Savage Heart

by J. E. Cluney

I moaned and quivered beneath him, enjoying the sensations.

  But I wanted to be the one in control, so I leaned down and guided him back up to my face.

  “Roll over,” I instructed after a peck on the lips.

  He rolled his eyes but obeyed, and I eyed the red furry cuffs attached to the headboard.

  “Really?” He followed my gaze as I smiled wickedly.

  “Yep,” I stated as I held up his arms and cuffed him in.

  He just gave me an amused smile as I carefully climbed on top of his now raging erection.

  I took my time riding him, grinding myself the way I enjoyed it, bouncing on him at altering paces as he moaned and gently thrust with me.

  The tempo increased as I began to writhe on top of him, throwing my head back and arching as the promise of bliss began to tingle through me, beckoning me into the oblivion.

  As I gasped and mewed, my climax dawning on me, I felt Tristan trying to push into my mind once more, and I granted him that wish.

  The comforting yet devilish darkness swept me up as I cried out, bliss tearing through me as our minds joined in this orgasmic moment. The tendrils caressed my entire being, injecting me with the sweetest euphoria as our bodies were joined as one.

  The darkness pooled around me, and I floated in the rippling bliss it brought me.

  I savored the moment, opening myself up completely as the darkness rippled through me orgasmically.

  And then Tristan was withdrawing from my mind, leaving me heaving on top of him.

  “How was that, my love?” he murmured, and I knew he wanted to kiss me. Too bad he was restrained.

  “Perfect,” I murmured as I slowly eased back up into a sitting position.

  I stared down at my stunning demon-born, admiring every inch of his handsome face.

  How had I gotten so lucky to find my mates?

  He smiled tenderly as I caught my breath, enjoying the view of me perched atop him.

  I glanced at his cuffs, a wicked thought crossing my mind.

  “Don’t you dare,” he growled.

  I grinned down at him.

  “Love you too,” I said sweetly as I rose off him, allowing our joint messy fluids to flood out onto him before I slid off the bed.

  “Sav, let me out,” he hissed as I began gathering up my clothes.

  I peered over my shoulder at my devilish man, all cuffed and looking like he’d been royally fucked.

  He was linked to the others.

  I’m sure they’d get just as big a kick out of it as I did.

  “Sav!” he called out in frustration as I winked and turned away.

  “Sorry, gotta fuck and run. Someone will help you!” I cried gleefully over my shoulder as I took off.

  “Screw you, Sav!” He shouted.

  “You already did!”

  25

  I sat on the bed in my room, dread washing over me as I flicked my gaze around the shadows in the corners of my room.

  Something lurked in here with me, I just knew it.

  “Darling Sav. It’s been too long…”

  I gritted my teeth at the awfully familiar voice. No, it wasn’t possible.

  My fox tattoo warded me against him. Mr Oxley had said so.

  “Ah, dear child. The warding only stops me from causing you harm within your own mind. But I have enough juice to worm through that to pay you a visit. Just a last little peek at you before I come for you,” Declan sneered as he formed from the shadow behind my door.

  My heart hammered as I shot to my feet.

  “I’m a Warlock, that pathetic dragon magic won’t keep me away,” he growled as he slunk over to stand before me.

  “Get out of my head,” I snarled, reaching for my kitsune blade on the bedside table.

  He scoffed and rolled his pastel-blue eyes as he straightened his blood-red suit. His blond hair was more disheveled this time, but he smirked as I snatched my kitsune blade up.

  “That won’t do anything in here,” he snickered, his face twisting into a wicked grin as he stepped forward.

  “Fuck you,” I growled as I felt my aura flare, and I slashed out at him.

  He threw up his arm, a look of annoyance flicking across his face before it turned to shock and fury as my blade sliced through his suit and drew blood on his arm.

  He snarled as he leaped back, holding his arm as he shot me a perplexed, pissed off look.

  “I will kill you, Savage. Mark my words,” he spat, his voice creeping into my very being and making a harsh chill sweep over me.

  Black smoke swirled around him, and then he was gone in an instant.

  I awoke, gasping in air as sweat had my shirt clinging to me.

  Leon and Damien burst into my room, followed by Nate, Wes, and then Tristan with Dom. Mr Oxley was right behind them as everyone piled into my room, fretting over me.

  My mates had felt my fear and anger it seemed, but Mr Oxley had sensed something more.

  “I’m fine,” I assured my mates as they fussed over me, and they settled and stepped back as Mr Oxley moved forward, his cane clicking on the flooring.

  “Declan?” he asked softly, his brow arching as I nodded.

  “I thought the tattoo would protect her?” Damien growled.

  “It does. He cannot hurt her. He shouldn’t have been able to enter her mind at all, but it appears we’ve underestimated his power. However…” Mr Oxley’s eyes moved to my kitsune blade on the bedside table.

  His eyes flickered with intrigue, and I followed his gaze.

  “How interesting,” Mr Oxley murmured as he plucked my blade from the bedside table and turned it over in his hand. “You attacked him with this?”

  “Yes.” I frowned. Why did that matter? It was only in my dream, right?

  “Your kitsune side flared as well I’m assuming?” he mused, and I exchanged confused glances with my mates.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I’ll be. Seems your kitsune side locked onto his aura through his reach, causing him real harm in your dream,” he stated as he carefully eyed my blade. “We can use that,” he murmured as he turned to Dom, a wicked glint in his eyes.

  “How?” I asked as I tugged at my sticky shirt. God, I needed a shower now.

  “We can trace a location using the link that was created when you attacked him,” Mr Oxley said.

  My heart fluttered at that, and I rolled my eyes over my equally surprised mates.

  We could track down the Collector and end this once and for all.

  “No. We only want intel. We need to know what we’re up against,” Mr Oxley said, clearly having heard my thoughts.

  “If he’s weakened, now’s the time to strike,” Damien growled softly.

  “But he also has his followers, and he would’ve gathered them in a large number to protect himself. We need to be smart,” Mr Oxley said firmly, and Damien fell silent.

  He knew it was the best course of action, even if his own instincts wanted him to fight right now.

  “Sav, do you mind if Dom and I do the tracking spell while everything is still fresh?” Mr Oxley asked carefully.

  I nodded instantly. We needed to be ahead of the game. To know what was going on and prepare ourselves if needed.

  “Good, Dominic?” Mr Oxley turned to Dom, who was already stepping forward and perching on the side of my bed.

  It felt strange, having everyone surrounding my bed, peering at me with concern.

  Mr Oxley offered me my demon blade, and I took it without hesitation as Mr Oxley offered Dom his hand.

  My blood pulsed quickly as Dom gave me a small smile and nod before reaching out to touch my forehead.

  The golden energy seeped into me, flooding me with a sense of comfort and safety and blinding my vision.

  I could hear Dom chanting softly, and Mr Oxley was digging through my mind, using my blade and kitsune side to trace Declan’s link to me.

  I stood before the warehouse, the scene before me framed with golden dust.

  “He’
s here?” I murmured as I eyed the dilapidated building.

  “Yes, he and his followers,” Mr Oxley said as he stepped up beside me.

  I turned, my eyes widening in awe at the sight of him.

  Mr Oxley had changed drastically. He didn’t have his cane, and his beard and hair was a golden blond now, years having lifted off him in this moment.

  So this was what he once looked like.

  Definitely the young professor who slept with his college students.

  I banished the thought away as soon as it came, but I swear I saw his mouth quirk before he focused on the task at hand.

  He surveyed the area, murmuring softly to himself before he waved his hand.

  A golden string appeared, imbedded in the center of my chest, passing through my shirt and pulled taunt as it cut through the scene and stuck to the outside of the warehouse door.

  No, not stuck, it looked like it was passing straight through it.

  “The link between you and Declan. He set it when he first came into your mind. Even with your tattoo, it wasn’t enough to sever it, and he has called upon it to return this time. This will be the final time,” Mr Oxley stated as he reached out, touching the golden, glowing string. It disintegrated beneath his touch, and the weight on my chest was lifted instantly, and my mind felt freed.

  “Now, onto the main business here,” Mr Oxley said softly as he gazed over the warehouse, scrutinizing it.

  He did this for a few moments, before nodding in satisfaction and raising his hand.

  He clicked his fingers, and the scene before me dissipated in a burst of golden smoke, plunging me back into darkness.

  I blinked as Dom removed his hand from my forehead and I was pulled out of my mind.

  Mr Oxley was frowning softly as he turned to Leon.

  “I want you to take Wes and Tristan to a warehouse and gather intel. Be very careful. The building is not warded, but there will be lookouts. Learn as much as you can and report back,” Mr Oxley stated. “Now, come with me,” he said, the authority in his voice not one to be questioned.

  Leon, Wes, and Tristan shot me looks before following after Mr Oxley, leaving Nate, Damien, and Dominic standing in my room with me.

  “Why can’t we go?” I growled.

  “Because he thinks we’ll get too fired up and screw it up,” Damien growled.

  “He probably also wants some fighters here just in case,” Dom said quickly, which seemed to simmer Damien down a bit.

  “It’s too dangerous, they shouldn’t go,” I muttered, but I knew I had to bite my tongue while Mr Oxley had been in the room. He’d had a hardened look in his eye, and arguing would’ve proved pointless. But putting my mates’ lives in danger? That had me boiling.

  Then again, I had to remind myself they did that nearly on a daily basis with bounty hunting.

  But Declan was no bounty hunt.

  He was a formidable opponent, and one foot wrong could have my mates dead.

  “He may be all grand and terrifying, but he’s not at his normal level. You saw to that,” Damien assured me.

  “They’ll be fine, have faith,” Nate murmured, and I let out a breath.

  They were right. I had to believe in my mates. Although I’d feel much better if I was going too.

  “We need to be here to take care of those still within these walls,” Nate said softly.

  Right. The children. Sure, they were raised like soldiers, but could they fight if something happened? I’d been able to take them all down, so even though they were kitsunes, they were still children.

  As much as I hated to admit it, I was probably needed here too.

  Then again, Mr Oxley was here. He could defend them.

  But He didn’t want me going, probably because he thought I was like Damien, a little too fiery to risk it.

  “No, it’s because you’re his target. Mr Oxley doesn’t want to just hand over the thing Declan wants,” Nate said.

  Right.

  He wanted me dead. Guess that would be perfect, me going straight to him.

  “Mr Oxley severed my link with Declan. He won’t be able to get back in my mind now,” I sighed. I could feel it too, like something that had been at the back of my mind had been removed. Not that I’d even noticed it, but now that it was gone, it was obvious.

  “Good, we don’t need that dick in your head,” Damien stated as he climbed onto my bed to sit next to me.

  “You sure you’re okay?” Nate asked as he stepped closer to the bed as I set my kitsune blade down on the bedside table once more.

  “Yeah, just tired. Need a shower now though,” I grumbled as I wiped the strands of hair back that were plastered to my forehead.

  “Want me to get you anything?” Dom asked.

  “Nah, I’ll shower and get dressed,” I said as I glanced over at my window. The early morning sun was seeping in through the gap in the curtains, so it was morning clearly.

  “Maybe breakfast,” I mused.

  “Well, the kids will be up for breakfast in the hour, but I can get you something else early if you’d like?” Dom said sheepishly.

  “Nah, I might actually have a bath and relax, then head down for breakfast. Thank you though,” I said as I climbed off my bed and grimaced at my sweaty sheets.

  “I’ll remake your bed then, go wash,” Dom said quickly as he headed for the door to hunt down fresh sheets.

  I smiled softly at his need to assist me. I knew it was his duty he’d taken on as the caretaker here, but I also felt like he was making extra effort so we’d become closer.

  “Want me to sit with you in there?” Damien asked, and I smirked as I turned to him, only being met with a serious look. I’d assumed he was being a little suggestive, but he honestly thought I might like the company after that wicked dream. And he didn’t want to leave me alone, even though the link had been severed. He was just being protective of his mate.

  “I’m fine, really,” I said with a small smile to reassure him.

  “Well, let’s hope that the Collector can be dealt with once and for all. I’m sure Mr Oxley will pass all information on to the Council, and they can put a stop to him,” Nate sighed.

  I nodded before turning for my bathroom, desperately wanting to get out of these sweaty clothes.

  I left my mates in my room, needing to be alone for a little bit with my thoughts.

  26

  I soaked in the bath, wondering about what was going on with the Collector. What was his plan? Would an attack really happen on the institute? I knew it was impenetrable thanks to Mr Oxley’s magic, along with his golden dragon orb thing.

  But still, would it be enough?

  Not to mention my three mates were now heading over to the warehouse where he was holed up.

  That alone had me on edge. Sure, they were strong and could look out for themselves, but this was also the Collector. The great Declan Barivian.

  A name I’d curse for the rest of my life.

  But I needed to believe in them. They’d not had any troubles on our past hunts, and I knew they were more than capable of handling themselves.

  But the uncertainty because of just who they could encounter had my stomach knotting up.

  ‘Relax. Leon just texted, he’ll check in every twenty minutes to keep you from freaking out,’ Damien informed me.

  Great, now I was one of those partners.

  ‘Worrying for your mates because they’re going up against something so strong isn’t something to feel guilty about,’ Nate assured me.

  Not that they were going up against Declan. They were only to gather intel.

  They’d be fine. I had to have faith in them and their abilities.

  Besides, Mr Oxley wouldn’t send them if he truly thought they were at risk.

  ‘Exactly, it’ll be okay,’ Nate said.

  I knew Damien was more worried, considering Leon was his brother, but he trusted his brother to stay safe.

  Guess I needed to swallow my fears and stay strong.
/>   They’d be back before I knew it, and we could offload everything to the Council and hope they ended this once and for all.

  So why did the thought of the Council have me in doubt?

  I sat in the garden with Nate and Damien just before lunch, watching the children play on their playground.

  Hannah, Peyton, and two of the boys were playing a game of skip once Tessa showed them how to do it, and the other boys were joining in on occasion.

  Lucy was pushing Derek and another boy on the swing-set, and I smiled at how the kids were laughing and having fun.

  Such a massive change to the emotionless soldiers from the mansion.

  “Why don’t you like kids?” I asked as I stretched my legs out on the grass as Damien’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched them. I could sense his unease around them.

  “I don’t not like kids,” he grumbled.

  “Certainly seems that way,” I smirked.

  “I like them,” Nate stated from where he was sprawled on the grass on my other side.

  “If they were related to me or were mine, I’d care a lot more for them. These children were soldiers not that long ago, and they attacked you. They posed a risk to us for the first week they were here. So forgive me if I’m not overly excited by them,” Damien muttered as he narrowed his eyes at the children.

  I guess he had a point, but they were still children. They were not the ones to be blamed for what had happened either.

  “I know,” he sighed before pursing his lips.

  Nate sat up, frowning softly at Damien before his lip curled up.

  “You’re worried,” he stated.

  It was my turn to frown as I flicked my gaze between them.

  “About what?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” Damien shot Nate a dark look, which was completely ignored.

  “He’s worried about if he’d make a good father one day,” Nate stated, and I softened as I turned to Damien.

  “Really?” I murmured as I reached out to rest my hand on his knee. He had his legs pulled up in front of himself, wearing his go-to dark jeans and black tee.

  Nate was in cargo shorts and a grey shirt, while I had denim shorts and a green top on.

  “I’m not exactly great with people. Or children,” Damien grumbled as he plucked a daisy from the grass and began tugging the petals off.