My poor arms would be completely useless at the end of this sparring session. With time, hopefully my body would adjust and I would be able to handle this level of physical exertion. My hunger surged to the surface, needy and insistent, having used so much energy already.
While I knew my body would be spent, I was looking forward to drinking from my vampyres and seeing where that might lead us. I’d been intimate with each of them, but there was just something about the four of us all together that cemented our bond, making me crave them even more. I hadn’t thought it possible before.
I also needed to figure out if I’d told them I loved them…
“Kyella, let’s go! You won’t have long rests on the battlefield! If you’re able to knock the sword from my grip or land a hit, we will call it a day. I need to prepare for tonight’s blessing with our army, but I won’t go until you’ve successfully done one of those two things.”
Shoving all the aches my body was feeling down, I nodded at her. I took my sip of water and then grabbed the sword she’d indicated toward.
There was no time like the present to become the leader I needed to be. There were no excuses and no bowing out. The only thing I could depend on was the tenacity and courage I possessed to face my battles head on.
Chapter Nineteen
Kolvar
Dragging the sponge over her back, I squeezed the water from it, watching the soap run off Kyella’s skin and into the tub as she regaled me with the details from her training with Myrin. I wasn’t going to point out she’d repeated herself three times over. It was too adorable, seeing how excited she was about it, and the admiration she had for the Empress was palpable. I wouldn’t pop that bubble of excitement she found herself suspended in. War was at our doorstep, and when it came knocking, happiness would be fleeting.
“And then what happened?” I questioned, trying to be an active participant in the conversation but barely containing the chuckle of mirth that threatened to escape me. She was just so cute, and it was refreshing to see her excitement. Contagious, even.
“And then honest to the gods, I knocked her sword from her hand!” she exclaimed before looking over her shoulder at me with those big, glowing golden eyes. “Can you believe it? At first, I thought I’d never be able to accomplish that when we began sparring—she’s so skilled— but as soon as she told me to stop thinking about it so hard and just let my body react, it was like it all clicked into place.”
Chuckling softly at her, I nodded. “Yes, darling, I do believe it. You are a tenacious little thing. I believe you can accomplish anything you wish.”
Dakath popped his head into the bathroom and smirked. “Is our little warrior ready to eat again?”
There was no doubt he’d heard every word of this conversation while going over some last minute paperwork in the sitting area. All three of us had been assigned the task of ensuring rations and weapons were accounted for and safely secured on their designated ships. Dakath and I had handled our portion of the work this morning while Kyella was training with Myrin, with Elijah standing guard. Now, he was off completing his portion of the work, leaving us the afternoon with Kyella to escort her. Before Elijah had gone, though, we had all decided on what the afternoon would be filled with.
I suspected Kyella would love this surprise. Maybe not as much as the hot spring, but hopefully, close enough to it. It would suffice to say that I’m fairly certain the hot spring wasallof our favorite surprise. It was hard to explain what felt so life-altering about the time we shared there. Between us all admitting our love for Kyella and sharing an intimate moment together, it seemed to relax us and alleviate some of the uncertainty of what this relationship means to everyone. Hearing and feeling the commitment from each of us was a moment I would never forget. Though, I would love for her to tell us she loved us while fully conscious. The three of us swore we’d heard her say it, but she was half asleep already, so we couldn’t be sure.
Without warning, Kyella dunked beneath the water, rinsing her hair out before emerging and wiping away the water falling into her eyes from her long, dark lashes. Glancing between us, she raised a slender brow and asked, “You know I’m capable of bathing myself and letting you know when I’m hungry, right? I drank from Kolvar before my bath.”
Trailing my fingers over the water, I flicked my fingers up, spraying her with it and loving the tinkling laugh that spilled from her lips. “Yes, we know you are an independent and capable woman. You do know how much we love taking care of you though, right? Also, you exerted a ton of energy while training with Myrin—it would be quite normal if you felt the need to feed again to quickly gain your energy reserves back,” I countered, not minding that we needed to reassure her that it wasn’t a burden or issue for us to look after her needs. I often saw the brief moments of concern in her eyes when we offered to do menial tasks like this, as if it was a bother.
“Yeah,” she answered in a soft sigh, “I do know that, and I love it. I just—”
Dakath grabbed her towel before walking toward the tub and cut her off. “You just don’t want to feel like it’s a chore to us. We know, Ky. I promise we will never tire of being with you, nor will we tire of ensuring that you are taken care of ineveryway.”
Her breath caught as his voice dipped at the end, a sultry tone accompanying his final words. A low groan emanated from the depths of my chest as she pushed from the bath, her body glistening and on full display. Every time I saw her, it felt like the first. She was breathtaking, and I found myself wondering how she had come to find us worthy of sharing her body and heart with. The sleeping gods were truly on our side, it seemed.
“Oh yeah?" she voiced, biting down on her bottom lip softly. “I have some needs that I could use help with.”
Dakath purred back, his eyes sparking with lust as they narrowed on her like a predator that was about to pounce on his prey, “With pleasure.”
I knew that feeling all too well. When she ran from me, it ignited that primal fire within me that had to be satisfied. Fuck, I really wanted this to continue, but Dakath had forgotten about our appointment in the face of this tantalizing temptation.
I never thought I’d be the cock block of the group, but I guess there was a first time for everything.
Shoving to my feet, I sped to nab the towel from Dakath’s hand and quickly wrapped it around Kyella. They both looked at me like I’d sprouted a second head, and I grimaced in return.
“Listen, I know. Don’t look at me like that. As much as I’d love to partake in this, we have an appointment in town we can’t miss.” I gave Dakath a pointed look that screamed, ‘Don’t make me look like an asshole right now when you know damn well what we’re supposed to be doing.’
He shook his head, the lust dispersing from his eyes as the realization of what I was trying to silently tell him seemed to dawn on him. “Shit,” he murmured under his breath, which really didn’t mean much with our enhanced hearing. It was the downside of not having much privacy in that regard.
Kyella looked at us questioningly, and Dakath perked right up. Plastering a smirk on his face, his hand snapped out to give her a light spank over the towel before answering her silent question. “Another surprise, Ky. You’re not prying it from our lips, even with those beautiful, big eyes.”
With an exasperated sigh that was accompanied by a smile and eye roll, she said, “Fine, fine. Keep your secrets, boys. I’ll get dressed quickly and then do a quick sucky suck on Dakath before we go.”
I all but choked on my spit, beating my closed fist against my chest as I tried to regain my composure. “What did you just say?” I questioned between wheezing breaths.
