Chapter Fifty-Two
Saphyra
M y head was spinning, grasping at the information I’d found. There were so many more questions now. Could what they were attempting even work? It seemed unlikely, but was it any less than what I’d be willing to do to save my planet? There were times I thought I’d do anything, but maybe not that. Kidnap, murder, dooming other planets to wither and die?
No, maybe not that.
A crack of what sounded like thunder echoed through the sky, followed by a scattering of multicolored hexagons sparking between the clouds.
The armada hadn’t given up, but the shield was holding.
My anxiety was a pit at the bottom of my stomach, but it faded a little more with every failed attempt. Ghost’s insight into the defense technology bolstered my confidence.
They couldn’t get through.
I let out the pent-up tension with a sigh, and my nose wrinkled as I contemplated eating more of the nutrition bar in my hand.
Ghost was watching me. “Come on, Doc. I think I remember where some berry bushes were. You can help me carry,” he said to Grey, and winked an ice blue eye at me as if he knew how much I didn’t want to eat the highly portable tasteless ration.
Berries sounded a lot better than the chalky stick of vitamins and minerals I’d been reluctantly chewing. I started to stand, considering the merits of going with them, but my stiff muscles protested.
Ghost noticed my movement and held up a hand. “No, princess, you’ve done enough today. Relax. We’ll be back soon.”
Night pressed against the small bubble of firelight Shadow tended, broken only by flashes from the shield. I didn’t know how they’d find anything in the dark, but if it saved me from the stale meal replacement bar, I wasn’t going to argue.
Grey placed a finger under my chin, guiding my gaze to his. “Be a good girl while we’re gone.” Then he pressed a quick kiss to my lips and headed off into the trees with Ghost.
Warmth rushed to my cheeks and between my legs. Even the most innocent interactions sent heat rolling through my veins.
Shadow snorted. “Needy omega.” A slow, predatory smile bloomed on his face. “You’re filthy.” Calling across the fire, he continued. “Lex, our queen needs a bath.”
Lex had returned from his walk in the dark, and glanced up from where he’d been setting up the sleeping pallets. “Yes, she does. We can’t have you covered in grime when the others get back.”
I set my nutrition bar down on the log beside me and looked between them, trepidation simmering in my stomach. “Wha…”
Shadow’s arms swooped in, scooping me out of my seat and swinging me over his shoulder. “Yep, it’s time for a bath, little omega.”
With my butt pointed straight up in the air, and my face dangling down Shadow’s back, I wasn’t in a position to put up much fight. Indignantly, I grumbled that I wasn’t that filthy against the scratchy black cloth of his shirt.
The warm water did sound very nice, and it would take our minds off the recent unpleasant revelation. My muscles were sore from traveling, I was covered in sweat, and my clothes were still damp from the rainstorm. Okay, maybe I was a little filthy. I squirmed, but a large hand came down on my ass, and I huffed out half a laugh. If that was going to be my punishment, I should wiggle more often.
Before I’d had a chance to put that thought into action, my boots were tugged from my feet and tossed next to the fire to dry. My socks followed, and then we were marching across the creek and up the bank to the steaming stone basins on the hillside.
The closer we got, the warmer and more soothing the air was. If they wanted me to fight back, they were going to have to threaten me with something else.
I was hoisted from Shadow’s shoulder and my bare feet touched down on a smooth rock shelf. Lex was behind me, tugging the hem of my shirt up and over my head while Shadow unfastened my pants and dragged them down over my hips.
I wriggled out of the damp clothes and was immediately pulled back against Lex’s naked body. He must’ve stripped out of his clothes on the walk to the spring. His arms coiled around me. One snaking between my breasts with his hand circling my throat. The other nestled between my thighs.
My night was improving rapidly.
The moon was muted, but between the drifting clouds, it cast Shadow’s amber skin in a misty glow. I was transfixed as he shucked his black uniform, unveiling his rigid cock and the black swirls of his tattoos.
Lex’s fingers strummed over my clit as his voice rumbled in my ear. “Perfect, isn’t he? I must be the luckiest alpha alive.”
My tongue moistened my lower lip, watching Shadow step down into the hot spring. Moonlight reflected off the steaming water onto his naked body in silvery ripples.
The answer to Lex’s question died in my throat, taking in his flawless darkness.
Lex pushed a finger past my slick entrance while rubbing my clit with his palm. “Isn’t he?” he repeated against my neck.
I hissed as he added another one and rocked my hips against the growing hardness thickening against my back. “Yes,” I whimpered, finally managing a weak reply.
“Show him. On your knees.” Lex’s hands slid away, and I was left cold with slick dripping down my thighs, aching at the emptiness.
Shadow was only a few steps into the basin, wading backward into the shallow water. I dropped down and crawled to him. Liquid heat licked at my skin and soothed my muscles as I waded deeper into the pool.
He towered over me with an unaffected air, but his cock pulsed and bobbed, giving away his true feelings. The dim light shimmered on the bead of moisture clinging to the tip, beckoning me closer. He was looking at me with pitch dark eyes. Every move I made, his shaft throbbed and thickened.
Even without Lex’s command, I was drawn to Shadow. I could hear my blond mate close behind me, but my attention stayed locked in front.
The steam from the hot springs coated Shadow’s body, and I sat up on my knees, running my tongue up his length and over the swollen crown, snatching away that smokey pearl of pre-cum. The flavor of campfire and night storms filled my mouth, making me long for more. My lips wrapped around the thick, blunt head, pressing him into the back of my throat. His scent circled me, holding me trapped, and sending goosebumps of anticipation erupting over my wet skin.
Lex waded into the knee-deep water after me and slid his fingers into my hair. “I love watching his cock disappear down your throat.”
His hand fisted into my golden locks, guiding my strokes, and I felt his warmth behind me. My eyes trailed up Shadow’s body just in time to see Lex capture his lips. Their tongues lashed against one another’s, and I moaned around Shadow’s solid length.
Seeing their lips meet set a wildfire in my belly. One of Shadow’s hands cupped the back of Lex’s neck while the other dropped to join the hand in my hair. Lex continued to guide my mouth over Shadow, mimicking the cadence of their kiss.
Slick seeped down my thighs, lost to the flow of the water lapping at my legs. My breathing was a needy, desperate thing, panting between thrusts as I was sandwiched between my alphas.
Lex stepped back, pulling my lips off Shadow’s length. “I think our omega needs seeing to.”
With his hand still in my hair, he repositioned me on all fours between them. This time facing him with Shadow behind me. “Do you want more?” He asked me.
Tingles scattered across my skin. My eyes were locked on his, silently begging, but I knew he wanted me to say it. Slick dripped down my thighs, the anticipation making me a shivering mess. “Yes, I need more.”
My belly tightened and molten heat drenched my trembling pussy. “Please.” I didn’t know how much longer I could wait. The mist from the steaming water was licking at my body, driving me to desperation.
He made no move, just watched me with his deep hazel eyes. Making me squirm more with every passing second.
Pitiful, I whined. “Please, Lex. Please.”
With his free hand, Lex angled his cock to my mouth, smearing pre-cum across the sensitive pillows of my lips. My tongue darted out, lapping at the sunshine and oak that embodied everything that was him. I groaned, leaning forward, trying to capture more, but he held my hair, teasing me with what I begged for, just out of reach.
“Please,” I whispered again between panting breaths.
Shadow’s calloused hand fell to the small of my back, pressing down until I arched my ass up the way he wanted. The wide tip of his massive cock nudged up against my entrance, coating himself in my slick.
I rocked backward, desperate for it. “Yes.”
He pulled away. “I dunno, little omega. Do you think you deserve it?”
My belly clenched, and I let out a breathy moan. “I do.” I grit my teeth, clawing for a brief glimpse of sanity. “I just saved the planet with my own blood. The least you can do is fuck me.”
My alphas chuckled, and my stomach fluttered at the sound.
“She did do that.” Lex ran his hand over my cheek, brushing a stray strand of hair back from my face. The way he looked at me, as if I was the most precious thing he’d ever seen, made my heart feel like it was going to burst in my chest.
The warmth from Shadow’s cock radiated against my slick folds. “It really is the least we could do.” He edged closer, slipping his blunt crown along my slit.
I shuddered, wiggling against his hot, swollen length. “Yes, yes. Please, please.” My whole body was buzzing with delirious heat.
Shadow’s hand engulfed my hip, holding me still. I needed to move. I needed… something. Anything. My blood moved through me like molten rock. Anticipation burning a trail of destruction through any logical thought.
Lex’s grip on my hair intensified, sending tingles across my scalp. I was looking up at him as he dipped his chin in approval. Shadow surged forward.
The air in my lungs hissed out on a surprised moan and my body lit up from the inside.
“That’s it, love. Take his dick like a good girl,” Lex praised before angling his cock down and sliding it between my lips.
I groaned and my eyes fluttered closed. My tongue swirled and lapped along Lex’s length as he guided my mouth deeper until I couldn’t breathe, and then he pulled back just enough to suck in a lungful of air, then pushed into my throat again.
The scent of campfire on starry nights and sun warmed oak trees filled my lungs with every desperate breath until I was drowning in them.
Shadow’s fingers bit into my skin with bruising force, making my hips ache in the best way, while he shoved his thick shaft into me, stretching me open until it burned with the perfect edge of pain.
This was exactly what I’d needed. An inferno of pleasure built with every skilled thrust of my alphas working together. I spiraled higher and higher, and when Shadow’s fingers dropped to my clit, rubbing steady circles over the sensitive nub, I ignited. A torrent of heat poured over me, wrenching an orgasm from my depths.
I screamed around Lex’s cock even as he lodged it down my throat and the swelling of his knot filled my mouth, making my jaw ache with the strain. His low groan vibrated through the air and hot ropes of sticky cum jetted out, painting my throat. I swallowed it greedily, hungry for every last drop. I couldn’t get enough. I was starved for it.
Shadow swelled inside my clenching channel. My orgasm kept rolling as surge after surge of fire burned through me. He grunted, and his knot shoved into my grasping pussy and locked. Thick cum pulsed, pumping me past full, escaping the seal of our bodies and onto my thighs. His hand slid beyond my pulsing nub, stroking my puffy lips on either side of where we were joined, coating his fingers in our combined fluids and rubbing it into my clit.
I groaned around Lex’s knot, and it throbbed in response. My jaw was deliciously sore when Lex gently pulled himself from my mouth. I gasped a lungful of hot moist air, trembling and wanting.
My skin was on fire. Steam and sweat shimmered like a slick sheen over all of us. I whined and my pussy clenched over Shadow’s knot, still buried deep. I shuddered and almost fell, but he caught me and wrapped me in his strong arms.
“You did so good taking my knot,” he murmured against my damp hair. Holding me close to his body, he arranged me on his lap in the water.
Lex lowered himself next to us, resting against Shadow and tangling his legs with mine. My belly fluttered and clenched, gripping onto Shadow’s knot. I wasn’t done. I wanted more.
From the edge of the trees, Grey and Ghost emerged at a decent clip. Their eyes found me in seconds, panting and sweaty, between the two alphas. As soon as I saw them, I needed them. I was desperate even while still stuffed full of an alpha’s knot.
“Good thing we got extra.” Ghost grinned, holding up a sack of what I could only assume were the berries they’d left to gather.
My pulse picked up, beating like frantic butterfly wings pounding in my throat. A needy moan clawed from my lungs. Not for the food, I didn’t care about the food. I only wanted the lips that had spoken the words.
They were too far away, and I whined, pulling against Shadow’s hold with no regard for the fact his knot was still locked tight inside me.
Shadow’s arm banded around my waist before I could crawl across the spring, dragging him along with me. Because that’s what my instincts were telling me to do. I needed to get to them.
Grey hurried to me, skirting the water’s edge, eyeing the sweat covered, naked alphas warily as if he thought they might ravage him too. They didn’t even tense, finally welcoming him as part of us and accepting his place at my side and not as an outsider.
A tiny purr stuttered in my chest, and I reached out to Grey.
Shadow held me tight, stroking my slick skin so I couldn’t wiggle free. His lips tracked across my shoulder and neck. “Hold on, greedy little omega.” He nuzzled against me, picking up a soft purr to mirror my own. Not missing a beat, even when Grey pressed his fingers to the fluttering pulse in my throat and then my wrist.
Ghost was still too far away for my liking, but Grey was here now. That settled my desperation. For now.
The hum of their voices faded to white noise, blending into the sounds of insects and wind in the trees. I slipped my fingers into the top of Grey’s waistband and unfastened his trousers.
His hands closed over mine gently, stopping me from getting what I was after. I whimpered and fought against the arms that held me, but the bands only tightened.
Excitement rose through the bond from Grey, but there was a hesitance as well.
Grey cast a long suffering glance at the sky that was still flickering with rainbow flashes and took a deep breath.
His words broke through the haze, and I heard him say, “I don’t know what you were doing while we were gone, although I can imagine, but you pushed her into heat.”
“Well, fuck.” Shadow didn’t sound all that mad about it.
Lex breathed out half a chuckle. “Fuck, indeed.”
Ghost grinned. “Fuck, yeah.”