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*****

ELRETH

When Elreth woke it was with a groan. They'd had a long evening the night before talking to Gar and her parents to make sure she'd understood everything they'd covered about the traverse and the Protectors. Then they planned what they'd do today. Gar had left earlier than her parents to spread the word with the disformed he wanted involved.

But that meant that Aaryn and Elreth had endured an uncomfortable conversation with her parents afterwards when, out of nowhere, they completely lost sight of everything that was going on and decided it was time to check in on Aaryn and El, to see how they were feeling about being mates, how they were finding living together and… some details that Elreth would rather have vomited rather than reveal.

Her mother had reached across the table with an amused smile.

"I know it's hard, El, but we wouldn't be good parents if we didn't check in on you guys. So many families think when their kids take mates they have to just leave them to it. And don't worry, you don't have to tell us everything. Leave stuff sacred. But everyone needs help sometimes. And if we can explain anything that saves you the time and trouble of discovering it on your own—after you've found all the wrong answers first—that's a good thing. I promise.

"

Elreth glared at her.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't help. I'm saying that asking me if I climax when we have sex is just… gross! You don't need to know that!

"

"I just wanted to help you if there was a problem, give you some advice—

"

"There's no problem!

" she snapped. Of all the people who should have understood her desire to avoid these conversations at all costs, she'd thought it would be her mother. But her mother was all pink cheeked and grinning at her father—who had gone all smiley, nodding approvingly at Aaryn when Elreth forced herself to answer her mother's question.

"You're just… shameless!

" Elreth snapped.

Aaryn didn't seem embarrassed, but he was avoiding her eyes and fighting a smile.

"You're all gross,

" she grumbled, folding her arms.

"Sounds like we aren't the only ones,

" her father quipped. Her mother slapped his arm, and Elreth hid her face in her hands, but everyone else chuckled.

"El, look, it's good. I'm glad that it's good for you. And we won't… we won't ask about that again, okay? But a lot of Anima have trouble with this stuff and we wanted to make sure you had some advice if you needed it.

"

"This is ridiculous!

" she'd hissed.

"The world might literally be ending and you're asking me if I had an orgasm?!

"

"If the world is ending, you want to have as many of those as you can along the way,

" her father said seriously.

"Dad!

"

She'd almost stormed out of the room when they all laughed at her discomfort. She was still embarrassed thinking about it. She didn't want her parents thinking about her doing that!

She'd been irritated with Aaryn, too. Mainly because he didn't seem embarrassed about it. But after her parents left, he'd kissed her out of her funk and then they'd proved her parents fears wrong. Again.

She'd gone to sleep still embarrassed. But also slightly smug.

After only a few short hours of sleep, she'd woken and immediately her mind replayed the entire conversation.

So embarrassing. So **ing embarrassing.

She had to get out of this bed and be a Queen. She had to try to avert disaster—and manage her brother, and see ahead even though none of them knew how any of this was happening. And she was going to be blushing to her roots all day.

But then Aaryn's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back, sliding her across the furs until her back was wedged against his chest.

"Good morning,

" he rasped into her hair, nuzzling her neck.

Goosebumps immediately prickled down her arm.

"Good morning,

" she breathed.

"Are you feeling better this morning?

" he asked carefully.

"No. Are you?

"

"Yes.

"

"That's good,

" she said, trying not to let her own frustration sound in her voice. She really was glad that the darkness that had descended on him when they'd retuned the cave had improved with their company the night before, and some sleep.

"We need to get up,

" she sighed.

"I told Tarkyn I'd get out there as close to first light as I could.

"

"Mmmmm,

" Aaryn hummed, then kissed her neck.

"But you didn't give him a time, right?

"

"No, but—

"

"I think maybe something your dad said last night was important.

"

Elreth frowned.

"What was that?

"

"The part where he said if the world is ending, we need to have as many orgasms as we can along the way.

"

"Aaryn!

" Elreth rolled over, embarrassed and angry.

"If you want to have… have anything with me, you won't talk about my dad when we're in bed!

"

He chuckled, but when caught her glare, he raised his hands.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I just thought it was good advice, that's all.

"

"Even if it was, we don't have to talk about it!

"

"Hey, babe, it's okay. I didn't mean to push you. Don't worry.

"

"No, it's not that,

" Elreth groaned, dropping her face into her palms.

"I just… I just don't want to be thinking about him when we're thinking about that. That's all.

"

Aaryn combed her hair back from her face. His eyes were puffy from lack of sleep, his face lined. But his smile was genuine, if a little small. And the feeling of his fingers raking her scalp was delicious. Elreth shivered and closed her eyes as he did it again, arching into it like a cat.

"You like that, huh?

" he asked, his voice hoarse from sleep.

"A lot,

" she murmured.

When his lips landed on hers, all Elreth's embarrassment and tension melted away under the sensual onslaught of his mouth, his hands, his strength.

Though she vowed she would never admit it aloud, maybe her father was right.

Maybe both of them needed as much pleasure along this road as they could manage.

*****

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