Khalon nodded. “We had to make it believable in order to draw him and all his followers out once and for all. I would not have them roaming our realm, plotting our destruction.”
“Which is why you waited to tell me,” Ezra deduced. “You realized I was being watched and needed me to believe what I was seeing.”
“We had one chance to draw the traitors out, to put an end to their plotting. We couldn’t wait for them to catch us unaware. It was only a matter of time before the traitors foolishly asked the demons for aid.”
Rayner snorted. “As if demons would keep a bargain.” His expression softened. “Do you forgive us for keeping this from you? Where prophecies and visions are involved, quite complex measures are required to control the situation.”
Ezra smiled warmly at his friend. “No forgiveness is required, my dear friend. It was a difficult time for all of us.” Ezra cocked his head to one side as he studied Adira. “What part did you play in all this? I’ve barely seen you for weeks.”
Adira arched an eyebrow at him. “Dear Ezra, who do you think was in charge of putting all the pieces into place on this blasted chessboard?” Ezra blinked at her, and she rolled her eyes. “Men.”
Khalon chuckled. “Adira was in charge of making certain everyone was where they should be when they should be. She had Verity extended the festival invite to her most trusted Orso warriors, a group which included Gori, Vestri, and Lazzari. We’d suspected them for some time of being involved, though we weren’t certain who was in charge. Adira kept our Soldati from getting in the way.”
“We needed to limit those who knew of our plans,” Rayner added. “We could hardly inform our entire army. But you know our brethren.”
Ezra laughed softly. “Quite stubborn, and very nosy.”
Adira huffed. “Worse than fledgling Soldati.”
“And then Segreti dropped the hint that I was vulnerable,” Khalon said. “Your vision of my death gave Gori what he needed to put a plan into motion. It was only a matter of time before Gori approached Segreti.”
“What happens now?” Ezra asked, his gaze going to Fausti.
Affection filled Khalon’s green eyes. “Queen Verity’s advisor has been arrested, the Soldati Tiger’s Eye is back in our armory, and I have spoken to Fausti and Queen Verity. Both he and Segreti have been released from their pledges and will be declared Soldati during a ceremony this weekend. They are our brothers now.”
Ezra turned to Segreti and threw his arms around him, his happiness ready to overflow. “You’re staying, then?”
Segreti chuckled at Ezra’s enthusiasm. “I am.”
Ezra’s heart soared. “Will you stay with me, or would you prefer your own quarters? I completely understand if you’d prefer your own. You—”
Segreti silenced Ezra with a kiss so passionate and heated it made Ezra’s toes curl. When he released Ezra, he was breathless. “What do you think?”
“I, um, I think I should give you a tour of your quarters.”
Everyone cheered, and Ezra laughed joyously when Segreti scooped Ezra up in his arms. He threw a glance over his shoulder at Khalon. “May we be dismissed, Your Majesty? I have a mate to claim.”
“Segreti,” Ezra exclaimed through a gasp, ignoring the knowing laughs and chuckles around the room.
Khalon waved them off. “You’re dismissed. We’ll discuss your bounty for your part in this victory when you’re less… busy.”
Ezra was so happy to have his love back, he didn’t care that Segreti still carried him. All he could think of was the love in his heart and the knowledge that Segreti would remain at his side.
They entered the bedchamber, and Segreti placed Ezra on his feet so he could lock the door. He’d barely turned around when Ezra was all over him, kissing him, undressing him, moaning his need. Segreti chuckled against his lips as he helped Ezra divest them of their clothes. Once they were naked, Ezra pulled Segreti to what was now their bed. He lay down, his arms held out and knees spread, and Segreti came to lie between them. Their lips came together as if starved, and Ezra tangled his fingers in Segreti’s mane, arching up against him as need flooded him. His inner tiger clawed at his soul, roaring and demanding to be united with its mate.
“Segreti,” Ezra pleaded.
“I know, my love. I know.” He released himself from Ezra’s grip long enough to fetch the small bottle of oil. “I was away from you only a few short hours, yet it felt like an eternity. I love you, my sweet Ezra. My mate. Are you ready to be claimed?”
“If I wait any longer, I fear I may shatter.”
“Then I won’t force you to wait any longer.” Segreti sat back on his heels, and Ezra marveled at his naked form, at his muscular, solid frame, his hair falling over his shoulders and his heated gaze taking in every inch of Ezra. Pouring some oil onto his fingers, he placed a digit to Ezra’s entrance, his gaze never leaving Ezra’s as he pushed a finger in. Ezra sucked in a sharp breath, his toes curling, and his back arched as Segreti’s finger sank deeper. With a moan and near panting breath, Ezra writhed at the intrusive digit, his own fingers clutching fistfuls of the blanket. A whimper he’d never heard himself make, came from his lips.
“Please.” A second finger joined the first and then a third, stretching Ezra impossibly wide. “Yes. I want all of you.” He wanted Segreti to fill him with his hard length and his essence. When he thought he couldn’t take anymore, Segreti leaned over him and guided himself to Ezra’s entrance.
“Breathe, my sweet.”
Ezra did, sucking in a sharp breath at the sudden pain of Segreti’s tip pushing inside him. He sank in slowly until Ezra was seated against him. They both stilled for a heartbeat before Segreti lowered himself on top of Ezra and lifted Ezra’s left leg over Segreti’s shoulder. He pulled out gingerly, then thrust back in. Ezra cried out, the delicious pleasure seeming to clear whatever hesitancy Segreti might have had. He moved his hips, thrusting in deep over and over.
Segreti kissed him, their breathless panting and bodies coming together the only sounds in the quiet room.
“Yes,” Ezra cried out, the friction on his rock-hard shaft caught between their stomachs painfully delicious. “Make me yours.” He dug his fingers into Segreti’s back as Segreti pounded into him like a feral beast, laying claim to his body as he was about to do to Ezra’s soul. Segreti moved his lips from Ezra’s to Ezra’s neck, then the muscle between his neck and shoulder blade. The anticipation almost undid Ezra. He closed his fingers around fistfuls of Segreti’s hair, squeezing tight. “Do it. Please.”
Segreti’s fangs sank into Ezra’s neck, transferring his Orso essence into Ezra. The scalding heat spread from his neck into the rest of him, flaring like an inferno. Ezra opened his mouth to scream, the light from his Soldati soul bursting into the room. Segreti’s hips lost all rhythm as he chased his orgasm, Ezra’s own thundering through him. Releasing Ezra’s shoulder, Segreti roared as he spilled himself inside Ezra, filling him completely, or so it seemed. Ezra’s release exploded, and he gasped as his power flared. The bed lifted several inches before falling back to the floor, then silence.