Bonds of the Forsaken: A Reverse Harem Romantasy (Her Forsaken Mates Book 1)

48. Kaiya

Ivaguely knew it was a nightmare, but knowing didn”t help as a sharp, burning pain split across my stomach. The creature tore at my skin and muscle — just as it had each time this nightmare came.

Screaming, I cried out for it to stop, but it lifted its silver head and stared, leaning in as it realized I wasn”t dead yet.

I looked away, already knowing what was coming. Those milky eyes would take in the fact I”d survived, then it would go back to tearing at my wound with a renewed ferocity, reveling in my screams.

Warm tears trickled down my face as I stared at the cloudless sky above, bracing myself for the pain.

But when it came, something felt different …

A strange pull tugged at my korra — something that had definitely not been there in Karemi, nor in any of the nightmares that followed.

The monster attacked my wound again, and another scream was wrenched from my lips. But the pain was less than normal. It was a slight difference, but I”d re-lived this horrible dream enough to know it was different.

”Please …” I whispered through cracked lips, pleading to whatever was tugging at me. ”Please …”

The pull grew stronger, as if it were trying to bring me toward something … or someone?

Closing my eyes, I reached out, desperately feeling for the source. The pain threatened to consume me, but I focused on the tug.

Was that a bond?The connection was thick and vibrant — full of life and energy.

With a panicked gasp, I reached for it, tugging with everything I had.

Immediately, the heat and pain fell away.

Oh, thank the gods!

I forced my bleary eyes to open, and found myself floating in an empty darkness, the only thing visible — that beautiful saving bond.

It continued to tug at me, and I gave in to it fully. My entire being needing whatever was at the other end.

I pulled myself along, faster and faster, until finally I could feel the source nearing. All other thoughts faded as that strong, wild korra came into view.

My eyes flew open, and I gasped — reaching out desperately for the source.

A large man with disheveled bright white hair and yellow eyes was leaning over me, his gaze burning bright — mirroring the intensity I felt.

Mine. He was mine.

My mate.

I reached out to pull him closer, but he intercepted my hand, his calloused grip engulfing it.

Gripping my chin with his other hand, he tilted it side-to-side as his eyes slid over every inch of me before finally returning to stare into my eyes with an intensity I”d never experienced before.

”Mine,” he growled.

Nodding, I stared back into those yellow eyes — losing myself in their depths as heat blossomed beneath my skin, expanding from my core and through my body.

His hand slid from my chin to the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair.

With a sharp tug, he forced my head back until our gaze broke, and then he was at my neck, the soft flutter of his breath sending shivers down my spine.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Was that me or him?

It didn”t matter. I wanted more — needed more.

Letting out a low growl, he pressed a kiss into my neck, then another one —

Moaning, I gripped his shoulders, urging him on.

More. I needed more!

He obeyed, biting and licking wherever he kissed, fire sparking wherever he touched, coalescing with the raging inferno already inside me.

Still, it wasn”t enough.

I gripped his shoulders and tugged him closer. I needed him on me — in me. That force inside my chest demanded more!

Growling, I ran my hand down his stomach, desperate to —

”Okay, okay!” A familiar voice broke in. ”As much as I would normally enjoy this show, I have a feeling neither of you is in your right minds at the moment.”

My gaze snapped to the black-haired Fae man who dared to intrude.

His blue eyes widened, and he lifted his hands. ”Whoa now, I”m just trying to help.”

I glared at him, but the intruder shook his head, muttered something under his breath, and took a single step closer.

My mate let out a warning growl, releasing me and moving his body to block me from the other man”s view.

I moaned at the loss of that heat, and the Fae man hissed. ”Come on, Tye. Remember a few minutes ago when you wanted to be rid of Kaiya? Consummating your bond with her now would be —”

A giant crash sounded, and I stared, mouth agape, as the black-haired man was hurled against the wall.

Something in my chest lurched at that, tugging me toward the stranger, and I cocked my head to the side.

Who was this man who wasn”t my mate … yet somehow also was?

A dull throbbing pulsed inside my skull, and I gripped the sides of my head with my hands, tensing against the pain.

Where was that pain coming from?

”Saints, Tye. You”re stronger than I remember.” That voice … so familiar. ”Please — just drink this and I”ll stop bothering you.”

Another crash sounded across the room, accompanied by pain in my shoulder and hip.

”Princess —” the Fae man ground out as he fought my mate. ”I know you”re pissed at me right now, but I could really use some help calming Tye down! I”d like to live through today, if you don”t mind?”

More talking from the uninvited one. I ignored the pain and glared at him again.

But that name … Princess … I liked when someone had called me that before. Or did I hate it?

I couldn”t tell …

Black shadows. A ship. A large bed. Ruins. White heat …

Jaiel?

Holy hells! My awareness came crashing back in, and I sat up straight.

What the fuck was going on?

Wolf-Tye had Jaiel pinned against the wall, and the only thing keeping him from tearing out the Fae man”s throat was Jaiel”s arms, barely holding back the snarling wolf”s head.

”STOP!” I screamed, voice hoarse, as I scrambled out of bed and to my feet. ”Tye! Stop!”

The wolf snarled and pushed harder.

Fuck. Where was a weapon when I needed it?

”Get that!” Jaiel gestured with his chin toward something to my right. I tore my gaze from them to see a slim wineskin.

”Just what am I supposed to do with wine right now?” I asked incredulously.

”It”s some kind of potion that calms him down, at least for a bit,” Jaiel ground out. ”Get him to drink it!”

Nodding, I grabbed it and rushed to their side. ”Come on now, Tye,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. ”Drink this.”

Jaiel”s arms were shaking now, and Wolf-Tye”s snapping jaws were getting closer to the Fae prince”s face.

Fuck. He was too lost in the wolf to listen right now.

Uncorking the skin, I stepped closer and squeezed the bag, sending clear brown liquid all over Tye”s wolfish muzzle and into his mouth and nose.

Spluttering, the wolf blinked against the liquid and stared up at me with betrayed, golden-yellow eyes.

Then he turned to smoke … and then into a very naked Tye.

”Forsaken hells!” I muttered, staring at the potion. ”This stuff works …”

Jaiel cleared his throat and stood up, rubbing the back of his head and shoulder. ”Took you long enough. Saints! I thought I was dead for sure.”

I stared at him, cheeks hot.

We”d somehow gone from almost fucking, to fighting, to him watching me almost fuck someone else within the span of a single day.

If this relationship got any more complicated, I”d have to write a book about it!

”Mage forsaken.” I turned to stare as Tye climbed to his feet, wiping the liquid off his face. ”Did that really just happen?”

Jaiel cocked a brow, then nodded. ”Afraid it did.”

Tye examined his hands and scowled. ”Fuck. I — I don”t know what to say.”

Jaiel studied Tye for a moment and shrugged. ”It”s fine. No one”s hurt, but we might not be so lucky next time. Just — keep drinking that damn potion until you get the wolf under control. Okay?”

Tye”s jaw tightened, and he stared at the wineskin before nodding.

My gaze was glued on Jaiel, though.

He said no one had been hurt, but I knew he was lying — I”d felt the bruises through the bond.

First, he hid his low charisma, and now he was hiding these injuries … what else did the asshole Fae prince keep hidden behind that infamous smirk of his?

Something inside my chest twisted at the thought, but I pushed it away. I”d put distance between us earlier for a reason. The prince wasn”t mine to worry about.

”Well,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. ”I don”t know about you two, but I”m starving, and the event has likely already begun. Should we head up?”

Tye reached down to grab the wineskin, and Jaiel let out a soft chuckle.

”Why don”t you go, Princess. Wolf-Boy needs to get dressed, and I need to change clothes. We”ll meet you up there.”

My gaze lingered for a moment on Tye”s very naked body, the way those muscles shifted in the light spilling in from the hallway … and those tattoos — every gods damned inch of them.

He”d felt so right —

Fuck!

The bond in my chest was thrumming again, and I forced my eyes back to the door. I wouldn”t be controlled by that damn thing!

”Yes,” I said, avoiding looking at either of them in the hopes it would help keep my damn urges under control. ”I”ll — uh — see you up there.”

Wincing, I half-walked, half-ran to the door and out into the hall.

The door shut behind me and I strode toward the stairs, replaying the events in the room over and over in my mind.

Had I actually called Tye my mate? And if Jaiel hadn”t interrupted, would we have …

Fuck!!

Thankfully, Tye”s potion seemed to be fairly effective — at least at numbing it from his side.

But still — I couldn”t ignore the strange pull I continuously felt to both men in that room.

Why was everything about this mission so damn complicated?

I stopped at a mirror near the stairway and winced at my disheveled state.

I hadn”t planned to sleep, so I”d done nothing to prevent my hair from becoming a tangled mess as it dried. The result was a half-fluffy, half-smashed disaster.

Groaning, I pinched my cheeks, bit my lips, and threw my hair into a quick braid. Then I pasted on an excited smile as though a thousand insane things hadn”t just happened and nodded to myself.

It would have to do.

We”d get some food and drink and talk with Alpha Blackwood about this damn bond. Then we”d send a message to Frexin, and I”d get back on track with the mission — alone.