This is the third chapter in the second story about Elowen and Thalion. It should stand alone, but if you're interested in what came before, here are the links to the previous Elowen and Thalion story: One: A Forced Union:
https://www.literotica.com/s/a-forced-union
, Two: Shadows of Obligation:
https://www.literotica.com/s/shadows-of-obligation
, Three: A Moonlit Pact:
https://literotica.com/s/a-moonlit-pact-elowen-and-thalion-3
Four: A Lover's Dance:
https://literotica.com/s/a-lovers-dance-elowen-and-thalion
First chapter of this story:
https://literotica.com/s/elowen-and-thalion-pt-02-ch-01
Second chapter of this story:
https://literotica.com/s/elowen-and-thalion-pt-02-ch-02
Chapter Three: A Test of Hospitality
Elowen's gaze flickered to Thalion as they rode back to the castle. Harsh lines drew the tendons in his neck tight and his fingers worried at the pad that covered his skydancer's back.
"MyโThalion." She touched his arm. "What is it?"
He covered her fingers with his own. "I dislike the timing of this. Ferin visits and a pit of dark power springs up in my land at the same time. It is very convenient."
A tremble ran through Elowen. "What are we going to do?"
"I don't know." Muscles feathered along his jaw. "With The Lord's Flesh we gave the bloomfae enough dust to contain the pit until I can try again."
"We?" She threaded her fingers through his. "I thought it was me they were feeding from."
A smile quirked in the corner of his mouth. "That was part of my design." His mount danced closer to hers and he leaned over, his lips soft on her temple. "I love watching you blush while writhing with pleasure."
A bolt of shame and remembered desire tightened Elowen's groin, and she clung to the skydancer beneath her.
"Exactly like that." Thalion rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone, then let her go. "But we both fed the bloomfae. I cannot expect them to maintain a barrier around that thing without giving them the power to do so, and without their meadow, they cannot create fairy dust."
Ahead of them, Pyreheart loomed at the end of the lane, the ocean booming against the cliffs. The castle glowed as though it stood in the center of a conflagration, obsidian arches providing dark highlights in the flames. Thalion led the way across the drawbridge, hooves clattering on wood. He helped Elowen dismount, his hands spanning her waist.
As he set her down, he cupped her face. The serious look in his eyes gave her pause and her heart thudded against her ribs. He ran a thumb over her lips. "Ferin might ask for guest rights."
Her brow furrowed. "We have already agreed that he stays in the castle, and we will feed him, of course. What more could he want?"
Thalion's silver eyebrows arched. "He is an eirnacht. The journey may have left him exhausted, and he could request replenishment. Normally, I would offer him fairy dust, but given the situation, that's no longer an option."
Elowen's stomach hollowed out. "MyโMy lord?" He couldn't mean for her...
Thalion sighed and kissed her. "You are the only water initiate in the castle. By rights, he could ask for you."
"But we're married!" Shock thrilled through Elowen, her limbs trembling.
The milling guards and grooms around them froze, heads turning in furtive glances at her exclamation.
"So?" Thalion shot her an irritated glance. "He's not going to take you to a grove and evoke a child."
Humanity weighed heavily on Elowen at that moment, and she stepped back from her sidhe husband. "You said I would always have a choice."
Thalion let her go, his throat-boll jerking in his throat. "You do. If you want to be nothing but my wife, I could refuse him. But as you are also a water eirnacht in training under my tutelage. He is entitled to guest rights. Entitled to you."
Elowen crossed her arms, hugging herself. Another man's hands roving across her breasts. The thought sped her breath, even as fear curdled inside her, leaving a metallic taste on her tongue. She had known no man but Thalion. Yielding to a stranger... The thought of it sent a bolt of desire straight through her.
Inside her, the moondrop blossom reached for the light. She was an eirnacht, and the power demanded its own price. Lifting her chin, she met Thalion's eyes. "If that is your will, my lord."
Thalion looked away. "Obligation and curtesy binds us both." His gaze came back to her. "If he asks for you, I want you to remember the tabu. He's not known for his temperance."
Elowen's guts knotted together, a pulse surging in her groin. Fear and desire, her old friends, raging inside her once more. "Yes, my lord." The words ached her heart, the moment of intimacy in the forest shattered.
What if going to this man pleased her? What would such a wanton thing say about her?
Thalion rubbed along his jaw, his eyebrows quirking as he looked her up and down. At last, he shook his head and offered his arm. "Come. We must greet our guest."
Smoothing down her skirts, she took the proffered arm, and they entered Pyreheart Castle. Juxtaposed with the soft glow of the setting sun, a hard line of tension rode the air in the great hall. Denizens of the castle filled the benches, trenchers of food crowding the tables. The subtle scent of salt mingled with exotic incense, blue smoke drifting from hearths already lit against the coming chill.
Lord Ferin Sundrenched sat at the high table, his skin glittering as gold as his banner. Servants buzzed about him, fetching wine and laying out a feast with an assortment of delicacies.