Page 52 of Chains of Love

Her lips part in surprise, and I capture them again, tasting the salt of her tears. The bond between us is ecstatic, alive and electric. When we break apart, I press my forehead to hers.

"You said the bond could be sealed permanently. Let's do it."

"Darak..." She tenses in my arms. "You're not ready for?—"

"I'm tired of thinking only of myself." My fingers thread through her silver hair. "I want this. With you."

Lirien bites her lower lip, gaze dropping to my chest. "There's something you should know first." She takes a shaky breath. "The sealing ritual... it requires… intimacy. With all bonded parties."

My eyes dart to Seth and Kaelor, who've been unusually quiet. Seth's tail twitches, and Kaelor's amber eyes burn with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.

"All of us?" The words come out hoarse.

Lirien nods, not meeting my eyes.

I let out a slow breath, considering. The warrior in me balks at the idea, but something deeper – maybe the bond itself – whispers that this was inevitable. These men are as much a part of Lirien as I am now.

"Alright." I lift her chin, making her look at me. "I accept."

My fingers tighten on Lirien's waist as Sethrys slithers closer, his emerald scales catching the dim light. A possessive growl builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. The bond thrums between us, and I feel Lirien's mix of anticipation and nervousness.

"So, he does have a brain," Sethrys smirks. He moves with fluid grace into the circle, positioning himself behind Lirien. His scaled fingers brush her silver hair aside, exposing her neck. "You did well, pet. I'm so proud."

The sight of his lips on her skin sends a jolt through me – not quite jealousy, but something deeper, more primal. Through our connection, I feel Lirien's pleasure at his touch. Her green eyes find mine, seeking reassurance or perhaps permission. I give her hand a gentle squeeze.

Kaelor's heavy breathing draws my attention. The massive Waira paces at the edge of the circle, his amber eyes burning with barely contained desire. His claws flex and retract, leaving marks in the stone floor.

"Come, Kaelor." Lirien's voice is honey-sweet, a tone I've never heard from her before. I can feel the certainty of her want, her need for all of us.

"I may break you," he snarls, muscles rippling beneath his dark fur. The beast-man's restraint is clearly slipping, his massive form tensed like a predator about to pounce.

Lirien's lips curve into a wicked smile that makes my blood run hot. "Good."

That single word shatters what remains of Kaelor's control. He stalks forward, raw power in every movement, and I feel our bond stretch to accommodate him, binding us all together in ways I never imagined possible.

Kaelor's massive hand hovers in the air, his amber eyes seeking mine in silent question. "Can I?" His voice rumbles like distant thunder, a stark contrast to the soft vulnerability of his request.

I nod, my throat tightening.

He lifts her with ease, settling her in his large lap. Her skirts ride up, revealing shapely legs that I've come to know over the last weeks. Kaelor grinds against her, a low growl escaping his throat as Lirien moans in response. The sound sends a shiver down my spine, and I feel the bond between us flare with heat.

Sethrys, ever the serpent, slithers closer, his nimble fingers working to undress Lirien. The laces of her robes come undone with practiced ease, exposing her bare skin to the cool air of the chamber. My mouth goes dry as I take in the sight of her, the curves of her body bathed in the eerie green glow of the ritual magic as it hums back to life.

I move forward, my heart pounding in my chest. The warrior in me has faced death a thousand times over, but this... this is a different kind of battlefield. I reach out, my fingers brushing against the soft skin of her shoulder. She turns her head, hergreen eyes locking onto mine as she runs her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer.

"Darak," she whispers, and the sound of my name on her lips ignites something within me. I press a kiss to her shoulder, my tongue darting out to taste her skin. She tastes of magic, as if she embodies it.

Kaelor's hands roam over her body, his claws carefully retracted as he explores her. Sethrys watches with a hooded gaze, his own desire evident in the way his scales shimmer. Lirien's breathing hitches as Kaelor kisses her deeply, and I feel a surge of possessiveness course through me.

I want her to look at me like that. I want to be the one to make her moan, to make her lose control. The bond reflects my need, a silent plea that Lirien seems to understand. She reaches for me, her hand finding mine and squeezing it tightly.

"Join us, Darak," she murmurs, her voice thick with desire. "Be a part of this."

I swallow hard, my gaze flickering between her and the others. This is uncharted territory for me – a dance I've never learned the steps to. But the bond urges me forward, whispering of unity and shared pleasure.

Lirien's green eyes glisten in the pre-dawn light, her silver hair haloed by the faintest hint of sunrise. "It's time." Her voice resonates with the weight of the moment, the magic of the ritual thickening the air.

She extricates herself from Kaelor's embrace with a grace that belies the tension coiling in the pit of my stomach. I'm on my back before I realize it, my thoughts scattering as Lirien's deft fingers unsheathe my desire, baring me to the cool air. I can't help but suck in a sharp breath as her hand wraps around me, her touch both familiar and thrillingly new.

---