“I’m more than happy to check every inch of the bedroom with you,” he murmured, kissing her again. “After several drinks with our friends.”
“I’m fine with that,” she agreed, dragging her nails along the sensitive skin of his lower stomach, her fingers just under the belt.
If I’m going to send them to war without me, I might as well do it right. I won’t have them for weeks, so it’s going to have to be good.
Going to the center of the village, they each found themselves with a drink in their hands before they could even find a seat in the largest dining hall. The partying had started for the civilians the night before Seanev left, but the warriors left behind were drinking now, knowing they were stuck while their friends went off to war. War stories were told as everyone laughed and joked or even cried.
Mave found a female warrior looking at her, a grin on her face.
“Champion! Do you have any stories for us?”
“Not ones you haven’t already heard,” Mave said, trying to sound disappointed. “I’m sorry. Everyone seems to tell my stories before I get the chance!”
Andinna around them laughed. It was true. There were probably dozens of stories about her flying around the camp, some of them tall tales coming from the strange myth surrounding her. Even though Mave was young, she had a legendary reputation. She’d known that for years, but it was only the last year, she truly grew comfortable as the scary stories turned into stories of victory and belief in her. She was no longer the monster parents told their children to be scared of, but the warrior every child pretended to be when they played at war in the village.
“Is it true you killed a chimera? Are those even real?” someone asked.
“No, they aren’t!” someone called out. “That’s one of the fake ones.”
Matesh started laughing too hard next to her. “And you believe the one where she killed a full-grown wyvern? That one isn’t real, but the chimera is true. I was there!”
“Bullshit!” someone called. The room laughed.
Mave reached for the closest hand, finding Zayden, who used it to move even closer.
“It’s true. They’re from a strange land, but the Empire got ahold of one and made her fight it in front of the entire Colosseum.” Mat tried so hard to get everyone to believe him, but Mave knew it was a lost cause. She let him try anyway, but it became nearly comical as he got drunker and more adamant.
On top of that, Zayden was sneaking his free hand up her thigh under the table. Turning his body, he leaned in to kiss her slowly.
“You okay?” she asked.
“I want you,” he said in a husky, vulnerable voice.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, kissing him as she slowly stood.
“I won’t make it to the house,” he murmured as she tugged his hand to get him moving.
“Then we’ll find a quiet corner,” she promised.
It felt like something she shouldn’t do, which only made her want to do it more. These celebrations had a reputation Mave had heard about since her return—couples or more in the trees in quick, alcohol-driven meetings.
They snuck out as best Mave could sneak out of any place, with fanfare and people wishing her goodnight. Mat caught up to them as they made their way into the woods.
“Were you two going off to have fun without me?” he asked, grabbing her tail.
“Possibly,” she said with a little smile.
“Mean female who owns my heart,” he growled softly. The lights from the village’s torches were barely visible now. Mat moved his hand up her tail and grabbed her ass as she pushed Zayden into a tree, getting a delicious groan out of him. He liked it rough—every time, all the time. He loved when she pushed him around, even when he wasn’t in the mood. He was that type of male—a grouch who desperately hoped someone would take control of him and his emotions.
Mat’s hands moved quickly, undoing the strings of her breeches. She knew what he would find as his hand slid between her legs—she wanted, and she was ready. He growled in her ear, shoving her leather breeches down farther. A moment later, she was kissing Zayden as Mat thrust, filling her in one steady movement.
It was hard and furious, a need that went deeper than physical want. This was possibly their last time before they went off to battle. It could take only a day for Nevyn to