Page 72 of Maleen

He eyes Jesper with a sparkle in his red eyes, and I can tell he is planning something so I nod, trying to contain the smile, but I do love a good prank. Killian winks at me and glances towards Jesper’s feet where I’m now noticing they are tied down, along with his hands.

His deep voice enters my mind. “He is in a great position to be tickled. It would be a shame if someone saw and tied his feet and hands down so our beautiful mate could assist me in getting revenge for all the pranks he’s pulled on me.” His brow raises and I know why he is asking me to do the tickling, but even without his touch aversion, I would be all over this.

Talyn’s chest shakes silently from behind me as he lets me go, struggling to keep his laughter from spilling into the room. As I position myself onto my knees I notice Aemon awake and watching on in amusement.

I take a deep breath, winking at Killian before my fingers dance lightly across Jesper’s naked flesh, just for him to jerk awake in laughter.

“Rav?” he cries between peals of squealing and unhinged giggling. “This is classified as torture! I thought you loved me!”

His back arches off the bed as he tries to free himself from the restraints. “Beastie, why?” he squeals. “I’m going to piss myself.” Giggles. “I give! I give!”

I let up on my ministrations and at this point every single one of us is keeled over in laughter, feeling so much lighter than before. After a second I help Jesper untie his restraints.

He tackles me into the bed, his red hair surrounding us like a curtain as he leans in. “Now what could I have done to deserve the wrath of your tiny and very skilled fingers?”

My gaze narrows playfully. “That is a secret I shall take to the aether!”

“You little temptress—”

Aemon interrupts. “As much as I would love to stay here all day, I believe it is time for us to get ready to head north,” he reminds us.

Jesper leans in. “I’ll figure out your secrets, Little Beastie. After all, I could spend all day in that beautiful brain of yours.”

I dart up and kiss him, using the momentum and distraction to flip him before jumping up off the bed and scurrying to the bathroom to get ready. The door is almost shut when I hear Jesper.

“Fucking Fates, I could watch her walk away every day for the rest of our lives,” he mutters and a smack and grunt follows.

“Go get ready, we’ve been away long enough. I want this war ended so I can spend as much time with our female as possible. You can ogle her ass later,” Aemon tells him.

“Oh come on Aemon, I know you were watching too,” Talyn starts. “We all were. I still can’t believe she’s here… and ours. That she chose us back.”

“It was fate,” Killian adds. “We will always find her; and this time, we will keep her safe.”

The others murmur in agreement and I softly snick the door shut, my heart feeling so incredibly full, and I’m determined to do everything in my power to keep them safe too.

NERO SWOOPS DOWN from the sky and barrels into me making me catch him and cradle him to my chest. “Oh good, you showered,” he says. “Don’t ever leave me for that long again. No one else’s shoulders felt the same. It was torture. I’d rather sit in that iron maiden of a flight-cage.”

I laugh and my mates join in as they hear Nero’s antics.

“I will do my best to not leave you like that again. I’ve missed you too,” I tell him, kissing him on the top of his head.

Ember smiles as she approaches. “I’m glad to see you’re still in one piece. Everything has been handled, although Madame Windwhisper and Sir Geoffrey have been antsy and eager with all the planning for their grand ball, even though it won’t be for a while.”

“Thank you for taking care of everything. I really appreciate it.”

Killian steps up to my side. “Any problems with the guard?”

Ember straightens, soldier mode fully on. “Everything stayed clear and quiet on rounds. No one got into any trouble other than the one fae who got a little too close to the Keep.”

He nods. “Good job.”

I place Nero on my shoulder and take Ember’s hand. “Come on.”

We continue making our way through the courtyard toward the dragons waiting for us, and Vasari’s impatience has my skin prickling, urging me forward.

“It’s about time you got here. We need to go; we’ve been stagnant far too long,” she grumbles as I enter into the Keep.

My hands perch on my waist as I raise my brow at her. “Need I remind you that we could have left three days ago if you weren’t meddling in our sex lives.”