The Feather on My Scale: Chapter 7

Melancholic Harmony: Chapter 13 Melancholic Harmony: Chapter 14

The Feather on My Scale: Chapter 7

*First Draft*

Returning to my rooms that evening left me hollow and suffering a headache. With luck, and Nebra’s planning, the evening’s sacrament had involved honey. The congregation had rejoiced upon the luxury, reserving all they could to take home to their families. With that cover, we kept Wash’s Repercussion in check.

Nebra caught me, letting me splay out on the lounge and rest my head in her lap. “Seth already in bed?” I buried my eyes into her robes to hide from the light of the oil lamps.

“She’s taking a bath with Ptolemy. Said you could come in and join when you were ready. You all right?” Her fingers tugged through my hair, rubbing all the aches out of my skull.

“Don’t stop,” I encouraged, yawning.

“Long day?” she chuckled when she found that one spot behind my ear that left me in pain free bliss for a few seconds.

“Ptolemy tell you what happened with the fanged eel?” I asked.

“Adom went and put his foot in his mouth in a glorious way, at least that’s what Ptolemy said before whistling himself off towards the baths. The swagger he had going, I’d almost believe he watched the High Lectern put himself in a casket.” Her fingers trailed farther down my neck to my shoulders.

“Adom floated the idea of cups.” I weaseled one arm between Nebra and the couch cushions and wrapped my arms around her hips.

She burst out laughing. “Damn, that’s perfect. No wonder Ptolemy was clucking like a proud rooster.”

“You’re good with cups?” I scooted closer, turning my head up in her lap to regard her features.

“Oh, hell yeah, do it. It means you get to sucker punch both the nobility and the temple in one go. Wash is also pretty nice for the few hours I got to talk to him. Think he’d be good with our family.” She scooted down in the lounge until I was laying between her legs, my head resting on her stomach.

“You think so? Ptolemy seems sold on him and Seth has found a potential new playmate. You?” I asked, her fingers conducting magic on my shoulder blades.

“He gets flustered and cleavage will make him space out,” she whispered in my ear.

“What did you do?” I snorted.

“I was just picking out clothes was all.” She was failing to hide an amused grin.

“You and Seth going to have a moment with my heirophant?” I teased.

“I forgot all about Seth and him.” She chortled.

“Does he seem the type?” I asked her.

“Not really sure.” She shrugged. “Not much of one to be teased if he doesn’t know the context. I think, though, that he is not without interest in the potential of us.”

“You think so?” Relief eased down my back.

“I asked him what his thoughts were on being a consort. Ptolemy was trying to sell him on the idea, but Wash looked lost with all the innuendos seeing as Ptol wasn’t saying anything outright in front of the regiment.” She pushed the edge of my robes from the back of my neck.

“He seemed to hedge with me around,” I qualified, lifting myself so she could tug at the knot on my belt.

“Once we abandoned Ptol, he had questions. Mainly trying to understand what the eyebrow wiggles were from Ptol. Rather a point blank kind of person, about how everything worked with the four of us. Didn’t seem to mind the idea once he got how all of us work together, and work together.” Her tone dropped suggestively with where her fingers were dancing.

“He seemed more embarrassed than disgusted with Ptolemy pinning him earlier,” I led on, gasping as she traced hard lines.

“Told me he didn’t mind either or, just not experienced, so not sure what to expect, or what’s expected of him.” Her other hand slipped behind my waist to encourage me closer.

“I have a feeling Seth is going to be grouchy if she isn’t invited in on the fun tonight.” I kissed my way up the line of her curves to her throat.

“Seth, you, and me tonight?” Her fingertips had turned feather light and everything was tightening. I raised an eyebrow in questioning surprise. She kissed me and let go, reaching for the com on the table. “Hey Seth?” she sang over the mic.

A minute passed and the com buzzed back. “Are you two going to come join? The water’s particularly warm tonight, or is it just us?” Seth asked.

“Wanna bring some things back to Henu’s room. He’s volunteering to be in the middle tonight.” Her tone had my heart on fire.

“I’m coming too,” Ptolemy called, water splashing on tile echoing in the com.

“I didn’t even say yes yet!” Seth protested, though the resounding whump and state of chaos on the other side of the com told me Ptolemy had already tossed her a towel.

“Ptolemy pent up more than the rest of us?” I asked Nebra when she set the com back down.

“I don’t think he was joking when he said he was keeping Wash.” She turned back to me, determined this time to be rid of all of my robes.

“As long as everyone in the family is happy with the arrangement.” I got off of her and dropped the masses of silk.

“Happy. Try horney.” Ptolemy burst into the room and tackled me, landing me between Nebra and himself.

““So that’s a yes from you too then?” I gasped, his lips and hands finding too many sensitive places at once. “Where’s Seth? Take five minutes to turn horney down and get your leg looked at before you chafe to hell and back,” I reprimanded, withdrawing from cold wet metal with a squeak.

He snorted. The mediocre towel he had been wearing was ditched in favor of drying himself and his prosthetic off the rest of the way. His mood didn’t lessen, though, blatantly flaunting it. He was calculating my skin and my observations. “Getting things. And yes, bring in the piebald dove. He’s got that same vocal range you have that is going to hit some of those perfect notes.” Ptolemy leaned over me to drive the point home, teeth nipping. “Like that one.”

“You’re mean.” He wasn’t letting me catch my breath.

“I’m just getting you started. Seth’s gonna make you worship her.” Ptolemy tossed the towel.

“Fuck.” I muttered.

“That’s the idea.” Nebra whispered in my ear.