Chapter 24

Theyfound Ulfarr still at the camp, in the underground common-room.

Theroom felt even cozier this time, with a large fire now crackling in the grate, and multiple now-familiar faces turning toward Louisa at the entrance. There was Halthorr, sharpening a knife by the fire, and raising his hand in an easy wave. There was Galmr and a smiling Flora, sitting together at a table, playing what appeared to be a dice game. And there, not even slightly hidden by the half-closed curtain, the dark-haired woman named Polly was sprawled on one of the beds with her orc mate Igull, and giggling as he palmed her breast, and nibbled his sharp teeth at her throat.

ButLouisa scarcely spared them a glance, because her eyes had caught on the bed beside them, half-hidden by the curtain. On the bed with — the orc. The orc curled up on his side, his huge body huddled into something strangely small, his dark head bent low into his chest.

Oh. Oh, gods. And as Louisa stared at Ulfarr, suddenly there was only sympathy, shot through with grief and misery and stark, sweeping regret. She'd done this. She'd kept her truth from Ulfarr, and she'd hurt him, and brought him sadness and pain. And he hadn't at all deserved it, especially after he'd given her such a lovely day, after he'd so kindly shown her the beautiful place he longed for as his home. And now this, she'd left him with this, alone, all damned day.

Killikhad scarcely said a word to Louisa during the entire walk here, but now he clasped her arm, his jaw set. "I have already spoken to him," he told her, his voice low. "And he said he has forgiven me, for how I kept our truth from him. ButI ken" — his eyes angled narrow toward her — "it is also yet your truth to speak, woman."

Hertruth to speak. Louisa swallowed and nodded, and then lurched forward without thinking, without waiting for Killik behind her. Just needing to speak with Ulfarr, to touch him, to help him…

Shehurled herself onto the bed beside him, snatching up his heavy hand into hers. And in return, he shifted and started, jerking around to look — and now Louisa could see his face. His pale, haggard-looking face, with his bleary, blinking eyes, his grim twisting mouth.

"Oh, sweetheart," Louisa gulped, and though she tried to smile, she was miserably failing, almost about to weep. "I'm so, so sorry. Forgive me."

Hervoice scraped through the air, too loud, too presumptuous, too — ridiculous. And no wonder Ulfarr was staring back at her like that, with such blank disbelief in his eyes — and Louisa abruptly released his hand, shaking her head. Oh, gods, what was she doing, what if she'd already ruined this beyond repair, what if he hadn't wanted to see her and now — now —

Killik. Killik, swinging himself onto the bed on Ulfarr's other side, and grasping firmly at Louisa's shoulder. Holding her there, letting his claws dig in, as his eyes briefly caught, flared, on hers. As if he was saying — stay.

"Ach, you ought to beg my wolf's forgiveness, woman," he said coolly, as his hand dropped from her shoulder, and patted at Ulfarr's pale cheek. "And after this, mayhap you shall offer to suck his prick, also."

What? Louisa gaped at him, her heart skipping — while between them, Ulfarr shoved onto his back, so he could blink blearily at Killik, too. "Killik," he said, sharp, almost a reprimand. "Did you compel her to come here? You cannot ask her to —"

ButKillik cut in with a growl, and a cool smile toward Louisa. "Ach, I can ask her whatever I wish," he said coldly, "for she has brought me naught but trouble all this day! Now speak, woman. Tell him your truth, as you promised you would."

Louisabetrayed a faint flinch, and shot a baleful glare at Killik's smug, infuriating face. At where — for the briefest of instants — something again caught, glimmered, in those eyes. As if… as if… he was giving her a challenge. An opening.

Show me. Prove this to me.

SoLouisa dropped her gaze back to Ulfarr's wary face, and drew in a slow, shaky breath. "Right," she began, hoarse. "I — I really am sorry about today, sweetheart. I never, never meant to hurt you, or keep the truth from you. But yes" — she swallowed hard — "I did ask Killik to abstain from — er — bedding you. During our time together."

Shecouldn't read that look in Ulfarr's eyes, but it might have been hurt, or resignation — and she drew in another breath, made herself keep talking. "Not because I had a problem with it! Or with you two enjoying one another. But only because" — she shot another dark look at Killik — "Killik won't stay out of everyone else's bed! AndI don't want everyone else in my bed! I just want you and him, and not —"

Butwait. Wait, damn it, what had she just said, and Killik's eyes widened on hers, his nostrils flaring. As if he was scenting it, scenting the truth of it, oh gods, and Louisa snapped her eyes back to Ulfarr, dragged up more words, the rest of the shameful miserable truth. She would be honest, just for a moment, and then she would forget it again, forever…

"It's just — my husband," she croaked, too fast, no, no, no. "LordScall. He was never faithful, he was always bedding other women, from the earliest days of our marriage. But he still expected me to — pushed me to — well. AndI was too young and afraid to refuse, and twice, I caught — infections from him, and the second time, it was so serious I almost — I couldn't — after that I —"

Sheclamped her mouth shut, whipping her head back and forth, her eyes blinking hard. No. No. She had to escape it, forget it, LordScall was dead. Dead, dead…

"So that's why I asked Killik — not to touch you, during our nights together," she gritted out. "I truly wasn't trying to hide it from you, sweetheart, or hurt you, or deny you something you longed for. It was just me being — scared. Selfish."

Hervoice cracked, her mouth contorting into a wobbly, pathetic attempt at a smile. But beneath her, Ulfarr wasn't speaking, or smiling back. Instead, his face looked even harder than before, his dark eyes dangerously flashing — and Louisa braced herself, awaiting his censure, his judgement, his…

Hishand. His big, warm, safe hand, slipping up to curve against her cheek, wiping the foolish streaking wetness away. "Ach, this was not selfish, Louisa," he said, low and rough. "I am sorry you needed to bear this."

What? He — meant that? But yes, yes, he just kept looking at her like that, touching her like that, and oh, it was so kind, and so generous — and it felt almost painful, cracking and swaying in Louisa's chest. So strong she couldn't stop the sniff from her nose, the streak of new water from her eyes.

"Oh, don't say that, sweetheart," she gulped. "Not when I'm the one who should be apologizing to you. I truly didn't want to hurt you."

ButUlfarr didn't stop stroking her face, his eyes still glimmering with such palpable sympathy. While beside him, Killik huffed a loud, impatient sigh, and gave a longsuffering roll of his eyes. "There is no need to weep over this, woman," he said flatly. "ThoughI cannot fathom why you did not just tell us this from the start! And then I may not have raged at you so much, or thought you such a jealous harpy! And also" — he jabbed a finger toward her — "our mountain's healer was at the camp today, and he said orcs cannot even carry this pox! AndI am a perfect specimen of health!"

Louisatwitched and frowned back at Killik, but suddenly it somehow felt easier to breathe, easier to choke down the lump in her throat. "Well, then why didn't you look into that from the start!" she snapped back. "And as if you weren't a jealous ogre yourself! Andyou could have been clearer with me that Ulfarr actually wanted you in his bed! How the hell was I supposed to know you were a good enough lover that he would actually miss you?"

Killik'sscoff was loud and affronted this time, but his eyes were dancing on hers, his clawed hand blatantly sliding, spreading, against Ulfarr's broad bare chest. "How could he not miss me?" he demanded. "Skai know pleasure better than any others in our mountain, and I" — he waggled his black brows as he glanced between Ulfarr and Louisa — "am a magnificentSkai. Ach, Wolf?"

Louisacouldn't stop her snort of laughter, or her disbelieving glance down at Ulfarr's face. At where his bleary eyes were now darting back and forth between her and Killik, looking both chagrined and surprised, and maybe even… curious.

"Magnificent, my arse," Louisa shot back at Killik, even as she gave Ulfarr her sweetest smile. "Has he always been this full of codswallop, sweetheart? I'm sure you only missed him a very little, between all his whining and posturing and raging —"

Killikcut her off with another loud scoff, and a purposeful jerk of his head toward Ulfarr's front. Down to where — oh, hell — he'd somehow already taken Ulfarr's cock out of his trousers, and was brazenly… fondling him. His hand sliding and caressing over that soft scarred bulge, moving with surprising gentleness. And beneath his careful strokes, Ulfarr was… shuddering. Swelling.

Louisa'sbreath caught, her heartbeat skipping, her eyes darting wide and panicked at the room around them. At the half-closed curtain, mostly blocking off the bed from view, but anyone could still walk around at any moment, and see this. Although, they could already see — Louisa's breath caught — the situation in the next bed over, where Polly's skirts were now rucked up around her waist, while her bare-arsed orc rapidly pumped his hips over her.

Louisawatched them for an instant too long, her eyes frozen on Polly's flushed face, on her hand scraping against her orc's sweaty back. As if she truly didn't care, as if none of them cared — and oh, Killik certainly didn't care, smirking like that at Louisa as he kept blatantly stroking Ulfarr's growing, shuddering cock.

"What were you speaking now, woman?" he drawled, as his deft fingers slipped up to catch the bead of slick white pooling in Ulfarr's cleft, and then stroked it back down his spasming length. "Yet more codswallop, I ken?"

Theair seemed too thin, Louisa's brain far too sluggish, and she hauled in a gulping, shaky breath. "Ulfarr and I were discussing," she managed, her eyes darting back to the relative safety of Ulfarr's face, "how irritating you are, Killik, and how enraging you are, and how you always need to be…"

Butoh, Ulfarr's expression was not helping, his black lashes heavy and hooded, his scarred cheeks flushed, his lips parting with his gasp. But his eyes were still fixed to Louisa's face, shimmering with something between awe and unease. As if he needed to see her, needed to be sure she didn't mind this, needed her to want this as much as he clearly did…

"HowKillik — he always needs to be in charge," Louisa somehow said toward Ulfarr, between her heaving breaths. "Always bossing other people around, trying to get his own way, to run their damned show —"

Andoh, Ulfarr was nodding, nodding, even as he gasped and moaned, his eyes flashing on hers. But then he stiffened, winced, with what must have been pain, damn it — and when Louisa shot an alarmed glance downwards, she found Killik's hand tightly squeezing Ulfarr's shuddering shaft, his black claws digging into the slick scarred skin.

"You do not agree with the jealous harpy, Wolf," Killik drawled, with a lazy snap of his sharp teeth toward her. "You tell her you like my show. Youlike when I make you dance and sing and weep upon my stage."

Ulfarrdidn't reply, but he certainly wasn't denying it, either. And gods, that look on his face, the pleasure blazing in his eyes, the way his breaths were heaving, his black tongue sweeping at his lips…

"AndI ken," Killik crooned, shifting downwards so he could kiss and nibble at Ulfarr's scarred ear, "for all her bleating, this woman also longs to watch you in my show. She longs to see how pretty you are, when you are undone thus. She even longs, I ken" — his glinting eyes angled back to Louisa — "to help me make you dance for us. Ach, woman?"

Gods, this arrogant presumptuous prick, Louisa did not, she so very much did not, the craving coiling so hard she couldn't breathe, her wide eyes desperately darting between Killik and Ulfarr. Killik smirking, leisurely rolling his hips up into Ulfarr's side, nipping at his ear, stroking his straining massive cock, while Ulfarr gasped and arched and bucked beneath Killik's ministrations, his fluttering eyes still hot and intent on Louisa's face. Seeking, questioning, wanting, and it was ringing in Louisa's ears, sparking behind her eyes…

"Ach, we can scent you, woman," came Killik's low, insolent voice. "Now, as I told you — suck him. Kiss him. Help me ready him to plough you."

Ulfarr'sgroan was hoarse and unfeigned, his eyes shocked on Killik's face — and oh, hell, Killik just kept smiling at him, warm and even affectionate. "Ach, you should welcome this for tonight's lesson, Wolf, should you not?" he murmured. "You should wish to finally fill this woman this night? Make her shout and squeal upon you? Pump her empty womb full of your strong Skai seed?"

Ulfarrgroaned again, and damn it, Louisa gasped, too — and Ulfarr's eyes darting between her and Killik looked just as hungry, just as helpless, as she felt. "But you did not — wish for me and Louisa to do this, together," Ulfarr gasped at Killik, between straining breaths. "Today, you — you —"

Therewas a shift in Killik's eyes, shuttering him, hiding him away — and somehow, Louisa cleared her throat, found her voice. "No, he just — needed to be here," she said, with a foolish little smile at Killik's face. "Just needed to be — in charge of the show, like the overbearing obnoxious tyrant he is. Should have — realized."

Ahushed stillness seemed to echo after her words — until it was broken by a shrill shout from Polly in the next bed. AndUlfarr's throat bobbed, his head nodding, his gaze flicking from Killik, to Louisa, to Killik again. "Ach, I follow," he said, hoarse. "Ought to have —"

ButKillik shook his head, sudden and fierce, his eyes oddly bright — and then he bent down, and pressed a sharp, biting kiss to Ulfarr's mouth. "You ought only to lie back, Wolf," he breathed. "And welcome this sweet woman's mouth tending to your perfect prick, ach?"

Andrather than a command this time, an order, it felt almost like a question. A plea. Killik's still-bright eyes darting toward Louisa's face, holding with a sharp simmering intensity, and why was she nodding, smiling, shifting downwards…

"Just so, sweetheart," she murmured, and was it to Killik, or Ulfarr, or both. "Now you just relax, and let me take care of you."

Andgods, had she truly just said that, offered that — and was she really still doing this, she was. Sliding down an orc's taut, trembling body in a wide-open room, next to a loudly cavorting couple. And offering to take care of his scarred, swollen cock, while his arrogant, infuriating lover watched with hungry, approving eyes.

Andwhile his lover now shifted his grip on that huge, leaking cock, and… guided it upwards. Guided it toward Louisa's mouth, oh gods, and nestled it against her parted lips.

"Better," Killik said smugly, with a light pat to her hot cheek. "Now, gentle. No teeth."

Itwas utterly laughable, given how not-gentle Killik had been with Ulfarr's goods just now, but Louisa was still… obliging. Obeying. Kissing at that silken sputtering crown, tasting its stunning sweetness on her tongue. While beneath her, Ulfarr bucked and moaned, his hands clutched to fists on the bed, his eyes wild on Louisa's face.

Louisacouldn't stop her own moan, vibrating through her mouth, as she kept touching, tasting, kissing at his shuddering, still-swelling cock. WhileKillik's audacious hand slipped further downwards, curving and caressing against Ulfarr's big heavy bollocks. Both of them tending to him at once, lavishing him, seeking to care for him, to comfort him…

"Mark this, Wolf," Killik murmured now, his hooded eyes flickering on Louisa's face. "Look at how lusty and comely you are, with this woman's mouth on your perfect prick. Look how much good Skai seed you are granting her."

Ulfarr'sgroan was hoarse, desperate, but he was nodding, watching, obeying. His wide eyes still shocked, dazed, on Louisa's face, as his spasming heft spurted out more slick white, sputtering it down his length, pooling it over Louisa's fingers. WhileKillik's own hand slipped back up into it, too, his warm fingers brushing against Louisa's kissing lips as he stroked up and down, coating Ulfarr with it, oh…

"I ken you are now almost ready for her womb, ach, Wolf?" Killik purred, so soft, so tantalizing, into Ulfarr's ear. "AndI have already opened her up wide for you, before we came here — so I ken she is ready for you, also."

Butat that, Ulfarr's body stilled, his hazy eyes snapping to Killik's face. "You — you did?" he breathed, hoarse, and oh, he was even swelling fuller against Louisa's tongue, sputtering out more slick sweetness. "ButI cannot — scent you thus, upon her?"

Hesounded uncertain, uneasy, and almost — hopeful. As if — as if he might have actually wanted that. Welcomed that.

Louisa'salarmed glance up at Killik found him snapped to stillness, looking just as unsettled as she felt. "Ach, no, Wolf," he told Ulfarr. "I only used your rassja upon her again, ach? She is for you."

Butcurse it, that was still hope, or even longing, shimmering in Ulfarr's eyes. "But why would you not welcome this, Killik?" he murmured back. "I can scent your hunger for her, and you have never been one to refuse pleasure thus. And our scents together upon her, this would be…"

Heshuddered even fuller against Louisa's mouth, oh gods, but she'd somehow gone still and slack against him. BecauseUlfarr wasn't truly proposing this, Killik would never countenance this — and that was not, not, even more dizzying yearning, shuddering Louisa all over, holding her wide eyes on Killik's face. He wouldn't. Hewouldn't.

"She does not wish for this from me," Killik said, a little too quickly, though his narrow eyes were glinting oddly on Louisa's face. "Ach, woman?"

Butoh, Louisa couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't find even a semblance of a reply. Her gaze just caught, frozen, on Killik's watching face, on the brief brush of his black tongue against his parted lips…

Andnow — now that was Ulfarr's hand, his big warm hand, finally touching Louisa, skittering against her hair, snapping her eyes toward him. Toward where he suddenly looked… calm, somehow. Collected. In control. And his hand felt steady as it slipped down to Louisa's chin, lifted it up so he could better look at her, so he could give her a small, crooked, too-knowing smile.

"No, you said you wished for us, ach, Louisa?" he murmured. "Killik and me both. You only wished to be wise and careful upon this, so you did not find yourself sickened from Killik's other bedmates."

Oh, hell. He'd caught that, he'd heard that, he'd somehow just plucked up all of Louisa's most shameful scattering thoughts, and spoken them all aloud. And what — what was this?! Who was this? What was this cool certainty, glimmering in Ulfarr's watching eyes, making him into something almost — almost —

Itwas too much, too overpowering, churning Louisa's belly with shock and disbelief and a strange staggering longing — and her helpless glance at Killik found him looking shocked, too. Shocked, and then even shy, and was that a flush, creeping up his neck?

"And you had your seed blocked from bearing sons, ach, Killik?" continued Ulfarr's low, inexorable voice, and oh, his hand slipped away from Louisa's chin, so he could cradle Killik's cheek, and tilt his face toward him. "So there is naught to this, but for your vow that you will henceforth only share your bed with us, until these ten nights are done. Ach, pup?"

Pup?Louisa's mouth dropped open, because Ulfarr — nervous, sweet, uncertain Ulfarr — was saying this. Commanding this. Looking at Killik like this, holding him utterly in his thrall like this. And for an instant, Killik again looked — shy. Small. Uncertain. As if Ulfarr was indeed the wolf, and Killik the prey…

Butthen Louisa could see Killik collecting himself, drawing in a slow, gulping breath, perhaps feeling the strength of the solid bed beneath them. "Ach, for the love of Skai-kesh," he grumbled, with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. "Ach, well enough. I shall vow this to you, but only — only — for the rest of these nights. This is all."

He'deven plucked his dagger out of his hair, his hand slightly wavering as he jabbed its gleaming blade back and forth between Ulfarr and Louisa. "And then, no more demands, from either of you!" he snapped, in far more his usual tone. "AndI shall plough as many tight Skai rumps as I wish, whenever I wish!"

Louisanodded, though her heart was thundering in her chest, now, her eyes still darting between Killik and Ulfarr. This wasn't happening, they hadn't just agreed to this, and fuck, that smile on Ulfarr's mouth, swift and certain and impossibly stunning, as his big thumb gently stroked at Killik's flushed cheek.

"Ach, I follow," he told Killik, husky, almost fond. "I… I thank you, pup."

Andwith that, it was almost as though the roles had switched again, the jaunty certainty flashing across Killik's eyes. "Ach, you shall regret thanking me, I ken," he replied, as he shoved up onto his knees beside Ulfarr on the bed, and began unfastening his trousers. "ForI shall have this woman so stretched and sloppy, even your pole of a prick shall no longer feel this."

What? No. He wasn't — he wouldn't — the utter raging menace — and Louisa's clamouring shock and disbelief finally caught, coiled on his words, and escaped her mouth in a loud, furious scoff. "You are such an arrogant, insolent, condescending shrew!" she managed. "You don't even want — you don't even like —"

Buther voice scraped back into silence, because Killik's long, scarred grey cock was now jutting hard and ruddy from above his trousers. And he was even stroking his hand up and down it, pumping out an opaque, shiny strand of white, oh hell.

"Ach, but Ilike spilling my seed," he drawled back at her. "And if you are both so set upon binding me to your bed, then you shall both need to offer me good cause to stay in it!"

Louisa'sthoughts whirled faster, her mouth opening and closing, her traitorous eyes frozen on Killik's steady stroking hand. He meant this. He really, really meant this. He wanted to do this. With her. Now. Now?!

Untilsomething — touched her. Ulfarr touched her, his warm hand gently clasping hers, bringing it to his mouth. "Ach, but Louisa shall only do as she wishes, Killik," he said, gently kissing at Louisa's knuckles, and oh, that was the certainty again, flickering through his eyes. "If ever you do not wish for him, Louisa — or for me — you shall speak this. And" — his gaze slid to Killik — "you also, pup. Ach?"

Killikrolled his eyes again, but more redness was creeping up his neck, his gaze holding for an instant too long to Ulfarr's face. "Ach, ach," he said irritably. "ButI ken she shall not speak this, shall she?"

Hisvoice was a taunt, a challenge, and his eyes were cold as they flicked back to Louisa, holding, glittering. And suddenly, flashing through her shrieking thoughts, were his hushed words from earlier that night.

Show me. Prove this to me.

Thechallenge kept glinting in Killik's eyes, even as he shot a brief, meaningful glance back toward Ulfarr. Flaring yet more awareness, more certainty, deep in Louisa's chest, because — Ulfarr wanted this. Ulfarr was showing them how much he wanted this. And that meant Killik wanted it, too. BecauseKillik would do anything for Ulfarr, anything, even more than Louisa had imagined. Even if it meant… this.

Andmaybe, maybe Louisa would do anything, too. And what would it be, really, anyway? It didn't have to be anything, didn't have to mean anything. It was just for Ulfarr, just for the deal, just a few more nights…

"Ach, woman?" came Killik's taunting voice, backed by Killik's taunting eyes, Killik's taunting hand stroking his jutting, leaking cock. "Even you shall not refuse the great gift of two strong Skai pricks in one night, shall you? You wish for us? Forthis?"

For this. For what he was showing her, flaunting to her, just like the arrogant menace he was. And oh, he'd even reached down to grab at Ulfarr's still-swollen length, stroking it together with his own, showing Louisa what was on offer. WhileUlfarr gasped, arched, his hooded hungry eyes darting between Killik's hand, and Louisa's face…

And— fuck. Fuck, Louisa wanted this, she couldn't refuse this, not with the raw reeling craving charging through her, heating in her belly. It didn't mean anything, just a deal, that was all…

"Fine, you raging prick," she snapped. "Fuck me."