Page 94 of Lady for Embers

And she had to wonder at what point that had become her mentality. She had never backed down from anything before. She’d controlled and commanded every situation, Azrael and Ashtine at her sides. That’s when it changed, she supposed. She had never realized how much she was a part of a unit until she found herself standing alone.

The guard stepped off to the side, gesturing through a set of gauzy curtains. “The Beta is through here.”

“Thank you,” Talwyn said tightly, stepping into the room. They’d only taken a few steps when they both faltered.

Arianna Renatus, Beta of the Shifters, was sprawled across a settee. Her gold dress was bunched at the waist, her chest bare. Her head was tipped back while her personal guard and lover, Jamahl, knelt between her thighs. Her ?ngers were threaded into his tight curly hair that was cut short and close to his head, his wide shoulders keeping her thighs spread wide for him.

Her olive eyes slid to Talwyn, a mixture of lust and challenge churning in them. Her ?ngers tugged at Jamahl’s hair, and hismouth moved from her center to the inside of her thigh, trailing along her ?esh.

“Queen Talwyn,” she greeted, her sultry voice breathless.

“Arianna,” Talwyn replied. “I would greet Jamahl, but he appears rather busy at the moment.”

“Mmm,” Arianna hummed as Jamahl moved to her other thigh. “That he is.” She gestured lazily towards an opening across the room. “Stellan is on the veranda. I will join you all momentarily. Unless you and your... Well, unless the two of you wish to join us ?rst?”

“With all due respect, Beta, I would not put myself in such a vulnerable position without a concrete understanding of where you and the Alpha stand on the matters we have to discuss today,” Talwyn answered, watching Jamahl make his way back to the apex of her thighs.

“Wise words for someone whose wisdom has been called into question as of late,” Arianna said, her tone going icy.

“She is the Fae Queen,” Tarek cut in sharply. “You will show her the respect you always have.”

A dark laugh rose from Arianna’s throat that had Talwyn inwardly ?inching. This was going to be a dif?cult visit the way it was. She didn’t need it complicated by Tarek’s lack of knowledge on how to deal with the Shifter siblings.

“Oh, puppet,” the Beta purred coldly, locking eyes with him. “Look at you. Thinking you are in a position to speak to me in such a way.” Her gaze slid back to Talwyn. “Maybe the Witches have had it right all along, hmm? Maybe males are only good for one thing?” Her ?ngers were back in Jamahl’s hair, and she jerked his mouth back to her center, a moan sounding as he slid his tongue along her sensitive skin.

“He meant no disrespect, Arianna,” Talwyn ground out, her ?ngers twitching in anticipation of the Beta’s next move, wind ?uttering at her ?ngertips. That male between her thighs could be Shifted into a giant tiger in less time than it would take Talwyn to blink.

“We both know that is not true. Do not try to placate me,your Majesty,” she returned. She jerked her chin towards the veranda. “I will be along momentarily.”

Talwyn nodded, grateful for the reprieve, even if she had essentially just been dismissed.

“Oh, and puppet?” Arianna called after them as Tarek reached to move the curtains out of Talwyn’s way. He looked at her before looking back over his shoulder at the Beta. “If you think my brother is the one you need to bow before here, think again. He may be the Alpha, but consider who he will rip the world apart for.”

Talwyn saw Tarek’s jaw clench tighter, but he said nothing in reply to Arianna. They stepped out onto the veranda and walked along a small path, rounding a corner when they again both came to a standstill.

“For the love of Silas,” Tarek muttered. “Did we not send word of a meeting time?”

Stellan was seated in a large chair, his dark skin glistening in the summer sun. His head was tipped towards the sky, a female with golden skin perched on the arm of the chair, her lips on his throat, while a male was on his knees before him with his lips wrapped around his cock, head bobbing in his lap.

“It is a statement,” Talwyn answered, her voice low.

“A statement,” he scoffed.

“She set them free, Tarek,” Talwyn said simply as Stellan groaned, his hand holding the male in place as he ?nished, his hips thrusting deeper into the male’s throat. “They will no longer be controlled by those who can no longer contain them.”

The male on his knees sat back, Stellan trailing his ?ngers along his jaw for a moment, before there was a ?ash of light and a large, tawny wolf sat before him. The wolf turned, hazel eyes settling on the Fae.

“Ilyas,” Talwyn greeted before lifting her eyes to Stellan, who was slipping into linen pants, and the female. “Alpha. Sariah,” she added in turn.

“Drink, your Majesty?” Sariah asked. Her ?ngers ran along Stellan’s bare chest as she pushed to her feet.

“Yes, please,” she answered, stepping further into the space.

“Arianna?” Stellan asked, settling back into his chair. Although, to be honest, it would be better described as a throne. It had elegant armrests, the entire thing gilded in bronze with various animals engraved into the metal. The seat and back were draped in plush purple fabric, providing comfortable padding while he sat. An equally extravagant seat was set beside his.

A “Here, Brother” came before Talwyn could answer, and she looked over her shoulder to ?nd Arianna striding along the path,the gold beads at the ends of her dark braids clinking with each step. A tiger padded along at her side.

The Beta moved gracefully to the chair set next to her brother, taking a chalice off the tray Sariah brought over, serving the Shifters before offering the ?nal two glasses to Talwyn and Tarek. There were no chairs for them. Another statement being made.

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