Page 89 of Ecliptic

Nepta’s eyes closed, her head dipping in pained understanding. A moment of silence followed for the slain warriors. “What else?” she asked, sensing the tension that rippled off my body like smoke.

“Erovos is watching through his demons. The Voro-Kai saw everything,” Maddock said, his voice low and filled with respect. He had never spoken directly to Nepta, and it hit me how much this had become his fight as well.

“The Dark Spirit knows we have weapons, yet not enough soldiers to defeat him,” I added, disdain filling my voice. Thefact that the Dark Spirit knew anything about our plans enraged me beyond belief.

“What is found out is too late to take back,” Nepta said. “But not all is bleak. We learned the weapons worked against the Voro-Kai.”

“It was only five blades,” Madds said, his voice raising to a heated tone. “We will need more than that to defeat those motherfuckers.” My gaze shot to Madds in shock, and he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Please forgive my crude language, your majesty.”

“That’s not her title,” I ground out in embarrassment.

A smirk lifted her wrinkled lips. “No harm. I quite like the sound of it.”

Madds continued unfazed, “We need everyone armed and ready for what’s coming. Those Voro-Kai are nasty beasts.”

My fingers tightened on Mithrion. I’d seen the amount of demons we needed to destroy. “We’re going to need a bigger forge.”

A heaviness sat between us, not one of devastation, but one of silent decision-making. Nepta raised her gaze, a woman capable of turning our plans into action. “I will have Bailon and Leer expand the forge to meet the demand.”

A new wave of hope and determination washed over me. The Voro-Kai may have tasted our metal, but they had yet to taste our ire.

This war was just getting started.

Rowen still hadn’t returned. My nerves were a twisted jumble in my stomach, but the flame belonging to Rowen flickered in my chest. I knew he was safe; I could feel it through our bond.

I sent him another little flare down our connection, smilingas I recalled the groans he’d made while we stripped each other bare with our blades.

To pass the time, I worked on the Phases of the Moon. This late at night, the training grounds were empty, and I had the place to myself. Sweat dripped down my face, but I didn’t let it deter me. With Mithrion in my hand, a renewed sense of purpose fueled me. Our movements were synchronized and symbiotic, as if we were training for battle together.

She was a new blade, but already, she had tasted blood. Astral demon blood. She was created in a time of war; I couldn’t expect anything less.

The motions became mediative, allowing my mind to sharpen yet flow in time with the blade. I worked meticulously on the forms, yet with every thrust and slash, I tried to incorporate the fifth and final phase: the New Moon. But that defeated the purpose entirely. I needed to learn so I could forget.

Suddenly, I sensed eyes on me, a predatory stare that gave me goosebumps.

Rowen was watching.

He appeared impressed by my physical prowess. I also noticed that he was aroused. Very aroused. His thick cock jutted against his pants. “Does this do something for you?” I asked with a smirk, pushing my ass out a little more than necessary on the next move.

His voice turned low and guttural. “It very much does. You’ve been pushing your desire down our bond all night.”

My jaw dropped as if I were surprised. “I thought I was sending you sweet nothings.”

“Definitely not. Do you know how difficult it is to hike with a cock that aches for you?”

“No,” I said, cocking one eyebrow at him, lowering into a very deep and suggestive lunge. “Tell me.”

“It makes me want to take you. Right here and now.”

I strapped Mithrion to my thigh and stepped up to the incredible man who taught me love and inner strength, hope and belonging. He gazed down at me, and I smirked up at him as I lowered to my knees.

“Keira, what are you doing?” he rasped as I unbuttoned his pants and pulled out his cock.

“I thought it was obvious,” I replied, wrapping my hand around the thick base of his erection. “I’m going to put you in my mouth.”

I parted my lips and flicked my tongue onto the plump head of his erection, and his hips jerked. “Spirits,” he groaned, tilting his head back, his eyes falling closed.

I wrapped my mouth around him and stroked him with my tongue. He threaded his fingers through my tangled waves, guiding my mouth further down his length. My cheeks hollowed out as he hit the back of my throat, my lips nowhere close to meeting my hand.

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