Page 65 of The Sword & the Stone

"Fuuuck!" he roared, his back arching off the bed as he spilled himself deep inside me. His face contorted in agonized bliss, the chords of his neck straining as he lost himself to the pleasure.

I collapsed on top of him, my body still trembling. Merlin's arms came around me, holding me close as we both struggled to catch our breath. His hips still moved very slowly, easing me through the pleasure. The golden light slowly faded, replaced by a sudden flickering of newly lit candles at the wave of Merlin’s hand.

When I emerged from the bathing chambers ten minutes later, skin flushed and glowing from the surge of magic, Merlin was waiting for me. He lounged on the bed, propped up on an elbow, the very picture of seductive indolence. A lazy, self-satisfied smirk curled his lips as his eyes roamed appreciatively over my body, once again clean, as if nothing had happened.

My golden runes that had blazed so brightly had faded back to a pretty shimmer, as if the magic was temporarily sated. We were already running late for the feasts and needed to make an appearance as soon as possible. As a royal guest, I didn't want to be seen as disrespectful or inconsiderate.

We slipped out of my chambers and into the torch-lit corridor. Merlin fell into step beside me, his fingertips grazing the small of my back in a possessive gesture that made me grin wickedly. I wasn’t lying when I told him he was mine.

As we descended the long, twisting staircase to the palace courtyard, the distant sounds of music and laughter grew louder. The Night of the Ancients celebration was already in full swing, and the thrum of magic was in the air.

At the palace gates, my five knights stood waiting for me. Dressed in the same fae fashion as Merlin, only their runes were painted in colors that matched their eyes or hair. I shucked in a sharp breath as I ran my eyes over them. So different from the courtly knights of the round table I’d gotten to know in Albion. Here, they were fae down to the core. There was something feral about my men tonight.

I nearly choked on a laugh.My men…Is that what they were now?I supposed I could claim them all the way I claimed Merlin. It would be simple, really. Their attraction to me was likea physical tether between us. All five of them wanted me, There was no denying that.

Galahad was the first to step forward, his eyes smoldering with barely restrained desire as he bowed deeply. "My Queen," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "You look fucking ravishing tonight."

I felt Merlin stiffen beside me, his hand tightening possessively on my waist. But before he could say anything, Gawain chimed in with a roguish grin. "Careful, Gal. You don't want to incur the wrath of our queen’s lover. Something tells me he wouldn’t mind the challenge though."

Tristan and Lancelot exchanged an amused glance, while Gawain merely quirked an eyebrow, his gray eyes glinting with mischief. The tension between the knights and Merlin was palpable.

I watched with growing amusement as Merlin stepped forward, a dangerous glint in his eye as he faced off against Gawain. The fae knight merely grinned, completely unfazed by the powerful sorcerer's glare.

"Is that a challenge, Sir Gawain?" Merlin asked, his voice deceptively calm. "Because if it is, I'm more than happy to oblige." His lips twitched into a smirk, and it was all I could do to contain an eye roll.

“Your male posturing is adorable,” I said, taking a step between them. “But we’re being rude to our hosts. Can we get on with the night without you pulling out your cocks to measure?”

Gawain, never one to miss an opportunity, quipped with a roguish wink, "Obviously, I have the largest cock. No need to measure."

Tristan smacked him on the back of the head, the silver-haired knight's eyes dancing with amusement. "Keep dreaming, Gawain. We all know it's not the size that counts, but how you use it to please her."

Gawain shoved Tristan back and laughed. “Spoken like a man with an inferiority complex, hm?”

The tension broke like a spell, the knights' laughter ringing out into the night air. Even Merlin cracked a smile, shaking his head.

Percy finally stepped forward from the shadows that constantly swirled around him, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch. The memory of his cock buried deep inside me made my whole body tingle.

"Let’s get moving. I’m tired of standing around while there’s wine to fucking drink. I, for one, am more than ready to show off who she belongs to."

A shiver of pleasure shot through me at his words, causing Merlin to tense beside me again. But I quickly raised my hand, giving them all a sharp stare. "No man will ever own me.But, I will gladly let it be known that the six ofyouhave been claimed. At least for tonight."

Chapter Twenty-Four

ARTHUR

The night airwas warm and fragrant with the scent of blooming jasmine and honeysuckle. Towering trees with luminescent leaves in shades of purple, blue, and silver stretched up into the starry sky, their branches hung with glowing lanterns that cast a soft, otherworldly light over the Seelie Court.

Everywhere I looked, fae of all kinds were indulging in the pleasures of the Night of the Ancients. Lithe dancers with iridescent wings fluttered and spun gracefully through the air, their gossamer gowns shimmering in the firelight.

Musicians played hauntingly beautiful melodies on instruments I had never seen before. Harps with strings that seemed to be made of spun moonlight, flutes carved from shimmering crystal, and drums that pulsed with a deep, primal rhythm.

Merlin's hand rested possessively on the small of my back as he guided me through the throng of revelers. Around us, the knights formed a loose circle, their eyes constantly scanning the crowd, but I noticed they seemed more at ease than ever. Itoccurred to me that this really was their home. The place they felt most safe. Full of familiar faces of people they’d known for centuries.

As we moved deeper into the heart of the festivities, the pulsing energy of the crowd enveloped us. Towering bonfires dotted the sprawling clearing, their flames flickering in mesmerizing shades of blue, green, and violet. Sparks drifted upward like glowing fireflies, mingling with the twilight stars above.

Merlin snagged two goblets from a passing servant, handing one to me. The wine was a deep, rich crimson, and as I took a sip, flavors of ripe berries, dark chocolate, and something distinctly magical burst across my tongue. It sent a pleasant warmth spreading through my veins, making my skin tingle.

We settled onto an arrangement of cushions beneath a towering willow tree, its cascading branches adorned with softly glowing crystal orbs. The air here was cooler, heavy with the scent of damp earth and night-blooming flowers. Galahad and Lancelot balanced two large trays of cheeses, fruits, and candies in their hands, settling them in the center of our little group.

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