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"Any word from Finan?" Uhtred asked one of the male servants from where he sat by the fire pit. Lilith was sharpening her blade silently, anytime Finan and Sihtric left so would isolate herself to avoid showing any emotion. That was something she still had an issue with, she hated being vulnerable.

In the years of being with this group, she had grown close to them. Uhtred and Osferth had become close friends to her as Finan had unconsciously filled the void her father left behind. And Sihtric, the beautiful Dane, well, he filled other things.

"Nothing, lord." Uhtred sighed. Lilith turned to look outside when people began to shout about a ship up the river. Lilith laughed when she noticed Finan sat on the front of the ship with a wide grin as Uhtred crossed his arms in amusement.

"Women of Coccham! We are back!" Finan shouts and Lilith sighs at his dramatics.

"We know, Finan. They can smell you from here. You look like shit. What have you done to my ship?" Uhtred asked as Sihtric helped Osferth down. Sihtric looked her way with a fond smile, she crossed her arms as she waved lightly at the man.

"Now, that was Osferth's fault."

"What news from Bebbanburg?" Uhtred asked with excitement. Lilith moved to Sihtric's side as she watched Finan and Uhtred.

"Good news, lord."

"My Uncle Aelfric is dead and you have his balls to prove it?" Finan chuckles.

"No, but he is being attacked by the Scots pushing south. He lost half his men in the most recent assault." Finan says as they come to a stop.

"So Bebbanburg's weakened?"

"For now, yes." Finan answered.

"Until he finds more men." Osferth added.

"Or is slaughtered by the Scots." Sihtric says with amusement.

"So, we could take it. With an army...we could take it." Uhtred stated happily.

"Or I can go in and slaughter them like pigs?" She asked with a flash of crazy in her eyes that worried Uhtred.

"That is our second plan of action." Uhtred said and patted her back.

"Well, perhaps. It will not be easy."

"How many men does he have?" Uhtred then asked.

"Barely forty." All the men smile in excitement and she frowns, if it was just forty why couldn't she kill them? Sihtric tugged her shirt lightly and when she turned to him he sent her a small but comforting smile.

"Can he raise a fyrd?"

"Oh, God, no. Local lords think he's—" Osferth is cut off by Uhtred.

"That he's a turd, yes. And they're right. We should not delay."

"No. Go before he buys more men." Finan says.

"We head to Bebbanburg before the Scots return," Uhtred says as they walk, Finan sighs behind them. "The Gods are telling us to strike and take back what is mine."

"Are they though?" Lilith asked and glared at Finan when he kicked her.

"Now, lord, it'll take ships and men. The venture could cost you all your silver."

"Finan, if we take Bebbanburg, we'll have all the silver we ever dreamed of. You will all be rewarded for your service, even you baby monk." Osferth held his arms wide.

"Amen." They all laugh at the monk.

"How many men remain here?"

"Not enough." Uhtred says.

"We ride to Winchester and raise an army. It's time for Wessex to replay all that I have given." Uhtred claimed proudly.

Lilith went back to her chambers after dinner, she had undressed as she hated to sleep in trousers. Just when she went to grab a nightgown, hands tossed the dress to the side and turned her sharply. She smirked at Sihtric and leaned back against the table, her husband dropped to his knees when she decided to spread her legs. She moaned when he dived between her thighs to bring her pleasure with his marvelous tongue, she fisted his hair as she arched into his mouth.

Sihtric was usually on his knees for her, something she felt aroused by. She was still anti-men but Sihtric had weaseled his way into her heart and her trousers. They had gotten married a couple of years later, although neither bothered to tell the others of their relationship. They found it funny how Finan kept betting on how they were secretly humping or how they had tension. For that reason alone they decided to let it play out however fate decided.

Once he worked her to climax she dragged him up, he slipped his fingers inside her as he kissed down her throat. She quickly unclasped his belt and pulled out his cock, she smirked when Sihtric whimpered as she teased the head with her thumb.

"Missed me, baby?" She questioned as she bit his ear and felt his hips stutter against her palm, she guided him into her and threw her head back when she felt the natural stretch.

"Let me put a child in you, please. Please, Lily." He begged as she raked her nails down his back, she pushed him back and snickered when he whined in displeasure when his cock slipped free. She straddled the man and shoved him down on the bed, he gasped when she guided him back into her as she rode him.

"You will have to give me your cock more often to make that happen, Sitty." Sihtric's eyes darkened in lust and dug his fingers into her thighs and thrust up into her. Shit, she was in for a long and hard night.