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Every nerve in my body began to sing, from toes to nipples to head, and the feel of him jostling for position sent me reeling. I slid my hands under his shirt, running my fingers over the rippling muscles, over the scars, over the smooth flesh, then encircled his waist, drawing him deeper inside me.
His hips swiveled against mine, the friction increasing as his gaze took on a determined look. As he increased the pace, his lips traced their way around my neck and, with one hand, he reached down and began to stroke me, stirring a chain of little explosions that drove me toward the edge.
My breath ragged, I let out a cry as my nipples rubbed against the material of his tank in the most irritating sensation. And yet I liked it, in a perverse way. The annoyance set me on edge, heightening the tension.
A flutter began in my stomach as Shade became more aggressive. With one deep thrust, he held me against the wall. His voice rough, he grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head. “You’re mine. You’re my woman. You’re my love. You’re my passion. Do you hear me?”
I held my breath. Something was happening, and I wasn’t sure what it was. And then he grabbed me up and tossed me on the bed, leaping between my legs. And as he plunged back inside me, there was a shift—that’s the only way I can describe it—and I found myself soaring, but I wasn’t alone.
Can you hear me? Can you feel me? The whisper of thoughts filled my mind. I began to drift on the current…my body rocking, every nerve tingling, and then I realized I wasn’t just feeling my own response, but Shade’s, too. And then, someone else was there with us.
Hi’ran. Hi’ran was there, caught up in the passion, his autumn fires shrouding us with the scent of smoke and soot and the dark, pungent tang of autumn. I turned to see him leaning over us on the bed, and he reached out to trace my cheek with his hand. Shade glanced at him and a feral smile crept across his lips as he kissed Hi’ran’s index finger when it came near his face.
“My Lord.” Shade acknowledged him, even while he kept fucking me.
Hi’ran leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. And once again, he sucked my breath out of my body and I went spiraling out of my body, finding myself standing between the spirits of both Shade and the Autumn Lord. Shade took me in his arms and began to run his hands over me as a slow drumbeat played in the background. Hi’ran came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, his fingers tripping over my body. We were all naked and entwined together, and I wasn’t sure who was touching me where, but it was so delicious, so hot, that I didn’t care. And then, someone was in me—or were they both? The heat was so thick that I could barely breathe, but I knew I never wanted it to stop, never wanted this delicious ache to end.
And then the energy of my shadow walker and my liege came tumbling in on me and I could hold back no longer. As Shade cried out, I went spiraling into orgasm, my body one long chord singing in the night as I hovered between heaven and hell.
As I opened my eyes, Shade was sitting by my side, patting my hand. “Delilah, are you all right?”
I blinked, sitting up. “Fuck, what time is it? What happened? Did I pass out?” I grabbed my clothes and began to dress.
He nodded. “Briefly. I think the energy was almost too much for you. Our master is a powerful lord, and he can forget how fragile mortals are. But…did you…Are you…”
I caught his hand up in mine and rubbed it against my cheek, my heart still racing from the orgasm. “I loved it. More than you can know.” And then a thought hit me. “Oh no, I’m not—he didn’t…” The idea that I might be pregnant at this point in the game suddenly scared the crap out of me.
“No, not yet. But it was a test, to see how well you can handle the energy of the Autumn Lord using me as a conduit. I think you passed.” He grinned and leaned down to kiss me. I savored his lips.
After a moment, I pushed my way out of bed and began to dress again. “I never thought I’d enjoy two men at once…but this was…this was different.”
“You never know what you might like until you try it.” Shade zipped his pants and turned to me. “He won’t be with us every time, but we know now that it can work—he can ride me, and touch you in the process. I wasn’t allowed to tell you because he feared you might psych yourself out if you knew. If you showed signs of being overpowered, he was ready to vacate instantly. He would never hurt you. Please know that.”
I nodded. “I understand. I do. I’m…not the little girl I was a year ago. I’ve grown up. And I like the woman I’m becoming. I feel stronger. I’m ready to shoulder my share of responsibility.”
“I love the woman you’re becoming. You know, don’t you, that he had his eye on you from the moment you were born? This—you belonging to the Autumn Lord—was in the hands of fate all along. You were born to be a Death Maiden.” Shade wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned into his embrace.
A shiver of recognition ran through me. “I think I knew. When I saw Arial in the temple of Haseofon, I knew we were both chosen. I still don’t know why she’s there, but…”
“Perhaps you’ll find out soon. Now come, they are waiting for us.” He stood and held out his hand, pulling me up. “And put on your dancing shoes because I intend to wear you out on the dance floor.”>Smoky and Iris were at the dais now, and rather than trifle with her dress, Smoky gently reached down and lifted her in one swift move onto the platform, then stepped back, moving to sit in the audience beside Shamas, Vanzir, Nerissa, Hanna, and Morio.
Iris stepped forward, her train trailing behind her, and stood beside Bruce. They turned to face Camille. She smiled at them, her expression suddenly wise and knowing. I’d seen her work magic before, but tonight she was wearing the cloak of a priestess, and her aura crackled like lightning.
Menolly discreetly stepped forward and took Iris’s bouquet, then returned to her place.
Camille waved the wand in a circle over their heads. “We are here, my friends, to witness the handfasting rites of Iris Kuusi, Priestess of Undutar, and Lord Bruce O’Shea, of the Eire O’Sheas. Marriage among the sprites is a lifelong commitment, spurned only in the case of abuse or of infidelity…or of the mutual parting of ways where there is no healing the heart. Oaths are binding, broken only by dishonor or mutual agreement. These rites are the reminders of rituals from long past and are to be respected and honored.”
Iris and Bruce both murmured, “We do stand before you.”
“Do you recognize me as your priestess, as the one who will hold you to your oath—the sacred vows made, not to be broken?”
Again, their answer came in unison. “We do accept you as our priestess.”
“Let all witness, the parties come freely, of their own will, to be joined in the sacred marriage.”
Guided by a rehearsal before we started, the audience, still standing, intoned, “We do act as witness,” and then sat down.
Camille waited, then, drawing a long breath, said, “Iris Kuusi, Priestess of Undutar, daughter of the ice floes, by mist and snow I bless you. By fire and flame, I bless you. By gale and boreal wind, I call the spirits to take your oath.”
