Page 58 of Beneath a Shattered Sky
Jaro breaks the kiss with a snarl. The cold air rushing in to take his place is a shock to my system, and I take a deep breath to clear the intoxicating fog that makes it hard to think, letting it out on an impatient sigh.
By now, they should really be used to the fact that neither can land a blow on the other, but that doesn’t stop Jaro from trying. Caed just waits, cocky smile in place as the shifter growls.
“Jaro, enough.” I keep my voice calm, well aware of how close his wolf is to the surface.
“He shouldn’t be here.” The wolf gives up throwing ineffective punches and settles for pacing.
“Actually, this is my room, too,” Caed shrugs. “Apparently the Nicnevin sleeps with her Guard—or at least, I assume that’s the reason for the gigantic bed in there.”
“Go share with your cousin,” Drystan snaps. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Yes, let’s add rumours of incest to the long list of reasons the fae have to disapprove of me.” Caed rolls his eyes. “Not to mention, there’s a horde of angry unseelie who’d love to take a piece out of my hide simply because I was better at fighting a war than they were, which, by extension, puts our darling little queen at risk should I be harmed. Face it, dour knight, I’m a liability here. You need to keep me close.” He strides into the room and flops into a nearby chair, raising one brow smugly. “Besides, I’m no closer to her now than I was in camp, so what’s the problem?”
“The problem”—Lore grins, following him inside—“is that Rose might want to fuck us, and she won’t do it with your virgin ass sitting there.”
I wait for Caed to deny it, to brag about the scores of females he’s no doubt fucked his way through. But… no one saysanything. He doesn’t even drop his eyes, like he’s daring the others to make a big deal out of it.
Did he… was it a choice on his part? It must have been, surely. My Guard might be unable to get hard for other females, but if he was really invested in the idea of bedding someone, he’s resourceful enough that he could’ve sourced the very potions they used against Bree.
Soon, the tension in the silence grows uncomfortable, and I cast around for anything to distract from it.
Clearing my throat, I look away. “It seems a little short-sighted of you to assume that his presence would prevent me from fucking any of you.”
The crass words and the boldness behind them stun all of them. Five wide pairs of male eyes fix on me, and I let a small smile escape. I’ve actually rendered them speechless.
“What?” I protest. “You’re all assuming I have a problem with being watched. I don’t.”
My first time was with two of them, for Goddess’s sake. It’s practically a given that there will be at least two pairs of eyes on my naked body whenever we’re intimate.
“You’re—” Jaro chokes off. “He’s?—”
“Caed has already seen me naked,” I point out, adopting my most pragmatic voice. “And after my fever, I should think I’m well-versed in being observed while I’m…” Lore’s catlike grin has spread wider and wider until it’s in danger of breaking his face in half, and his red eyes have turned molten with a heat that steals my words.
“Pretty pet.” His fingers hook at the edge of my neckline, tugging it down to expose my shoulder. “You want to torture him with what he’s never going to have, is that it?”
Biting my lip, I shrug with forced nonchalance as I head for the bed and settle on it. “It is my room, after all. If he dislikes it, he’s free to leave.”
It’s not like he hasn’t already spied on us once. I don’t plan to let anyone—especially Caed—stop me from enjoying my mates.
Strong fingers grip my chin, turning me away from Lore’s excited face, and forcing me to meet Drystan’s sceptical frown.
“He can sleep here, if he must, but he doesn’t deserve to see you like that.”
My jaw clenches. Maybe he’s right, but as much as this started as a way to break the tension, there’s a tiny, inadmissible part of me that isn’t indifferent as I pretend to be. I want this. I can’t ever confess to it without sowing more division between them, but I do.
I’m not willing to go against Drystan either. Because these intimate moments I share with my mates aren’t just about me. If they don’t want to be watched, I can’t force the issue.
Perhaps my decision shows on my face, because Caed’s expression morphs into one of carefully crafted derision. “Not that eager to see your wrinkled ballsack anyway, unseelie.” He turns to the redcap. “I’d rather take a walk. I’ll glamour myself and listen out for any more coup attempts.”
“It’s less of a concern now that Cressida has sworn the oath,” Drystan mutters. “But a sound strategy.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Jaro says, pushing away from the mattress. “My wolf appreciates the fresh air.”
Not a lie, but we all know his motivations are less than innocent. He’s going to stop Caed from doing anything he shouldn’t. Like getting involved in illegal underground fighting rings or arrested.
The door closes behind them, and Lore sighs. “I still think torturing him with the sound of her begging for cock would’ve been fun.”
“Why share that with him when we can have her to ourselves?” Drystan retorts, kneeling on the bed beside me anddragging down the other side of my shirt to lay a kiss against my throat.
