Chapter 6
Help me!
Where are you, Skye?
Please!
She didn’t seem to have heard him. Ardon jumped from bed and found Oldrik already racing for the door. When they reached the hall, Oldrik ran one way and Ardon the other. Without a word, both shifters worked together.
“Here!” Ardon yelled as he spotted Skye crumpled on the hall carpet. Instantly, he heard Oldrik hit the wall as he abruptly turned.
Dropping to the floor by her side, Ardon brushed her long hair out of her eyes to see her face. She was pale and her expression drawn with pain. “Skye? Can you talk to me? Where do you hurt?”
She responded by shaking her head violently as Oldrik joined them on the carpet.
“What happened?” Oldrik asked.
“I don’t know. She’s in pain and can’t tell me where. I don’t want to move her in case I make it worse,” Ardon said.
Oldrik stared at her face, and Ardon heard his mental questions. Skye? Can you tell us what’s wrong?”
Again, she shook her head.
“There’s a barrier in her mind. I can’t get through it. It’s like she slammed a door between us,” Oldrik reported, and Ardon’s blood ran cold. If she’d severed their ability to speak to her….
“Skye, remember me talking to you about our connection and that we could experience each other’s sensations? We can help you if you can be brave enough. Keep your eyes closed.”
“Oldrik, we’ll put our hands on her forehead and coach her through opening our connection.”
“Shut your eyes,” Ardon stressed when one of Skye’s blue eyes peeked up at him. Instantly, she slammed it down.
“Good girl. We’re going to coach you through this. Listen to our voices. Be present in your mind. Look toward where you feel our hands. Once you’re there, turn around and focus on your brain. You can orient yourself by pressing your back to our hands. Rotate now, My Treasure.”
Skye took a deep breath and released it. He nodded to Oldrik for him to take over for the next part. She needed to have both of her mates involved.
“Blueberry, what you see is your beautiful mind. Don’t be scared by the darkness. We are there with you. If you look carefully, small zings of light are flying around. Focus on those streams of colors. Can you locate a blue streak?”
Her expression shifted slightly, and Ardon guessed that was a yes. Oldrik must have as well, for he continued.
“Follow that blue streak with your eyes. Trace it until you find a place where a bronze-colored light joins it. It probably runs parallel or maybe wraps around it. Those are your mates’ lights. They are your safety nets.”
The corners of her lips twitched slightly, making Ardon think she was trying to smile. Oldrik nudged him with a powerful shoulder, so Ardon addressed her again.
“Follow those joined streams of light—the blue and the bronze. Don’t worry about any of the other colors. Those two are the most important. They should lead to a door. It may take a bit to find it. Don’t give up.”
When her nose wrinkled, Oldrik teased, “You found it. Does it smell like Ardon? Or sweet like me? You can tell us in just a minute. Do you see the locks on the door, Blueberry? Three locks should be there. They might have keys in them. Focus on the top one. Grab it and remove the key.”
When she didn’t show any signs of success or failure, Oldrik tried one more time. “Skye Marie Ericsen, reach your hand up and wrap it around the top key now. Pull it out.”
A tear ran down her face, making Ardon afraid they had hurt her. A fraction of a second later, a torrent of pain lanced through Ardon. Oldrik rocked back slightly, signaling to Ardon that he was in the backwash as well.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!
Ardon gathered himself and answered without allowing the torment to affect his voice. “Thank you, Skye. You did well. The pain should be better now. Keep your eyes closed, Little One,” he reminded her when her eyelids blinked. Slowly, the tsunami of agony receded from his mind. How had she held all that inside?
“Let me guess what happened. You wandered down the hallway and ignored a few tingles warning you not to go too far from your mates. You did not heed that signal and continued to walk. That was very naughty.” Oldrik met Ardon’s gaze and shook his head, signaling his relief.
I was hungry and decided to get a snack. I tripped over something in the passage and catapulted forward.
“And you hit a wall of pain. Why did you try to lock us out?” Ardon asked.
I didn’t want you to hurt. It was just automatic.
“Is that key still in your hand?” Oldrik ran his fingers over hers.
Yes.
“Throw it as far away as you can. Then that lock can never reseal, and bottle everything inside you. Things that should be—no, have to be—shared with your mates. Toss it away now, Skye.”
Her hand lifted, and she heaved the key away. Her chest rose as she breathed deep and then exhaled strongly. The last of the lingering pain faded away.
“Well done, Skye. Put your hand in front of the empty keyhole. What do you feel?” Ardon waited for her to answer.
“All of us!” she whispered, speaking aloud for the first time since they’d found her on the carpet before reverting to a mental message. I love it!
Ardon’s shoulders settled back into place as the last of his tension dissipated. “We do too.”
Can I open the second one?
“Yes, Skye. But before you do, press your palm against the metal door and hold it there for a moment.” He waited until she flattened her hand in the air between them. Ardon imagined sending a wave of fire through her. Their connection sizzled hotter as Oldrik joined in, lending his dragon’s breath.
“Good job. Pull your hand away and you’ll see your handprint with a scorched mark around it. If you ever need to come back here, you can make sure you’re at the right door. Never touch any other door. Promise me,” Ardon demanded.
Never, Daddy. What happens when I touch another?
“It could take your mind away from us,” Oldrik told her. The tone in his voice sounded so sad she felt tears gathering.
That will never happen then. Skye reached out and tried to turn the lock on the marked door. Frustration showed on her face. It’s stuck.
“You have the key, My Treasure. It is stiff from lack of use. Wiggle it a bit. Oldrik and I will help you.”
Placing his hand over hers, Ardon waited for Oldrik to wrap his fingers around theirs. “Now, Little One. On the count of three. One. Two. Three!” He turned her hand to the right. Nothing happened, so he tried it again. This time, he shimmied it back and forth a bit. Together, they urged the key to the side.
“Daddies!” Skye’s bright blue eyes opened and fixed on them. She rocketed up to catapult herself into their arms.
It’s incredible! Her hand stroked over Ardon’s arm before repeating the action on Oldrik’s skin. She shivered. It’s like I feel what you do. How is that possible?
Our minds are linked because of the release of the second lock. I would hazard a guess that you can sense more than most mates since your mental ability exceeds most humans. There are different levels of connections. You have control over that, Oldrik shared.
There’s a third lock. Is that more? Even she could hear both awe and concern in her voice.
Yes, Blueberry. Only open that in an emergency. It removes all shielding between our minds. In a dire situation, we could find you immediately but at a cost. We would also be able to read everything in your mind—even those things you choose to have shielded from us , Oldrik explained.
That’s… That’s a huge step.
It is, Skye. We will always try to respect your privacy. Unlocking that third connection would make that impossible. Ardon pressed a kiss to her temple.
Oh! That’s amazing.
Skye lifted her lips to request a kiss. Ardon was glad to indulge her. Oldrik groaned, and he realized the other dragon could also feel that exchange. His shaft twitched in response. Making love together would result in everyone sharing each sensation.
When Skye leaned back to look between them, Ardon knew that she’d figured out that tantalizing bit of information as well. Ardon reached a hand to squeeze Oldrik’s shoulder. Instantly, the sensation echoed in his brain. Damn. This was going to be interesting. Meeting Oldrik’s gaze, he noted the sexy grin that curled the other dragon’s lips.
At their core, Dragons were sensual beings. They lived hard and played even harder. When Oldrik leaned forward to offer his mouth to him, Ardon realized he was allowing Ardon to make the decision about how far this would go. Moving so quickly that Skye gasped in reaction, Ardon wrapped his hand around Oldrik’s head and slammed his lips on the other dragon’s. Heat exploded inside him. The echoes of that passion filled each of the triad’s minds. Using all his willpower, Ardon pulled back. He’d had male mates, but intimacy with another dragon was new and enticing.
Do it again.
The two dragons turned as one to consider the plea of their mate. The scent of her arousal surrounded them. She had snuck a hand between her legs and stroked herself intimately.
Ardon held himself back with ironclad control. Pulling Skye fully against him, he said, “You tripped, My Treasure. Are you wounded?”
Oldrik ran his hands over her legs. “There is a bump on her shin. It is small. Does this ache, Blueberry?”
“No.”
She said that so fast Ardon suspected Skye hadn’t considered it. “Really? Think carefully or this ends now.”
This time, she paused as Oldrik pressed lightly on the spot. Okay, it’s sore but not bad.
“Better answer.” Ardon praised her. “These tools will disappear tomorrow. We will not allow you to hurt yourself.”
I can be clumsy.
“And we can be cautious,” Oldrik told her. “Now you know how far the mate bond will stretch currently. We’re going to have to keep you close.”
Skye responded by throwing herself onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him hard. Oldrik rolled back on the carpet, carrying her with him. Ardon quickly stretched out next to her. The two men ran their hands over their mate, enjoying her lovely curves and the sensations that echoed between their minds.
Their passion flared fiery-hot instantaneously. Tearing her mouth from Oldrik’s, Skye asked, “Here? In the hallway?”
“In every damn room of this house and Ardon’s lair,” Oldrik promised as he stripped off her nightshirt
Ardon nodded when Skye turned her desire-filled gaze to him. “Hell, yes!”
Holding on to his self-control by a hair, Ardon kissed his mate, savoring her flavor as Oldrik enjoyed the sweet curves of her breasts. Ardon lifted his mouth from Skye’s and kissed a path down her arm to suck her fingers into his mouth. Her intimate essences still clung to her skin from her earlier play. He moaned at the small reminder of how delicious her juices were.
Oldrik echoed that sound and moved down her body to taste for himself. He settled between her legs and spread her widely. Appreciation of her beauty dispersed through all of them.
A growl rumbled from deep inside Ardon, drawing her attention. “Oldrik and I worship you as our fated mate.”
Does it bother you that there are three of us?
“The mate bond knows what we need. Ardon and I would love you even in a group of twelve shifters.”
“You love me?” Skye blurted. Her oral answer revealed her surprise.
Ardon sent his positive answer along with Oldrik’s through the bond to Skye. He could sense the last of her reserve evaporate. He rewarded her with a hard kiss and felt Oldrik’s teeth bite lightly into her sensitive inner thigh. The heady sensations swirling around them skyrocketed Ardon’s arousal.
Stroking her soft skin, Ardon enjoyed searching for the sensitive places that made her gasp. He enjoyed her reaction to Oldrik’s caresses and intimate kisses. When she screamed her pleasure, Ardon controlled his desire with rigid force. He needed inside her now.
With a targeted message to Oldrik, Ardon shifted to sit cross-legged on the fine carpet lining the long hallway. He lifted Skye onto his lap and slid his fingers through her soaked pussy, ensuring she was ready to take him. His touch made her wiggle with excitement.
Don’t play, Daddy. I want to feel you inside me.
Ardon wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to straddle his legs. Boosting her up, he placed his cock at her entrance and lowered her carefully onto his shaft. Warm velvet surrounded him as Skye stretched to allow Ardon to enter her.
When she rested fully on his thighs, Ardon dropped his head to her shoulder, savoring the feel of having Skye wrapped around him. She pressed a kiss to his skin and hugged him tight. Ardon captured her lips in a steamy kiss that made him need to move.
Oldrik! Come here. Behind Ardon. I need to taste you now.
The powerful figure rose to his feet and followed her directions to stand beside their entwined bodies. When Oldrik was in position, she looked straight into Ardon’s eyes. In this arrangement, Skye couldn’t reach Oldrik to pleasure him orally. The shifters were too large.
Oh! I was going to….
“We’ll have to experiment together to find what works for us,” Oldrik told her.
“I have the solution for this one.” Ardon lifted Skye from his cock and spun her around so her back pressed against his chest. With a few shifts, he reclaimed her tight passage.
“Perfect,” Oldrik moved in front of her as Ardon rocked against her.
Skye closed her lips around the broad head of Oldrik’s shaft, and everyone moaned as their sensations ricocheted into one another’s minds. Ardon cupped Skye’s breasts and kneaded the soft swells as he moved inside her. The erotic sight in front of him of Skye trying to take in Oldrik’s length made him clench his teeth in an effort not to spill himself inside her immediately. They moved urgently, coordinating with each other as the air around them became perfumed with their scents.
Kissing and caressing his mate, Ardon tasted her dewy skin. He nibbled along her shoulders and delivered small nips at the curve of her neck. He stroked a hand down her torso to dip into her moisture. Tapping and brushing her clit, Ardon continued his thrusts to drive her toward a climax.
“Mmm!” Skye hummed her pleasure into the hallway a few moments later as her tight channel clamped around Ardon’s shaft. The intense contractions erased Ardon’s control, and he emptied himself into her.
Oldrik lasted a few seconds more before spilling into Skye’s warm mouth. He dropped to his knees to kiss their mate deeply. He wrapped his arms around Skye and Ardon, pulling the trio tightly together. Ardon understood. Oldrik was not competition for Skye’s affection. He was an ally in pleasing her.
The dragons’ relationship as allies had deepened into this new bond they shared together. Ardon had always felt closer to Oldrik, seeking his counsel over the years. Had this triad always been fated to happen? A sense of rightness settled over him. Ardon felt Oldrik’s rough hand grip his shoulder and suspected Oldrik’s guarded thoughts aligned with his own.