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Asterion didn't answer, just continued our shuffle until we had to stop, blocked from crossing under the broad stone archway.
"Laszlo Bladewing, allow me to introduce Evanthia," Asterion said, his words heavy and his body hunched and tired. "Daughter of Hedone. Evanthia, this is the Western King of the Clouds."
A gryphon, I realized, my slow and sluggish thought piecing his details together.
"A divinity," Laszlo echoed my thoughts, peering at me with his head tilted.
"She seeks sanctuary," Asterion said.
I blinked at the words, swallowed, and hoped my tongue might find a response when my brain could not.
"I see," Laszlo said, continuing to stare at me. "Come in, then."
Asterion and the horse I sat on remained still for a long moment as Laszlo turned his wings to us, too weary to finish the final stretch of our journey. I tried to slide off, but my legs were stiffened in place and Asterion startled at my jerk, bracing me and stomping into motion.
The castle was broad walls and round columns of mortared stone. Long windows tapered to peaks stacked high, and a few small nests rested in their corners, birds already crying at dawn. High grass lawns and overrun gardens stretched out at either side of the gravel drive, and I turned to stare at a distant pack of animals grazing in the grasses. Sheep and goats, I realized blearily.
"You'd better leave the horse," Laszlo said wryly, glancing back at us.
Asterion managed to scoop me up, and I groaned and wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, too relieved to protest when he didn't set me down. I didn't mind being carried in this particular pair of strong arms.
From the mist of the lawn, a wispy shadow figure appeared, catching the horse by the reins and leading it away as we stepped after the gryphon into the mouth of the castle.
Cradled by Asterion, warm again from his chest, it was a struggle to keep my eyes open. I fought the urge to drop into sleep, studying the details of our surroundings. I'd expected the castle to be as bare inside as it was out, but the walls were cluttered with tapestries and fine, mismatched furniture was arranged in an almost cramped fashion.
Collectors, Asterion had called the residents of this castle, and so it was obvious—collections from all eras and histories of time, precious and strange items on every surface.
"You'll want to wash and eat," Laszlo noted.
"We want nothing but to sleep for now," Asterion answered, his words slurring.
The gryphon murmured an answer, but the fog in my head grew too thick to make out the arrangements of walls, let alone of words, and I tucked my face into Asterion's shoulder and let the steady plodding pace of his steps lull me. We twisted up a circular staircase, dragged down halls, until finally the hinges of a door squeaked in promise.
"Will this do for you both?" Laszlo asked.
I didn't raise my head or wait for Asterion's answer before speaking, "Yes."
We could've been placed in a barn stall, for all I cared. I wanted to lie down and I wanted to sleep and I wanted the protection and heat of Asterion's body with me. That was all.
A few more steps, and the door shut behind us. I opened one eye long enough to see the spread of a dusty quilt and the rise of pillows, and then we were landing in them together, sharing a relieved groan. My legs stretched out at last but Asterion's arms remained around me, holding me to his chest, his thudding heartbeat in my ears.
And at last, I was asleep.
* * *
Warm muscle spread beneath me,strong fingers digging into my back, down to my ass, to my spread thighs. I squirmed and found pressure between my legs, thick and dense. Sound rumbled under my cheek, and a wave ofnéktarwashed over my weak body, soaking into my skin and offering just enough strength for me to chase more.
My lips parted on a pant as I started to rock, my brow furrowing at the sore burn in my thighs, but there was another heat in my core, sweeter and sustaining, and I craved the offering from the latter. Hands squeezed the flesh of my ass and I whimpered, using their strength to push down harder against the muffled ridge pressed into my core. They released me and traveled upward, and I gasped, finding flesh at my lips, bristled fur, and a long tendon of muscle.
Asterion.
My eyelids were heavy, my heartbeat slow, and I wasn't confident that this moment wasn't a dream. At least I might dream of pleasure andnéktar.
Thick fingers moved to the buttons on the back of my dress, and cool air licked at the nape of my neck as the fabric parted.
I was barely awake, chasing the hunger that'd plagued me for so long, but those were conscious, intentional fingers, brushing over my spine, plucking carefully at buttons that ought to have been too delicate for Asterion's touch.
Fabric gaped, and I whimpered at my sore muscles and the need pooling in my core, and then again as I was turned onto my back. I blinked and the room was dark, curtained, the shadow of Asterion rising above me startling and huge as he peeled my dress off my arms and waist, scooping my hips up to drag it down over my legs, past my stockinged feet.
