by Jackie May
Rook breaks the silence with a question of his own. “How does it feel to you? I mean, you already have a fey mate. Can you feel Charlie anymore? Do you feel us both?”
I rub my hand over my chest. “Yes. I feel you both. I have a physical connection to Charlie. It’s like we’re linked. I feel him—his emotions, his physical presence. For instance, I’m pretty sure he’s sitting right outside our door.”
“What?” Rook sits up, glaring at the door. He throws the blankets off us like he’s about to storm across the room and slam open the door.
I laugh and pull him back down. “Relax.”
“That’s creepy.”
I laugh again. “I don’t think he means to be creepy. He can just feel how content I am. How happy. It makes him want to be near me. But he’s giving us our privacy, and he’s being patient.”
Rook grumbles, but he relaxes and pulls me against him again. He tangles his fingers in my hair.
“I feel you differently,” I continue, closing my eyes as he massages my scalp. It feels so good I barely suppress a moan.
“Different how?”
I sigh, content. “My link to Charlie is physical, but my bond with you is different. I feel you not physically, but on a soul deep level. I can’t separate us anymore. You just feel like…part of me.”
Rook thinks for a moment. He glances toward the bedroom door and then sighs. “I guess I can live with that.”
I smile and give him a soft kiss. “Thank you. I know this isn’t the relationship you wanted, but I promise I am always yours. I might be theirs, too, but I am still yours. Always. Forever.”
Rook sighs. “I’ll learn to deal with it. My wolf has already settled down a ton thanks to the bond. He doesn’t fear losing you to them. He can feel that you’re ours.”
“Good.”
Rook squeezes me in a tight hug and rests his cheek on top of my head. “And even having to share you, being with you is worth it. I’m complete again. I never imagined that would be possible.”
“How do you mean?” I ask.
“Think about how you feel right now. How you can’t really tell where you end and I begin. Imagine if our bond was broken and I was suddenly ripped apart from you.”
When he puts it like that, I’m horrified. “I can’t imagine it.”
Rook grips me tightly again. “It was as bad as you’re thinking when I lost Lily,” he admits in a far away voice. “Most wolves don’t survive it. Physically, they do, but they can’t live without their mates and never last long after losing them.”
I swallow back a huge lump in my throat and hold Rook just a little tighter. “How did you manage it?”
“Wulf,” he admits. “My brother needed me. We lost our parents in that same battle. I was all he had left, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him all alone. I went through a horrible depression, but Wulf got me through it, and I somehow managed to learn to live my life without her. But it was a hollow life. A part of me was always just going through the motions. Until I met you. It happened gradually, but it was like you slowly woke my wolf up. You gave me purpose again.” His voice cracks, becomes husky with emotion. “I will take you however I can get you, and I will be happy. You have my word on that.”
His promise lifts a weight off my chest that I didn’t realize I was carrying. “Thank you, Rook.”
“I love you, Nora. With everything I have in me.”
“Me too, Rook. I love you with all my heart.”
Just then, the door opens and both Charlie and Ren come bursting into the room.
“What the hell!” Rook hollers, pulling the blanket up over us to cover me from their view.
Charlie clutches his hand over his heart, almost as if he’s in pain. “I can’t take it anymore,” he says. “The love in this room is incredible. I need to be a part of it, or I’m going to burst.”
He climbs onto the bed, ignoring Rook’s cursing, and smashes his lips to mine. I squeak in surprise. It’s a searing kiss, but it’s over quickly and then he collapses on the bed beside me and throws his arm across me. He sighs happily as he closes his eyes and snuggles in close. “Much better.”
A small snort of laughter bubbles up out of my chest, and Rook shoots me an exasperated look like I’ve betrayed him by taking the cupid’s side. I shrug helplessly and start raking my fingers through Charlie’s hair. He sighs again.
Rook frowns and then turns his attention to the demon who also barged into the room. “And what’s your excuse?”
Ren grins. “The sexual energy in this room is delicious. You guys were so potent I won’t need to feed for days.”
My face heats up, but I still manage a frown. “Okay, that is creepy.”
Ren chuckles, and Rook throws a pillow at him. “Get out of here, pervert. You’re not even one of her men!”
Like a flip of a switch, my siren takes hold of me and I hiss, “Yes, he is. He’s mine!”
All three men freeze. Each of them gapes at me in shock. I close my eyes and breath deeply until I have control of myself again. “Sorry,” I murmur. “My siren is a greedy, possessive bitch, and she’s claimed Ren.” I open my eyes, and though I’m blushing from embarrassment, I manage to meet Ren’s surprised gaze. “You may not be my lover, but you’re mine as much as Terrance is, or Wulf and Nick. You’re my family.”
For a moment, I worry what Ren will think of my claim. Demons are notorious loners. Even the ones who join hordes still don’t make strong ties to other demons. But Ren grins at me with shiny eyes, and I know we’re good. Rook grumbles again, and I laugh.
Ren shocks us by climbing onto the bed and cuddling up behind Charlie, basically spooning him. “I’ve never had a family.”
“I’ve never had an incubus,” Charlie replies, his voice surprisingly thick.
In a flash, the hormones in the room are cranked up to ten. Charlie moans and shudders against me. Even I’m filled with need and desire. Rook curses through a clenched jaw, no doubt feeling it as much as Charlie and I are. “Damn it, Ren! Cut that shit out!”
“I can’t help it,” Ren whines, but the incubus power saturating the air dissipates. “The pretty cupid wants my body.”
I startle at this and cock my head to the side as I peer down at Charlie. “Really?”
Charlie stretches and sucks in a deep breath through his nose. “Can’t say I haven’t fantasized about it.” He opens his eyes and smiles warmly at me. “Love has no limits for a cupid. We need it like we need air. I’m not picky about gender.” He gives me a hug with the arm that’s draped over me and kisses my shoulder. “But don’t worry, darling. I will happily remain faithful to you. Commitment makes for a stronger bond, and that is far more important to me than any dalliance.”
His thoughts and emotions—of which I can both hear and feel at the moment—suggest the truth of his words. I’m surprisingly touched by the declaration. I may have just met Charlie, but somehow I’ve already accepted him as mine.
“That’s so sweet,” Ren croons. He props himself up on his elbow and looks down at Charlie. “Nora, can I kiss your cupid?”
Charlie sucks in a breath and his eyes move to Ren’s mouth. I wait for the jealousy that’s ruled me lately, but it doesn’t come. The thought of Ren and Charlie together doesn’t bother me. I like the idea that they can be happy together. “If you do, will you hurt him?” I ask.
Surprise flashes in Ren’s eyes. He’d only been kidding. He didn’t think I’d really go for it. But I can tell he’s thrilled I didn’t say no. His smile softens lovingly. “No, sweetie. I won’t hurt him. I don’t have to feed if I don’t want to. I have excellent control.”
“Then, um…I guess I don’t mine if you guys want to be together, too. No reason I should be the only one expecting you to share.” Both men watch me so intently that I blush. I steal a glance at Rook, and he’s watching me just as closely. I turn my attention back to Ren and Charlie and shrug. “I feel like I should be jealous, but I’m not.” I gulp and pin Charlie wit
h a steady gaze. “But maybe just Ren, okay? I don’t think I’d like you being with just anyone. It feels different with Ren because you’re both mine.”
The two men share a glance, then look at me with adoration. “You have my word, Nora,” Charlie promises.
Ren leans down to claim Charlie’s lips in a sultry kiss, and Rook groans. “Yeah, yeah, great. We’re all one big, happy family. Can you guys go do that somewhere else? Nora and I were enjoying our alone time.”
Rook’s grumpiness makes me smile. I lean forward and give him a kiss on his frowning lips. “We should check on Oliver, anyway.”
Rook sighs, but he pulls me into his arms and he looks a lot less agitated. “All right, but—”
He’s cut off by the sound of a throat clearing. A very haggard Enzo is hovering in the doorway with pink cheeks. His eyes are glued to the carpet. “Excuse me. I don’t mean to interrupt you all,” he murmurs.
Rook huffs, but there’s no hostility behind it. I’ve noticed no one can ever be anything but nice to the mild-mannered shaman. “May as well come in and join us, Enzo. With as much as you save our asses, I think you’ve earned a spot in the family.”
Enzo’s eyes flash up in shock, and I can hear his sharp intake of breath from all the way across the room. No doubt, the others can see the hope and longing in his expression as much as I can. The man wants what we have. Having walked away from the shaman community, he’s on his own as much as any of us. I’d love nothing more than to bring him into our misfit fold. I’ll have to talk to Terrance and the other guys about it.
He clears his throat again. “That’s kind of you to say. I would stay, but Mr. Oliver is awake now.”
Oliver! I shoot out of bed and am halfway across the room before I remember that I’m naked. Enzo’s eyes bug out, and he whirls around to give me privacy. I’m just as shocked and scramble for the sheet off the bed to wrap around myself. That leaves Rook naked as a jaybird in front of Ren and Charlie, but he doesn’t care. Shifters are too used to nudity to have a sense of modesty.
My guys all watch me with amusement while I cling to my sheet with flaming cheeks. I glare at them all. “Go check on Oliver. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Ren doesn’t need to be told twice. He’s out the door in a blink, following Enzo to the room next door. Charlie stops by me on his way out. He kisses my cheek and whispers, “Thank you, darling,” before sauntering out of the room.
Arms slide around my waist, and Rook kisses the side of my neck. “Well, that was interesting.”
“Sorry.” I shiver from the feel of his lips on my skin. “We’ll have to lock the door next time.”
Rook kisses my neck one more time, then lets me go. “Get dressed, baby. Let’s go see Oliver.”
My heart bursts with joy, and I need to see Oliver awake so badly I can’t breathe. I throw my clothes on and don’t wait for Rook to dress himself.
I let out a cry of relief when I see Oliver sitting up in bed. He looks like death, but he’s awake and blushing from all the fussing Ren is doing over him. I’ve never been one for being dramatic, but I climb onto the bed and throw myself at my sorcerer, hugging him fiercely and peppering his face with kisses. I can’t even talk because I’m sobbing with relief. “Shh, Nora, it’s okay. I’m okay,” Oliver whispers.
His voice is feeble, and the embrace he gives me is even weaker. He’s so fragile. I ease up on him, but I can’t let him go. When I climb off him, I lift his arm around me and snuggle into his side. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“I feel like you almost did. What happened?”
I get my emotions under control and say, “We were attacked by another sorcerer. How much do you remember?”
“It was Dev—” His voice cracks and he starts coughing. Ren helps him drink a sip of water before he continues. “It was Devon Mitchell. I had him contained and then…nothing. It’s all black from there.”
I close my eyes, trying to push out the memory. “I lost control of my power again, and while you were dealing with me, Devon stabbed you in the back with a spelled blade. Some kind of magical poison. You’ve been out for a day and a half.”
“Nora saved you,” Charlie says, probably for my benefit. I’m sure he can sense my guilt, because I can feel his reassurances.
“Enzo saved you,” I argue.
“But you stopped the sorcerer, and got help,” Charlie insists.
Stopped. That’s a nice way of saying I sucked the soul out of him and ate it. I shudder. Oliver hugs me, and my heart aches with how weak it is. “Thank you,” he says.
I don’t want him to thank me for what happened, but I’m not going to say that. I don’t want to upset him right now, because I can hear in his thoughts how awful he feels right now. His whole body aches, and he’s exhausted. But he doesn’t want to fall back to sleep. He’ll never admit it out loud, but he can feel how close to death he came this time, and he’s afraid he won’t wake up if he falls back to sleep.
I run my fingers through his hair and kiss his cheek. “Sleep, Oliver. We’re here. We’ll watch over you.”
“I just woke up,” he argues.
“You still need rest,” Enzo says. “I’ll be able to help you heal faster now that the magic is out of your system, but you’ll still be tired and weak for a while.”
“Sleep,” I insist again. “Enzo will watch over you, and I’ll stay with you.” I turn his face to mine and press a kiss to his lips. “I won’t let you leave me.”
Enzo nods and presses his hand to Oliver’s aching head. Oliver lets out a sigh, and his body sags as he gives up his fight. “Maybe just for a little while,” he says, already drifting off.
I don’t like seeing him asleep again, but his body is relaxed, and his skin is cool this time. There’s more color in his cheeks now, too. “He’ll be all right, Miss Nora,” Enzo says, sensing my distress. “He is out of the woods now. With the magic burned out of his system, I’ll have him back to normal in no time.”
I swallow back a lump in my throat and reach for Enzo’s hand. “Don’t work too hard,” I insist, looking at the dark circles under his eyes. “If he’s really safe now, then you need a break. Get some rest and something to eat.”
She’s so compassionate, his thoughts say. They all are. If only Rook was serious. What I wouldn’t give to be a part of this clan.
I swallow hard again. I definitely need to talk to Terrance. But maybe another time. He looks dead on his feet right now. “T-man, have you slept at all since Oliver got hurt?”
He looks as though he’s about to deny his fatigue, but then he yawns. “Not much,” he admits with a grimace.
I point to the door. “Go sleep. That’s an order.”
He must really be tired, because he doesn’t argue at all. He simply shuffles out the door, covering another yawn with his hand. “Wake me if you need anything.”
I won’t unless it’s a dire emergency, but I nod anyway. “Sweet dreams.”
“Nora?”
I shake myself out of my thoughts and look at Ren. He’s holding out his phone with a grimace. “I hate to pull you away from Oliver right now, but Director West is asking if you’ll come into the office. She really needs to talk to you.” When I frown, he adds in a lower voice, “It’s important, Nora.”
I sigh. Nick’s words play back in my head. Not helping when you can just because you’re angry is the same as sticking your head in the sand.
I’m angry, but Nick’s right, and Director West wouldn’t call me if it weren’t important. “Fine. Tell her I’m on my way.”
“You’re not going out alone,” Rook demands, his voice growly.
I give him a smile. “I didn’t expect to. Want to go to the FUA office with me?”
“I’ll come, too,” Ren says, with a wistful look at Oliver. “If he’s going to be okay, I really should get back to work.”
I climb off the bed, kiss Oliver’s forehead, and pat Ren’s hand. “He’ll be more fun to fuss over when he’s awake anyw
ay.”
The light in Ren’s eyes comes back. “True.” His grin turns devious. “He is a fun one to shower with affection. He gets all embarrassed, but secretly he loves it.”
I grin. That’s a very true statement. “All right. Ren, Rook, and I will go to the FUA office.”
I glance at Charlie and Enzo. They both nod before I even have to ask. “We’ll stay with Oliver.”
“Thank you.” I’m relieved Oliver won’t be alone.
Charlie bites his lip. “Just be careful out there. All of you.”
“We will.”
We make it to the FUA office unscathed. It’s quiet. Darla’s typing away at her desk, and a beautiful redheaded woman is manning the reception desk. She’s on the phone and looks ready to strangle whoever is on the other line. “Uh-huh.” She rolls her eyes. “I understand that, Mrs. Montgomery, but I already told you, they’re imps, not rodents. We can’t exterminate them. No, Mrs. Montgomery…”
Ren’s soft chuckle pulls my attention from the woman behind the desk. “Who’s that?” I ask.
“Shayne Davies. Rookie agent. Looks like she pulled the short straw in my absence.”
Shayne groans at the ceiling. “Look, lady, I already told you, I’m not sending someone out there. Those imps have a permit to live in the walls of that building.”
Ren grips my wrist and tugs me toward the back hallway. “Quick, let’s go see what the director wants, before I have to take over that phone call. Mrs. Montgomery calls at least once a week about the imps in her apartment building. I keep telling her to move if she doesn’t like them. Or at least get a cat.”
As we pass the desk, Shayne looks up and her eyes flash. “Ren! Thank the baseball gods. Can you please tell this crazy woman—”
“Sorry, busy, can’t right now,” Ren sings, his steps never faltering as he pulls me across the room. “Back in a bit! You’re the best, Davies! Thanks!”
“Ren, come on! Ren. Ren!”
Ren snickers as he knocks on Director West’s office. I shake my head and chuckle.
“Come in,” the director calls out sharply.
