Page 181 of On Wings of Blood

The masked observers stood in silent reverence for the rite. But despite their air of sacred solemnity, the atmosphere was undeniably carnal.

I felt Pendragon’s breath catch in her throat as the clasps finally unlocked and the white robe slipped off the girl’s shoulders, revealing an expanse of lush white skin.

The girl’s breasts were on the smaller side, but firm and high. Her dark red nipples puckered in the cool air. The Sanctum always made sure to pick a lovely blightborn specimen.

But it wasn’t the girl down below who had my attention. It was the one I held in my arms.

My hands gripped Pendragon’s waist, holding her steady. Her hands had slipped over the balcony rail, and she peered forward. She seemed to have almost forgotten my hands were there, a single layer of fabric keeping my skin separated from hers.

The rite had her captivated. Unable to look away.

I leaned forward slightly, burying my face in her hair. She smelled incredible. Like fresh fallen leaves with a hint of jasmine. And underlying it all, the iron tang of blood.

“What are you doing?” she asked suddenly, her voice uneasy.

But still she didn’t pull away.

“I call truce,” I murmured lazily. “A one night truce. You don't want me to make you leave, do you? Should I call for the votaries? Have you thrown out? Because that can be arranged.”

She hesitated a moment before shaking her head.

“Good. Stay then. Here, with me. I’ll keep you safe. If anyone finds us, I’ll say it was my fault. That I brought you. I broke the rules.”

“You’d do that? For me?” She sounded shocked.

As if I hadn’t already protected her, time and again.

I said nothing, just slid my hands slightly lower down her hips.

She gasped slightly as her eyes moved back to the spectacle unfolding below.

The highblood man was skimming his hands over the girl’s smooth, white breasts. His fingers played with her nipples, stroking and squeezing.

The girl leaned back, her head tilted upwards, throat bare and exposed.

The highblood man leaned forward. Not to the girl’s neck, but to suck one pert nipple. Together we watched as he drew the luscious bud into his mouth and licked and teased it with uninhibited abandon.

The girl moaned, her hands moving up to clutch his shoulders, her fingers grasping at his black robe.

Hundreds of eyes watched as the man pushed the girl’s robe down around her waist, exposing the curve of her spine, the delicate swell of her flared hips.

He cupped her body, drawing her closer towards him, her breasts flattening against his chest as he moved his mouth to hers.

They kissed deeply.

“She’s enjoying it.” Pendragon’s voice was shrill with disbelief. Her body hadn’t stopped trembling since I’d grabbed her. “I don’t understand.”

I couldn’t stand it another moment. I had to get closer to her. I let go of her waist with one hand and raised it to brush away the hair from her neck on one side, then lowered my mouth until it was inches away from her skin. As close as I dared get. For now.

“So are you,” I pointed out. “Enjoying it, I mean. It’s a beautiful scene. The girl is lovely and willing. Why shouldn’t she accept pleasure? But she’s nowhere near as stunning as you.” I brushed my other hand down her body, skimming the flat plane of her stomach and then inching lower.

She reached down and grabbed my hand, stopping it in its tracks. “Stunning? Since when do you give me compliments like that, Blake Drakharrow.”

I grinned to myself. The words were strong but her voice was weak. I could sense her hesitation, her confusion. She was vulnerable. Defenseless.

“Surely you know how much I want you, Pendragon,” I murmured. “How much I’ve wanted you since that first day I saw your unbelievably beautiful naked body.”

Her hand had frozen over mine. She hadn’t pulled it away, only stopped me from going any lower.

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