Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Z
I t had been two days since three of my mates had left for the Shifter Kingdom. Two agonizing days where I waited for any news on their whereabouts. Bash sent messages often, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing would be enough until they were back where they belonged.
With me.
However, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about them for longer than a few minutes at a time. There was always stuff that needed to be done.
Running a rebellion was hard work.
When I wasn’t meeting with representatives from the various camps scattered throughout the kingdoms, I was with the other leaders, planning for battle. With all of the mages now joining our side, it was easy to arrange chats with leaders miles and miles away from us, including Davia, Atta, and Axel.
So far, there were no new updates. Aaliyah had been uncharacteristically silent since we’d freed her goblin army and allowed them to live in the woods. I didn’t know if it was because she had failed…or if we had merely fallen into her plan. Either way, a thread of trepidation wove around my heart, squeezing with every consecutive hour that passed.
I spent my days alternating between the training grounds, the armory, and the cafeteria, ensuring everything was going off without a hitch. There were too many lives depending on me and my mates. We couldn’t let them down.
I was moving towards the largest tent in camp, preparing for yet another meeting, when a somewhat familiar man sidled up beside me. Belatedly, I recognized him as one of the leaders of this particular camp, but his name eluded me.
Sam, maybe?
No…Steven.
Stephan!
I mentally gave myself a high-five.
It was no secret that Stephan had a huge crush on me. Anyone with eyes could see that. He followed me around like a besotted puppy and agreed with almost everything I said, even when I knew I was wrong.
Just now, he was staring at me with hearts in his eyes, his throat working as he swallowed.
“Is there something you need, Stephan?”
He flushed red and lowered his head. “It’s Stefan, actually.”
Oh shit.
Before I could apologize, he continued on, his voice gaining conviction with each word he said. “But you can call me Stephan if you want! I actually really like that name, and it’s close enough to Stefan that I won’t get confused. So Stefan or Stephan, whichever you prefer.”
The tips of his ears turned crimson.
I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose in irritation. “Stefan, I apologize.” I made sure to stress his correct name. “It’s been a long day.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He blinked up at me, his lips slightly parted. “I can give you a massage, if you want.”
His pinkie scraped against my own, the slightest of caresses, before I pulled my hand away, trying to remain inconspicuous.
“No, thank you.” I offered him a tight smile. “I just need to sleep. I’ll be fine after that.”
He stared at me, his mouth agape, and then blurted out, “With me?”
“No! Ew!” I shook my head vehemently, then realized that might be a bit of an overreaction. Especially the “ew” part. Working to moderate my tone, I said, “Is there something you need, Stefan?”
He forked his fingers through his hair. “Errr. No. Not really. I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. But I should probably go. I mean, if you want me to go, that is. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay, but only if you want me to. If you want me to go, I’ll go. If you want me to stay, I’ll stay. If you want me to?—”
“I’ll see you at the next meeting, Stefan,” I told him gently, pivoting on my heel and making a beeline towards my tent.
Fuck the meeting tonight. I needed a break.
Stefan released a wounded sound, and I wondered if this was how it felt to kick a puppy.
“Yeah. Of course. See you.” He muttered something under his breath and then forlornly trudged towards the tent, kicking at loose pebbles as he walked.
I waited until he was out of sight until releasing the breath I’d been holding.
“Good grief,” I murmured, scraping a hand down my face.
“Annoyed with your fan club?” a dry voice remarked from behind me.
I didn’t jump, despite being taken by surprise, and turned to see violet eyes peering back at me through the darkness.
“Shut up,” I said, wagging a finger in the air. “I can’t help it that everyone who meets me wants me.”
Devlin snorted and peeled himself away from the tree he’d leaned against. It was strange to see my genie not dressed in his customary suit and tie. Instead, he wore a pair of jeans and a black button-down that clung to his muscular frame, emphasizing the grooves of his eight pack.
“And you’re so modest too,” he drawled sarcastically, stopping in front of me.
The midday sun teased the edges of his curly brown hair, making some of the strands appear almost red.
“Of course I am. I’m amazing.” I dramatically flicked a strand of blonde hair over my shoulder.
His lips twitched upwards in the makings of a smile before immediately compressing into a thin line.
“Have you been sleeping well?” I touched the shadows beneath both of his eyes as concern rampaged through me.
I knew Devlin wasn’t coping well after his trial, though he hadn’t addressed it with me again since that one night. I couldn’t even blame him. What he’d gone through…
I shuddered.
“Have you?” he countered, surveying me from head to toe. He reached forward to cup my cheek, his thumb smoothing over my cheekbone. “I know you’re worried about Lupe, Bash, and Killian.”
“Of course I am.” I frowned. “What they’re doing is ridiculously dangerous. We should just wait until Lupe completes his trial?—”
“And allow all of those humans to suffer longer?” Devlin arched an eyebrow at me. “You know that wouldn’t be right.” A hint of bitterness seeped into his voice. “We already allowed them to suffer long enough.”
A tiny niggle of guilt took root inside of me. “Is it wrong that I want to be selfish? That I wish we weren’t always the ones on the front lines? That I wish someone else would take the reins, at least for a little bit?”
Devlin’s eyes softened. “Of course not. I would give anything to get you out of harm’s way. I wish…” He swallowed, a muscle bobbing along his throat. “I wish that you didn’t have to involve yourself in this mess.”
“I made the mess.” I snorted and shook my head ruefully. “Aaliyah is my problem.”
“You’re not responsible for your sister’s actions.” Steel entered his eyes, turning them molten.
“And you’re not responsible for your father’s actions,” I countered immediately, reaching upwards to grab his wrist.
I lowered his hand from my face and then interlocked our fingers together. His touch was warm. Comforting. Familiar.
Devlin tried for a smile, but the shadows in his eyes refused to dissipate. “Yeah.”
He didn’t sound as if he believed that, believed me .
I bit my lip and glanced towards our tent, which I knew was currently empty. Jax was meeting with some of the vampires, Ryland was discussing security with a few of our generals, and Dair was sifting through our books on mythological creatures, searching for any clues that would tell us Aaliyah’s next move.
“We have a little time before the next meeting starts,” I murmured, running my thumb over his knuckles.
His breath hitched, his eyes clouding with desire. “Z…”
“Let me carry some of your burden, at least for a little while.” I gave his hand a squeeze and led him into the tent, suddenly grateful that we were located far away from anyone who could hear us.
Only Mali’s tent was nearby, and she was barely ever there, preferring to spend her days training with the humans.
I led Devlin to the very back of the tent, towards the cot I’d claimed as my own. However, I bypassed the mattress and settled myself into the rickety wooden chair beside it, releasing Devlin’s hand.
He remained standing. Watching me. Waiting. Panting. Needy. Desperate for me.
I crossed one leg over the other as I studied my genie mate—the first man I’d ever loved. So much had changed since then, yet everything felt the same, including my love for him. No, that wasn’t true. Not really. My love for Devlin had grown over the years, transforming into something new and beautiful and ethereal.
“Take off your clothes.” My voice was husky with suppressed want. “Slowly.”
Devlin swallowed again and immediately brought his hands to the very top button. With excruciating slowness, he popped it open, revealing a hint of olive skin. I felt like a kid on Christmas unwrapping her present. Each new expanse of skin he displayed sent my pulse racing. I felt heady and dizzy with need. Desire. Desperation.
He slid the dark fabric over his shoulders and allowed it to fall to the ground at his feet. His large chest heaved with each breath as I greedily lapped up the sight before me.
“Now the pants,” I murmured, feeling my pussy throb around nothing but air.
The hard pebbles of my nipples scraped against the fabric of my bra.
Devlin hurriedly brought his hands to the button of his jeans and flicked it open. He slid the denim down his strong, muscular legs, bending slightly, before kicking them aside. He wore only a pair of tight boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination. I could see the outline of his cock through the material, long and hard and ready for me.
I waved a hand in the air with a grunt of irritation. “Underwear. Now.”
He slid it down as well and kicked it aside, stilling in front of me and awaiting further instruction.
A rush of heat burst through me.
“Fuck, I love your cock, Devlin,” I praised, eyeing the beast before me.
It wasn’t as large as Lupe’s—I didn’t think anyone had a cock like my bear shifter—but it was thick and long and a tawny gold color. A blue vein ran up the length of it, desperate for my tongue.
“You’re so hard for me, aren’t you? So ready to sink into my pussy.”
He swallowed, opened his mouth, and then immediately snapped it shut. He seemed to be at a loss for words.
I loved this dynamic between us—these brief moments when Devlin willingly gave up his ironclad control and allowed me to love him the way I did. I imagined he wouldn’t do this with just anyone, only someone he trusted irrevocably. And I wanted to be worthy of that trust. He was handing me the leash, and I would use it to bring him nothing but pleasure.
“Crawl to me, pet,” I murmured silkily, my eyes hooded.
Devlin immediately dropped to his hands and knees, breached the short distance between us, and stopped when he was directly between my legs.
He reached upwards to touch my thighs, but I slapped his hand away with an admonished, “Not yet.”
“Z, please,” he whispered, a note of pleading in his voice.
I did that to him.
I caused a man as proud and impenetrable as Devlin to plead for me.
To drop to his knees before me, like a servant worshipping his queen.
Never taking my eyes off of his, I removed my shirt and tossed it aside. His eyes hungrily devoured my bared flesh, his hands twitching by his sides.
But he didn’t touch me.
I reached for the clasp of my bra and unhooked it, using one hand to secure it to my chest as the straps slid down my arms.
“Z…” He was begging again. Begging for me.
I tsked my tongue disapprovingly.
“Good things come to boys who wait.” I waited a few seconds, letting him sweat, before finally removing my bra completely.
Some of my mates had a thing for my ass; others preferred my tits. Devlin? He definitely fell in the latter category. He looked as if he was seconds away from diving at me and devouring what was his.
Keeping my eyes glued to his, I dragged my fingernails down the center of my chest, all the way to my belly button. I tantalizingly brought them back up and then circled first one nipple then the other, watching the tight buds stand at attention.
“Z.” This time, his voice was a guttural growl, his gaze fixated on my fingers as they teased and flicked at my nipples.
I ignored him and threw my head back, moaning.
“Fuck, this feels good.” I twisted one nipple while pulling at the other.
Devlin released a strangled noise, and I decided I’d teased him enough…at least for now.
Gripping my right breast, I carefully guided the tip to his slightly parted lips. He exhaled shakily, his warm breath creating a barrage of goose bumps across my skin, and then closed his mouth over my nipple, sucking it hungrily. His hands once again flexed by his sides, but he didn’t make a move to touch me, knowing that would only lead to punishment.
I slid my aching breast out of his mouth—ignoring his growl of outrage—and replaced it with the other one. His tongue immediately teased my neglected nipple, swirling around the nub until it was a hard pebble.
“Yes, Devlin. Yes,” I moaned, squeezing my eyelids shut as he alternated between my tits.
Kissing them. Sucking them. Licking them. Biting them. I was sure marks covered them, but that only amplified my desire tenfold.
After a few moments, I grabbed his shoulders and gently pushed him back, which he did so without complaint. Desire hooded his eyes, and his cock was so hard, it actually looked painful. The tip leaked precum.
I shimmied out of my jeans—making sure to make my breasts jiggle because hello , this man fucking loved my tits—and then tossed them aside. I now only wore a pair of light-pink panties, the bottom already soaked through with my arousal.
I grabbed fistfuls of his hair and guided his face to my pussy.
“You know what you need to do,” I rasped, desire coursing through my veins like lightning.
Devlin hovered there for a few moments, his nose brushing against my most sensitive area, before he planted a chaste kiss to my panty-clad pussy.
“Devlin…” I threw my head back against the top of the seat, my fingers tightening in his curls.
I wanted to snap at him not to tease me, but it felt so fucking good. I didn’t think he could do anything to me I wouldn’t like.
Besides, I could always punish him afterwards…
He kissed my inner thigh—each soft press of his mouth sending my senses spiraling—before finally licking me through my panties. I felt his wet tongue through the lace of my underwear and instinctively bucked my hips, seeking more. He licked me again and again before grabbing the waistband of my panties with his teeth. His gaze flicked in my direction, a silent question in his eyes, and I nodded wordlessly, lifting my hips so he could drag down my underwear with his teeth.
“You are so goddamn beautiful, Z,” he rasped, staring at me as if he had never seen me before.
The love in his eyes caused my chest to ache, my heart to pound even faster.
Embarrassingly enough, heat rose to my cheeks. My mates made me feel beautiful every single day, but I sometimes wondered if they were delusional or biased. Yet, when he was staring at me like that…
I felt beautiful.
Sexy, even.
Worthy of standing beside these men I loved.
His touch as soft as feathers, he grabbed my foot and brought it to his shoulder. Then he kissed the inside of my ankle, a fleeting kiss that made me see stars.
Another kiss, this one to my knee.
Another to my inner thigh.
And another, and another, and another…
I felt his breath against my pussy, and I started to squirm.
“Devlin, stop it,” I growled.
“You smell so fucking good, baby.” He inhaled greedily, his nose dragging across my pussy lips. “I could live in your pussy if you let me.”
“Weirdo.”
A sinful smirk curled up his lips, and he finally lifted his eyes away from my pussy to stare at me. The stark hunger in his gaze nearly undid me. As it was, I felt myself unraveling, threads of myself expanding in all directions, reaching for a pleasure that was currently just out of my reach.
As abruptly as it arrived, the smile on Devlin’s face faded. He stared up at me with earnest eyes emanating a dozen different emotions.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be here,” he whispered, leaning forward to plant another soft kiss against my pussy.
“About to eat me out?” I asked, only half teasing.
“No.” He shook his head, his curls brushing against my inner thighs. “Here. With you. With my brothers. Happy.” His long lashes fluttered against my skin as he blinked. “When I first left you once upon a time, I thought that was it. My one chance at happiness…gone. But then you arrived at the capital, and you forgave me, and I…” He shook his head again as something akin to awe distorted his features. “I can’t believe this is real. It’s everything I ever wanted. You and my brothers, together.”
I swallowed around the strange lump in my throat. My eyes burned. “We’re at war, Devlin. We might die?—”
“We won’t,” Devlin said quickly. Easily. Effortlessly.
I gently brushed at his curls, pushing them away from his face. “You can’t know that.”
My voice was a whisper.
“But I do.” He nuzzled my inner thigh. “We deserve a happily ever after, and I think the universe agrees. I refuse to believe this will end any other way.”
My heart felt like it had fallen into a meat grinder. “I wish I could have your conviction.”
But it was so hard to believe in a future that seemed just out of reach. How could I hope for a happily ever after when death loomed behind every corner, reaching for us with cold, spindly fingers?
“We’re going to get through this, Z. All of us. I truly believe that.” He licked up my slit, and I moaned, pleasure arcing through me.
“Get on the ground,” I instructed, overcome by the enormity of my feelings for him.
I’d had enough teasing.
I needed him.
Now.
His brows furrowed, concern etching across his face. “Z?”
“Get. On. The. Ground.”
He immediately fell onto his back, and I stood, stepping over him. His eyes turned molten, heating with lust, as I lowered myself over him.
“You deserve a reward, wouldn’t you agree?” I whispered, grabbing his cock to line it up with my core.
His eyebrows rose. “I do?”
I gently sank onto him, moaning at the intrusion. He felt so fucking good inside of me. So perfect.
“Fuck, Z…” His fingernails dug into my hips.
“You gave me something I didn’t realize I’ve been missing,” I confessed as I began to rock my hips.
A burn crawled up my throat and crowded my eyes.
“What is that?” Devlin’s voice sounded husky with lust.
I began to bounce even faster, his cock hitting deep inside of me.
“Hope,” I replied as his fingernails dug even farther into my skin.
But the pain quickly edged into pleasure, launching me to new heights.
And when I finally hurtled over the edge, it was with Devlin’s name on my lips and a new perspective on life.
Devlin was right. We deserved a happily ever after.
And I’d do everything in my power to ensure we got one.