Page 30 of Tethered Thrones

“I see. Well, hopefully, his spellwork comes in handy again,” I said in a measured tone, and Sun agreed since his rudimentary spells had proven more than helpful. Maybe Nguyen was onto something, whether I liked the bond they had formed under my nose or not.

I wondered what they’d talked about the last time they were left to themselves by the river but quickly shook the thought away. The closer Kiar became to Clem, the better. I’d decided that a while ago. I no longer cared about passing our pets between us, within reason. And Kiar was a very reasonable naga.

Kiar protected what was his with bloodthirsty fierceness. Since he didn’t like much of anything, and I’d never known him to direct a loving energy towards another being rather than things he hoarded in his nest… Not before Sun, anyway. If he liked Clem, he’d protect and kill for him, and that set my heart at ease.

“Where is our reclusive king? Where is Hadi? I don’t sense him in the trees. Did he slack on guard duty?” I teased, and Sun half-shrugged, avoiding my gaze. He’d told me that Hadi was supposed to always stay near him while Kiar and I hunted, yet here he was, alone.

“Oh, that? I lied. Hadi never agreed to watch me,” he said matter-of-factly. “Don’t worry; I waited for Kiar to return before leaving Clem.”

“You what?” I growled.

“Hadi was too busy scowling at the clouds, and I was hungry, and you were far. It’s not the end of the world, Bracken.”

I wanted to smash his head against the rocks and force some sense to seep into the crack in his skull. Did Sun not realize how small he was, how fragile even now? The image of him sobbing curled into a tiny ball on the mountain, was seared into my mind.

How many times had he slipped away from us for the briefest moment only to be physically and emotionally wounded?

“You should be punished,” I said before I could catch myself.

“I should be. Thoroughly.”

He flashed a vivacious smile and reached up and over much too boldly, stroking the pocket of fur that sheathed my cock. My moan of surprise erupted without warning.

“We should finish what we started. I… I’m sorry I’ve been so distant. But we’re close now. So close to General Hideyoshi. Once we’re there, there… I think we should?—”

I growled.

“You wouldn’t let me,” I said too forcefully, already ready for more. How was I possibly that pent up when I’d been ravishing Clem in the meantime during this long sexual drought?

“I know, and I’m sorry for that. I wanted it, you know,” he whispered, and his eyes flicked up, framed by his long eyelashes. It should be illegal to be so gorgeous. “I wanted you.”

He got closer, so both of his hands were on me now. He stared intently at the thick black fur that hid my cock and licked, enraptured as he rubbed the slit harder and harder, my cock head peeking out, his eyes widening with lust.

“Don’t try to seduce me when you lied to Kiar and Clem,” I moaned again, pushing him away from me as gently as I could.

He huffed, and I reached to hold him to stop him from stroking me any longer. Sun had it in his mind to suck the fur-lined pocket that held my cock from view. I didn’t know where he’d gotten a new kink for touching me there, but I did not like it. It was too close to being fucked by him, and that wouldneverhappen!

Sun folded nicely into my arms. Perfect, like puzzle pieces slotting together. Could he not see it now?

“Ouch!” I released him at once. Something hard and stiff and most definitelynota cock nicked my thigh.

“Oh shit, sorry, Bracken,” he said in a rush, a razor-sharp dagger falling to the ground.

I sucked my teeth. Sun had fashioned an impressive arsenal, deadly to nocs and humans. And I could tell, by the darknesshaunting the corners of his eyes, that he would kill anyone and anything that stood in the way of taking the false emperor’s head. And the thought of killing humans unnerved him.

Sun stilled beside me, fingers flexing for some invisible dagger. Knowing my little warrior, he’d probably stowed one away in his boot, gifted to him by his friends, near his ankle for good measure.

“Do you hear that?” he whispered.

“Hear what?” I asked, feigning ignorance like I didn’t know Hadi was leaping through the woodlands nearby.

Instinctively, Sun stepped in front of me, and I suppressed my snort. I had to concede he was strong and worthy of the warrior title by human standards. But every time he moved to protect me, I couldn’t help but laugh.

The rustling of leaves stopped, and Sun exhaled a sigh of relief. Though he shouldn’t. Hadi was near, and he was not pleased. It never ceased to amaze me how such a large body maneuvered so quietly, damn near daintily. All the better to rip his prey’s heads off without warning. It was probably only because of the tether that Sun heard him at all.

“You should show Clem more affection,” I said to distract him, curious to see if Hadi would come closer. “He’s been lonelier than all those jealous fools combined.”

“His nose has been buried in his book. Where did he get that thing, anyway?” Sun asked as I began stripping him bare, like a present wrapped up for me—no need to wait anymore.

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