Im Sure
Talon
The impact of Lucas hitting the wall echoed like a gunshot in my ears. Rage, pure and unrestrained, coursed through me. My lion roared, a sound so loud it nearly drowned out the chaos around us. Seeing Lucas crumple to the floor, motionless, caused a switch inside me to flip. Every doubt and hesitation I had harbored about my connection to Lucas and Dominic evaporated instantly. They were my mates. There was no denying it now—not when every fiber of my being screamed to protect them.
Julian turned his fiery gaze towards Dominic, preparing to strike again. My instincts took over, and I lunged with all the force of my lion. My vision tunneled to focus solely on the threat before me. Julian’s tail, that monstrous appendage that had just harmed Lucas, swung towards me, but I was ready. Dodging swiftly, I closed the distance between us; my claws prepared to tear into whatever part of him I could reach.
A fierce command thundered in my mind: “Get away from them!”
My lion’s roar filled the room, vibrating with the ferocity of my protectiveness, even though no words could pass my lips. Julian turned and met my charge, his fury matching mine, but I was driven by something more potent—a newfound clarity and desperation.
Lucas’s pained groan from behind me only fueled my rage further. I had to end this now before Julian could do any more damage. As we clashed, the room blurred into a swirl of motion, every strike and counterstrike a dance of life and death that I was determined to win.
The battle intensified with every passing second, each of us driven by our own desperate needs. Julian was relentless, but the sight of Lucas injured and vulnerable gave me strength I didn’t know I possessed. I saw my chance as the demon lunged with his tail again. With a mighty leap, I landed on his back, my claws sinking deep into the fiery texture of his skin. Julian howled in pain as my jaws clamped down on his majestic wing. Feathers flew around and he bucked like a wild bull.
I clung to him with all my might, trying to maintain my grip despite his thrashing. I wouldn’t let go. As we battled, Dominic sprang into action. He conjured a blade from nowhere—its handle as dark as obsidian and its edge gleaming with a malevolent light. It wasn”t an ordinary knife, but something forged from the depths of the nether realm, imbued with a power that even Julian seemed to recognize with a flicker of fear in his glowing eyes.
“Back off, Juls!” Dominic shouted, his voice a mixture of anger and determination. With a swift, practiced motion, he lunged, driving the knife deep into Julian’s side. The demon roared, the sound mingling with the storm’s fury outside, as dark, viscous blood seeped from the wound.
For a moment, Julian faltered, his movements growing sluggish as the combined assaults took their toll. I took advantage of his momentary weakness, pushing off with all my strength to send him stumbling forward. As he tried to regain his balance, his eyes darted between me and Dominic, calculating his dwindling options.
“Leave now!” I growled internally, knowing I couldn’t speak but hoping my intent would resonate through my actions. Julian glared at us both, pain and rage warping his features before conceding he was outnumbered and outmatched.
With a snarl of defiance, he spread his majestic wings, the motion stirring up a gust that momentarily obscured our vision. When the air cleared, he was gone, retreating through the broken window into the heart of the storm.
Exhausted but vigilant, I turned to Dominic, nodding in gratitude and respect for his timely intervention. We hurried to Lucas’s side together, fear and concern for our mate overshadowing the triumph of driving Julian away.
“Lucas, can you hear me?” I asked, finally speaking in my own voice as I shifted back to my human form, kneeling beside him. His eyes fluttered open, revealing pain and confusion in his gaze.
“Yeah,” he whispered, his voice weak but filled with relief as he saw us both safe. “I’m here… you guys got him?”
“We got him,” Dominic affirmed, his tone filled with concern. “I know this will hurt, but I need to see the wound.”
“It burns,” Lucas groaned, pain etching his features.
“Dominic, what’s going on?” I asked, not liking how Dominic was acting.
Dominic’s expression tightened with worry. “Help me lift him while I check the wound,” he instructed, sidestepping my earlier question.
I did as instructed, and grimaced at the inflamed wound. Lucas moaned in pain. Dominic met my eyes, and I saw fear reflecting in them.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice tense.
Dominic carefully eased Lucas back down. “Julian’s spikes have a natural poison.”
“Is that why it burns so bad?” Lucas managed through gritted teeth.
Dominic nodded solemnly. “If you weren’t a shifter, you’d be dead already.”
“Lucky me, I feel like I’m dying,” Lucas quipped darkly.
“Who is Julian?” I asked but then shook my head. “Actually, we’ll talk about who that was later. How do we help Lucas?”
“Good plan. Help Lucas,” Lucas panted. “Just make this pain stop.”
“I can make it stop,” Dominic said gravely.
“Then do it,” Lucas urged.
Dominic hesitated. “Lucas, there are two ways to help you. One way is you barter with a demon. That would essentially make you a slave.”
I growled. “Fuck that!”
“Pass, I’m no one’s slave. What’s the other way? Fuck, this hurts,” Lucas cried out.
“We bond. The power of bonding should heal you.” Dominic bit his lip before mumbling, “I think.”
“You think?” I echoed, skepticism lacing my tone.
“Yes, I think so. I’ve never bonded before. But bonding with me makes you both immortal. You’re my Du?a—my soul.”
“How do you do it?” Lucas asked. “Nana and the others are so secretive.”
“Shifters,” Dominic sighed, shaking his head. “They make things so complicated. Let me guess, they said you have to figure it out on your own.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what they said.”
Dominic shook his head again. “Bonding is done through the exchange of sex and blood.”
That didn’t sound so bad—the sex part, especially. The blood part was a little gross, but I could manage. “What are we waiting for?” I asked.
Dominic locked his gaze with Lucas, then with me. “It’s not a decision that can be taken lightly. It can’t be reversed, and I want you both to have a choice.”
Lucas was quick to respond. “We’re mates. We were made for one another. I choose you.” Turning to me, he added, “Talon, I know you’re not sure, but—”
“I’m sure,” I interrupted. “I’m sure. Fighting for you both, I realized I’ve been too scared to admit our bond, but you’re both my mates. I choose you, Lucas,” I said, then looked up at Dominic. “And I choose you, Dominic.”
“Domi”zel,” Dominic corrected. “My true name is Domi”zel.”
My eyes widened. The significance of Dominic sharing his true name wasn’t lost on me. It was one of a demon’s most guarded secrets, a vulnerability in the wrong hands. This gesture underscored the gravity of our bond and the trust he was placing in us.
Dominic nodded at Lucas”s and my acceptance but worry still shadowed his eyes. Did he doubt our words? Honestly, I couldn’t blame him if he did. After three weeks of running and avoiding him, here I was, ready to bond.
“Before we continue,” Dominic began, his voice hesitant.
Crap, he was having doubts. I opened my mouth to reassure him, but he continued. “There’s a way to ease Lucas’s pain and begin the bonding process.”
As if on cue, Lucas winced; another wave of pain seemed to roll through his body. “Anything,” he gasped. “Please, just make the pain stop.”
Dominic raised his hand, and a knife materialized out of thin air.
“I thought you said you didn’t have any powers,” I said, awed.
“This is nothing compared to the abilities I once had,” Dominic replied, holding his hand out. With swift precision, he sliced his palm, sharp and exact.
The blood welled up, dark and shimmering under the dim light. “My blood can numb your pain and start mending your injuries,” he explained as he offered his hand to Lucas. “It’s not a cure-all; otherwise, I wouldn’t rush the bonding.”
“Dominic. We want this. I know it’s fast and contrary to how we… how I’ve been acting, but I know who you are to me now. Who both of you are to me,” I said.
“Ditto,” Lucas echoed as he reached out and grasped Dominic’s hand, bringing the wound to his lips.
I watched in fascination and a bit of horror as Lucas sucked. The thought of drinking blood made me queasy, but Lucas’s body visibly relaxed, and the lines of agony on his face smoothed into relief.
“Is it helping?” I asked softly.
Lucas pulled back and nodded, his breath evening out. “It’s like a wave of warmth… the pain isn’t gone, but it’s bearable now. Thank God.” Lucas closed his eyes and took a few more calming breaths.
Dominic pulled his hand back, the cut already closing—another demonstration of his demonic resilience.
“You are so much more than a human. You are amazing, Dominic. Absolutely amazing,” I said.
“Well, I said I was a glorified human,” Dominic replied, his tone light, but still tinged with a hint of self-deprecation.
Lucas opened his eyes and fixed Dominic with a steady gaze. “Take the compliment, Dominic. Talon is right. I was thinking the same thing before I got hit. You’re amazing. And what’s more, you’re our mate. So don’t belittle yourself.”
“Okay, tiger,” Dominic smirked, his usual confidence peeking through.
“Rabbit,” Lucas corrected with a small laugh before continuing. “I think I can get through the bonding now. What’s next?”
Dominic’s grin widened. “Eager, are we?”
Lucas shrugged, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. “Who wouldn’t be eager for you two? I’ve been thinking about seeing you two naked since meeting you. Plus, I just want to feel like myself again. The pain may have dulled, but I still don’t feel right.”
Dominic nodded, his expression turning serious again. “Alright then. Let’s do this. There’s no turning back now. Are you both ready?” he asked, looking between me and Lucas.
I nodded, feeling a firm resolve building within me. “We’re ready.”