Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Soi-Ji

The prince was testing his patience. The deal was more than fair, but the prince had gone quiet. Soi-Ji checked the map again. The cub was still in the same area. What was he doing out there?

The location was a forested area not too far from Nadia’s capital. Why would the prince keep her there? His device beeped again, for what felt like the hundredth time.

“What do you want, Lyka?”

“He’s gone,” she sobbed.

Soi-Ji wasn’t surprised when they didn’t show up to sign the paperwork. The male had made his choice. Arenk was probably somewhere nursing his wounds and feeling sorry for himself.

“I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you wanted,” he said.

“He took my youngling. Arenk said they would be back tonight, but he’s not. His house is empty, and their things are gone.” She sniffled.

Damn it. They really did it.

“I’ll figure it out,” he said, ending the call and dialing Callum. “Get Commander Dhol, General Arenk, and General Laro here, now.”

A few minutes later, Callum informed him that none of them were answering. He should’ve sent them to the mines when he had the chance. Or better yet, killed them. A decision he now regretted.

His attempt to show Rize-Ji his merciful side had backfired. He jumped up from his seat and quickly put on his uniform. As he stepped into the elevator, his device rang.

“Soi-Ji, how are you?” the prince said.

“Waiting for an answer,” he replied.

“I want double.”

The spoiled brat was trying to squeeze him for more.

“I don’t think so. Call back when you’re ready to be reasonable,” he said.

“I think it’s fair since I know where to find Rize-Ji and your younglings. They have your eyes. Well, eye,” the prince said.

The elevator doors opened to the lobby, but he didn’t move. Was the prince trying to make a fool out of him? Did everyone think they could take advantage of him?

“Listen here, you—”

“Before you say something you might regret, check the file I just sent over. After she and Commander Dhol visited me, I had them followed and had the photos taken.”

Soi-Ji opened the file, and his blood boiled as he scrolled through the photos. The four of them were together and apparently mated.

He couldn’t put into words the emotions that surged through him when he saw the younglings. They were beautiful. The joy on Rize-Ji’s face as she held them was something to behold.

“What did they want?”

“A ship, but it seems they didn’t need it after all,” he said.

She was going to leave without telling him about them. Let some other males raise what was his. Take his legacy and heirs, knowing what it meant to him and his rule.

“They could leave at any moment. Do we have a deal?” he asked.

“We do,” Soi-Ji said.

“I figured we would, so I took the liberty of slowing them down for you.”

By the time he reached his ship, his squad was ready. He’d replaced General Hokji and General Fleu in the lineup a while ago, and now he was glad that he did.

The new recruits were eager to prove their worth, and now they had a chance to. Rize-Ji and her lovers were going to pay.

***

Raven

“What do you mean we can’t leave yet?” Raven asked, leaning in to see the problem.

“Exactly what I said. Don’t worry, it’s a minor repair. The diagnostics will take the longest,” Dhol said. “We can leave at dawn.”

She didn’t want to spend any more time there. The prince hadn’t been a total waste, but they were pushing their luck.

“Half a day won’t kill us,” Laro said, securing Bellamy and Valdis for the night.

“I guess so,” she said.

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Dhol said, finishing up. “The maid, Fahki, said to thank you for your quick thinking that night in the forest. He was able to escape the king’s wrath during questioning.”

“It was a team effort,” she said, rubbing the scar on her arm.

They climbed out of the cargo hold into the living space above. The moons were already out, and the babies were fast asleep. Raven sat on the edge of the bed and watched them.

The bassinets Laro had found in town were compact and adorable. Raven was relieved she didn't have to worry about them getting squished in the night.

She still had to name the little girl. Even at this stage, Raven could tell she had a fiery personality. She wasn't as calm as her brother, who had Soi-Ji’s signature scowl.

They seemed so advanced for being only a few days old. But then again, they weren’t fully human, so this was uncharted territory.

Dhol had a book on the ancient language. As she flipped through the pages, a word caught her eye: Ro.

Raven smiled and looked over at her. Her little eyes were watching her. She went over and gently stroked the top of her head.

“Go back to sleep, Ro,” Raven said, turning out the light.

As she closed the door, Arenk poked his head out of the kitchen. She could smell the food from there. The table was set, and everyone took a seat.

This was their first time all eating together. Raven could get used to this.

“So we’re heading to Titan in the morning?” Arenk asked.

“Yes. It’s the last known location of my sister on record,” Raven said.

“How far is it?” Laro asked.

“It’ll take a week at full speed,” Dhol said. “We’ve sent scouts to that planet in the past, but none have returned, so the king decided to spend resources elsewhere.”

“What if we can’t find her?” Arenk asked.

The clatter of silverware ceased, and all eyes turned to Raven. She’d been hoping they wouldn’t ask her, because she honestly didn’t know the answer.

It would be wrong to lie to them now, especially since they were sacrificing so much to be with her. Raven took a few more bites, thinking.

“If we don’t find any clues, I think we should stay there for a while until we find something else,” Raven suggested. “What do you guys think?”

“Considering no one has returned, we should scout the planet and then move on,” Dhol suggested.

Arenk and Laro nodded in agreement. Raven thought about the last message her sister had sent. ~The cup never empties.~ The place sounded like it was either a paradise or a nightmare.

Her heart told her it was the former, but if they didn’t find any leads, she would have to put the search for her sister on hold, at least until the kids were older, and focus on raising them, being there for them.

“That sounds like a good plan,” she agreed.

Once everyone was done eating, Raven gathered the dishes and started cleaning. The guys remained seated, chatting among themselves.

It felt too normal. She couldn’t shake the sense of dread that was building in her chest. Maybe she was just used to chaos. Raven smiled to herself. After everything, a quiet dinner was what worried her the most.

They were practically gone already. Soi-Ji wouldn’t be able to find them in time.

“Could you help us out when you’re done?” Laro asked.

“Sure, with wh—”

They had all vanished like smoke. Once everything was cleaned and put away, she went looking for them. The ship was dark except for the small emergency lights embedded in the floor.

Raven checked each of the rooms along the way, and they were all empty except for the kids’ room. The ship’s helm was just as empty and dark, with only the control panel providing a faint glow.

A breeze blew in from the open door. Maybe they needed help with the final check. Raven climbed down, and as she rounded the stairs, she was met with a sight.

The guys were waiting for her, and it wasn’t about the ship.

“What’s the problem?” Raven asked, opening the electrical panel hatch.

Dhol closed it and took her hand. He pulled her close and cradled the back of her neck. Dhol leaned in, then pressed his lips to hers, soft and gentle. A delightful surprise.

The warmth spread through her body.

“Universe, did I do it wrong?” Dhol asked, brushing her cheek.

She smiled. “I’m starting to think you’ve done this before.”

He kissed her again with a newfound passion, and his hands began to roam. A firm body pressed against her back, and moist lips traced along her exposed shoulder and neck.

With a quick flick of her wrist, she turned and met Laro’s intense emerald eyes. He lifted her shirt up and tossed it into the grass.

Dhol already had his hands on her waist, pulling her pants down past her knees. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

Laro unbuckled his belt. “Kneel.”

Raven dropped to her knees and watched him thread the end through the buckle.

“Do you remember the safe word?” he asked.

“Skyfire.”

“Good. If you can’t speak and want me to stop, then tap one of us twice,” he instructed, looping the belt around her neck.

She nodded as anticipation pulsed within her.

As Laro unbuttoned his pants and pulled down the zipper, his erect member greeted her. The makeshift collar tightened, making her feel secure and comfortable.

Her heart pounded as he lowered himself to her level.

He held himself to her lips. “Now, suck.”

As Raven took him into her mouth, Laro inhaled sharply, winding the belt around his fist. She hummed and worked his length, watching his serene expression.

Raven tightened her grip and quickened her pace, and he started to throb. Before she could finish, a sharp thrust from behind took her by surprise. Her eyes and mouth opened wide.

Seizing the moment, Laro pushed himself deeper, causing Raven to fall back harder onto the hot rod inside her. They took turns thrusting, sending her further into ecstasy.

The rough fabric of their clothes added a new sensation to the mix, both physically and mentally. She felt extra dirty being so exposed.

Her orgasm was building fast and hot, and she was ready to explode. Laro pulled her head up by the belt.

“Don’t you dare come before we say so,” he warned.

Raven shuddered and squeezed her thighs to hold back the sensation. She almost lost control as Dhol gave his all. The thrusting stopped as he shuddered.

After a few moments, Dhol pulled her legs out of her pants. Laro tugged her closer and shoved his tongue into her mouth.

With his cock already wet, he slipped inside without a problem and collapsed on top of her. Losing interest in the belt, he elicited another deep moan from her by latching his lips onto her nipple.

“Can I now?” she asked between breaths.

“No,” a voice said from out of her view.

A figure blocked the moonlight from above. Arenk hovered over her and gripped the belt. He kept the pressure just as firm and comfortable as Laro.

Arenk knelt and looked at her as he stroked himself. Laro started to shudder as his thrusts became erratic, then he stilled. His heartbeat pulsed through her body. Arenk removed the belt.

He pulled her closer to him, out of Laro’s grasp, and held her.

He tasted her lips and sat back on his heels. “You were in my heart before I knew it. I’m yours for the rest of my life.”

She straddled him and leaned forward, pushing him onto his back. “I prefer forever.”

“Forever it is then,” he agreed, sliding into her.

Raven’s body was already on edge, and each inch was a challenge for her. Once Arenk was fully inside, her lower half pulsed, begging for release.

He looked at her expectantly, and she knew what she had to do, but she was afraid she would explode. Raven gripped the grass and moved her hips; he let out a soft moan. Music to her ears.

After a few strokes, her legs started to shake, and she couldn’t hold back the sensation. Her hot nectar gushed out, and she shivered as if caught in a winter storm.

Arenk rolled them over, driving into her with a force that made her cry out.

“You weren’t meant to come yet,” he murmured, his hand landing on her thigh with a sharp smack.

He maneuvered her legs, spreading them as wide and as far back as they could go. Each of his thrusts drew out a moan from her, her body responding in a way she couldn’t control. She could feel another climax building, and fast. Arenk’s head jerked up. “Don’t you dare,” he warned.

“I can’t stop it,” she protested.

“You will,” he commanded, his pace quickening.

Raven bit down on her lip, her eyes welling up with tears.

“Can I now, please?” she pleaded.

“Only if I can feel it,” he responded.

Her vision blurred, her body shaking uncontrollably. Arenk swore under his breath, not letting up his relentless pace. The sounds of their bodies echoed around them.

“You’re so wet.”

With his final words, he filled her completely. Arenk’s smile was a balm to her heart, and she leaned in to kiss him. After a moment, he helped her to her feet, her legs still shaky.

Raven began to dust off the grass and dirt from her body.

“We’ll get you cleaned up,” Dhol assured her, gathering her discarded clothes.

“I’m not sure the shower is big enough,” she pointed out.

Laro scooped her up into his arms. “It’s big enough,” he assured her, carrying her inside.