36. Evelyn
36
Evelyn
I was half-asleep on Chad’s lap in the strategy room, barely keeping my eyes open. The guys looked just as drained. We’d been planning, strategizing, and running battle scenarios all day, and everyone was exhausted.
The door banged open and Zade strode in, his wings tucked tight against his back.
His dark eyes swept over us, and his lip curled. “Seriously? You’re all just sitting here?”
I groaned. “We’ve been at this all day, Zade. Give us a break.”
He crossed his arms. “We attack the Luminary Mansion tomorrow. You need to be ready.”
Rafe stirred beside me, rubbing his eyes. “We are ready, brother. As ready as we can be.”
Zade’s gaze locked onto me, intense and unyielding. “Not good enough. One more training session. Now.”
I pushed myself to my feet, stifling a sigh. “Fine. Let’s go.”
We trudged out to the courtyard, the cool night air waking me up a bit.
Zade turned to face me, his wings flaring wide. “Show me what you’ve got, phoenix.”
Zade kept pushing, forcing me to cycle through each ability. By the end, I was panting and drenched in sweat.
Zade nodded, looking almost impressed. “Better. You might actually survive tomorrow.”
I rolled my eyes. “Gee, thanks.”
Rafe squeezed my shoulder as I leaned against him, suddenly feeling the full weight of exhaustion. “You did great, Evelyn.”
I managed a tired smile. “I hope it’s enough.”
“It will be,” Rafe whispered. “We’ll get Lia back.”
As we returned to the mansion, Zade vanished without a word, slipping into the shadows like he always did.
When we reached the hallway leading to our bedrooms, I hesitated. “Rafe…would it be okay if I stayed with you again tonight?”
“Of course,” he said, taking my hand. “You know I love having you close.”
After a quick shower, I padded to Rafe’s room in soft pajamas. He was already in bed, his golden hair tousled, looking beautiful. My heart did a little flip.
“Hey,” I whispered, climbing in beside him.
“Hey yourself,” he murmured, pulling me close.
I nestled against him, inhaling his sweet, comforting scent, hoping I’d actually get some rest. But instead of sleep, Eris filled my dreams with nightmares.
We were in the midst of the battle, the Luminary Mansion in ruins. Smoke and ash filled the air as Eris stood atop a pile of rubble, a sinister smile playing on her lips. Her army of demons, vampires, shifters, and all sorts of evil creatures swarmed around us, an unstoppable tide of darkness. I saw Chad in his hellhound form, fighting valiantly, only to be struck down by a demon. Alister was overwhelmed and drained by a horde of vampires. Ryker lay crushed beneath the weight of his old shifter gang, his dragon form broken and lifeless.
Rafe stood beside me, his angelic light flickering as he tried to hold back the onslaught.
“Evelyn, we can’t hold them!” he shouted, his voice filled with despair.
I tried to summon my phoenix fire to call down lightning, but nothing came. I was powerless, a spectator to the carnage.
Eris’s voice rang out, mocking and cold. “This is the future you chose, Evelyn. All of this could have been avoided if you’d just joined us.” She raised her hand, and a bolt of dark energy shot toward us. I watched in horror as it struck Rafe, his body crumpling to the ground, his eyes dull and lifeless.
I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat as I ran to him. “Rafe! No!” I sobbed, clutching his still form.
The ground beneath us split open, and I was dragged down into a chasm of fiery chaos, Eris’s cruel laughter echoing around me.
I gasped awake, my heart pounding. Eris’s face lingered, her cruel laughter echoing in my mind. She knew we were coming—of course, she did.
A warm hand squeezed my shoulder. “Evelyn? You okay?”
Rafe sat up in bed, turning on the bedside lamp. I turned to face him, drinking the sight of his tousled blond hair and concerned eyes.
He’s okay. It was all a dream.
I nodded, unable to speak. Rafe gently pulled me against his chest. His fingers worked the knots in my shoulders, easing the tension.
“It’s okay,” he murmured. “You’re safe.”
I leaned into him, letting out a shaky breath. “She knows, Rafe. Eris knows we’re coming tomorrow.”
“We expected that. It doesn’t change anything. We’re ready.”
I wasn’t so sure, but Rafe’s quiet confidence steadied me. His fingers worked magic on my tense muscles.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
I turned to face him, pressing my lips to his. Rafe’s hands tangled in my hair as the kiss deepened. When we broke apart, both of us breathless, I saw something different in his eyes.
Desire.
He swallowed hard, his features set in a determined line. “I want to be with you. Fully.”
I kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the sweetness of his lips. My hand trailed down his chest, and I felt the tension in his muscles and the hesitance in his touch.
“We can take this slow,” I whispered against his mouth. “I’ll show you what I like.”
I guided his hand to my breast, showing him how to caress and how to tease. A small, pleased sound escaped my lips, and I felt his confidence grow. He kissed down my neck, his breath hot and uneven, his hands beginning to explore with more purpose.
His hands moved to my back, pulling me close as he gently nibbled on my shoulder, tickling me until I couldn’t help but giggle.
“Am I doing this right?” he asked.
“It’s nice, but I’m a little ticklish,” I reassured him. “Do you want to kiss me anywhere else?”
“Everywhere, if that’s okay with you?”
“Yes, I’d love that.”
His eyes roamed over me. “Is it alright if I take off your nightgown?”
I nodded, and he lifted it over my head, his eyes drinking the sight of me. I could see the desire in his gaze, the worship. It made me ache for him.
He kissed me again, deeper this time, his hands roaming my body and cupping my breasts. I removed his shirt, peeling it away to reveal the hard lines of his chest.
A heat built in my lower abdomen as my nipples hardened. I moaned, enjoying his soft touches.
“Touch me here,” I said, guiding his hand between my legs.
He hesitated, then followed my lead, his fingers exploring with a mix of curiosity and reverence. I showed him how to rub, how to press, my own hands clutching at his shoulders as waves of pleasure started to build.
“Like this?” he asked, his voice a strained whisper.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Just like that.”
I reached for his pants and slid my hand inside. He gasped as I stroked him; his length and thickness surprised me. His cock was long and thick, rivaling Ryker’s in size, and I wondered how it would feel to have him inside me.
I wrapped my hand around his cock, gently caressing him. “Does this feel good?”
“Yes.” he moaned as his hips moved forward.
I continued to stroke him.
He kissed me once again as I stroked him. The kiss was more urgent. More confident. Then trailed kissing down my neck and to my breasts.
“Lower,” I instructed. “Much, much lower.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m sure.”
He complied, letting his kisses travel down my stomach, his tongue teasing my belly button before licking just below it. I groaned with desire, surprised by Rafe’s teasing nature.
“Use your fingers…or your tongue…” I urged.
I watched as he hooked his fingers into my panties, slowly and tantalizingly sliding them down my legs, and he positioned himself between my legs.
Rafe leaned in and began to plant soft kisses along my inner thighs. My body trembled with anticipation as he got closer and closer to where I wanted him most.
His hot breath was against me, and I gasped in pleasure as his tongue flicked against me. He teased me with slow licks before delving in deeper, causing me to writhe under him. I tangled my fingers in his hair, urging him on as the pressure built inside me.
Rafe’s mouth, with its surprising skill, had me teetering on the edge of ecstasy when suddenly he stopped and pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked breathlessly.
He looked up at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. “I just don’t want you to finish too soon.”
I rolled on top of him, straddling his hips. His beautiful wings folded beneath him. His hands found my waist, holding me like something precious.
“Do you want to make love to me?” Rafe asked.
“More than anything,” I assured him, caressing his hair away from his eyes.
We smiled at each other before he leaned in for a kiss. His arm pulled me closer as our kisses grew more urgent.
As the need grew bigger, I moved my hand down and slid his cock along my wetness, teasing us both.
His eyes met mine, filled with an intensity that took my breath away.
I sank down on him slowly, stretching to accommodate his size. He bit his lip, his hands gripping me tighter as he fought to stay still.
We stayed like that for a moment, our bodies adjusting, our breaths syncing. I leaned down and kissed him tenderly before starting to move. His hands guided my hips, his touch growing more confident with each stroke.
“You feel amazing,” he said, his voice thick with lust.
I increased my pace, riding him harder, and he met each thrust with a desperate need. Just as I felt myself nearing the edge, he rolled us over, taking the lead. His majestic wings unfurled slightly as he moved inside me with a newfound certainty, his kisses hungry and demanding. I lost myself in the pleasure, forgetting everything except how Rafe made me feel.
“I’ve imagined this moment a thousand times,” he whispered. “And now that it’s here, it’s even better than I dreamed.”
Those simple words set me off. My orgasm crashed over me, taking him with me as we both cried out in perfect harmony. He collapsed on top of me, his weight comforting, his breath ragged in my ear.
As we lay there catching our breaths, Rafe sat up, reaching for something.
“I have something for you,” he said. He had plucked a feather from his wing. “Place this over your heart.”
I did as he asked. The feather seemed to melt, sinking into my skin. I gasped as a rush of warmth flooded through me. I could sense him even more deeply than before, his love and strength radiating into me.
“Rafe,” I breathed.
Suddenly, a strange energy reverberated through the room.
“What—”
The door burst open. Chad tumbled in, followed by Lucien, Alister, and Ryker, all of them looking stunned.
“Did you guys feel that?” Chad asked, eyes wide.
Lucien’s brow furrowed. “It appears the mating bond has locked into place.”
Alister nodded, looking slightly dazed. “We’re all connected now.”
Ryker said nothing, but his intense gaze spoke volumes.
“I wonder if there’s any pizza left,” I heard Chad say in my mind.
We all looked at him.
“What?” he asked.
I looked at each of them, feeling the new bond humming between us.
“Well,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips. “This should make tomorrow interesting.”