Elias whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut whilst Gerard continued to jerk him.

  When Gerard released Elias’s throat, he said, “Now I’m going to fuck you.”

  Chapter

  Thirty

  Elias groaned. “Yes!”

  Surprisingly, they’d actually not gotten around to actually fucking yet. There’d been a lot of use of hands, tongues, fingers, and mouths. But they’d yet to properly fuck. Perhaps it was because they’d yet to make it to a bed. Except that one day in that cabin. But unfortunately, they’d not had any oil.

  They’d torn the cabin apart looking for some but still found none. It seemed Senta hadn’t thought about that when setting up the cabin. So Elias now carried oil around with him at all times. Just in case.

  Gerard stopped stroking Elias. Elias made a noise of protest.

  But then Gerard reached around and gripped Elias’s arse and squeezed. His fingers slid down the crease between Elias’s arse cheeks. His finger teased Elias’s hole.

  Elias pressed back against the finger. The tip rubbed his rim.

  Then Gerard pulled his hand back. He shoved it between them, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a vial of oil.

  Elias laughed. Apparently the two thought alike.

  Then Gerard was undoing his trousers and pulling out his thick, long cock. Elias hummed in appreciation as Gerard slicked his impressive length. Gerard reached around behind Elias with his slippery fingers. He slid one in.

  Elias cried out as the thick digit pushed deep. “More!”

  A second finger joined the first. They slid in and out. Gerard scissored his fingers.

  “Please. I want your cock!” Elias begged.

  Gerard pressed a kiss to Elias’s throat and added another finger, stretching him wide.

  “Please! Now! I need it.”

  Gerard yanked his fingers free. “I knew you were a slut.” He gripped Elias’s hip in one hand. Elias lifted onto his knees, shuffling forward. Gerard guided his dick to Elias’s entrance.

  “You want my cock?” Gerard asked, voice deep and sending shivers down Elias’s spine. “Then take it.”

  Elias swallowed. He gripped Gerard’s shoulders. The head of Gerard’s cock pressed against his entrance. For a moment, he held in place. Then he exhaled. He pressed down. The tip pushed inside him.

  Elias gasped, and Gerard groaned.

  Elias bore steadily down. Gerard’s cock stretched his channel wide, almost to the point of pain. But Elias kept lowering himself, taking more and more of Gerard’s thick length.

  “That’s it. Take my dick.” Gerard nuzzled Elias’s cheek. Gerard’s hand slid to his arse, to his crease, to the point where their bodies joined.

  Elias breathed heavily as Gerard filled him. Finally, Gerard’s cock was buried deep inside Elias, right to the hilt. He rested his head against Gerard’s, taking deep breaths as he took a moment to adjust.

  “You feel so good wrapped around me.” Gerard pressed a kiss to his cheek. “So perfect.”

  Elias rocked back and forth, feeling Gerard’s length inside him. He sighed.

  Gerard’s hands stroked his back. “Now how about you be a good lightning prince and ride my cock.”

  Elias met his gaze. Knees pressing into the fabric of the settee, he slowly lifted. Gerard’s cock slid from his body inch by inch. He sucked in air. He kept rising until just the head remained inside his body.

  Then he dropped down. They both cried out. Elias tightened his hands on Gerard’s shoulders.

  He started a steady rhythm, rising and falling, fucking himself on Gerard’s dick. He undulated, gasping as Gerard’s length dragged inside him. He moved faster.

  “You feel so good.” Elias squeezed his eyes shut as he rode Gerard’s prick.

  Gerard groaned. His hands gripped Elias’s hips. He thrust up into Elias.

  Elias cried out, rhythm faltering as Gerard fucked up inside him, again and again, jolting him. He wrapped an arm around Gerard’s neck, trying to steady himself as Gerard slammed into him.

  Elias angled his hips. On the next thrust, Gerard hit that magic spot. Sparks burst inside Elias.

  “Yes!” He shoved back, meeting each of Gerard’s thrusts. And each time, Gerard nailed his prostate dead-on.

  His world turned fuzzy. His body tightened. Gerard grunted with each powerful thrust.

  “I’m close,” Elias whispered.

  Gerard released his grip on one of Elias’s hips and wrapped it around Elias’s leaking cock.

  Elias flung his head back. He shouted. Cum splattered on his chest as pleasure lit up his blood. Gerard cried out, and he pulled Elias down, shoving his cock deep. He shuddered and cried out. Warm seed flooded Elias’s insides in thick pulses.

  For several minutes, they held each other, breathing heavily.

  The door handle rattled. Elias lifted his head. The handle turned, and the door pushed forward. But it couldn’t get past the chair Gerard had placed there.

  “This room is taken!” Elias cried out. “Find your own place to fuck.” The door closed. Elias leaned his head on Gerard’s shoulder and laughed.

  Gerard chuckled.

  Unsteadily, the two rose and dressed.

  “Um. You should probably head back to your room,” Gerard said.

  Elias frowned. “Why?”

  Gerard looked him up and down. The corner of his lips tugged up. “You are a bit dishevelled.”

  Elias pulled out his compact mirror from his trouser pocket. He opened it. His eye and lip make-up had smudged. A quick touch-up would not fix it. He’d have to remove it all and start again.

  He pulled the mirror back so he could see more of himself. His hair had started to come undone; strands fell down and stuck out. Bite marks covered his jaw and throat.

  Elias tilted his head. “I think the just-fucked look suits me.” He smoothed a hand over his messy hair. “It’s a little chaotic, but”—he shrugged a shoulder—“I think I can pull it off.”

  He snapped his mirror closed and tucked it into his pocket. “What do you think?” He held out his arms, presenting himself for Gerard’s inspection.

  Gerard laughed and pulled Elias into his arms. “I think you look glorious.”

  Elias smiled. “Then we should go rejoin the ball. I want to dance with you.”

  “People will whisper. They will know that it was me who fucked you,” Gerard pointed out.

  Elias tilted his head. Did Gerard think he minded? “Good. I want them to know.” Then he tugged Gerard towards the door.

  Chapter

  Thirty-One

  Gerard stared out the window, gazing up at the sky. He held a teacup in his hand. In just a few more days, he’d marry Elias. And surprisingly, he no longer feared it. In fact, he actually looked forward to it.

  He thought of Elias dancing in his arms, smiling up at him with his messy hair and smudged make-up that showed the world he’d clearly just been fucked. Gerard had seen the glances and heard the whispers as they swirled across the dance floor together.

  But Gerard did not care that he was the cause of the stares and whispers. Not this time. It was amazing what a difference a few weeks could make.

  “Look at that! Gerard is actually smiling!” Luther laughed.

  Gerard turned towards Luther, who, along with Senta and Konrad, watched him. His siblings sat with him in the sitting room, part of the section provided for the royal family of Draconia. They, like himself, sat on brightly coloured cushions.

  Their father had requested a family meeting. But the king had yet to arrive.

  “Oh, look! Gerard is back with us now.” Luther laughed. “Were you thinking about a certain pretty lightning prince, perhaps?”

  Senta shoved Luther. “Leave him be.” She looked to Gerard. “We’re all just pleased to see you smiling properly again, Gerard.”

  Had I stopped smiling properly?

  “And Prince Elias definitely looked like you’d thoroughly pleased him at the ball the other night.” Luther wiggled his eyebrows. “At least you won’t have trouble consummating the marriage.”

  This time Senta laughed.

  “Prince Elias isn’t the brightest,” Konrad said. “But he seems nice enough. I am happy that you are happy, Gerard.”

  Gerard cleared his throat. “Well, actually, he is not as foolish as he first appears.”

  Konrad raised a brow. “Really?”

  Senta gave Gerard a look. Her eyes sparkled, and she pressed her lips together. Clearly, she thought Elias a fool too.

  “At first, I did not think him very smart. But then⁠—”

  “But then you started fucking him and suddenly his intelligence improved?” Luther asked.

  Gerard flushed as his siblings laughed.

  He wanted to push. He wanted to say that there was much more to Elias. But honestly, he still had trouble understanding the different sides he’d seen of the man.

  There was a watchfulness in Elias’s eyes and a quickness to his mind. He was far more than just a pretty face. Gerard wanted to try to convince his siblings of that. But clearly, they wouldn’t believe him. They’d just think him cock struck.

  “I like Elias!” Senta proclaimed. “I think he is wonderful for you.” She patted him on the knee.

  “Me too.” Luther gave a sharp nod.

  The two looked at Konrad. He stared back at them, then turned to Gerard. “Well, at least we know he can’t be the one working against the peace treaty. He doesn’t seem intelligent enough.”

  Gerard bit his tongue. He wanted to argue that Elias was indeed intelligent enough. But he didn’t think that would go down well. He didn’t want to make it sound like he was suggesting that Elias was one of the plotters.

  Their stepmother and father entered the room. The siblings straightened, and the laughter stopped.

  King Alaric’s gaze flicked around the room. “Good. You’re all here.”

  “You did summon us,” Konrad pointed out.

  Their stepmother sat down on one of the cushions. The king looked around, clearly not wanting to lower himself onto a fabric cushion on the floor. He turned to the corridor. “Bring me a chair,” he commanded.

  A servant promptly brought one in. “And close the door.” The king sat as the servant left. Their father turned towards them. “Has anyone noticed anything suspicious?” the king asked, not wasting any time.

  Senta and Gerard shared a look. They regularly met with their father to discuss this sort of thing. But it seemed their father wanted to bring the others in on this conversation too.

  Gerard cleared his throat. “As you know, we have spies amongst the servants of most of the different kingdoms. The reports continue that a lot of people are paranoid and watchful, wondering who was working with Warden Flint.”

  “Do you have any more information on Warden Flint’s daughter? On Warden Jade?” the king asked.

  “Many think she was plotting with her father,” Gerard said. “The two were close, and she would have been heir to the throne of the Grey Mountains if her father’s plan had been successful.” Gerard leaned forward. “And her behaviour has definitely changed recently since⁠—”

  “She’s grieving!” Luther interrupted. “Of course her behaviour has changed!”

  King Alaric shot Luther a cold look. Luther fell silent.

  Gerard nodded. “Warden Jade is withdrawn and avoids others, spending much time in her room. As Luther stated, that could just be the natural behaviour of one grieving.”

  “Onyx does not think it is her,” Luther said, voice calmer this time.

  King Alaric stared at the wall as he thought, not engaging with what Luther said. “Continue to have her watched.”

  “Of course,” Gerard said.

  Luther bristled.

  “We are watching and suspecting everyone, Luther,” Senta said. “It’s nothing personal.”

  “Anyone else?” the king asked.

  Gerard rattled off those they had considered and were watching closely, including Prince Florian of Botanial, who’d assisted his aunt in attempting to kill King Alaric, the queen consort, and Lord Barrett Morton. He was back in Botanial now, having been sent away by his mother. But he could be working with someone from there.

  “Unfortunately, there is no one we truly suspect,” Gerard finished.

  King Alaric nodded, as if he’d expected that much. Unfortunately, all Gerard’s reports had ended similarly.

  “You said you have spies amongst the servants of most of the different kingdoms. Which do you not have spies in?” Konrad asked.

  Gerard glanced at their father. “Necros. They are very particular about selecting their servants, and it has been difficult to infiltrate them.”

  Konrad sat up straighter and turned to King Alaric. “See. I told you!”

  Gerard did actually suspect several of the necromancers, and if he were just talking to his father or Senta, he’d have said as much. But he didn’t like to bring up the necromancers and his concerns about them around Konrad. Konrad tended to fixate on them and only them. It derailed conversation.

  Gerard cleared his throat. “I⁠—”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  Chapter

  Thirty-Two

  “Enter,” the king snapped, clearly displeased with the interruption.

  Gerard’s muscles relaxed a fraction, as he was glad to be saved from that conversation with Konrad. His never-ending obsession with the necromancers grew tiresome.

  A servant entered the room and bowed. “Your Majesties. Your Highnesses. Grand Monk Ferdinand requests an audience.”

  King Alaric’s lips pressed together. “Fine. Send him in.”

  A moment later, the grand monk appeared. He bowed low. “Thank you for seeing me.” He smiled and looked around the room. “I did not realise the whole family would be together.”

  “Well, we are not the whole family,” Queen Consort Adelina corrected. “We have other children in Draconia.”

  “Of course. I apologise for misspeaking.” The grand monk bowed again. “I am visiting the different rulers and checking if there is anything that can be done to assist with your comfort here in the White Monastery.”

  “Have you heard any information about who might have been working with Warden Flint?” King Alaric asked.

  The grand monk’s face fell. “That is a dreadful business. Just dreadful. I still cannot comprehend that someone would work so hard against peace. When one has seen the ravages of war and the destruction caused …” He shook his head.

  “Yes. It is terrible,” King Alaric said, voice flat. “Do you have any leads?”

  Shoulders drooping, the grand monk held out his hands, palms up. “I am sorry, Your Majesty. Unfortunately, we have not uncovered who could have been colluding with Warden Flint. But the grand shield has been working tirelessly and has put many more warrior monks on duty. I hope this has made you feel safe.”

  “No one is safe until we discover who is working against the peace treaty,” King Alaric said.

  “Of course. You are right.” The grand monk bowed once more. He seemed to bow lower each time.

  Gerard felt a pang of sympathy. The monks really were not well equipped for this sort of thing. Creating magically binding treaties they could handle. But powerful individuals plotting against their treaties and willing to kill in order to do so was another matter.

  “And now we have to worry about bandits too!” The queen consort gripped her skirts in her hands.

  Everyone in the room stared at her.

  “Bandits?” Senta asked. “What bandits?”

  “Have you not heard the reports?” Queen Consort Adelina glanced around the room. “Bandits have been kidnapping lords and ladies throughout the different kingdoms and demanding ransoms! I received a letter about it the other day from my dear friend, and she said⁠—”

  The king waved his hand at her. “We don’t have to fear that. It’s only unimportant and weak lords and ladies who are being kidnapped for ransom. These lowly bandits wouldn’t dare attack us.”

  “Oh.” She leaned back. “Of course.” She ducked her head. “Of course you are right. How silly of me.” She gave a weak laugh.

  Gerard frowned. He did not like the way his father constantly dismissed and belittled his stepmother.

  “Is there anything else I can see to, to improve your stay?” the grand monk asked.

  “Just let us know if you manage to find out any information on who is plotting against the peace treaty,” the king said.

  The grand monk bowed once again. “Of course, Your Majesty.” He bowed once more. “May peace guide all your steps.” Still bowing, he backed out of the room and left.

  His father turned to Gerard. “We aren’t relying on these warrior doves for protection, right?”

  “No. I would not put our safety in the hands of the warrior monks,” Gerard said. “I have ensured we have Draconians protecting us at all times.”

  His father nodded. “Good. That is good.”

  Gerard wondered about Elias. Did he have protection? He’d be an easy target and would be unable to defend himself. The dossiers on Emperor Hugo and Empress Emmeline suggested that the power in their combined kingdoms lay almost entirely with the empress. And considering the empress’s dislike of Elias, his betrothed probably didn’t have decent guards.

  Gerard would have to look into that. And of course, once they were married, Gerard would see Elias’s safety as his responsibility. Gerard would enjoy ensuring Elias was protected.

  Konrad cleared his throat. “So as I was saying before the grand monk entered⁠—”

  The king turned on him. “Do not start with me, boy.”

  Gerard, Senta, and Luther tensed.

  But Konrad jumped to his feet. “Gerard just said we don’t have any spies amongst those from Necros.”

  “A lack of spies and information does not mean they are guilty,” the king said through gritted teeth. He rose to his feet, glaring at his son. “Do you have any actual proof of your accusations?”

  Konrad opened his mouth, but their father cut him off first.

  “And you better not just say that you have a feeling. Or that you just know that the necromancers are evil. I know what the necromancers are. I want proof, not some gut instinct. So, Konrad, do you have any proof or are you just running your mouth?”