Blood Rain (Warrior Class Book 3) Read online

  “I know, I know.” Nakia sighed. “Forgive me, love. I’m being selfish and spoiled. I’ll miss you terribly, as I always do when you’re away, and worry until you’re back at my side.”

  Ashni gave her another kiss, and they lost themselves in the hot embrace. Ashni ground against her. A mutual moan echoed through their room. As they broke for air, sharing a breath, Ashni pressed her forehead to Nakia’s. Nakia smiled at her favorite gesture.

  “What am I thinking, beloved?” Nakia asked.

  Had the Roshan who invented this gesture actually been able to read the minds of people they cared about? She’d bet her life on it. Ashni could always tell what she thought or needed. Maybe it didn’t come through as a loud, clear message, but there was always a feeling.

  Ashni hummed, like she had to think on it. “How much you love me.”

  “Always.”

  “You want me to stay.”

  “I already told you that.”

  “How you’ll let me go because you understand why I have to lead my soldiers.”

  Nakia sighed. “I will.” Ashni didn’t have it in her to ask people to fight and not fight herself, to ask people to risk their lives and not risk her own. Nakia respected that. “I just want you with me.”

  “We’ve gone through this, kitten.” Ashni gave her a peck on the lips, as if that would magically make things better. And for a moment, it did. “I’m here now.”

  “Let’s make the most of it.” Nakia took Ashni by the shoulders and pushed her. “Let me make my mark on your memory this morning.”

  Ashni laughed as she flipped onto her back, making sure to be as dramatic as she could be. “You’re so strong now, hellcat.”

  Nakia straddled Ashni. “Yeah, I’m so strong I’ve subdued the most powerful force on the planet.” You only can do it because she lets you.

  “You’re not wrong.” She ran her hands along Nakia’s sides, spending sparks through her that had little to do with Ashni’s command of lightning.

  Nakia smirked. “Oh, I know. Now, lie back and let me treat you.”

  “You sure?” Ashni combed her fingers through Nakia’s hair.

  “Yes. Sometimes, things can be all about you,” Nakia replied. Ashni was the only person to ever spoil her, and it made her feel special. Ashni deserved to experience that, too.

  Ashni’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, when I have you at my mercy, it’s all about me. I delight in giving you pleasure.”

  Nakia chuckled, thinking about the hours in bed. It was nice to be indulged, especially when Ashni didn’t put up a fight to let Nakia do the spoiling in return. It didn’t happen often enough. Nakia narrowed her gaze on Ashni, making sure she didn’t make any sudden moves. “You’re not even going to put up a fight?” It would be just like Ashni to pretend she gave up and then literally flip things, putting Nakia on her back.

  Ashni’s eyes sparkled even more. “You want me to struggle, kitten?”

  Nakia laughed. “You know what I mean.”

  “I know you want this moment to be special. There’s nothing more special than your mouth on me. It’s a wonder that you’re willing to be with me.”

  Nakia blinked. “There’s no one else I’d rather be with.”

  “I know, but I still can’t believe the gods blessed me with you.”

  Years into their relationship and it still shocked Nakia. Ashni was probably the most powerful person on the planet, second to her mother. And yet she still thought Nakia was a blessing. How the hell did I get so lucky?

  “I think it’s the other way around,” Nakia said. After all, her entire life was made possible through her spouse.

  Knowing they could get caught in this loop for hours, Nakia kissed Ashni. Sparks jumped between them again. Ashni held Nakia in arms that had conquered nations. She pressed her thigh between Ashni’s legs and drew a moan from this force of nature.

  Dragging her tongue down Ashni’s neck, Nakia tasted salt and subtle honey, like Ashni ate so many sweets it was part of her. She would never tire of the flavor. And the little sounds from Ashni made things so much sweeter. She made her way down, kissing the tops of Ashni’s breasts. Her fingers sought taut peaks and Ashni squirmed as she flicked and caressed.

  “Tease,” Ashni gasped.

  “I’ve barely gotten started.” Nakia latched onto a brown gem and loved it with her tongue.

  Ashni cried out. “I love that.”

  “I know.” Nakia had learned she liked to spend time with Ashni’s breasts just as much as Ashni did. Never would’ve thought that. She sucked and licked.

  Ashni threw her head back. “Oh!”

  Nakia smiled. Maybe Ashni would remember this and hurry back. She knew she’d count the days until Ashni’s return. Live in the moment.

  To anchor herself, Nakia slid her hand between their bodies and met welcoming warmth. Ashni’s legs opened wider and Nakia eased through her wild patch of hair to reacquaint herself with another gem. Ashni’s hips bucked.

  “You’re already so ready for me, beloved,” Nakia said.

  Ashni dug her fingers into Nakia’s shoulders. Nakia loved the pain. Loved that Ashni grounded herself with Nakia’s body. A demigod tethered to this world through her.

  “Been ready since last night,” Ashni said with a couple of pants.

  “Oh?” Nakia plucked a lonely nipple with her lips and reveled in the honey on her fingertips as Ashni trembled beneath her. “Last night you wouldn’t let me do this. You wouldn’t let me have my way with you. Instead, you wanted to see if you could beat your record.”

  Ashni chuckled and gave her signature lopsided grin. “Six orgasms before you passed out. Worth it.”

  Nakia gave Ashni’s nipple a light bite as a reprimand. Ashni jumped and cooed. The sound made Nakia’s heart flutter. Nakia dipped a finger inside of her spouse, and Ashni cried out.

  “Look at that. I have the ruler of half the world at my fingertips,” Nakia said. “You’re at my mercy. How does it feel?”

  Ashni’s breath hitched. “Sweet.”

  Nakia kissed the center of Ashni’s chest as she pushed her finger home. Ashni groaned, a flush on her chest growing. Her beloved glowed, a beautiful halo around her tawny skin as she worked up sweat. Her shine could put the sun to shame, not that Nakia would ever say that aloud.

  “You’re beautiful like this,” Nakia said as she stroked Ashni. Seeing Ashni like this, there were times when she thought she might float off into the sky and never come back down.

  Ashni whined and moved with her. Nakia latched onto Ashni’s nipple again. As she pulled the jewel with her teeth, Ashni arched against her and her hips jumped. After a few bucks, Nakia added a second finger and Ashni crooned, throwing her head to the side, showing a thick vein in her neck. The sound floated through Nakia.

  “I love when I get to hear you,” Nakia murmured, running her tongue along that throbbing vein.

  Ashni ground against Nakia, running her fingers through Nakia’s hair. “My shy kitten is gone. Sometimes I miss her.”

  That was a confession to store away for later. She dipped her head and ran her tongue through Ashni’s desire. Sweet slippery liquid exploded in her mouth. This was what happiness, security, and love tasted like.

  Ashni’s back bowed as she cried out, arching into Nakia’s questing tongue. Nakia lapped at Ashni like the lazy kitten Ashni liked to pretend she was and worked two fingers in and out of her beloved. Ashni held Nakia’s head with both hands, latching onto her eyes with an intense gaze and stroking her hair out of the way. The sensation of Ashni’s hands twined in her hair made Nakia feel like she could be carried away on a breeze and it would only bring her more bliss. She rubbed Ashni’s clit, and Ashni howled. That reaction earned a nip and a sharp plunge of Nakia’s fingers. Finally, Ashni shouted, the sound reverberating through Nakia.

  Sweet nectar coated Nakia’s face as her beloved quivered against her. Nakia pulled away far enough to see the bliss settle on Ashni’s face as a flush came over her och
er body, making her seem almost like a terracotta statue. With a sigh, Ashni seemed to mold with the bed and an ethereal smile flitted across her face.

  Nakia cuddled into Ashni, who purred. “Still miss your shy kitten? She couldn’t do that,” Nakia said.

  Ashni kissed the top of her head. “Only my hellcat can do that, but my shy kitten was so cute. I can still hear you asking me if you’re doing it right.”

  Nakia nipped Ashni’s shoulder. “Maybe I wanted to learn how to make you feel good.”

  “And learn you did!”

  She placed her hand over Ashni’s heart. “Be careful, my love.”

  Ashni held her close. “I’ll come back to you. Nothing would ever stop that from happening. Besides you’re always so busy keeping this thing together, you’ll barely notice I’m gone.”

  Nakia nuzzled Ashni, breathing in her scent, holding her close. If only you knew, my love. The gnawing in her gut always noticed Ashni was gone. The shadow that everything could fall apart if she made one misstep would notice Ashni’s absence and her father’s voice would begin to echo in her mind. Don’t think about it. You can handle things.

  “It’s so much easier to govern when you’re here. I blame you for everything that’s wrong and send all the people complaining to you,” Nakia said.

  Ashni laughed. “Oh, do you? That’s why I always have lines of people waiting to get a lightning bolt in the ass? I’ll show you!” She grabbed Nakia, grinning like a lion with its prey.

  “Don’t you dare!” The threat was too late, and Nakia howled with laughter as Ashni proceeded to tickle her.

  ***

  “You’re smiling mighty big. We all know how annoying this will be,” Adira said as she, Ashni, Layla, and the military traveled north. They had bid all their loved ones farewell minutes ago, and now they were on horseback and on the move. Farmland slowly rolled by. It would soon give way to forests, which would transform back into grassland and farms as they got closer to the Great River Reve.

  Ashni grinned wider, sitting taller on Midnight Thunder, his coat shining like glinting obsidian. “I won several battles this morning.” She puffed out her chest, still feeling pure ecstasy flowing through her. She was sure it would gush out instead of her blood if she got cut.

  Layla groaned. “If this is a sex thing, keep it to yourself.”

  Ashni scoffed, eyeing her sister. “As if I’d dare gossip about what I do with my spouse. I tickled her for trying to make fun of me. She’s no match.”

  “You’re leaving your wife for weeks and you tickle her?” Adira frowned.

  “Some couples kiss and cuddle and make love. You tickle torture. How are you in charge again?” Layla arched an eyebrow. Naren, her husband right behind her, had the nerve to twist his mouth up, like he was confused by Ashni’s behavior.

  Ashni waved them off. “You don’t understand our relationship.”

  They all knew she hadn’t left Nakia with their last moments being tickled, but it kept things light. They had pegged the northern tribes a nuisance, not much of a threat. They needed to keep that idea reinforced for their troops.

  “I don’t think you understand your relationship,” Adira said.

  “Or a relationship,” Layla added.

  “My spouse is happy. Clearly, I’m doing something right,” Ashni replied, throwing her shoulders back. Midnight Thunder snorted, and Ashni gagged. “What? My own horse is skeptical. You always take Nakia’s side.”

  “Maybe because she isn’t constantly taking him into dangerous situations,” Adira said.

  “He loves it. He’s a warrior like me.” She stroked Midnight Thunder’s muscular neck. “She sneaks him treats. Hell, she sneaks me treats. Maybe that’s why I always side with her. Damn, she got us, boy.” The horse whinnied, as if chuckling with her.

  The journey went on like that, over a week of nonsense. It was a good distraction as the chill of the north made itself known. It wasn’t as cold as it could be, but it was enough for Ashni to grit her teeth. She tended to run hot, and the weather now prickled just under her skin, adding to the annoyance of the tribes not staying on their gods-forsaken crap side of the river.

  As they came to the Great River Reve, arrows and stones from slings greeted them along with the miserable stench of the North and shouts from the other side. The arrows splashed into the river, and the waters dragged the stones away. The barbarians knew they were coming, lining up behind some brush, waving weapons, shields, and wasting projectiles. Scouts, perhaps, or they simply could have watched them the moment they came into view from the waterway.

  “Those idiots,” Naren said, putting his hand up to shield his face from the glare of the sun.

  “They just want to remind us that we’re not friends and they have no desire to be friends,” Ashni said. She had tried that route, but the barbarians’ response was to wish her a long painful death. There just was no pleasing some people, at least until they got to see the war machine they wanted to provoke.

  Wicus rode up next to Ashni, looking like the seasoned warrior he was. He had on dark, plated armor, not his usual wear, and it was better for the colder north than his lightweight armor. His sword hung at his side and he had his helmet tucked under his arm. There was a confident tilt to his chin, which his steed mimicked. It was good he felt confident enough in Thia to leave her with his city. Why aren’t more Western men like him?

  “What do you want to do? They know we can’t reach them from here and they’ve refused talks,” Wicus said.

  Ashni laughed, eyeing the wide river. “I’m going to do the impossible.”

  She had weapons that could reach across the river, but it would’ve been like blindly swatting a single fly among hundreds. Nothing more than a waste of time and effort.

  “Lay waste to them with lightning so we can all go home?” Naren smiled.

  Ashni cut her eyes to him. “I can’t hit everything with lightning.”

  “How do you know? You never try,” Naren replied.

  “Because I know how my talent works. Besides, the river is too wide to make out proper targets.”

  “You could blow them back with your wind,” Naren suggested.

  Ashni looked at her sister, face scrunched up. What good would that do? The barbarians would eventually return. Layla had the nerve to look back at her, like Naren wasn’t borderline incompetent. Ashni cut her eyes back to Naren and curled her lip.

  “Do you work hard to be this stupid?” Ashni asked.

  Layla glared at her. “Leave him alone, Ashni. You’re just bitter we’re up here in the cold.”

  “Bitter isn’t the word I’d use. We have very few options to stop those pests with them being so far away,” Ashni replied. “We’ll have to build a bridge.” The barbarians used boats to cross the river, but it wouldn’t work for an army of this size. They’d clog the river and be easy targets if the barbarians had any secret weapons.

  Wicus’ mouth dropped open. “Across that? It’ll take forever.”

  “Adira?” Ashni turned to her lead general.

  Adira scratched her chin. “A week, less if we can figure out how to work at night without accidents like before.”

  “Layla.” Ashni looked at her sister.

  Layla nodded. “Night shift. Understood.”

  “Then let’s get started.” Ashni clapped her hands, and her people began to move, officers putting soldiers to work.

  Wicus’ eyes went wide. “You’re serious.” He sounded way too incredulous for someone who had rode into battle with her before.

  “It’s not so difficult,” Hafiz replied from his spot by Adira’s side. He rode above them, on his massive alphyn, Yata. Having grown in years, Yata now dwarfed any horse he stood next to. He had the body and face of a lion, scales on his thick front legs that met dark brown fur at the thigh, and long talons. Hafiz gripped Yata’s dark crimson mane instead of reins, which ran the length of his back down his tapered, dragon-like tail and ended with a tuft of fur.

 
Hafiz seemed made to ride the creature, taller and wider than all of them. His spirit and mind grew with his body as well.

  “I trapped your city with a wall of my own,” Ashni reminded Wicus. What she was about to do was as much for her allies as it was for her enemies. They needed to remember her army would do the impossible on her order.

  Her military set to work. They’d brought materials for the bridge with them, as this had always been the plan. Grunts and groans filled the air as wood was moved. Thuds followed as pieces were nailed together.

  “A bridge in only one week. Are you sure?” Wicus asked as he sat at the evening meal with Ashni and her group. They were huddled outside of Ashni’s tent while they still had some daylight left and a flurry of activity around them. There was food between them along with maps and scrolls. Naren was more interested in eating, as usual, while everyone else studied some form of parchment.

  “Some materials still need to be shaped, but at this point, it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together,” Adira said as she put down one report only to grab another.

  “We’ve done it before,” Layla said.

  Wicus nodded. “How?” He picked at some shredded chicken as he read through a report of his own.

  Ashni rubbed her hands together, keeping the slight chill away. “You surround yourself with the right people and anything’s possible. If you only have one trick, you won’t get far. That’s from the top.” She glanced at Adira and Layla. “To the bottom.” She motioned to the foot soldiers hustling to get their labor in.

  Wicus nodded, probably storing that away for later. It was always possible he’d use her advice to try to oppose her one day. He and Thia would eventually realize their positions were only through her grace, if they hadn’t already.

  The barbarians across the river were trying to burn through her grace, though. They put boats in the water as the sun began to set. I know they don’t think I’m just going to let them row to shore like this is any other day for them. Ashni didn’t even need to give orders. She could hear weapons being readied, the snap of thick ropes, and splashes along with wood splintering and shouting. Large projectiles turned the barbarians around quickly; some even had to swim back to their shore.