Chapter 53

I found Sten in his usual spot in the study. He was bent over a book. A single finger traced across the page as he read. His other hand held his steaming mug of tea. It took my breath away how handsome he looked in his element, surrounded by the dark comforts of the room. My gaze moved over his strong body and up to his face.

I took a moment to take in his bruising. It still amazed me how fast we healed. Only a few days had passed since Sten and his brothers "worked" things out, yet his lip was healed and his bruises were fading. One of the perks of possessing magic.

After I surfaced from my vision a few days ago and saw Sten again, I had been furious. The guys had mentioned they wanted to talk to Sten about keeping secrets and making decisions without us, but I thought I'd be there.

I also thought there would be words-not fists-exchanged. I was informed that this is how the group had always handled arguments. Sten knew he was wrong so he took his punishment.

I'd taken in Sten's apology, made him promise to do better, and let it go. I figured the few hits he got from his brothers were enough to settle this quarrel. A part of me was also tired of the same argument and hoped the physical reminder would stop it from happening again.

"Are you going to just stare at me, or can I help you, princess?" Sten mumbled from over his book.

I rolled my eyes at his tone. He hated being interrupted from his reading, but he was always reading. Walking over to the desk I crossed my arms and stood in front of him.

"Sorry. That was grumpier than I meant it to be." Sten frowned and glanced up at me before returning to his book.

I frowned and moved around the desk, standing between him and his book. I had questions for him. His large hands settled on my hips and moved forward so our fronts were pressed together. A grin spread over his face.

"Can I make it up to you?" He asked, his hands already moving up my skin under my t-shirt.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, resting my hands on his shoulders.

"Let me show you." He grinned and stood.

He pressed his lips to mine in a bruising kiss, which I gladly accepted and returned. He pulled my shirt up over my head, breaking our kiss so it could pass between us. I hastily pulled his shirt up over him, flinging it behind me on the floor. I grinned as I took in his toned pecs and abdomen. His biceps flexed as he leaned on the desk, a hand on either side of me, caging me in.

Instead of returning his lips to mine, he trailed them down my jaw, over my throat. He trailed his lips over my collar bone, to my breast as he dropped to his knees. Unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them down my leg as he pulled my nipple into his mouth, sucking it hard before scrapping his teeth over and doing the same to the other side. I hummed at the sensation.

He pulled my jeans off and lifted me so I was sitting on the edge of the desk. I looked down into his gold-flecked brown eyes as he settled between my legs and settling them over his shoulders and holding me by my hips. Then he licked me.

Sten growled as his tongue met my center, and then he let himself go. He pinned me to the desk with one hand, as he used the other to slide a finger into me. Setting a relentless pattern, he drove me to the edge of my climax.

His hold tightened on me, keeping me in place as he continued to lick me. Alternating with his tongue and fingers he sent me into a second shattering, before slowing his motions and letting me come down slowly from my release.

He pulled away and grinned at me. The evidence of my release shinned on his chin and around his lips. Reaching up he wiped what he could away and leaned over me and kissed me deeply. I reached for him, but he swatted my hand away.

"This was just for you. You wanted something?" He purred in my ear.

Confusion filled me as I tried to recall what had brought me into the study. I hummed noncommittedly as I sorted my thoughts. Balance.

"When I was first learning about magic and using it, you said that magic needed balance. Most of the time it cost the user energy. Some darker magic could darken our soul, or cause bloodlust. Does that include beings?" I asked, kissing his cheek before pushing him off of me, so I could get dressed and we could talk.

He flopped back into his office chair and watched me gather my clothes.

"What do you mean?" His gaze moved to the ceiling as he considered my words.

"If I'm from the bloodline of the goddess, does that mean there's an offspring from the chaos god? Like yin and yang?" I shrugged, buttoning my jeans.

"Not necessarily. However, in order to kill your parent that carried the bloodline, the being would have to have been powerful. And not like average powerful, but from some royal bloodline." Sten's eyes followed me as I walked around and leaned on the desk beside his chair.

"So it's possible. Is that why I can connect with them? Because they are of a royal bloodline?" My voice was soft, even to my own ears.

"That makes sense. I'll see what other bloodlines are linked to the area. You could also be connected another way. Maybe you encountered them before. With my magic, I can't dreamwalk unless I've met the person. It's also easier to read an aura that I've interacted with before. It could be something similar." Sten nodded and returned to his book.

"I'll go-" A chill raced down my spine as I walked to the door.

Something was wrong.

I spun and turned to Sten. His eyes were wide as he took in my emotions. He stood, his chair gliding back and hitting the bookshelf.

"We need to move. There's an attack at the edge of the border near our cabin." Erik yelled as he raced down the stairs.

We followed him out, Frode and Rune already in their fur. We quickly shifted and raced after Frode. It looked like our quiet was ending.