CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EMBER
"ARE ALL THESE FOR ME?" I asked.
"It's all yours, beautiful," Moon told me, his eyes never leaving my face.
I knelt beside the first chest and opened it, gasping at what I found inside.
Clothing of all sorts. There were casual clothes for everyday wear, tunics and pants for training, and even a few spring dresses in soft, flowing fabrics.
Everything looked to be exactly my size, with colors that would complement my skin tone.
"I love them," I told my alphas, genuine gratitude warming my voice as I moved to the next chest.
That one also contained clothing, but of a very different sort. I lifted out what appeared to be a dress made entirely of fine chain mail links, the metal gleaming in the lamplight.
"Is this a chain mail dress?" I asked, eyes widening in amazement.
"Yes," Ryung confirmed. "It's to wear under your formal gowns. Just in case we're attacked while at a gala or something. Your formal gowns will be ready soon."
I smiled as I lifted another piece, this one clearly designed to wear under a casual shirt. The workmanship was exquisite, the metal links so fine and lightweight that I could wear it comfortably for hours.
"That's for you to wear when you accompany us when we're training the soldiers," Moon explained. "We also have armor being created with your measurements."
I looked up at him, tears suddenly gathering in my eyes despite my best efforts to control them.
"You're having armor made for me? So I can come with you when you train?" My voice wavered slightly. "Does that mean if you go to battle..."
"We need our mate right beside us in all things," Moon told me.
Those blasted tears fell before I could stop them. When they'd placed guards on me, I'd assumed they wanted to keep me confined to the tower, safe but separate from their real lives.
I'd prepared myself for the inevitable restrictions, the gilded cage that would come with being mated to a prince. But instead, they wanted me beside them, in training, in battle, in everything.
"Thank you," I whispered, the words wholly inadequate for the emotion swelling in my chest.
"You're welcome," Moon replied softly. "The training is hard. So you'll have to train for a while before you're truly ready to step into a battle with our enemies. But I know you can do it."
"I can," I promised, carefully placing the chain mail back into the chest.
There was other tactical gear inside as well, similar to what I'd worn the night I'd planned to kill them. I moved to the final chest, and my jaw dropped when I saw its contents. Weapons. Beautiful, deadly weapons of every kind imaginable.
"That's a crossbow. It's better than the one I had," I exclaimed, lifting it to test its weight. "Oh, and look, throwing stars! I love them." I picked up a wicked-looking whip with small metal spikes woven into its length. "Is this a spiked whip? I could do some serious damage with this."
I rummaged through the chest with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning, examining daggers, blow darts, and even what appeared to be specially designed gloves with retractable blades. I picked up a small, adorably cute pink dagger in a pink sheath.
“That’s to put under your pillow,” Ryung told me.
Awww. How cute and deadly. I rushed over to the bed, climbed on, and placed the baby dagger under my pillow. Most women might want chocolates and jewelry for Valentine's Day, but my alphas understood me perfectly.
They knew these gifts would make me happier than any trinket ever could. Sitting on the bed, I stared from Moon to Ryung, so thankful I had these alphas in my life.
"Thank you for these gifts. I love them." Suddenly, guilt crashed over me. "I'm sorry. I've never celebrated Valentine's Day, so I didn't even remember it was coming. I didn't get you two anything." I hesitated. "But I can prepare something for you later today."
"There's one thing we've been waiting for," Ryung told me, his voice dropping to a seductive growl as he climbed onto the bed.
"And it's something only you can give us," Moon added, joining Ryung from the other side, effectively surrounding me.
"What?" I asked, watching them approach me like predators stalking their prey.
"I want your bite, omega," Ryung growled, his dark eyes intense with desire.
"Me first," Prince Moon insisted.
"No fair," Ryung snarled, turning to face our prince.
"I think it's fair since I bit her first," Moon countered, his chin lifting in that stubborn way I'd come to recognize.
"Since you bit her first, then I should get bitten by her first. That's fair," Ryung argued, crossing his arms over his chest.
Moon started to argue, then sighed in resignation. "I'll let you get bitten first if you let me knot her first this morning."
Ryung glared at the prince for a long moment before relenting. "Fine," he growled, and then they both turned to face me expectantly.
I couldn't help but laugh at my alphas' negotiation. These powerful, deadly men were squabbling like children over who would get my bite first, and somehow it was both adorable and incredibly arousing. But they were right, it was time for me to claim them, to complete our bond.
"Lie down on the bed, both of you," I ordered.
They rushed to do my bidding, their eager compliance sending a thrill of power through me. This was what I wanted to give them for Valentine's Day, my bite, my mark, my promise that I was theirs as surely as they were mine. Forever.
Ryung lay back against the pillows, his dark eyes never leaving mine as he settled into position. Power radiated from him even in this vulnerable pose. This was an alpha who was secure enough to yield control when it mattered.
And it mattered now. I straddled him, feeling his hardness brush against me, a tantalizing promise of what was to come. His hands settled on my hips, his touch warm against my skin.
The imugi slithered from my arm to wrap around my wrist. I leaned down, my hair creating a curtain around us as my lips hovered above Ryung’s.
"My alpha," I whispered.
His eyes darkened as he whispered back, "My omega."
I pressed my lips to his in a gentle kiss that quickly deepened, his tongue meeting mine in a dance that was becoming beautifully familiar. I'd grown addicted to his taste in the short time we'd been together. I couldn’t get enough of my alpha.
When I pulled away, his breath came faster, chest rising and falling rapidly beneath my palms. I trailed my lips down his jaw, his throat, feeling his pulse jump beneath my touch. I kissed Moon's bite mark on him, making him shudder.
"Are you nervous?" I asked, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under my fingertips.
"No," he answered, his voice husky with desire. "Just ready. I feel like I’ve been waiting for you my whole life."
My heart fluttered at his words. I trailed kisses across his collarbone to the other side of his neck. My omega instincts guided me to the perfect spot to sink my teeth into, the junction where neck met shoulder, right over his scent gland. I licked the spot, making him groan beneath me.
"Mine," I whispered against his throat.
"Yours," he agreed, voice rough with desire. "Always yours, my princess."
I inhaled his scent one more time, whiskey, smoke, home, before pressing a kiss to the warm skin. Then, following an instinct as old as time itself, I bit down. My teeth sank into his flesh, breaking the skin with an ease that surprised me.
Ryung jerked beneath me, a growl rumbling through his chest, hands tightening on my hips. The bond between us flared, growing stronger, brighter. Suddenly, I could feel him, not just physically, but emotionally.
His desire, his protectiveness, his fierce joy at being claimed by me. It was overwhelming, this rush of connection, this sense of belonging that I'd never experienced before. I licked the wound I'd created, sealing it with my saliva, marking him in the most primal way possible.
When I raised my head, Ryung's expression was one of wonder, his eyes slightly unfocused as he processed the deepened bond. His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my lower lip.
"I love you, my omega," he murmured, voice thick with emotion.
Tears blurred my vision. "I love you too, my alpha," I whispered back.
Through our bond, I could feel his response, his happiness, his pure joy. I couldn't believe someone cared this much for me. Not just one someone. My gaze moved to Moon, who was watching us with an intensity that made my skin tingle.
He was lying there, waiting patiently for his turn, his silver eyes gleaming in the dim light. I had two people who adored me so damn much. That was the best gift of all. Ryung stroked my cheek once more before gently shifting me off him.
"Go to him," he murmured. "He's been waiting longer than I have. Our prince has been dreaming of this day for a very long time.”
I crawled across the bed to where Moon waited, his body vibrating with anticipation.
"My alpha," I breathed.
"My princess," he replied, the endearment making my heart flutter.
I straddled his thighs, feeling the heat of him beneath me. His hands immediately went to my hips, gripping me there. I trailed kisses along his neck, finding Ryung's claiming mark on him and licking it slowly, feeling him shudder beneath me.
"Princess, I need your bite now. I can't wait any longer," Moon growled, his silver eyes flashing with desire.
"Patience is a virtue, wolf," I teased, enjoying the way his hands flexed on my hips.
"I'm trying, princess," he told me, his entire body trembling with the effort. "But I've waited my entire life for this moment."
The raw vulnerability in his voice touched something deep inside me. This powerful prince, this deadly warrior, was laying his soul bare for me. How could I deny him any longer? I leaned in and kissed his neck again, finding the perfect spot.