Rivaini

The world, it seemed, was determined that Rivaini and her little shadow know neither peace nor the fulfillment of their shared solitude. For a short blissful moment the copper mare leaned into the press of Faolain’s lips, a crooning sigh parting her lips when their searing touch skimmed across the slope of her withers. Feeling the promise in this gesture even as it was echoed in the Teke’s sultry words; the unspoken vow that they might cast aside their troubles in favor of stealing what time they could to enjoy their togetherness. But then her companion paused, her dark lean figure tensing subtly against the wall of the silver bay’s body. And Rivaini— her pale eyes flitting back open in the absence of this comforting and inciting touch— turned her head toward the sound of the stallion’s voice, her ears sweeping back to bury themselves in the creamy tangle of her mane.

Room for a third? For a heartbeat, the stranger’s unexpected question held her still and silent, and the pace of her thoughts was as sluggish as it had been under Faolain’s caresses. But as the meaning of the words slowly penetrated the fog in Rivaini’s mind, cold fury washed away the fleeting remnants of the ardor she’d felt only moments before. If not for the anchor of her companion’s touch, the red woman would have happily thrown herself at the small dark stallion and throttled him for the simple suggestion that he might share in her partner’s affections. This mare was hers, heart and body and soul, and it was not a claim that she would relinquish willingly. But before she could make this truth clear, Rivaini glimpsed the curve of her beloved’s smile, and heard the purr of her voice. Come find out.

Uncertain what Faolain’s true intentions or desires were, the silver bay sought to hold her violent impulses in check as the stallion crept forward. But she could not have concealed the hostile language of her body even if she had cared to— and Rivaini did not. Bristling like a shadowcat being forced to defend their hard-won meal, the tobiano female shifted her body in a subtle display of her strength. The thick cords of her muscles tauten beneath her auburn skin, and a brief flash of blunt teeth punctuates this unspoken threat. Yes— come find out, the language of her body seemed to echo in an infinitely more-menacing and less-seductive tone. Whatever hopes or motivations the nomad had harbored in his approach— and given the season, she suspected enough to send another pulse of anger churning through her gut— he would not walk away fulfilled.

But the gentle pinch of Faolain’s teeth served to remind her that this moment was not simply about her own desires— and this in itself was enough to give the muscular Guardian pause.

Turning her head to glance back at her slender companion, she wondered just what her beloved’s motivations were in inviting the male to join them. The black mare’s hunger had not escaped her notice… nor had the grim truth that there were wishes she simply could not fulfill. And while she did not relish the thought of allowing a stallion to court her mate, Rivaini would sooner tolerate that than risk losing Faolain as she had already lost Çiçek. Of course, she wasn’t obligated to make it easy on the bold little twit either. Leveling one last cold stare at Snow, the silver bay turned the full force of her attention back on Fae. Curling her large muscular body around the smaller and more slender woman, and repaying the nibbling kisses she’d received only moments prior in a path that trailed the full length of the Teke’s spine.

If this man truly sought to win Faolain away from her, let him witness just how difficult such a task would prove to be— and quit before his effort was wasted.

mare / seven / silver bay tobiano / andalusian mix / 15.3hh