Chapter 37
The fabric of the dress, the flowy material, shimmering in soft silver and pearlescent hues, like the memory of Malakai’s angelic shell was turned into a dress. It was absolutely beautiful.
Suddenly Damien’s arms slid around me from behind, his presence anchoring me.
He pressed a trail of kisses along my hair.
I gripped his face, holding it near me. Just us at that moment, gazing into the mirror.
“We should leave for dinner now…” he murmured against my ear, stroking his thumbs over the fabric.
“Although I’d give anything to keep you hidden from my brother and Xavier… and do it all again.”
My cheeks flushed at the thought, at the tension still flowing inside my veins. The way I was positioned in front of him as he had used his ice cubes.
Hand in hand, we made our way through the hallways of the castle, the candlelight flickering yellow-golden behind the shapes of tents. Every step I took in that gown, beside one of my mates, felt like walking even deeper into the right version of myself. The version I was always meant to be.
When we reached the dining room, Xavier was already there, leaning casually against the edge of the long table, his eyes raking over me as if I were the only thing in the room worth looking at.
He wore the same red-lace blouse with puff shoulders he used to wear when I saw him after I woke up in Carnivalland and it made me realize how much time had passed.
I’d never known that my life, so full of despair and sadness, could ever be transformed into something this wonderful.
That the guardian I’d listened to in my sleep was real and was bonded to me.
My gaze drifted over to Malakai, who stood near the balcony, dressed in a white shirt and white pants.
The moonlight caught the sheen of his white hair and then his gaze landed on me.
It made me feel warm, almost as if every single inch of my skin started burning up under his gaze.
“Look at you,” Malakai stated, drifting toward me, his wings stroking above my dress. “You’re so beautiful, my love.” His words were nothing more than a whisper and yet every word made me feel treasured and cared for.
“She is a true goddess in starlight,” Xavier stated, taking my hand in his.
“We should eat dinner… before I decide to skip it entirely,” he added, leading me to my seat. I gasped at his bluntness, my gaze drifting over to Malakai and Damien who were taking their places on either side of me.
Damien filled my glass up with water while Xavier put food on my plate—not that I couldn’t do it myself. But Xavier insisted on doing it for me, to make sure I was taken care of and would not just pick the sweet stuff to fill my stomach.
Xavier tore a piece of bread, putting it on my plate, his eyes never leaving mine. “So, love—” his voice amused, “—have you been well fed tonight?”
I choked on my drink, because I knew he wasn’t talking about food at all.
“Excuse me?”
Damien was leaning back in his chair, lips twitching, clearly enjoying the moment far too much. They were really messing with us.
“Oh my god,” I muttered, hiding my face behind my glass.
Malakai smirked, setting his fork down. “It was weird finding out about your ice cube kinks, brother.”
Damien’s face reddened as much as mine.
“What kinks?” Sparrow’s voice echoed through the room. All of our gazes were on him and Nathaniel, as they stepped in, taking their places at the table.
Xavier’s gaze wandered down to his brother.
“Well… as I knocked at Damien’s door an hour ago, he traumatized me with the sight of using ice cubes and honey on our precious love,” Xavier replied.
Was this now turning into some brotherly discussion about sex?
“I understand,” Sparrow mused. “That’s why I’ve listened to a symphony of moans in the room of our mostly silent sea-dragon.”
“Fuck you,” Damien said, but the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth betrayed his amusement. “And since when did you knock Xavier?”
Xavier smiled, lifting his glass of wine and taking a sip, not responding to Damien’s question.
“Don’t pretend you’re any better, Xavier,” Sparrow commented, his voice low as he leaned over to pour himself another glass. “You would have done the exact same, maybe not with honey. But I’d bet you have already used your shadows on her.”
“Sparrow!” I gasped, nearly dropping my glass. Since when did my sex life become some sort of open show?
Xavier looked downright betrayed at Sparrow. “Well… don’t be jealous. Just because you don’t have any shadows for pleasing Nathaniel.”
“I don’t need any shadows… my cock is enough,” he replied. Nathaniel was getting just as embarrassed as me. “I spent hours worshipping him like my little golden prince in my bathroom last—”
“Sparrow,” Nathaniel interrupted him, his hands firmly gripping his shoulder to make him look up to him.
I couldn’t speak. My face was burning up. I guess it was time to go back into my little Wonderland portal… all alone, by myself. So, I could eat the entire cake and listen to the sweet lullaby of my little white rabbit carousel.
“Okay… okay.” Sparrow held out his hands. “Nathaniel and I are going to Pixies Moondust Roastery, anyone want to come?”
“I can’t believe that Marielle’s wife lets you inside again after the little accident…” Xavier replied with a smirk.
What accident were they talking about?
“She saw us only once…” Sparrow muttered with a smirk. “And I bet she liked what she saw. No one, not even a girl’s girl could reject the sight of a siren man,” he said, before he took Nathaniel’s hand, leading him out of the dining room.
My gaze followed after them both. Sparrow seemed so carefree, especially when he was with Nathaniel. It reminded me so much of how I felt since I came here, since I was surrounded by Damien, Xavier and Malakai.
I couldn’t help but notice how the latter’s gaze lingered on me, like he was trying to piece something together but didn’t want to say it aloud.
“Is everything okay?” he asked softly, reaching out for my hand. My eyes flicked to our intertwined hands. A physical reminder of our bond and the love we shared.
“Yes.” He smiled and leaned in, brushing a trail of kisses along my temple and down to my ear causing me to blush.
“I’m very jealous of my little brother,” he murmured in my ear, his voice a hot whisper that sent a shiver racing down my spine.
“Why?” I asked, looking up at him.
“He got this kinky, naughty version of you.” As soon as the words slipped his lips, I froze.
I never thought Malakai would call me that, out of all my mates he was the most distant one and he was the most generous one when we were intimate.
I knew that it had to do with his trauma, the fear of getting drowned again in terrible memories.
But now… there was something in his voice that hadn’t been there before.
A boldness, a hunger which reminded me so much of Xavier.
I turned toward him, my fingers brushing against his beautiful soft face, searching for any kind of expression, already half-expecting him to pull away like he used to when he showed too much intimacy in front of others, but he didn’t.
His fingers wrapped around mine, steady and warm.
And in his eyes, I felt it… I perceived something dark coming to the surface. Was this lust?
“What do you mean?”
“Xavier described how your delicious body was dripping in honey. Ice cubes in both of your holes when you and my brother fucked? Baby, what kind of things are you into and you haven’t told me yet?”
I flushed, the heat rising to my cheeks as I buried my face in his chest, trying to hide the wicked smile tugging at my lips. Malakai chuckled, pressing soft kisses against my skin.
“What is going on between you two?” Damien asked, raising an eyebrow.
Malakai smirked without taking his eyes off me. “Let’s just say… some things my baby brother and I don’t need to spell out in front of you.”
I turned even redder, heat blooming under my skin as the implication hung thick in the air.
“And,” Malakai added, tilting his head slightly toward Damien with a smirk, “just like you’re not sharing the messy little things you do with her…”
Xavier’s chuckling filled the room, clearly entertained and amused by the little discussion between Malakai and Damien.
“You’re insufferable, brother,” Damien replied, but it was clear that he was amused.
“And yet, you love me,” Malakai teased, trying to bring back a little composure even though my heart was still racing.
Seeing Damien and Malakai together just made me realize how much they had missed each other, a bond of brothers. Who knew what they both had been through all their lives and they had been separated all these years?
Damien gave me a sly smile, his voice smooth. “True, but especially Gwendolyn. She is my favorite in this room.”
“Isn’t she for us all?” Xavier asked and pressed a kiss on my wrist.
We all continued our dinner, the silence almost unbearable.
After a while, Malakai suddenly leaned back again, his breath close against my skin. “If you’re ever open to… experiments,” he murmured against my ear, “just say the word. I have ideas, things far rougher than whatever sweet little fantasies my baby brother’s trying to impress you with.”
His tone was teasing, but I could feel the tension beneath it, the need of possessing me as he glanced in Xavier and Damien’s direction.
And suddenly, I understood.
This wasn’t just playful dominance. It was jealousy.
I remembered what they all told me about the bonds of angels.
Their connections are almost bordering on obsession, as it went so deep that they’d never even think of touching someone who wasn’t their destined mate.
Which meant every time he touched me… every time he yielded… it wasn’t just desire. It was devotion.