2. Aftercare
2
AFTERCARE
JADE
“ A re you a supe?” Arran and Flint echo Calder’s question.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her, I was in the middle of mating so I told her to bugger off.” I bite my lip, wondering what I am. “Do you think that might be why you all are attracted to me? Because I’m not really a witch?”
“You’re a witch,” Maxum says with certainty. “However, it appears you might have something extra. But just so you know, that’s not why we like you.”
“But—” I argue.
“No. Stop trying to find reasons we don’t just like you for you,” Maxum says with his bossy tone.
“Okay…” I rub a hand over my face, feeling self-conscious. “I’m not usually this insecure, but?—”
“Rob made you feel worthless,” Calder interrupts with no malice. Damn, this guy is hitting the bullseye with all his comments tonight.
“Yeah. You’re right.” Magically suppressed and conscious memories trickle back. “He did say horrible things to me about my body and personality, especially toward the end. I now remember when he had me under his hypnosis spell to channel spirits, that also he used that time to degrade me. He tried to make me feel like I was unlovable. Probably so he could control me.”
“But it didn’t work, not completely,” Calder reminds me with a sympathetic smile. It surprises me that he’s saying such supportive words. He isn’t exactly my biggest fan. “You broke up with him. That takes strength when you’re being manipulated and beaten down on all levels.”
Maxum cups my face with his large hand. “He’s correct. You’re strong. Stronger than they know how to control. I believe those witches and warlocks are afraid of you.”
“Of me? Why?” I ask.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Together.” Maxum’s gaze turns to my hair, his fingers comb through the strands. “Your hair… it’s silver.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I have gray hair.”
“No. Silver . Like an elf might have,” Arran agrees and then stares into my widening eyes. “And your irises… they’re glowing green.”
I need to see this.
“Jade green,” Flint adds. “Like the beautiful, powerful stone.”
“They are no longer hazel.” Maxum touches my hair reverently again. “Silver. That spell broke whatever was hiding your more obvious fae traits.”
“We’ll figure it out, but first we should bring our sweet witch inside. It’s cold out here,” Flint says and picks me up, clutching me to his chest. He braces the back of my neck with his large hand and it feels like polished marble. His thumb skims the bottom of my jaw, and he whispers in my ear, “Are you sure you’re alright?”
I give my protective gargoyle a kiss on the lips. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’m sore between the legs from the knotting, and I have some minor scrapes from tree branches and Serky’s claws, but nothing serious.”
Flint gently places me on the bed and makes me lie back. He pulls the blanket off me and inspects my body for the injuries. His smooth, thick fingers trace over my collarbone, over my breasts and stomach, to my thighs. I’m covered in drying mud and debris from when Arran’s berserker claimed me and fucked me into the ground.
Flint pulls another twig from my hair.
Without asking, he spreads me wide for Arran and Maxum to inspect my abused pussy, running a thick finger over my center. “The werewolf made a mess of you.”
Holy Geezelbub . Does this gargoyle know how hot he is?
Calder hangs back behind the partition in the living area and sits on the couch out there. He wants no part in this. Not yet. Maybe not ever. No. He only longs for the trapped ghost inside me, his former beloved, Osen. I shouldn’t be greedy, but I want him to be with me, too.
“Eyes on me… Stay with us, my mate,” Flint says as he strokes my thighs. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s been reading my books for spicy inspiration. But I realize he’s sensed with our budding mate bond my wandering thoughts about Calder.
Our gazes lock, and I’m drawn into his pale gray eyes.
“All in good time,” he whispers, reading my mind.
“Arran, your tongue might soothe her cuts now that you’re bonded,” Maxum suggests.
Arran snarls at Maxum, nudging both males out of his way. “I planned on taking care of my mate. Thank you very fucking much. I came back here to do just that.” My wolf shifter picks me up and carries me into the tiny bathroom in our hideaway cabin.
I’m thankful Amira took us in and offered us this haven, but I miss Maxum’s beautiful lake house and his spacious luxury showers.
Arran turns on the water to warm it up and presses his forehead to mine. “Goddess, I can barely stand not touching you. I was ready to rip Flint apart for carrying you inside.”
I clasp his cheeks. “Will you have a hard time, then? Me being with them?”
“I think it’s only since the claiming bond is still settling. As soon as it solidifies, I should be fine.” He looks me in the eye and strokes my cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t keep you from your other loves.”
I smile sadly. I’m happy to hear this, but also worried about how he feels about the arrangement. “Are you sure you’re okay with sharing me?”
“As Arran, yes. I mean, would I prefer to keep you all to myself? Fuck, yes, I would. But I see how you are with them, especially what you did for Flint.” He whispers, his lips brushing over the shell of my ear, “And how you have already healed something in Calder.”
I frown, worried about how Calder will handle things now that I have officially bonded with Arran and I’m forming a bond with Flint and Maxum. They are his people, his pack. Then I came along and turned his world upside down. Although I suppose his world was already screwed up when Osen died just before I stumbled into the picture.
My thoughts are brought back to my new mate when Arran licks over his mating bite.
Holy macaroons . The sensation travels like a lightning bolt directly to my clit. I shiver and press into his firm, naked body.
“I’d love to rut you again, but I’m worried that you won’t be able to take me so soon. You aren’t a wolf shifter. You weren’t made for taking knots.”
“Does it bother you that I’m not a shifter?”
“Not at all. Actually, I’m a bit surprised how well you took my knot and how rough… Serky was.” He gives me another seductive kiss that makes me tremble with arousal. “But if you have supe blood, perhaps that’s why it feels so natural for you to be with us.”
“What if I’m some sort of freak supe-witch hybrid?”
“Then I will love and protect you just as much.” He shrugs playfully. “And apparently, we love freaky.”
I release a heavy breath, feeling less stressed about my mysterious background. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one. I stalked you and tricked you into believing I was a dog. I never thought you would forgive that lie.”
“I don’t blame you for protecting your pack. You didn’t know if you could trust a witch taking sneaky pics of you.”
“I’m glad you were a bit of a perv and horrible at being sneaky.” Arran chuckles and lifts me into the shower now that the water is warm.
He runs his fingers over my neck, prompting me to ask, “Do I need to bite you now to complete the mate bond? Or is that not how it works in the real magical world?”
The corners of his lips pull down ever so slightly. “You can try to bite me, but I doubt it will do anything more for our bond because you aren’t a shifter.”
It doesn’t matter that he says it’s not a big deal. I wish I could offer him what his kind can—the way I sense he wants it to be.
Arran lifts my chin with his finger and makes me look into his eyes. “I love you, Jade. You’re all I need.”
“Okay.” I hate that I’m so worried, but they are all so special to me, and I don’t want to disappoint them.
Osen’s voice breaks through my barrier I’ve learned to create to block him out. “Just be you, and you won’t disappoint them. They picked you because you’re perfect the way you are. You don’t need to change or be more. You just need to remember the confident version of yourself before Rob hurt you,” Osen speaks in my mind, then pauses. “We will help you get there.”
I take a deep breath. I used to be more confident before Rob the Worm infiltrated my mind.
“You want to help me?” I ask.
“As best I can… considering what I am.”
“You feel stronger,” I say, trying to change the subject. His kind offer makes me want to leak water from my eyes (as Flint might say), and I don’t want to get emotional over something he’s said since I’m still irritated with him.
“Your mating powered me up. But we can talk more later. I’ll let you have your time with Arran now.” He pauses and I feel the tension inside me brewing. “We must talk about the situation with your grandmother.”
“Okay.” I send him a mental wave goodnight to let him know I appreciate his support and care.
“Talking with Osen?” Arran asks.
“Uh, sorry.”
“It’s okay. I could see that you were somewhere else.”
“It’s weird to have your former friend and lover inside me, isn’t it?”
“It’s all weird, but it’s what it means to be with you.” Arran leaves a trail of kisses from my shoulder, up my neck to my mouth. Then he claims me with a fierce kiss. “For now, I’m going to hoard your attention, because to do otherwise might kill me.” Arran licks over the bite again, and I moan with need. “I need to be inside you again… soon.”