Page 8 of Trial By Fire

Nothing wrong with chocolate for breakfast,I say to myself as my feet move on their own accord toward the second shower door. I could have them both. I look over my shoulder in the direction of the bedroom. Tempting. I pause, my brain short-circuiting by the temptation of his flesh, my original purpose for coming in here comes rushing to the forefront of my mind. I take a deep breath and assess him properly. Torin’s emotions are a mixture of fear and anxiety, his exhaustion hangs heavy in the air, and I realize he hasn’t slept yet.

I slowly take off the oversized shirt someone dressed me in for bed. By the fresh linen smell overwhelming my senses, it belongs to Gale. I can only imagine the argument between him and Adrian as they fought over who’s shirt I should wear as they dressed me for bed.At least they left my underwear on, I think to myself as I shuffle them down my legs and toss them in the laundry basket by the door.

Silva is going to freak out when she sees the additional man in the room with me. I hope someone tells her that Dravyn is here before she rushes in here like a tornado to tidy our room. I chuckle softly as I picture her face.

I pull the shower door open as quietly as possible and enter from the far end. The huge rainfall style shower head hangs over Torin’s head, buffering the noise of my footsteps as I make my way toward him. Grabbing one of my bars of soap from the wall, I hold it in my hands, and breathe in the scent, and sigh. The oval shaped bar of African black soap with activated charcoal with my Drakes Naturals logo stamped on the top felt like finality in my hands. The strong scent of sandalwood and vanilla brings a sad smile to my face. It was one of the last ones I have in my bag, and after this, there will be no more. The last remnants of my normal life cradled between my fingers.

Walking into the spray of the shower, I lather the soap between my hands, and I hesitate for a moment as I realize that I hadn’t thought this through. My hair will be a mess after this. I will pay for it later, but my mate needs me now, and he is worth the drama of Afro frizzy hair. Pushing all thoughts of moisturizer and oiling my hair to the back of my mind, I reach out and run my soapy hands down Torin’s back. If he is surprised by my touch, he doesn’t show it. I can feel him start to relax as I rub away the tension he is holding on to. We both stay silent as I work, neither of us wanting to interrupt this moment between us as I take care of him. When I finally make my way to the front of his body, I reach up to wash his chest, and his hands grab my wrists, holding me still.

“I thought you would be asleep for a while. You need to rest, baby. The first time you shift can be exhausting to your body. I’m surprised you’re standing here.” His beautiful bronze-gold eyes glow with the intensity of his Dragon, quickly giving me a once over before he blinks, and they are normal again. Yes, my limbs are heavy, I could have crawled back into bed between Adrian and Gale and slept for a few more hours, absolutely, but something woke me up.

“How can I rest when a part of me was missing?” I say to him as the weight of my words press down on us both. His eyes heat up, and his nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath. He takes the soap from my hands.He did not just smell me,I say to myself as I watch him place the soap in an alcove in the wall and pulls my body flush with his. I can feel his hardening cock twitch between us as he looks down into my eyes, and it takes everything I have not to fall into the depths of passion with this man. My hands splay out wide against his chest as I use his wall of muscles to brace myself. “You haven’t slept, Torin. You’re clearly worried about something. I can feel it.” He sighs and looks away from me, finding something on the wall more interesting than telling me what’s causing him to feel like this.

“Look at me, Torin,” I say with a gentle tap on his chest. My thoughts turn to all the moments he carried me and held me close, protecting me from my own pain, and all I want to do is protect him from his. When he finally locks eyes with me again, I can see and feel his fear as it penetrates the air around me, making me draw in a deep breath. His anxiety is suffocating, and I find myself clutching my own chest against it. He has let me in, let me feel the full force of his emotions, and I knew then that he had been hiding most of it before.

“Breathe, baby,” he says softly, wrapping his arms around me. Water pools between my face and his chest as he rubs calming circles onto my back. I tilt my head back to look up at him after a moment. This wasn’t about me; it was about him. Before I can open my mouth to say that he begins to speak.

“What if we are not enough? Why do I feel this strong sense of dread, like we are not seeing the whole picture? I feel like somehow Adrian, Gale, and I have been ten steps behind, and we are never going to catch up in order to prevent something terrible from happening. I can’t lose you, Cordelia; we can’t lose you. I thought we had time, baby, time to teach you what you need to know, to prepare you for the fights to come.” He sighs heavily and leans his forehead against mine. “With Dravyn showing up out of thin air, it shook me at how close they’ve been to taking you. Even before we knew you were alive, Dravyn felt you first. He was out there, watching and waiting, and it was only by his sheer will and determination that he didn’t act on Queen Maurelle’s and Thaddeus’s orders and hand you over to them.” I can feel him trembling underneath my fingers as hot water rains down on us, but he shivers like he is cold. I want to soothe him and tell him everything will be ok. I can’t reassure him when I am so unsure myself.

“I’m afraid too. Hell, I don’t know shit about any of this. I am flying blind, Torin. You, Adrian, Gale, and now even Dravyn, are my pillars, and I need you all to be strong and steady for me. To hold me up and take every opportunity you guys have to teach me everything I need to know. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. I don’t know when this little bubble of peace we have created with each other will pop, but I promise you right here and now that I will not waste a second.”

I feel my own fear settle his. He nods his head slowly, accepting my words and letting them comfort him, then grabs my head between his hands and kisses me. He didn’t need to reply with words, instead, he feeds me all the anxiety, fear, and sadness through the ferocity of his kiss. I open up for him willingly as he deepens the kiss, our tongues dance around each other, and his need spills into me, making me breathless. Breaking the kiss, I try to catch my breath as he kisses his way down my neck to my chest. The anticipation of him reaching my nipples makes my knees weak as he takes one between his teeth and sucks hard.

My head falls back, and I almost collapse to the floor, but he catches me around the waist with one arm, lifting me off my feet as he sucks, bites, and licks at my breast. All I can do is take the pleasure he is giving, clinging to his arms as I surrender myself. Two fingers plunge into my pussy without warning, and I cry out as he begins to play me like a well-tuned instrument. I ride his fingers as he swallows my moans with his deep kisses, his fingers curl up, finding my sweet spot as his thumb strokes my clit once, twice, and I fall apart in his arms. I come so hard I see stars dancing underneath my eyelids. I wrap my legs around his waist, and before I get a chance to come down from my high, my back hits the cold marble wall behind us. I gasp from the sudden change of temperature. Torin’s kisses are punishing. He removes his fingers, and he lines his cock up and enters me, inch by delicious inch. Both of us groan from the sensation. I need to break off our kiss, I’m breathless and panting.

“Fuck me, Torin,” is all I can say as I wrap my arms around his neck, and he begins to move. Nothing about what he is doing to me is tender and soft, it’s rough and hungry as he takes what he needs from my body. I give myself over freely as he lets go and pounds into me hard and fast. I don’t last long. Already the pressure of my second orgasm is building inside of me. I close my eyes, willing myself to delay my gratification as he hits the right spot inside of me.

“Look at me, Cordelia. I need to see your eyes as you come around my cock.” His words are all I need. With my eyes open wide, I scream his name as I come for a second time. I hold on as he picks up the pace, and a sense of satisfaction warms me as he finds his own release. The intensity of this moment entwines our souls further. My head falls forward, landing on his shoulder as he peppers my neck with soft kisses. We stay connected like this for what feels like forever. I can feel his quiet has returned, as the storm that was brewing inside of him has become calm and settled, for now at least.

“I need to tell you that I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you, Cordelia. That love for you has never left. Every day it only grows stronger and stronger. My need to protect you is driving me hard. I will die for you, Cordelia. If it comes down to my life or yours, I will go willingly.” I let him place me on shaky legs, and I grab his arms to steady myself.

“I love you too. I don’t want any of you to sacrifice yourselves for me. So, don’t you dare say that shit to me. You can’t lose me—I can’t lose you—none of you! We do this together. No matter the trials we have to face. We will do this together as one,” I say to him as I reach up and kiss him softly.

I lean my head against his chest, and he gathers me in his arms. I let him hold me. All I can think about in this moment is whatever the future holds for us, I hope we will come out on the other side of this unscathed.

CHAPTERSIX

ADRIAN

“Mom!” My throat’s raw from my screams. The sun shines bright against the bluest of skies, sending shimmering ripples across our ocean home in the distance. A stark contrast to the desolation of our current situation. Tears stream from my eyes as I watch in horror as my mother is dragged up the steps to join my sister. I struggle against my father’s hold on me, his arm is wrapped tightly around my chest, his strength out matching mine, and I can’t break free. All I can do is stand here and bear witness to the atrocities happening in front of me.

“Ayanna!” I yell my sister’s name. She looks out into the crowd, her head held high as she spares me a small glance before she looks away. I can’t lose them both, not like this. I watch as one of the Barons places the noose around my mother’s neck. The wails and screams from the people around us grow frantic as we watch our Regent face her death.

“Please, Father, do something,” I sob as I continue to struggle. He remains quiet, only squeezing me tighter as my pleas to save my sister and mother go unanswered. Suddenly, the crowd of people goes deathly silent as the leader of the Black Barons stands in the middle of the platform between my mother and sister. He stares out into the crowd, like he owns the world. I guess in his case, he does. He is the law of Arcadia, and anyone who stands against him is put to death publicly. He moves his head slowly, almost snakelike, poised to strike, daring anyone to speak as he continues to sneer down into the crowd. Satisfied that no one will so much as sneeze, he opens his mouth to speak.

“Dragons of Panlongia, these women behind me have continued to commit crimes against me and Arcadia itself. They have incited riots, public disorder, and sown seeds of discord for seven long years as they continue to fight against the new laws the Council had put in place. As women, public speaking is forbidden, it is the law. Yet, the wife of your very own Regent breaks these laws on a daily basis, dragging her daughter down right along with her. It’s a shame really, to lose such a fine specimen. Our females are precious, they are givers of life, the keepers of our homes, and caretakers of our children. I will no longer stand their open disobedience, and if any other woman decides to take up their mantel, I will end you, just as I end them today, but your death will not be as swift.” I hear gasps from a few people in the crowd behind me at Thaddeus’s threat, they were quickly hushed by people in the crowd. I finally look up into my father's face. He weeps silently, his body is trembling against my own. His eyes are locked on my mother as the executioner moves to the lever behind my mother and sister. They can’t even save themselves, the handcuffs they wear are spelled to prevent them from shifting. It’s hopeless, there is nothing they can do.

“For crimes against Arcadia. Sarah and Ayanna Stewart, wife and daughter of the Regent of Panlongia, I sentence you to death by hanging!” Thaddeus shouts as he walks off the platform and into the army of his Barons, vanishing amongst the crowd. Screams and shouts erupt all around me, my own screams are drowned out by the noise. The last thing I see is the resolve in my sister’s eyes, and the smile on my mother’s face as the executioner pulls the lever. Without further ceremony, their bodies drop down into the holes on the platforms. My sister’s neck breaks instantly. My legs give out as I continue to cry and scream at the sight of her lifeless body. My mother is not so fortunate as she struggles against the noose, gasping for breath, her body jerks violently for what feels like an eternity. Her legs are kicking out furiously, a steady drumbeat of her impending death, until her legs stop moving suddenly. She is gone. They are gone.

“Mom! Ayanna! No!” I scream as my father scoops me up into his arms, turning me away from the sight of my mother and sister, their bodies swinging to a rhythm only death can hear. I close my eyes. There’s no fight left in me, and I cry for the loss of my family.

“Adrian.” I hear my name, but I am so deep into my nightmare I can’t shake myself out of my horror. It’s been years since I’ve dreamed of the day my mother and sister were killed. It was so vivid. It felt as if I had been transported back to the exact moment. Back to the same screaming little boy whose father sat back and let Thaddeus kill his family. He didn’t even have the decency to watch the light leave my mother’s eyes. The lack of respect he showed them when he turned his back and walked away like they were trash makes my blood boil. I feel myself thrash in my sleep, and someone grunts beside me.

“Damn it! Adrian!” I hear someone shout. I try to wake up, but the images of my mother and sister’s swinging bodies are all I can see.

“Adrian, wake up. Open your eyes for me.” Cordelia’s body presses against mine. Her arms wrap around me and she holds me close. I let her touch ground me as the darkness fades away. I open my eyes to see her look at me with concern on her face. Her hair is damp, a towel is wrapped around her body, and her beautiful browns hold questions that I am not ready to answer. I sit up, drenched in sweat, and prop myself up against the headboard, taking her with me. She straddles me, nothing between us but the thin layer of my pajama pants. I can feel the warmth of her core against me, but my body doesn’t react. There is nothing sexual about the way she is looking at me. She grabs my chin between her fingers and holds my face still so that it is only her face that I see. I take in a few shaky breaths as the last images of my dream fall away as I focus on her and only her.

“I think he broke my nose,” I hear Gale say from the other side of the room.

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