by Aria Winter
I reach up and trace the sharp line of his brow as I stare deep into his cat-like eyes. “Your eyes are beautiful, Devon.” I take his hand and entwine our fingers. Lifting them to my chest, I place our joined hands over my heart. “I love you, Devon. Just as much as I love the others.”
I press a kiss to the back of his hand between his thumb and forefinger. “I want you to seal me to you before tomorrow. I want to be yours before you go.”
He stares down at me like I’m a rare and precious thing. “You choose me to be your mate?”
“Yes, Devon. I want you.”
He crushes his lips to mine in a searing kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs.
When he pulls back, his eyes search mine. “I overheard what you told Nyx.”
I stare up at him in confusion.
“About humans and their cycles,” he explains.
My cheeks heat in embarrassment. If he heard that, then he heard everything else we did that day. “You were there?” I ask in shock.
He swallows thickly. “I was worried and searching for you. I left as soon as I realized and I—”
I press my finger to his lips to silence him. “Why are you telling me this? What does what I told Nyx have to do with anything?”
“I will take great care to make certain you never become pregnant with my child. Most females not of my kind do not want cat shifter children, and I will never ask you to—”
I quiet him with a kiss. Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, I hold him close. He groans as I curl my tongue around his, deepening our kiss.
When I pull away, I gently rest my forehead to his as I stare at him intently. “I would gladly bear a child to any one of you,” I tell him. A shy smile curves my lips as my cheeks flush with warmth. “With five of you, it’s inevitable that I will get pregnant someday.”
He shakes his head softly. “But I could be sure to remove myself from your body before I—”
“No.” I state firmly. “I want all of you. Isn’t that how it works anyway? To be sealed, I have to accept your essence deep inside me.”
He nods. “Yes, but I would be content just to have you, Ella.”
“But I wouldn’t be. I want everything you would give me, Devon.”
He wraps his arms tightly around me and captures my mouth in a claiming kiss. His mouth is warm, and he tastes of the forest as his tongue strokes against mine. He allows the illusion of his clothes to disappear, leaving him completely naked beneath me as he holds me in his lap.
His cock is a rigid bar against my core. Only the thin barrier of my clothing separates us.
His kisses become more urgent as his hands travel up and down my form. He grasps the neckline of my dress and pulls it down to reveal my bare chest. The fabric tears as he lowers it even further to cup my breast.
When he rips his mouth from mine, I already miss his taste. But when he closes his lips over my breast and begins an urgent suction, a low moan escapes me.
I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him close to me as he lavishes attention on my breasts with his mouth and his hands.
His touch is a bit rough compared to the others, but I find I don’t care. And when he lifts his eyes to stare up at me, his gaze is fiery and possessive, making the muscles of my core ache with want for him to fill me.
His nostrils flare, and he growls low in arousal. “I can scent your need, my mate.”
His hand trails up my thigh until he reaches the triangular scrap of material that covers me. I gasp as he fists it in his hand and tears it from my body.
He dips his fingers through my already slick folds. And as soon as he finds the small pearl of flesh at the apex, I throw my head back and moan out his name.
“You are perfect, Ella,” he growls. “And you are mine.”
“Yours,” I agree as I drag my nails down his back. “I want you, Devon. I want you inside me.”
Without warning, my head hits the pillow as he throws me back onto the bed. I only have a moment to be surprised before he lowers his head between my thighs and drags his tongue through my folds.
I inhale sharply, as he teases his tongue at my sensitive flesh and inserts one finger into my core. “So tight,” he moans against me. “I don’t want to hurt you when I take you.”
“You won’t,” I barely manage to breathe. “Devon, I—” My breath catches as pleasure coils so tightly within me it chases away all rational thought. Fire ignites inside me, and I arch up against him a moment before my release roars through me so intense I cry out his name.
I haven’t even caught my breath before his large hands grip my waist and flip me onto my stomach. He covers me immediately. The large crown of his cock bumps against my core as he bands an arm around my waist and drags me toward him.
His tongue traces along the curve of my neck and shoulder as he grazes his sharp fangs across my sensitive flesh. Arousal spikes through me.
“You are mine,” he growls against my skin. “My beautiful Ella.”
I release a choked cry as he sinks his fangs deep into my neck and thrusts his cock deep in my channel. Stars explode behind my eyes, and I moan as he begins pumping into me.
With his mouth clamped down on my neck and his arm wrapped up under my hips, he holds me in place as each stroke becomes deeper and more forceful. It’s almost more than I can take, and just when I think I’m going to come, he pulls me up to sitting as he continues to thrust up into me.
His grip is almost bruising on my hips as he growls against my neck. This new angle makes everything that much more sensitive as he sinks impossibly deeper inside me, stretching me almost to the point of pain but not quite.
I reach back and run my fingers through his hair while I grip his arm tightly with my other hand.
His hand moves from my hip to my mons, teasing the sensitive hooded flesh at the apex of my folds. It’s too much. My body goes tight as a bowstring, and I fall over the edge.
His cock pulses strongly. Intense heat erupts inside me as he fills me with his essence. The small muscles of my channel clamp down around him, pulling his seed deep into my womb as waves of pleasure move through me so intense I cry out his name.
As I come down from my climax, he kisses along my neck, tracing his tongue over the small puncture marks left behind by his fangs. I reach up and feel as they close beneath my fingers. I twist my head to look at him. “How did you do that?”
He nuzzles my cheek as a deep rumbling growl vibrates through his chest. “It is part of the marking of our mates,” he whispers. “We can close the mating wound. Don’t worry. The mark will only be visible to any shifter’s eyes and not your kind.”
He carefully lays us down on our sides, skimming his fingers along my body and down my thigh before moving back up to cup my breast.
He kisses a lazy trail along my neck as he brushes his thumb over the already stiff peak. I reach back and run my fingers through his hair as I moan his name.
His hand moves down my body to cup my mons possessively. “I want you again, Ella. I need you.” He runs his delicious tongue over my ear before lightly nipping at my neck.
When he takes me again, I marvel at his complete mastery over my body. His touch is almost too much for me to take, and just when I think I will break from such intense pleasure, he pulls back just enough to keep me right where he wants me: on the razor-sharp edge of my desire.
His intense gaze holds mine as he pumps into me. He drops down low, wrapping his arms around my back as he clamps his mouth down on my neck. I love the sensation of being pinned beneath him like this as he holds me in place. My fingers dig into his back, feeling the muscles flex and extend beneath my fingers as he thrusts hard and deep.
When I come, it’s with a keening cry. It triggers his release. His cock pulses in my channel, flooding me with delicious warmth as he comes deep inside me.
He takes me so many times I lose count. And when I’m falling asleep, I’m completely enveloped in his warmth as he curls himself protecti
vely around me. He brushes the hair back from my face and whispers into my ear. “I love you, my beautiful Ella.”
“I love you too, Devon,” I reply as I drift off to sleep.
Chapter 34
Devon
I stare down at my beautiful mate as she sleeps in my arms. I shift slightly, and she instinctively nestles closer against me. Ella is perfect, and I love her more than anything in this world. That is why what I do now is so hard.
I must leave her. I do not trust the wolf shifter from the store, and I do not trust Ella to stay behind when we are supposed to go in the morning. She is determined to come with us. Kai is too weak and vulnerable to her charms to refuse her anything, even something as dangerous as this.
I suspect he would take her with us to the edge of the forest then leave one or two of us behind with her, but I do not even want her that close to the estate and the trap I know is set to spring the moment we enter.
Nor do I want her to lose more than one of us. So, if anyone is going to risk their life, it should be me. I have always been more of an outsider than any of the others. It is in my nature to be this way and not because I dislike my bond brothers. In truth, I love them all—more than the family I was born into. They are as much my brothers as my flesh and blood, and I refuse to let any of them risk their lives on this foolish mission.
The wolf shifter’s eyes appeared as if he were speaking the truth, but I will not wager anyone’s life but my own that this is correct. I will go to the estate and save the prince—or die trying.
I refuse to allow anyone else to get hurt or risk their life, especially in a situation forced upon us.
Carefully, I untangle myself from my mate and stand from the bed. I lean down and press a tender kiss to Ella’s temple. “I will always love you, my beautiful Ella,” I whisper in her ear.
I quietly make my way down the stairs and find four pairs of eyes staring up at me. Kai gives me a questioning look. “Where are you going?”
I meet his gaze evenly. “I’m going to the estate to free the prince.”
“We will go with you,” Cash says, stepping forward.
“No,” I growl. “You will all stay behind with Ella. You must protect her.”
“We agreed to all go together,” Finn says. “The plan is to go to the edge of the forest at dawn.”
I shake my head. “It is a trap, and you know it. All of you.” I look at them. “Can you not feel it in your heart that something isn’t right?”
Finn nods. “I sense something, but I am... uncertain what it is.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “But you should not go alone. I will go with you.”
“No. I don’t want anyone else to risk their lives on this mission. If I do not return, you will know it was a trap. You must do whatever you can to keep Ella safe.”
Cash’s eyes are full of sadness. “What would you have us tell her? You have only just sealed yourself to her and now you leave?”
I clench my jaw. “Tell Ella that I love her and ask for forgiveness.”
“You stupid cat,” Nyx hisses. “Reckless as always.”
My head snaps toward him, and I narrow my eyes as I growl low. “What did you say, rabbit?”
“I said”—Nyx steps forward, tipping his chin up haughtily—“you are stupid if you think you are going alone.”
“He’s right,” Kai says. “At least one of us should go with you.”
My heart squeezes in my chest as my bond brothers stare at me, their eyes full of loyalty and devotion. I lower my gaze. “I do not want any of you to get hurt.”
“And do you think we do not wish for your safety as well, brother?” Nyx says. He turns to Kai. “I will go with him.”
I open my mouth to argue, but Kai nods his head. “Do not engage anyone. Simply scout the area. If it does not appear to be a trap, we can come for the prince tonight or tomorrow instead.”
Nyx claps a hand on my shoulder and nods. He looks to me. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He arches a condescending brow then shifts. “Try to keep up, cat.”
Together, we race through the forest and toward the estate.
Chapter 35
Devon
The first of the sun’s rays barely peak above the horizon by the time we reach the estate. Quietly, we approach the garden wall, hiding behind some bushes, when we see two wolf shifters walking toward the tower door, disappearing inside.
We wait a moment longer for anyone else but see no one. I turn to Nyx. “It is guarded, but not heavily. This is strange, is it not?”
A deep feeling of unease moves through me as I scan the area again. “Whatever this trap is, I already feel as if we’re as good as dead the minute we enter the tower.”
Nyx remains silent, his brow furrowed deeply. After a moment, his voice fills my head. “How many times?”
I cock my head to the side in confusion. “What?”
“How many times did you bring her to completion?”
I clench my jaw. “More than you.”
His brows rise slightly, and he smirks. “I doubt that.”
I growl low in my throat.
“I’ll bet if we asked her, she’d say that I am the better lover.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you bringing this up now?”
A grin tugs at Nyx’s lips. “Would you care to wager a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yes.”
“On what?”
“On who can make her come more times in one hour.”
I give him an incredulous look. “Are you trying to make me mad?”
“No. I could sense your despair just a moment ago.” Nyx chuckles softly and claps a hand on my shoulder. “I am merely giving you a reason to live.”
Before I can reply, he adds. “All right. Let’s go.”
I scowl after him, and we move toward the tower.
A cool breeze rushes toward us, and we stop just outside the door. My nostrils flare, and alarm bursts through me. “Do you scent that?” I ask Nyx.
He nods. “Death.”
“Yes, but whose?”
“Hopefully not the prince,” he replies.
As we carefully make our way up the stairs, it feels like forever until we reach the door to Ella’s old bedroom. Everything is so drafty, cold, and run down. I hate that this was her home for so many years.
My heart aches with the want to hold and kiss her, to bury myself deep in her warmth and hear her cry out in pleasure—but all that must wait. I must remain sharp, for I do not intend to die here.
I look to Nyx and nod. As one, we burst through the door only to stop in confusion when we do not see the wolf shifters and instead find only the prince, his body bound as he lies on the floor.
Next to him were three familiar females that belonged to none other but Ella’s stepfamily. Bruises and cuts cover their skin, paired with the fear etched upon their faces, could mean only one thing.
They were brutally murdered and left lying to rot in the very room they had forced Ella, the true owner of the estate, to live.
I despise them for their treatment of her, and I had wanted, at one time, even to kill them myself. But as I look to them, I am reminded that death is such a terrible and awful thing for any creature, no matter how evil.
Scrunching my nose to try to hide the horrid stench, I rush toward the lost prince and remove the gag from his mouth. “Where is everyone else?”
“Are you here to save me?” he asks, his eyes wide with what I recognize as hope.
I nod. “Now, answer the question.”
He shrugs. “There hasn’t been anyone here since last night.”
I spin back to Nyx and give him a curious look.
His nostrils flare as he scents the air. “Magic,” he growls low under his throat. “The guards were not real. They were decoys.”
“Decoys?” I frown. “But why?”
My heart stops then begins pounding as panic coils tight in my chest. �
��The cottage,” I barely manage. “We have to leave! Hurry!”
“But the prince,” Nyx says. “The prophecy says he must kill the queen.”
I rush to his side and shred his binding with my claws, freeing him.
He stands and rubs at his wrists, raw and bleeding from the tight ropes. He looks at us. “I do not know who you are, but thank you. As for the wolf queen,”—he grits through his teeth—“I will find her, and I will kill her for keeping me prisoner. I am a prince, and I will not allow this crime to go unpunished.”
“Fine,” I tell him. “Now, climb onto me.”
“Climb?” he asks, but then his jaw drops as I partially shift into my much larger cat-like form. Large enough for both him and Nyx to climb on.
“Let’s go!” I project to Nyx, knowing the prince cannot hear me while I’m in this form.
Nyx looks to him. “He’s telling us to hurry. Let’s go.”
I’m glad the prince doesn’t ask any more questions because there isn’t time. I suppose having been held for all this time by shifters, he’s seen enough of them transform that it is no longer such a shock to him as it was the first time he saw it.
Chapter 36
Ella
I wake up surrounded by two sets of strong arms wrapped solidly around me. Opening my eyes, I look up to see Finn, and I know without looking back that Cash is behind me.
Finn reaches out and tucks a stray tendril of hair behind my ear. He presses a tender kiss to my forehead. His gaze drifts down to my neck, and he gives me a pained look. “Oh, Ella,” he says softly as his fingers trace over the place where Devon marked me. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.” I glance over his shoulder. “Where is Devon?” I grin teasingly at Finn. “Did you two crowd him out?”
Finn’s eyes are serious as they stare across at me, and he shakes his head. “He left, Ella.”
Small tendrils of fear begin to unfurl deep inside me as dread settles in my gut. I turn to look at Cash. “Where did he go?”
