by Ginna Moran
“Or at least somewhere clean,” Rowan adds.
Maddox growls. “I beg to differ. She loves it raw and dirty.”
Keeping my eyes shut, I eavesdrop on their ludicrous conversation. Because damn it. I like how Kash thinks, but Maddox is a bit right. I cannot be making love to men I just met. Men who control the prison I’m in. It makes it sound so—so serious. The only thing I want them to be serious about is getting me out of this hellhole.
“Isn’t that right, cookie? You don’t mind as long as you cum.” Maddox’s warm hand squeezes my bare thigh. “I know this because you were pissed when I didn’t let you the first time. Tell my brothers. Tell them how you like it.”
Forcing my eyes to flutter open, I glare at Maddox. “No. And neither. No lovemaking or getting pounded in the pits.”
A hand sneaks under my ass, pulling me from the spot where I lie on Rowan’s couch. He engulfs me in a hug, squishing me to his broad chest. And then he trails his hands up my torso and slips them inside the dirty uniform shirt I wear with nothing else. He rubs his fingers over my nipples like his brothers aren’t sitting close enough to touch me.
“You want to discover your third option, my sexy doe-eyed girl? I should be offended that you chose to fuck Maddox before me, but I know why you did it. You wanted to give him undeniable proof that you’re our mate.” Rowan slips his hands back down my stomach, stopping his hands over my pelvis. “Maybe he won’t be such a dick now.”
I shift my gaze to Maddox. “Doubt it.”
“Just wait until you bear his child,” Kash says, tapping his finger to my knee. “That’ll change things.”
My eyes widen at his nonchalant comment, and I scramble off of Rowan’s lap and dodge past Kash as he grabs at me. His fingers lock to the back of my shirt, pulling it right off me to leave me naked in front of the three of them. Rowan releases a whistle and Kash practically purrs. It’s Maddox who growls and gets to his feet to come to my side.
Lacing our fingers together like it’s the most normal thing, he says, “Come on. You’ve given my brothers enough of your time. You’re still mine. I want to shower with you and make you scream in pleasure again.” At least he’s to the point.
I rip my hand away from his and hold my palm up. “No fucking way. Someone’s going to get me some clothes so I can shower alone, and when I come out, I expect food since you ruined mine.”
“Rowan will get you clothes and Kash will prepare your meal. I’m washing you. Accept it or don’t take a shower, cookie.” Maddox attempts to grab me again, and I arch backward out of his reach only to kick my leg up. I knock my foot right into his balls. He growls and rushes at me, looking hell-bent on capturing me to drag me like the beast he is into the bathroom.
“If you want to shower that badly with me, then knock this shit off and ask me nicely, Maddox,” I snap, swinging my hand out to slap his hip. “And then you’re going to give me some answers. Like what the hell happened in the pit with my ID brandings? When are you guys going to get me out of here? What are you going to do about...the visitor?” I don’t give Maddox even a second to answer as I spit out everything on my mind.
He grumbles and turns his back on me to point at the door to the bathroom. “Go take your shower.”
I throw my hands up. “Seriously? Is it that difficult to be nice to me that you’d rather skip what I can assure you is another helluva good time? Or is it because you don’t want to ask politely?”
“Can I shower with you, kitten?” Kash says, speaking up before Maddox can respond.
I blow out a breath. “No.” I feel a bit bad telling him no, considering how sweet he asked me, but this is about Maddox.
Maddox breaks his serious expression to grin at my response to Kash. Kash lifts an eyebrow at me like he thinks I’m the crazy one for denying the opportunity, but these guys are getting out of control. I’ll never get out of here if I don’t stand my ground. While sex is fun, and I’m already regretting telling Kash no, I have more important things in my life—like going back to the Mortal World and taking my life back.
“Can I help you bathe, Nova?” Rowan gets to his feet and extends his hand to me. “I’ll be a good boy unless you ask me otherwise. I’ll answer any and all of your questions too.”
I purse my lips and look into his hazel eyes. Damn it. They’re wearing me down, and they know it. “No sex.”
His jaw twitches. I have a feeling Rowan’s going to pursue the whole thing a helluva lot harder knowing that I banged both his brothers. I should feel a bit shy about how accepting they are to the idea of sharing me, but it’s weirdly okay. I can’t explain it. “If you insist, but I can’t promise my cock won’t be prepared for that sort of activity. With the minimal space in my shower, I can’t be held accountable if you decide to let it slip in.”
Warmth floods my face at the thought. I wish my body would chill the hell out, especially after the whole getting knocked up comment. I didn’t think about it until now. Kash pulled out, not that it matters because it can still happen, but Maddox didn’t. Why he wouldn’t? Fuck. They’re completely serious about this whole mate and procreate thing. It wasn’t a joke.
“Damn, I wish I could hear what she was thinking. Fucking magic thought-block,” Rowan mutters to Maddox.
“A magic what?” I cross my arms over my naked breasts. Standing nude before them should also bother me, but it doesn’t.
“Nothing to worry about, cookie,” Maddox says. “I’m working on it.”
I frown at him, wishing there was a way to chisel through all his badass, tough-guy attitude to really figure him out. He purposely guards himself harder than he does the whole prison. If Rowan didn’t start unbuttoning his uniform shirt to give me a view of his delicious muscles, I’d insist Maddox tell me. But damn it. My eyes travel along Rowan’s shoulders and to the intricate glowing swirls branded into his arms.
Heat builds between my legs, my excitement uncontrollable as Rowan unbuckles his belt. I stare at the V-shape of his hips disappearing into his pants. I hold my breath in anticipation, my groin clenching, my body so turned on that I squeeze my legs together, afraid I’ll drip on the floor.
Rowan releases a deep hum. “She looks ready to devour me. And she smells so good.”
“Fuck. I need her to look at me like that,” Kash says from a few feet away.
“Her body is ready for you, brother. Claim her.” Maddox’s words are like a smack across my face, snapping me out of my lust haze.
I jerk my attention to him with a gasp of a breath. “Are you joking? Just because I’m enjoying the show does not mean you can encourage your brother to fuck me, Maddox.” I shiver at the thought. “And so you know, it’s a bit weird. You should all be jealous or something.” I was a fool to think that I could pit them against each other upon my arrival. They seem to be teaming up the longer I spend time with them together.
“Jealous? Of what? There aren’t enough females for every man, so our species has evolved to share. You are ours and will bear our heirs and our females will reinforce alliances for us. We will find a new warlock to entice the fates in our favor. We will strengthen bloodlines even if yours is unheard of to us. There aren’t any dragon clans in Magaelorum that go by the name Noble.” Maddox cracks his knuckles. “Whoever stole you from your people ensured it would be difficult to place you. But the fates can’t be stopped. You are ours. We will find out where you come from in due time.”
My head spins with his info-bomb that leaves me reeling. “Uh, how about you slow down with all the child-bearing, betrothing females, and stop acting as if everything you say is indeed fact, because you can’t possibly know anything for sure, Maddox,” I mutter without taking my eyes off Rowan. “And sharing me might seem normal to you, but it’s not to me.” At least not yet.
“Are you sure about that, kitten?” Kash smiles at me.
I groan. “Yes. Like I said, it’s strange that you’re not jealous and Maddox basically instructed Rowan to fuck me—which almost sou
nded like he wanted him to do so right in front of you.”
Flicking my attention to Maddox, I twist my lips to the side, waiting for his response to my comment. All he does is shrug with a smile playing on his lips. And hell. He looks hot doing so. He’s sexy as hell all brooding and hard-ass, but the subtle softness brought on by his smile nearly takes my breath away, making my heart flutter. Because he’s smiling at me.
“I wouldn’t, Nova. Not for our first time.” Rowan struts forward, kicking off his pants in the process. He moves so suddenly that I stand frozen as he hooks his fingers to my hips and pulls my naked body flush against his. My heart kick-starts wildly, my damn vagina now practically throbbing with a need only his dick can cure. His warmth rolls over me in a wave, his fingers sliding around me to squeeze my ass.
“Shit,” I whisper, stretching on my tiptoes. “You can’t do this. You’re playing dirty.”
Leaning in, he brushes his lips to mine, kissing me tenderly for a second. I don’t even resist. I can’t help myself from wanting to accept his affection, feeling his body so close, hearing his heart bump against mine. “I’m only giving you the attention you’re so set on denying, Nova. And my brother was wrong. I’m so jealous, but not of him. I’m jealous you’ve picked now to play coy, doe eyes. You have no idea how much I want you. I need to know if you like to be bent over or stretched up. On top. On all fours. Backwards. Mmm all of the above.” His cinnamon breath tickles my lips. “I want to know if you’re as adventurous as me. If you’ll try anything.”
I blink a few times, trying to decipher what he means by that. “I—I need a cold shower.” I manage to tug myself away from Rowan and cross the room to the bathroom before any of them can stop me.
“Look at those doe eyes,” Rowan says, drinking me in from across the room.
He starts to close the distance, but I wave my hand and say, “Please just give me a minute. I need to think with something other than my desire. I just—I can’t believe this might be my future. I don’t belong here, and I feel like you guys might not truly care if I do or not. You keep bringing up being mates and babies and sex and claiming but none of that matters to me. You can’t just expect me to comply or believe you.”
“Nova, I said I’d answer your questions,” Rowan says. “We don’t have to have sex.”
“The hell you don’t,” Maddox snaps. “You have to claim her. We need to be absolutely certain.”
I frown. “Wait so—”
An alarm screeches through the air, startling me. The Dreki brothers look to each other and then to me. Rowan jogs across the room and pushes me back into the bathroom. Fire lights his eyes as he turns toward his brothers, sharing an indecipherable look.
“What’s happening?” I ask, letting Rowan nudge me farther into the bathroom.
“We’re going on lockdown. Time to get showered and dressed as fast as you can,” he says. “It seems something broke the magical barrier.”
I follow Rowan to the shower. “What does that even mean?”
“I’m not sure. My guess is that some of the prisoners might’ve gotten freed.”
***
I can’t believe Rowan put me in my cell and abandoned me. I’d expect that out of Maddox, but I was pretty sure Rowan wouldn’t want me out of his sight, especially after all the effort he put into bathing me in the shower.
Footsteps pound down the hallway, and I get to my feet to glance into the lookout mirror. Surprise washes over me at the sight of Quillon rushing in my direction. I link my fingers around the bars, wondering how the hell he is out during the lockdown.
“Nova, stand back,” Quillon commands from a few feet away. His blue eyes flash green as they gaze around the hallway. Unbuttoning his jumpsuit, he tugs something from the waistband of his prison-issued underwear that look as sexy as mine, which is far from it.
I do as he says and scramble to the back of my cell, leaning against the bunk. He slaps something on the bars and it sparks with red electricity. Flames burst across the metal with a loud pop. My mouth falls agape as Quillon slides the bars open and offers me his hand.
“Come on. We have about twenty minutes before the guards get things under control in the Fae Block.” Quillon enters my cell when I’m not quick to react. “Don’t be scared. I told you I’d figure out how to get you, so we gotta take advantage of this while we can.”
I allow him to tug me from my spot. I think he might pick me up if I don’t move otherwise. It feels strange to go with him, despite seeing him earlier. I thought he was nice before, but a deep-seated feeling screams that I shouldn’t go with anyone apart from the Drekis.
“I’m sure you still have a lot of questions,” he adds, searching our surroundings.
“What was that?” I point at the scorch marks on the floor instead of agreeing with his comment. I do have a lot of questions, but they’re not for him. I think I’d only use Quillon’s response to confirm or deny something the Drekis say. How can I trust a man behind bars? He claims to have known my parents, but what if it’s the same way as Lazlo? As Rhett?
“Just a little magic I got my hands on. Nearly wiped out my stipend account, so don’t let it be a waste. We still have so much to talk about.” Quillon flashes me a smile. “Though even a few minutes with you would be worth it.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Laying it on a little thick.”
“You like it.” Quillon pulls me to a stop at the end of the hallway and presses my back to the wall. “Admit it.”
Again, I giggle. I sound stupidly sweet, but it makes Quillon grin wider. “Never. I hate to break it to you, but I don’t plan on staying here for much longer, so don’t get attached.”
Quillon’s brows lower on his forehead, his smile fading. He bows slightly, closing the space. I pray he doesn’t ask to kiss me or something. “Delp—Nova. What have you been up to since I’ve last seen you? You sound far more confident.”
I cringe that he almost uses my real name. “Nothing much. It’s just—”
I don’t get a chance to explain my reasoning. Quillon suddenly drags me forward until I start running beside him. We dash across the main room of the block, empty of inmates. A few shouts come from within the cells as some of the guys catcall at me. Quillon growls and flips off the nearest guy at the end cell by the door leading to the prison yard.
Nerves tighten my stomach the closer we get to the exit. I can’t stop thinking about how my ID brandings nearly shocked me to death when I wasn’t where I was logged. If I leave with Quillon, it could happen again. It’s enough to get me to slow down.
“Wait, we can’t,” I say, ripping my hand from his. “The brands.”
Quillon jerks his gaze to my hands. “What are you talking about? They only set off if we try to leave the magic border of the prison.”
I shake my head. “Not mine. I was nearly shocked to death when Mad—CO Dreki didn’t log my relocation to the pit right away.”
Anger hardens Quillon’s features, and he scowls. “What?”
“Maybe because I’m a lifer here,” I add. I honestly don’t know. I doubt anyone would willingly explain. It’s hard enough as it is to get answers out of the Dreki brothers.
Swinging his fist, Quillon punches the wall. “Rose’s don’t do that. The bastards really think they possess you. Fuck, Nova. This might be bad, especially with what I know of your parents.”
I open my mouth to tell him about how the Drekis think I’m their mate and not only a possession, but a strange look crosses Quillon’s face. Something dark flickers in his gaze. For a split second, I expect him to drag me through the door anyway and brace myself to fight him.
Releasing a breath, he relaxes his shoulders. “I’ll figure it out for the next time. Come on. I don’t want to waste my time alone with you. If you stay pretty close to your cell, then you’ll be all right. The brands will only trigger at a certain distance.”
I tilt my head. “How do you know?”
“I’ve made it my mission to know every
thing about this place.” Grabbing my hand, he links his fingers through mine like he does it all the time. “Now, let’s go. We’re running out of time. I found out some things about your family and why you were stolen.”
Stolen? I consider demanding Quillon to tell me right here, but I don’t think I could outmatch him in strength. Tightening his fingers, he pulls me with him in the direction of my cell but instead of running toward it, he pushes open a normal door leading into a cluster of showers only separated by flimsy curtains. I grimace at the sight and thank the fates for the Drekis’ private quarters. I have no idea if they force the few women in the cell block to shower with the men, but I don’t want to find out. I haven’t even seen the pride of lionesses since my arrival.
“This way,” Quillon says, guiding me through an open doorway. We pass what looks like a custodial storage space and finally stop in a huge laundry area with giant washing machines and dryers. “We’ll be safe here. Even if the lockdown ends, no one will come in until first thing in the morning.”
Strolling away from me, Quillon stops in front of one of the industrial dryers and opens the hatch. He reaches in and pulls out a clean jumpsuit. I can’t take my eyes off him as he unbuttons the one he wears, revealing his chiseled chest. Hair covers his pecs and fades to his rock-hard abs. I don’t know if the world slows or he does, but Quillon teases me with a show, taking his time to slide the jumpsuit down his torso until it hangs on his hips. And this fucker. He grins, knowing exactly what he’s doing. He’s testing me, trying to see my reaction. So I don’t give him one.
I twirl my finger at his body. “I thought you had something to say to me. If you had something else in mind, well, not going to happen. For one, I’m starting to think sex around here means you stake a claim on someone. Two, there are no fucking condoms, and the last thing I need is to get knocked up.”
“We’re incompatible, Delphia. And I’d never announce a claim on you. You don’t belong to me.” Quillon smirks as he drops his jumpsuit to the ground with his underwear to get naked in front of me.
