Chapter 166 Chapter 165

Chapter 166 Chapter 165
Aloria.

"That's it..." Draven growls, his voice thick with satisfaction. "Give everything to me. Don't you dare hold back," he snarls. I am pulsing so hard, so desperately, that I am practically milking the very air around me.

A torrent of hot, thick nectar gushes from me, soaking Draven's hands and drenching the ground in a series of undignified splatters.

I breathe harshly, my body trembling uncontrollably, twitching with the aftershocks of a pleasure so profound it feels almost spiritual. Kairos finally lets go of my lips, allowing me to take a proper breath for the first time since this started, though his grip on me is still unyielding.

"Oh gods... oh heavens..." I pant, waiting for my vision to swim back into focus.

Draven watches me through it all, his fingers still buried inside me, my walls still clasping and clenching around him.

"You alright...?" he asks later, his voice rough, his gaze intense as he looks at me, his breathing labored.

I nod, not finding it in me to speak just yet. Only then does he pull his fingers out of me and bring them to his nose, taking a deep sniff; and with me watching him with heavy lidded eyes, he licks them clean.

My insides pulse once, heavily. Fuck.

"How do you feel now?" Kairos asks from behind me, reaching out to tenderly brush the damp hair on my forehead away.

"I feel... better," I confess, still breathless. "Much lighter." A small, dazed smile appears at the corner of my lips. "It feels like the fever has broken," I mutter.

"That's good..." Draven says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Remember, no penetration. This will have to do until the night of the mating ritual. Can you hold out until then?" Kairos asks.

I look at him, then at Draven before letting out a long, shaky sigh, my body finally beginning to settle, a heavy lethargy overwhelming me.

"I can. The hunger has faded... for now."

"That's good enough for us..." Draven mutters, a corner of his lips twitching up, though it doesn't quite form a smile.

"Rest, Rina..." he murmurs, his voice tender, his fingers brushing against my heated, sweaty skin. "We've got you."

I lean against Kairos, who holds me securely, allowing me to drop my weight onto him. My eyes flutter closed, and I let out a deep, exhausted yawn, feeling sleep come for me.

With a final exhausted breath, I slip into the sweetest, darkest sleep I've had in a long time.
.
.
.
More time passes in the Ashenvale Manor, the Mating Ritual drawing nearer with each passing day. Preparations are already underway, and soon enough, I start to grow very nervous about it. I do my best to hide it, especially in front of the alphas, but at night, while the alphas are deep in slumber, I lie awake, thinking about all the worst-case scenarios, worrying myself to death as a result.

This isn't my first attempt at a mating ritual. I have tried it multiple times with Zevran, and it always failed; instead of letting me go, he only turned monstrous. My mind can't help but replay that possibility back to me. Although I know the Ashenvale brothers couldn't possibly do that, nothing is truly set in stone, and for all it's worth, I really want it to be successful.

The alphas have grown busy with the preparations, so much so that I barely see them during the day, only at night when we spend the night together. I am not angry about it, however. They make it up to me during the dinners we have together, sharing snippets of their day with me and ensuring I'm always happy.

Today is the fitting of the dress for my mating ritual.

Standing at the center of my room with the seamstress and her assistant fussing over me, a wave of anxiety crashes over me once more, causing goosebumps to break out on my skin. I bite my lip in a bid to shove down the distress clawing at me.

The seamstress misreads my demeanor and thinks it's directed at the dress. "Oh dear... Do you not like it? I'm sure we got the measurements right; I only need to make some final adjustments..." she prattles on, clearly distressed.

I immediately reach for her, grabbing her arms reassuringly, letting a soft smile bloom on my face. "No need to worry... I like the dress. It fits just right and looks exactly as I imagined. I was just thinking about something else," I say in an attempt to placate her.

She lets out a visible sigh of relief, wiping the sweat off her brow. "In that case, do come stand in front of the mirror and really look at the dress. The alphas will have my head if it's not exactly to your standards," she reveals, her voice carrying a faint tremor.

I push down the urge to chuckle at her distress, moving to stand in front of the full-length mirror, checking the clothes. It's an emerald gown, lined with emeralds and diamonds, the embroidery made with silver and gold threads. It is absolutely breathtaking and matches my skin tone and hair perfectly. I twirl, watching as the dress settles, feeling a faint flutter in my chest.

The alphas really have spared no expense, ensuring I look my best for the day. "It's beautiful... I love it," I whisper, feeling a faint flush stain my cheeks as I look back at the seamstress.

She nods, clapping her hands appreciatively. "That's splendid! A few alterations and we're good to go. You will be the most beautiful maiden on that night, my lady," the seamstress says, giving me a warm smile.

Returning to the mirror, I'm admiring my appearance once more when my mind conjures up memories of all my failed rituals, and a wave of anxiety comes again, pooling low in my gut, drawing all the blood away from my face.

I close my eyes, trying to shake off the memories. My mating ritual with the alphas will not look the same way... I tell myself over and over again.

Yet the feeling refuses to fade, spreading through me like sickly vines.

The excitement I should be feeling refuses to come, leaving only this heavy, gnawing feeling. It is starting to get unbearable when a knock comes on the door, interrupting us.

"Aloria?" a familiar voice calls out, and a breath leaves my lips, a soft smile blooming on my face. "It's me, Erena. Can I come in?" she asks.

"Please do..." I answer without missing a beat, watching as the door opens and Erena slips into the room. Her eyes immediately land on me, widening as a shocked gasp escapes her lips.