by Sara Page
I’m so full, so warm. I never thought I could feel this complete.
Vis is growling something but my ears are ringing, I can’t understand what he’s saying. Something touches my clit. My vision flashes white and an electric shock pulses through me like I was just struck by lightning. My body locks up, muscles stiff and rigid but my sex is gushing and convulsing.
Ameia.
Beast?
I clench down and Warrick bucks beneath me. “Too fucking tight.”
Hands tug and pull, helping him fight through my clutch.
I found you.
We’re rocking against each other, grinding body against body.
Hold on, we’re coming for you.
No, please don’t leave me!
“Don’t worry, we’ve got you,” Vis murmurs and I blink, the white fading away as he turns my head and kisses me.
Did I cry out loud or did they hear Beast?
I struggle to return Vis’ kiss as all the sensations come flooding back to me. My sex gripping Warrick tightly, I’m spasming and convulsing. I jerk and twitch in Vis’ hands while my walls grip and milk Warrick for every hot pulse of his release. He fills me up with hot sticky warmth until I’m so full I’m overflowing.
Then with a groan he stills. Seconds tick by. Vis is still breathing heavily against me.
“Let me have her,” Warrick demands as I begin to slump in Vis’ arms, exhausted and drained.
Vis sighs and his hands drop away reluctantly.
Warrick pulls me down on top of him until we’re skin to skin, arms wrapping around me while I snuggle up to his chest. Together we pant, catching our breath. And there’s just something about this that feels so right I can’t even properly explain it.
Kissing the top of my head, Warrick whispers softly, “I love you, Ameia. With you I finally feel complete.”
I hug him tight and tell him, “I love you too,” hoping he doesn’t regret those words when Beast comes to collect me.
Chapter Seventeen
After catching my breath, I turn in Warrick’s arms to reach for Vis but he only shakes his head, backing away slowly.
“What about you?” I ask, confused. Doesn’t he need to reach a release?
Vis slides off the bed and straightens his clothes. “What about me?” he repeats sarcastically, and before I can answer he turns sharply on his heel and stalks to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
“Shit,” I sigh and try to sit up but Warrick pulls me back down. “I need to go after him,” I explain, still trying to wiggle away. Vis’ feelings are probably hurt from being excluded.
“No, don’t,” Warrick says, his grip tightening. “Give him his space.”
I frown at Warrick and try to push him away. “That’s just mean.” And selfish. Now that we’ve joined together is he going to be upset if he has to share me? I certainly hope not. That’s not going to work with Beast and Striker.
“You’ll only make it worse if you go after him.”
“Won’t we just make it worse by leaving him out? Don’t you think he feels like we only used him?”
Warrick answers simply, “No.”
“No?
“That’s not why he’s upset,” Warrick sighs heavily.
“Then why is he upset? Did I do something?” Everything was working out so great until the end. I don’t know what happened.
Warrick shakes his head and reaches up to stroke my cheek. “It’s for him to explain.”
I narrow my eyes at Warrick and study his expression carefully. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Unflinchingly he holds my gaze while continuing to softly stroke my cheek. “He was rejected by his Calling, witnessing our union was no doubt difficult for him.”
“Even more reason for me to go after him,” I persist and again try to pull away.
“No, Ameia,” Warrick growls and tightens his hold on me. “You don’t understand. If he wants to, he can explain. Until then, trust me and give him his space.”
I open my mouth to argue some more with Warrick but decide it’s pointless. He’s giving me that look that Beast and Striker always give me when they’re doing what they think is best for me.
With a snort, I shut my mouth and roll over, giving Warrick my back. Getting comfortable, I decide I’ll just wait for Vis to return and speak straight to the source. Warrick pulls up the covers and tucks them all around me.
* * *
“Hello, beautiful,” Vis smiles down at me as I peel open my eyes.
I blink up at him in surprise and ask sleepily, “You’re not mad at me?”
Shaking his head, Vis chuckles as if he finds the suggestion funny. “Of course not,” he says before his head dips down and he kisses me deeply to prove it.
I sigh into his kiss and grab onto his shirt, clutching it in my fists. As his kiss deepens, I scoot closer and rock my hips against him, eager to finish what we started only to feel him jerk away.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask, searching his face as his lips abruptly leave me.
Vis shakes his head sharply. “No, of course not,” he says but he pushes me further away from him and tucks the blanket between us.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to wiggle closer only to feel him scoot further away.
“Nothing is wrong.” He attempts a smile but it’s too sad, his eyes too tortured to be convincing. Yanking the covers up, he brushes a chaste kiss against my forehead and tells me to, “Go back to sleep.”
After he climbs out of bed and disappears into the bathroom, I lay in bed a long time with a sick hollow feeling in my chest. When Vis doesn’t reappear, I roll closer to Warrick, nudge my way under his heavy arm and snuggle up to his side.
I fall back to sleep realizing this must be what rejection feels like.
* * *
The next time I wake up I’m completely alone in the bed. Vis and Warrick are standing in front of the door, close together and discussing something quietly.
My ears strain, but as hard as I try I can’t seem to catch a hint of what they’re saying. From the way my ears are burning, though, I’m pretty sure they’re discussing me.
The way they stand close together and the quiet way they’re talking, I take it that after last night there are no hard feelings. Still, I lay motionless, enjoying the view and hoping they won’t notice I’m awake just yet.
Running my eyes over their bodies without shame, I almost can’t believe I had them both intimately. They’re as different as can be, personality wise and physically, but they’re each sexy in their own way. Vis with his sharp quickness and lean strength, he’s totally got that tortured bad boy thing going for him. Warrick with his massive muscles and tender ways, a monster on the outside but a complete teddy bear on the inside for me. But then comparing them to each other only makes me want to compare them to Beast and Striker, and I can’t do that just yet. It hurts too much to still be separated from them.
Are they truly coming for me or was all of that just my hopeful imagination?
I gasp as my belly undulates. Staring down with horror, it looks like there’s an alien moving inside me.
And I’m so much bigger, my stomach has doubled in size… what the fuck?
“Ameia?” Vis and Warrick both say, their heads popping up. They rush over to the bed and Warrick is the first to ask, “What’s wrong?”
My throat is closed up so tight I can’t even speak. Waves ripple across my belly and what feels like a little foot kicks me in the ribs.
It looks like there’s an alien in my belly because there is an alien in there, there’s two of them in fact.
“I just…forgot…” I stammer and look up at the guys with tears stinging my eyes.
How much time has passed now? Two months? Three? My belly is so big I look like I’m about to pop. I could go into labor at any moment…
“Breathe, Ameia,” Vis says soothingly and I’m pulled into his strong arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
; “We will protect you. You have nothing to fear, my Ameia,” Warrick adds.
I want to believe him, I do but it looks like I failed. My children will be born into darkness.
Vis and Warrick hold me as I battle back my fears and despair. And it’s a tough battle, the only thing keeping me from completely breaking down is the hope that Beast and Striker are coming.
But when?
Hands stroke my hair back and hands stroke my belly in wonderment. By the time I finally get myself under control the two of them are grinning like happy fools as the babies kick and bump against their hands.
It’s hard to stay sad watching the two of them. They look so happy and proud, like two… dads. Wiping the tears from my eyes, one of the babies delivers a particularly nasty kick to my bladder and I have to make a mad dash for the toilet. After relieving myself, taking a shower and dressing, I emerge from the bathroom to find both Vis’ and Warrick’s moods have considerably dampened.
Now it’s my turn to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“We’ve been summoned to court,” Vis says coldly and Warrick growls.
Just the thought of facing the King again so soon fills me with dread.
“Do we have to go? Can’t we just beg off because I’m not feeling well? Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll make the trip.”
Vis shakes his head. “The King knows you’re close to giving birth and he wants to keep you close at hand.”
“He wants me to give birth near that pit?!” I gasp and hug my stomach. “I can’t do it. I won’t.”
“We will protect you, Ameia. You’re ours,” Warrick reminds me.
“But how can you protect me from him?” I challenge back.
The two of them share a look and my heart flutters with excitement. Are they planning something? Are they going to help me escape?
“We need you to trust us, can you do that?” Vis asks and reaches out, grabbing my hand.
It’s not like I have any other choice, so I nod my head. Squeezing my fingers, Vis fumbles with something at his hip and then he’s sliding a sheathed dagger into my hand.
“And you need to take this. Do you have any place on your person that you can hide it?”
I stare down at the dagger in confusion wondering how such a puny weapon is going to protect me from the King. Turning the dagger in my hand, I can see nothing special about it. No jewels in the hilt, no glowing light or hint that it’s magic. If anything it’s so small, it will just anger him if I try to use it against him. Compared to the King it’s about the size of a toothpick.
“Tucked in your boot is probably the best place to hide it,” Warrick suggests.
I try to bend over and I just can’t…
Chuckling, Vis takes the dagger back and drops to his knees, tucking the dagger into place. When he rises they each take one of my hands and smile at me, no doubt trying to keep me from freaking out again. Putting on my brave face, I stare back at them. Even though we’ve only known each other for a short time, in their eyes I can see how much I mean to them.
“Ready?” Vis asks and pulls the door open.
I burn the memory of their faces into my memory, regardless of what happens next at least I’ll always have this moment.
Chapter Eighteen
Dreading the long walk down I’m relieved to find I won’t have to walk the stairs at all. Knowing the stairs would be too difficult for me to descend the King has had a lift erected for my use. The downside is the lift is a scary manual crank lift.
“Why not construct a proper lift?” I ask.
It’s a simple platform with a metal railing around it, operated by a rope and pulley system. The platform sways and creaks beneath our weight as we step on it, and I try really hard not to peek over the edge. Below us is a dark shaft of nothingness.
“The pit has a way of interfering with electronics,” Vis explains, crowding me into the corner. “After one too many accidents, all technology has been banned from the palace.”
Warrick takes up the crank of the lift and my stomach drops out for a moment as we drop a couple of feet too suddenly.
“Easy,” Vis snaps.
I squeeze my eyes shut and hold on to the rail for dear life as the lift rocks and sways from side to side.
“Sorry,” Warrick grumbles and waits for the platform to settle before cranking the crank again.
If I thought it took an eternity to descend by stairs, it takes two eternities to descend by lift. The going is slow and nerve-racking, but at least Warrick is tireless and cranks without pausing. By the time we reach the bottom, if I could drop to my knees I’d drop to the ground and kiss it.
“All right?” Vis asks before we walk into the dark cavern. “You’re looking a little green.”
I’m not all right, nothing about any of this is all right but what can I do to change it?
I nod my head at Vis, my lips finding it difficult to construct an answer that wouldn’t be a lie. Vis steps in front, taking point, while Warrick takes my hand and draws my arm through his. Chin in the air, I concentrate on keeping my breathing slow and even as we enter the cavern.
The King is sitting on his stone throne with his shadow court gathered around him, whispering excitedly. Spotting us, his voice booms out, “Come closer, my dear. Let me see you.”
Sitting up eagerly in his throne, his eyes scorch over my body before they land on my stomach, staring pointedly at it. His mouth spreads wide in a wicked grin, and I half expect him to lick his lips.
I’d turn on my heel and run the other way if Warrick wasn’t propelling me forward. It’s the grin that gets me. There’s such unabashed excitement in it that my stomach flips and I feel like I’m about to be sick.
Why does he want my babies? Honestly, I have no clue. All I know is that I’ll fight him to the death to keep him from harming them.
The weight of the dagger in my boot is only a small reassurance. It’s going to take much more than the dagger to bring him down, but it feels good having a weapon, even if it’s a tiny, barely useful weapon.
Maybe I can take out his eyes if it comes to it.
“Come, sit on my lap,” the King orders as the shadows spread, allowing us to pass through them to reach him.
Warrick’s grip on me tightens and I’m afraid to resist the order, afraid the King will throw Warrick back into the pit if I don’t do as he asks.
So I wiggle my fingers, pulling my hand out of Warrick’s grasp and force a smile that freezes on my lips. “It’s okay,” I tell Warrick and pat his hand. It’s not okay but I don’t want Warrick to stand up for me, I don’t want him to suffer on my account.
Warrick makes a rumbling sound deep in his throat and his face is so tortured I can’t look at it for more than a second. Pulling away from him, he holds my fingers until the last moment, reluctant to relinquish them. The first step away from him feels like I’m taking a step closer to my own death.
Survive, I remind myself as I put one foot in front of the other. Until there’s a better option.
The King’s cold, misty hands grab me up before I even reach him and he lifts me, settling me on his hard lap.
“Ameia,” he says with affection and his cold hands immediately drop to spread across my belly. His hands are so big they nearly fully encompass it. “How do you feel?” he asks.
Like shit, I want to answer but swallow it back. “I’ve felt better,” I answer instead.
He nods as if pleased by my answer. “It’s almost time,” he says with barely suppressed excitement as his hands rub over my stomach. “And your new quarters are completed. Would you like to see them?”
No. I lick my lips nervously, but I would like to escape the King’s lap and his touchy hands so I tell him, “Yes.”
I cast a glance towards Vis and Warrick. They’re standing beside each other, watching. Silent and stoic. If they have a plan, if they mean to act against the King, there’s no way to tell just by looking at them. They seem to be completely passive, harmless.
&
nbsp; With great care, the King helps me down to my feet before he stands. Straightening to his full, towering height he looms beside me, tightly gripping my hand. The shades that make up his shape wrap their wispy fingers around my side and tickle the back of my neck.
“This way,” the King says and leads me forward. Vis steps to the side but Warrick seems to be stuck in place. The King sneers at him with disdain as we pass. It takes all the strength I have to resist the urge to run to him and throw myself against him.
Around the pit the King leads me and I keep my eyes up, afraid to peer too long into its dark, swirling depths. I’m all too aware that one wrong step, one slip and I’ll fall in. I ease closer to the King’s side. He grins that wicked grin, all too pleased to provide his protection.
We’re halfway around the curve of the pit when the first explosion hits.
The shadow court flickers, the shades wail and the cavern around us shifts.
“Ameia!” Warrick roars and I spin around just in time to see him charging towards us.
“Oh, dear,” the King sighs and tips his head back, looking up at the ceiling. “I was hoping they wouldn’t arrive until later.”
“Who?” I ask, struggling to hide my excitement. Is it Beast and Striker? Have they finally come for me? It has to be them.
Another explosion rocks the cavern and the floor quakes beneath our feet. A shower of dust and tiny pebbles falls from the ceiling, pinging against the top of my head. The King grabs my arms, steadying me, while Warrick stumbles and Vis trips over him.
Carrying me by my arms, the King swings me closer to the pit.
I scream, my nails scratching and grabbing desperately at him, but failing to touch anything substantial, anything solid that will provide some kind of purchase for my hands. The shades evading my fingers mimic my horror, mirroring my face while echoing the screams that pour from my lips.
One step, two steps.
The King dangles me over the pit.
“Why?” I scream at him, kicking and fighting. I can’t go out like this, I can’t. Beast and Striker are so close I can taste them. “Why are you doing this?”
