Page 10 of Tortured Royals

Standing, I walk to the closest pool, remembering how happy Theon had been after he’d doused himself with water. The water is so clear the smooth stone at the bottom of the pool is easily visible, and if I’m seeing correctly, it’s not that deep.At least I know this isn’t like the bath in Perstalia.Not that I would expect any ancient water demons in Toralyn, but Dad has taught me not to underestimate any situation.

“Yesss,”Shade hisses in my head.“You go in there and if you don’t die, I’ll follow you.”

I grin at her.“You really are keen for this, aren’t you?”

“I’m dying of heat exhaustion,”she squawks dramatically.“If you’re not going to let me go first, you can at least take one for the team.”

My lips stretch wider. I’m still pretty certain there’s something about these hot springs that Theon didn’t tell us, but if we’re going to get ourselves cleaned up to meet the queen,there’s no point wasting more time. Without hesitating any longer, I start peeling off my shirt.

I barely have the garment over my head when a large body is behind me, taking over, and gently pulling my shirt off. I don’t even need to look to know who it is. Mason’s rich amber and leather scent fills my nose, and awareness prickles through me.

“I can undress myself,” I grouse.

“If you couldn’t, I would be worried,” my centaur replies, a hint of humor in his voice as he kisses my neck, his hands sliding up my arms.

My hands are still in the air when Dante moves in front of me. He crouches down, removing my weapons belt before he works on unfastening my pants. Slowly, he pulls my pants to my ankles before sliding them off entirely.

“No one is doubting your capability, princess,” my demon drawls, “but why should you have to when you have us?” I’m completely exposed now, and my legs tremble at the thought of having Dante’s face between my thighs. He smirks up at me, his midnight blue eyes framed by thick black lashes, and my breathing starts to quicken.

“Soooo, I’m guessin’ it’s bath time?” Nate says, cracking his neck and coming over to strip beside me. In a matter of seconds, he’s naked, and he leaves his clothes in a pile next to the pool. “See you in there, gorgeous,” he says with a wink, and he dips his fingers into the water before striding into the pool. The water reaches to just under his muscled butt, but he sinks down until he’s submerged up to his chest. My shifter mate becomes preternaturally still, and for a moment, my heart skitters.

Shade squawks in my head.“Please tell me your sexy shifter is still alive.”

My heart pounds, and I watch intently, the seconds clawing by as Nate keeps his back to me, but then he turns toward us. The predatory gaze on his face is purely carnal, and his slittedeyes never leave me, the tips of fangs showing from between his lips.

“Oh goodie, he didn’t die,”Shade comments, and she pauses before adding.“But damn, when is it my turn to have a guy looking at me like that?”

I swallow thickly. “We’re just bathing and washing our clothes,” I say aloud, my voice annoyingly breathless. “Prince Callan will be here soon, and we’d better get to the queen.”

“Of course, my mate,” Mason agrees, still kissing my neck, and Dante gives me a sensual smile, his dark gaze promising pleasure.

“Don’t forget to tell me how the water is,”Shade sing-songs in my mind as my demon leads me into the pool.

Chapter

Five

~ Princess Blake ~

Tingles race up my body from where the water has touched my skin, and euphoria spreads through me. All of my worries about the witches, about Seral, and even about the fact that Prince Callan still isn’t here, they all melt away, and for the first time in a long while I feel simply…happy.

It allows you to focus on positivity.That’s what Theon had said about the water, and I finally understand what he meant. It’s like light is traveling through my veins, warming my insides, and for once there’s no self-doubt. The negative thoughts vanish from my mind, and a giddy smile forms on my face.

Shade flutters her feathers from her position back on the grass.“Whoa, girl, you have the same smile Theon had. That’s it, I’m going in.”She flies over, stopping at the edge of the pool. Cocking her head, she peers into the water.“Do you think we could bottle this stuff for the times when we’re having a really shitty day?”

When I don’t answer, she lifts her head and chuckles in my mind. Nate, Dante, and Mason are all naked and in the water now. They surround me, their hands moving to my body, and their lips pressing to my skin as I struggle to hold on to a coherent thought. “Merciful Lady,” I gasp when Dante’s mouth finds one of my nipples, his tongue flicking over the sensitive tip.

I’m vaguely aware of Shade mumbling something about not wanting to intrude on my fun, and the next time I open my eyes, my crow friend is no longer there. There’s only Alaric standing before the pool with his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face. He watches me intently, his muscles taut.

“Get out of the pool,” my assassin growls. “The water is affecting you.”

He’s right. Obviously. But I don’t even care. Is it so bad to forget about my worries for a while? A hint of something brushes the edges of my mind—a reminder of something I’m meant to do—but it vanishes as quickly as it came.

I want to tell Alaric to join us. To pull him into the water with me, but Mason grips my face, and his lips slam to mine. The male devours my mouth, his tongue stroking and demanding all my attention.

Nate’s hands press harder on my hips, his cock prodding at my back as he kisses and sucks at my neck. He traces his lips lower, his teeth clamping onto my shoulder hard enough to draw blood. I gasp as he licks the wound, the brief sting of pain morphing into pleasure.

Dante squeezes my breast, and he grazes my other nipple with his teeth as his tail flicks around my hips, sliding between my legs.

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