by Lila Jean
“Always,” Anthony added for effect.
Tina tapped her finger on her mouth as she mulled over this new information. She felt eyes watching her, and she glanced up in time to see Draven staring at her lips as though he were fighting the impulse to reach over and taste them. He nearly trembled with need, his fist tightening into a fist before he looked away.
He probably felt guilty. He probably felt like all of this was his fault, that he had failed her somehow.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she said softly to him. He briefly smiled and gave her a small nod before he resumed his pacing.
“Well, let’s back up a bit,” Zane said, interrupting Tina’s thoughts. “If anyone comes for Tina while we’re traveling, they’re also attacking all four shifter kingdoms and the demigod kingdom. It would be an instant declaration of war.” He tucked his phone in his pants pocket and nodded to himself, as if the pieces were all falling into place. “The kingdoms wouldn’t let anything happen, so we’ll likely be guarded the whole way. Every single kingdom still wants a stake in this contest, don’t they?”
“Of course,” Draven said softly, and the words came out so tender that Tina wanted to reach out and hold him.
Zane briefly looked at the dragon shifter, but if he had registered anything unusual about Draven’s comment, he didn’t mention it. “Consider this, gentlemen. Even if we go into the other shifter and demigod kingdoms, none of our fathers is going to try anything.” He ran a hand through his tousled hair. “I know it seems impossible to think about shifters and demigods working together, but if you were kidnapped and your lives were on the line, wouldn’t your fathers work with their enemies to get you out safely?”
“He would,” Killian said, eyebrows lifting as if he hadn’t considered that before.
Tina smiled, loving this idea the more she thought about it. “So realistically, no one is going to try anything while you’re visiting the other kingdoms because it would risk a war they couldn’t possibly win.” She clapped her hands together, excited. “You all will be safe, and so will I.”
“What about our travel between kingdoms?” Flynn rubbed his beard, deep in thought. “We still don’t know who forced Damara into this world in the first place. I doubt it was a king because the implications would be unimaginable. It’s likely an independent third-party.”
Tina shrugged. “It’s in your fathers’ best interests to make sure we all get where we're going safely. They’re going to squash anyone who tries to diminish your chance to win the contest.”
“Father would hate the idea of me going into another kingdom.” Draven crossed his arms, eyes glazing over as he appeared to seriously consider the suggestion. “The moment I walk into enemy territory, I could be taken hostage and used as leverage or bait.” He briefly scanned the faces of the other princes in the room, and Tina hated that they thought of each other as enemies. Draven caught her eye, his face deadly serious. “Not even my dragon could win in a fight if I were vastly outnumbered. However, a trip to the dragonlands would impress you, Tina, and I think you wouldn’t be able to resist me if you see where you’d get to live.”
Tina chuckled, and a few of the princes shot annoyed glares at the dragon prince. However, with a cursory glance around the room, it seemed as though her four other men were having similar thoughts.
“I’m in,” Draven finally said.
“As am I,” Flynn said with a nod.
Zane and Killian nodded in unison, but Anthony hesitated. “Are you sure about this, Tina?”
“I think we can make this work.” Tina gestured to where Ray had been standing moments before. “Besides, it’s not safe here. Even my own high priestess says so.”
Anthony seemed to mull over it for a moment more before he finally relented. “We’ll make it happen.”
“It’s simple, Anthony.” Draven shrugged, dripping with indifference. “We travel by limo or private plane to each kingdom together. It’ll be secure. I’m not entirely sure Flynn will fit in a limo, though. We might have to tie him to the roof.”
Everyone chuckled, even Tina, though Flynn shot him an irritated frown.
“We’ll work out the details later. For now, let’s go to Olympus first. Does that work, Flynn?”
“Of course,” the demigod said.
“Zane, let’s talk about transportation.” Tina moved to slide off the bed, but Anthony’s grip around her waist kept her in place. She paused, watching him with a bit of confusion and concern.
“Can I speak to you privately?” he asked in a low voice. “It’s important.”
She set one hand on his chest, momentarily lost at the concern in his dark eyes, and nodded. “Of course.”
“I’ll, uh, get started,” Zane said, heading for the door. “Gentlemen, let’s give Tina some space.”
“We won’t be far,” Draven said, still tense. He caught Tina’s eye, back arched as he offered her a thin smile.
33
Tina
When the princes had filed out of her bedroom, Tina gently ran her hand along Anthony’s face. He sighed and leaned into her touch, his warm lips brushing her palm.
“I failed you, Tina,” he said softly. “I’m supposed to protect you, and I let myself get swarmed. I let that man touch you.” He leaned his head into her neck, kissing the bruise that had begun to form from the man’s attack. “I’m disgusted with myself.”
“Don’t be,” she said softly, running her fingers through his tussled hair. “You did everything you could. You were outnumbered.”
“That’s no excuse,” he said, shaking his head without letting her go. His grip tightened, and she wound her hands behind his head, savoring his touch. When he held her, she felt so safe, like nothing in the world could ever touch her. He had killed today to protect her, and she knew without a doubt he would do it again. Anthony would always have her best interest at heart, every time.
She lifted his chin and kissed him deeply, her lips crashing into his with wild abandon. Tina didn’t pause for a moment to think, preferring to drink in her tall, dark, and dangerous wolf. He kissed her with a hunger she had never experienced before, each brush of his lips on hers as rough and wild as if it were the last.
Hesitating for a moment, Anthony gently broke the kiss and set his forehead on hers. They remained like this for several seconds, lost in each other’s company, and Tina surrendered to the mesmerizing sensation of his thumb brushing her cheek.
When she finally opened her eyes, Anthony’s eyebrows tilted upward, wrinkles of worry and sadness in his brow as he studied her face. He held her tight, cradling her head and her waist as though he might lose her at any second. It broke her heart that he had been hurting so deeply, that she had been the cause of any pain at all.
As they kissed, her skin prickled with an odd tingling sensation. She peeked through one eye to find her skin softly glowing. Though she couldn’t fully control her magic yet, she didn’t care to investigate it right now.
With a gentle shove, she inched him backward toward the bed, and they fell onto the mattress together.
Overwhelmed by the emotions flooding her body, Tina spoke through momentary breaks in their kisses. “You’ve always been my protector, Anthony, and I can’t thank you enough for keeping me safe. Thank you.”
He flipped her onto her back, his lips by her ear. “I always will, even if you don’t choose me. Even if I have to keep to the shadows, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
With a gentle shake of her head, Tina smiled. “I hope that won’t be necessary.”
Lost in his kisses, she tugged on Anthony’s shirt, trying to get it over his head and failing. He assisted, pulling off the fabric to reveal the beautiful muscles she’d had the pleasure of witnessing before. She already knew what lay beneath his slacks, but she wanted to see it again.
Anthony trailed his kisses down her jaw and nibbled her neck. A warm ripple of ecstasy followed the blip of delicious pain. With his strong hand on her jaw, he lifted her
chin, so he could explore the most vulnerable bits of her neck, nibbling his way down to her collarbone.
He pressed his knee between her legs, the fabric of her dress bunching in all the right ways as he teased her entrance with a few well-placed rubs. Adrift in the sensation, she clenched her thighs around his leg, rocking her hips against his knee as her panties dampened.
With one hand still around her jaw, Anthony grabbed a fistful of her skirts with his free hand and hoisted them to her waist. The fabric hid most of her view, but she felt a cool wave of air against her exposed legs. He paused to admire the view, grinning as he ran a finger along the elastic of her underwear.
As suddenly as it had all begun, Anthony paused. He gritted his teeth, eyebrows twisting as he sighed deeply. Much to Tina’s disappointment, he removed his knee and lowered her dress once more. “I don’t want to push you into anything. I merely came here to apologize and let you know about—”
“Anthony, I want you inside of me. Now.”
A happy growl escaped him, and he grinned wolfishly. “In that case, yes, ma’am.”
Still sitting on the bed, Tina tugged off his belt and threw it behind her. It clattered on the floor as she unzipped his pants and freed his cock. It hardened as his slacks fell to the floor.
With a mischievous grin, she took a moment to drink in his muscles and his rock-hard erection. “That’s more like it.”
Anthony pulled her to her feet and lifted the dress over her head. The cool air kissed her exposed skin, but Antony’s warm hands grabbed her waist and hoisted her back onto the bed. He wasted no time unhooking the bra. Her panties, however, weren’t so lucky. With one quick motion, he snapped the underwear from her hips. After a fleeting sting, the silky ripple of pleasure left Tina even wetter than before.
“You should do that more often,” she said as he nibbled again on her neck.
“Rip off your clothes?”
“Yes.”
“As you wish.” He cupped her breast with one of his strong hands, his touch gentler than she had expected it would be.
With a few powerful tugs, he dragged her closer to the edge of the bed until her knees rested against the frame. His kisses trailed down her abdomen, the route dotted with gentle bites. Tina lifted herself onto her elbows, only realizing what he was doing when his tongue brushed against her clit.
She fell against the mattress with a gasp of pleasure as he explored her folds, his expert tongue firing off sensations she didn’t know she could feel. She arched her back, pressing her hips into his mouth, but he grabbed her by the waist and pinned her to the bed.
She lost track of how long he was down there, but she loved every second of it. When he paused, she almost whimpered in disappointment.
Apparently not one to rest, Anthony flipped her onto her stomach and once again grabbed her hips. His strong hands raised her ass until she bent before him with her head and knees on the mattress.
With his thumbs pressing into her inner thighs, stretching open her entrance, he finally paused.
She was about to ask why on earth he was torturing her when she felt the tip of his cock brush against her silky folds. He held it there, tormenting her as he brushed it along her knob. His thick shaft pressed against her entrance, hinting at the delights she would soon experience.
Without warning, he plunged into her. She gasped, her grip on the comforter tightening as she took him inside of her most sensitive channel. He stretched her to the brim, filling her in the most beautiful way.
Anthony retreated an inch, only to plunge deeper on the next thrust. She moaned, desperate for more.
Bit by bit, he drove himself deeper into her until his hips finally pressed against her opening. She quivered with love and warmth, aching for more, drinking in his scent, needing him.
Once inside, he paused. He ran a hand along her back, his fingertip drawing circles along her spine and ass. When he had apparently had his fill of the view, he pulled out of her and thrust into her again.
She nearly screamed with ecstasy. “More,” she moaned.
Tina gasped with every slow and powerful thrust. Every movement had an air of calculated control, every thrust perfectly timed to bring her the most pleasure. She craved him, wanted nothing more than to feel him release inside of her.
As a frenzy of desire bubbled within her, she tightened around him. Every stroke became more pronounced. She tilted her hips into him with every thrust, absolutely lost in the sensations he could summon from within her.
An orgasm built in her core, overwhelming her with bliss as she tiled into him one last time. He sighed happily as she tightened around him, his speed building to match her moans.
Her orgasm finally crashed into her, rendering her utterly immobile as she rode it out. Anthony moaned and shoved his hips against hers. A hot rush shot into her, and she shivered with joy as he came.
They collapsed onto the bed together, Anthony breathing hard as a broad grin spread across his face. His skin glowed white, and Tina lifted one hand to find herself glowing as well.
“That was…wow, I feel amazing.” He rolled onto his back and hooked his arm around her waist, dragging her to him.
“We should probably leave soon,” Tina said as she leaned her head on his broad chest. “Think you’ll be up for round two before we go?”
“Hell yes.”
Tina sighed with joy and kissed him. As he ran his tongue over hers, she marveled at her new life and the amazing men who kept her company.
She was one hell of a lucky girl.
34
Tina
The roar of a jet engine hummed through Tina as she stared out the plane All five men had agreed it would be safest if they could to get out of Indonesia as soon as possible and change the plan to throw off anyone else who might know where they were originally headed.
In the silence, Tina’s mind went to a deep, dark place. Those dragons had shown up for her, and they were willing to kill to get her. She had nearly lost her men, all of them. Tina tried to think of where to begin, what to say now that the adrenaline had faded, but she didn’t know where to start.
Sorry.
Maybe this whole contest thing was a bad idea.
I can’t believe you put yourselves at risk for me.
The last one hit her the hardest. These were five incredible men with promising futures and kingdoms to run, and yet they had risked their lives to keep her safe.
Yes, they agreed to travel with her. Yes, they acknowledged the risk. However, it had been her idea to leave, not theirs, and she felt deep-seated guilt for putting their lives in danger.
When she and Zane had first met, he said her future mate would die to protect her. The statement hadn’t really registered with her until the dragons attacked. She had never met anyone willing to put his life on the line for her, and seeing it demonstrated put a heavy weight on her shoulders.
Anthony slid into the white leather seat across from her and leaned in, his hands gently grabbing her thighs as he caught her gaze. “Whatever’s going through your mind, you need to get it off your chest.”
Tina shook her head, still not quite able to form the words.
Flynn sat next to her, and Killian sat beside Anthony. Zane and Draven stood behind them, all five of the princes watching her.
“You have a traitor in your temple,” Zane said.
Killian scoffed. “Is now really the time for that? Make sure she’s okay first.”
Tina didn’t care. She snapped her head around toward Zane as he confirmed what she had feared. “Who’s the traitor?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it out.” The tiger shifter scowled. “No one can hide something like this from me for very long.”
She nodded, gritting her teeth as she slowly accepted the painful reality that she wasn’t safe anywhere, not even her home in Epara. “We have to figure out why those dragons attacked and what they wanted.”
“I will,” Zane promised.
Draven c
rossed his arms. “I’m sure my father can coax some clues out of that Turncoat bastard as well.”
Zane lifted a curious eyebrow. “You’ll tell me what he discovers?”
“At least the information that pertains to the traitor.”
Zane pursed his lips, apparently satisfied with the answer and surprised at the same time.
“Tina,” Anthony said softly.
She lifted her chin until their gazes met again.
“You may not be safe in Epara, but you’re safe with us.”
His statement broke through her melancholy. A slow smile crept across her face as her heart melted with gratitude. “You’re right.”
Draven’s gaze drifted to the floor in shame. “I apologize that the Turncoats were involved at all, Tina. I’m ashamed that an organization from my kingdom could threaten you in any way.”
She shook her head. “I can’t possibly be mad. You were all so brilliant. You jumped into the fight and put your lives on the line for me. But … but …”
“What?” Anthony pressed.
Tina sighed. “If any of you had gotten hurt, I could never have forgiven myself.”
“Stop,” Flynn ordered, his voice thick with authority.
Everyone stared at him in silent shock. Anthony looked ready to rip him a new hole, but Tina merely blinked in surprise. Flynn had never snapped at her before, and it kind of turned her on in ways she didn’t fully understand.
Flynn studied her with stern compassion. “We know what we signed up for, Tina, even if you weren’t aware of the stakes when this contest began. For a demigod, his greatest pride is in protecting his woman. I can never let anything happen to you, and all the other princes feel the same. We are vying for your hand and your heart, and that means treating you exactly as we would treat you as our wife.”
The weight of his words settled between her shoulder blades. At first, she simply watched him in surprise. Flynn crossed his arms, his biceps and chest thick as a tree, and she knew without a doubt that he was right.
