Dark Crown: A Fae Shifter Romance (Guardians of the Fae Realms Book 8)

by JL Madore

  I make sure I stay far enough back from the doorway to keep from triggering Dillan’s sense of smell. And while I watch, I strip naked and fold my clothes over the back of a blue velvet settee by the door.

  After draping a throw blanket over the seat, I take a page out of my mates’ book and use the sexual show to fuel my fire. They have each tossed off while watching me have sex. I deserve the same opportunity.

  I’m an independent female.

  I don’t need much prompting to start the keening of sensation from taking hold. Two gentle fingers rubbing circles over my clit brings a rush of ache to my core. It’s not enough.

  I want to be filled.

  I want one or both of them inside me.

  Images of how that could work flicker through my mind. Mouth and pussy. Front and back. Both of them in my pussy…

  I don’t think I can manage that a week after losing my virginity, but it is something I want to try. I bite my bottom lip to keep from making noise and increase the pressure, rubbing harder… faster.

  I’m not sure if it’s because I’m nineteen or newly sexually active or an effect of the soul-searing or maybe I’m just a horny, kinky chick, but lately, I’m damp and throbbing without any coaxing at all.

  Put my mates in front of me, take off their clothes, and have them get busy and I’m wild and randy.

  The look on Doc’s face as Creed swallows his thrusts is too erotic not to get carried away.

  Doc’s hand gripping the back of Creed’s head isn’t forcing his submission, it’s ensuring the contact isn’t broken. Not when he’s so close.

  I’ve shared enough oral orgasms with Doc to know when he’s nearing his limit. He’s going to release soon.

  Sweet powers, it’s so sexy.

  I swallow as his face distorts and he’s coming hard into Creed’s mouth. He grunts and stiffens, his abs flexing with every heaving breath.

  Closing my eyes, I lock that image in my mind and focus on myself. I’m not as good at this as Doc is. He has such a way with his fingers that I buckle against his touch with ease.

  And then there’s his mouth… and Creed’s mouth…

  My nipples ache and I slide one hand up the smooth plane of my stomach to tweak the peaks.

  Oh, I need more hands.

  “Little Wolf, is there anything we can help you with here?”

  I open my eyes and bite my bottom lip. “If it’s not too much trouble, yes. I need to be thoroughly devoured and then filled by both of you while I shatter.”

  Creed grins. “I love a girl that knows what she wants. As it happens, our bear had similar urges and has things set up for a night of fun.”

  Doc winks, bending down to scoop me up against his broad chest. “True story. The only thing we were missing was the guest of honor—our queen.”

  Creed

  I close the bedroom door all but an inch in case Rhylan does decide to join us. Following Dillan’s naked swagger back to the bed is no hardship—our bear has a fine ass—but it hits me that other than the sexual encounter Keyla and I shared on the mental plane, we’ve relied on a bed.

  I make a mental note to expand our experiences now that the castle is ours once again.

  Doc sets Keyla at the edge of the mattress and she scoots back and stretches long, without a hint of modesty. She told me once that wildlings are naked so often due to shifting that nakedness doesn’t affect her.

  It certainly affects me.

  Climbing onto the bed with her, I position myself between Keyla’s thighs. “Close your eyes, my queen. I’ve been looking forward to this for days.”

  Keyla does exactly as she’s told and her trust in me is humbling.

  With gentle pressure on the inside of her thighs, I open her up and smile at her glistening folds. “Look at the mess you’ve made. So wet and slick. You’re a hungry little wolf tonight.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Good. We’re hungry too, aren’t we, Bear?”

  Dillan winks and dips his chin. “Famished.”

  The feminine whimper she makes, coupled with the arch in her back, does me in. “Do you trust me enough to let me have my way with you without question? I promise everything I have in mind is about your pleasure.”

  She meets my gaze, her rich, brown eyes wide with excitement. “I trust you.”

  “Good girl.” I lick my lips, my body already thrumming with a need to get at her. “Dillan, would you grab a couple of silk ties from my closet, please?”

  “You got it.”

  Keyla’s grin at the mention of the ties is sweet and eager. She truly is agreeable to try anything.

  I pause for a beat and take in the sight of her stretched out like a goddess before us. She’s gloriously bared to me and the soft lines of her body steal my soul more every time I’m blessed to see them.

  ”You’re beautiful, Nakeyla Northwood. I am honored to have you as my own.”

  “As you should be.” She grins. “I am pretty great.”

  “Yes you are,” Dillan says, returning with the ties. “And we’re going to spend the night appreciating you. Tonight is spoil our queen night.”

  “Yay! What have I done to deserve such special treatment?”

  “You’re a special kinda girl,” Doc says.

  The look on her face is honestly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. She’s so eager and filled with wonder. Claiming one of the ties, I bind her wrists together and lace the silk tail through the spindles at the top of the headboard to secure her arms over her head. “Tonight is about you, Keyla—all you.”

  Doc chuckles. “And a little bit us.”

  I grin and take another tie. “True. It’s no hardship to worship you, but the focus is you.”

  As I press the silk fabric against her eyes, I meet her gaze. “The mind is a powerful sexual organ. Focus on your senses: the smell of our arousal, the gentle brush of our touch, the sounds of our pleasures, and the taste of our skin. At any point, if you’re not enjoying anything we do, I want you to tell us right away.”

  Her mental energy is so powerfully charged, she’s practically bursting with excitement. “Agreed, but I’ll love it. I have no doubts about you guys.”

  “Lift your head so I can tie this.” She does, and I secure the tie and blindfold her. Rising to my knees, I assess Doc’s needs as well. He’s hungry for Keyla too and I don’t want him to feel left out. “You’re on kisses and nipples for a moment. I need to feed again. Then I’ll pass the reins and you can take control. Is that all right?”

  “Perfectly. Get your fill.”

  From beneath lowered lids, I keep my gaze locked on Keyla. I plant my palms on either side of her hips and drop toward her sex.

  Fuck she consumes me.

  Despite my intention to give her the romance and sensuality I know she deserves, once I get to where I’m headed, I’m overcome with a raw, whipping need.

  I grip her hips, pull her against my mouth, and latch onto her core. Lapping her up, I shut out the world and focus on her sensitive flesh.

  Initial contact brings a rush of fresh moisture to my tongue and I swallow it down. The bonded male in me relishes the thought of her cream and Dillan’s mingling inside me. It’s carnal, slightly primal, and a little crass, but I can’t help it.

  And as much as it fills me, it’s not enough.

  By the time this night is through, the silky residue of sex will cover all three of us, inside and out.

  I flick my tongue, teasing and penetrating, losing myself in my dedication to coax as much honey from her as possible. The gentle weight of her legs settles over my shoulders and then she’s working herself against my chin and mouth. That’s my girl. As I said a moment ago…

  I love a girl who knows what she wants.

  It’s still sinking in that she is mine and I get to keep her and claim her forever. And, as good as it is now, it’s only going to get better.

  When her first orgasm of the night hits hard, her hips buck as her wild side ascends and she ca
lls out my name… twice.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Rhylan

  The morning arrives with a haze of memory and a steady thrum lighting off behind my eyes. Maybe if I lay here with my eyes closed for another few days I’ll feel better. I breathe deep and my dragon stretches languidly at the feminine scent filling our sinuses.

  Keyla.

  My sense of surroundings sharpens and I realize the warm softness cushioning my cheek isn’t my pillow… it’s fur.

  Prying my eyes open a crack, I ready for the assault of daylight and the spearing of daggers into my retina. The pain doesn’t come. The drapes are pulled and it’s my animal vision that allows me to see.

  I’m lying on my side, curled up and spooning Keyla’s stunning white wolf. She’s sound asleep, her gentle breaths escaping in almost silent whispers. She smells like sex and sated female and I’m not surprised.

  Doc told me exactly what they had planned last night. I’m glad they enjoyed themselves.

  I do a gut-check on that thought and yeah… neither man nor dragon wants to kill anyone because they got naked last night with my mate. They had Creed but I’m okay with that. He’s mine too. I made that clear. They respect my claim but in turn, I find that I respect theirs.

  It does hurt a little that the universe chose Keyla as his perfect other half.

  She is Creed’s fated mate.

  Our mate. My dragon pushes the thought at me with force. Our beautiful queen.

  I’ll never argue about Keyla’s beauty—no one with eyes could—but she’s young and idealistic and doesn’t understand the kind of baggage being claimed by a male like me means.

  Afraid to wake her, I remain perfectly still. I’m not ready to confront the mixed feelings I have for her. Part of me wants to grasp hold of everything she offers—acceptance, understanding, and a safe place where people of worth honor and love me.

  Another part of me doubts she knows what she’s talking about.

  Another part of me resents her place at Creed’s side.

  Another part of me is thankful she came along and set Creed’s world right.

  I could think myself into circles all day long.

  She wakes. My dragon pushes to the surface, eager to interact. I don’t share that enthusiasm.

  But he’s right. Keyla is waking, her muscled shoulders twitching, her fur pulling under my fingers. When her eyes open, I expect her to shift to her human form.

  Then what will I do?

  She doesn’t. She glances over her shoulder, catches me watching her, and lays her head back down, When she closes her eyes again, I smile. All right then.

  The boys must’ve worn her out because she’s certainly not ready to get up.

  Honestly, now that I think about it, I’m not either. Closing my eyes again, I allow myself one caressing stroke over her shoulder and down the thick pelt of velvety white to her back legs.

  Breathtaking….

  I must’ve fallen back to sleep because the next time I wake, I have Keyla’s wolf in my face. I’ve nuzzled into the fur of her ruff and my twin is backing out of my suite looking murderous.

  Easing out of the bed without waking her takes a bit of effort but the moment I’m free, I pull on my boxers and pad up the hall to Vik’s suite. He has his bags packed and is pulling on his leather jacket.

  “You’re leaving?” I step inside his suite and close the door. “I get that things are messed up between us, but don’t leave. We’ll figure it out.”

  “When did you start sleeping with the queen?”

  “I’ve never… I’m not. I woke up with her there just now. That’s the first time I’ve gotten anywhere near her and I had nothing to do with it.”

  “So Creed’s soul-seared mate walked away from the king’s bed and let herself into yours? I find that hard to believe. She reeked of sex.”

  “But not sex with me.”

  “You expect me to believe you?”

  “Believe what you like. You’ve decided to think the worst of me on all accounts, so even though you can smell that I’m telling you the truth, don’t let that sway you from your cutting judgment.”

  Vik grabs a duffle and slings the strap over his right shoulder and then grabs another and slings it over his left. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Rhy. You’re not my brother anymore, remember?”

  Those words cut deep and I let him see the damage it does. “Whether you want to admit it or not, somewhere deep down, you know I did the right thing. We were being blackmailed to destroy our honor. Creed is the rightful ruler. Laryssa was never fit to sit on the Dornte throne.”

  He grips the handle of his suitcase and shakes his head. “The politics of the quadrant had nothing to do with our duty. Our duty was to our mother and the Silverwing name. You pissed all over it, so I guess it’s a good thing you mated him—you can take Thornebane now. Mom and I, however, are fucked.”

  “Then stay and we’ll figure out what to do. We’ll get Mom away from Shadowcaster and bring her here. Even pissed at me, you have to see that we’re in a stronger position to defend ourselves with my new mates and the Phoenix Quint behind us.”

  He flips me a middle-fingered salute and walks off.

  I follow him out to the hall and curse. He’s not listening. He can’t see past me mating Creed to anything that might be achieved now that we’re free of Laryssa. “Vik. Seriously. You don’t have to leave.”

  He casts a derisive look over his shoulder. “Your mates made it damned clear that anyone opposed to Creed reclaiming the throne needs to vacate the castle.”

  “But we were never in Laryssa’s corner. We were coerced. Creed won’t hold you to that.”

  Vik shakes his head. “Unlike you. I was loyal to Laryssa because I swore an oath. I won’t pretend I wasn’t just to land on my feet. You consider yourself a man of honor. That’s hypocritical. If I were you, I’d take a hard look in the mirror.”

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out something and tosses it to me. “Shadowcaster needed someone to deliver that to you—I volunteered.”

  I stare at the black and gold disc in my hand and my world comes crashing down around me. “You volunteered to serve me an exile disc? Do you truly hate me enough to relish destroying me and wiping me out of the hierarchy of our people?”

  He nods. “I gotta say, it’s damned satisfying to see you and your lofty ideals go up in flames. You did this, Rhy, not me. Stop looking like a wounded dog. You’re the asshole here, not me.”

  Creed

  I’m finishing in my dressing closet when I hear the door to the corridor open and step out to greet Keyla in the living room. She’s not nearly as happy on her return as she was when she left. “Good morning, Little Wolf. How did you and our dragon sleep?”

  She sighs. “The sleeping went well… or at least I thought it did. I woke up once and he was watching me. He looked confused but content. When he didn’t tell me to get out, I took that as a good sign.”

  “But?”

  “But when I woke up just now, he was gone. No goodbye. No note. Just an empty bed. He couldn’t wait to put distance between us, I guess.”

  I sense her mental anguish and it’s not an energy I enjoy. “I doubt that’s it. Rhy’s a hard guy to get to know but he’s also a good guy. I’d be very surprised if he was being overtly rude. There’s likely another explanation.”

  She reaches up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “You’re probably right. Let’s forget about it.”

  I hear her words but don’t buy into her forced smile.

  “There’s our beautiful girl.” Doc emerges from the bathroom dressed and ready for our day. “How’d it go across the hall? Did Rhy’s dragon settle down once you snuggled in?”

  “His dragon was happy enough. The man less so.” She’s losing hold of that weak smile and I feel her emotion pushing to break free. “I don’t want to hold us up. Give me ten minutes to shower and get ready for our day.”

  She doesn’t wait for an answer. Ducking
her head, she retreats and closes herself into the bathroom.

  Doc frowns. “What was that about?”

  “I think she’s feeling a little snubbed by our dragon. When she woke up, he’d left the suite without a word and she’s a little deflated.”

  Dillan turns toward the exit and strikes off. “I’ll show him what a little deflated looks like.”

  The bear is out the door and across the corridor before I can catch up and grab his shoulder. It takes a great deal of effort to slow down an angry bear, but I manage to get myself between him and Rhylan’s door. “How about I talk to Rhy and you check in with Lukas to see if we’re still on for today?”

  The rumble of his bear’s growl tells me what he thinks about that.

  “Honestly, Bear, I’ve got this. Rhylan isn’t a mean-spirited person and we all know he’s going through personal stuff with his brood and his brother. Let me check in with him and see what happened.”

  Doc sighs and takes a step back. “Fine, but if he plans on hurting her on the regular, I will nut-punch him so hard those globes won’t ever dare to drop again.”

  Oh hell. “Understood. I’ll express our stance on things and make it clear.”

  After another moment of hesitation, Doc’s muscle-banded shoulders relax and he stomps down the hall toward the room assigned to Lukas.

  I watch him go and chuff. He might be beta in the hierarchy of things but he’s alpha possessive of his wolf.

  Which is good—great even.

  Keyla deserves her men to be committed to raze the world to keep her happy.

  I had hoped Rhylan understood that.

  A light knock on Rhy’s door brings no response, so I use my powers to probe the mental energy of the room’s interior. Oh, fuck. It’s worse than I thought.

  Letting myself in, I close the door behind me and meet the anguished gaze of our dragon mate. He’s staring at the black disc in his palm and looks wrecked. “What is that? What happened?”

  Rhy launches off the bed and crosses the room looking pissed. He opens the drawer of his cabinet and tucks the disc away. “None of your slecking business. That’s what it is.”