Chapter 13 #2
“I agree with you, mate. It has never made much sense. I suppose her focus is on saving the realms as a whole, rather than any individual creature. And now that the war has dragged on, I’m sure her view on this has only strengthened.”
“She wants to win the war no matter the cost,” I mumble, still feeling uneasy about it.
Trying not to dwell on it, I read for a while longer, not wanting to put the book down.
It’s funny, reading non-fiction has never interested me.
I mean, why would I read about the real world when I can read about faerie smut or possessive dragon shifters and escape into the pages?
But these journals are different, and this world is incredible.
There’s something about the way the oracle writes, too.
Something about the flow of his words and the emotion in his stories.
He’s not just listing the characteristics and habits of the creatures.
No, he talks about his relationship with them, like each of them is one of his friends.
Even though I’m mostly reading about predators with terrifying abilities, somehow I feel warm inside.
I might have joked about the journals giving me nightmares earlier, but truthfully, these stories don’t fill me with fear at all, though I know they should.
I’m almost through Volume Three when the pain hits again, more intense this time. I close my eyes, hunching as my stomach muscles cramp. Oh holy crap. Ouchie.
Galen’s hand that had been stroking my hair stills. “You can’t tell me this is nothing, treasure.”
“It’s not nothing,” I answer. “It’s just…
nothing I can’t handle.” Okay, so yeah I’m a liar, because I definitely can’t handle this.
The pain feels like someone is stabbing me in the stomach over and over.
The urge to bond rises in me, like an aching need that rides the undercurrent of my pain, but a part of me feels like I should hide it.
Because I’m worried about what will happen if I sleep with the guys and the pain doesn’t disappear.
The agony is clearly linked to my urge to bond with them, but bonding is out of the question.
So what will happen when simply being with them is no longer enough?
I won’t damn the realms, but I know my mates might. And that terrifies me.
Galen narrows his eyes at me. “How long has it been?”
I play dumb. “Since what?”
“Since you were last with Knox and Thane.”
I turn my head, trying to focus on his face, but the edges are blurry. The pain is making it hard to focus. Dammit. I know hoping it will go away on its own is foolish, but I pretend anyway. “You mean at lunch time?”
Galen’s lips brush against my ear, his hot breath making me shiver. “I mean, since they were last filling you and making you scream their names.”
Oh holy smut gods. Warmth gathers between my thighs, though if I’m honest, I’ve wanted Galen from the moment he sat me on his lap.
“Oh that,” I say, my cheeks heating. “I guess it depends on how long we’ve been down here. Twelve hours, maybe?” Another wave of agony goes through me, and my fingers curl tighter around the journal.
Galen gently plucks the book from my fingers and my phoenix’s egg from her sling, and he carefully uses his shadows to deposit them on the small table beside our chair.
He cups my cheek with his hand. “Even now you still don’t understand, do you?” His eyes bore into mine, searing me with their intensity.
“Understand what?” I ask breathlessly.
“That you’re ours, little shadow. You always will be. And we’ll do anything to keep you safe. That includes ensuring your comfort.” Our clothes conveniently disappear, and he slides his hand between my thighs, finding me ready for him.
Pleasure goes through me, instantly dulling the pain, and I lean back against his chest as he strokes through my wetness.
“Never keep your pain from me, mate. For I would do anything to keep you well,” he murmurs, his fingers driving me toward a release that my body so desperately craves.
I don’t tell him that’s what I’m afraid of.
That when it comes down to it, there will be no escaping the prophecy.
That I don’t want to be their weakness and the one who makes us lose the war.
I tell myself that seeing Professor Yevar hasn’t gotten to me, but I know it has.
He was a reminder of how big of a risk I am.
I hate feeling like I can’t even trust myself. Not even when I’m with the ones I love.
But pleasure drives those thoughts from my mind, and it feels so good to be with my mate. Even if we’re not bonded. It doesn’t take long before I’m tipping over that delicious edge, crying out Galen’s name, and I’ve barely stopped shuddering before I’m turning around and straddling Galen.
I whimper as I lower myself onto him, loving the way he stretches me. My body doesn’t have to shift for him, but I’m still incredibly full as he pushes against my walls. His shadows find my ass as I bounce on his cock, and I’m completely lost to him.
More.
I could never have enough of my mates. Could never tire of being with them and enjoying the way they make me feel.
But as Galen and I find our release together and the pain disappears again completely, that lingering fear comes back, the words of the prophecy haunting me.
Beware the bond of your beloved mate.