by Lili Zander
He does. Unlike Lud and Xan, I hadn’t been surprised when Dariux admitted that he checked in on the Lowborns that had left the camp at the start. I think of Dariux as a kindly, yet unpredictable uncle.
I’m still choked up from Xan’s words.
I love you, Felicity Rollins. You are the most important person in my world. I’m sorry I ever gave you a moment of doubt.
For months, I’ve dreamed of hearing him say those words. Hoped that what we had was more than just the mating bond, more than biology.
And he did. And I know, in my heart, that every word out of his mouth was true.
We had everything once, but that’s broken now. But maybe, just maybe, we can create something new from the shards.
Are things better?
Xan and Lud are watching, and they can probably hear every word of this conversation.
“Yes,” I say, my answer as much to Xan and Lud as it is to Dariux. “Yes, I think things are much better.”
The journey back is mostly uneventful. I say mostly, because, at one point, the platform carrying the skimmer sways alarmingly, and Dragon-Lud, on whose back Dariux and I are sitting, dives down to steady it if needed. Wedged between Lud’s scales, with Dariux sitting behind me to grab me in case I start to slip, I’m perfectly safe, but I can’t help the small scream that escapes my lips.
When we land, Vulrux rushes out. “Thank Caeron you’re here,” he says, his tone uncharacteristically stressed. “We need to hurry. He’s slipping away.”
Dariux is already sliding off Dragon-Lud’s back, his pack in his hands. “Let’s go.”
We stand around in the clearing. Bryce comes over to me. “You guys got back just in time,” she says in a low voice. “I think the soldier was down to his last hour.”
“What’s been going?” So much has happened in the last twenty-four hours that it’s hard for me to remember that I was here yesterday morning. I’ve really only been gone a little over a day.
“Not much,” she replies. “All of the Draekons who can transform have been on patrol duty, searching for other ships. Nothing so far.”
“How will the Zorahn even know where on the planet to land?” I ask. “I mean, why pick this part of the world? This continent? Why not search somewhere else?”
Ryanna, who’s standing next to me, overhears my question. “Raiht’vi had a locator buried in her forearm,” she says soberly. “She took it out and smashed it, but its last signal came from this continent.”
Oh. So much for hoping that the ship Thrax found was just a fluke.
“Dariux thinks we need to hide,” I tell them, remembering what he’d said back in our camp. “He thinks we’re too exposed here.”
Ryanna frowns. “He held Arax and Nyx prisoner,” she points out. “Do you trust him?”
“Yes,” Bryce and I both say at the same time, and grin at each other. “I’ll leave you to explain Dariux to Ryanna,” I tell her. “I have other things to do.”
She looks at Lud and Xan, and then me. “You guys working things out?” she asks softly.
“We’re getting there.” I shoot a look at Xan and Lud. My poor mates. Two long flights in two consecutive days. They must be exhausted. They need a long, hot bath. It’s a good thing the bathtub in the house we’re staying at is huge. We can all fit in it.
This morning, I’d woken up with them, half asleep, warm, and cozy, and I’d reached for them by instinct. Then I’d woken up fully. Everything had come rushing back, and I’d pulled away.
But after Xan’s declaration of love, I feel hopeful. And I really want to recapture that lost closeness.
I go to their side. “Vulrux and Dariux could be hours,” I say softly. “Want to eat something? Soak in the bathtub?”
Lud’s eyes rest on me. “Will you join us, little one?”
It’s been a long time, and I’ve missed them so very much. I smile at him. “I’d really like that.”
An expression of intense relief fills Xan’s face. “Good,” he murmurs.
Lud laces his fingers in mine. “You were frightened when I went into that dive,” he says to me, his voice concerned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I tried to grab it by instinct, but you were never in any danger.”
I smile at him. “I know. My scream just slipped out. I have recurring dreams of falling,” I add in explanation. “I’ve had them all my life.”
“We will never let you fall, Felicity,” he says quietly. “Ever.”
Once inside, the guys waste no time stripping out of their clothes. After all the action and tension of the past few days, it’s nice to take a moment and do something as normal as taking a bath.
I’m about to follow their lead when Xan stops me. “Let me.” He grips the hem of my shirt and helps me tug it off, then stops short.
“What?” I ask, nervous. I’m sweaty from the day’s exertions, maybe I smell bad?
“You’re wearing my gift.”
I glance down at the necklace, the one with blue and green stones he gave me that day at the lake. He reaches out and touches the pendant, his knuckles lightly grazing my breasts.
“I wear it a lot, actually,” I admit, my cheeks heating. “Even when we were fighting. I wanted to feel close to you.” I stand on tip-toe and kiss him. “I love your gifts,” I whisper. “I just needed you to tell me how you feel.”
His eyes fill with promise as he puts his arms around me. “I will, beautiful. I’ll tell you every day.”
“I’d like that.” Some impulse is prompting me to open up. “I’ve never owned anything as nice as this,” I say quietly. “As nice as the clothes you’ve given me.”
“Never?”
“I always got hand-me-downs. As soon as I could work, my aunt and uncle made me buy my own things. I couldn’t really afford new things.” Not after I was done paying for room and board.
He frowns. “And these are the people who cared for you?”
I shrug. “Could’ve been worse. At least I had a roof over my head.”
Lud’s expression is only too understanding. He can relate.
“We will care for you,” Xan vows. “You will want for nothing.”
Yet you were willing to leave. The moment that thought crosses my mind, I push it away. Not now. Xan told me he loved me. I want to make this work.
My hands flutter to my stomach, then away. Does he mean it? I want to believe yes, but… everything between us is still new. I want to be sure of their commitment before I throw a baby into the mix.
“I should go to Zunix too, and see about getting gifts for you,” I joke.
“That’s not necessary,” Lud says. He comes up behind me and wraps his arms tight around my waist, and his hard cock presses into me. A gush of liquid heat runs through me. It’s been so long.
“But what if I want to get you guys something?” My voice is breathless. I don’t know why I’m still talking about gifts. All I want to do is touch them, stroke them, feel them surge into my body, hard and hot and ready.
“You are our gift,” Xan says. “Our treasure.”
Lud nods, kissing my shoulder. “Everything we need is right here.”
The tub is Draekon-sized, set into an alcove surrounded by a ledge large enough to sit on. Xan holds out a hand and helps me in. I sink into the water with a sigh. ” This is nice.”
“Perhaps there is a way we can put one in our house,” Lud says, his voice thoughtful.
“In our treehouse?” I tease him. “The whole thing will collapse the first time we get in.”
A devilish look comes into his eyes. “I was thinking of building one in the woods,” he murmurs. “My mate likes to feel the sun on her body.”
I flush a little thinking of all the naughty things we’d be tempted to get up to in our own private tub. Especially with the added tension that someone could stumble upon us at any moment.
“I don’t think we’re going to be spending much time in that house,” I point out.
“We won’t hide f
orever,” Xan replies. It’s reassuring that he’s thinking of a future beyond the immediate threat of the Zorahn soldiers. “We can add a room,” he muses. “Perhaps build a bigger bedroom. Felicity would you like that?”
This is nice. I nod and dip under water a moment to hide my smile. I love how we’re growing comfortable with each other again, talking about decorating our home and doing all the things normal couples do. Well, normal couples who are really a triad where two members can turn into dragons. But still, it’s nice to plan for a future with my mates.
It’s also scary, and not just because of the Zorahn ships hunting Raiht’vi. The pain of the past is a newly healed wound, still tender. One touch, and I remember how much it hurt.
“Felicity?” Lud’s voice is laced with concern. “Are you all right? Is the water too warm?”
“It’s perfect,” I assure him. I forgot how attentive they are. “I’m just relaxing.”
“Which do you prefer—bathing in the lake or a tub?”
I quirk my eyebrow at Lud’s question. “I like them both.” I bite my lip before I blurt out the truth—I’ll take any way I can get them.
“I enjoy them both,” Xan says, scooting closer to me. “But the tub has definite advantages.”
He’s up to something.
“For one thing, we have to hike to the lake.”
“It’s a lot bigger though,” I say.
“I see that as an advantage of the tub.” He grins. A second later, his hand wraps around my ankle and glides up. “There’s less room, so we must get closer.” Catching my hips, he pulls me into his lap.
I straddle him, laughing. “I’m not sure getting this close is necessary.”
“I’m afraid I disagree,” he breathes, his long cock growing hard against me. “It is very necessary. Toss me a cloth?” he asks Lud.
My eyes half-close as he runs the washcloth over my skin. He pays careful attention to every inch of my body, working down my arms and legs, making my toes scrunch with delight. When he comes to my chest, I let my head fall back to give him full access to my breasts.
A slight splash and Lud settles behind me, so my back is pressed against his chest. “I should help,” he murmurs. Tangling his fingers in my hair, he massages my scalp.
Oh God. This is so good.
They continue for the next few minutes. Two large, gorgeous, muscular men touching every part of me, intent on making me feel good. I moan at the decadent sensations that wash over me. “This is so nice.”
“Feels good?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
Xan’s eyes gleam with challenge. “We’ll see about that.” Rising, he lifts me and sets me on the edge of the tub. “I have been longing to do this since we last joined together.” His large hands cover my knees, and a shiver of pure lust runs through me. I’m dizzy with need.
“You guys just flew for hours,” I protest, not very convincingly. “You must be tired. I should be taking care of you.”
He’s having none of it. “After this,” he murmurs. “Do what you wish. We are all yours. But now,” he says, parting my legs and gazing at my pink pussy with desire, “I intend to taste you.”
I don’t have it in me to protest.
He starts with feather-light kisses, licking and sucking water droplets from the silky skin of my inner thighs. Lud comes and sits next to me, drawing back my wet hair, catching my chin and raising my face to his. He and Xan touch their lips to mine at the same time, one above, one below.
I gasp into Lud’s mouth, and he holds me tighter, angling his head so he can plunder my mouth. My pussy pulses as Xan’s soft kisses circle nearer and nearer to my center. When his tongue finally sweeps up my slit, I cry out, throwing my arms around Lud to steady myself. He cradles me, stroking my cheek. “That’s it, beautiful. Let yourself go.”
Xan’s fingers dance over my skin as his tongue continues its delicious torment. With long swipes, he takes me to the edge of orgasm, then backs away to nip and nuzzle me until I’m begging for more.
“Xan… please…”
“What do you want, Felicity?” With a sly grin, he slides a finger into my pussy, then another. “Are you ready to be filled by us?”
“Yes. Please.”
His thumb dips down and massages my asshole until I squirm at the naughty sensation. “Soon we will take you again. Claim you fully,” he murmurs. “But this time…” He dips his head back between my legs. “I want you to climax from my tongue.”
My nails dig into Lud’s taut biceps as Xan laps at me, harder and faster, stimulating all the right places. Everything goes hazy
“Oh,” I gasp, my toes curling tight. “Oh, Xan… I’m going to—”
“Cum for us,” Lud orders, finishing my thought.
Xan’s tongue flicks the sweet spot next to my clit, and I go over, trembling in Lud’s strong arms. Xan’s fingers push inside my pussy, pumping in and out of me. His thumb brushes against my back hole in promise of what’s to come.
Lud keeps kissing me. On my lips, my jaw, my neck. His tongue laves my earlobe, and I arch into him as awareness slowly returns. Reaching for Xan, I pull him up, cupping his handsome face and kissing him with all my might. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he whispers. “I love you, Felicity.”
I will never get tired of hearing that. “I love you too.”
Lud clears his throat. I turn to him with a smile. “And you. I love you both. And now it’s time for me to take care of you.”
Lud is still seated on the ledge, so I kneel in the tub between his legs and grip his cock. I lick him up and down, sucking lightly on the head, teasing him until his muscles tighten and he strains toward my mouth with a groan of need. “Enough,” he rasps. “I need you now.”
I run my fingernails over his thighs. Part of me wants to continue to tease him, but I’m just as impatient to feel him inside me.
Rising, I turn and lean slightly forward so I can guide Lud’s cock inside. He rests his hands on my waist to steady me as I sink down slowly, letting my body stretch around his thickness. When I’m finally seated on his lap, Lud filling me completely, my world narrows. All I care about right now is his cock. “Oh wow,” I gasp. “You’re so big.” I’d forgotten how intense this felt. How completely, perfectly overwhelming.
He holds me close as I sway toward him, almost dizzy with pleasure. “We fit perfectly,” he replies. His arms tight around my waist, he drops kisses on the back of my neck and shoulders. “I want to stay here forever.”
“You’re not going to move?” I tease and gasp as he does just that, his arms steadying me as he thrusts his hips, driving further into me little by little. Holding onto the side of the tub, I find some purchase with my feet and lift off him before sliding back down. We both groan as he presses even deeper inside me.
“Xan...” I reach for him, greedy for both of them. When he comes to stand before me, I grasp his hips and pull him toward me, and then close my lips over his cock. Eagerly I work my mouth up and down his cock, gliding my tongue underneath his shaft and tugging him closer to work him further into my mouth. Lud rocks inside me, making me moan, and Xan curses at the vibration. With one hand, I cup his heavy balls, feeling them tighten.
“Oh, Felicity,” His hand grips my hair lightly. “I love the way you feel.”
Lud drives into me, pushing me closer to orgasm, and I redouble my efforts, sucking Xan and bouncing my ass up and down Lud’s hard length. I want my mates to cum.
Lud’s cock slams deep inside me, setting off fireworks. I explode, pulling my mouth off Xan’s cock, crying out as pleasure pulses through me. My nails dig into Xan’s hips. As soon as my climax ends, I tug him closer and engulf his cock with my mouth, taking him down as far as I can, desperate for him to feel as good as I do.
They explode a second later, Lud filling my pussy and Xan filling my mouth. Lud’s arm comes around me, pulling me back against him. His fingers find my slippery clit once more. “Too much,” I moan.
16
Felicity
PRESENT…
The next morning, I’m ready to head right back to our old camp. Bolox, Narix, and the always silent Runnax are still there. Then there are the estranged Draekons—nine of them—that live even further west.
But that’s not quite how it works out. First thing in the morning, there’s a knock on our door. It’s Rorix. “The Firstborn wants everyone to breakfast in the dining hall today,” he says.
Lud, who’s standing just behind me, nods. “A council of war then,” he says. “Dariux must have talked to the Firstborn last night.”
War. Even the word sends a stab of fear through my heart. Unconsciously, I put a protective hand on my belly and then catch myself. I still haven’t told Lud and Xan about the baby. I’m not ready yet. We’re slowly putting our relationship back together, and in a perfect world, I’d like us to be in a good place before I toss that bombshell into the mix.
Of course, the world isn’t perfect.
I get dressed quickly, and the three of us head to the unusually crowded dining hall. Most people in this camp tend to eat in the hall, but they don’t all seem to eat at the same time. “It’s different in the rainy season,” Sofia said to me when I commented on it. “Everyone eats together then. I think it keeps them from going stir crazy.”
Arax is sitting at one of the tables, Nyx and Viola on either side of him. Across from them, Zunix and Dariux—the two former spies—are locked in animated conversation, Olivia listening intently. Vulrux is seated at the same table, and he looks exhausted, as does Harper.
We take a seat with Bryce, May, and her two mates, Yasix and Thesix. Shortly after, Paige, Rezzix, and Magnux show up. “Why are these meetings always in the morning?” Paige grumbles under her breath.
I feel her pain. “There’s coffee,” Bryce says cheerfully. “I used Raiht’vi’s food-syn to make a pot. Viola’s capable of drinking all of it, but I’m pretty sure she hasn’t had time yet.”
