by Ginna Moran
My damn face. I’m never going to recover.
Tiernan follows Kash’s lead and kneels on my other side, smirking at Ambrose as I continue to straddle the warlock like I’m afraid to let him up.
I hang my head, veiling Ambrose with my hair as I suck in a few deep breaths, trying to settle the feral beast consuming my actions. A warm hand presses between my shoulder blades, and Kash kneads his fingers into my tight muscles. I relax under his touch and turn my head to gaze at his smiling face. Combing his fingers through my hair, he pushes the dirty strands behind my ear.
“I need to kiss you, kitten,” he murmurs, leaning in closer. “I can’t wait any longer. I need to make sure you’re okay on every level, and right now, I suffer from the sadness in your heart. I need you to know and feel what I do—that we’re going to get through this. We will handle everything.”
I want to ask him how, but he brushes his lips to mine, proving that he can’t wait another second to give me his affection. His closeness sets me off in an unexpected way, igniting a burning desire inside me. I want nothing more than to distract myself from the fact that I’ve been hurt and thrown in a hole. I need to fill myself with everything Kash can give me and more.
Tiernan’s gentle touch glides over my other shoulder, playing with my hair. His affection sends tingles through me, reminding me of our moment in the mud bath. And now, I yearn to kiss him too.
Breaking away from Kash’s mouth, I bend my neck to kiss Tiernan next. Soft lips travel across my throat as Kash takes the moment to explore my skin, kissing my neck inch by inch. Ambrose’s hands grab my knees, reminding me that I still pin him down. Sliding my hand over his, I squeeze his fingers. His body hardens with desire under me, and I gasp and pull away from Tiernan. I lock my eyes to Ambrose and watch the magic dance across his irises. He licks his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth, and now all I can think about is how much I want to kiss him too. Could I? Should I?
I mean, everything’s a damn mess.
But when isn’t it?
“I want to kiss him,” I say, panting, and squirming, my body reacting to the desire I awaken in him by just straddling his waist. “I want to keep kissing all of you. I need—fuck. Is this wrong?”
Kash hums his disagreement under his breath and caresses his lips to mine again. “You get whatever you want right now.”
“We don’t need to waste time talking,” Tiernan adds, leaning in. He surprises me by joining in my kiss with Kash, not waiting for his turn. “Ambrose will enjoy her regardless. Our jewelry ensures it.”
Whoa. That’s what Ambrose didn’t want to tell me about his dick piercing. That’s—really fucking thrilling.
My vagina clenches in anticipation and lust, feeling Kash and Tiernan’s tongues gliding across mine in a sensual race to leave me breathless. I rock my hips in excitement, grinding my body to Ambrose’s. He moans at the sensation and arches up, joining this strangely exciting tangle of our tongues and lips as I give attention to each of them.
I take initiative and rub my hands over both Kash and Tiernan’s pants, feeling the massive desire I elicit from them in this moment. It’s like they both can sense what I want next, because I don’t even have to fumble to pull their cocks free as they do so for me. I stroke them in the same rhythm, smiling and kissing them, enjoying the wave of desire zinging through me.
Flicking his fingers, Ambrose uses magic to open the front of my jumpsuit. I try not to think about the ugly undergarments, but it only lasts a second because Kash unhooks my bra, baring my breasts to them. Like they know exactly what to do, Kash and Tiernan each suck on one of my nipples, sending pleasure spilling down my body and between my legs. My mind whirls with a dozen thoughts and desires. My need to lose myself in the ecstasy of being with three men who adore me lifts my spirit, filling my heart and soul.
Ambrose draws his tongue down my stomach, following the tight line of my body. He lies flat on his back, and Tiernan lifts my body up while Kash strips my jumpsuit off completely. I gasp at the sensation of my underwear ripping off a second before Kash lowers me right onto Ambrose’s face. I should be weirded out how easy this is, how accepting and calm Kash is, knowing he’s my true mate while Tiernan and Ambrose—fuck, I have no idea who they are to me. I’m not even sure it matters. I just crave being touched. Being drowned in everyone’s hot intensity. It eases the anxiety and nerves revolving around the uncertainty of what happens next.
An intense vibration buzzes across my clit as Ambrose kisses me between my legs, sending goosebumps over my body. I gasp and squirm, grabbing onto Kash and Tiernan’s shoulders, digging my nails into their skin. My mind turns to mush, and I bow my head and lock my eyes to Ambrose’s, watching as magic sparks across my body. His power induced pleasure stiffens my muscles, and Tiernan silences my mouth with a passionate kiss. I drop my hand and lace it around Kash’s cock, stroking him again, determined to get him off as fast I get off under all of their attention.
Grabbing my wrist, Kash slows me down. “You’re cumming first, my sexy mate. Now I’m going to hold you still and let the warlock take good care of you.”
Oh. My. Fuck.
Kash kisses me, squeezing my ass cheeks to stop me from squirming so much. I gasp and pant, savoring the thrilling sensations of my magically induced pleasure. Pinching my nipple, Tiernan rolls it between his fingers, playing with my breast. I tip my head back, wanting more from him, and he kisses and nips my sensitive skin between his teeth. I can barely handle any more ecstasy, my body reaching its peak. Kash slides his tongue into my mouth, muffling my scream. I clench Ambrose’s head between my thighs and ride the wave of sizzling tingles bursting through every cell on my body.
Snatching me by the waist, Kash moans and sets me on my knees. His broad form covers my back as he leans over and kisses my shoulder. “I need to make love to you. I’m desperate and need to feel your closeness because the magic suppressors not only cage you, but it cages you from me. I never knew how much I could miss the sound of your soul serenading mine with the thoughts you let me always hear.”
I nod my head, digging my fingers into the dirt. “I need it too. I feel so...incomplete.”
“Let me make you whole again. At least for a while. I’m afraid for you. I want you to hold on for me,” he whispers, stealing a private word as Ambrose and Tiernan wait with panting breaths.
“Then give me something to hold on to,” I tease, twisting my head to kiss him. “Something to feel for days. All of you.”
Tiernan gathers my hair and uses his free hand to tip my chin up. Fire lights his eyes, his rippling body as excited as I am as he watches my expression, waiting to see my reaction.
“You are damn lucky to have her bond completely,” Tiernan murmurs, stretching my bottom lip while talking to Kash. “Isn’t that right, Ambrose? Don’t you want to know what it’s really like. To feel her enjoyment. To know her on a level of the soul? Just look at her breathtaking face. A woman so perfect needs many men to take care of her.”
Ambrose touches my jaw. “She can take care of herself. Right, Nova? I mean, look at her handling all of you.”
“Always. I call her kitten because she’s not afraid to use her claws.” Kash hums and grazes his teeth to my shoulder as he positions himself behind me, his raging boner throbbing to sink between my legs. He moans, rubbing his shaft against me without going in. A whimper escapes my mouth at the aching need the gesture creates. I wiggle and shift, my body begging for more.
“I can’t wait to see you use them more.” Tiernan tightens his fingers in my hair and keeps my face tilted up to him. “Now prove them right. I need to see how exquisite you truly are.”
“Then come here...unless you’re afraid I’ll bite.” I link one hand around Tiernan’s hip and pull him closer, licking the tip of his cock, flicking his ring.
Kash chuckles, his husky voice turning me on. “Looks like we’ll find out if you’re the one who can handle her.”
I suck the tip of Tiernan’s har
d-on in my mouth and pull back. “I hope so. I’ve been thinking a lot about everything you can do.”
Leaning down, he kisses the top of my head. “Me too.”
Silence falls between us as I take the lead and drag my tongue along Tiernan’s shaft. Ambrose strokes himself, gliding his fingers over my back like touching me anywhere is all he needs. I savor the different sensations exploding across my body, from Ambrose’s gentle fingers to Tiernan pulling my hair to guide my mouth in a way he enjoys.
Kash continues to test and tease me a moment longer, watching me suck off Tiernan from over my shoulder. He groans and nips my ear and works his way to the back of my neck. Caressing my shoulders and mapping his hands down my spine, Kash straightens his back and massages my ass cheeks, teasing me with his tip, sliding it against my slick excitement. My body craves for him to hurry already. I can’t stand another moment more. I want this so badly that my body clenches with anticipation.
Kash thrusts into me, making me moan so embarrassingly loud with Tiernan in my mouth that my voice vibrates across him. A sexy gasp of breath escapes his mouth, and I bob my head faster, letting him rock his body to my mouth as hard and as deep as he can. Shifting my weight onto one hand, I blindly reach for Ambrose and join him in rubbing his throbbing body. He moans and covers my hand with his, guiding me along, showing me what he likes.
The pit fills with the soft sounds of our pleasure, how perfect this moment is as we bond and enjoy the kind of intimacy only found within a clan with their mate. But this isn’t about clans or power or breeding for a future for that matter. It’s about trust and knowing that in this moment, these men will do anything for me, even if it means blending their clans unexpectedly. They do it for me and for a chance to have an amazing future by my side...if I ever get out.
“I’m going to cum, Nova,” Tiernan warns, drawing my attention from my spiraling thoughts.
Instead of slowing down, I ignore his warning until he grunts and tugs my hair, jerking my head enough to watch me swallow his release. A burst of tangy flavor explodes across my tongue at the same time Ambrose cums across the dirt beside me. Kash tightens his hands to my hips and thrusts into me harder from behind until I scream with another orgasm. He moans with me, his muscles tight and flexing. His weight presses into me as he leans forward to hug me close from behind, keeping me off the dirt because of my weak legs.
“Damn it, I love you so much,” Kash murmurs, kissing my shoulder as he lifts me up. “I can’t leave you here.” Puffing out a breath, Kash lets a tendril of smoke waft toward the grate above. “Ambrose, figure it out. Now. We’re not leaving without her.”
“He’s right. Another day in here—no. It’s unacceptable. She could be hurt worse.” Tiernan stands close to Kash, the two of them turning into a wall of muscles ready to fight off the entire world. “This is your fault. Had you not acted rash and carelessly, we would be in the comfort of our palace.”
Ambrose scrubs his face with his hand. “You know we can’t hide forever. We need to figure this—”
“We need to break her out and take her home. What if something happens to her? Next time it could be an inmate and not a CO,” Tiernan argues, whacking Ambrose in the back.
“It could be Lazlo,” Kash adds. “He’s who broke her out before. He killed her to cross the barrier. She could’ve never come back.”
“I don’t have that kind of capability unless I use dark magic, and the price for that—” Ambrose shakes his head. “No.”
Tiernan straightens his shoulders, towering over Ambrose. “What do you mean no?”
Slapping my hand against Tiernan’s chest, I block him from trying something stupid like lifting Ambrose off his feet. I jerk my attention to Kash, stopping him from doing what Tiernan tries with one look. Because despite these awful circumstances, I don’t want Ambrose to pay the price. If it’s anything like what Quillon has on Kash, it’s not worth it.
“I’ll be fine, okay? Give Ambrose time to work things out that won’t cost sacrifices or whatever bullshit. You can’t expect him to do something like that for me. He...he might not even want to be in this position. It could all be influenced by your brother’s bond.” I keep my gaze trained on the dirt.
My hair falls in my face, veiling my view of the three of them. I don’t want them to see that it bothers me a bit, the idea of that being the case with Ambrose tightening my chest. I was starting to like him and accept his constant presence, and now? Letting myself be open and vulnerable? Fuck. This was a mistake.
“I—I survived a vampire attack and Lazlo coming already,” I add, sucking my top lip into my mouth. “Why do you think I’m in here? My dragon fire broke through the spell.”
Kash intakes a breath. “Fuck, you’re not helping his case, kitten.” Grabbing my hand, he pulls it to his chest like he needs to feel my palm against his racing heart. “Why didn’t you say all this immediately? We—”
“I wanted to forget, even if it was for only a bit, Kash. I’ve missed you. I just—I didn’t want you to start burning the place down. This is the last place I want you to be. Any of you. So please, just find a way. I’ll hold on the best I can,” I say, sliding my arm around Kash. “Especially if you can keep coming back.”
“I’ll collect on some favors,” Tiernan says, taking my other hand. “I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“We will work together to ensure it,” Kash adds.
“And I won’t leave until I know no one will leash your collar. I thought for certain that the High Council would’ve removed it.” Ambrose traces his finger across my throat.
“Because they want the option to control me,” I mutter, staring at the brands on my hands. “Even though they know that Rhett had something to do with the murders at his bar. They’re holding my mom’s criminal history against me.”
Ambrose clasps the same hand Tiernan quietly holds. “I swear on the fates, we will figure this out.”
“What about the collar?” I ask, lowering my chin to my chest as if I might glimpse the magic peeking from my skin. “You’d have to stay with me to make sure no one binds me.”
“That’s not true, Delphia,” Tiernan says, my birth name sounding so natural on his lips. “There is a way.”
“How?” Kash and I ask in unison. He offers a small smirk and squeezes my hand.
Ambrose looks at him, then Tiernan, and lastly he holds my stare with his flickering silver gaze, sparkling with his electric magic. “She can bow to me.”
My heart slides into my stomach.
“No,” Kash and Tiernan say, the heat of their rising protectiveness sizzling across my skin.
Fuck. The idea goes against everything inside me, but what else am I supposed to do? I can’t risk getting leashed by Lazlo or the High Council.
I swallow the burning in my throat. “Will you promise to release me when this is done?”
“I swear on my life,” Ambrose says, touching his chest.
Nodding, I squeeze Kash and Tiernan’s hands. “I don’t see any other way.”
“You don’t have to do this, kitten.” Kash clenches his jaw.
My whole body trembles with my thought, with knowing he’s wrong. “But I do.”
Chapter 22
Reunion
I TURN OVER ON THE dirt and feel the empty space where Kash was cuddling me when I fell asleep. Tiernan and Ambrose are gone too. I knew they had to go, and I asked them to leave after I drifted off to sleep so that I didn’t have to see them leave, but waking up alone feels much more worse now that I experience it.
Maybe it’s because their presences—all of my mates—lingers with me. I want so badly to hug them, tease them, hell, even fight with them. But now? All I have is this strange green energy flickering between my breasts and down my torso from Ambrose’s magical leash controlling my collar. Only the two of us can see it, but every one of the guys can feel it, even Tiernan, because of his twin bond to Theo.
Metal bangs against metal, and I roll, squinting up at
the silhouette blocking the pale rays of dusk. “Get up and show me your hands, Inmate D64901. I’m dropping the ladder. You have ten minutes in the yard. If you can prove that you can handle it, you might get ten more tomorrow. But no fights. Got it?”
I thrash my head up and down. “Yes, sir.”
The idea of leaving this hole, even only for a few minutes, fills me with relief. I’m willing to risk facing the dangers of the inmates for a breath of clean air and sun on my skin. Being locked in a hole, isolated from the world, constricts a part of my soul, making it hard to carry the warmth of hope that I’ll get out of here.
“Good. I’m jeopardizing my good standing to pay a debt. Don’t make me regret it. You’re not supposed to be out at all, considering the High Council thinks Rhett had spelled you to resist the magic suppressing your murderous beast.” Lifting the grate on the pit, the CO sets it aside as if it weighs nothing and drops down a rope ladder.
A dozen questions flit through my mind. McKenzie must’ve really pushed all of Lazlo’s wrongdoings onto Rhett, and I can’t help but wonder why. Why stain her good standing? Why sacrifice her coven brother?
“They think Rhett spelled me?” I ask, gripping onto the rope.
The CO hoists me up so quickly that I nearly release the rung of the ladder. If he didn’t snatch my wrist and drag me out, I’d have fallen back down into the pit. “They will figure it out. Once they do, we might be able to move you into gen. pop. if you’re obedient and stay out of trouble.”
Fluttering my eyelashes to adjust to the light of the setting sun, I clear the shadows from my vision. I finally gather my bravado to meet the cold stare of the CO and spot brilliant iridescent wings on his back. “That’s kind of hard with a target on my back.”
“What do you mean?” His brows furrow with his question.
I clear the dirt from my face the best I can and lick my lips. “What do you think set me off? An inmate attacked me. Was supposed to rough me up.”
He peers past me. “So you turned him to ash?”
