28. Chapter 28

Chapter twenty-eight

“ W hat are you thinking about, witch?”

I blushed at the nickname as Bastian’s arms grabbed my hips and gently pushed inside of me, Callum’s lips sucking on my nipples.

We had all just finished fucking on the couch in my chambers next to the fireplace when I was thrown from my thoughts by Bastian’s cock, a happy surprise.

I ran my hands through Callum’s hair, holding him tightly to me.

“Do either of you ever tire?”

“With you? Never.” I could barely make out the words as Callum murmured them around my breast. The vibrations sent sparks across my body.

Bastian reached around to rub small circles on my clit and had my legs shaking once again in a matter of minutes.

We were all panting hard when I pried myself out of their reach and said over my shoulder as I put my dress back on, “Go clean up before dinner.”

I could hear them snickering behind me as I walked into my bathing chamber.

It didn’t take long to clean up before I walked into the dining hall. I had not eaten here in so long. I made it to my chair as Bastian walked in with a large platter of food in his hands.

“You’re here early. Very unlike you.”

“I aim to please, hunter.”

“Oh?” He set the platter on the table and walked over to lean his body against the table. “Now is that any way to greet me?”

“And how should I greet you?”

“I could think of a few things.” He looked up, and rubbed his chin, considering it for a few moments before he said, “Have you say my god-given name, preferably as you are screaming and trembling beneath me.”

My lips pulled into a grin. He was so playful; it was refreshing.

We both turned when we heard a noise and found Soren standing in the doorway, watching our flirtatious exchange. I glanced at Bastian and saw him smirking at his younger brother.

“Now, now, Bastian, we don’t want to make the scholar jealous.” I waved him off as Soren rolled his eyes and sat down in his seat. Bastian went back to the kitchen.

“Do I need to let them in on our little secret?” Soren whispered, placing his chin on his hand.

“What secret would that be?” I asked, intrigued.

He leaned in close. “That even though they warm your bed at night, you can’t stop thinking about our time in the chapel.”

I placed my chin in my hand, copying him. “If you are jealous then just say so.”

His mouth opened then closed, straightening as Bastian brought out the last of the dinner platters with Callum in tow. The two of them were laughing at something Callum had said as Emilia strode into the dining hall and took a seat.

She sniffed the air. “This all smells delicious, Bastian.”

He sat down in his chair and replied, “Thank you, Emilia. I remembered that you once said that you loved poached truffles, but didn’t eat them often. I had Callum grab some, as it is a special occasion, and thought this was as good a time as any to cook it.”

“Well, thank you for thinking of me. I am honored.”

My mind wandered as everyone eased into easy, small talk.

It had been an entire day since I cast Circe from my mind, and so far, she hadn’t been able to invade any part of my life. It was like she vanished. And I definitely was not complaining.

“Thea.”

I looked up. “What did you just call me?”

Bastian shrugged. “I am just trying out a different name. See how it feels on my tongue.”

“And how does it feel?” I circled the rim of the cup with my forefinger.

He chuckled. “Rather nice. I think I will use it later tonight.”

“You are incorrigible!” l laughed. I loved it. I loved this. It was all so easy.

“Now, Thea, do I need to feed you again in order for you to eat something?”

I was so used to not eating that I sometimes forgot to do it. Thankfully for me, Bastian was there to remind me and ensure I ate enough to not look like ‘skin and bones’. His words.

Apparently, women who look half-dead weren’t as compelling as I had once thought.

I rolled my eyes, picked up the thigh of the pheasant, and bit into it. “Happy?”

He gave me a satisfied smile and returned to eating his meal.

Callum moved to put his hand over Bastian’s, and at the last moment, Bastian froze, slipped his hand under the table, and continued eating. Callum gave us all a strained smile and moved on as best he could despite Bastian’s rejection by cutting the meat.

Emilia didn’t seem to notice the tension; if she did, she didn’t let up on it. I knew that Bastian must not have told his brother about the three of us, even though it was blatantly obvious what we were doing and with whom.

Bastian had never told us not to tell his brother, but neither of us thought it was our place to say anything. Bastian would bring it up when he was ready, and until then, we would pretend that nothing was going on between Callum and Bastian.

For which they were failing miserably, in my opinion, but maybe to everyone else, they merely seemed like close friends.

I sighed as I sat back and sipped wine.

I heard Soren clear his throat, and we all looked at him. He was looking at Bastian with so much love and understanding that it took my breath away.

“Brother, you no longer have to keep it a secret. In fact, it was never really a secret.”

Bastian’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You don’t have to hide who you are. Not with me. Never with me.”

Bastian averted his gaze from Soren and looked toward Emilia, who gave him a wide smile. Bastian squirmed in his chair, visibly nervous…or relieved, I couldn’t tell.

Callum smiled widely, placed his hand back over Bastian’s, and looked directly at Soren. “Thank you.”

Bastian reciprocated Callum’s hand squeeze, and I could tell he was getting emotional, as this had been weighing on him for his entire life. The relief washed over his features as he lifted a hand to clasp his brothers’ shoulder and nodded, not saying anything.

His demeanor immediately changed, and he appeared more relaxed throughout the rest of the meal.

The rest of dinner went by without any fuss. No one was trying to murder anyone. No one was being stabbed. No one was playing dangerous games that in turn would get themselves killed. No one was drinking themselves into oblivion.

What more could I ask for? It almost seemed too good to be true.

After taking a stroll around the castle after dinner, I returned to my chambers to find Callum and Bast kneeling naked on the ground in the middle of the room. My nipples immediately hardened, looking at their submission, my pets patiently waiting for their queen.

I slowly walked over to them, watching their muscles move from the anticipation of what I had in mind, when an idea struck.

“Bast, help me out of my corset.” His eyes met mine, and he was already breathing hard. Callum hadn’t moved an inch.

I turned around, and I could feel his calloused hands working at the strings as he roughly pulled me into his body, nibbling at the exposed skin.

I laughed breathily. “Nuh uh, tonight I want to watch.”

I stripped off the rest of my clothing and sat in a chair facing the bed. I could tell that they were both a little nervous until Callum grabbed Bastian’s face between his hands and kissed him. It was slow and sensual. Lost in their own little world, as if they were memorizing each other’s bodies.

Bastian’s hands roamed all over Calum’s body. Callum turned him around so that Bastian’s front was facing me. Callum kissed every spot his lips could touch, his hand reaching around to grip Bastian’s cock.

Bast let his head fall back against Callum’s chest, and he reached his hands behind him, squeezing Callum’s ass. Earning a moan from Callum.

Fuck. This was hot.

I brought my hand down to my core and started slowly rubbing my clit in slow circles.

They both looked over at me as I moaned loudly, and something changed in the air. Callum pushed Bast to his knees. I wasn’t sure how Bastian was going to handle this more confident side to Callum, but he just smiled and grabbed Callum’s cock and stroked him up and down, never taking his eyes off of Callum’s.

He brought his lips to Callum’s cock and ran his tongue over the tip, causing Callum to hiss. Callum was ready; there was already cum dripping out. Bast smiled and licked the cum, swallowing it, moaning at the taste.

He was definitely enjoying this.

Without warning, he took Callum fully in his mouth and started pumping fast. Callum gripped his hair and helped keep up the pace.

I was in shock at how much this was making me wet. I stuck a finger inside of myself and pumped it in and out at the same pace they were going.

Callum brought Bast up and kissed him, wanting to taste himself. They were both panting when Callum turned him around and bent him over the bed. Bast knew what was coming and he was nervous, but also excited.

Callum kneeled and spread his cheeks and spit on his ass. Callum rubbed it in, lubricating Bastin’s tight ass. Preparing him for what was about to come.

Bastian breathed. “Callum…”

Callum smiled. “Don’t worry, Bast. I promise to go easy on you.”

Callum moved his hand to wrap around Bast’s cock and started moving up and down, squeezing tightly. Callum moved his eyes to mine and, without warning, stuck his thumb in Bast’s ass. He jerked forward, trying to get away from Callum, but to no avail. Callum wouldn’t back down.

He let Bastian get used to the intrusion before he pushed his thumb in further while stroking Bast’s cock faster, trying to get his mind off the uncomfortable feeling.

Callum removed his thumb and stood up, shoving his fingers into Bastian’s mouth, forcing him to suck. Once he was satisfied, Callum positioned himself on the side of Bast and leaned forward, biting Bast’s ass.

He started pumping fast and inserted two fingers into Bast’s ass, filling him up. I then inserted two of my fingers into me and started pumping.

He stopped just as Bast was about to cum and stood up. “You ready?” All Bast did was nod, his head bent.

He positioned himself in front of Bast’s ass and slowly pushed himself in. Bast gripped the bed so hard that his knuckles turned white.

I knew it was hurting him; Callum’s cock was thick. Callum stilled, allowing him to adjust to his size. He was about to start moving, but I commanded, “Stop.”

They both looked at me. Both had sweat beading down their faces and bodies.

I walked over to the bed, climbed on, spread my legs in front of Bast, and said, “Don’t think of the pain. Focus on me. Focus on how good I taste. Lose yourself in us.”

He was trying to breathe, his face a mixture of pain and desire. He nodded and attacked my pussy. His hands were clutching my upper thighs as I nodded to Callum.

He kept a slow and steady pace, still allowing Bastian to get used to his size. Bast lifted his head, squeezing his eyes shut as tears flowed down his face.

I lifted his head to look at me, my eyes saying everything that needed to be said. He shook his head in answer. He didn’t want Callum to stop. So I put his head back between my legs and ordered Callum to go faster. Bast gripped my thighs so hard I could feel bruises forming, and I couldn’t care less.

Watching Callum fuck Bast while he was eating me out was nothing short of a revelation. We were all just a mix of sounds, from Callum’s balls slapping Bastian’s ass to the moaning coming from Bastian to my screams of pleasure.

We were all working in tandem. Callum fucking Bastian’s ass while stroking his cock, Bast eating my pussy, and me squeezing his head tightly with my thighs. I started rubbing my clit, almost reaching my climax as I screamed Bastian’s name. I came so hard that I squirted on Bastian’s face. I had never done that before, and he made sure to lick everything up.

Callum dug in and thrust so fast that Bastian was screaming out as he came, followed by Callum. Callum collapsed on top of Bast, who then collapsed between my legs. They couldn’t hold themselves up any longer.

Yes, yes, yes.

I fell back against the bed, just as exhausted as they were. Bastian pushed up with all his strength and looked at Callum, saying, “I want a turn.”

Callum’s eyes went wide, having assumed that our night was probably over, when he smiled and nodded. He moved so that he was bent over the bed. His chest hit the side, and he grabbed the sheets, saying breathlessly, “Don’t hold back.”

Callum looked back up at me and grabbed my ankles, pulling me down to the edge of the bed. I squealed as he said, “Your grace, I wouldn’t want you to miss out.” Without any warning, he drove into me and stilled, and I knew exactly what he had in mind.

There was nothing sweet about what was about to happen. Callum wanted to be taken aggressively, and I would be taken just as hard.

Bast moved behind him, stroking himself to get ready, and grabbed Callum’s hips, lining up his cock at Callum’s ass, allowing his cum to coat it. And without warning, he shoved his cock in all the way into the base.

Callum screamed out in ecstasy and demanded, “Faster, Bast!”

It felt so good!

Bastian was panting hard as he drove over and over and over again into Callum relentlessly as Callum drove into me. The feeling was unlike anything I had ever felt before. The sounds that were coming out of our mouths were completely primal.

I looked at Bastian as his back was hunched over, moving his hands around to get a better grip on Callum as our bodies were slick with sweat. I could tell from the look of ecstasy on his face that he was reveling in the feeling of being inside Callum. Callum leaned forward on my body, his tongue biting and sucking on my breasts.

This is why Callum and I got along so well. He loved pain just as much as I loved inflicting it.

Callum groaned around my breast, “Fuck Bast, this feels so fucking good. Harder.”

Bastian gave him exactly what he was asking for. He grabbed onto his shoulders to use as a brace and moved his hips as fast as he could. Bastian was thrusting so hard into Callum that Callum’s cock was hitting the back of my pussy.

It wasn’t long before Bastian and Callum screamed as they orgasmed and at the sight of seeing them cum, it was my turn. Stars exploded in my vision. The orgasm sent me over the edge so far that my eyes rolled into the back of my head, overly sensitive. I could feel my body shaking from the pressure of it all.

They both collapsed on the bed on top of me and each other, all of our bodies coated in sweat and the room filling with the scent of sex. My favorite scent.

We laid there trying to catch our breaths before Bast got up and laid on the bed beside me. Callum followed after and collapsed on my other side.

After a few moments of nothing but our breathing filling the quiet room, I got up on wobbly legs, went to the bathroom, and shut the door.

Their cum was running down my legs, and as much as I loved the feeling, I needed a bath. I sat there, too exhausted by what happened to think about anything in particular.

I got out and opened the bathroom door, smiling to myself, to find my two men passed out on my bed. Their naked bodies were tangled around each other in a mess of hair and limbs. They did well tonight.

I walked toward them. They looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to disturb them, but they couldn’t stay in my bed.

Or could they?

I crawled on the bed before I could think too hard about it and wiggled my way in between them. Without waking up, Callum moved over enough for me to fit perfectly between them. Bastian moved until he securely wrapped me in his arms with a hand around my throat and Callum's hand resting on my hip.

I smiled to myself as I welcomed sleep for the first time in my life.

Wake up. Eat. Garden. Eat. Fuck Callum. Sleep.

Every day for ten years, this was the only thing that kept me sane. Those two humans were my reason for putting even the smallest bit of effort into my existence. I wouldn’t even consider it a life. At least not a life well-lived.

After I tried to kill myself, I never picked my routine back up because everything seemed pointless. And then I became so engrossed in research that I realized I no longer needed a routine to keep me grounded. Each day had been full of surprises, and I reveled in it.

This morning, I had woken up in their arms, and they were so shocked that I allowed them that each of them worshipped my body for hours as a thank you.

I had to nearly rip myself away from them to get anything done, and I wanted to do something other than research. I wanted to get my hands dirty in the soil of my plants. It had been far too long.

When I walked into the greenhouse, I expected plants to be rotting, bugs flying around, and general chaos. I was shocked to find that everything was in order, and Emilia was toward the back on her hands and knees, repotting one of the oleander plants.

“Emilia?”

She turned around, bowed while still on the ground, and said, “I wanted your sanctuary to look nice when you came back.”

I walked over to my euphorbia milii and lightly rubbed her petals. Emilia could have been the royal herbalist if she had been alive back then. I smiled at the thought. We both settled into our comfortable silence as we trimmed the leaves, repotted two trees, and replaced soil in quite a few pots.

After a few hours, I left the greenhouse and went back inside, suddenly ravenous, when I rounded the corner and stilled. Bastian had Callum pinned against the wall, skimming his nose along Callum’s neck.

“Are you happy that Soren finally knows about us?” Callum asked breathlessly.

Bastian rested his head against Callum’s shoulder and smiled. “It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my chest. I have had these feelings for as long as I can remember, and I knew I would never be able to act on them. For the longest time, I thought it was evil for me to have these inclinations and would bury myself into every cunt I could find, praying to God that He would cleanse me.”

Callum turned his head to stare into Bastian’s eyes. “Do you still feel that way?”

“No,” Bastian said with not a hint of hesitation.

“I care for you, Bast. I—I love you. And I am selfish enough to say that everything that has happened to you has led you to this castle—to her. For us to happen.

Bastian sucked in a breath. “You love me?”

“I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you strapped to that chair in the tower.”

Bastian laughed and lightly pushed his shoulder. Then, he grabbed it and slammed his lips against Callum’s. I could see Bastian lick the seam between Callum’s lips, and Callum happily obliged.

Bastian ran his hands through Callum’s hair and, staring into his eyes, said, “I love you, too.”

I retreated to the shadows, not wanting to disrupt their moment. I took a deep breath and searched for the appropriate reaction to what I just saw. I was greedy, there was no denying that, and I was jealous that they said that to each other without me there. I wanted to share this moment with them, but I was happy.

Truly happy .

But, still being me, I was a tad bit envious. Though happiness trumped any other feeling that tried to creep its way inside. Another bright light shutting the darkness that did its best to claw into my heart. I wouldn’t let it, not anymore.

I pushed off the wall and turned to find Soren staring at me. I wondered how much he heard from their not-so-private conversation. I lifted my head high, blushing from being caught spying, and approached him. I was about to say something to him, but he put a finger to his lips and extended his arm.

I sighed and linked my arm with his as he led me away from them and toward the library.

We were silent as we padded through the hallways until we reached the library doors and he said, “I am happy for my brother.”

“You knew.” It wasn’t a question, more of a statement. I saw no surprise in his eyes when Bastian told him, rather relief.

He nodded, still staring straight ahead as he walked us over to the table with the books. “I have known ever since we were kids. I would catch him staring at some of the boys we grew up with in a way that I would look at some of the girls. I knew it was different, but I never said anything. It wasn’t my place.”

It was silent for a couple more minutes before he asked, “Does it bother you?”

“About?” Trying to avoid the question.

“Don’t be coy. About what they said to each other.”

“Callum tells me practically every day that he loves me.” I shrugged and looked away. “To be honest, I am happy that they have each other.”

“Why do you say it like that?” I sadly looked back up at him. He missed nothing. “You don’t expect the curse to be broken, do you?”

I sighed. “I have lived for centuries. I have scoured the library and every nook and cranny of these lands, not just the castle. I have looked for any weakness within the barrier and nothing. It is not that I have given up…completely… I just don’t understand how you think you can find something when I haven’t been able to.”

“I have dedicated my entire life to understanding your history, your truth. I will.”

“And if you can’t?”

His shoulders slumped and he gave me a small, crooked smile. “Then we will live here forever. I don’t think there is one person in this castle who would willingly part from you. Not in this life or the next.”

I pushed away from him, crossed my arms, and walked toward the window. “Don’t jest, Soren. I don’t particularly find this form of humor amusing.”

I didn’t like that he was promising to stay with me forever when there was a better life for all of them outside of these walls, apart from me. The thought of never seeing them again always sent me into a state of paralyzing stupor.

I tightened the hold on my arms as I felt him approach. He stood so close that I could feel the grooves of his muscles against my back. The heat radiating from his body was so intense, it could keep me warm all winter, but right now, it was too much. We stood there wordlessly, our heavy breathing breaking the oppressive silence that settled between us.

He brought his hand up to skim my bare arm as he dipped his head to graze his nose behind my ear.

What was he doing? I could feel my body wanting to lean into his, but didn’t want to ruin what we had created over the last few weeks. How easy being with him was. I didn’t want to ruin it like I ruined everything else.

He doesn’t want you , I thought. Take a deep breath. He doesn’t want you. He just wants your mind, your history. He’s obsessed with that, not you. I kept reminding myself of that fact and willed my heart to slow.

As if he could read my thoughts, he said in a low, gravelly voice, “You were wrong earlier. You told Callum I just wanted you for your mind…and that isn’t true.”

I stiffened.

“Continue using me. For whatever you may need. Use me.” He rested his forehead on the back of my head, inhaling deeply. “I don’t care that you are fucking Bast and Callum. I don’t care that I have to put a pillow over my head to try and drown out your moans of pleasure because one day, I know you will give in and also choose me. I don’t know what’s stopping you now from taking what you want from me.”

“I would destroy you, Soren,” I breathed.

“Then destroy me.”

My chest heaved when I thought… fuck it.

I spun around, wrapped my arms around his neck as he gripped my hips and crushed me to him. I stood on my toes as I brought my face up to his and kissed him lightly, savoring his soft lips on mine. He moved his hands up my sides, skimming the sides of my breasts and up until he was cupping my face and deepened the kiss.

Last time, he ensured I felt all the pleasure, but this time…it was his turn.

I dropped to my knees in front of him as his eyes widened, surprised, as I unstrapped his trousers.

“What are you doing?” He asked, voice labored.

“It is your turn to relax, scholar.”

I slowly slid his trousers down his lean legs until his cock was thrust out of its containment. It bounced until it settled straight up, and my mouth watered at the sight.

He was massive .

Soren’s cock was heavy in my hands, long and just thick enough for me to barely be able to wrap my hand around. He hissed at the sensation of my hands sliding up and down his length, our eyes never leaving each other. I leaned forward as I stuck out my tongue and licked him from base to tip, just like he did to me.

I repeated the movement a few more times before I lifted his dick up and gently sucked on his balls, swirling my tongue around. Soren threw his head back and moaned loudly, reveling in this moment. My tongue moved up his shaft as I licked his tip. His eyes found mine as he jerked at the sensation. I took him into my mouth devastatingly slowly.

He lifted his hands, wanting to do something with them, but not knowing what to do, and finally slammed them against the glass window. I smiled around his dick as I lifted my hand to his and placed it in my hair. I wanted him to take control and show me exactly how he wanted it.

I had never been on my knees for anyone, and it made me so wet that I was dripping profusely down my leg.

Relinquishing control once more.

He grasped my hair and thrust deep into my throat. I choked from the intrusion but welcomed it, and moaned at the feeling of being filled by him, causing him to jerk even further into me.

He pulled all the way out and then sank back into me. I hollowed out my cheeks as his movements became faster.

“You are beautiful, my queen.” My eyes rolled into the back of my head as I reached down and inserted a finger into my pussy, needing the friction. “Fuck. Me.”

He pulled out of me and pulled me from my knees until I was being lifted into his arms, my legs straddling his waist. I waited for him to take me right then before he leaned in to kiss me, turned us around, and walked to a wall lined with bookshelves.

He leaned me against them for support as he pulled away enough to look into my eyes. His hands were idly running up and down my thighs, squeezing as he went.

We couldn’t catch our breath and were more than ready to give each other what we both desired. But I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you sure you don’t want your first time to be on a bed?”

He smiled against my lips and answered my question by reaching between us, grasping his hardened length, and guiding it to my aching pussy. He rubbed it against me, soaking up the cum that was dripping out of me, coating himself. “I want to fuck you on the very things that made me feel close to you for all those years.” He looked down as he pressed inside of me, agonizingly slow.

His was girthier than his brother’s dick, and it stretched me until I could hardly breathe. He still wasn’t even in all the way.

“Take my cock like a good girl.” His deep tone sent chills along my spine. I whimpered and nodded. “That’s it.” He leaned forward and captured my breast in his mouth. He sucked and licked, and it made me pool around him even more.

The feeling of the books pressed into my back helped me focus and not completely lose myself. I wanted to remember every stroke, kiss, and touch. I moved my hands over his chest, running down through the hardened lines of his stomach, needing to hold onto something as he pulled out of me. My pussy tried to grip him, begging him to stay.

I leaned my forehead against his. “I can’t wait any longer. Fuck me, Soren. Now,” I demanded.

He didn’t hold back as he pulled out of me and thrust all the way to the hilt. He stilled until I groaned, “Soren, you feel so good.” He smiled and leaned in, kissing my neck while slowly pulling out and pushing back in, getting into a rhythm.

Soon, our rhythm got faster, and the sound of his balls slapping me filled the library. He was gripping my hips, digging his fingers in, and hitting the back of my pussy, causing little bursts of pain. But the pleasure overrode any other sensation.

He pressed his body against mine, our sweat intermingling. He shifted us, lifting my legs one at a time until my legs were above his shoulders, and rammed into me. I couldn’t hold back the screams of pleasure that erupted as he fucked me so hard books were falling onto the ground.

“Don’t fucking stop, Soren!”

I could hear him laughing to himself and sinking back into me hard, and I gasped. My eyes were closed, too lost in him. “Yes, my goddess. My Rose.” He quickened his pace, and I was so close to exploding that when he growled, “Be a good girl and come for me.”

I was done.

A violent orgasm erupted from me. My legs shook as my pussy milked him, and then one more thrust had him exploding in me. We were both panting as the high of him being inside of me was starting to wane. He rested his forehead against the crook of my neck, eyes closed, trying to catch his breath, and we stayed there in silence with him still inside me.

I loved the feeling of a throbbing cock inside me after finishing—the pulse matching the erratic thrumming of my heart.

I reached up to caress his face as tears started to form in my eyes. What we just shared was so beautiful that I was overwhelmed with all of the emotions running through me. I still was uncomfortable having other people witness my vulnerability; hiding had always been my first instinct. But not anymore. I let him see everything without turning from him.

He opened his eyes and cocked his head to the side, eyebrows pinched together. He said nothing as he lowered my legs to wrap around his waist again without pulling out of me and carried me to the chaise lounge.

The movements had the walls gripping him even tighter to me, the sensations overwhelming.

He sat down with me, still straddling him, and wiped away the tears as he waited silently for me to decide if I wanted to share whatever was going on in my head. I broke down, wrapped my arms around his neck, and cried.

I held onto him tightly as the fear of them dying one day, leaving me to be alone once again, started to take hold. Before the panic could set in, Soren began to hum the song that he used to calm me during that night in the library.

I never wanted to let them go. I felt like I was starting to feel like myself again—my old self.

My breathing calmed, and I said teasingly into his neck, “You know…usually after fucking, the man pulls out of the woman.”

My body moved with his chuckle. “Why would I when this is my new favorite place to be?”

I leaned back so that we were looking at each other.

“Thank you,” He whispered.

Our breaths were intermingled. He had such an alluring scent. It was one I could get drunk on for the rest of my existence.

I laughed lightly at him, moved the hair away from his face, and asked, “Whatever for?”

“For not dying. For choosing us.”

I stopped laughing at that, and I stared at him. “Sometimes I think you were made for me…the old me.”

He stared, considering the words deeply.

“That girl, that princess, needed someone like you to tell her the world was vast. That she could escape it all if she were brave enough, that life wouldn’t end if her family didn’t accept her.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I’ve been afraid of you,” I admitted. “Afraid of what I’d feel if I let you in.”

“I know,” he said. “I can read you just about as well as I can read my brother.”

I looked down, my instincts still trying to get me to flee from how overwhelmed I was. He took me by the chin, making me level my eyes with his.

“You are still that girl, afraid of not being accepted. But you have been accepted, and when I break your curse, you will see that the world is still vast. You will get every experience you lost.”

The life he painted for me was almost cruel. It had been so long since I’d considered life beyond my curse—traveling, seeing the world. The longing filled my stomach. “And if you can’t break it?”

He grinned. “I am persistent.”

We both shared a laugh.

“I love you,” he whispered, staring into my eyes, ensuring I knew he meant what he said.

He smiled at me, knowing full well I wouldn’t say it back, but said it anyway. I wanted to tell him how I truly felt, but I couldn’t. All I could do was kiss him. It was a kiss that had me screaming for air, but it didn’t matter. I ran my fingers through his hair, pulling him even tighter to me.

He finally pulled back, and I chased his lips with mine, fully prepared to die by suffocation. He gave me a hearty laugh from deep in his chest and my insides lit up at the sound.

“You look like an angel.” My hair was wild, skin flushed. My whole body was exposed to him.

“I can promise you that I am no angel.”

He gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. A smile that told me that he was up to something. “No? The Devil herself, then? Do us both a favor a fuck me like one of your whores, Rose . ”

I perked up at his words. I loved to see this new side of him. “Scholar, aren’t you tired after your first time?”

He leaned back and said, “No, I don’t think I will ever tire of you.”

That was all it took. I slid up and slammed down on his length. We went at each other like rabid animals and didn’t relent until we were both so exhausted from fucking that we could barely move.

I was lying on his stomach as I looked into his eyes and said, “And I am not that loud.”

He just chuckled and took me again on the couch.