Page 51 of A Broken Ember

“Anastasius,” he pleaded. I smirked against his chest and brought one of my hands down and cupped his substantial cock. In the infirmary I had seen my fair share of men, so I knew he was well-endowed. I sucked on my lip. I wanted to gorge myself on all of him.

Claeg flexed his hips into my hand, coaxing me to move. So I did, stroking up and down his length in the way I liked it. My Chosen groaned beneath me, his breaths coming in short pants. He stared at me with those beautiful round eyes. Gods, he looked good when he surrendered to me. It made me wonder what it would feel like to be inside him. I whimpered at the thought, moving lower until my head nestled in the area around his cock. His musky scent heightened my arousal, but this was about him. He had given me pleasure and now this gift. It was his turn to come undone.

When my lips wrapped around his head, he shivered with pleasure. I sucked the tip of him in my mouth, adjusting to the feeling and taste of him. I flicked my tongue along the opening of his head, licking him up and down. A sound rumbled in Claeg’s chest that shot right through to my core.

“Stas . . .” Claeg moaned. I tilted my head, looking up at him. His face was twisted in pleasure, but his eyes were on me, starved, showing my reciprocated hunger. Between where I straddled him I could feel his legs tense. I smiled and took in more and more of him, slowly working my way down his length. When I felt him at the back of my mouth, I paused, inhaling through my nose. Then I proceeded to take him into my throat, relishing in the feeling of discomfort as I gagged on his cock. When I reached his base, I paused, letting myself feel the fullness of him before pulling up again.

I took a breath and did it again and again, until Claeg was writhing beneath me. He groaned. His release was coming, so I stopped, pulling off his straining cock. “Stas,” Claeg growled, frustration flaring in his eyes. I smirked, nipping at the tender flesh of his thighs. My hand went up to his mouth. He opened for me, letting me fuck his mouth with my fingers as I went back to sucking his cock. He groaned around my fingers, but just when I felt him still, I pulled them out and brought them to his hole.

“Is this okay?” I asked, stroking his hole. He let out an incomprehensible cry but nodded his head desperately. I didn't need any more encouragement. My first finger pressed against his entrance gently, slowly working my way into his tight heat, just like he had done for me. All the while, I worked his cock, relishing in the burn of his size—the perfect mix of pleasure and pain. When my knuckle breached that ring of muscle, I crooked my finger, applying pressure. The moan I got in return let me know I’d hit the spot.

Claeg’s hands ran through my hair, tensing and releasing over and over as I worked him into a frenzy.

“Come for me, Ruptor,” I instructed him before resuming my work. Moments later, salty cum hit the back of my throat and Claeg’s thighs thrust forward, greedily driving his cock all the way into me. He tasted delicious. When he finished, I reluctantly pulled off, swiping my tongue along the tip of his cock, lapping up the last of his cum as he had done to me.

“Fuck, Anastasius,” Claeg groaned, a dark look in his eyes. “Come here,” he demanded, and I readily obliged, pulling my fingers from his ass. My lips found his again, but a knock at the door made me freeze. Claeg groaned. “What is it?” he snapped.

“Your sister is coming, Claeg. I thought I should warn you before she . . . arrives,” Ercan murmured through the door. Claeg cursed.

“Let her wait,” he growled, but I was already climbing off of him. His eyes tracked me, burning with need. I shook my head. “Fine,” he ground out, dragging himself out of bed and donning his discarded clothes. I followed Claeg’s lead, pulling on a tunic and trousers. “Come, Prince. It is time to meet my family.” Claeg held out a hand to me, beckoning me to follow. I grasped his hand and followed him out.

We passed by Ercan, who Claeg nodded to with a hint of gratitude. Perhaps the two of them had worked out some of the kinks in their relationship. By the way they interacted, it seemed something had changed for the better. Not perfect, but better. It was a start.

Claeg led me through the castle, and I couldn't help but notice the differences between here and De Vita. My home was carved from light stone while this place was built from bland brick. The light here was darker with thick, low-lying clouds. The interior of the castle was not decorated, but created simply. The ceilings were low, the walls tight, but the windows plentiful. Every room had soft light streaming into it. The draconis we passed gaped at me and murmured to one another. I caught fragments of conversation. Broken Circles and he acts like his prisoner is his lover. That last comment made me question what I knew to be true. Was I actually a prisoner? Where was Rohit? Fear for my friends clutched low in my stomach and yanked hard.

“Claeg,” I whispered, intending to inquire about them, but he abruptly stopped. It was immediately clear why. Clotho. I knew it was her the moment I laid eyes on the young woman. Her silver hair fell about her shoulders in delicate braids, but it was her eyes that gave her relationship to Claeg away. They were the same piercing violet that made my skin prickle and my heart race.

“Clotho, meet my . . .” Claeg trailed off, glancing at me uncertainly. It was clear he didn't know what to think of me. I am yours, I wanted to tell him.

“I am Anastasius of De Vita,” I introduced myself, bowing low. When I rose, Clotho was sneering, looking down her nose at me with disgust. I grimaced.

“I don't know why my Janardan let you live, De vita whore, but if you harm a single person in this castle I will make you suffer more than you ever have before,” she growled. Claeg’s hand clenched mine tightly, and his jaw pulsed.

“You will not touch him. He is mine,” Claeg snarled back, making my heart flip. The look in his eyes was deadly as he stared down his sister. Clotho just giggled humorlessly in response and spun on her heels.

“Follow me. Thana is waiting,” she shouted over her shoulder. For a moment, Claeg didn't move, his jaw working hard. I squeezed his hand, drawing his livid eyes to mine.

“It’s fine. I won't be hurting anyone, so nothing to worry about, right?” I inserted more lightness into my tone than I felt. The reality was I didn't know Clotho or anyone but him in the Circulus clan. I was at their mercy. Hopefully, Thana would be more receptive to me, but then I remembered the cruelty of the Janardan who had taken Ercan’s mate from him before banishing him with broken Circles. My hope faltered. But Claeg trusted them, and they had healed me, so obviously they saw more value in keeping me alive. For now.

Chapter 55: Claeg

We found Thana in her chambers, leisurely dressed in a silk robe. A pair of servants attended to her, but she dismissed them upon our arrival. My grandmother smiled at me in a way that sent shivers down my spine. Not because the smile was hostile, but because it wasn’t. Rather, she looked pleased to see me.

“Welcome, Ruptor, Prince De Vita. Sit.” She waved to a round table with ornate chairs around it. The same table Clotho and I had eaten many meals with her. The same table she had pushed me to select a mate at time and time again. Did she know I had chosen now? That I was Chosen?

Anastasius hesitated, waiting for me to sit before claiming the chair beside me. He sucked on his lip in the way he did when he was nervous. I grasped his hand beneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. His lips twitched slightly, but that was the only reaction I got.

Thana cleared her throat. “It seems you've been busy these last few moon turns, Ruptor. So tell me: what have you learned about De Vita? Tell me everything.” She sat back in her chair and folded her hands. I winced, feeling Stas’ eyes on me. I had confessed to him my true purpose in his clan, but seeing the truth of it . . . would he hate me now?

I swallowed but began the story with how Anastasius and I met. “After Clotho left me, I spent days wandering the Sand Eye. I found a draconis dying. Suffering. The Ruptor couldn’t resist the call, and I was there when their Circle came to its completion. That’s where Stas found me.” I paused, reflecting on that moment, which was only a few moon turns ago and yet felt like forever had come and gone and changed everything in the meantime. The Janardan nodded occasionally as I told her about the Selection, the trials, and Odon’s death. I didn't hold anything back, telling her about all the good and the bad I had seen. Anastasius watched me intently as I bared all the secrets of his clan, discussing numbers, defenses, and weaknesses. I half expected him to protest, but he didn't say a word throughout the discussion. At the end, Thana hummed and pursed her lips. She closed her dark eyes, folding her hands and leaning on her knuckles as she thought.

“Do you think there can be peace yet?” she asked, making me startle. I blinked at her dumbly. Was this a trick? Thana had never mentioned seeking peace before. What had changed? Clotho wasn’t so slow to react. She vaulted from her spot leaning against the wall.

“Grandmother!” she protested, her eyes alight with astonishment.

“Quiet, heir,” the Janardan commanded in a tone that made even Clotho pause. It showed her strength, who she was. I could hardly believe the words, but Anastasius perked up at them and opened his mouth as if to talk before slamming it shut.

“Perhaps,” I shrugged. Thana turned to address Stas.

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