Zhuliya looks at me, her brow furrowed. “Do you know these gods?”

“Yes. Ulyen is the god of prurience, and Ekana is the goddess of memories.”

“Are we going to have to go on another trip halfway around the world to find them?”

“No, my dear. I will open the portal between the realms when you are ready to call for them. Ilian will know what to do. Who do you wish to draw out first?”

I inhale, hating this more than anything. Both gods will take a toll on my mate, but none so much as Ekana.

“Ulyen,” I finally decide.

Aisyth sweeps her hand, sending an electric shock wave that blasts through us and into the distance. Zhuliya wobbles on her feet, but I keep her steady.

“It is done. I will call upon you in the morning. Do not fear the night, your mate will be kept warm.”

And then my goddess disappears.

“Um, what’s going on?”

I turn to Zhuliya. “We have until dawn to get in contact with Ulyen and get his fur.”

“How are we going to do that—and what did Aisyth mean I’ll be warm?”

“She’s charmed the island so you won’t freeze in the arctic night—I can sense her magic.”

“Huh, now that you mention it, I don’t feel chilled, but I assumed it was all the layers I’m wearing.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re comfortable…” I trail off, feeling anything but.

Zhuliya narrows her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“We have to summon Ulyen now that Aisyth has opened a link to him.”

“Again, how do we do that?”

“Throughsexmagic.”

“Come again? You’re mumbling.”

“Through sex magic.”

My mate’s dark brows raise up her forehead. “Excuse me?”

“Prurience means carnal desires, as in the god of fleshly cravings. The way we call out to Ulyen is through…sex.”

“We have to-to fuck to meet him?!”

I cough. “Y-yes, I’m sorry. The more depraved, the better. Ulyen is a bit twisted—most gods are.”

Zhuliya’s jaw drops before she snaps it shut and grinds her teeth. “Ok, we can do this. We’ve done it before. How…how nasty are we talking?”

“The freakiest we can get.”

Her cheeks pale before blooming the gorgeous pink that I love. “Do you have, um, any suggestions?”

Despite her discomfort, I can’t help but smirk. “You tell me—you’re the one who’s been fantasizing about me.”

She smacks my arm playfully. “Stop! Besides, it was hard, not knowing what your cock—I mean, stoyuk—looked like.”

“But you tried to envision it?” Zhuliya nods. “Did it live up to your expectations?”

“More so.”

“And have you had any new fantasies?”

Zhuliya’s blush intensifies. “Maybe.”

I give my mate a wicked grin. “Come now, don’t be shy. We both know whatever you’re thinking in that gorgeous head of yours is going to make me hard.”

She bites her lip. “You don’t know that. Maybe it’s something you don’t like…or-or are disgusted by.”

Cupping her chin, I stare deep into her dark brown eyes. “Soyam, it’s not those things you fear but rather my judgment of them—and of you—but I promise this is not the case.

There’s nothing you could tell me that would repulse me from you. Furthermore, I can’t hide how I feel from you, so you’ll know I’m speaking the truth.

If there’s something I’m not interested in, then I will be honest, as I hope you will be, but I think we’re both adventurous enough to try things once.”

Zhuliya’s shoulders relax. “Thank you, Ilian. You’re right that I’m scared to share some of my fantasies—worried you might think they’re wrong.”

“Shame has no place between us. Honor your sexual urges.”

“O-ok…have you ever licked yourself?”

I cock my head, pondering her words. “You mean tongued my stoyuk?

“Mhmm.”

“The idea never occurred to me. My tongue is certainly long enough to where I would merely need to lean forward.”

My mate’s gaze grows heavy-lidded. “Would you do that for me?”

Already I can smell her arousal and know how much the thought turns her on. “Yes, but only if you join me.”

Zhuliya shifts, rubbing her thighs together. “I have another fantasy.”

“Tell me.”

“We can’t do it here—it requires, erm, equipment.”