Page 34 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

"Deal sealed." He grins, his chest heaving. "You okay, Morte?"

I back away from him, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. My cheeks heat, and I press a hand to my mouth, feeling the lingering echo of his kiss. Caius smirks, his eyes twinkling as he leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now that you've accepted my deal, I'll collect it at a later time."

"Wait, what?" I sputter. "But we ... we just kissed." More than kissed. It was like a storm had broken loose, and our bodies were the eye of the hurricane, intense and focused on only one thing: consumption.

"Ah, that we did, little bird." He stalks towards me. "That was us sealing the deal. I still have to collect it. I can't help you got a little carried away." He shrugs, his tail tracing the curve of my thigh.

I take a step back, willing my heart to settle in my chest. "Fine."

"Perfect," he grins. "Now, let's eat some ... vegetables?"

I nod, and he brings me back to the table, now free of any spilled food. The servants bring us a variety of fruits, nuts, vegetables, and greens, arranging them neatly on the silken tablecloth. As we eat, I can still feel the heat of his lips on mine. No matter how many times I try to push it away, it's always there. I tell myself that no good will come from entertaining his advances.

But sometimes, my lady parts want to just throw everything to the floor like Aggonid did, and let Caius lay me on the table, becoming his willing feast.

His eyes linger on me longer than they should. Each glance sends shivers through my body that I can't deny, and I know I'm in trouble.

Aggonid might be the devil, but Caius is the one who will tempt me all the way to hell. Planting ideas in my head that maybe this place isn't so bad after all. And that is a very dangerous thought indeed.

When we're sated, Caius pushes his chair back and offers me his hand. "Come, my darling starling. Let's see what our Aggonid is up to."

I reluctantly take his hand, and we follow my chain to an adjoining room. As soon as I get a full view, I recoil, spinning on my heel after having gotten an eyeful of Aggonid submerged up to his neck in a steaming pool of water.

But with Caius still holding my hand, he spins me right back around, capturing me in his arms to make sure I stay to watch Aggonid bathe.

He languidly dunks his head under the water and then resurfaces with a satisfied sigh, a slight smirk on his face as if he knows I'm watching.

I blush, embarrassed and flustered, and try to squirm out of Caius' grasp. He holds me tight, whispering in my ear, "Let him know you don't fear him."

My breath hitches, and I can't help but feel a ripple of desire course through me. For a moment, I forget everything—the chains, the darkness of the underworld, Bedlam, and my mission—and focus on Caius' breath against my neck.

I can no longer deny he holds sway over me, especially as his lips meet the base of my throat, his tongue grazing against my skin. Before a moan escapes me, the moment is broken when Aggonid stands from the tub, a glint in his eye as if he knew exactly what he was interrupting.

I breathe in deeply, feeling the balance of power shift back to him. Willing my eyes to remain above his waist, I focus on the necklaces dangling from Aggonid. It appears to be made from giant talons, or teeth. Or perhaps they're bones?

He strides toward us, a fierce possessiveness in his gaze, and I go preternaturally still, though my heart thunders against its cage. I flinch when he reaches his hand up, relaxing a measure when I realize it isn't me he's reaching for, but Caius.

Aggonid leans in, locking lips with his lover, and I'm caught between the heat of their bodies and the cooling water dripping off his naked form.

Caius keeps me plastered to his front, and I combust in his embrace as their kiss deepens. A groan rumbles in Aggonid's chest, and I feel it all the way to my toes from the intimacy of it all.

My breathing quickens as they close in, the space between us melting away until it's as though the only thing that exists is the three of us in this moment.

Caius's tail wraps around my leg, tugging me harder against him, and I'm overwhelmed by the intensity of their attraction.

When they finally break apart, I can only stare in shock at the raw, primal connection that had just passed between all of us.

I'm royally fucked.

CHAPTER NINE

CAIUS

Morte might be a virgin, but arousal pours off her so thick, I nearly choke on it. Her pupils dilate, her skin flushes, and her breathing quickens. So when I lead her to the bedroom, she doesn't protest. As though caught in a trance, she follows me up the stairs, Aggonid not far behind her.

I open the door to the bedroom, and she's clearly awestruck by the sheer decadence of the room, a regal setting befitting Aggonid's status.

The walls are draped with deep purples, blacks, and blues, and the four-poster bed is draped with garnet silk and strewn with fluffy pillows. A few candles light the room, casting a gentle glow. Though, not enough light to scare her away.

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