A WEEK HAD PASSED SINCE SALEM SUMMONED HIS
MATES, and the time had come for the blood ritual. The four of
them gathered in Salem's suite. Valencia had prepared the room ahead of
time with everything they would need for the ceremony—medical supplies,
ceremonial drinking cups, lubricant, purification items, wine to celebrate
later, and clean linens in the bedroom and conjoined bathroom. The wooden
floor was cleaned and prepared for the magic circle Valencia later drew.
In the middle of the circle sat Salem's king sized bed. He stared at it as
Valencia placed all the required items on a nightstand for easy access.
"You will need to purify yourselves first," she instructed, handing
Salem a bottle of clear liquid. Her forehead crinkled with worry.
"I know," Salem gently reminded her. "It's okay. I can handle this."
"Good luck, my lord." She bowed her head and backed out of the room,
pulling the doors closed behind her.
Salem turned to his mates and took a deep breath. "Let's do it."
Ulrich growled and reached for his trousers.
"No, not that. Yet." He added the second part quickly, not wanting to
give Ulrich the wrong impression. Salem held the clear bottle up for him to
see. "We need to purify ourselves first."
Salem ushered them into the suite's lavatory—a large marbled room fit
for a king. Gold seams glittered within the white marble flooring and
countertops like broken pottery repaired with auric lacquer. A stone resin
freestanding tub sat in the middle of the room like a centerpiece. Sunlight
streamed in through bay windows that overlooked the garden.
He filled the tub with steamy water, emptied the bottle into it and
watched the water fizzle. Once the surface of the water stilled, he stripped
off his clothes and placed them on one of the countertops. Salem dipped
into the hot water, the heat shocking his senses. He sighed and leaned his
head back against the rim.
Cecil, Ulrich, and Thoren followed his lead, joining him in the tub.
Salem took turns washing each of his mates with the purified water,
massaging it into their skin as gently as he could. He repeated each gesture
with all three of his mates until every inch of their skin was clean. Once
he'd finished, he reached for a bucket, dipped it into the tub, then dumped
the water over their heads one by one.
Salem backed away from his mates, satisfied, and washed himself. He
dunked his head below the surface of the water, ensuring the water purified
even the follicles on his head. He leaned back and sighed, watching steam
wisp through the air.
When the bubbles and fizzing stopped, it was time for them to get out.
The four of them climbed out of the bathtub. Salem shrugged into a robe
Val had prepared for him before handing the others theirs. He watched his
mates put them on and took pleasure in the thought they'd be off soon
enough.
They returned to the bedroom suite to find the lights dimmed down and
soft music playing from somewhere in the background. Valencia had
thought of everything—and Salem wasn't sure whether he should feel
impressed or embarrassed by that! He ignored the fluttering of his heart and
crawled onto the bed. When he turned back toward Cecil, Ulrich, and
Thoren, he realized: this was their first time together. Sure, he'd done it
with them like, millions of times—in his dreams. But flesh to flesh? Body
to body?
Salem started to sweat like a virgin staring down a cock too big to fit.
How his mates elicited such feelings from him without even saying a word
was a mystery. Their allure knew no bounds. Looking at them now, Salem
understood what Val meant before, when she told him he'd change his mind
once they'd met in person. Being with his mates felt totally different from
dreaming about them.
He was hooked, and they hadn't even done the deed yet.
Salem beckoned his mates to join him on the bed. While they settled
around him, he reached for the supplies Val had left for him on the
nightstand—a small knife, the drinking cups, a talisman, and another bottle
of purified water. Salem unscrewed the bottle and poured enough into the
cups to fill them halfway. He returned the bottle to the nightstand. With the
knife in hand, Salem drew a thin cut on his finger and allowed it to drip into
the cup. Soon, the water was red.
"Please do the same with your cup," Salem said.
His mates each took turns mimicking his gesture until the second cup
had droplets from each of them. Salem used the medical supplies and
bandaged their cuts. Once he'd tended to them, he retrieved the cup he'd
given them. He passed the other to Ulrich.
"Each of you must take a turn drinking from the cup," he instructed.
"While you do that, I will drink from this one."
Ulrich drank without hesitation. Once he finished, he passed it to Cecil,
and they repeated the gesture until all three of Salem's mates had ingested
the concoction. Salem drank, too, and soon both cups were empty. He set
them aside, bowed his head, and took a deep breath. "Now our essence is
one. May the gods honor our eternal bond with their blessing."
Even if his mates hadn't a clue how vampire blood rituals worked, they
didn't show it. In fact, they seemed to sense that the formal part was over
and they were now free to enjoy one another. The sensations stirring in
Salem's chest brought tears to his eyes.
"I've waited for this for so long," he whispered, slightly embarrassed by
the boldness of his confession.
The others didn't seem to mind. Ulrich scooted closer and pecked a kiss
onto his shoulder before rubbing Salem's back with one of his big,
calloused hands. Thoren plopped onto his stomach next to Salem and rested
his head in the vampire's lap. Cecil took the spot across from Ulrich and
leaned against him, their heads touching.
Salem wanted to stay there forever and he would have if he could. But
he had a kingdom to save and a baby to conceive and time was of the
essence.
As if sensing his thoughts, Ulrich's hand slipped into his robe, where he
circled the small of Salem's back with his thumb and purred into his ear as
he sipped on his earlobe. "I've dreamed of this day for centuries. I almost
can't believe this is happening."
Cecil played with Thoren's golden hair like he'd done it forever,
twirling locks around his fingers. "It's hard to believe we were apart only a
week ago..." the magi added softly.
"I was losing hope," Thoren admitted, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the
feeling of Cecil's hands tangled in his hair. "I didn't think I could go on
much longer, subsisting on just those dreams...It was torture. Like the gods
were playing games with me."
"Mmm," Cecil hummed. "I forgot how rough mating is for wolves."
"Every day without my pack was misery," he murmured. "But all that's
changed now. I have you three. I feel complete."
"Good!" Ulrich huffed. "My dragon would not have it any other way."
Thoren's eyes twinkled as he stared up at the three of them. Then he
focused his attention on Salem and grinned. "Do you have something in
your pocket or are you just excited to see me?"
The werewolf's corny line brought a smile to the vampire's face.
"Something's excited to see you," Salem corrected with a devilish wink.
"Guess I need to live up to its expectations," Thoren proclaimed. He
pushed himself up with his elbows and turned to face them. When the
werewolf moved, his robe shifted, allowing the group to get a good look at
his behemoth. Suddenly, the vampire really felt like a virgin staring down a
cock too big to fit. He prayed his ass could take it. They wouldn't have a
baby together if the three of Salem's mates didn't fuck him.
"Like what you see?" Ulrich purred, his hands exploring Salem's skin
beneath the robe. Looking into his dragon's predatory eyes sent shivers up
his spine. Combined with the tingles rippling through him, Ulrich's fingers
entranced Salem—completely, utterly lost in the experience.
He nodded unapologetically and licked his lips, his tongue brushing
against his fangs. "I do."
Across from him, Thoren puffed out his chest and slipped the robe off.
As it fell onto the comforter, all eyes swiveled to witness the sheer
gorgeousness of the werewolf's naked body. In person, he was sexier than
Salem ever imagined. And those eyes. Those deep, sensual eyes and their
primal gaze... Salem gulped.
Ulrich dropped his robe on the floor, exposing a body chiseled from
centuries of dedication. Salem's eyes trailed down the dragon's scarred
chest to his impressive package. The dragon's cock was as intimidating as
Thoren's. He did a double take.
Cecil tilted Salem's head toward him and pecked his lips with a sweet
kiss. Looking at the magi's more manageably sized package, Salem thanked
the gods. Maybe his ass wouldn't be sore.
Salem took it all in, sizing up each of his mates once more. Who am I
kidding? Salem thought.
Like a lamb in the company of three lions, the vampire sensed they
would devour him. His ass would be sore for weeks afterward.
The crazy part was—he welcomed it. Overcome with desire, Salem
couldn't hold back any longer. He stripped the robe from his body and fell
back, exposed. Vulnerable to their hungry eyes. He stuck the talisman
Valencia left him on his chest. Now, Salem was ready. "Fuck me."
Cecil snatched the lubricant from the nightstand and placed it on the bed
where everyone could reach. Salem's mates gazed down at him and it
became clear they were waiting for something. Ulrich reached down and
tugged his own cock. "Who do you want first?" the dragon implored with
lustful eyes.
"I hadn't thought about it," Salem admitted, feeling sheepish.
"You go first, dragon," Thoren decided. "I'll go last."
Ulrich glanced at Cecil, who nodded. The dragon wasted no time. He
crawled over Salem and gazed down at him like a child in a candy store
wondering what to choose. Salem watched in awe as the dragon's eyes
turned red. Ulrich dipped down and traced his sensuous lips down Salem's
neck. His hot breath tickled the vampire's skin, sending a tantalizing shiver
coursing through him. Like lightning, Ulrich's touch electrified Salem.
The dragon treated Salem's body like a delicacy—a temple to slowly
explore, as if every crevice contained secret treasures. The feeling of
Ulrich's lips grazing his exposed skin, down to his navel, lit Salem up like a
fireball. The anticipation was so intense, Salem's cock throbbed in pain. He
wanted—no, needed—his mates so badly he couldn't stand it. Was this
what being with fated mates felt like? He wondered how he'd ever get
through the day without their touch again.
Stopping just below Salem's bellybutton, Ulrich sat up and reached for
the bottle of lubricant. The dragon pulled Salem forward and maneuvered
him so that his ass was exposed, legs in the air. Then he dragged his lips
down Salem's leg, starting at his ankle. Salem gasped as the dragon left a
trail of dark hickeys and burning sensations in his wake. Salem's cock was
as hard as a stake.
"Pull your legs back."
Salem did as Ulrich instructed and grabbed behind his knees. He spread
himself before his mate and swallowed, his cheeks flushed. Ulrich hummed
his approval and coated his fingers in lubricant and spread Salem's cheeks
further. He laved Salem's entrance with lubricant. Cold air brushed against
his exposed hole, causing Salem to shudder.
"Beautiful," Thoren breathed. Salem's eyes turned to the werewolf who
was rubbing his own member as he watched the scene play out before him.
With his free hand, he explored Cecil's body, eliciting noises from the magi
Salem didn't know he could make.
"He's divine," Ulrich agreed, rubbing Salem's rim before dipping one
finger inside. The dragon continued to take his time, warming Salem up. He
worked Salem's hole, stretching it as he plunged a second digit inside.
Salem groaned and his head rolled back as his insides spasmed around
Ulrich's meaty fingers.
"He's close," Thoren observed, licking his lips. "I can smell it."
Salem looked down at his leaking cock as pleasure bubbled beneath the
surface. Like a volcano about to blow, the veins of his shaft bulged, the tip a
purplish-blue. Each sensation had him riding the edge, so close to release he
could practically taste it. Ulrich leaned over him while pumping his fingers
into Salem's most sensitive spots and whispered, "come for me."
As the orgasm overtook him, sparks exploded behind Salem's eyelids.
He groaned and shivered with pleasure, goosebumps speckling his skin.
This was his first taste of true abandon—a freedom he'd never known in the
physical world. Eager and ready, he reached for Ulrich and pulled him
close. The dragon hummed in his ear as he lined himself up with Salem's
hole. After slicking his member with a healthy gob of lubricant, Ulrich
pressed forward. The tip of his Goliath penetrated Salem, eliciting a low
groan from the vampire beneath him.
"Breathe," Cecil reminded him.
Salem inhaled and pushed against him until Ulrich's member bottomed
out—something the vampire didn't think was possible. The heat that
consumed Salem as Ulrich moved was almost unbearable. It spread through
him like a wildfire, igniting his very essence. This was passion. This was
the result when two fated mates became one. Euphoria. Heaven. Eden.
Rapture. There wasn't an applicable word in Nitehelm's language that could
describe what Salem was experiencing.
When Ulrich moved, Salem responded. It was that simple.
The dragon's beastly cock filled him in a way nothing else ever could.
Though, Salem had a sneaking suspicion Thoren might change his mind.
Each thrust sent wave after wave of pleasure scattering through the
king's vessel. He squeezed down on Ulrich, making the dragon groan.
"You're just like I always imagined," he moaned. "I always knew you'd
feel this good." Ulrich pulled back until he was almost pulled out before
thrusting again. Salem gasped and clung to Ulrich as the dragon skillfully
maneuvered his cock to hit the vampire's most sensitive spot. Once again,
Salem was riding the edge.
Ulrich continued to thrust. His movements became rhythmic, and Salem
lost himself to the sensations, surrendering to his mate with abandon.
"Brace yourself," Ulrich warned, his voice husky and deep. He
quickened his pace, plowing into Salem with powerful thrusts that left him
seeing stars. One final push against Salem's gland caused another orgasm to
snake up through his aching member. Above him, Ulrich tightened and
roared as he came. Salem's head buzzed as the dragon's cock pulsed inside
of him.
The vampire shivered, his body slick with sweat. Dazed, he searched for
Ulrich's lips and kissed him again. The dragon lifted himself up and
collapsed beside him, chest heaving.
"The talisman's reacting," Cecil gasped.
"Yes," Salem managed, out of breath. The talisman stuck to his chest
glowed faintly, the magic working.
"What's it for?" Thoren asked.
"It makes my body absorb your cum."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"That's hot," Thoren growled, a greedy expression on his face.
Cecil winked and nudged Thoren's side. "Wait your turn, horn-dog."
"Oh, I will. After you, magi."
"Such a gentleman." Cecil crawled over Salem and ran his hands across
his chest. He searched Salem's eyes and smiled. "It's my turn, Salem." The
magi leaned down and nibbled on one of Salem's nipples as his fingers
dipped down to Salem's side. He grabbed hold of the vampire's hips and
pushed him further up the bed. Then, with a strength that rivaled Ulrich's,
he flipped Salem onto his stomach and pulled his ass up into the air.
"Just you wait," Cecil hummed, applying a liberal amount of lubricant
to his hard member. "I will show you a world the others can't."
Cecil's confident declaration drew the attention of Ulrich and Thoren.
The magi lined himself up and gave Salem's hips a squeeze before he
guided him backwards. Salem felt the pressure of Cecil's tip against his rim.
With one thrust, he penetrated Salem's red hole. His cock slid inside with
ease after Ulrich's plowing. Cecil's head drooped back as he moaned. "I've
been waiting so long for this moment. Do you feel it, Salem? My cock?"
Salem moaned, too hopped up on adrenaline and dopamine to respond.
Cecil thrust forward. "You like that?"
Another moan—Salem's only response.
"It's about to get even better," he promised.
Suddenly, new sensations flooded Salem's nerve endings. He looked
back at Cecil, who had a mischievous grin on his face. Without even
touching it, Salem's cock tingled as if it was being stroked. Coupled with
the rhythmic pangs of pleasure from Cecil's thrusts, Salem felt pleasure as
all of his soft spots lit up simultaneously. The effect was definitely
intentional, if the smug look on Cecil's face was any indication. "How do
you like my magic?"
"Your magic?" Salem repeated, breathlessly.
Cecil panted, sweat trickling down his face. "It's a technique I've
developed specifically for you three," Cecil admitted. "I wanted a way to
touch you without having to lift a finger."
"I feel dirty just hearing that," Ulrich chuckled.
"But how long can you keep it up?" Thoren wondered.
"Not long," Cecil gritted out. He gripped Salem's hips and groaned.
"I'm almost there."
"He's totally lost in it," Ulrich observed, watching Salem's face. The
dragon reached around and gave Salem's cock a tug, causing him to orgasm
again.
Finally, Cecil came. He released his grip on the vampire and fell to his
knees, panting. His body shook, floating on cloud nine as Cecil's magic
massaged every nook and cranny. The magi sprawled out next to him and
released Salem from the grip of his spell. Salem collapsed, writhing in
residual pleasure.
"I don't know if he's conscious anymore," Cecil purred. "The pleasure's
frying his brain."
"That's too bad," Thoren growled. "Because now it's my turn."
The hair on the back of Salem's neck rose. Thoren gripped his ankles
and pulled him to the edge of the bed. The werewolf smacked his ass with
one powerful clap, waking all of Salem's diluted senses. Without missing a
beat, Thoren angled his cock and plunged in. The tip of the werewolf's cock
was a nub that massaged Salem's gland upon impact.
Salem didn't know how long Thoren fucked him. Somewhere along the
way, he lost all control of himself and track of time. His parched throat was
raw from moaning and his muscles spasmed. Forget a sore ass. When his
mates finished with him, Salem worried if he'd even be able to walk.
On cue, a primal growl erupted from Thoren. "I hope that talisman will
hold. Get ready," he grunted.
Thoren came hard against Salem's prostate. He collapsed against
Salem's back but didn't move. "Here it comes," Thoren whispered into his
hair. Suddenly, Thoren's cock throbbed. His girth stretched Salem's insides
like a balloon.
Salem cried out, shocked as Thoren filled him in a way he never
imagined possible. "You're doing great," Thoren purred. "Just breathe." He
wrapped his arms around Salem and rubbed his chest encouragingly.
"Just a bit more," Thoren soothed. Salem nodded. He focused on his
breathing as the pressure inside of him peaked. A gargled sound escaped his
throat as his muscles gave out. Somehow Thoren held him up until it was
over. Once the pressure receded, the werewolf pulled out and gently
lowered Salem onto the bed.
Ulrich rolled Salem onto his back. The talisman glowed once more
before disintegrating into Salem's skin. The vampire winced as the magic
seared into his very soul. With that, the ritual was complete.
Salem pushed himself to the edge of the bed and grabbed the bottle of
wine. He poured each of his mates a glass before readying one for himself.
He placed the bottle back on the nightstand and turned toward his mates.
They looked so lovely, laying in his bed like that. Their skin glistened with
sweat. Salem raised his glass high and grinned. "To us."
"To us," they repeated, returning his gesture.
Salem raised the glass to his lips. Before he could drink, his muscles seized, and he tumbled back onto the floor.
Blackness engulfed him.