Elyssara’s cheeks bloom red at the intrusion.
“I’m going to drown myself in this bathhouse,” Elyssara mutters under her breath.
Kael bites down a chuckle.
“I wouldn’t interrupt if I didn’t think it was worth it,” Rhaema says defensively, and that’s when he sees it.
A missive.
With the blood-red wax seal he’d know anywhere.
Rhaema stretches her arm out to hand over the missive, averting her gaze to give them a moment to cover themselves.
Kael swipes the missive, cracking the seal in one swift motion.
Elyssara swallows audibly.
But Kael inhales the words, barely letting them register. In an elegant hand that contrasts Maireth’s personality, he reads:
Welcome Home, King Kael.
Caeloria has missed the presence of the Corvannis family inside Azhareth Castle.
You’ll do me the honor of attending the Masked Ball at the castle tonight to commemorate your return home.
Bring your Starbound.
And a word of wisdom: Laryn, Kiva, and Rhaema were predictable choices.
