"Now, we've made it to where Nox built his castle, and all of Cinder was relocating to it. There are more trials ahead, but I thought this would be a good place to pause for questions or requests."

Sagan immediately raised her hand, and Elden help me. I knew—I knew—what she wanted to ask. It was finally time to get this story out there.

Something on my face gave me away, because Sagan blushed when I called on her. "Yes?"

She maintained eye contact anyway as she persisted. "You know."

Korac looked between us, perplexed before... "No. Oh, no."

Tameka asked, "What?"

I smiled down at her, as I took her hand. "You might not want to stay for this."

Tumu laughed, signifying he'd figured it out at the same moment.

Even Lamassau grinned. "I'm invested."

Again, Tameka asked, "Which memory is this?"

Andrew deduced which one and stood with an exaggerated stretch. "It's a good time to get up and explore the stronghold. Wanna come with, Lucas?"

The golden-eyed Icarus laughed elegantly. "Sure."

I asked Tameka, whose eyes were sparkling with curiosity, "What happened the night of Nox's coronation, according to his Verse?"

I watched Tameka work it out. Primary Rem accosted Nox. Disturbed, Nox went to confide in Korac about it. He found us in the library—

"Oh, my god."

There it was.

Tameka headed for the door. "I'll just go check on Pax. Excuse me."

Caedes and Jack followed Tameka out. In fact, several people left the study until only a handful remained. Tumu and Lamassau refreshed their drinks before returning to the couch. Pehton claimed the loveseat and sat on the edge of it. Korac tried to leave, but Sagan took his hand and whispered something, which convinced him to stay.

The Seamswalker grinned. "Ready when you are, Wingmaster."

Rayne, if you want I can skip this part—

"Keep storytelling, Superman."

Nox's coronation festival beckoned another dance with a certain pale Icarus, but I wanted to secure as many original Verses as possible. My brother likely would never notice with everything moving to the new castle. Even the idea of discussing it with him exhausted me—

"Thievery, your highness?"

There was no mistaking the elegant cadence in Korac's voice from behind me.

Shit.

I froze, mid-reach. "Will you tell on me to Nox?"

Korac stepped further into the library, closing the door behind him. "Will you give me incentive not to?"

Ahh. This. I sagged with relief. This discussion I didn't mind. "Korac, I—"

I turned to find the newly appointed General had stripped to his white silk undershirt and matching pants. But what caught my breath was the midnight blue ribbon tied in Icarean bridal fashion around his biceps.

I won't lie. I gaped. Open-mouthed. Eyes wide. When I took a deep breath, I smelled a freshness... A coolness I'd never experienced on Cinder.

Korac's lips lifted into a smirk which melted me while he asked, "It makes a statement, does it not?"

"That is... Not. Fair." I shook my head incredulously.

Silver elegance strode to me, casual and languid like a cat. A cat that hungered for his next meal. I pressed my back against the books as Korac stepped into my personal space.

"I beg a moment, Korac. Please practice some reason—"

A finger pressed against my lips. Soft, slender, with perfectly manicured nails. Korac lowered his finger and brought those beautiful pale eyes closer, with only one intention in them. Familiar by now with his attentions, I wondered why I resisted him at all.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"One kiss, your highness," Korac offered. Innocence in his voice. Carnal fire in his eyes.

In my study, Korac scoffed. "Who talks like that?"

"Sh... He's telling his Verse," Sagan admonished.

In the story, I flinched. Korac promised to give me time to think on his proposal. Two weeks ago, he'd told me—in great detail—exactly what he wanted from our relationship. It made me worry over our compatibility. Could I let Korac do those things to me? Could I trust someone so much to let them bind me, gag me, and take me?

Ignoring the tempting smirk, I looked deeper. I looked into those colorless eyes, so close I made out a starburst of gray flecks.

A shadow hid within them.

Doubt. Fear. Hurt.

Not only could I trust Korac enough to do those things to me, but at that moment, I wanted nothing more.

I kissed him.

The future General grabbed my wrists and pinned me to the shelves. Shoved his knees between my legs and ground his hips against mine.

Want... Someone wanted me.

An unfamiliar scent married with the crisp smell already dominating the room. Dominating me. Sweet and smoky. Honey and leather. My scent.

The heat from my blush alerted Korac, who pulled slightly away and dropped my wrists. Breathless, my General offered, "If you want to stop at any point—"

I pulled one ribbon on his bicep, tightening it. Hard. "Korac, I know you wore this to tempt me to distraction. Your wicked streak will be the end of me."

The smirk returned with a vengeance, and a promising gleam appeared in his eyes. Silkenly, Korac assured, "Come now, my Prince. I seek not your end, but your undoing."

In my study, Korac barked out a laugh, saying, "I can't believe Nox overheard that."

I know my eyes were glittering because I was grinning so wide. "It's better he fled instead of overhearing what came after."

Pehton snickered into a full-on laugh. "You can blush, Korac!"

"Fuck, I need more alcohol for this."

In the recollection, Korac did something unexpected. He dropped to his knees and wrenched my pants off my hips. I blushed once more.

Silver flashed in his gaze as Korac eyed his prize. "We will both thoroughly enjoy it." The last he spoke, uhm... against me.

Back in my study, Sagan snickered. "Now Wingmaster is blushing!"

Yes, well. One does when providing a detailed account of their first time.

My eyes fluttered closed, and my head went back against the books. They ground against me as I turned this way and that. Korac tempted me while the shelves bit into my back. I made far too much noise for Nox to be the only one who spied us.

I let instinct take over and gripped Korac's hair. My eyes rolled back, and I let out a loud groan. The sensation disappeared, and I cried out in disappointment.

Confused, I stared down at the General on his knees.

Korac commanded, "Your highness, hands behind your back until I say so. Do not touch me until I give word."

I shuddered at the ice in his eyes. Yet the vulnerability there—the sorrow—was what moved me to place my hands behind my back. I nodded once to assent.

The reward far surpassed the chore. Korac practiced a wealth of patience as he spent the next hour exploring me. Tongue. Lips. Teeth. Up. Down. In. Out. Around. Before too long, I was whimpering with my knees begging to buckle. The need for release was too great. Sure, I recognized it for what it was. Although a virgin to others, I'd experimented on myself. But this...

Nothing compared to this.

With the loss of my control, I gripped Korac's hair again. In punishment, long nails dug into my thighs until they bled.

I cried out and released the General who stood slowly and backed away. The swelling in his soft gray lips didn't stop him from smirking. Not the daring smirk I had come to like. No. This was a vindictive smile I would come to love.

Sweetly, Korac assured, "One day I will find a bottom who follows my instruction. Until then your training will do."

In the study, Sagan gave a little cheer, prompting chuckles all around.

Back in the story, Korac wrenched me by the arm with unexpected strength and speed. In one fluid motion, the General twisted my arm behind my back and bent me over a table.

I shouted in alarm, "Korac, stop!" Even though he released me, my voice wavered as my heart pounded in my throat. I said, "I am inexperienced, and I want no pain in this. I want you, but not the pain. Not at first." My breath marked the surface of the table where I was pressed against it.

Korac planted his hands on either side of my head and leaned forward until we met eye-to-eye. Midnight to silver. The warmth of his front pressed along my back, revitalizing my waning desire.

The more experienced Icarus purred, "I accept your terms, Xelan. Breathe when I say. At any point, stop me with any word of your choosing. I will not fail you." He prepared me for what would come next.

What word? What word? Something I'd never say in passion. But fun—

"Banana."

Pehton choked on her laughter.

Sagan picked up a pillow to cover the volume of her giggles.

The men remaining in the room quirked an eyebrow each.

In the story, the bark of laughter from behind made me jump. Korac kissed down my spine as if to ease the anxiety. Between kisses, he purred, "As your highness wishes. Breathe, my dear Prince. Let me introduce you to the next chapter of your life." He bent over me completely until his lips brushed my ear. "The best chapter."

Korac delivered on his promise.

When we found paradise together, he met my eyes, and tears had glistened in his. Still, he smirked. Of course, he smirked. "My Prince, look at the state of you."

"Hah! I hope you came prepared."

At the arch of the General's brow, I grinned. "I plan to leave every surface in this library in quite the state. Are you up for the challenge?"

Korac was, in fact, up for the challenge.