The Queen's Consorts (36 page)

Taryen did as she requested, though Sari made sure to make it a question rather than a demand. It was a very rare instance, and usually on accident, that she forced her will on them now that they were free from the sisters’ tyranny and were no longer obligated to anyone but Sari.

Taryen stripped down, revealing his muscular, tanned body before he crawled into bed with them. His lips found her breast. His tongue ran over one taut nipple, and they both moaned in pleasure when he triggered their gold.

Calder’s fingers tangled in Taryen’s hair, holding him closer to Sari as he said, “You know what I want?”

“What do you want?” Sari asked as she reached out to grab Calder’s other hand and then intertwined his fingers with hers.

“I want both of you under me.”

Taryen laughed against Sari and then lifted his head to give Calder a mischievous grin. “And this is new how? You always want that.”

“Yes, but this time I want
you
in the middle.” Calder gave him a knowing look. “We’ve both missed you terribly, seems only fair we should both enjoy you…at the same time.”

Taryen’s breath hitched. His desire was so unmistakable Sari felt it wash over her in a fiery wave of bliss. After a long moment, he cleared his throat and whispered, “Well, if you wish it—”

“I do,” Calder assured him.

While Sari didn’t like to inflict her will on Taryen, Calder did it all the time when they were together like this. Good thing Taryen loved it.

“Come here.” Sari wrapped her legs around Taryen, opening herself wide to his cock, which was thick and ready for her.
“In me.
Please.”

Taryen took her in one quick, smooth thrust because she was already so very wet for him. She gasped. She arched her back, and the warmth from the sun grew brighter as she savored the feeling of joining with him. She turned her face toward the window, allowing herself to enjoy what they could create together.

It felt so good to hold Taryen close when he had been caught up with other duties all week. They were both dangerously close to finding release without Calder, but fortunately he was fast. The oil was on the nightstand. His cock was hard once more. He greased it quickly and liberally before he got on his knees behind them.

He stroked Sari’s bare legs as he leaned against Taryen. The sex earlier obviously made Calder indulgent, and he took his time working his cock into Taryen’s ass. Sari looked past Taryen’s shoulder, seeing the ecstasy on Calder’s face at the gradual, steady ownership of his lifemate. There was something so profound about it, the simple allowance of this act without repercussions when he had been punished for his adoration of Taryen for so long.

Taryen’s breathing was heavy with the combination of pleasure and pain as Calder took him inch by inch, tortuously slow, but Sari knew how much he enjoyed it. Though they switched positions easily and enjoyed all the different ways they could connect as lovers, they were happiest when Calder was the one serving Taryen by fucking him like this.

Once Calder was buried deeply, Taryen leaned down and sucked on Sari’s neck, sharing the ecstasy of their union with her. She cried out from the sensation, hoping to gods the soldiers standing guard on the other side of the door couldn’t hear her.

It was always a thousand times better when it was the three of them—perfect, beautiful, amazing. Sari would never get tired of it. Then Calder started moving, taking Taryen hard and fast, forcing him into Sari over and over, and all of a sudden she no longer cared what the soldiers heard.

The sun was so brilliant it was blinding. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and everyone was able to enjoy one last truly sunny day beside the sea before they were forced to leave.

* * * *

Aria loved her dress.

Sari tried to force
herself
to focus on Aria’s excitement as the attendants worked on last-minute adjustments, making sure the flowers in Aria’s curled blonde hair were arranged correctly and the pleats to her dress fell just right.

They were doing the same thing to Sari, but she wasn’t paying as much attention. If she did, her nerves would make this parade an utter failure. As it was, the sky was overcast despite having spent most of yesterday in bed with Calder and Taryen. They had only broken apart for lunch and dinner with their families. Despite her trepidation, being with the two she was made to love worked on keeping Sari in good spirits…until now.

“Swords crossed in front of her when you come to the front line of the procession. Then sheath them once you present her to crowds.
Hands on your swords from that point on.
They have wards up to protect her, but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down.”

“Darin, you have said the same thing at least five times this morning. We understand.” Calder’s voice was a low growl of irritation. He was nervous too, though not for the same reasons. “She’s going to be safe.”

“I’ll be behind her,” Darin said rather than acknowledge Calder’s words.
“Just in case.”

Calder sucked in a sharp breath of insult and turned to look at Taryen with wide eyes.

“This is a celebration,” Taryen reminded all of them. “This is the first festival in twenty years. It would be helpful if Sari were happy about it. No fighting if you want to see the sun today.”

“I think I’m going to lose my breakfast.” Sari confirmed their suspicions that hope for sunlight was fleeting at best. “The fighting is the least of my problems.”

“You look lovely.” Taryen gave her an encouraging smile. “Truly, you’re radiant today.”

“I guess.” Sari took a shuddering breath despite hearing the truth in his words. She felt suffocated by the attendants fussing with her hair and skirt. Her stomach was exposed, her breasts were covered, but they were nearly spilling out of the deep red and gold top she wore. “You can tell Aria her dress is pretty.”

“She knows I think she’s beautiful.” Taryen’s smile grew wide and genuine as he reached down and picked Aria up, undoing
all the
attendant’s hard work. “Are you ready to dazzle the world?”

“I am!” Aria was practically bursting with enthusiasm. “There will be millions of flowers, I know it.”

Sari put a hand to her head, feeling herself waver from the nerves. Calder was still fighting with
Darin
over security in the way fathers and sons were apt to do. Gia had been weepy all morning with their coming departure. Taryen’s family had left the evening before, and it was hard for everyone to part, even if it was for a short while.

“It’s going to be fine.” Kayla came up next to her and pulled Sari’s hand away from her forehead. “You’ll ruin the attendant’s artwork.”

Like Sari, Kayla had flowers drawn on her face. Her red hair was braided with flowers. Her stomach was bare too, but the difference was Kayla’s protruded past her skirt, showing off her pregnancy. In a culture that revered the female form, a pregnant belly was extremely sacred, and Kayla displayed it proudly.

“We should have stayed so the baby could be born here,” Sari said distantly, once again questioning leaving the sea behind. It had ultimately been her decision. She knew the other areas needed the sun too, but still she sighed. “Maybe we should have waited.”

“Babies are born just as easily in the mountains,” Kayla assured her before her voice dropped, and she leaned in to whisper to Sari. “Don’t start lest they hear you.” She glanced back to the soldiers, who were going through their own stressful preparations. “Macro and Haven have been harping on me all morning about marching in this parade.”

“It could be a poor decision.” Sari looked at Kayla’s rounded stomach in concern. “It’s not too late to change your mind.”

“And miss the festival?” Kayla gaped in horror.
“Never.”

“Kayla is the first true heart to march,” Aria added, her arms still around Taryen’s neck. The attendants gave up on keeping any of them as pressed and polished as they’d been when they walked out of their rooms earlier.
“Just like I’m the first commoner.”

“Forgetting someone.”
Taryen leaned in and winked at Aria. “Kayla’s
not
the first true heart to be in a flower parade.”

“Oh gods, you’ve done this before, haven’t you?” Sari gasped in surprise at Taryen. “You just don’t remember.”

“So have you,” he reminded her. “Your mother took you with her everywhere. So relax. This isn’t your first time doing this.”

“We’re getting ready. Kayla is marching in front of the queen, beside Aria and behind me.” Macro turned around and gave Kayla a sharp look. “No more than four steps behind.”

“The wards are up.” Kayla repeated
Darin’s
words from earlier. “The only thing getting through is the flowers. We’re all going to be fine. I have it on good authority from the first lieutenant.”

“And if by some amazing feat a threat does get by the wards, I’ll simply run them through.” Haven sounded confident. “I’ll be behind the procession with
Darin
. We’ll be able to see everything.”

“Oh, I wish I could go.” Gia sighed longingly as she walked up to them. “But next cycle when you enter the Cavaden Palace, I’ll be by your sides. It won’t be in the dead of night like the last time.”

“And you’re coming to visit soon,” Aria reminded her.

“Very soon.”
Gia leaned in and embraced Taryen and Aria together.
“Hugs.”

Taryen kissed her cheek when Gia started crying. “You’ll be missed.”

“I’m so happy my Calder has such a wonderful lifemate.” She patted Taryen’s cheek as tears streamed down her face. “I’ll miss you all so much and my beautiful Aria. What will I do with you gone?”

Aria leaned in and hugged her new grandmother once more as the soldiers started lining up and the hum of anticipation throbbed on both sides of the palace walls. There was a tension too, a nervous shifting from the thousands of people waiting to get their first glimpse at the new royal entourage.

The sun still wasn’t shining, and there wasn’t a thing Sari could do about it. Especially with Gia standing there crying. She couldn’t help but feel guilty for wrenching Calder away so soon.

“Am I allowed to hug you?” Gia turned to her, holding out her arms to Sari’s elegant ensemble. “You look too beautiful to touch this morning.”

“You better.” Sari leaned in and did the hugging for Gia.
“Within the next month, yes?”

“If the queen wills it, how can I say no?” Gia pulled back and grinned through her tears.
“A month, no less.
I promise.”

The soldiers began marching. The echo of their boots over the courtyard was loud enough to be heard on the other side of the large, wooden doors that kept the Cavaden Palace hidden. That sound signaled the coming parade, and the shouts of excitement from the spectators were so deafening Aria covered her ears.

Then just as quickly the noise dampened, making Sari turn around in surprise.

“They activated the wards. It’ll dull the noise.” Macro took a long, steadying breath and then reached out and clasped Kayla’s hand. “This parade is going nice and easy. Walk slowly. Safety is the most important goal for all of you.”

“We’ll be right behind Kayla,” Sari reminded her uncle. “If she falls, she’ll have three sets of arms to catch her.”

“I’m pregnant, but I can still walk.” Kayla laughed. “I’m not going to fall.”

“You do look lovely,
Your
Majesty.” Macro leaned in and kissed Sari’s cheek, the same as Gia had. Then he turned to Kayla, his gaze running over her in adoration. He reached out and touched her bare stomach lovingly. “And you know I think you’re magnificent.”

Kayla practically glowed in happiness. “I’ve heard you mention it a time or two.”

“I want to kiss my boy one more time.” Gia pulled Calder away from
Darin
with a huff. “Letting you go is so hard.”

Calder rolled his eyes at Sari when Gia burst into tears, but he hugged her tight enough to make it obvious how much he was going to miss her. He never expected to have such a doting mother, and Sari knew he secretly loved it. His fathers broke away from their work with the soldiers and hugged him as well.

Then in the next minute they were being pulled away from the family and friends they were leaving behind. They were lined up accordingly. Kayla held Aria’s hand tightly as the two of them stood in front of Sari, Calder, and Taryen.

Sari started to get nervous about Aria’s safety too. Calder’s tension was catching. She wished they could rearrange the formation so Aria was marching with her daddies and Sari instead.

Kayla turned around and
winked,
making it obvious she sensed Sari’s apprehension. “Two steps in front of you. We’re right here. She’ll be perfectly fine.”

Taryen and Calder pulled the hoods of their robes up, hiding their faces, and Sari frowned, looking from one to the other. “What’re you doing?”

Calder tilted his head, looking at her under his hood and reminded her, “No one outside the palace walls is allowed to lay eyes on us. It’s forbidden.”

“What?” Sari gasped, feeling the horror roll over her as thunder sounded in the distance. “I thought we decided old, archaic rules were made to be broken.”

Everyone shifted anxiously.

The buzz of enthusiasm started to die down outside the palace walls.

Before it could actually start raining, Taryen grabbed Sari’s hand and asked quickly, “Do you want them to see us?”

Sari nodded. “You both do so much for our people. They should know what you look like. I want them to see who stays up nights working to make a better tomorrow for their young ones.”

“Then no hoods.” Taryen pushed his back and then glared when the soldiers near them gasped in disapproval.
“For anyone.”

Macro pushed back his hood next, giving Sari a cocky grin that told her he approved. Then she turned to see Haven and
Darin
behind them do the same. After one stunned moment of uneasy shock, others followed suit. Hoods were falling back as all the soldiers lined up on either side heeded Taryen’s words, revealing to the world the handsome faces of the Rayian males who fought so hard to bring peace back to the Aurorian people.