Chapter 11 #2
Tears prick at my eyes, and a lump forms in my throat.
This can’t be real, can it? When I watched Blake and her mates become a family, I knew that’s what I wanted, but I never thought I’d actually get it.
This whole time, I guess I’ve sort of thought my so-called mates would eventually grow tired of me.
I mean, I am after all, prophesized to destroy them.
Or at least, the prophecy has warned them to stay away from me.
But there’s no denying the emotion in Raith’s eyes, and the tenderness in Galen’s touch.
Unable to form words, I lean forward, pressing my lips against Raith’s.
Like this was the sign he was waiting for, he instantly deepens the kiss, almost like he’s desperate for my touch.
Like he needs me, more than anything. I kiss him back just as hard, moaning as his tongue strokes against mine, and I feel myself spiraling deeper.
I tell myself falling for them is a bad idea.
That whatever happens, this isn’t going to end well for us, but I’m realizing that whatever secrets my past holds, and no matter what warnings the prophecy is singing, I’m helpless against these men.
I wonder if by the end, we might just ruin each other.
Galen’s hard cock presses against my back under the water, and I squirm on his lap.
“If they’d seriously harmed you, the devastation we would have caused would have been significant. But if you’d been taken from us…this world would not have survived our wrath,” Galen whispers in a tortured voice against my ear before pressing a kiss to my neck. “Risking you was a terrible idea.”
Well, holy hot cakes. I think I just came a little. I shiver, bumps prickling over my skin.
“I bet you say that to all the ladies,” I whisper, intending it to sound like a joke, but the words come out weak.
Raith pulls back to say, “Only to the one who reminds us this life is worth livin’.”
My heart stutters, feeling like it’s about to explode.
Galen’s cock is still prodding at my back, and the dark water laps around my collarbone.
I wriggle against my mate, rubbing my ass against his length, and he groans.
His shadows move through the water, pulling my legs further apart, and when Raith starts kissing me again, I moan into his mouth.
This is so much better than feeling paralyzed.
Galen’s and Raith’s scents are intoxicating as they mix together, and I relax as I breathe them in. Breaking the kiss, Raith kisses a path down my jaw, and along my neck. His shadows flick at my breasts under the water, and I gasp at the icy sensation tugging on my nipples.
Galen’s fingers move, swiping along my center, and I whimper as he touches me. He slides his fingers up and down, teasing me as Raith torments my nipples, working me into a panting mess.
When Galen moves his fingers to tease my clit, I’m helpless to stop the release that rushes at me. The sensation crashes through my body, and I cry out as pleasure makes my toes curl.
“Better?” Raith asks me.
I bite my bottom lip, breathing heavily. “A little,” I reply with a dark grin. Reaching around, I rub my hand against Galen’s cock. It’s huge and admittedly, intimidating, with ridges that run along the length.
I expect Galen to chuckle but not give me more.
The guys have been teasing me like this for days.
They’ll let me touch them, but none of them have actually fucked me.
Which isn’t surprising, because they’re worried about sealing the fated mates bond.
Even though bonding requires all mates to be present, I understand why they’re hesitant.
But this time, Galen lifts me, teasing my entrance with his cock.
Raith helps, the pair of them holding me in place, the men working in tandem.
“I thought you’d agreed not to,” I croak, sucking in a shuddering breath, still recovering from my orgasm.
“Fuck Knox,” Raith says gruffly.
“You’re our mate,” Galen drawls. “We both know it, and Knox does, too. As long as the four of us aren’t with you at the same time, we won’t be bonded.
” Anticipation thrums through me, slick heat flooding between my legs, and I gasp when Galen slides the tip of his large cock inside me. Oh, freaking hell.
Raith’s eyes are hooded with desire as he helps to hold me. I wiggle my hips, trying to push more of Galen’s cock inside me, but both men hold me firmly.
“Careful, sunshine,” Raith chuckles. “The last thing we want is for Galen to hurt you.”
He has a point. Even now with only the tip, there’s a slight burning sensation. I have no idea if I’m a virgin, but even if I’m not, Galen’s equipment is clearly bigger than what I’m used to receiving. Not that I’m intending to let that stop me.
Nothing to it, girl, I say, giving my vagina a pep talk. I mean, he’s our mate, right? Lady Fate wouldn’t match us to men we couldn’t handle. Okay, so I don’t know if Lady Fate really takes into account the compatibility of cock and vagina sizes when matching us, but I’d like to think she does.
“Are you sure you want this, treasure?” Galen asks, holding me still.
I turn my head to the side. “More,” I rasp. “Let me feel you.”
That’s all Galen needs to hear.
He takes it slow at first, sliding more of his cock inside me each time until he’s buried deep and groaning my name.
I gasp at the sheer size of him. The burning sensation eases as his cock presses against my inner walls, and then it’s all pleasure as he holds me, pushing himself in and out of me.
Stretching me to accommodate him. My top half is higher out of the water now that Galen has me better positioned, and Raith moves, sucking on one breast, while squeezing the other one.
He rubs his thumb over my nipple, and I whimper at the sensation.
“You all right, sunshine?” Raith pauses to ask me. I get the feeling that all I’d have to do is say ‘no’ and they’d stop in an instant. But I don’t want that. I don’t think I could ever get enough of these men, and knowing that is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
“Yes,” I rasp, closing my eyes and moaning.
Chuckling, Raith goes back to teasing my breasts.
I reach down, grabbing Raith’s cock, and he lets out a low, throaty sound as I grip him and start stroking in time to Galen’s thrusts. God, I can feel every last ridge and bump of his cock. It’s all too much.
Before long, I’m crying out as Galen slams into me over and over, making me feel every damn thing and loving every second of it. Because he is mine. They both are.
Raith’s shadows move to my clit, brushing ice cold against the sensitive nub, and I scream as I shatter, the release more intense than anything the guys have made me experience before.
Black shadows burst from me, filling the air like tentacles spreading out in all directions, and agony spears my chest. As quickly as they come, my shadows disappear like clouds of smoke blown away by the wind.
“Fuck, sunshine,” Raith curses, his cock jerking in my hold before he comes, and Galen thrusts into me one more time, groaning as he spills his warmth inside me.
The three of us shudder against each other, and when we stop jerking, Galen kisses the side of my head tenderly.
“Did you see that?” I ask, not sure if I’d imagined the shadows. Is it possible to hallucinate during an orgasm?
“See what, little shadow?” Galen purrs like a satisfied predator.
“I could have sworn there were…I don’t know…shadows?” I say through panting breaths.
Raith chuckles and kisses my hair. “Yeah. Looks like your shadow powers are growin’ stronger.”
Frowning, I relax against Galen’s chest, not sure if that’s a good thing.
Galen smiles, breathing me in. “You, treasure, are a gift we must protect.”
“At all costs,” Raith agrees.
When we’re clean and dry, the guys seem to make it their personal mission to stuff me with food until I can’t handle another mouthful.
Then, taking my hand, Galen leads us to his room rather than Thane’s.
My gaze greedily takes in the rows of bookshelves lining the walls, and I hum contentedly as we settle onto his black silk sheets.
I press my head against a silky pillow as Galen traces light circles on my stomach, and Raith presses close on my other side.
By all accounts, I should be stupidly happy.
I’m surrounded by books and being doted on by two of my incredibly sexy shadow daddy mates, but…
an unsettling feeling churns inside me, dimming the warmth in my chest.
Galen is the first to notice it, and he studies me carefully, his glittering gaze roving over my face. “Mmm what’s bothering you? Do you need more gorgeous books, mate?”
I think of the special edition he’s already gifted me, and I grin. “I mean, you can never have enough books.”
Raith looks thoughtful before he gives me a knowing look and waggles his brows at me. “Nah, I know what it is. Knew I should’ve gone first. Don’t worry, sunshine, mine’s bigger.”
It takes me a moment to realize he’s talking about his cock and not a book. I snort. “I’m well aware how big both you and Galen are, and I think we all know that’s not the problem.”
Raith’s grin grows wider. “You sure? How ’bout we test that theory?
” He brushes his fingers along my bare thigh, and I shiver, desire already going through me again.
I’m tempted. More than tempted actually, but exhaustion weighs on me, and the desire doesn’t stop the feeling of uncertainty roiling inside me.
“I’m serious,” Galen prompts, his gaze still focused on my face. “Tell us what’s the matter. Is it the nemins? They can’t reach you in here, little mate. Rest assured, Knox and Thane have them secured and unable to do harm. Not even to your friends.”
“Well, that is until they’re let loose durin’ the games,” Raith says with a dark laugh.
Galen shoots him a chastising look, and Raith clears his throat, silencing his laughter.
A part of me wants to bring up the nemins.
To really understand what the guys intend to do with them, but they’re not the reason why I feel so unsettled right now.
I sigh heavily. I think about the shadows I saw when I was with Galen and Raith.
About the strange rippling of my skin that happened during the obstacle course, and the chaotic power I keep feeling building inside me anytime I’m in danger.
And then there’s the fact I can speak the nemins’ language.
I know Galen isn’t going to let this go, so I explain, “It’s just… what if the prophecy is right?”
Galen’s brows lift, and Raith’s hand stills on my thigh.
I worry my bottom lip. “I mean, it says you should beware of your fated mate. That’s pretty clear.
I recite the prophecy: When the time comes to close the fold, four must stand against the bitter cold.
Only one can make you break, beware the bond of your beloved mate.
” I lick my lips nervously. “I don’t want to hurt any of you, and I don’t want to be the reason we lose the war.
What if there’s a good reason behind why I can’t control my shadow magic very well?
What if, I really am dangerous, and everyone’s safer if I can never access my magic properly?
” My chest feels heavy and hollow when I say it out loud.
Truthfully, I don’t exactly feel very powerful right now, but I can’t deny that strange things have been happening, and the idea that I really could be the reason the allied realms fall terrifies me.
I think of Blake and her mates in the demon realm.
Of all the other friends I’ve made over the years, and I hate the idea that I could be the reason anyone suffers.
Galen holds my gaze as he replies simply, “You need your shadow powers to survive the games. Let’s just focus on that for now.”
“But this is so much bigger than the games,” I protest. “I mean, who cares—”
“We care,” Raith rumbles, interrupting me. He’s gripping my thigh possessively now, and I can’t help but lean into him.
“You don’t understand, Shade,” Galen says, his voice level. “The four of us, Thane, Knox, Raith, and myself, are destined to close the fold that ties this realm to that of the Xalgrith’s. It’s the only way we will ever be able to end this war.”
“Exactly,” I agree. “I understand that.”
“No,” Galen says, shaking his head. “What you need to understand is that you’re our fated mate, and if you don’t survive the games, we won’t have to worry about closing the fold.
We’ve lost a mate before, and then it was only Knox and Raith who had a connection with her and for a short time.
Now that we have you…I’m realizing that it’s your death that would break us.
” He says it so seriously, so calmly, that all I can do is stare at him as he speaks, and the breath rushes from my lungs.
“So if you die, the war will likely still be lost,” Raith rumbles. “It might even be the cause. Better that you live and we just try not to bond.”
I swallow hard. “You’re making it sound simple.”
“That’s because it is,” Raith replies, grinning. “I’m pretty sure we can make it work. Let’s just make sure you’re not gettin’ busy with all four of us touchin’ at the same time. Somethin’ tells me given Knox’s view on things, we don’t have to worry about that any time soon.”
My stomach twists, and Galen moves until I’m well and truly sandwiched between him and Raith.
“So like I said, let’s focus on strengthening your power, shall we?” Galen drawls, dragging his fingers through my hair and massaging my scalp.
I give him a slow nod, because I’m pretty sure there’s no arguing. I just hope he’s right.