66. Elias
I knew the moment she stepped into Niko’s office that I would do anything to prove myself to her. The look of shock that twisted into despair nearly dropped me to my knees.
I’d seen that look before. A year ago, when she’d first been brought into my office, terrified of being trapped in a room with a man after everything she’d survived.
That was the moment I scented her for the first time.
The moment my raven stirred and wanted nothing more than to roll onto his back and submit to the beautiful woman with fear in her eyes.
I’d hovered on the edge of her space then, just like I did now. I didn’t want to do anything that would push her further away from the hive. I would only encroach if she explicitly invited me to.
My raven fluffed his feathers, displeased with how much distance we’d been keeping from her lately.
But I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk her scent clinging to me when Nikolai inevitably came back into my life.
Once Kiron met her, once the hive realized what she was, I knew my Niko would come to me for answers.
And he did.
We fell back into each other like we hadn’t spent decades apart.
I’d kept tabs on Niko and Harlow as the hive grew over the years. Kiron always visited his brother on the anniversary of his Change. Guiding Sina into his path hadn’t been an accident. It had been my way of giving her the hive she deserved.
Did I want her for myself?
Absolutely.
But I wouldn’t blame her if she denied me a place among her hive. I’d betrayed her trust.
‘We helped her,’ my raven squawked, indignant .
I know, I soothed him. And I’ll try to help her see that too. In time. But not tonight. Tonight, I needed to reconcile with my alpha and hope he forgave me for the wall I’d built between us.
I hesitated at the entrance to her quarters, my feet refusing to cross the threshold without permission.
Rafe was the first to pass me. His hand settled briefly on my shoulder as he moved by, a quiet wash of calm following the touch. His empathic abilities took the sharpest edge off the tension coiled in my chest. I gave him a subtle nod of thanks, grateful for his silent brand of support.
Harlow stopped in front of me next.
His usual grin was gone. In its place was a seriousness I’d come to recognize lately, one that hadn’t existed before her. Sina had done that to him. Grounded him in a way Clarissa never had.
“Don’t worry, Eli. I’ve got your back. I understand why you did what you did.
” He clapped my shoulder, firm and sure, and the contact startled me more than it should have.
No gloves. That realization still felt unreal.
Just another quiet change Sina had drawn out of him without even trying.
“You’re as much a part of this hive as anyone else. ”
He didn’t wait for a response. Just said it like it was fact and kept moving.
Something tight in my chest eased at his acceptance, giving me just enough courage to step inside her room. I closed the door and leaned back against it, the solid wood at my spine a reminder of where I belonged.
On the edges.
With my chin dipped in instinctive submission, I let my gaze fall to the floor.
When Kiron set her down, her bare feet came into view first. I lifted my eyes slowly, tracing up her jean-clad legs to her bare torso. I swallowed thickly at the sight of her breasts. I’d seen her naked on CCTV footage, but it hadn’t done her justice .
She was a vision.
I fought the instinct to drop to my knees before her.
Kiron swept her hair over one shoulder. Somewhere along the way the tie she had in it was gone and her auburn hair hung around her shoulder in waves. Kiron kissed the side of her neck and murmured something low against her ear before biting into the flesh between her neck and shoulder.
Finally, I met her gaze and found her watching me while Kiron fed his dragon. A myriad of emotions crossed her face in quick succession. Rage. Pain. Uncertainty. And then—lust.
Fuck.
That one I hadn’t expected.
My raven chirped softly, chattering his beak as if trying to call to her. I shoved him back down.
“ Elias ,” Niko growled.
He sat in an oversized chair by the window, sunlight spilling in and highlighting his strong cheekbones, catching gold flakes in his hair and glinting off his glasses.
He looked like a sun god instead of the creature of darkness I knew him as.
I crossed the room the moment he beckoned and fell to my knees before him.
My heart ached. My body responded. I knew exactly how he intended to punish me for keeping her from him. From all of them.
And I wanted it more than anything.
My body trembled as I bared my neck and settled back on my heels between his wide-spread thighs. He gripped my hair roughly, and I hissed softly at the bite of pain.
“I might understand why you kept this from me, my pet. But that doesn't mean I forgive you.” His grip tightened. “Remove my cock. ”
I fumbled with the zipper on his slacks. He lifted his hips to help me lower them just enough to pull him free. I didn't hesitate and took his length into my mouth.
A small feminine gasp sounded from behind me and Niko’s grip tightened in my hair. “That's a good boy,” he purred. “Suck me harder.” His head dipped back, exposing his Adam's apple to the sliver of light from between the curtains.
“Holy shit, Elias.” Her praise made me moan and swallow around him. I reached between my thighs to free myself, but Niko wasn't having it. His fist tightened, and he shoved me until my nose hit his pelvis.
“Absolutely not. You won't be getting off tonight, my pet. The privileges you have are my cum coating your tongue and the delicious sounds of our little mate as she finds her pleasure. Nothing else. At least not yet. Be good for me and I might change my mind.” His words were harsh, but there was pain in his blue eyes.
Pain that I caused him. I nodded as best I could, panting through my nose.
Slowly he released his death grip, allowing me to pull back slightly.
His eyes left mine and settled over my head, where I had no doubt Sina was spread between Rafe, Harlow, and Kiron. The urge to look burned through me, sharp and aching, but the thought of disappointing Niko further kept my gaze locked forward.
I deserved this punishment. Deserved anything the hive deemed appropriate.
I would do anything to atone. Anything for my Sin—my mate.