Snow and the Shadows (Once Upon a Harem Book 2)

by Cara Carnes

  He set me down when we arrived in his quarters. They were utilitarian, devoid of any personalization, as if the small measures of his humanity would weaken his leadership, make him remember he was more than a Roteran commander.

  We stripped one another with heated caresses and bold kisses. The souls within him greeted my every touch and kiss, then withdrew, as if sensing I needed tonight to be a connection with my Shadow alone, a chance for us to solidify our mating.

  Zelig needed to know I loved him as the man he was, be he a Roteran warrior, a commander, or no one important. I needed to burrow beneath the layers of responsibility and pressure and extricate the man hidden within, the one he never shared with anyone.

  “Your skin is so soft. I’m afraid I’ll mar it,” he admitted.

  I’d heard the fear uttered more times than I could count. All my Shadows were strong warriors. They all had the same concern about being too passionate, too aggressive with me. Each of them was different, unique in their own way.

  Ren was my shy lover, the one who I’d always be the aggressor with. Ashan was gentle. Dacian was my curious, playful companion. I never knew what to expect with him. Varik was the patient and compassionate one. Slade was the sensually dominant one. Marden was the primal lover.

  I suspected Zelig would land somewhere between Slade and Marden on the dominant scale, which was probably why he was worried about hurting me. He knew how aggressive he’d be once he released the tenuous grip on his control.

  “I won’t break.” I nipped his lower lip. “Love me, Zelig. Let go and let me love you.”

  He claimed my mouth in a ravenous possession. I clung to him as we tumbled onto the bed. I groaned and writhed beneath his weight. Finally. He kissed, sucked, and taunted a trail down my body in a frenzied pace. I wanted to tell him we had all night and forever after that, but I felt the same carnal need he did.

  We’d explore languidly later.

  He pinched my nipples until a soft moan escaped me. He massaged my breast, then repeated the finger nip, harder than before. Then his mouth was on me, sucking. His fingers teased the sensitive flesh between my legs.

  White-hot heat fanned through me as he settled between my legs, laved his tongue across my clit. Awareness beaded through my entire body, tiny pinpricks of energy I sent through him wherever we touched. Eyes closed I writhed beneath his deft ministrations until I exploded.

  Then he was inside me, thick and hard. I groaned at the full sensation. “I love you, Zelig.”

  “I love you, Snow. My mate.” He pounded into me. “I can’t wait until you’re rounded with our child.”

  My belly fluttered at the idea. I wanted that. A child with my Shadows. I claimed his mouth while I clenched my pussy around his cock. “Zelig.”

  My nails dug into his back as we spiraled into an abyss. I felt him within the telepathic plane, demanding entry into my thoughts. I opened fully to him, giving him everything. Anything he wanted.

  This is how I will have you each time, Snow. Connected on both planes. One in every way. No secrets. We share everything. Always.

  Yes. Always and forever.

  He drove into me with wild abandon. My orgasm was so strong I lost all awareness of everything and everyone except Zelig. I clung to him, cascaded the pure energy that’d built up within me into him.

  I was nestled against his side when I awakened. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep. Zelig was stroking my hair and smiling down at me.

  “You talk in your sleep,” he whispered.

  “I do not!” I slapped his chest. “The others would have told me.”

  “Are you sure? It’s very cute.” He tapped my nose with his finger. “You even answer questions.”

  Oh dear. “What sort of questions were you asking me?”

  “Nothing major. The souls within me were too protective, considered it invasive.”

  “I have no secrets from you or any of the others,” I whispered. “You can ask me anything.”

  I feathered my awareness along his, relished the way he accepted my telepathic hug without reservation. The wall of tension he’d maintained earlier had slipped away. I grinned slyly as I burrowed against him. I’d make sure it never went up again.

  Before we did anything else to right the galaxies, I intended to get everything squared away with my Shadows. They were and would always be my first priority.

  Family.

  Zelig wanted a child. Would the others want children? I hoped so. I chuckled when I imagined them all as fathers.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m imagining a daughter with you, Marden, and Slade as fathers. The others would be cool dads, but you three are never going to let her breathe around men.”

  “Damn straight,” Zelig declared. “And don’t be too surprised if the others lose their relaxed nature when we get little girls that look like you. We’ve fought a long time and sacrificed a lot, Snow. None of us ever imagined we’d find a mate, someone who could love each one of us.”

  “We’ll never be alone again. We’ll always be together, no matter what.” I smiled up at him. “By the way, I want an etching.”

  Zelig tensed along my side. “Why?”

  “Because.” I shrugged. I wasn’t sure how my super bossy, super protective Shadow would take the news, but I’d rather he learn it from me than the others. “Some of the spirits come and visit.”

  “Visit?” He glowered down at me. “You aren’t a respite station. Tell me which ones and we’ll deal with them immediately.”

  “Don’t you dare.” I glared as I sat up. His gaze lowered to my bare tits. Heat spread through me. “They are an important part of you all, which means they’re very important to me too. Whether you and the others like it or not, the souls you’ve salvaged are part of our union. And if they want to take a breather from all your growliness and warrior ways then they should be able to.”

  “I will not ever like knowing any of the spirits within us could cause you harm, Snow.”

  “They would never dare harm me. Too many of your souls protect me. Daxan and Zarik rarely leave my telepathic plane. Many others are the same. You entrusted them to protect me when I needed them. Don’t you dare not trust them now.”

  “You are right,” he admitted. His voice softened. “Is he content?”

  “Yes.” I kissed Zelig’s chest. “Tonight we will remain merged, and you can see him. He is so proud of you the intensity almost burns my heart.”

  “I wish you could have known him as the warrior he was. He was beyond exceptional.” Zelig grinned.

  “I see him in the memories. His. Marden’s. Yours.” I stroked his face. “But I want to hear all the stories, Zelig. Tell me everything.”

  He chuckled. “I’m thinking you have more bossy in you than I do.”

  I smirked. He was not wrong. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep as Zelig’s husky voice wrapped around me.

  Snow

  * * *

  My Shadows had been busy. I pinned each of them with a semi-glare. They all wore matching smirks as they escorted me off the small jumper craft we’d taken to the Tezan surface.

  Four cycles had passed since our epic showdown with Queen Vilma. Four cycles of being the Oracle. Responsibility was a serious pain in the ass. There were too many decisions to make, too many people in desperate need of our help.

  I was never alone with the yolk of leadership I’d been harnessed with. My Shadows and their fellow warriors remained dutifully present. Between them and the Avaru, I was never without counsel. Guidance. Input.

  Decisions were made as a collective, a cohesive unit.

  Which was why Ashan’s pronouncement earlier in the morning that we would all be moving into the Tezan palace today was a surprise. No one had discussed moving into the monolith home that’d belonged to my family for centuries.

  None of them spoke as my gaze drifted to the huge palace I remembered as a dreary, dank ruin beyond repair. In its place stood a beautiful structu
re, ornate and intricate without being pretentious or gaudy. Courtyards bloomed with flora and foliage in bright bursts of colors.

  I hadn’t returned to the surface to see my father’s repair work. I didn’t know how much of the beauty before my eyes was his work and how much was because of my Shadows. It did not matter.

  This was our home now.

  Our new start.

  Everyone’s new beginning.

  The Well was the center focal point of a large courtyard. Plentiful seating was spread within an elaborate garden on one side, while a maze was along another. I suspected Slade had a lot of input in this section of the new palace.

  “We added a large hydroponics area to the side. It’ll be communally run, but I’m hoping you and I can spend some time in there,” Slade whispered in my ear.

  “I’d love that.” I hugged him close as we all entered the palace.

  Nervousness crawled along my skin. I wasn’t sure if it was because of all the souls who’d died here, or because I was unsure what awaited us now that Queen Vilma was gone.

  I had no reason to worry. As we wandered through the elaborate structure, I noted additions each of my Shadows had provided.

  A private garden.

  A medical clinic within the public wing.

  A science laboratory.

  A library.

  A gasp escaped me as I entered a small alcove to the side of my massive bedroom. Artist tools of all sorts were carefully placed in containers, cabinets, and hangers along the walls. Tears filled my eyes.

  “We will hang your art along the walls of the palace,” Varik said.

  “Oh, please don’t. I’m horrible.” I laughed at the lunacy. An entire artist colony could paint for a solar cycle and not use up all the supplies within the area. “This is amazing.”

  I wanted back into the bedroom. Doorways spanned the entire oval wall across from the bed. I looked curiously at them all.

  “Private hallways to our quarters,” Marden mumbled.

  Perfect.

  It would likely take the rest of the day to explore our new home. I could not wait to begin my new life with my Shadows. Together we could do anything—even live happily ever after.

  About the Author

  Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi's wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she's not cemented to her chair, Cara loves traveling, photography and reading.

  For more information, check out her website at www.caracarnes.com.

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