by J. L. Madore
Lol. You can count on me. Looking forward to this.
I clear my screen and grab the door handle to get out and join Jaxx. My phone pings with another text from Calli.
Slid in like a warm, wet dream. Hurry home, broody. Your mate needs you to fuck her.
I read it twice and groan.
Before claiming her in the shower, I didn’t grasp the carnal pleasure possible with a mating bond. Letting off inside her… feeling my cock squeezed by her pussy while I marked her inside and out… fuck, it was transcendent.
I now understand how she went from being skeptical and scared to grasping the reins of that bond within the span of a week. I could spend months inside her, marking her and making her cream in every position imaginable and still never sate my desire.
I reread the text. Your mate needs you to fuck her.
Yeah. I need that too.
The night air feels good on my heated flesh and I tip my face up to the cloud-shrouded moon. Rounding the front of the truck, I pull out my cigarette case, light one of my hand-rolled sticks of delight, and join Jaxx in the shadows.
“I see your call went well,” the jaguar says, gesturing to the front of my pants.
I’m about to toss out a snipe when I catch myself. Instead, I shift my footing and adjust my cock. A long pull on my smoke helps gear down my sex drive and my annoyance at having another alpha male comment on it.
I turn my head away from him and exhale the exotic succulence. “I suck at small-talk, Jaguar. I survive on two modes of communication, dominant or hostile. I’m working on it but we’re not there yet.”
“I feel you. It’s a lot. I get that.”
Hmph. “Doesn’t seem to slow you down any.”
Jaxx shrugs and points to my cigarette. “Can I bum one?”
I get him set up and slide the silver case back into my pocket. “I didn’t know you smoke.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.” He stares out at the darkness and the heater flares as he takes a pull. “Dayum, avian. This is nice. What’s in it?”
“It’s my own blend of Turkish and Orient tobaccos laced with a hint of CBD to take the edge off.”
We stand together, smoking, and I feel like I should say something. Jaxx always seems to know what to say to put people at ease. That’s not one of my gifts. “I wish I was better at this, Jaxx. I excel at a great many things but not… this.”
His head cants as he searches my expression. I don’t know what he thinks he sees, but his smile makes me squirrely. “And what is ‘this’ to you, Hawk?”
I wish I knew. “I pride myself in anticipating what’s coming at me next. This mating blindsided me. I don’t know how to plug into what we’re supposed to be building.”
“The big question is do you want to?”
I chuff. Two weeks ago, the answer would’ve been a vehement ‘fuck no’. Last week it would have been ‘it won’t work’. Since bonding with Calli… I’m struggling to figure out how to make it work.
“So, you want it to work?”
“I do.”
“We have to mean more to you than the celebrity of bein’ chosen for the quint and the political gain of bein’ mated to the next Fae Prime. The five of us need to align as one. Your claim on Calli is a start, but for this to work, you have to want the rest of us in your life too—however that works for you.”
I exhale heavily. “I’m a loner and an aggressive, driven alpha. Having other males around me as equals isn’t something I’m prepared for.”
“If that’s all it is, relax. It’ll come. Just don’t freeze us out in the meantime.”
He makes it sound so easy. “I’m not sure if you noticed but my closest friend is my security officer and my last girlfriend was my personal assistant. I only know how to be a boss, Jaxx. Friend and mate are alien concepts.”
He exhales a sweet-smelling cloud of blue-gray smoke and I smile. It never fails to ease my roughest edges. “The first step is learning to be at ease with us. Us here, chatting and having a smoke like this… this is good stuff, Hawk.”
I search his expression to gauge if he’s fucking with me.
Nope. He seems sincere.
“We can hang out for drinks, talk about mate troubles, even meet chest to chest for a hug if the moment warrants it. It won’t mean anything more than that. Kotah, Brant, and I are clear on where the line is drawn in your sand. It’ll be a lot easier for you to be yourself around us once you trust us to respect your boundaries. You get to do you, Hawk. It’s cool. We’re cool.”
Fuck, in the light of the moon, the turquoise of his eyes practically sucks me in. I don’t know why it affects me. I don’t do guys. Never have. Never wanted to.
I pull my gaze free. Trust in the boundaries, eh? Isn’t that what I’ve asked of every female I’ve played with? Kink and BDSM is all about mutual respect and trusting that your partner will uphold your limits.
I never thought about it like that, but that scenario, I understand. “I appreciate that, Jaxx.”
My comm activates in my ear and I quiet to hear the update from Lukas and Brant. “We’re going in.”
Calli
With the vibrating snowman tucked inside me, I leave our bedroom to find Kotah. At first, I take the stairs slowly, but then realize, my little guy is secure enough that I don’t have to worry. And he’s a fun little guy… sending little horny zings to all my girlie parts.
Kotah meets me at the bottom of the stairs. His Cheshire grin tells me that Hawk has already imparted his instructions. He holds out his palm and I hand him the controller. “On low. Good girl. How does it feel?”
I close my eyes and focus. “I knew I liked vibrators before but this is different. He wriggles a little, rubbing my insides in a sexy way.”
Kotah draws a deep breath and his wolf growls. “I love the scent of your arousal. It’s pure octane in my veins.”
My nipples are peaked, and I bring his hand up to cup my breast. He tests the point with his thumb against the cotton of my shirt and I shudder. “Holding back until Hawk gets home is going to be torture. Between the anticipation, the toy, and the mating heat, I’m raring to go.”
Kotah backs me up one step and takes advantage of the height difference to lean straight forward and trap my nipple between his teeth.
“Oh, yep, that’s going to get me into trouble.”
My wolf chuckles and blows a hot breath through the fabric before straightening. “Then we better stop. This is Hawk’s first step in engaging you as a lover. We must not disappoint him, or as you said, we’ll lose ground.”
I laugh and poke my nipple back down. There are other people in the house. I can’t walk around nipple-tipped. “We mated, so it’s not exactly his first step. He did claim me in the shower.”
Kotah gives me an indulgent smile and shakes his head. “You seduced him when he was naked and vulnerable. He succumbed to your advance and his overwhelming need. This little game of his is him including us in his world and his plans. His trust will be hard to win. We must prove to him we can follow his instructions no matter what.”
“Agreed.” I prop my arms on his shoulders and link my fingers behind his head to play with his braid. I press my lips to his as a quick offering of solidarity. “Now, tell me. Is everything ready for your call with Raven? Does Keyla have her questions ready?”
“Yes. And Raven is wonderful. She’ll know what we need to know to satisfy my palace duties.”
I touch the soul shard where it hangs against the hollow of his throat below his royal tattoo banding. “Well, whatever it takes, we’ll make it work. Whether we’re on the road, at the palace, or at Northwood, this quint stands with you. No mate gets left behind.”
He lifts his chin and straightens. There are moments when he looks every bit the part of his royal appointment. “Come. Let’s get this over with. I’d much rather focus on Hawk’s games than my father’s.
He takes my hand and tugs me off the steps, his words playing in my m
ind. “Do you think your parents will keep playing political games with you? You accepted your appointment and have committed to your duties. What more could they want?”
Kotah chuckles. “How little you understand the self-importance of my soul-sucking parents. There is no end to what they want. Ever. Nothing I ever give will be enough.”
A buzzer rings and the two of us follow the sound into the office. Doc is already there, his attention focused on the monitor that shows the security cameras of the front gate.
“We’ve got visitors.”
“Who?” I ask, rounding the desk to get a better view. “Seriously? Cut the fucking cord, lady.”
The window of the back seat is down and Kotah frowns at his mother’s haughty glance at the camera. “See what I mean?” he says, letting off a heavy sigh. “Never enough.”
Doc looks at Kotah and shrugs. “Your call, Wolf. We don’t have to let them in.”
Kotah chuckles. “Unfortunately, Mother isn’t one to give up. If she has something to say, there will be no peace until she says it. Release the gate.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Brant
When we’re sure the cover of darkness is on our side, Lukas opens the comm link and tells Hawk, “We’re going in.” Then, he tests the strength of the branch we’re perched on and gives me the green light.
I’ve thrown a lot of males in my life but usually, that was in the heat of some kind of fight or rescue. I’ve never shotput a mage for the sake of distance. “You sure about this?”
Lukas dips his chin and grins. “Believe it or not, this isn’t the strangest thing I’ve asked a guy to do on this job.”
I decide the fewer details on that the better. “Okeedokee. Are you looking for a lob or a line drive?”
“A lob. Then give me a solid minute and do a flying skydiving leap. Don’t worry about the freefall. I’ll take care of the rest with magic.”
“If you can take care of the rest with magic, why not go with that from the beginning?”
“Because of the magical field. I need to be beyond the twenty-foot perimeter before I call on my powers or we’ll trip their security measures. Trust me. I’ve got this.”
I wish I knew what this guy’s specialties are, but hey, in for a dime in for a dollar. “Okay, fasten your seatbelt.” I grab him by the collar of his flack vest and his belt at the back of his pants. He crosses his arms, grips the shoulder straps of his combat vest, and stiffens.
When I lift him off his feet and assume his weight, the limb we’re on lets off a crack.
“That’s not comforting at all, is it?” Lukas says. “Okay, we get one shot at stealth and this is it, Bear.”
One shot… and my footing is threatening to give way from under my boots. Awesome. Urging my bear to the surface, I take a couple of deep breaths, tighten my grip, twist back… and then uncoil, launching Lukas into the night air.
The next crack of the branch is much more threatening.
I bend my knees, waiting to see if I drop to the ground below. Lukas’s trajectory looks promising. Honestly, I’m impressed. He’s getting good distance and pierces the air like an arrow shot from a compound bow.
When I lose sight of him, I listen for his landing but get nothing. Well, nothing but the micro-cracking of the branch beneath my boots. “Okay, I’m going,” I say, looking down. “Don’t get your bark in a bunch. You’re giving me a weight complex.”
The tree cracks in response and the branch starts to bow.
“Oh shit.” I lose track of my count at forty Mississippi but am out of time anyway. As the branch gives me one final fuck you, I take a running leap and dive over the stone fence.
Even with the strength in my legs, my body mass is too dense to get far. Twenty feet is a big ask without firm ground under the soles of my boots. With a snapping twig ejecting me from the tree, it’s a no go.
Almost immediately, I sink through the air like a stone.
My arms are still above my head from my jump when something clamps tightly around my wrist. The almost silent whoosh-whoosh of wings has me gaping at the enormous owl carrying me across the compound toward the house. When we reach the main building, the impossibly large bird dips lower and drops me onto a rooftop patio.
I absorb the landing and roll to a crouch, straightening… right next to Lukas. The mage has his hands up and is casting. The energy of his magic tingles like Pop Rocks on my tongue.
I dust off my hands and shake out my hair.
As I watch, the owl shrinks back down to normal size and reclaims his night. “Cool trick,” I say, thoroughly impressed. “You must clean up at birthday parties.”
Lukas waggles his brow and pulls his night vision goggles into place. “I’ve got north and east. You take south and west. We need a guard count, possible exits from the main house, how many outbuildings, and any idea where they might be keeping the kids if they’re here. Meet back here when you’re done.”
I don’t need night vision goggles. Bears see fine in the dark, though I’m still not sure what to think about the security team having the ability to cloak. That sucks.
“Whistle if you need me,” I say, turning to go.
Lukas nods. “Same.”
Kotah
Keyla has enough time to run upstairs and put on a dress before Mother’s car stops in front of the four-car garage. She’s rushing back down, sweeping her hair up into an elastic as the sound of closing doors echo outside. Calli and I decided not to change and to receive our guests as is. My mother can take us or leave us—preferably the latter.
“Why is she here?” Keyla hisses, straightening her skirt.
“Why does she do anything?” I say, not bothering to hide my annoyance. “To prove to us she can.”
Calli curls in at my hip and kisses my cheek. “Could—past tense. You are not her suppressed little boy anymore. You’re a man now—my man. You’re the Prime in Waiting and outrank her. She doesn’t get to be queen over you. She holds no power to control you other than what you give her.”
I love the confidence in Calli’s declaration, no matter how naïve. “Technically, you are correct, though it doesn’t work that way. Mother has a knack of ensuring her point of view reigns supreme. She’s accustomed to great power. She won’t stand to lose that—especially with Keyla and me.”
“Tough titty.”
Keyla chuckles. “Please use that phrase when the subject comes up. Mother will love it.”
Calli sticks her tongue out at my sister and I couldn’t be more in love with either of them. Keyla for taking on the role of my shield against the palace politics and Calli for standing as my champion and claiming me—and by extension my sister—as her own.
Doc looks back to ensure we’re ready and when we nod, he opens the door and points the way in.
My mother, Raven, and two palace escorts make their way inside. Keyla rushes to take mother’s shrug and welcome them. I’m about to step forward when Calli groans and grips my hip tighter.
“Calli? What is it?”
With her face pressed into my shoulder, she licks her lips and clenches her eyes tight. “Oh, gawd. Now is not the time for Hawk to be playing with his app.”
I burst out laughing, then cover my mouth and meet my mother’s censure. “Nakotah, have you forgotten how to welcome a guest into your home?”
“No, Mother. Once again, you simply caught us by surprise.” Biting back my amusement, I sober. “But, since you brought up the topic of social courtesy, you might do us one. Now that I am Prime in Waiting and mated, it’s best if you let me know when you intend to stop by. That way, I have a chance to let you know if we are receiving.”
Mother looks from me to Calli and back to me. “Receiving? I am your mother. Is this her doing?”
“In the sense that I value my privacy with my mates, yes. Otherwise, no. Since you forced my hand to be sworn in, I now hold a position of elevated status. These drop-in ambushes end now.”
I pause and breathe in the glorious
scent of my mother’s fury and catch the sweet succulence of Calli’s arousal blooming. Life is good.
Whether Calli’s heat is stirring from me being assertive or Hawk’s vibrator massaging her core, I don’t care. It’s a glorious moment and one I commit to memory.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Calli says, starting to ease away.
I chuckle and capture her wrist. Hawk trusted me not to let her out of my sight to release. I won’t fail in my duties.
“Not so fast, my love. Stay with us so you can ask your questions while we have our meeting. There will be tasks and responsibilities that affect you as well.”
“You can’t be serious,” Mother snaps. “Her?”
I’m honestly surprised by her outrage. As a woman of great strategic intellect, how could she not have anticipated my intentions? Is she so conceited that she thinks after everything she’s put me through—all the bullying and dismissal—that I will choose her to sit at my side?
Not in this lifetime or the next.
“You are Father’s queen, Mother, not mine. You’ve had decades to rule. Once I ascend as Fae Prime, Calli will be your queen. You need to come to terms and respect that.”
“You ask too much, Nakotah. You have no idea what the station of Prime and Prima involves. The Fae Council and the heads of state and the people who matter in the world beyond expect certain things.”
“Isn’t that why you’ve come? To prepare me in person instead of by video conferencing as agreed?”
Between Mother’s indignance, Calli swaying against me with her need pulsing, and Keyla and Raven’s raised eyebrows, holding a straight face is getting difficult. Still, I am to be king, so I must at least act the part.
With my arm around my mate, I turn us as one and escort her toward the living room. “Come along. Mother. Keyla and I have our computers set up for the meeting in here. You truly needn’t have come all this way simply to turn around and fly back in an hour or two.”
Mother sputters behind me. “An hour or two? Am I not welcome to stay in your home?”
