Chapter 17 #4
“When you mate with a nightmare, you are directly affected by their magic because soothers act as somewhat of a void, a collective vase… so you take in everything, which is why you seem to still be so drastically physically affected. However, as you take in their energy, it cycles through you and rebounds back, not only increasing the energy of the nightmare but leaving you with a marker of their magic. It's why you have so much more energy now. As much as I love pulling your delicious soul from your body, you are going to be a bit more durable from now on, so you won’t die each time that I fuck your tight little cunt.”
I jolted at his blunt words as he flashed me a smile, a hot, electric surge of desire running over my skin and distracting me. I couldn’t begin to describe how excited I was for round two… especially if I was more ‘durable.’
“I have absolutely no idea what to say,” I mumbled, staring at the many tattoos that covered his neck and shoulders. “Does my father know?”
“I think he suspects something.” He tilted his head curiously. “I don’t think he has put it together fully though, or else he would probably keep you away from most nightmares for your own safety.”
“You guys keep me away from everyone,” I teased.
“Not everyone,” he mused before narrowing his eyes in thought. “I have… somewhat accepted Amun into your mating selection. Although, if you do want me to kill him, I wouldn’t argue.”
My face flushed. “I don’t even know—”
“You feel a connection to him, and that instinct is what led you to choosing all of your other mates.” He offered me a knowing look. “Including me. Amun is very much someone you have chosen, whether I like the bastard or not.”
“We need to tell the others,” I warned softly, anxiety about their reaction slamming into me and ruining my post-sex relaxed haze.
Once they had no ‘reasons’ to hide behind for not accepting the bond that they said they felt towards me, how were they going to react? What if it didn’t change anything?
“Only if you are ready for that.” Saint nipped my collarbone.
“Ready?”
He chuckled dangerously. “I want you to consider the floodgate you are opening there.”
“What do you mean?” I clearly needed coffee, because I only seemed to be understanding about every other word he said.
“You have six other nightmares that have been wanting to claim you for, well, some have been for years now, and the only thing holding them back has been your safety. If you tell them that isn’t a problem, that you are meant to mate with them, then you are going to find yourself being fucked, and often. ”
I blinked and shivered as he flashed me a smirk. “So maybe you are ready.”
Nibbling my lip, I considered his words. “What if they don’t feel the same?”
“That has never been in question,” Saint leveled, his confidence making me feel far better. “Trust me on that. But ask them yourself when they get back here.”
“Shit, Razar is going to be upset.” I frowned, knowing how protective he was.
“Only because he worries,” Saint pointed out and then chuckled, “Well, that and because he’s a possessive bastard. Serves him right that he didn’t get to bury himself into your tight pussy first.”
“Saint!” I squeaked as he winked at me, sitting up slightly and tilting his head.
“They are still out there negotiating with the humans.” His voice was full of disapproval and annoyance.
“You can hear that?” My brows went up.
His sharp nod had me humming, fairly impressed, before I looked at the sky through my windows, the darkness telling me it had to be nearly ten at night. “How long have we been in here?”
“Give or take three or four hours.”
“Holy shit,” I squeaked, hopping up and running towards the bathroom, not bothering to grab my glasses. I immediately turned on the shower as Saint appeared, frowning and turning it off.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“I like you smelling like me,” he growled, grabbing my hip and pulling me against him before dipping his nose against my neck.
I leveled him with a look. “I am not going down there, where my father and your sister are, smelling like sex. Not to mention all the other nightmares we may come across…”
The shower was turned back on as a near pout slipped onto his face. That was cute. Saint pouting should not have been cute.
I turned towards the mirror and froze, my brows going up as Saint leaned against the bathroom counter, looking proud.
I stepped closer to the mirror, noting that the mating marks from both Cy and Blackwell stood out extremely drastically, but more than that, the large bite mark on my neck was rather savage-looking.
I brought my fingers to the center of my sternum where a new mark was added, a small, simplistic skull that seemed to flash with silver.
“I like you with markings,” he pointed out.
I liked it too. Way, way too much.
Shaking my head, I stepped into the shower. My eyes darted across Saint’s muscular back as he stepped into the large glass shower with me, noting the damage my nails had clearly done. A sense of pleased possessiveness filled me at that notion.
I was suddenly thankful for all the space, because this man was so damn huge.
I tilted my head up as I let the water run down my frame, wondering where his thoughts were as he ran his fingers through my wet hair.
It was honestly unfair how attractive this man was, plus the rainwater shower head was making him look like some goddamn male model in a commercial.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked softly as his eyes moved to mine.
His face filled with emotion as he opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by the door of the bathroom being slammed open.
Crap.