Shadow on the Water

by Katya Moore

  "Fuck…you…" Aric snarled.

  Dario released him with a shove. "You’re not worth it. You’re not even competition. I’ve seen how she looks at you. You’re a joke. You’ve always been a joke. An afterthought." He leaned in. "An asshole. That’s her nickname for you, right?"

  "Back off, Dario." I positioned myself between Dario and Aric. Siblings know the buttons to press, and from Aric’s pale, sweating face, I could tell Dario had hammered on more than a few.

  "He’s my brother, Chase. I’ll do with him as I see fit." He sniffed. "It’s not like you like him, either. The Elders practically shoved him down your throat, didn’t they?"

  "He is a valued member of our team. The team that found the Shadow Queen, remember?" It was my turn to stare him down.

  Dario rolled his eyes. "A lucky shot."

  "You wish."

  Dario opened his mouth to retort, but Quinn raised a hand. "Enough of the schoolyard banter, already. We are grown men, rivals for the hand of the Shadow Queen. Could we please act like it?" He sounded tired.

  Cass stepped up. "Much as I hate to agree with anyone on Alpha Squad, he’s right. Sia’s not some toy for kids to fight over. She’s a grown woman. A grown woman with a mind of her own, and she’s capable of making her own choices."

  "And you’re pretty confident in her choices, aren’t you, Cassidy?" Dario turned his attention to Cass. "You’ve fucked her already, haven’t you? She calls you her mate, doesn’t she?" He snickered. "Seems like you’ve really sealed the deal on that one, right?"

  "As I was saying," Cass continued, ignoring the barbs, "Sia’s her own woman. Not property. She doesn’t belong to you, or me, or the Elders."

  "Ah, there you’re wrong," Quinn demurred. I shot him a deadly look. He ignored it. "She has a duty. She is the last of her kind. The last hope for the shadow dragons. The last hope for all dragons. If there are to be more shadow dragons, if dragonkind is to continue being able to thrive, if we ever want the chance to be able to take on our full dragon forms again, she needs mates who are able to meet the challenges ahead. They need to be able to protect her. They need to be able to service her. They need to be able to father her children." He looked down the bridge of his nose at me. "If I recall the reports correctly, it was she who saved the lives of the four of you. She almost laid down her life, her precious last-of-her-line life, to save yours." He turned his attention to Cass. "You are a liability, not an asset. Her feelings for you, for the four of you, endangered her life. We need to help her look beyond schoolgirl infatuation and find mates who can protect and guide her without becoming liabilities themselves."

  "She isn’t that kind of girl," Cass replied. "She feels things. Deeply. She cares about people."

  "Damn shame, that." Kane flexed his meaty arms. "Guess we’ll just have to beat that out of her." Talons formed over my fingers. Kane raised his hands in mock defense. "Not literally. Eldest, Chase, chill the fuck out."

  "We will have to guide her to a more detached mindset, though. For the good of all, Arysia included." Jared looked at me. "She’s far too precious to risk further trauma, don’t you agree? Severing an unwisely-made mate bond might be necessary."

  Cass blanched, then reddened in fury. "You keep your damned hands off her."

  Jared shrugged. "Just a thought. And breaking the mate bond is more in Quinn’s wheelhouse than mine."

  Quinn nodded absently. "The rites are available, yes. Should they become necessary."

  "They won’t be necessary. Thank you very much." I didn’t realize Cass could sound so lethal.

  "She doesn’t trust any of you as far as she can spit, you realize." My voice was level. "As well she shouldn’t."

  "She will." Dario grinned. "Just give us time."

  "Not if I can help it. Get the fuck out of here, Dario." Aric stepped up, hate oozing from every pore.

  Dario snorted. "It’s my house too, little bro."

  Aric faltered. Dario snickered.

  "Right now, it’s Sia’s house," I replied. "Your parents have given it over to her as a temporary residence. You’re here by her good graces. And I don’t think you have a lot of good graces right now."

  Dario looked taken aback at that. I bit the inside of my cheek to hide my smile. Apparently Mommy and Daddy Beauvais had neglected to mention that little tidbit to their precious boy.

  "No matter. You can’t keep us out forever. The Elders will see that we have access to Arysia. And the seed has been planted." Dario jerked his head toward the door. "Come on, men. We have a course of action to plan."

  I watched them go with a seething pit of hatred and unease in my stomach.

  Sia will see right through these assholes.

  Won’t she?

  Chapter Eight

  Sia

  Of all the places I’d run away to hide from my feelings, the Beauvais family hot tub rated pretty high up there. I sank up to my chin in the warm, gently bubbling water, resting the back of my head on a soft waterproof cushion. My body was weightless in the water. My heart, not so much.

  How could I? The thought echoed in my head until it threatened to tear my brain apart. How could I let Kane get in my head like that? How could I let him make me transform without even realizing it? I dunked my head under the water, trying to drown the thoughts. It didn’t work.

  I reached into myself and felt for my dragon. She curled miserably in my chest. I prodded at her feebly. I swear I felt her bat me away. Even my inner dragon hated me.

  I heard Cass in the hallway, calling my name. I ducked low in the hot tub, my nose barely above the surface. I couldn’t look him in the eye right now. I couldn’t look any of them in the eye and see that disappointment, that pain.

  "Miss Bellmont, I’ve brought you the towels you requested." Sanders, the Beauvais’ butler, stepped into the room and set down a stack of fluffy pale-blue towels. I heard Cass change directions and head my way.

  "Narc," I muttered into the water.

  "Beg pardon, miss?"

  "Nothing, Mr. Sanders. Thank you."

  He bowed and stepped out the door, neatly dodging Cass.

  "Thank the Eldest. We were afraid you’d run away on us again," Cass sighed as he walked in.

  I crossed my arms and sank back down into the water. "Go ‘way. I suck, and I hurt you guys, and I want to hate myself alone."

  Cass typed something into his cellphone, then tossed it aside. His shirt and pants followed. Intrigued by this pleasant turn of events, I stopped sulking for a moment and enjoyed the show. A pang of guilt flashed through my chest. I shouldn’t be ogling him right now, filthy betrayer that I was. But that cock was a thing of beauty.

  Cass slipped into the water beside me. His arm slid around my shoulders. I flinched, and he started to withdraw his arm. I harrumphed and caught his hand, pulling it tighter around me. Feeling weak and pathetic, I turned my face into his shoulder and started to bawl.

  "Shh. It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong." He gently stroked my hair and shushed in my ear. My shoulders shook with pent-up sorrow as I sobbed into his neck. His free arm scooped my legs up and pulled me into his lap. We sat like that for a long time, his hand gently caressing the back of my head and rubbing my shoulder, me crying like someone died. For all I knew, I’d lost Chase forever. Aric was nowhere to be found. Galen had looked almost as crushed as Chase. At least Cass forgave me. Or, at least he was being nice to me.

  I was so caught up in my weep-fest that I didn’t hear him come in. I only became aware of Chase when he entered the tub behind me. His rough hands took over rubbing my shoulders so Cass could focus on stroking my hair. My head jerked up at the contact, and I wiped my face roughly with my hand.

  "Why so sad, beautiful? You did it. You found your half-form." Chase’s voice was soft, gentle. "That’s amazing. You should be very proud."

  I lost it all over again. I couldn’t even look at him. All I could do was cry into my hands as Cass made gentle shushing noises and frowned at Chase.

&n
bsp; "I… I didn’t want to…" I finally managed. "I wanted… it… to be with you. Not him."

  I felt raw, exposed. I could feel every emotion they felt on top of it, too. Cass, full of worry and care. Chase, suddenly very guilty, with a hint of frustration. Being an empath sucked ass.

  Chase wrapped his arms around me and gently took me from Cass. I slid into his lap with no resistance. Absently, I realized he had also decided to abandon his boxer briefs to join me. I shoved the thought away. I didn’t deserve his cock, magnificent though it felt against my thigh.

  "I’m sorry. I’m sorry I made you feel that way, Sia." He huffed into my hair as he pulled me close to his battle-scarred chest. I could feel long, thin lines raised against his smooth skin. "I’ll admit, it sucked. It sucked to watch him bully you like that. It sucked more to see that it worked. It’s a tactic I never would have used on you in a million years, because I care about you too much." He sighed. "Maybe I care about you too much to be effective for you. Maybe you need someone more…detached."

  I planted my hands on his chest and pinned him against the side of the tub to glare at him. Chase’s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Don’t you dare give up like that. Not on me, not on you." A sudden wave of fury washed away the grief. "You almost had me. You almost made me change before he ever came near me. You would have, if Jared hadn’t been a twat." A resisted smile flickered across Chase’s face at that. "I already knew I could respond to a threat. What I need is control. Calm. A way to do it without raging out. Kane didn’t accomplish that. He just pissed me off enough to make me shift." I cupped my hand along his jaw. "I need you. I need your calm. I need your control."

  A wry grin flickered across his lips. "You need my control, eh?" His hand slipped down my back and cupped my ass, pulling me closer. I snorted softly, then slid my leg over his thigh and tugged my body against his. His other arm wrapped around my shoulder as his lips crashed into mine.

  As Chase and I melted into our kiss, I felt Cass start to get out of the tub. On an impulse, I reached out and snatched at his hand.

  "Uh-uh. You stay," I gasped breathlessly. Cass’ eyes widened. "Your queen commands it," I added with a wink.

  A blush lit up his freckled cheeks. "I live to obey."

  Chase looked at him, then at me with an intrigued grin. "So that’s how you play, is it?" he asked, voice husky with desire.

  "With him," I murmured, my lips nibbling along his jaw. "I like taking orders from you."

  His grin broadened. "I see." I could feel him growing harder along my thigh. "Interesting." He caught my chin in his hand and pulled my head back, exposing my throat. His lips traced down the tender flesh. "Cass, are you enjoying this?"

  I glanced back at him as best I could. Cass was watching us intently, his hand beneath the water. I could only imagine what he was doing down there. "Immensely," Cass replied.

  "All right, then." Chase nipped at my throat with his teeth. I gasped and arched slightly, raising my breasts above the waterline. His lips closed over my right nipple hungrily, teasing it with teeth and tongue. I gasped again, panting. Jolts of pleasure rocketed through my body, sparking through my core and making me squirm in his grasp. I could hear Cass’ breath catch as well. I could feel desire pouring off him, off Chase, leaving me caught in a tidal wave of dizzying sensual emotion. Being an empath rocked.

  I couldn’t bear to leave him out in the cold any longer. "Cass, come here. Your queen needs you."

  I felt him slide behind me, his length resting between my ass cheeks. His hands slid along my thighs, his lips nibbling along my shoulder. "Yes, my queen," he whispered in my ear.

  "Cass," Chase growled huskily. "You take her clit. I’m going to devour these breasts."

  "Yes sir," Cass grinned against my shoulder. His hand slid up my thigh, fingers slipping between my folds and slowly, tenderly caressing them. I moaned and arched back against him, falling into his arms and thrusting my breasts up to Chase’s waiting lips. True to his word, Chase’s eager mouth consumed first one breast, then the other, making me writhe like a thing possessed between the two of them. I plunged my hands into the water, seeking first Chase, then Cass, stroking them in rhythm as Cass struck home and began to stroke my clit. I cried out in ecstasy and pressed my body against his hand. Chase’s tongue worked harder at my nipple.

  I needed more. I wanted more. I pressed the head of Chase’s cock against myself, even as Cass’s fingers worked at me. Chase brought his head up and shook it with a wicked grin.

  "No, no. The first time I take you, you’re going to be all mine. But I don’t want to leave you hungry." He jerked his chin toward Cass.

  "Cass. Take me," I ordered. Cass’ fingers slipped inside me, plunging deep. I moaned in anticipation. His hand gripped my hip and lifted me. I floated through the water and felt him press against my entrance. Silently, I thanked Missi for making me go to the clinic to get fitted for the internal birth control ring. His grip tightened, and he pressed down, easing himself inside. I cried out again, a long animal sound of pure desire. I opened my eyes and saw Chase watching my face, eyes dark.

  "Stand up," I breathed as Cass buried himself deeper inside me. "I want you too."

  Cass drew back and plunged into me again, a little harder. Chase eyed me, then grinned.

  "Ask nice," he purred.

  "Please. I want you."

  "You’re pretty when you beg," he winked. He caught my hands in both of his and guided them to the side of the tub. Cass moved with me, taking advantage of my newly-tilted position and rising behind me to thrust into me with vigor.

  Chase stood. His cock cleared the water, standing proudly. It was girthier than Cass’ and had a tantalizing upward curve to it. I smiled up at him as I reached a hand out and stroked the length of it.

  Chase closed his eyes. "Pleasure me," he moaned. I was only too happy to comply. My lips closed around the head. Cass slowed his strokes to a tortuous, tantalizing pace that made me groan impatiently against Chase’s cock. Chase slid his fingers through my hair. I took more of Chase in, running my tongue along the underside as I did. I drew back. So did Cass. I took more of him in. Cass plunged deeper. Slowly, we built a rhythm. Our moans filled the room, echoing off the tile walls.

  We reached a crescendo. Chase’s cock slipped into my throat, gently but urgently thrusting. I worked at it energetically. I could feel him pulsing against my lips, swelling, growing harder. His breath was coming in short gasps. I worked my tongue against him, urging him to release. At the same time, I was coming close to release myself. I felt Cass slide a hand around my hip, his fingertips closing over my clit and teasing it, making me buck against him like a wild thing. He thrust into me, moaning my name and begging me to come for him.

  I released Chase’s cock and cried out in ecstasy, back arched, head thrown back, as the orgasm took me. Chase watched me hungrily, taking in my face, my cries. As the waves of pleasure subsided, I drew Chase’s cock back into my mouth in one long stroke. He groaned, and my mouth filled with a salty tang. I swallowed it eagerly. Moments after Chase finished, Cass joined him with a passionate moan. I felt him plunge deep into me, spilling his last.

  I leaned against the edge of the hot tub, utterly spent. Chase ran his fingers through my hair as he dropped to his knees with a splash. "That was… Sia, you are something else," he sighed huskily. "Something incredible."

  Cass ran his hand over my ass as he sat down on the other side of me. "Something majestic," he added.

  "Something exhausted," I laughed. "Wow. Just, wow."

  "So, do you believe we forgive you now?" Chase chuckled. "Even though you didn’t do anything to be forgiven for?"

  I laughed. "I feel good and thoroughly…forgiven."

  The door opened. Reflexively, I sat down, plunging my breasts under the water. Aric sauntered in.

  "I’ll let Sanders know the hot tub needs cleaning," he smirked. "Threesome. Nice. Warming her up for the big show?"

  "Fuck off, Aric," Chase glowered.
/>   "Still my house." His face turned uncharacteristically serious. "We’re needed at McKinnett’s. Get dressed."

  Chapter Nine

  Billy lay sprawled on the sidewalk in front of McKinnett’s in an unconscious heap. The few people on the sidewalk were making themselves scarce. My heart was in my throat as the SUV screeched to a halt.

  Galen dropped to a knee beside Billy. The rest of us bolted into the pub. The front door was partly off its hinges, a long crack running down the glass pane. Inside was a war zone. Three men lay on the ground, unconscious and singed. Moira was in her half-dragon form, red scales gleaming as she spouted flame at two brawny men in black trench coats. One dodged it, the other screamed as his arm sizzled and smoked. Both dove at her, knocking her back a few steps and pinning her against a table. Chase shifted in mid-stride and ran to help her.

  Tyrone was also in his half-dragon, but he had his hands full with one familiar figure.

  "Donovan. What the hell are you doing here?" I roared. I felt myself shifting as I strode toward the bar.

  Kiernan Donovan elbowed Tyrone in the stomach, then spotted me and stopped struggling. "Little Sia Bellmont, is it? I’ll be damned. Yer one o’ them dragon-things yerself, then?" He chuckled. "Never thought I’d see the day. First you slap me with a shadow, now you threaten to breathe fire on yer old friend Kiernan."

  "We stopped being friends when you started threatening Kitty." Black smoke curled out of my nostrils. "What the hell are you doing here? Last time I’m asking that question."

  Donovan dangled in Tyrone’s powerful talons, looking older than I’d ever seen him. The lines on his face were deeper, his eyes hollow, the white in his once-red hair a little duller. "Why, looking for you, Sia!" He raised his hands in a broad gesture. "My friends want to meet you. Want to have a little chat. They think you’ve got something to offer them."

  I snorted. Black smoke wreathed Donovan’s face. He coughed slightly and waved his hand to clear it.