Page 13 of Restoring the Ngozii

“So close, Captain, so close.” She mewls against my neck, her pants growing erratic as she struggles to keep up her rhythm. Her focus is waning as she chases her high, so I take my opportunity and seize control from her, knowing that I can give her more than she asked for. Pinching her nipples hard, she screams as her release soaks me, and I use that momentum to lift her, spinning us so I’m on top.

My hands on her breasts push her into the mattress as my hips press into her, extending her orgasm as she makes this squeaking sound, her body squeezing me impossibly tight. Releasing her breasts, I lift her legs onto my shoulders and push forward until my nose is touching hers. She pants as her eyes widen at my smirk, her teeth gritted at the stretch of her thighs, but I’m not giving her an inch.

“Better hold onto something. I’m not done with you yet.” I growl at her as my knees widen, my hips flush against her ass, making her mewl at the pressure.

Her nails scrape along my triceps as she grabs my arms for stability just as my hips move, slamming into her repeatedly, stealing her breath. Lips parted in a silent scream, her body grows rigid as she tries to push back against me, but the whispered yeses leaving her tell me all I need to know. She’s tight as can be, and she’s already building up quickly. It won’t be long before she’s too tight for me to even move, but that’s what I’m hoping for.

Tingles rise up my spine, her grip on my arms grows tighter, drawing blood that drips slowly down my forearm, and my name is ringing from her lips like a prayer. Her final scream of pleasure is ear-piercing as her knees tighten around my head. Her hips straighten out, and I sit up, gripping them tightly as I piston into her a few more times, her orgasm-tightened body causing my own to erupt from me like a volcano. The final push of my hips into hers has her spasming again, nearly killing me, milking me for all I have, before I collapse backward, her legs draped across my body.

We lay there panting for a few moments before she crawls up to lay on my chest, her hand smoothing out my shirt as she kisses the claw marks she left. “That was the best distraction ever.”

I laugh as she kisses me, her giggle the most adorable sound I’ve ever heard. This moment, a moment when I feel so high and relaxed, so carefree, it’s easy to see her optimism and hope like hell that she’s right.

Chapter 8

Xenshay

IwatchTavionnaasshe steps carefully around me, her steps measured and calculated, and nod to Seuke as our eyes meet through the parted sea of people. Turning back around, I lock eyes with Vahru, who glares at me. Yeah, I deserve that. I was an absolute asshole to him in the past. When my gaze flicks to Kari, Vahru growls, but she simply studies me with curiosity. My eyes shift to the warriors surrounding me, waiting for an answer. I turn to one of the captains Seuke works closely with and ask him to lead them to the holding cave and keep an eye on them. I’ll be there in a moment. He nods and barks orders as the warriors surround them.

I turn and rush after Vee and Kay, needing to understand what it is she’s expecting from me. Emotions swirl through me, but they aren’t what I expected to feel, not at all. I expected to feel anger, resentment, maybe even outright hatred for them. Instead, I’m uncertain, fearful, and hopeful at the same time. Maybe they can fix this mess, but only if Tavionna listens, and I don’t know that she’s in a listening mood right now.

My feet echo through the hall as I chase after them, calling out her designation. When they stop and turn, I bow politely to her, more out of habit than anything, but I know she needs the respect right now. “Priestess, I’m sorry, but I…” My words falter as I catch the confusion and rage swirling in her purple eyes. The bond is shrouded in a multitude of conflicting emotions as she struggles to find the answers. She’s absolutely lost. My heart aches at the sight, and I want nothing more than to wrap her up and whisper all the soothing words I can to her, but I’m not sure what to say as I’m just as conflicted right now.

“Thank you, Xenshay, for watching the prisoners while I sort this out. I know this isn’t easy for you to face them so soon after what happened, but I need you right now.”

I stare into her eyes, perplexed by the emotions fighting for dominance within me, and I’m not sure which ones are hers and which are mine. “I… Priestess…”

She holds up a hand, cutting me off before I can find the right words. “I’m sorry, but the three of us will discuss this further later. I need to sort this out right now.” Her head turns as she spears Seuke with a heavy look. “Keep the warriors prepared, but the war is on standby until I sort this out.” Turning on her heel, she storms away down the hall, her marks faintly glowing as she struggles to contain her emotions. A light breeze filters her scent down the hall to us, and I turn to face Seuke.

His head cocks to the side in sympathy, one corner of his mouth twitching up in a small smile, before his hand slides down my arm. “Are you truly okay?”

I sigh and shake my head, linking our fingers together. “I don’t truly know, Kay. Seeing them brings about a plethora of emotions, but not the ones I expected to feel. I’m uncertain.”

He smiles and tugs my hand, pulling me closer. His voice lowers as our noses are nearly touching. “This is just the sort of moment we’ve been waiting for, Zen. If Tavi takes this, accepts the help, we’ve seized the only opportunity we have to stop her from ruining any chances at happiness.”

I press my forehead to his, letting his other arms wrap around me as I link my other hand with his. “I know. If her guides don’t push her to take this, we need to. They may not necessarily be my people anymore, but I don’t want to see them wiped out over this. Vee needs to see that there’s another way, that the damage her mother did can be remedied.”

“Are you sure you can handle this?”

Leaning forward and lifting my chin, I press my lips to his, stealing what reassurance I can before I answer. “If I can’t, I have you by my side to help, right? Between the two of us, we’ll figure out a way to get Vee on the right path.”

He kisses me back, squeezing me tight to him for a moment before relaxing. “I’ll always be here for you, love. Both of you.”

“I have to get to the dungeon, so to speak.” He chuckles at my term for the holding cave, and I grin. “I’ll see what I can glean from them, if their intentions are true. Hopefully I can get the information to you before it’s too late.”

He smiles as I cup his face, kissing him one more time before running off in the direction I came from. I slip through the main cavern and turn to the left, rushing down the hall that splits. The right hall leads to our bedchamber, the left, the holding caves. I round the corner and slowly step into the line of sight, relieving the guard standing before them.

I have to suppress the small chuckle that wants to rip through me at the sight of the cave. Just the memory of my first day on the planet, sitting in this room waiting to meet the priestess, has me laughing at the absurdity of it all. Someone like me should never have been so lucky, yet here I am.

There are no bars or doors to keep them trapped, simply guards with training to take them down if they even think of escaping. At the moment, the guards are out in the hall awaiting my command. I am all that stands in their way. Knowing Kari has the portal, I have no doubt they could leave if they wanted to, but also knowing that she’s the goody two-shoes who fights for others, she won’t leave without helping Tavionna first.

She doesn’t look much different than when we met. Her attire is more suitable for village life, her hair a tad longer, but otherwise, she’s the same. Vahru still holds his grudge against me, the scowl on his face making that obvious. His long hair is tied back in a style he rarely uses, but I suppose having it flying around while taking medical samples is not helpful, and I know that’s why he’s here. His medical training from the city paid off many times throughout our lives in the village. The young man beside them sits with a knife in his hand, his gaze assessing as he watches me. His fist sits closer to Kari’s side of his leg than his, suggesting he’s meant to be her protector. He’s barely a man by village standards, and I don’t recall any sort of guard training being a thing, but I suppose things have changed since I wasbanished.

After a long moment of staring at each other, Kari rises and slowly walks up to stand directly in front of me. I make no move, my hands open and relaxed at my side as I eye her carefully, trying to keep my face neutral. Her eyes scan over me, starting with my face, before they pause on my marks. Her hand lifts, one finger poking at each one as she huffs out a noise. When her eyes lift to mine, she grins and shifts aside her shirt, letting me see the mark on her shoulder. “I see you’ve found your place, Xenshay.”

I nod, pressing my lips into a line as I think for a moment. “Yes, it’s given me a lot to think about, a lot of revelations, and apologies are in order. I’ve since realized how… brainwashed I was by my father. I was poisoned by him, and I’m regretful of my actions in the village. You don’t have to forgive me, but I’m making amends in other ways.”

Kari chuckles and pokes at my mark again. “I know how much that little thing can change everything. Don’t worry. The past is the past, it’s what we make of our time now that will make the future brighter, right? I’m just glad you’ve found your place and yourself.”

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