Chapter 36: Jealousy

Kieran's ruby eyes glistened in the dark as his nostrils flared, trying to take a whiff of the scent that he caught earlier.

I froze in my place, wondering how I would even be able to tell him who I was with, or that three other mate bonds were waiting for me.

Would he even accept that I won't belong to him fully?

“Kieran, I…”

“That's my brother's scent,” he silently said, before turning away and sitting back on his seat.  He didn't even pay any attention to the twin axes I carried in my hands.

And it bothered me.

“I'd know that scent everywhere.”  He scoffed.  “I almost grew up with him, so I would know…”

“Kieran—”

“And don't even try to deny it, Hestia.  I saw how the High Priest and my brother stared at you when we were at the borderlands.  Those eyes… they didn't speak of any platonic bullshit.”

My eyebrow rose.  “And you're… jealous.”

“And why wouldn't I be?  You knew them longer.  You were even once married to my brother.  If anything else, I'm nothing but a stranger—”

He groaned as I cupped his chin, slamming my lips against him to shut him up.  Kieran didn't resist.

We were both breathless as I pulled away.  “Would I go through lengths just to buy a stranger twin axes made from rare divine metal?”

Kieran's gaze challenged me.  “I don't know.  After all, you're too kind for your own good.”

My eyes dropped to his lips, a small smile forming at the corners of my mouth.  “You’re no stranger to me, Chief.  If you were, then I would like to know you again.  Physically, that is.”

Kieran didn’t waste any time.  A soft gasp escaped my mouth as he pulled me down by the nape of my neck, his lips greedily owning mine.

And it must be because it was mating season.  Or that my wolf had been deprived of mate touch for so long that she has gone insane.

Because even after Augustus, I didn’t see myself pushing Kieran away either.

My hand hovered on his chest before lightly shoving him to the floor.  I sat on an armchair, spreading my legs wide to give him a view.

And view he did.

He turned his head up as he went on all fours on the floor, his eyes never leaving mine.  Kieran stared at me like a devout to his faith.  A follower to his god.

And I hope I’ll know soon enough if he will worship me like no other.

“Hestia… The Goddess must’ve made you after herself,” he whispered, his hand slowly reaching up my leg.

I gently tugged the hem of my skirt before bundling it on my hips.  Kieran’s throat bobbed as I spread my legs wider.

“Then… show me how you’re going to worship me.”

His lips landed on the top of my foot, as it slowly made its way up, to my leg, knees, thighs…

Every kiss, every bite, was sending a mix of sensations I could not comprehend.

It suddenly didn’t matter if Lind was there or that Augustus’s lips were on my skin earlier.  The only thing on my mind was Kieran.

How he nibbled my skin, my core, my crevices.  How the soft, wet sounds made by his tongue and mouth sounded divine.  How my back arched every time he hit a sensitive spot.

He knew his way with my buttons.  As if he had a manual on my body that he had memorized from the back of his mind.

I shuddered as he planted a kiss on my navel, his hand slowly lifting the hem of my shirt.  I peered down on him as he buried his head on my stomach, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“Fuck, Hestia… How do you torture me so…”

“Hey,” I called, making him meet my gaze.  “Tell me what’s on your mind…”

Kieran shook his head, but refused to look at me.  “No, it’s nothing.”

“Kieran.”

He sighed before reaching to kiss my lips.  “It’s just that… when you get crowned, there would be dozens more rivals for me.  Everyone’s eyes would be on you, and…”

I chuckled as I played with his silvery white hair.  “Is that the only thing bothering you? You should be more worried about the trials, Chief.”

“Hestia, I know I couldn’t question the Goddess’s plans for you.  Why be selfish if your heart can’t be fully mine? I’m content with the space you would let me occupy.  It’s just that…”

“That?”

He bitterly chuckled.  Kieran’s ears were red.  “You’ll only laugh at me if I—”

“Am I laughing now?”

He took a deep breath, seemingly losing all of his arguments.  “I hope you don’t ever replace me.”

“Replace you? Kieran, you’re my Vassal.  You’re tied to me forever,” I whispered, reaching for his cheek.  “Besides, I should be the one afraid of being abandoned.  I can’t give the devotion and love you seek from me fully…”

“I know, my Queen… and that’s alright.”

Three loud knocks interrupted us.  Kieran immediately got up, grabbing his shirt, as I collected myself.

The messenger from the High Temple stood at the front doorstep, carrying Castiel’s sealed letter.  He handed it to me.

My heart pounded.  I already knew what it was.

“I hope you’re well-rested, Your Highness.  After all, the strength of the Divine Link between you and your Vassal would depend on your body,” the messenger warned before he left.

I glanced at Kieran, worry etched on his handsome face.  Before I could even ask, he had already beaten me to it.

“But what about your Divine Link with Augustus? It might cause you trouble, my Queen.”

“I’ll put all of my powers in you,” I replied, tenderly touching his cheek.  “Rest your mind too.  We don’t know what my father and Medea would pull this time.”

If the Lockes were capable of performing an obscure spell like the mannikin spell, casting massive Dark Moon curses, and obtaining a massive army of Black Wolves, there was no telling what they would do just to win this trial.

Medea hated losing to me.  That one was very clear.  While Castiel didn’t announce the results of the first trial, just the mere fact that Medea stormed back home after meeting Alfonso tells me things.

Everything’s not going according to her plan.

I had pushed Kieran back into the manor when I noticed a raven sitting on a windowsill near the fireplace.  Something glinted on its mouth.

As soon as I made sure that Kieran went back to his room, I approached the bird, who immediately flew away after giving me the thing in his beak.

It was a Red medallion with an insignia of a powerful aristocratic clan, the Pinto… with a short letter.

“Same place as last time.  Don’t be late.  I have something important for you, my dearest trouble.”