uncontested."

  "Fedor…" Tevra said again, and this time Barkus and Najlah

  did not stop him when he moved forward. "Why, Fedor?"

  Fedor looked briefly anguished as he met Tevra's gaze again.

  "I owe you an apology as well, Tev. Father has always complained

  about how you are more popular than me, and therefore a threat. I

  thought it was just him finding something to complain about because

  of his own insecurities. I constantly fobbed him off and distracted him

  and never took the matter seriously. If I had, maybe none of this

  would have happened. I hope you are happy here."

  "I am," Tevra said softly, hands curled into fists at his sides. "I

  would have been happy at your side too."

  "That is my mistake to live with," Fedor said with a sigh. "I

  hope at least you will still send me letters from time to time. I never

  wanted to lose my brother. I will endeavor to do a better job than

  Father, starting with repairing our relationships with Tahjil and

  Restuel, however long that takes. We were in the wrong in Tahjil,

  and we are in the wrong here. I truly am sorry."

  Wyst sighed and returned to his seat. "Well, I can honestly

  say this meeting is not what I expected. To my knowledge, you and

  your father have always acted in concert. Indeed, Prince Tevra said

  you two rarely disagree on anything."

  "More often than most know," Fedor said quietly. "I—" he

  abruptly stopped, swaying on his feet, and then collapsed just as Yuli

  swore and caught him, carefully lowering him to the ground. The

  guards who'd remained rushed forward to help, as did Fedor's

  bodyguards.

  "What in the world!" Wyst said.

  "Fedor!" Tevra said, rushing down the stairs to kneel by his

  brother. "He's bleeding. What's wrong?"

  "He re-opened the wound," Yuli said grimly. "The stupid

  fucking bastard."

  "Who hurt…" Tevra stopped, mouth set in a flat line. "Why?"

  Yuli laughed bitterly, his delicately pretty features twisting.

  "Why do you think? Their argument wasn't pretty, and your father did

  not willingly step down from his throne. Even now he is heavily

  cursed and warded, to keep up appearances until Fedor can return

  home. He should not be out of bed, let alone doing all of this, but I

  can't say I'd behave differently in his place."

  Standing nearby but out of the way, Vitaliya said, "The king

  stabbed him in a fit of rage. Even he was horrified when he realized

  what he'd done. It cemented the need to remove him. If not for Yuli's

  presence, Fedor would be dead. He's been pushing himself too

  hard, though, not giving the healing magic time to really work."

  At their feet, Fedor grunted. "There is no time to lay about.

  Get me up."

  "Shut up, Fedor," Yuli said.

  Tevra gave a brief, shaky laugh. "Yes, Fedor, shut up. Here,

  let me help, you stupid ox."

  "Seems to be a family trait, not staying in bed after being

  fatally wounded," Poryth said from where he still sat on his throne. "I

  think we can call this meeting adjourned for now, don't you think, my

  love?"

  Wyst snorted. "Yes, of course. We'll reconvene in a better

  setting in three days—no argument, Your Highness. Pardon, Your

  Majesty." He motioned some of his guards lining the walls forward.

  "Help escort King Fedor and his retinue to their chambers, and see

  these trunks transferred to the royal vault."

  Najlah rumbled. Would you like me to help? He flicked his

  tongue, enjoying the scent of blood on the air.

  Tevra shot him a look, eyes bright with amusement. Should I

  be worried my bonded wants to taste my brother?

  Najlah replied with a playful hiss.

  Yuli stared at him. "I've never seen a Tahjili before. The

  artwork that circulates does not do you justice. Is it true you saved

  Prince Tevra's life?"

  "Yes, it is," Tevra said. "He is offering to use the same…

  talent? Ability? On Fedor. I can't believe Father stabbed him. Come,

  let's get him to his room." He rose and moved back so Fedor's

  bodyguards could take over, and followed with Yuli and the others

  through the palace to the suite assigned to Fedor.

  Once he was stripped down and abed, revealing the ghastly

  wound that had torn open anew, Najlah crawled onto the bed and set

  to work, licking away the blood and secreting healing fluid. Such a

  large wound was not as easy to close up as many little ones, but on

  the other hand, he wasn't fighting to get a whole slew of small but

  dangerous wounds closed.

  When he was satisfied, he slid off the bed to let Yuli and Tevra

  take over, going over to Barkus to rub slick scales against soft fur,

  getting several licks to his mouth in return.

  Tingly, Barkus said with a chuff of amusement. Doesn't have

  that effect on skin, not that I've noticed so far.

  Tevra shot them looks. I can assure you it is tingly

  everywhere. Now knock it off.”

  Najlah and Barkus grinned toothily at him, which just got them

  more glares full of empty threat.

  "Thank you, Your Highness," Yuli said. "Lord Najlah, is that

  the correct honorific? The two of you have made all the difference

  against his stubborn-headedness."

  "I'm still conscious, and whose side are you on?" Fedor

  asked.

  Yuli glared at him. "You're lucky it's still your side, you stupid

  ass."

  Fedor laughed tiredly, eyes falling shut. "Seems all I do

  anymore is owe apologies. Maybe I should be kicked out right

  alongsi…"

  Yuli sighed and brushed Fedor's hair from his face. "Maybe

  now he'll get some proper rest."

  "The mild sleep spell I cast should help with that," Tevra

  replied, and grinned when Yuli shot him an amused look. "We'll let

  you all rest now and see you tomorrow."

  Yuli nodded. "He really is sorry, you know, about everything

  between you and your father. We knew His Majesty disliked you, but

  we thought it was jealousy and that Fedor had it contained. We're all

  sorry we were so wrong, Your Highness."

  "Well, it ended with me in a life I never knew I wanted," Tevra

  said. "Make right with Restuel, and I'll be happy. You don't have to go

  back to being formal with me either, Yuli, please."

  "Then go and relax, Tev, and as you say, we'll speak more

  tomorrow. Thank you again."

  Najlah led the way out of the room, eyes swirling with

  amusement. Your family has a tendency to show up with claws out

  and then turn into kits.

  "We seem to share a knack for almost bleeding out too,"

  Tevra said wryly. "Hopefully that is the end of that tradition. Thank

  you for helping, Naj."

  My pleasure. His blood does not taste as good as yours, but if

  he ever turns enemy truly, he'd make a tasty snack.

  Tevra rolled his eyes. "I'll be sure to let him know he's worth

  literally eating."

  In their chambers, where supplies and equipment were piled

  up in the front area in anticipation of the renovations that would be

  taking place soon, Tevra unfastened the buttons of his stiff jacket,

  shrugged out of it, and tossed it aside. "I hate those things." In the

  bedroom, he sat in the armchair that was swiftly becoming his spot

  and set to work on his laced boots, tossing them aside as well the

  moment they were free. He then sat back with a loud sigh, sprawling

  in the chair.

  Barkus shifted and sat half-sitting, half-leaning on the bed,

  arms folded across his chest. "I'm glad you do not have to be at odds

  with your brother. You were right about the gifts he gave you years

  ago."

  "Yes, so I was," Tevra said, looking near to tears for a

  moment. "I did not expect to end this day with getting the only

  member of my family I care about back."

  Najlah rumbled as he shifted. So you could go home if you

  wanted.

  Tevra stared at him, blinking slowly. "I suppose that's true. My

  brother would probably like to have my skills and popularity back, if

  he doesn't hate that the way my father did. However, I meant it when

  I said I have found the life I never knew I wanted. If the pair of you

  will still have me."

  Barkus and Najlah growled in unison, and Barkus said in his

  rough-edged voice, "Oh, we intend to have you, little prince."

  "That is not what I meant, and you know it," Tevra hissed,

  even as his body reacted to the words, face flushing pink.

  Najlah just rumbled and purred.

  Crooking a finger, Barkus said, "Come here."

  Tevra rolled his eyes. "I am not a play toy to do your every

  bidding at your every whim."

  "No, you're our bonded and we want you," Barkus said.

  Najlah's rumbles grew louder. Now. Between us. Screaming

  and begging.

  "You're both incorrigible," Tevra said, even as he stood to

  obey.

  The moment he was close enough, Barkus grabbed and

  pulled, wrapping Tevra in his arms and taking his mouth in a toothy,

  hungry kiss that immediately set Tevra to moaning. Najlah put out

  the lights in the room and stoked the fire so it would still be burning

  when he needed it later.

  Much later.

  He crawled onto the bed where Barkus and Tevra had moved,

  taking up position behind Tevra, claws and teeth teasing along his

  soft skin, lingering at every scar where Najlah's mouth had closed

  his wounds.

  "You're so fucking possessive," Tevra said, the words

  dissolving into a groan as Najlah nipped his throat. "Why do I get the

  feeling I'm not going to be moving much after you're done with me."

  "Because you have good intuition," Barkus said, kissing down

  his chest as Najlah held him firmly in place at just the right angle to

  do so. "Also, being able to hear our thoughts probably helps."

  "I don't need that to know when you're being smug,

  possessive bastards with plans to fuck me blind," Tevra retorted.

  "One of these days it would be fun to see you fuck each other."

  "We'll be happy to do so when you're too tired to move

  tomorrow," Barkus replied with a grin. "Put on a show to please our

  prince."

  Tevra tried to call him names, but the words were overtaken

  by several loud swears as Barkus licked a stripe up his cock. Instead

  of then taking him deep, though, Barkus bit one sharp hipbone and

  then kissed his way along Tevra thighs until he could bite the soft,

  pale skin of his inner thigh. Only Najlah's strength kept Tevra from

  writhing and twisting on the bed.

  "Well, add making each of you hold still so I can have my turn

  at you to the list of things you need to do to please me," Tevra said.

  "Much as I love being your toy, I would like to do some touching and

  fondling of my own."

  Barkus reared up to kiss him, long and lingering, almost

  sweet. "If you want me tied down for your pleasure, all you have to

  do is ask."

  "Well, this is me asking to add that to the agenda for next

  time," Tevra said, going for his mouth again, even as he moaned at

  the talented work of Najlah's tongue and teeth at his throat.

  I've no desire to be tied up, but I'm more than happy to do that

  to everyone else, Najlah replied.

  The other two laughed, thoughts rippling with how that

  surprised them not at all.

  "Put him on his back and get him ready for us," Barkus said.

  Najlah growled in approval of the order, and as Barkus moved

  out of the way, he put Tevra against the pile of pillows, shoving

  another beneath his hips so he was offered up in invitation quite

  prettily. He spread Tevra's thighs wide and marked the one that

  Barkus hadn't, giving Tevra a matched set that his clothes would rub

  against in delightful torment.

  Delightful for you, maybe. That is not the word I'd use for it,

  Tevra retorted, and then he was back to swearing and moaning as

  Najlah's slick, hot tongue worked his hole, stretching and wetting

  him.

  The smell of him was enthralling, musk and heat and want.

  Najlah growled again as Tevra's thighs clamped tightly around his

  head, urging him on, keeping him in place, needy and desperate.

  When he was ready, trembling beneath Najlah, every ragged

  breath a hungry plea, Najlah withdrew to his knees and lined up his

  cock, sinking swiftly into Tevra's body as he lapped and nipped at his

  throat, drawing just a hint of blood to lap up hungrily.

  "Greedy," Tevra said on a shaky breath, arms coming up to

  hold fast, nails digging into the back of his shoulders, the pressure

  only barely there, the bite of them unable to get past scales. "Fuck

  me already, damn it."

  Instead, Najlah rose up, bringing Tevra with him, holding him

  close, still wrapped in his tight heat.

  "Oh, no, you're—" Tevra broke off with a groan as Barkus

  settled behind him, breathing turning ragged, warm against Najlah's

  skin.

  Settling his hands firmly on Tevra's sharp hips, Barkus pushed

  his own way inside Tevra's body, making him nearly shout as he

  clung tightly to Najlah. "You two—" he gasped, panted heavily, then

  tried to finish, "are going to—" Fuck. Be the death of me. I thought

  we weren't doing this anytime soon.

  We changed our minds, Barkus said, a growl in his voice even

  in his thoughts. I don't care how prettily your brother apologizes; you

  belong here with us.

  That was never in doubt. Tevra trembled between them as

  Barkus finished pushing into him. So full…

  Najlah bit one side of his throat, Barkus the other, and then

  they moved inside him with slow, measured thrusts, moving in turns,

  sliding back and forth across each other as they fucked him deeply,

  thoroughly, leaving Tevra unable to do anything but hold fast, panting

  and groaning, pleading helplessly for relief, for release.

  Tevra broke first, coming apart with a scream, writhing

  between them, shaking hard as the climax overtook him.

  Barkus pulled out as he stilled and came all over his back,

  while Najlah sank in deep one last time and spilled deep inside

  Tevra's body.

  "I've never been so pleased that strangers wandered

  uninvited onto my mountains," Barkus said as he shifted himself and

  Tevra to lie more comfortably on the bed, arranging Tevra so he

  rested with his head on Barkus's chest, soft pants filling the air.

  Najlah set to work licking Tevra clean, enjoying the taste of all

  three of them on his skin. When he was finished, he kissed Barkus's

  mouth and Tevra's shoulder before going to curl up in his flames for

  a bit to clean up and get nice and hot. Given how badly this day

  could have gone, I'm glad it went so well, even if it means I didn't get

  to eat anyone.

  Tevra's amusement washed over him, but then he was

  asleep, mind quickly spinning dreams of the three of them, wild

  imaginings of what he thought Tahjil might look like. Rumbling his

  own amusement, Najlah shared images of how it really looked,

  snorting when the dreaming thoughts did indeed adjust.

  I'm glad he has us, Barkus said, and I'm grateful to whatever

  gods or destiny or luck has given me both of you. As Tevra said, it is

  not the life I ever imagined for myself, but it is one I will fight fiercely

  to keep.

  Agreed, Najlah replied, crawling out of the fire and shaking off

  embers as he went to rejoin them.

  End

  About the Author

  Megan is a long-time resident of queer romance and keeps herself

  busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and

  nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook,

  harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from

  readers and can be found all over the internet.

  meganderr.com

  patreon.com/meganderr

  meganderr.blogspot.com

  facebook.com/meganaprilderr

  meganaderr@gmail.com

  @meganaderr

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