Page 9 of Degradation

“I couldn’t move or speak, just like before. Yet, unlike those previous faints, when more than one of you touched me, I felt a surge of energy different from what I was used to.

“The weight of her spell had covered the lid of my well, preventing me from connecting with my own energy. But when I found pleasure, your energies combined were enough that I could speak. It always ended too quickly to do more, though.

“That’s when I understood what she meant about no man wanting me and what I needed to do. She meant for me to bed each one of you to break the spell. But when I found my release with Brandle, it was enough to lift her spell and connect with my well. The moment I touched my own source of power, I changed the spell, forcing it to bend to my will.

“I would meet the terms of the spell, but when I chose, not when Maeve willed it.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps then, you are not free of it. I simply can not sense it.”

I searched inside myself for a hint of the spell lingering and shook my head.

“Nothing of her touch remains within me.”

He pulled me into his arms and hugged me close.

“Take extra care when casting. We have no wish to lose you, Kellen. Not for all the gems and kingdoms in the world.” He pulled back and held my gaze. “Though you are willing to give your life for your sister’s, we do not agree. Your life carries the weight of?—”

“She understands her life is tied to ours, Garron,” Brandle said. “Now let her be and help us pick up these gems.”

Garron kissed my forehead and went to collect what I’d freed. While they worked, I sat on one of the closed chests and watched them work.

They taunted and jested one another. Playful cuffing and easy laughter rang out in the cavern in bursts. Smiling, I listened to them until Daemon wrapped his arms around me from behind. He nuzzled my neck and trailed kisses along my skin.

“Knave,” I said lightly. “Do you think your brothers do not know you seek to use me to shirk your share of work?”

Daemon chuckled against my skin. “Oh, they know. But they’re also entertained by your reactions and won’t stop me.”

Tangling my hand in his hair, I plucked him away from my neck and twisted to mock-scowl at him. His unrepentant grin didn’t diminish.

“Don’t you want to know if the spell is truly lifted?” he asked, proving he’d been listening.

“And how will you help determine that?”

“Release me, and I’ll show you.”

Knowing well that the glint in his gaze was pure mischief, I released him. He lifted me, sitting me across his lap. Then, his mouth covered mine, and he kissed me hungrily, weaving another type of spell around me. I held his shoulders and met his desire with my own.

When his hand slid under my tunic and palmed my bare breast underneath, I groaned. He pulled back and lifted the material to expose my chest.

“Cast now, Lamb.” His mouth closed over my nipple, and I struggled to think beyond the sensations he was evoking. The desire from each man in the cave beckoned me, and I arched under Daemon's touch.

With barely a conscious thought, I connected with my well of energy. Their amulets flared brightly around the cavern, but I ignored them and focused on where the gems lay hidden under the layers of stone. Rather than remove the stone, I changed it to sand, enabling the gems to move through the material then hardened it again once I freed the gems.

Daemon switched to my other breast, and I sighed in contentment and ran my fingers through his hair.

“Since he’s had all the fun, we should leave the work to him as well,” Darian said.

I tipped my head to look at him as his brother’s mouth continued to caress me.

“He isn’t the only one enjoying this. I can feel how much you enjoy watching.”

Eadric laughed, and Darian grinned.

“You are a beautiful sight,” he said. “Mining isn’t as grueling a task with you here.”

“That’s because you’re staring and not working,” Edmund said with a scowl.

Though he was annoyed with Darian for gawking, he was more annoyed with Daemon for doing what he wanted to do. They all wished they were in Daemon’s place.

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