by Milly Taiden
She wanted to crawl under the nearest rock, but she settled for hiding her face in his shoulder. The hike up the long winding path didn’t bother her so much once she got over her embarrassment. Of course, Gunnar and Damen were tuned in. They were a pair. Plus, it didn’t help her libido announced every dirty thought that crossed her mind.
She squashed the images and focused on the scenery. Smoke curled from quaint wood and stone cabins dotting the path to the chalet, and she sighed.
“Do you like my home?” Gunnar asked.
Henley nodded. “It looks like it belongs in a storybook.”
“It does indeed.” He paused. “It’s one of the reasons we tried to keep ourselves isolated. Look at what’s happening in the capital. If you stay small and secluded, no evil touches you.”
She picked her head up, taking in the hard line of his gorgeous jaw. “You don’t believe that, though. Otherwise you wouldn’t have modernized your communications systems and some of your infrastructure.”
“I did what I had to, Henley. It doesn’t mean I like it.”
She angled her head, watching him. “This place looks like a storybook, and right now you look like a character I know. Pinocchio. His nose would grow whenever he told a lie.” She reached out and tapped the end of Gunnar’s nose. “Tweet, tweet. Birds are gonna perch on yours soon.”
He rolled his eyes, but when his gaze settled on her, she nearly choked on her tongue at the desire in their blue depths.
“Fire and intelligence wrapped in soft delicious curves. No wonder my brother omega found you irresistible,” he murmured.
She cleared her throat. “Uhm, I’m not so sure about that. I stowed away, remember? It’s not like I gave him much choice.”
“And if he gave you a choice. One that opened our storybook to you with us as your Prince Charmings? What about then?” Gunnar turned to look at her, their faces only inches apart.
She wanted to kiss him as badly as she had wanted to kiss Damen. Just one taste. Damen didn’t need to know. Then again, with the way the two were fighting, it could cause a world war. Or maybe not. Maybe wanting them both was a way to get them to talk. The blue of Gunnar’s eyes held her mesmerized, and as if he’d read her mind, he brought his head down and brushed his lips softly over hers.
Bursts rocketed in her chest. She moaned into the kiss and Gunnar deepened it, swiping his tongue into her mouth to caress hers. She raised her free hand to his face, his scruff adding to the visceral pleasure. His kiss was rough, almost primal in the same way that Damen’s was full and demanding, but they both held a kind of desperation. As if they had no choice but to hold back.
He pulled her closer to his chest, deepening their kiss. Tightness coiled in her belly as images of Damen and Gunnar together flooded her mind. Moisture pooled in her panties and she gasped as he slipped a hand beneath the coat he lent to cup her breast, teasing her nipple through her long sleeve tee. She closed her eyes and her clit throbbed with the need to come.
“Has Damen had you,” he murmured against her lips.
She froze for a moment. Was this just about rivalry or was he asking because Damen was his omega and with her here there was a chance for their triad to be complete?
“I smell him on you, Henley, but my own senses are fogged with want. I don’t trust my wits. Are you the one? Is that why you’re here?” he asked, his voice a low rasp.
Her tongue traced his bottom lip and she shook her head. “Damen made it all about me, and I made it all about him in return. Separately. I don’t know if that answers your question.”
“It does.” His lips curled in a smile. “So he’s still my omega, then…and you?”
She pulled back, breaking what was left of their moment to look at him. “I think you need to square things with Damen before anything else. Why don’t you focus on that first?”
“Gunnar,” Jag said, “you, Damen, and I need to meet to plan a strategy on how best to locate and destroy the Unduru. Whether that means involving the Hatun or not, I don’t know.”
She and Gunnar both looked at the two men walking slightly behind, and Henley’s eyes caught Damen’s and for a moment he looked conflicted. She winked, blowing him a kiss and he smiled.
“We can meet in my study once you’re settled and had a chance to eat and rest. We’ve got the entire evening to talk.” His eyes met Damen’s as well. “There is much to discuss.”
10
Henley closed the door behind her, dragging in a quick breath. She didn’t know which was worse, the women at the chalet with their curious stares, or the ones peeking through the windows as Gunnar carried her all the way to his front door.
She hadn’t felt that self-conscious since college. She put her backpack on a chair and then exhaled. The accommodations Gunnar provided were enormous with an expansive bed and the biggest fireplace she’d seen crackling away with fragrant pine and herbs.
The windows overlooked the mountains and she moved the sheer curtains aside to looked at the gorgeous vistas beyond the picturesque village. The snow had a definite pink tone, but then again that might have been an illusion from the dual suns as they set. It was nearly twilight and she wondered what Ivy and Riley were doing. And if Vander had busted a gut when he found out she had stowed away.
Too late now, unless the king sent another transport ordering her back to the Palladian capital. She shook her head watching the pinks and golds sparkle on the snowy roofs. A knock on the door had her turning, and the door opened halfway.
A tall, slender woman with long white-gray hair smiled from the entry. “May I come in?” she asked. In her arms were layers of clothing in bright, cheerful colors.
Henley nodded and the woman stepped through, closing the door once more. She turned with a smile, gesturing with her bundle. “I brought a few of my outfits. We don’t have armoires that conjure clothes at a mere wish…not yet, anyway.” She smiled. “Gunnar isn’t quite there yet, but we’re working on him.”
“We’re?” Henley asked.
The woman nodded. “My daughters and I. I’m Marta, Gunnar and Damen’s Aegis.”
“Their guardian? Aren’t they a little old to be considered wards?” Henley asked raising an eyebrow.
Marta laughed, putting the garments on the large bed. “Of course, they are, still…I can’t help remembering them as boys together.” She nodded. “I help run Gunnar’s house. With Damen gone for so long, there’s been no—” she cut her words, dropping her eyes to her hands for a moment. “That is to say, neither of my boys have found their mate…yet.” The awkward moment faded, and she looked at Henley with a soft smile. “Thank you for bringing Damen home. For the first time, the Summit clan has hope.”
“Wait, I didn’t bring Damen home.” Henley shook her head. “He was coming home anyway, I just invited myself along.”
Marta gave her a knowing look. “Everything happens for a reason, dear.” With a nod, she turned to the bed and the pretty garments she put on the thick coverlet. “There are dresses and pants sets for you to choose from. I wasn’t sure which you’d be more comfortable wearing. Each is warm and trimmed with fur. They should help you acclimate.”
“Acclimate?” Henley asked.
Marta nodded. “To the cold.”
“Oh, yeah. That.” Henley bobbed her head. “Thanks.”
The older woman turned on her heel but stopped, gesturing toward the door on the opposite side of the room. “The bathroom has everything you’ll need in the cabinet. Find me if you need anything else.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll take a shower and then get something to eat. Is there a kitchen somewhere I could raid?” Henley asked with a smile.
Marta waved one hand. “I’ll see to that. Gunnar gave orders you were to have whatever you want.”
The older woman left, shutting the door behind her and Henley went to the window again. The Summit was truly something out of a fairytale. If she only liked the cold.
She smirked, watching the smoke curl from the
chimneys before turning to the crackling fire in the room’s hearth. “Girl, who’d be cold, snuggled in front of a fire with two of the hottest men in the universe?”
“My question exactly.”
Henley’s eyes jerked to the door. “Damen…I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I wanted to make sure you got settled,” he said closing the distance between them in two strides. His lips found hers and she sighed, sinking into the familiar taste of him.
She sighed, but he broke their kiss before she could even slide her fingers into his hair. “Wow, that was pretty cheap.”
“Cheap?” He grinned. “You didn’t look like you thought a simple kiss cheap when brother bigfoot carried you most of the way here.”
She giggled. “Not nice, Damen. In fact, you sound jealous.”
“I’m not, really.” He shrugged. “I guess I’m not used to sharing anymore, but then again, if Gunnar’s inner bear wants you as much as I do, we could have lift off, if you know what I mean.”
Damen waggled his eyebrows and she laughed, letting her eyes dip to the bulge behind his zipper. “Lift off? That thing looks like it’s ready to blow now.”
“Baby, you have no idea.” He gathered her in his arms again. “I’d ask if you care to say ah again, but I’ve got to meet Jag and Gunnar downstairs. Maybe later?” He nodded with an expectant grin.
She turned him around and pushed him toward the door. “Go. Have your meeting, and we’ll see about later. In the meantime, I’m going to take a nap and then maybe a quick shower before I go in search of food.”
“I thought Marta was sending you up a tray,” he said with his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll make sure she sends it up now so you’re not disturbed later.” He glanced at the clothes on the bed. “That woman was always relentless.” He chuckled. “Kind of like someone else I know.”
He left with a wink, leaving her with a smirk on her lips. Henley turned, her eyes taking in the expansive bed across from the fireplace.
Big enough for three.
She smoothed the front of her hair, winding her long ponytail around her fingers. What was this? France? Ménage a trois was not something she went looking for.
Then again…
“Ugh…your brain is turning into a walking talking porn show.” She peeled off her coat and tossed it onto the chair before picking up her pack and emptying the contents on the bed. She shook her head at the items she packed. Leggings and tank tops, tees, sneakers, underwear and toiletries including combination bug spray and sunscreen.
“You packed for tropical and you got tundra.” Shaking her head again she shoved everything back in the pack and put it on the chair again.
She lifted a crimson tunic top trimmed in black fur. The material was like nothing she’d felt before. Soft, but with a generous give. There were matching pants that looked as if they would be as comfortable as her leggings. Henley moved to the closet to hang up the garments Marta was kind enough to offer, then she noticed a gorgeous robe, white silk, trimmed with the softest lace.
Stripping, she folded her clothes and put them and her backpack in the bottom of the closet. She closed the door and then dove for the bed, snuggling into the soft covers. The guys would be strategizing for hours. She could catch a quick nap, have something to eat and then shower just in case Damen decided to come by as promised. She smirked in anticipation, sitting up at another knock on the door.
“Come in,” she said, swinging bare legs over the edge of the mattress.
A girl backed into the room with a large serving tray, and Henley jumped up to help.
“It’s okay, miss. I’m used to carrying heavy trays. Gunnar eats like a bear, and he’s always hungry.” She giggled giving Henley a shy smile before putting the tray on the coffee table in the room’s sitting area. “Call when you want me to come and collect it.”
The girl left and Henley stared after her. Gunnar’s always hungry? If that giggle meant what she thought it meant, then the alpha wasn’t that different from his omega when it came to playing poke the bear.
Henley’s stomach rumbled and she plopped down on the couch, surveying what Marta sent up. The tray was packed with every kind of food she could want. Roast chicken and fresh rolls and butter, loaded baked potatoes, biscuits and gravy, fruit and cakes. She made herself a plate and then curled her legs under, watching the snow fall.
As she ate, she noticed a bottle of Sidaii wine and three glasses were on the room’s sideboard. “Well, who am I to upset their matchmaking plans,” she said to herself before getting up to pour a glass. She half expected a note from Gerri scrawled with the theme song from the TV show Three’s Company. Subtle was not the woman’s strong suit.
She sipped her wine, picking at what was left on her plate. Gunnar and Damen. You couldn’t dream up two more perfect men. Still, at least she knew Damen. She’d been half in love with the man since they arrived on Galaxa, but Gunnar? She just met the gorgeous bear of a man and already he occupied her thoughts like no one’s business. The man didn’t crowd out Damen from her mind. Just the opposite. And that kiss….
That absolutely amazing kiss.
Her cheeks flushed and she reached into the wine bucket for a handful of ice. Holding it to her neck, she let the cold, melted water drip between her breasts. She closed her eyes imagining both men and their talented mouths on her body, her lips, her breasts.
Her eyes snapped open and she dropped what was left of the ice on the tray. This was crazy. She was hot and bothered over both men. Literally. Truth was she didn’t have to be. It’s not like they were in competition with each other. They had the same goal. Her. At least that’s what she thought.
What if she was wrong and they didn’t want her for their triad?
What if she was just their plaything du jour?
She got up to glance out the window again, wondering. Draining her glass, she climbed onto the bed again and curled into one of the soft pillows. She’d find out soon enough…or not.
11
“We either take the highland trail to the bottom of the northern Mirror and then cross the river to the base of the southern steppes or we send Vander a communique that we need a hover transport. Either way we can’t get to the edge of the Tempera jungle from here without mountain hopping,” Jag tapped the map. “If we take the highland trail, it will be three days at least before we get to the bottom of the northern slope. Then another day at least to cross over to the southern side.”
Gunnar leaned on his desk, folding his arms across his chest. “If Vander sends a hover transport it could drop us right to the base, but then we lose the element of surprise.”
“Do you really thing the Hatun won’t see us coming the minute we cross into their territory?” Damen pointed out, trying his best not to antagonize Gunnar. Their entire conversation had been like walking on eggshells, but he had light years more experience at this. “Those vines have eyes, not to mention the northern mountain rogues who trade with the Hatun. They’ll give them a heads up before we even cross the river onto the southern slope. Either way, we’re up against it. At least with a hover transport we’re not wasting time.”
Gunnar pushed himself away from the desk and moved to his sideboard. He poured three glasses of clear liquid and handed one to each of the guys. He tipped the edge of his glass toward them and winked, taking a sip.
“Ice-wine,” Damen said with a grin. “I haven’t had this in forever.” He lifted the glass to his lips, stifling a moan as the familiar liquid hit his tongue.
Gunnar drained his glass. “If you came home you could have all you want, or if you answered my communiques I could have sent you a bottle or ten.”
“I already told you, I never got your messages.” Damen dragged a frustrated hand through his dark hair and then looked at his alpha. “How long ago did you start sending them?”
Gunnar shrugged. “Seven or eight years ago. Once I was old enough to take control of the council and started making changes, modernizing. I wanted
to tell you, you were right. I wanted you to come home.”
Damen blinked, watching Gunnar’s face. “What about Cero?” he asked, cautiously.
“It was clear after you left, he wanted to control us. To keep Summit isolated so our people would be too afraid to leave. Make it easy for him to maintain power. After you left, people questioned. They questioned me, not him. I didn’t like not having answers for them. At least not answers I believed.” He gave his omega a chin pop. “You were right, Damen. I should have stood with you. Not just about joining the rest of the world, but about choosing our mate. No one can do that for us, but us.”
Jag watched the interchange. “Uhm, not to interrupt, but I’d have to argue the point. There is one person who could not only find your mate but will hand deliver her to you as well. But if you ask me, I think she’s already done that.”
Damen smirked and a knowing chuckle rumbled in his chest. “You think Mrs. Wilder put Henley up to stowing away in the transport?”
“Wait, who’s this Mrs. Wilder?” Gunnar asked.
Jag jerked a thumb toward the door. “The matchmaker Damen convinced Vander to use to help him find not only his mate, but half the mates for the warriors in the Palladia, including me. She matched me with my mate, Riley. Of course, the beauty of how the woman works is you don’t even realize when she manipulates the scenario, and then boom! Too late. You’d rather cut out your heart than live without the girl.”
“This Mrs. Wilder, she sent Henley to you?” Gunnar asked.
Damen looked at his alpha, but wasn’t sure how to answer. “Not exactly. That’s what Jag means. Henley traveled to Galaxa with Riley and Ivy, Vander’s mate. She’s been at the palace since then, and no matter where I went, she was there. It was as if by design. Since the moment I laid eyes on her, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. It’s like she’s in my blood or something.” He eyed Gunnar with a nod. “You felt it. I know you did.”
