“Yes,” I rasp, unable to wrap my head around what she’s doing right now. She hovers over my cock and envelops me.
“Oh, shit!” I let out a sound in between a roar and a moan. My cock disappears inside her wet cunt, inch by inch. Laia throws her head back and arches her body. Then she starts moving.
Up and down. Swinging her hair and twisting her hips.
“Laia!” I roar her name as her muscles squeeze my cock. This is driving me insane. I hold onto her waist and slam her down on me. Our hips meet in a frenzy. Laia then holds onto my horn, and that’s it for me.
I groan, feeling my head spin in ecstasy as I explode inside her. My cum spills out of her cunt, trailing below as we both pant.
She lies on top of me, kissing my neck. “Irix, tell me you’re mine.”
My world seems to stop, and I lock eyes with her. As if seduced, I open my mouth, saying, “I’m all yours.”
23
LAIA
Isneak out of Irix’s bed as he sleeps deeply, a smile lingering on my lips. Somehow I feel a bit guilty being seen with him. I don’t want the others to see, not yet. I slept with him again, and it makes me feel like I’m not giving them the same attention.
I go back to my bed to sleep, but that night, Eryndor visits me once more. The screams of my friends echo in my mind, even as I jolt awake, drenched in sweat. Eryndor's cruel smile haunts me, and I struggle to catch my breath, my heart pounding against my ribs. My body trembles uncontrollably, each beat of my heart a reminder of the terror that chases me through sleep.
Why? It feels like a warning of some sort that he’s coming.
Morning comes too soon. I find myself alone with Kael, the gentle giant who has always given me peace. I need something more—comfort, perhaps?
We walk through the forest, the cool air a balm on my fevered skin. Kael moves beside me, his presence a steady anchor as we gather herbs. His eyes catch mine, and I know he sees the shadows that linger there.
“You don’t have to tell me but it might help,” he says softly, his voice a gentle murmur amidst the rustling leaves. “But if you need to talk, I’m here.”
I stop walking, my hands gripping the basket of herbs so tightly that my knuckles turn white. The words hover on the tip of my tongue, but fear holds them back. What if talking about it makes it worse? What if sharing my nightmares only spreads the darkness?
Kael steps closer, his calm blue eyes full of understanding. “Laia,” he says again, more insistent this time but still gentle. “We talked last time; you can tell me more. I’m ready to listen.”
His words break something inside me. The dam holding back my emotions cracks, and before I can stop myself, they spill out.
“I see them,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “Every time I close my eyes, I see Eryndor’s face. I hear their screams.”
Kael’s hand rests on my shoulder, grounding me. He doesn’t speak; he just listens. The silence between us is heavy but not oppressive—more like a blanket offering warmth on a cold night.
“They haunt me,” I continue, tears blurring my vision. “I can’t escape them.”
Kael’s grip tightens slightly, a reassuring pressure. “It’s okay to be scared,” he murmurs. “I told you before, you have me and my brothers. Nothing will change that.”
The truth in his words sinks into me like a soothing balm. For once, I don’t feel like running from the darkness inside me. With him by my side—just maybe—I can face it.
I hesitate, my fingers brushing the leaves of a plant. The memories press against the walls of my mind, demanding to be let out. Kael’s steady presence is like a lifeline, urging me to speak.
“I ran away after...” I begin, my voice barely above a whisper. “Eryndor... He asked me to kill my best friend.”
Kael’s expression softens with understanding, his blue eyes never leaving mine. “Why?”He asks, his tone gentle but probing.
“He... He wanted to break me,” I say, the words tumbling out now. “She was the only person who made the days bearable. He knew that if I killed her, it would destroy whatever hope I had left.”
Kael’s hand finds mine, a comforting weight in the storm of my emotions. “You refused.”
“Yes,” I say, my voice trembling. “And he... he drained her blood right in front of me. I couldn’t... I couldn’t save her.”
Kael’s grip tightens slightly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “You did what you could, Laia. You’re here now because you chose to fight back.”