Dead Moons Rising: First in the Honest Scrolls series

her leg still hooked around him, his hand now grazing her sensitive vagina slowly.
She swallowed hard and raised a pleased brow at him. “Fuck me, Belwark.”
He obliged swifter than she expected. His length filled her at an instant, and he hugged her thigh against him as he pushed in and out of her, harshly. Her fingertips dug into his body, nails scratching the surface of his skin to reveal the fiery ash of a Belwark’s insides where there should have been blood. The rock behind her scratched her shoulder as he pushed harder and harder, and then finally, he let himself go with an audible groan into her hair. She could see the sweat on his forehead when he pulled out of her and let her leg go.
She pushed her hair off her face and gave him a sultry smile. “Exceeding expectations, Corbin. I think I’ll keep you.”
Aydra’s smug smile didn’t wipe from her face as she allowed her brother’s once Belwark to escort her back through the town and up to the castle. He didn’t leave her side or let the stern look of his face to leave as they walked through the town. Aydra’s skin was sticky with the salt of the beach beneath her blackened vest and leather pants. Her boots were full of sand. She reminded herself to bring an extra set of clothes the next she thought she might go to the beach after an execution.
Sand danced on the black rug through the hallways of the castle upon their reaching it, and not just from her own feet. Corbin continued to escort her at her side in silence.
“Where is he?” she asked him as the great doors of the castle closed behind.
“His study,” Corbin answered.
Aydra took the steps and paraded through the open halls, the waning sun dancing on her skin as she hopped up staircases and wound through the castle. His study was in the eastern corner below the Council room where he had his own secret staircase to the back of it. Two Belwarks stood guard at the door, and both gave her a nod upon reaching it.
“I will announce you,” Corbin said upon stepping in front of her.
She paused and felt her lips twist into a smile at the memory of his taking her against the cliff face. “Very well, Belwark,” she purred.
The doors opened, and Corbin stepped inside.
“Queen Aydra, as requested, Your Majesty,” Corbin said with a bow.
Rhaif turned around from the grand window he was staring out of, and his curly black hair fell over his eyes as he gave Corbin a nod. “Thank you, Corbin,” he said. “You’ll stand guard and then accompany her back to her room and then to the front to greet the Council after I’ve spoken with my sister.”
“No,” Aydra interjected as she strode into the room. “Corbin takes orders from me now.” She turned and gave him a smile over her shoulder. “Thank you for the escort, Corbin. I can handle things from here. Take your leave for the night,” she told him with a wink.
Her brother was glaring at her once she turned back around. She smirked at him, and the doors closed behind her.
Rhaif’s knuckles tightened white against the cup in his hands. “How many more of them will you take from me?” he growled.
“As many as want to come with me,” she mused, throwing herself into his new taut leather armchair behind his desk. She felt her body purr at the feeling of the supple leather beneath her skin. “This is nice. Is it new?”
“Get out of my chair,” he hissed.
She grinned, but stood nonetheless and retired herself to the lounger on the other side of the desk. “What’s up your ass? You’re in a more perturbed mood than usual.”
Rhaif sighed and met her eyes. “It seems the Infi have infiltrated more than one of the Dreamer towns,” he informed her. “Nobles from the other three sent word this morning of their having to deal with the infestation.”
Aydra’s mood shifted and she sat up in the chair. “How many?”
“A total of six were discovered,” he said.
“In addition to the two found here?” she asked.
Rhaif’s fist opened and closed, and he nodded. “So it would seem.” He paused and circled around the desk, leaning against the top of it as he faced her. “I thought with your being head of security, you should know. Also, I was hoping you would have some ideas as to how to vanish such a problem.”
Aydra quieted as she thought about it a moment. “We will speak with the Venari King when he gets here tomorrow,” she said. “Bring it up at the meeting. If he’s allowing the Infi to walk out of his wood, what else is he up to?”
Rhaif met her gaze. “I am glad to know we are on the same page, sister.” He paused and gave her a bold stare, eyes traveling over her body. She hugged her arms over her chest uncomfortably, and then stood from the chair.
“Was there anything else before we go meet the Council’s arrival?”
“These men you concern yourself with,” he started, now stepping around the desk. “Why not choose one of them instead of carrying a trail of them at your feet.”
She felt her head tilt at him, eyes narrowing. “Why should a king be allowed to have his fun with as many different Dreamer women as he likes, but a Queen not be?” she asked. “Do I not deserve the indulgence of a variety of pleasures myself?”
He considered her a moment as he leaned against the desk. “What about Ash? Is he not a favorite?”
“Ash is not always here,” she said. “Not to mention Ash can be a bit… safe.”
The first smirk she’d seen in years on her brother’s face rose onto his lips. “And the Belwarks aren’t?”
She met his smile. “Belwarks are a different breed. Born of the earth. Strength of fire. I love the trail of ash and fire beneath their skin when I scratch