“That’s it,” Calrain panted as they moved together, slow, steady thrusts that sent vibrations through her. The ache inside her grew tighter, a ball of sensation just ready to be released. “You’re almostthere.”
He reached between their bodies to stroke her, and at the first touch, the ball inside her exploded, sending intense waves of pleasure through her. Tariel cried out as the tiny spark of magic inside her blossomed into a core of flame, rejuvenating her onceagain.
“More,” she demanded, digging her fingers into Calrain’s hips. She rolled him onto his back and rode him hard, until they were both spent and panting, their bodies limp withsatisfaction.
“Better now?” Calrain asked, stroking a hand down herback.
“Much.” She started to sit up, then froze as the door bangedopen.
“I thought we were never going to lose them—” Wellion abruptly stopped, his face going slack. Riann ran straight into him, and the two stumbled into the room, nearly tumbling to thefloor.
“What—” Yarim asked, then stopped at the sight of Tariel and Calrain in bed. “Can’t you cover yourself?” he asked in a plaintivevoice.
“I don’t know,” Wellion drawled, his eyes fixed on Tariel. “I’m quite enjoying the view.” His eyes, usually so cold, were a blaze of green fire as he slowly looked up and down her body, tracing the column of her throat, the curves of her breasts, her still-hard nipples. A wave of warmth washed through her, and Tariel shivered as an unbidden image of Wellion, just as naked as she, sprang into hermind.
“My apologies,” she said in as calm a voice as she could muster. Quickly, she straightened her skirt around her legs, then adjusted her bodice and began lacing it up. “I needed to replenish my magic. I nearly used all of it up saving you andCalrain.”
The smirk on Wellion’s face disappeared, and he bowed his head. “I owe you my life,” he saidroughly.
Tariel smiled and slid a finger beneath Wellion’s chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. “You don’t owe me anything,” she said. “After what you did for me, this makes useven.”
“I hate to break up the reunion,” Riann said pointedly, “but we really need to leave. Yarim and I killed two mercenaries on our way back here, and there’s no telling if more managed to trace our location and are reporting back to Mostil rightnow.”
“Right.” Calrain got up from the bed, his trousers already fastened. “I started packing already—let’s gather our things andgo.”
They cleared out of the room in short order, then split up again, Tariel going to the docks with Wellion and Calrain, while Riann and Yarim went to inform Lord Raffis of their discovery and collect their final reward. With the additional gold, they might be able to bribe the ship’s captain to leave earlier, or perhaps charter a private vessel to take them directly to theEmpire.
“So,” Wellion said as they walked briskly through the streets, a curious note in his voice. “You can rejuvenate your magic by having sex, no matter how tired youare?”
“Apparently,” Tariel said, amused that his mind was still on the encounter. “I’ve never tried it before when I’ve been this drained, but it worked. Although it would have been better if I’d hadtwo.”
Wellion made a choking sound. “Are you saying that you get twice theboost?”
“Not exactly,” she said, “but I definitely get more than if I just make love with one man. Why?” She raised an eyebrow. “Are you volunteering? You said you would never be willing toshare.”
Wellion glanced away, a chagrined look on his face. It seemed as if he was genuinely torn on the matter, and Tariel wondered what he would say if she actually invited him to join herharem.
The docks came into view, and Tariel spotted the mast of theTraveler, the ship they’d already paid for passage on. She walked toward it, then froze. Armored men were posted all over the harbor, scanning the area as if they were on the lookout forsomeone.
“Blast it,” Calrain hissed as they darted behind a building to peer out at the docks. “Several of these men are from the Brotherhood.” He pointed at one, who wore the emblem of Roisen on his chest—a bird with three jagged lightning bolts protruding from its back in lieu of wings and a tail. “I bet they’re looking forus.”
“Of course they are,” Wellion muttered. Turning, he snagged the collar of a boy that was racing past. “Oi, lad. How would you like to make some cointoday?”
“What for?” The boy folded his arms as he stared up at Wellion, clearly unafraid. “I don’t work for cheap, youknow.”
Tariel bit back a laugh. “We’d like you to find out what all these big men are doing down at the docks,” she said, crouching down to meet him at eye level. “Do you think you can do that for us? I bet you have very goodears.”
The boy blushed. “You’re awful pretty, lady,” he said, grinning at her. “For you, I’ll do it for half price. Twocoppers.”
Wellion rolled his eyes. “You’ll get one, or none atall.”
“Fine.” The boy stuck his tongue out, then raced down to the docks. Tariel watched as he flitted around, chatting up the sailors and convincing a street vendor to part with one of his biscuits for free before comingback.
“Found out from one of the sailors that there’s a group of foreigners on the loose,” the boy said when he returned. “Word is they’re wanted in Fjordland for a couple different crimes and robberies, and they’re dangerous folk. There’s a bounty of fifty coins for anyone who finds them,” he saidpointedly.
Tariel and Wellion exchanged glances. “Here,” Wellion said, pressing a coin into the hand of the boy, who looked far too shrewd for his age. “Forget you ever sawus.”
The boy gave them a gap-toothed grin. “With pleasure,” he said, and he scampered offagain.
