Chapter 7

Béke Day One

The door to the carriage opened with a blast of frigid night air, and we stepped into the snow before a slate stone building decorated with metallic climbing ivy. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and if it weren't for the silvery color, I'd think that the Iron Fae had enchanted vines to withstand the harsh winters. Vadim whistled as he examined the filigree etched into the doors, the whorls and dainty details drawing out a story I did not know.

We pushed through them when Liliana complained of the cold, and a bulky male waited just inside the entrance, his face serious until he saw Anton and Slavian.

"They're with us." Slavian jerked a thumb over his shoulder, swaying slightly.

"Your usual table is available, My Lords," the male replied, moving out of our way so we could enter the dimly lit area. Anton and Slavian descended a set of stairs to a sunken level below, the beat of drums building with each step into the earth. The air smelled of herbs, metal, and sex, and I soon learned why, when we cleared a fog of smoke and landed on the floor where scantily clad males and females served drinks and sacks of herbs to groups of people lounging in the middle. Off to the sides, curtained rooms both hid and revealed half-naked bodies writhing together while others smoked the herbs in front of them. The High Lords sauntered to a larger space at the back of the room, pulling aside the curtain for us to pass. The beat of the drums quieted as we took seats on the deep couch lining the walls.

A female appeared a moment later with a bottle of amber liquor and glasses for all of us. "My Lords, so glad you are here tonight. It was getting boring without you." She batted her lashes as she placed everything on the table in front of her.

"Zoya, I hope you'll join us later." Anton pulled her into his lap, and she giggled, placing her hands on his chest.

"Do you want me to bring you something stronger?" She trailed a finger down his abdomen until it disappeared from view.

"Nothing too strong, Zoya, as this is our guests" first time experimenting." Anton gestured to us where we sat toward the back of the room.

She hopped up from his lap with a sly grin, spinning to face us. "Welcome to Steel, My Lords and Lady. You will certainly enjoy your time with us." She bit her lip as her eyes trailed over me, stopping at my groin. "I'll be back in a few moments with your herbs." She swayed her barely covered hips as she walked away from us.

Vadim whispered next to me, "I think this is the best decision we've made in months."

Viktor and I snorted simultaneously, though I got the sense he was ready to let loose himself. Endre sat protectively next to Liliana, who was unfazed by the whole experience, as if she had frequented it many times. Slavian started pouring drinks for us, sliding them down the long, narrow table in each of our directions before pouring the last one for Liliana and handing it to her with a grin.

"To our health." He raised his glass, then threw back the liquid. We replied in kind, and the alcohol burned on the way down, not in an unpleasant way. He immediately poured another round for us all, and I embraced the second shot, needing the buzz to drive away the image of Izidora spread before Ruslan that kept appearing behind my eyes, triggered over and over again by the sensual space we found ourselves in.

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the effects already, my body loosening along with my tongue. "What is this place?" I asked Anton, who was already pouring his third glass.

"It's a place where you can lose control and experiment. Every desire you've dreamed of can be fulfilled here. Steel is very exclusive, and only the best Félvér work and play here."

"Félvér? What is that?" Viktor leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs to hear him better over the thrumming music.

"Those of us who have mixed blood, we call ourselves Félvér. I am half Wolf," Anton explained, his drink sloshing. Viktor and I shared a look that said ‘we'll play dumb' since we already knew about Izidora's half Angel heritage, but any additional information about these Félvér would only serve to help us in the coming fight. Anton's lips were loose now, and if he was willing to share, who were we to deny him the opportunity?

Viktor didn't hesitate to continue with his questioning. "Interesting, I've never met a Wolf before. What abilities does that give you?"

"Well, not to brag, but my mother is an alpha. I can fully shift into a Wolf," Anton boasted unabashedly, then he jerked his thumb in Slavian's direction, spilling alcohol in the process. "Slavian here is part Demon, part Centaur, but he only got horns and wings from his mother."

Zoya pushed aside the gauzy curtain a moment later, then laid sacks of herbs on the table. Anton pulled her into his lap once again. "Zoya is a Wolf also, and she likes to play." He nuzzled her neck, and she sighed and leaned back into him. He trailed a hand down the bare skin on her front, slipping a hand under the fabric that covered her hips. She moaned as he touched her.

"Come back later and bring more friends," he purred in her ear, before removing his hand. She straightened her skirt, flashing him with a seductive smile, then disappeared into the dimly lit room beyond.

"So everyone here is Félvér?" Viktor clarified.

"Yup. Let's see, we've got more Wolves out there, a few with Demon blood – you're going to love them, most of them are incubi like Slavian – a couple of Dragons, I think she's a Mage…" Anton trailed on as I blinked rapidly, processing everything he said.

If so many Félvér hung out here tonight, how many more were out there? And if they had other magic outside of Iron Faes' elemental magic, how would we take them on in battle?

"We're pretty progressive here you know, not like the other realms who are all ‘pure blood is the only way to maintain power' bullshit. Plus the Félvér have way more fun than you Fae," Anton finished, his finger wagging as his words slurred even more.

I bristled at his insinuation that the other realms were so rigid in their beliefs. Before I could open my mouth to protest, Viktor's elbow dug into my side, and he topped off everyone's glasses in rapid succession.

"I'll drink to that." Slavian chuckled, lifting his glass before downing it. "Let's break out the herbs now, Anton." He reached for a bag and pulled an apparatus from beneath the table. Taking a pinch of herbs in one hand, he stuffed it into a small opening before lighting it and bringing it to his mouth. He sucked in a deep breath, then exhaled a plume of smoke into the space. It smelled sweet and earthy, like rain on a spring day.

"My turn." Liliana eagerly held out her hand for the apparatus.

"Not so fast, beautiful. You'll hurt yourself if you don't know what you're doing. I'll help you." He placed the apparatus to her lips, then flicked a mote of fire to his fingers. "When I put my finger here, you breathe deep into your belly. Hold it for a moment, then exhale slowly."

Endre's eyes were hard as he watched Slavian and Liliana flirt, a muscle feathering in his jaw. Liliana's green eyes locked on Slavian's gray ones as he placed his flaming finger on the herbs. She inhaled slowly, then stopped as he took the apparatus from her. She held for a beat, then released a tendril at a time before forming an O with her mouth and blowing rings in Slavian's face.

I leaned over to Vadim. "You know she's done this before, right?"

"I do now," he huffed and I followed with a low laugh. She clearly kept a lot from us.

"How long until Endre snaps?" Viktor joined our hushed discussion.

"Why is Endre allowed to snap but I am not?" I quipped.

"Because when we found Izidora, you found a temper. Endre is too nice. My bet is he won't break in public," Viktor snickered.

Vadim grinned wolfishly. "If he wants Liliana, he has to earn her. It's not his fault that she wants to test him. Deep down, she wants him to succeed, and I think he knows that. I bet he loses it in the next hour, especially if Slavian keeps touching her."

"If Endre hadn't had his heart set on her for the past six or so years, I think he would have dropped her rather than keep fighting. He is a stubborn male. I give him until the end of the night," I chimed in.

"Six years?" Vadim exclaimed in a hushed whisper.

"To be fair, he never said anything, but Kazimir and I always knew," Viktor shrugged.

Endre declined the herbs, so he passed them along to Vadim. "This shit better make me forget that last statement," he grumbled.

Slavian leaned forward with his fiery finger to light Vadim's pull. He repeated Liliana's motion, but instead of holding, he came up coughing and wheezing.

"Happens to everyone their first time," Slavian laughed and then passed the apparatus to me. I debated for a moment before deciding that if I truly wanted to let go, I needed to act like it. So I put the herbs to my mouth, inhaled deeply as Slavian lit them, held my breath as he pulled away, then exhaled slowly through a wide mouth, only coughing slightly at the end. Viktor ended up joining as well, leaving Endre the only one without a hit.

Anton refreshed the now-burned herbs, then puffed a few times. Slavian refilled all our glasses, offering another cheer before we all chased the herbs with more liquor. My whole body tingled, and I felt like I floated rather than sat on the couch as the drink and smoke sank into my bones. Thoughts of Ruslan and Izidora disappeared from my mind, and all I could focus on was what was right in front of me, which a moment later included three females and a male pushing through the fabric that separated us from the main area. Zoya followed them in, her bronze skin shimmering as if every speck of light in this place reflected off of her. I blinked a few times, noticing that every newcomer's skin shimmered in some way. I shed my suit jacket, then rolled up my sleeves, turning my arms over and examining a similar sheen on my own skin.

The three other females pushed past Anton and seated themselves between him and Viktor, lashes fluttering in our direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Endre eye a redhead appreciatively, scooting toward Vadim slightly and away from Liliana. I guessed he was intent on playing games if she was.

"I'm Taya," the redhead introduced herself, then gestured to the females beside her. "This is Aliana and Natasha. And he is Atros." She jerked her head to the male who sat beside Anton, taking hits of the herbs.

"Lovely to meet you ladies." Vadim leaned forward, rubbing his palms together and licking his lips. Endre and Viktor shrugged out of their jackets and lounged casually against the couch. "Can we get you anything to drink?"

"Oh, no, we're perfectly fine. We've already had a lot of herbs," the black-haired female, who I assumed was Natasha, trilled.

"Natasha, switch places with me, I want to sit next to that one," the blonde said, her hazel eyes glued to Viktor's torso.

"Ugh, you always go for the tall ones, Aliana," she replied, but instead of switching places, she settled herself between Vadim and me. His eyes went feral as he looked her up and down, stopping on the low cut of her skin-tight dress before returning to her face. "And what are you?" he asked.

"Demon," she flashed her teeth with a low laugh. Vadim only grinned as he yanked her to his lap. She straddled him, and I decided I'd had enough of watching them.

Anton passed the herbs to me, and I took two long drags, this time easing the smoke out of my mouth without a cough. Zoya sat on his lap, and he lazily stroked her bare skin, his fingers like a blur as I watched. The male sucked on his neck on the opposite side, and Anton tipped his head back to rest on the wall behind him. "The Félvér are looser than you rigid Fae, Kazimir. Relax and enjoy the ride," he moaned as Atros stroked his groin.

My skin heated and tightened. I needed relief, so I unbuttoned the top of the shirt I still wore, but none came as I caught sight of Viktor and Aliana wrapped around each other beside me. My eyes trailed to my left. Endre held the herbs in his hand, finally giving in as the smoky air filled with breathless moans and wanton pleasure. He blew smoke into Liliana's open mouth, who sucked it in before blowing it back to him. She climbed into his lap, clasping her hands on his face and kissing him deeply as he dug his hands into the flesh of her ass. Slavian kissed her bare back, trailing his fingers lightly down her sides.

I swallowed thickly as my groin heated, and in a blur I could not quite follow, Taya sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. She walked her fingers up my chest to my open shirt, pulling the fabric aside to reveal my tattoos.

"I do love males with ink." She batted her lashes and leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head, wanting to avoid kissing her, but I was not sure why. Didn't I want another? A flash of something like hurt washed through me as a pair of aquamarine eyes filled my vision. The thought and the feeling left as quickly as they came when she licked from the top of my chest to my ear, sucking it between her teeth. Her hand found my hardness and palmed it over my pants. I would have jerked away, but my body was so loose and relaxed that I only leaned back and allowed it to happen again and again. She unbuttoned my shirt and ran her tongue down, down, down my abs until she reached the waistband of my pants.

I looked up to find my friends in similar states of undress, Viktor kneeling on the ground, spreading the legs of his female companion, Vadim outright thrusting into his. Atros knelt between Anton's legs, his head bobbing up and down while a fully naked Zoya kissed Anton, and his fingers found the apex of her thighs.

A moment later, Taya freed my cock, then sucked it into her mouth, hollowing out her cheeks as she swallowed me.

"Fuck, I should not be doing this," I moaned, but I did not stop her for I barely remembered my own name. Her head was a blur, and I only watched for a moment before glancing at Endre, who had Liliana's dress hiked up to her waist. She moved above him, but her mouth was locked on Slavian's hardness, and Endre looked both pissed and pleased as he ground into her from below. Both of them were too preoccupied to glance in my direction and see what was unfolding between me and the female on her knees.

Taya's teeth grazed the sensitive underside of my head, and I groaned, fisting my hand into her hair and pushing deeper into her mouth. My world devolved into madness as she took all of me, soaking my shaft up and down. She glanced to her left, eyes heating when she saw Viktor and Aliana switching up positions. She rose and grabbed my hands to move me so I stood above her as she laid on the couch.

Viktor had positioned himself behind Aliana, who was on knees and elbows, her face slightly above Taya's hips. The blonde female grinned, then lifted the thin dress covering Taya to reveal her core. It was wet and glistening in the dim light, and Aliana purred at the sight before licking from bottom to top. She sucked her clit into her mouth at the same time Viktor thrust into her from behind and the three released a collective groan.

Taya's hand found my shaft and stroked as Aliana continued to lick and suck her core. I stepped closer, and she took me in her mouth, humming over me as her pleasure built. I grasped the back of her head, holding her steady as I pumped in and out. She began to whimper, and Aliana slipped two fingers inside her, curling and stroking in time with the thrusts that pounded into her.

Viktor and I locked eyes, a small smile splaying across both our lips. The carnal pleasure we participated in was wild and freeing. Taya's moans became more frantic, the vibration around my cock sending tingles up my spine. My balls tightened, and I breathed through my nose, trying not to lose control so quickly.

I released her head as she came with a cry, her body arching off the couch as Aliana thrust her fingers in deep, tongue firing rapidly until her body came down. When her orgasm subsided, Taya returned to my cock, sucking it into her throat while her fingers found my balls, cupping them and stroking them lightly. With a curse, I found my release, filling her mouth as she swallowed down every last drop. I braced myself on the wall in front of me as the room started to spin.

Taya guided me down beside her, and as my back hit the couch, she slurred, "Watch." I followed her gaze to Anton, Atros, and Zoya who were all completely naked and writhing together. Taya's hand found her dripping center and dipped a finger inside as she watched them.

Atros spread Anton's cheeks and entered him from behind as he pulled Zoya onto his cock. Anton thrust into her over and over, groaning as Atros moved behind him. Natasha appeared in a blur at the edge of my vision, sidling up to Taya and stroking her breasts as she watched the three move together.

I turned my attention to them as Vadim slid behind her, positioning himself before thrusting into her from behind. The females kissed and stroked one another until Natasha slipped off of Vadim and pushed Taya to the couch, spreading her legs and joining them with her own. "Watch us," the redhead purred to Vadim and me, and my eyes locked on the two beautiful females writhing together below us. I found my cock in my hand and pumped slowly as breathy moans and wet sounds rose between them.

The dim, smoky room smelled of pleasure and sweat as partners switched, new combinations formed, and we came over and over and over again. I lost myself in the erotic dance, my body humming, floating, as time blurred together. I barely remembered stumbling to my bed at Ryza, let alone how I got to Steel, as my mind completely blanked of anything but gratification.