Page 138 of The Widow and the Orcs

ButLouisa’sfavourite classes of all were the ones that studied and shared the forgotten parts ofSkaiculture.She’dcontinued working withRosaandUlfarrto unearth moreSkaihistory, often with the help ofSkaielders scattered across the realm — and so far, they’d discoveredSkaidrumming, aSkaiball game, and even a near-forgotten board game of secrets and strategy.Andof course, they’d continued withflyting, too, and these days it was common to see the school’s studentsflytingtogether for fun, laughing and challenging and teasing one another.

Butnow —Louisagave a warning knock on the kitchen door, and then eased it open — their two dozen students were all gone for the day, and it ought to be only the teachers left.Andshe’d already seenKoriandFastiplaying ball outside with the cheerfully squealing trio ofLeikrandStefanandAme, so that meant…

“Joan?”Louisacalled, as she strode through the ground floor — first the three schoolrooms, then the art room, and then the shrine, with its new carving ofSkai-kesh. “Halthorr?Elise?”

Butyes, there, a voice, in the new library — but even asLouisapushed the door open, she faltered, and wrinkled her nose.Becauseyes, that scent was far too clear, and now —

Nowthe truth of it was here, beforeLouisa’sbemused, blinking eyes.Halthorrsprawled naked on the floor in the library, withJoan’slean brown body — dressed only in a loincloth — straddled over his bucking hips.WhileElise’splump pale form was spread overHalthorr’sface, and her own face was caught inJoan’shand, their kisses hungry and fervent, asHalthorrjerked and moaned and slurped beneath them.

Louisabriefly considered leaving, but she was already here, and gods knew she’d caught these three in similar states multiple times before.Theonly slight obstacle was stillElise, who now — predictably — gasped and cringed at the sight ofLouisaat the door, clapping a hand over her full breasts.WhileJoanfondly rolled her eyes at her bashful mate, and then raised her brows towardLouisa, even as she kept grinding againstHalthorr’sbucking hips.

“Ijust wanted to let you know,”LouisatoldJoan, “thatSuneis takingMayto the mountain soon.He’splanning to stay there with his friends for a few days, so if you could make sure he has everythingMayneeds,I’dbe grateful.”

Joannodded, and gaveLouisaa too-knowing grin, without even slightly breaking her rhythm. “Gettinghim out of the camp for the night, are you?” she asked. “Don’twant him to stumble on something he shouldn’t?”

Louisarolled her eyes back atJoan, even as her face heated. “Myson is far too clever to stumble on something he shouldn’t,” she said archly. “But— yes.It’sjust —”

Shecouldn’t even speak it, suddenly, andJoangave a wry laugh, and shook her head. “We’llbe wishing you luck,Lou,” she replied. “Andwe’ll see you in a few days,Iexpect.”

Louisaswallowed and flashed a rueful smile back, but her face still felt hot as she waved goodbye, and headed toward the door again.Becausetonight, after almost a year together — tonight,Louisawould finally becomeUlfarr’smate.Ina large, publicSkairut, before all their clan.

Andyes, the prospect still felt deeply daunting, but it simmered low and hot in her belly, too.She’dtaken her time thinking about it, learning about it, even experimenting a little with it.Onenight,Ulfarrhad allowed a handsome visitingSkaito lie with them in bed, watching and stroking his own prick, and another night, he’d allowed anotherSkaito kissLouisa’sbreasts and her neck.Andon another, vividly memorable night, whenLouisahad been ridingKillikon a bench,Ulfarrhad allowed a watching orc to kneel before them, and lavish the rest of her invaded crease with his slick hungry tongue.

Andwhile it had felt surreal, and salacious, and still a little dangerous, it had also made it undeniably clear toLouisathat itwasdifferent, like this.Itwasn’t her going off alone and finding pleasure elsewhere, the wayKillikhad for all those years.No, this wasUlfarrguiding this, commanding this, approving of this.Itwas theWolfof theSkai, flaunting and caring for his prized woman, and generously sharing her as he pleased.

And,Louisahad begun to realize, it was theWolfof theSkaishowing off his fierce, lusty pups, too.Showingher andKilliktogether, as a matched set.Howthey fought each other, and faced each other, and fucked each other, often with their gleaming blades in hand, or between their teeth.Puttingon a show, perhaps, for each other, for anyone who wanted to see.Andmost of all for their wolf, who watched them with such wicked indulgent fondness, and so often goaded them on, commanded more.

“Youshall not speak to my mate thus,Louisa,” he’d ordered one night a few months before, when a sparring lesson fromKillikhad turned into a mess of insults and dagger-waving. “Silenceher, pup.Teachyour wilful mate how to behave.”

Killikhad already shovedLouisadown to her knees before him, his hand yanking open his trousers — but at that, they’d both halted, and stared atUlfarr.Louisawith shock juddering through her chest — had he just called herKillik’smate? — andKillikwith wry resignation in his eyes, or maybe even guilt.AndwhenLouisahad aimed her disbelieving look up toward him, he’d only shrugged, though a slight flush had crept up his cheek.

“Ihunted you, all those moons ago,” he’d murmured. “Thenmarked you, with my seed and teeth.Thusfor us, it has long been done, butIken you did not wish to —”

ButLouisahad growled at him, and then lurched forward, and sucked his bobbing cock deep into her mouth.AndwhenKillikhad tilted his head back, looking supremely satisfied, she’d bitten him as hard as she dared, earning a sharp yelp in return.Andthen a firm slap at her cheek, too, and then she’d slapped him back, and then they’d been at it again, rolling on the floor and hissing and snapping at each other, untilUlfarrhad ordered them to stop, and make love to each other.Andafterwards, onceKillikhad asked if she’d really wanted it, he’d whispered the vows of matehood in her ear, cradling her face in his hand, kissing so softly at her throat.

Ithad felt right, so right, and wheneverUlfarrhad flaunted them together after, that had felt right, too.SheandKillikwere mated, perhaps they had always been, and of course their wolf could show them off together, and command them however he pleased.

Butit still leftUlfarrandLouisawithout a vow, without that same kind of promise.AndLouisahad felt herself wanting it, craving it, until finally one night she’d just asked him, when they were all curled up together in theirkofi. “Wouldyou still mate me too,Wolf?” she’d asked, searching his eyes. “Withthe rut?”

Ulfarr’sbreath had choked, his eyes snapped wide — and then he’d clutched her close, squeezing her tightly to his chest. “Ach,Louisa,” he’d croaked. “Ishould be most — most honoured.”

Ithad led to a glorious session of lovemaking, withLouisagasping and writhing onUlfarr’shungry tongue, whileKillikhad plunged in behind — but afterwards, as they’d sprawled sated together on the fur,Ulfarr’seyes had gone watchful, careful on hers. “Andhow would it best please you to do this rut,Louisa?” he’d asked. “WithonlyKillikand me, mayhap?Orwith… more?Whateveryou wish.”

ButLouisahadn’t missed that hungry shudder of his softened bulge against her thigh, and she’d smiled fondly toward him, leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’dbe fine with more, sweetheart,” she’d murmured. “Aslong as you both are, too.”

She’dmeant it, because along with their experimenting, she’d also gradually toldKillikandUlfarrmore and more aboutLordScall, too.Aboutvarious memories that still lingered, or ways all those years of marriage had impacted her.Andin return,KillikandUlfarrhad listened, and comforted her, and murmured their own harrowing tales into the darkness.Facingthe past with her, rather than seeking to escape, or forget.

Butit had somehow weakened the old memories even further, sapping them of their power.Andthese days, intimacy had lost any connection whatsoever toLordScall, and had been fully consumed by this.Bythe stunningSkaiorcs in her bed, in her heart.

“Youare certain,Louisa?”Ulfarrhad asked next, his eyes rapidly searching hers. “Youwould welcome otherSkai, in this rut?Howmany?Andonly touching you, or tasting you, or…”

He’dleft that question hanging, butLouisahad smiled at him again, and twitched a shrug. “Whateveryou think is best, sweetheart,” she’d replied. “Andhowever many you prefer, too.”

Ulfarrhad betrayed a full-body shudder at that, his eyes wide and disbelieving on her face, whileKillikhad bent his head into her neck, and inhaled.Makingsure she meant it, making sure it was truth.

“Andwho should you wish to have in your rut, woman?”Killikhad asked, with an edge of challenge in his voice. “Andwhen?”

He’dagain been testing her, still smelling for the truth of it, andLouisahad shrugged again, and held her gaze toUlfarr’s. “Wecan do it whenever you like,” she’d told him. “Andyou can choose who you’d like to have as part of it, sweetheart.Whoeveryou think would be best.”

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