20- Compersion

A man has never looked so beautiful as Calvin. Callie is sure of it. 

Laying beside her, in the bed that sometimes feels like a prison of formality and status, she can do nothing but stare constantly at him - the rugged perfection of his square jaw, the divots of his dimpled cheeks, the little lines and wrinkles between his pores that show a man who is unafraid to laugh and smile. 

And his eyes. 

Gods. 

Her palm rests on his cheekbone while her thumb runs along the bridge of his brow. Calvin looks as though he could be sleeping more soundly than anyone has ever slept, his lashes mingling together at the base of his closed eyelids. Awake or not, she wishes he’d lift his eyelids and let her watch his breathtaking eyes forever. 

Nothing they’d done together could be as intimate as simply lying in bed while the sun slowly sets. The last week she’d insisted he spend every evening within her sheets, meeting the sunset together and marveling at the spectacular transgression it is to be together like this. Her legs are tickled by the hairs on his, her shoulders held dearly by his muscled hands. Her nostrils filled with the soft comfort of his smell. 

She takes as many moments between these seconds as she can, wishing she could stretch them out to infinity. To stay here forever, to never be pulled away for anything ever again, surely that’s all she needs to be happy. 

But she knows it’s simply a majesty of feeling. There is work to do. 

Callie rouses, bringing her lips to his forehead and waking him with as much gentleness as she can possibly bear. His lashes blink open, adorned with the shining glory of a happy awakening. 

His voice is low as it rumbles, “That time already?” 

She brings herself in to kiss him sweetly, a hand on either cheek. “All this effort, and I’m still not able to spend the night with you.” 

Calvin’s fingers in her hair prevent her exit. “Stay home, then. Just for tonight.” 

Gods, I want to. 

“I can’t,” she shakes her head. She frees herself from his hand and rests the back of his palm against her mouth. 

It takes him hardly any effort to lift himself over her, guiding her back into the sheets and laying on top of her. A soft, involuntary sound leaves her throat as his mouth meets hers. And when he’s pulling his neck back, his eyes make her want to give him anything he could ever desire. 

“Take a night for yourself. You deserve it,” he insists. His thigh is slipping between hers. “Spend it with me instead.” 

She fills her lungs with the longing air between them, then her eyes flick to the door. “I really should be out there.” And, a little soberly, “I feel like I’ll be playing catch up forever.” 

“You don’t have to take it all upon yourself. You have time. You don’t need to rush.” 

A pang of guilt chimes in her chest, thinking of how desperately people had pushed their way to see her on the first night she’d gone out to bring Yala’s blessing. Five consecutive nights of it, and the energy had hardly mellowed. 

“People need me,” she rebuttals. 

“People will always need you.” With a small shift of his body, Callie is suddenly quite aware of the thoughts in his mind. “For example - me, right now.” 

“Calvin,” she smirks, mockingly annoyed. She lets him see her roll her eyes, and undeterred by the part of her that’s already straining to find an excuse to stay, she moves to free herself from his weight. 

But Calvin’s fingers crawl up the length of her forearms, pulling them up above her head and then tenderly clamping them down into the mattress - and suddenly the arguments to stay find a new compelling offer. He leans forward as he pins her, his lips meeting her neck. 

“Hey, beautiful,” his voice tickles her ear.

Another little noise leaves her, and Callie has to fight against herself to keep her eyes open and her mind focused. 

Maybe I should stay…

So, she grabs hold of her newfound sense of purpose in her work and steals her resolve. She eagerly brings her mouth to his, pouring as much enthusiasm into it as she can while ignoring the straining feeling down at her hips. She makes it a kiss he won’t soon forget, full of tongue and pressure and cute noises. 

She waits until his own breath rumbles in his chest before pulling back. “Happy?” 

His brows furrow seriously. “Not at all. In fact, I just need you more.” 

She snorts. “Then I’m afraid you’ll be bothered and needy all night long.” She pouts her lips. “Poor Knight-Commander, you’ll never make it.” 

“Never,” he agrees breathlessly. She attempts to escape his grasp, but his palms at her wrists hold her down with more pressure. Callie struggles against his hold and finds herself gaining a reminder once more of how much stronger he really is. She gulps. 

“Calvin?” 

“Callie,” he sighs enthusiastically. And with even more force holding her down, he returns to kissing her neck, slowly moving his way up from the soft edge of her collarbone to her rounded earlobe. His teeth nibble on it playfully and she finds herself squirming in place. 

“I really should be going,” she protests, a little less assuredly than before. 

“I really think you should stay,” he contests, bringing his hips down into her own. He lifts them up, only to bring them in once more, slowly grinding against her and sending her head rocking back. 

“Calvin,” she sighs gloriously. 

His stubble tickles her other cheek now, his attention just below her left ear. “I love it when you say my name,” he mutters gorgeously. 

“I love it when you… mmphf.”

She’s quickly debating how terrible it would be to stay in for the night. There’s no structure for her as Yala’s Devotia - her survival of excommunication has left her making up the rules as she sees fit. Perhaps tonight is a night of recovery for the Devotia, perhaps she requires an evening to rest from her duties, to let herself be filled by Yala’s purpose. 

Filled by something. 

A knock at the door interrupts her debate. 

“That… that’ll be Gloriana,” she struggles out.

“Pity you can’t make it to the door,” he grins, tightening his grasp just to prove the point. 

She makes a futile attempt to rise, mostly just to appease the need to make an effort. She can feel his excitement pressing into her, his steady erection playing with her own. 

“Calvin,” she utters, “I need to… to…” 

Her lips split open with a sound from deep in her chest, and it takes effort to clamp it down and not give it breath. She tries to bring her hands to cover her mouth, forgetting hers are currently pinned beyond her control. Calvin shifts her wrists together, and in a mildly embarrassing moment for her, successfully restrains her with only one of his hands. 

“Do you think I can get you to moan loud enough for her to hear you?” He teases. 

“Yes,” she complains, just as his newly freed hand drifts a finger down her sternum. With a begrudging feeling of want, she whispers, “Don’t make me use magic to get you off of me.” 

His finger sparkles with a silvery, reflective twirl. “Don’t make me use magic to get you off,” he chuckles smartly. 

Callie laughs with him, only to find herself interrupted by a gasp as he pinches one of her nipples, taking hold of the hard skin and causing her to shiver delightedly. 

Another knock at the door. 

She forces herself to remain composed, to make a final, valiant effort to resist her need for him. “Let me get the door so she doesn’t worry.” 

He holds her steady. “Promise you’ll send her away and stay with me.” 

She rolls her eyes and kisses him. She sighs. “I promise. Happy?” 

“Very,” he rumbles approvingly. 

And he finally releases her, allowing Callie to bring herself out of the sheets and march to the door. She fixes her dress as she goes, then grins mischievously and tosses a look back to him. “I lied.” 

A flash of distress crosses his face and she giggles at it, racing to the door before he can stop her and throwing it open. 

Where she expects the glinting steel of Gloriana’s armor, she’s met instead with the familiar folds of a dress that matches her own. 

“Hey, Cal.”

“June. I thought you were Gloriana.” She pokes her head out of the doorway, glancing up and down to confirm the paladin is nowhere in sight. Callie shrugs, placing a pleasantly surprised warmth on her face as it meets Junivere’s. She’s just about to ask how she’s doing when her fellow Devotia asserts -

“I don’t think you should go out there tonight.” 

The previous warmth leaves Callie’s face. “I’m going.” 

“Please, don’t,” Junivere’s arms cross over her chest. Not quite upset. Not quite impatient. But something. 

“Why not?” She furrows her brow, then turns to give Calvin a stare filled with suspicion. “Why are you both trying to keep me home tonight? Did June put you up to this?” 

Junivere sighs, also frowning at Calvin. “You couldn’t convince her?” 

He sits up. “I tried to seduce her. In my defense, that’s never not worked.” 

Callie shifts her focus between the two of them, impatient for an explanation of why they’ve conspired together. “What is going on?” 

Junivere makes a displeased noise and steps inside, carefully closing the door behind her and ensuring it shuts tightly. She takes one of Callie’s hands and pulls her further into the room. 

From the bed, Calvin asks, “Should I leave-,”

“No,” Junivere resolves. “She’s so stubborn I might need your help.” 

She guides Callie down onto the side of the bed, sitting her beside Calvin, and stands before the two of them. She has a gloomy air about her, a sort of displeasure Junivere often reserved for tasks she disliked - going to the theater, for instance, or cooking. Or cleaning. Or… well, really any chore. Callie supposes she’d had her fair share before her anointing. 

“Are you going to finally explain?” 

Junivere purses her lips. Takes a step back, then one forward. “Callie.” A Pause. “From my very first day in Solva, I have warned you that Devotia are constantly under threat. They have enemies,” she says imperatively. A breath. “I’m worried for your safety.” 

Callie considers her, surprised by how much anxiety has disrupted Junivere’s typically iron-clad composure. “I’ll have Gloriana and the priestesses,” she replies, not sharing her concern. And the goddess. 

“I just think you need to consider-,”

“And excommunication isn’t a threat anymore,” Callie supplies, adding to her case. “Hamada and Baris will vote to protect me if anyone tries.” 

Junivere takes Callie’s hands, both of them, and holds them like they might break. Her grip tightens nervously, and Callie’s surprised to feel them clammy and almost trembling. Junivere’s voice is careful as she asks Calvin, “Have you told her yet?” 

“No,” he deflates into a shared fear. “I thought it best not to.” 

Callie tries to pull her hands away from Junivere, wishing to stare them both down once more, but the fellow Devotia holds fast, unwavering in her attempt to meet Callie’s eyes. 

“Velena challenged Xamner.” 

Shit.

Callie swallows, a heavy feeling in her chest. “Who won?” 

Junivere shakes her head. “Xamner was clever. He had Dynasa challenge him and set a time before Velena’s, then he surrendered immediately.” A tense beat. “Then Dynasa challenged Velena.” 

A low exhale escapes Callie. “Can a Magewitch be a Magister, too?” 

“I don’t think anyone knows. There’s no precedent for any of this.” 

“Who won?” 

Junivere squeezes her hands. “That’s why I-,” a glance to Calvin, “we, want you home tonight. They’re dueling at midnight.” 

Callie frowns deeper. “Suul’s magic doesn’t-,”

“Some of it does. Just a little.” And then she releases a sigh. “And then there’s things like threaded scrolls, trick’s like Hamada’s tattoos. They still work.”

“Dynasa knows she can’t beat Velena outright…” 

Calvin nods in agreement. “But at night, she stands a slim chance.” 

Callie tries to imagine it - what brilliant and frightening tricks the two mages would develop in the hours until then. She’s never considered anything like Hamada’s tattoos, but they were astounding, unlike any magic she’s ever seen before. Truly, all of the magic from their duel was simultaneously fascinating and terrifying. 

“I don’t see why I have to stay at home,” Callie concludes, dropping Junivere’s hands and tucking her legs underneath herself. “If something as important as this is happening, it would be good for me to be there, for the city.” 

Junivere and Calvin share a look. A conversation passes between their glance, one filled with shame and an awkward responsibility. Calvin hangs his head. 

“What?” Callie tries to meet his eyes. “What is it?” 

He gestures for Junivere, who accepts the task. “Callie…” And in her tone, Callie can already feel her concern, an accompanying pang of guilt responding in her chest. “...Did you find a way to bless Magister Hamada during her duel?” 

Callie shoves away the condemning weight inside her gut. “Blessings can’t happen at that range,” she deflects. “Besides, Magisters are forbidden from receiving them.” 

Junivere closes her eyes, and Callie can tell her lie was more transparent than she’d hoped. She can feel the whispers of disappointment and worry from them both. Mercifully, Junivere replies, “I’m going to choose to believe you.” A beat. “But Hamada, Velena, and Dynasa all think you did it.” 

Fuck.

And at that, Callie feels the harsh grasp of gravity upon her. “Oh. Oh, no.” 

“If you were present at this duel tonight… it could pose another legitimacy crisis.” She drops her shoulders. “Or worse, one of them could find a way and force a blessing from you before it.” 

“And then one of them steps in at midnight with unmatched power,” Calvin completes. 

“It would go badly, Callie. Really badly.” 

She’d hoped the Magisters would accept the Knight-Captain’s ruling of divine intervention as fact, and that her intervention would be dismissed. But if all of them knew she had… and had spent days considering its effects…

Who’s to say what they might prepare in response? 

So, Callie nods, slowly and somberly. “I get it,” she says mournfully. “I’m convinced. I’ll stay.” 

The two of them share a breath of relief. And then Junivere is leaning in to kiss her forehead, uttering a relieved, “Thank you,” just as Calvin is taking her hand and also whispering, “Thank you.” 

They both awkwardly retreat from the moment, embarrassed to have the same feeling of priority over Callie’s emotions. 

“Sorry-,”

“No that’s-,”

“I didn’t mean to-,”

“It was your moment and I-,”

A puff of delight bounces around in Callie’s chest, watching them step on each other’s toes at their affection for her. This is the best thing I’ve ever seen. 

Junivere huffs, holding out her hands to stop them both. “This is your time to be with her,” she tells Calvin. “I’m sorry to intrude.” 

But the Knight-Commander shakes his head. “I’ve been with her all afternoon. You should get time with her, if you want.” 

And Callie takes hold of both of their hands, squeezing them with a playful smirk upon her face. Quietly, she’s chanting, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” 

Junivere snorts and throws a palm against Callie’s sternum, shoving her into the bed with a casual disregard. She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms back over her chest as she faces Callie. “I only make out with you.” 

Callie’s already rebutting, “You make out with tons of people-,”

“For the goddess. I only kiss you and Silas, sometimes, for pleasure.” Her gaze shifts to Calvin, where she shrugs and adds, “I mean no disrespect - she speaks highly of your aptitude.” 

“And yours,” he chokes out, stifling a chuckle. “No disrespect taken.” 

Beaming, and allowing her delight at their shared affections for her to cover over the prickles of fear in the back of her mind, Callie leaps up to her feet. She marches a few steps past Junivere, angling for the door, and over her shoulder quips, “Well, there’s only one thing that could convince me to stay. Otherwise, I ought to summon Gloriana.” 

This elicits another low sigh from Junivere. “Callie…” A beat. “Calvin, I’m sorry about this.” 

Turning with delight, eager to see the two of them finally kiss, Callie releases a surprised yelp. She feels herself lurching back towards the bed as a familiar wrapping of golden light tightens across her form. Her arms are wretched to her sides and tied down with the magical tendrils, her legs bound and bent. Junivere deposits her face down into the sheets. 

“Not what I was expecting,” Calvin muses. 

“She’ll enjoy it just as much.” 

“Really?” 

Junivere pips up excitedly. “You haven’t tried? She adores being tied up.” 

“You’ve had far more time with her,” Calvin explains. He shifts on the bed, resting his back into the bedpost while Junivere stands and watches Callie struggle against the cords. “When we’re together, the sex is usually more focused on romance - about how we feel about one another.” 

“Cute.” 

Callie fights to look at the two of them, feeling herself drop deeper into her planning of how to make this happen with all of them. She’s just about to give it another go to convince them, when Junivere reads her expression and adjusts the ropes to gag her mouth - twisting her hand delicately to do so. Callie squirms as the cords squeeze her, and Junivere grins. 

Calvin’s fingers tug at one of the bindings around Callie’s legs, slipping underneath them and investigating their strength. “How do you have so much control of them?” 

“Practice.” 

“Ah.” Calvin’s blushing at the implications as Callie meets his eyes. “I’ve practiced threadbeams plenty at the college and as a paladin, and I’ve never had this level of control.” 

“I’m using them for rather different purposes than a knight,” Junivere muses. Then, in a low and suggestive tone, adds, “Well, most knights.” She smirks, proud of herself.

Callie shuffles herself to a position on her back where she can lift her head up and see either of them. Junivere regards her with a thoughtful stare, always watching her carefully to ensure she’s enjoying the experience. Callie knows her trained eyes are studiously measuring every knot and every bend of the cords to ensure she doesn’t need to quickly dispel them. 

A glance at Calvin reveals an impressed curiosity, poking around at the threadbeams and studying their effectiveness. His eyes flick to hers briefly and she finds herself flushing at the lewd thoughts brightening his irises. 

Callie finds herself desperately imagining both of their hands upon her - Junivere’s soft and precise; Calvin’s powerful and warm. 

“This is…” 

“Weird, yes,” Calvin agrees, clearing his throat. He releases a breath, removing his fingers from the ropes and turning back to Junivere, who remains a few steps back from the bed. “I feel as though I know so much about you, though I’ve hardly spoken to you.” And, patting Callie’s leg like she is a borrowed piece of equipment, he adds, “Thank you, uh, for not letting her be too lonely at night.” 

Is he… insecure around her? 

Callie nearly giggles with delight. Calvin is nervous around Junivere. 

He must think she’s better than him. 

And Junivere replies with an uncharacteristic bashfulness, grabbing her elbow with her palm and looking away. “And thank you for teaching her that she could be desired.” She glances at the floor. “She speaks constantly of how your love has restored her faith in her ability to be loved. To be accepted.” 

By the goddesses, they’re both insecure about each other. 

Callie feels a gleeful bubbling in her chest, astounded that either could feel nervous about their relationships with her. They’d hardly interacted with her together, and now, when confronted with the reality that they both love her, both of them are worried she likes the other better. 

Calvin marches on, the words spewing out of him like all he can do is accept Junivere’s primacy. “She tells me constantly of how you’ve taught her to love her own body, to feel at peace with her desires.” 

This is too precious.

Biting down on the cord gagging her, and using their embarrassments as cover, Callie slips her mouth out of its confinement. She rolls onto her side, beaming at both of them and daring, “Just one kiss! To see if you’ll like it!” 

They share a glance, then look away. They’re both blushing adorably. 

A pause. 

Junivere sighs. “You’re so lucky I love you.” 

She steps forward, dropping her face down to Calvin to introduce her mouth to his. It’s a short kiss, awkward and disinterested, carried forth only by the practiced habit of Junivere’s profession. The Knight-Commander is rigid as a board, seemingly frightened of moving in any way as though it would evoke her ire. 

Callie’s face splits wide, full of delight as Junivere pulls away. 

“Happy?” Her fellow Devotia asks. 

“And?” 

“And I don’t know that I’ll do it again,” Junivere rolls her eyes, though a modest flush tickles her cheeks. She flicks back to Calvin. “I mean no disrespect.” 

“Nor I, you,” he coughs. 

Relieved the ordeal is over, Junivere returns to her cool demeanor. “Sorry dear,” she tells Callie. “No living out your dream tonight.” 

Calvin furrows his brow. “Dream?” 

Callie freezes, locking eyes with Junivere and suddenly feeling confronted by the moment. She’d never told Calvin about the dream, never explained that it was the instigator of Junivere’s and Callie’s relationship. She thinks back to the flush of embarrassment that filled her as she had explained it to Junivere - the desire for both of them and the desire to be watched as they have their way with her. 

She stammers, struggling to explain herself. 

“Cute,” Junivere smirks approvingly. “You never told him?” 

Calvin now glances at her. “Told me?” 

Junivere maintains glorious and powerful eye contact with Callie as she explains, in intimate detail, the events of the dream. She spares no thoughts for Callie’s flustering, telling Calvin word for word each act, each twist of their bodies, each seductive phrase that aroused her so deeply. 

She finds herself straining against the cords once more. 

Calvin returns his palm to its place on her thigh, gently massaging the smooth skin as Junivere finishes the story. “It seems I still have more to learn about your desires,” he beams. 

She shuts her eyes tightly, pulling her face away to hide the deep crimson color splashing onto her cheeks. 

“I knew you liked it when I take charge,” he muses, “but I never knew how much. Lately, you’ve been more forward and commanding with me.” 

Junivere pips up, a proud teacher. “She learned it from me.” 

Calvin chuckles. “You should have seen her with Lady Cirene.” Then, with a glimmering realization, tilts her chin back to face him and concludes, “Ah, you wanted to be in Cirene’s position, didn’t you? In between two people who want you.” 

Gods yes. 

She nods slowly. 

And then she nearly dies of embarrassment when Calvin tells Junivere, “I’d be curious to see your technique.” 

“Sorry?” 

“Not on me,” he coughs out, realizing what he’d implied. “On her. If it’s something she likes so much, I’d love to be able to make it possible for her.” 

Junivere considers him for a long moment. Absent-mindedly, she runs a finger along Callie’s calf, circling it around and around as she gives thought to the idea. It’s impossible to tell what’s going through her mind, and Callie feels herself torn between her need for both of them and the mildly humiliating feeling of the two of them gazing at her like she is simply an object for their enjoyment. She finds herself more content with such a reality. 

“Fuck it,” Junivere shrugs. “But I am too sober for this conversation.” 

 

– – – 

 

If either of them feel sympathy for Callie’s predicament, neither show it. 

She’s bound up, her arms tied behind her back while her ankles have been latched together. Junivere had placed her into a squatting position over a stack of pillows, then decorated her with a harness of threadbeams. Her dress has long since been cast aside, leaving only her warm, naked skin for their viewing. The cleverly placed pillows make it so that as her desperation grows, she can slowly grind against them and find some relief - but it’s a double edged sword, she quickly realizes. With the cords, she can’t get anywhere close to enough speed to help her finish, only enough to appease the immediate force compelling her. 

Junivere’s creativity strikes again. She’s found a way to make Callie edge herself. 

So Callie whimpers quietly in the center of the balcony, kneeling and rocking her hips, while Calvin and Junivere recline on a couch and discuss her as if she isn’t there. 

“The most important thing to understand is that she’s eager,” Junivere is saying, swirling the wine in her glass elegantly before taking a sip. “Eager for you, for me, for anyone she likes who wants to touch her. To control her, you use that eagerness against her. Play with her a little, give her something to obsess over, then withhold it.” 

She gestures to Callie the way one might regard a choice piece of furniture, ready for purchase. A little noise escapes her mouth, constrained by yet another gag. 

“And since she likes the ropes…” 

“They’ve been teasing her for the last hour.” 

Calvin nods, appreciating the education. He takes a long draw from his glass, enjoying the taste for a moment while his eyes study her thoughtfully. “Gods, she’s cute,” he concludes.

Callie squirms in place, her erection showing them just how much she adores the compliments. 

Junivere continues, her tone somehow both lewd and learned. “You hold the access to what she wants, and you’ll let her have it eventually.” A contented sip of wine. “But see what you can get her to do to earn it first.” She stands. “For example, I think she needs another drink.” 

Junivere’s fingers grab hold of Callie’s jaw, lifting it up to meet her eyes towering over her. Junivere holds her usual suave and sensuous stare, full of the promises her touch could bestow. One of her fingers slips into Callie’s mouth, hooking against the threadbeam and pulling it back just enough to allow her to talk. 

“Thirsty?” 

Callie swallows. “Yes.” 

“Ask nicely.” 

“Please, allow me to have a drink.” 

“Very good,” she purrs, lowering her glass to Callie’s lips and tipping it into her mouth. Junivere feeds her a long stream, forcing Callie to either accept it all or let it sputter out of her throat - and resolved to continue earning Junivere’s praise, she forces herself to drink it all. 

Junivere replaces the gag, petting a hand on Callie’s cheek approvingly. She strides back to sit beside Calvin, leaving her legs spread to give Callie just a whisper of sight up her skirt. 

“She is willing to do quite a lot for what she wants,” Junivere concludes. “Have your fun with her, tell her how well she’s done, then give her her treat.” 

“Thank you,” Calvin grins. “I’ve got plenty of ideas for her now.” 

“I can’t wait to hear about them from her.” 

Callie shares her excitement. She enjoys the mild buzz from the wine, letting it add an additional heat to her chest as she continues to rock against the pillow. 

As the sunset begins to give up its last few holdouts of light, surrendering to the power of night, Callie finds herself desperate for more. 

“You’re quite good at all of this,” Calvin muses. 

“I’ve been a Devotia for years. Plenty of practice.” Junivere takes another drink, a little blush of color showing its effects on her. She is a smooth sort of tipsy, and Callie has known her to be the type that never went further than that. She likes to be calm and in control, using the buzz of alcohol solely to feel just a whisper less inhibited in her speech and actions. It somehow only makes her more graceful. 

Junivere’s eyes lock onto Calvin, narrowing and asking, “She’s been too afraid to ask, all this time, but how experienced are you?” 

His laugh lines crinkle into a smile. “In my early days of the Knighthood… well, everyone loves a man in armor.” Calvin leaves the implications in the air and enjoys the look it elicits from both of them. “After a year or two the novelty of being so wanted wore off for me. But for a while, I loved it. I’d grown up painfully shy, convinced no one would ever really notice me.” 

The idea is unfathomable to Callie. 

“Any serious relationships?” 

“Two,” he confirms. He rests an arm onto the backrest of the couch, staring off of the balcony and towards the mountains far in the distance. “The first was Rosalyn. We were together…” He cocks his head, thinking. “A year and a half?” He shrugs. “Neither of us really knew what we were doing. She hoped we’d marry, but at that age I felt like that’d be a prison.”  

Callie finds herself quietly dreaming of being married to him… sharing a home… sharing a bed. If either of them notice her hips grinding a little faster, they don’t acknowledge it. 

“A few years later I was with Bayln,” he continues, “which lasted for about eight months before it crashed and burned.” 

“Your fault or hers?” 

“Oh, absolutely mine,” he snorts without hesitation. “I’d just been promoted to Paladin and had hardly any space in my brain for anything else. She told me I might as well marry my sword.” He takes a sip of wine. “I hear she and her wife are quite happy now, so that’s good for her.” 

Junivere nods, enjoying his forthright honesty. “Any men in your past?” 

“A couple. I liked Zahan the most. I certainly have a preference for women - I seem to be really picky with men.” 

Junivere’s eyes flick to Callie. “Any threaded girls?” 

“Rosalyn.” 

“No wonder our girl is so well taken care of.” She rises once more, only to squat beside Callie and murmur, “Hear that, Callie? He knows exactly what to do with you.” 

Her free hand rests onto Callie’s hip, guiding her rocking movements and pushing her into longer, slower strokes. A noise escapes her from behind the gag, and it's difficult to focus on anything beyond the warmth of her touch. 

Junviere throws back the rest of her drink, grinning at Calvin. “Time to have some fun with her.” 

She releases the cords of light that bind her in place, leaving behind only the glowing warmth of the harness across her torso. Junivere grabs her arm and pulls her to stand, where her thighs grumble from the pain of previously being constrained. The older Devotia walks over to the railing of the balcony and rests her back into it, facing Callie while gesturing for her to approach. 

Calvin stops her midway, a hand on either side of her waist as he pulls her to him, and whispers in her ear. “I love how you look tied up.” 

She should be embarrassed by the sound she makes, but remains blissfully ignorant of such things. He releases her, and she wishes he wouldn’t. 

Junivere continues her directions. “Place one hand on either side of me.” Callie does, and Junivere places a hand on her chest to push her back so that Callie’s arms are stretched to their apex while holding on, with Junivere sitting casually between them. Behind her, Calvin steps close enough that she’s delightfully aware of his presence. 

“We’re going to play a game with you,” Junivere explains. “You’re going to keep your hands on this railing, no matter what. If they leave it at any point, we stop.” 

Calvin’s hands begin massaging her shoulders, then her back, then her hips. 

“If your hands are still on the railing by the time both of us have finished, then you can.” 

Callie smirks. “What’s stopping me from holding onto the railing and finishing before you?” 

Junivere leans forward, her fingers sliding the lengths of Callie’s forearm, then arm, and then wrapping around the back of her neck. She brings her face close, her lips hovering just outside of Callie’s ear. Calvin follows her lead, taking a tighter hold of her and pressing his lips into the other side of her neck. 

“Because,” Junivere whispers, “if you’re patient…” A kiss on her earlobe, teasing and soft. “...I’ll let you cum inside of me while he’s still inside of you.” 

Gods, yes. 

“In the meantime,” Calvin’s voice rumbles in her other ear, sending a tingling shiver down her spine, “we’re going to do everything in our power to prevent you from holding on.” 

And then his cock is resting against her ass, slowly slipping up and down. Instinctively, she lowers her hips towards it, ravenous for her need for him, but he pulls away. Her arms stretch to their maximum trying to step back into him, only to find they’ve got no more distance to give. 

“Fuck.” 

“This’ll be fun,” Junivere grins. She lowers the straps of her dress, giving Callie a wondrous view of her soft breasts. Enticed by this scene as well, Callie brings herself forward, accepting Junivere’s tongue into her mouth and hardly caring about the moan that escapes her. 

Calvin’s hands bring her legs back, and suddenly Callie is awkwardly hunched over, her mouth struggling to remain pressed against Junivere’s while her feet are planted far back. He brings himself close enough for the tip of his cock to tauntingly press against her ass, and she finds herself shifting back to try and accept him as well. 

Junivere lowers one hand to her skirt and raises it up, showing just how excited she is by the scene as well. Her other hand drops down to her clit, slowly circling around it while Callie feels herself struggling between the choice of both of them. 

Her skin alights as Calvin pushes inside her, sending burning warmth through her hips, then chest, then face. He gives her only a moment to adjust to the stretching and filling sensation before he begins his movements, and the sound that leaves her lips makes Junivere beam.

“Oh, you make it so easy, don’t you, Callie?” Junivere is muttering, her hand already increasing its speed. “Gods, you’re cute.” 

“T-thank you.” 

One of Calvin’s hands wraps around the front of her waist, pulling her deeper into him and causing her to shudder from the intimate warmth of his fingers across her skin. All the teasing from the prior hour quickly reveals just how treacherous her pleasure is, and it hardly takes long for her constitution to keep her committed to waiting. 

“She’s not going to last,” Junivere teases, grinning at Calvin. “See that look in her eyes? Desperate.” 

Chuckling, Calvin’s other hand grabs Callie’s chin and tilts it to meet his incoming kiss. His tongue pushes inside of her without any concern for gentleness, which sends a long and rumbling moan rolling down her throat. 

“I think you might be right,” he agrees. 

Callie would be hard pressed to disagree, and she tightens her grip on the railing and forces herself to remain motionless, simply accepting Calvin into her without trying to race towards a finish. His hips push deep into her, lifting her up onto her tiptoes with each thrust. 

Junivere’s face looks pink and enraptured watching her, and Callie feels a bubbling pride at the hasty breaths her fellow Devotia is taking. The look in her eyes begins tender and quickly devolves towards ravenous as her wrist rubs her off, and it doesn’t take long for her to push herself off from the railing and drop her dress entirely. 

And then she’s bringing herself between Callie’s arms and kissing her, full of hunger and need, letting her own moans entangle with Callie’s whimpers. Her free hand balls Callie’s hair into her fist, tugging it and bringing her deeper and deeper into the kiss. 

To Callie’s surprise, Junivere finishes first, gasping and shuddering in place. She has to rest back into the railing to keep on her feet, and the smile that fills her face leaves Callie in a more desperate position than before. She clenches her hips as the need for her own release threatens to consume her. 

But Junivere hardly seems sated, even as she catches her breath. “Come here,” she demands, turning to face away from Callie and bringing her ass to rub against Callie’s clit. “I need you,” she exhales. 

Calvin steps forward, allowing Callie some extra room to stretch her arms without letting go of the railing, and he pushes as deep as he can into her as Junivere’s fingers wrap around her shaft. She guides Callie into her wet lips, pulling a heavenly sigh from Junivere and a squeaking moan from Callie. 

“Gods, yes,” Junivere utters approvingly. She regains her composure just long enough to turn back to Callie and threaten, “If you don’t wait for him to finish…” 

Callie can’t respond with anything other than a pitiful cry out into the air, resting her chest into Junivere’s back and letting each of Calvin’s thrusts push her deeper into her fellow Devotia. The pleasure on either end is impossible to cope with - warm and enveloping from Junivere’s pussy; burning and frenzied from Calvin’s cock. 

She grips onto the railing for dear life and tries to think of nothing other than holding on, of fighting back the consuming tide within her. 

Calvin’s speed increases faster and faster, his slick chest pressing into her own back, and Callie goes mad with the incredible feeling of both of their bodies squeezing her in the middle. She bursts with the pride of their combined delight in her and is overcome with a glittering feeling of ardor. 

Callie can’t hold out, too overpowered by her feeling of need. She allows the sensation to overtake her, surging forth with a burning release. She loves the feeling of her clit filling Junivere just as Calvin presses deep into her, and her voice cries out into the air as her hands leave the railing to embrace Junviere. 

Calvin continues for just a little longer until he, too, is gripping onto Callie and allowing his breath to cascade over them. Callie whimpers adoringly as his seed pours inside of her. 

Her resolve completely shatters, and she collapses into his arms which hold her steady. Panting, and brushing her tangled hair out of her face, Junivere turns around and gazes over her. 

“I… it seems you’ve disobeyed,” she smirks. 

Callie nods weakly, simply enjoying the buzzing warmth across her body. 

“We’ll have to come up with some clever punishment,” Calvin completes. 

“Mhmm,” Callie agrees, exhausted. “But for now, bed, please.” 

Calvin’s chest rumbles sweetly, and he scoops up her sweaty and tired body to bring her back inside and deposit her on top of the bedsheets. He climbs in after her, bringing her into her chest just as Junivere joins them, wrapping her arms around Callie’s waist and holding her from behind. 

They splay out onto the bed, recovering from the exertion, and Callie has never felt such majesty as she does between them. 

“I love you both so much,” she exhales after some time. 

Junivere shifts herself up to kiss her. “Oh, Callie,” she beams. 

Calvin kisses her neck. “I love you, too,” he affirms. 

And they remain in the shared embrace for some time, enjoying the recovery and warmth of one another. Callie doubts that Calvin and Junivere share any sort of feelings for one another, not as she feels for each of them, but adores the shared possession of her that binds them together. The mutual delight they have in what the other provides for her. 

Junivere rises first, throwing her hands over her head and stretching at the hip. She releases a contented breath. “I ought to return to my room. Poor Silas is there waiting for me. I told him I’d only be gone a little while to deliver a message to you.” 

Callie rolls over, which prompts Calvin to masterfully accept her as the little spoon and pull her in. “He really should have expected that I’d convince you to stay the night,” Callie glimmers proudly. 

“Have you now?” 

“Pleeeeeaaaseee.” 

Junivere snorts and rolls her eyes. “You’re lucky I love you. Fine, dear, I’ll stay.” 

Calvin perks up. “Should I leave?” 

“You’re not going anywhere either,” she commands sweetly. “If I don’t get to sleep between the two of you I’m summoning Gloriana and going out there.” 

“Then I guess I have to stay.” 

Junivere leans in to kiss her quickly. “Let me break the news to Silas and I’ll be back.” She rises to retrieve her dress, throwing it on without much care for how put together she looks, and slips out of the room. 

Calvin presses his lips into the top of Callie’s head and releases a relaxed exhale. After a moment, he asks, “How’s that going?” 

“Surprisingly well,” she shrugs. “I would never have believed it, but June says he’s just like the perfect version of himself that she first knew - except that’s just who he is now. All the time.” 

To her surprise, Calvin makes a disbelieving noise. “I’m not sure I’m convinced. Men like that don’t really change.” 

Callie rolls over and furrows her brows at him. “A surprisingly pessimistic opinion from you.” 

“I just think that when it comes to-,” 

A knock on the door. 

“I’ll get it,” Callie sighs. Gloriana had never come calling earlier, and Callie figures the paladin must have been delayed by some unfortunate circumstance. Not a problem, she figures, if there was a night to arrive late, this was a good one. She throws on a clean dress and rushes to the door. 

But rather than the paladin come knocking, Callie opens it to be greeted with Silas’ towering height. 

“Oh, Junivere was just going to see you,” she says tiredly. “You must’ve just missed her.” 

“Really?” He gazes down the hall, looking to see if she might still be nearby. When he turns back, he seems relieved she’s not in sight. “I was actually hoping I might borrow a moment of your time.” 

“My time?” 

His voice drops a little quieter. “I was hoping I could get your advice. May I come in?” 

She purses her lips, curious, but shakes her head. “I presently have company. Can it wait?” 

“I’d really like to speak about it before I see her again.” He makes an apologetic expression. “I wouldn’t insist if it wasn’t important.” 

Callie sighs, but accepts this. She holds up a finger and ducks back inside, briefly catching Calvin up to speed. 

“I can leave, if you’d rather speak here,” he says. 

Callie grins and denies the idea immediately. “I’d rather my bed still be warm from your body. Stay, I’ll just be a few rooms over.” 

She shuts the door behind her and enters the hallway, gesturing for Silas to follow her down. She feels a little awkward beside him, in small part for how much shorter she is than him, but more importantly because they’ve never spoken without Junivere present. 

In truth, Callie wasn’t sure what she felt about Silas. She harbors a general distrust of him, still, but Junivere was so insistent that things were going well she had been trying to be happy for them. 

“So, what did you want to ask me about?” 

He clears his throat, speaking quietly and with a patter of nerves in his voice. “Well, as you might expect, it’s about Junivere.” He pauses. “It has been a delight to be with her again, to get a chance to do right by her in the way I ought to have the first time…” He trails off. He starts and stops a few seconds as they enter the lounge room, and as Callie ignites one of the lanterns inside, his voice is full of warmth as he says, “Obviously I’m in love with her.” 

Rather than give into the awkward and residual jealousy of someone else loving Junivere, Callie presses forth into the same enthusiasm she wants Calvin and Junivere to have for each other. “I can tell,” she smiles. “I can hear it in your voice.” 

“Thank you,” he nods appreciatively. “I understand that it isn’t easy to be in a relationship with a Devotia. It’s not the most normal of circumstances.” A pause. “It’s… I find myself wishing I could be more than just a nighttime affair for her.” 

And Callie’s heart moves ever-so-slightly, recognizing the same longing feeling she’s so often felt with Calvin. 

“I understand. You want to ask if she’d be willing to push the rules again for you.” 

“Just as you have with the Knight-Commander,” he affirms. A second later, with a breath of panic, he adds, “I don’t mean that to sound like an accusation. I admire your willingness to take risks for love.” He takes another steadying breath. “You’re around her more than I am, you get to see more sides of her. She trusts you. Do you believe she cares enough for me to give it a try?” 

Callie considers his request, turning and taking a few steps away. In her heart, she feels a warm optimism about love, anchored by the knowledge of the full bed awaiting her. She faces away from Silas as she considers, letting her heart beat with an enthusiastic feeling of sharing. She wants Junivere to have Silas, just as she has Calvin. To have the beautiful balance of multiple loves. 

“I think she may,” Callie concludes, looking out a window at the twinkling lights of the city below. “I think you ought to take risks for love.” 

Behind her, she hears Silas take a light and excited step forward, rocking onto his toes with the gleeful energy. “Thank you, hal Devotia,” he exclaims.

 His boots sound out against the marble floor as he approaches, and Callie readies to turn and shake his hand, or perhaps embrace him - to accept him as a shared love for someone she loves dearly. 

“You’re welcom-,”

Everything grows cold, then sharp, and suddenly Callie can’t breathe. Her jaw quivers as the air in her lungs sputters out of her. She feels Silas’ form tower over her. 

She throws a hand up to her throat, and then the pain finally settles. She tries to scream, but the sound comes out harsh and incomplete. 

A knock on the door. 

The room spins. 

Her body shivers and trembles. 

“Hal Devotia?” 

Her vision blurs. 

She stumbles forward. 

She’s pushed to the ground. 

A crashing sound cascades around her. 

Then, quiet.