Page 167 of A Crown of Lies

AssoonasRuithleft, Niro pulled Aryn into a desperate kiss. Aryn was tempted to melt into it, to forget about what he needed to say. After all, he still had two days, and maybe they wouldn’t leave right after the election. Maybe he could stay just a little while.

And maybe he would sprout wings and fly to the moon.

He put a hand to Niro’s chest and pushed him back gently. “Niro…”

“I know.” Niro sighed and rested his head against Aryn’s shoulder. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

“I must.”

Niro stayed as he was for a moment before lifting his head. “What if I asked you to stay? I could offer you a position here, in my office, or with my clan.”

Aryn frowned and pulled away. “I don’t want to work for you, Niro. And I have a life I must return to, people who are depending on me. I did not come here prepared to abandon that.”

“And I was not so prepared to lose my heart to you.”

Aryn turned away. He paced over to Ruith’s desk, resting his hands on the surface of it. “So much has happened in such a short time. I don’t think any of us were prepared for any of it. Life is never going to be the same after this. For any of us.”

“Aryn, I… I don’t want this to end.” Niro came over and took his hand, turning him around. “Perhaps I can come visit you, or you can come back here a few times a year.”

Aryn’s chest inflated with a deep breath. “I want that, but I can’t commit to anything without talking to Mercia first.”

Niro nodded. “Of course,” he said without hesitation. “Absolutely.”

“Talk to Mercia first about what?” Mercia asked.

Niro stepped aside, revealing Mercia in the doorway with Saya. Saya’s hair was damp, but she looked much better. Happier, even. She gave Mercia a quick kiss on the lips and crossed the room to take Niro’s hand with a quick peck to his cheek. He let his hand rest against her lower back, waiting.

“The future,” Aryn said after clearing his throat. “Where the four of us go from here. I know we have to return, Mercia, but—”

“I want us to continue,” Mercia finished, and it was as if she had read his mind. She fidgeted with her fingers. “I don’t know where this will go, or for how far, but if we’re all happy, why should it end just because we have to be apart? Brucia and D’thallanar will be allies, and we will all be working closely together for some time to come. I’m certain Brucia will need liaisons to travel back and forth. We can even bring the children when it’s safe. It’ll be like a vacation. It’ll be wonderful, Aryn. They’ll get to see the world.”

Aryn smiled and went to kiss Mercia lightly. “Youare wonderful. I’m so glad to have you with me, Mercia. I’m the luckiest elf in the world.” He glanced over at Saya with a small smile. “Well, maybe second luckiest.”

“So, is that settled?” Niro asked, clapping his hands together. “Because no offense, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about his cock since he got back, and I’d like to have some, if you don’t mind.”

Aryn almost doubled over, choking, his face burning.

Mercia giggled and kissed Aryn. “You’re going to have to wait your turn, Niro. I call first dibs,” Mercia declared, and pulled Aryn into a heated kiss.

Niro chuckled and closed behind Aryn, kissing his neck. “You’re popular today, little bird.”

“Ilikebeing popular.” Aryn turned his head, catching Niro’s lips.

He was too busy kissing Niro to fully appreciate it when Saya stepped in to kiss Mercia.

“Should we retire to the sleeping quarters?” Saya suggested.

Niro looked around before flashing them a sly grin. “In two days, this is going to be my office. I won’t object if we christen it early. What do you say?”

Aryn barely knew what was happening before Niro and Mercia backed him against the Primarch’s desk. He winced a little as the edge of the desk dug into his ass, and Niro took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into Aryn’s mouth while Mercia unlaced his pants.

Niro’s lips turned up in a smile against Aryn’s as he traced his hands slowly down Aryn’s biceps. When he reached Aryn’s elbows, he gripped tight and yanked Aryn’s hands behind his back. “All yours, Mercia.”

“Fuck,” Aryn panted, tearing his lips free of Niro to watch Mercia go down to her knees. It was the only word he got out before Niro captured his lips again.

He was already half hard by the time Mercia pulled his pants down, but she wasn’t kind enough to give him any leeway. She pulled them down around his ankles, which only restricted his movement more. It felt like there were lips and hands on him everywhere: trailing over his stomach, on the inside of his thigh, teeth nipping at his neck. Mercia’s mouth lingered frustratingly close to his cock without touching it, focusing on showering his legs and stomach with tantalizing kisses. It didn’t help that Niro’s erection was pressing insistently against his hip.

She made a sudden, distressed sound and Aryn fought to look down at what was happening. Mercia was on her hands and knees. Saya had hiked up Mercia’s dress and tugged down her panties before sliding her fingers through the wetness between Mercia’s thighs. Aryn watched, mesmerized, as Saya slipped a single digit into Mercia. Mercia’s hips bucked up and back, searching for an angle that would give Saya better access without making her move away from Aryn. She whined helplessly when she couldn’t find one and sucked Aryn’s cock into her mouth.

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