Bal’s face closed off. “She is a loner. My prisoner. She took something from me a long time ago, and she belongs to me. Until I decide she has paid her dues, she is mine to use as I see fit.”
Shane’s nostrils flared. “And do you? Use her?”
I held my breath, watching Bal’s reaction to Shane’s question.
His lips tilted into a cold smile, and he cocked his head. “For magic, fledgling. Nothing else. I have not fucked her—or anyone else, since you two became my lovers.”
Shane studied him silently before looking at mine and Bal’s joined hands, then the tension seeped from his body. His smile widened, baring his teeth. It never got old seeing his fangs.
We’d been back at Dundean castle for nearly three days, and the time had passed in a blur. I couldn’t believe this was my life, doted on by the two hottest guys I’d ever met. In some ways, though, we were still dancing around each other, none of us willing to completely bare our souls. Part of me was glad. Bal’s declaration of love had made me so happy, but it was clear it had an expiry date. And that meant keeping a part of my heart to myself. I wouldn’t be broken by another vampire.
It was hard to process all my thoughts and emotions, yet I’d never felt more settled or happy than when I was with these two. We’d managed to leave Bal’s room for a few hours each day and take walks outside. Sometimes, Bal got a faraway look in his eyes and excused himself to his office for a few hours before returning. It worried me, but what was I supposed to say? It wasn’t as if I could make him open up about the other parts of his life, but at least he’d just given me some scraps of honesty—and no matter what happened, I knew he loved us. My heart squeezed. I wanted to blurt it out to Shane, but it was Bal’s place to tell him how he felt, not mine.
Yesterday morning, Bal had led us down into the old library, wearing nothing but some low-slung pajama bottoms, looking sexy as hell. Even the excitement of learning about my heritage couldn’t stop me from ogling the way his muscles rippled as he walked and gestured at the books in the library. Shane had thought it hilarious that we both pretended to pay attention to what he was saying, but drooled over him every time he turned away. Bal had either not noticed or pretended not to.He’d shown us the section of books that might be useful to me, then told us to get some food before he disappeared to get dressed, leaving Shane and me to seek out Johnson in the newly renovated kitchen.
The quiet and creepy butler greeted us with a nod and gestured to the table in the glass-roofed extension. He then made us tea and set out scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast before completely disappearing. We’d returned to the library and spent the day trawling through some of the books together. I’d ignored the fireplace with the blood lock and the knowledge that Bal’s secret room was so close.
Learning about witch lore had been captivating, yet most of the information was about the evolution of witchcraft from ancient to modern times. It was a great history lesson, but so far, we hadn’t found anything about the actual art of witchcraft or magic, nor what it meant for me. It was beyond frustrating.
I shoved that feeling away as Shane grunted at Bal’s explanation about Minerva. Bal narrowed his eyes as Shane’s shoulders relaxed, and he turned his attention back to the dusty, old tomes in front of him. A small, satisfied smile curled Bal’s lips, giving me a glimpse of a sharp white fang. He pulled me close, and his breath brushed my ear.
“I love it when he’s jealous. Let’s reassure him. You go front. I’ll go rear,” His eyes glinted with a predatory light.
I held in a huff of laughter, anticipation bubbling in my stomach. I loved these games we played with Shane. He was a tough and powerful Alpha, but I adored that he became putty in our hands. It gave me a sense of pride that I could affect him as deeply as he did me. I raised my brows and smiled mischievously. “Well, I know how much you like to take the rear.”
He grinned and playfully nipped at the skin of my neck, sending a bolt of lust through me. “It’s true, I really do. But Ido so love this, too.” His hand slid between my legs, the heel rubbing over my sensitive apex. My body melted into his touch, and I moaned a protest when he pulled back. He licked his lips, his fangs gleaming.
“Come, little witch, let’s tame the green-eyed monster.”
My smile was wide, and I mirrored Shane’s happiness as we approached.
“Look at this, I think I’ve actually found something.” His finger jabbed at a picture on the book he’d placed in the middle of the glossy, cherrywood table top.
A blink later, and Bal was behind Shane, peering over his shoulder. “Hmm, so you have.”
Shane almost looked irritated as Bal kissed and nipped his neck. “No, no, stop, look. It says here there are elementals…Oh…” His words faltered as Bal’s hand slid under his t-shirt and across his abdomen before sliding lower and teasing just under his waistband.
“I’ve found something, too,” Bal growled, scraping the skin of Shane's neck with his fangs.
“Bal…” Shane’s words had gone from irritated to a tortured whisper. Bal grinned at me, looking every bit the rogue as his hand slipped into Shane's jeans and cupped him. My body pulsed as Shane's hips arched into Bal’s touch, and he moaned.
“How about you, Sor? Have you found anything useful?” Bal asked, his voice sultry.
I couldn’t help my impish grin, enjoying Shane's shudder as I lifted off his t-shirt and kissed his dusky pink nipples. I caught Bal’s smirk and the question in his eyes. Smiling back, I nodded, my fingers gripping Shane’s jeans and underwear and pulling them down.
“What are you….ungh…” Bal stole Shane’s half-hearted protest with a searing kiss, giving me a chance to take Shane’s hot and hard erection from Bal’s fingers. I dragged my griparound then up and down his stiff shaft a few times before I dropped to my knees, not giving him a moment before sliding all that glorious flesh between my lips and down my throat. I shuffled back until I was nearly against the mahogany table, leaving myself enough room to play with Shane’s delectable body. I shivered when Bal’s smooth, sultry voice, dripping with command, rumbled through me.
“How about you get a close-up look at that book, Shane? And tell us all about elemental witches while we continue with our own discoveries.”
And that’s precisely what Shane did. Bal made him lean forward and read lines from the book, while we both discovered new ways to make Shane writhe and moan.
29
Shane
An almost silent ‘ping’from Bal’s phone woke me from my doze. I’d needed the toilet for hours but had been too warm and comfortable, surrounded by my lovers, to force myself out of bed. The heavy weight of Bal’s arm lifted from my waist, and his thick thigh released mine. He’d been resting his hand on Sor’s waist, where she was snuggled into my other side, and she murmured at the loss of contact but settled back to sleep almost instantly.
I didn’t move, waiting to see if Bal left without a goodbye, just like he’d done for the last four nights. I understood that the war was escalating, and that I wasn’t in a position of seniority anymore, but it would be nice if Bal felt he could share his burdens. Perhaps it had nothing to do with his responsibilities as the king’s general. However, he came back, usually before the sun was up, when we were still sleeping, and had not mentioned where he was or what he was doing for those hours. I could ask, but I wanted him to trust me enough to tell me himself.
