Bacchus stalked in without any concern for our privacy. It didn’t matter if us Immortals were naked or screwing. Juni and Damelza made a point of not coming to this part of the castle, but instead, summoned us through the brands.
My brow creased.
The rat-a-tat was more hesitant this time.
My lovers and I exchanged glances. Then Magenta slipped off my lap to stand in front of Bask and me protectively. I raised my eyebrow. Huh, no one but dad had ever shielded me before, and I was careful to hold inside the grin that she thought that I needed it.
Magenta's power was a serious turn-on. She radiated strength, smarts, and kindness. It made my balls ache in a good way.
Bask pouted that his petting companion had been taken away from him. "Go away if it pleases you," he called, "we're studying."
Silence, as if the person outside was considering this.
"This could be a good opportunity for you to learn the lesson about sharing," Magenta whispered.
I bristled. How did she know who was visiting us?
"I'd be honoured to...study...with you," Willoughby's muffled voice called back through the door.
I rolled my eyes. I was desperate for a mage, and I'd conjured an elf instead. Fate had a screwed sense of humor.
Magenta's eyes, however, lit up with such excitement that something twisted inside me. She craved this, and I wasn't such an asshole that I'd deny her a love that met her needs. The Ice Prince suited her own icy soul.
It didn't hurt that Willoughby had lean limbs that'd feel awesome wrapped around my hips as I pounded into him, a perfect voice to duet with, and the prettiest hair that I'd ever seen on a guy.
Hey, he had possibilities.
I sauntered to the door, swinging it open.
Willoughby's head was ducked, and his hair hung across his face. He blinked like he hadn't expected us to open the door. The unguarded softness made him look adorable, before he raised his head, shifting back into the stance of predatory danger, which I was used to. I shivered; I could come to love both sides.
He glanced over my shoulder at Magenta and smiled.
I rested against the door frame, crossing my arms. "Why didn't you just barge in?"
He shot me an affronted look. "Your wing is warded against Princes, just as mine is warded against you Immortals. I can’t enter without permission. Plus, Light Elves are raised with manners."
"Of course, The Pointy Ears Book of Formal Manners," Bask smirked
Willoughby arched his brow. "Have you forgotten how perfectly you fitted over my lap and the hot slap of my hand across your behind?"
Bask blushed, but his dick hardened, tenting under the sheets and betraying his true feelings about the subject of being over Willoughby's knee again. By Willoughby's knowing look, he'd guessed the effect of his words.
I slammed my hand against the door frame, and Willoughby's expression became less certain. "So, we're kind of busy here..."
He reached behind him to pick up a large wicker picnic basket. He swung it between us like an offering. His gaze still had that lost look around the edges but like he was struggling to remain present with us.
"You missed breakfast and lunch. I thought..."
I studied the basket, remembering the tea towel that Fox had been forced to use for our picnic in the Dead Wood. Most of the time, Immortals were starved on barely edible food, while the Princes ate luxury food parcels that were sent by Titus. Fox had created something that he called crisp sandwiches for us.
Why had I mocked him when he'd been trying his best?
I'd take Fox's lovingly made crisp sandwiches over the Prince's casual luxury any time.
I knocked away the basket, and Willoughby's eyes widened with shock. "We're not hungry."
Behind me, however, Magenta let out a squeal of delight. "Did you bring cucumber sandwiches, scones, pies with meat fillings, and those little cakes with cream inside?" My stomach rumbled: traitor. She clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes. "Did you remember the tea?"
Willoughby’s lips quirked. "My favorite blend."
Magenta's sigh was orgasmic and made my dick twitch. Willoughby's uniform was so tight that it didn't hide how hard he was either.
He eyed me. "Do I now have permission to enter?"
"Yeah, come on. It'd take a braver man than me to get between Magenta and her tea." It felt weird to share a private smile with Willoughby.
I watched, as he settled the basket on the floor, and Magenta eagerly curled next to it. Bask scrambled out of bed and didn't even pause to throw on his pants.
Bask’s immodesty was one of his most endearing qualities. But then, if I was that beautiful, I'd also stroll around shaking my naked ass.
Bask winced, however, at the freeze of the polished stone on the soles of his feet. He hated the cold.
Before Bask could sit down, Willoughby dragged a blanket off the bed and spread it on the floor. Magenta sprawled on the blanket, and Bask winked at Willoughby in thanks, before sitting down cross-legged.
"Naked picnics were all the rage in the incubi harem," Bask said. "Here's the thing of it, they often include other fun games..."
"Color me surprised," I growled, staking my position next to Magenta.
Magenta ran her hand down my leg at the same time as holding her hand out to Willoughby.
Willoughby knelt next to the basket. He took Magenta's hand but only to raise the back of it to his lips and gently kiss it. Her breath hitched.
Only the day before, Willoughby had sat with us beside the lake, before taking Bask over his lap. After all, it'd been part of our plan to win him to the side of the Immortals in order to break the spell within the Membership and free us from the wards. The night before that, Magenta had screwed Willoughby and slept in his arms. The way that he'd possessed her alone that night... disturbed me.
Did Magenta love me in the same way? It was like they were kindred spirits who understood each other.
But what was I?
Love me, Valhalla, love me.
Yet this felt different…like a date.
Giants and trolls, was this a date?
When I spluttered with laughter before I could stop myself, Magenta shot me a we're all crazy here but that just makes us awesome look.
Willoughby probably called it something romantic like courting. Okay then, I’d never been courted before, and I'd swear on the Runes that Bask hadn't been either.
Time to enjoy this.
"Show us what you've got," I challenged.
Willoughby flipped open the basket, before laying out a feast of sandwiches, cakes, and chocolates on delicate plates.
Was I drooling?
Bask snatched a chocolate cupcake and stuffed it in his face like he was scared that the food was only a mirage. Then he did a thumbs up.
When Willoughby laid out silk napkins like we were at a dinner party for royalty, I snorted.
Magenta nodded, on the other hand, approvingly. "At last, someone who understands proper picnic etiquette. I was afraid that such things had been forgotten in this age to be replaced by a bizarre casualness of attire."
She stared at Bask and me pointedly.
I glanced down at my bare chest. "What?"
Bask ran his hand down his own chest, tweaking his nipple. "Whoops, did I mix up black tie with nudist on the invitation again?"
Willoughby laughed, low and musical. When he held out a plate of beef sandwiches, I snatched one and devoured its salty goodness.