Chapter 54
Elira
We watched the tower collapse from the other side of Duskfall.
Caelen and Lacey had called in a couple of favours and found us a house on one of the hills overlooking the town. We had evacuated the surrounding areas, and Maddie had done what she could to stabilise it, but the tower had to fall.
And with it, the reign of Vael Arrowheart.
In my heart there was a warmth that could never exist while he still lived. And now he was dead, it was like the world was alive again.
I could still see him crawling towards me as the flesh melted from his bones. I had never felt so calm.
He was dead.
Vael was dead. And I could breathe again.
Duskfall was free. And so was I.
I rose slowly from the bed, the sheets warm with shared heat.
My fingertips brushed Slade’s face—solid, warm, real. Gods, I’d thought I’d lost him. A lump caught in my throat.
Beside him, Phoenix and Leo were tangled in the covers, their breathing steady, untroubled. For a long moment, I just stood there and stared.
They were here.
Alive.
After everything.
My lion. My ironheart. My fire.
And me—whole, for the first time in years.
Then Slade stirred, lashes fluttering.
“Hi,” I whispered.
His lips curled faintly. “Hi back.”
I leaned down and kissed him—soft and slow. He pulled me against him, his arms encircling me with the kind of strength I’d always known he had. Protective. Grounded. Mine.
His skin was warm beneath me—solid, sun-kissed, and alive. I slid my hands over the ridges of his abdomen, feeling the raw strength coiled just beneath the surface. His body was hard and real, a living answer to every nightmare I’d endured. Every breath against my throat sent sparks down my spine.
I straddled him slowly, letting the thin fabric of my nightgown become a barrier of torment between us. The heat of him pressed against my core—thick, ready—and I shivered.
He groaned softly, a low sound deep in his chest, and I felt it echo through me. “We’ll wake the others,” he murmured, lips grazing the hollow of my neck.
“I don’t care,” I whispered, biting gently at his earlobe. “Do you?”
His answer came not in words, but in the sudden way his hands gripped my hips—possessive, reverent.
He slid beneath the hem of my gown, calloused palms running over the backs of my thighs, up to the curve of my waist. Like he was memorizing every inch.
Like this might vanish if he didn’t map it properly.
“Take this off,” he growled, voice rough with need.
I obeyed without hesitation, the gown fluttering to the floor like a sigh.
He stared up at me for a beat, like I was something sacred. Then his mouth claimed me—tongue tracing the peak of one breast, then the other, lips tugging with just enough pressure to make my breath catch. Fire crackled under my skin, my body arching into him on instinct.
His stubble scraped against my sensitive skin as he trailed kisses lower, lower—every inch he worshipped coaxing another ripple of pleasure. When he finally reached the apex of my thighs, I was already shaking.
And then—his tongue. Hot. Gentle. Expert.
I cried out, a strangled moan caught between pleasure and disbelief. My hand tangled in his hair, fingers clutching for grounding.
A chuckle sounded beside us.
Leo.
He lay half-covered in the sheets, golden hair a wild halo, one hand lazily wrapped around himself. “Now this,” he said, voice hoarse and amused, “is a view worth waking for.”
Slade didn’t stop.
He buried his face between my thighs with renewed focus, licking and sucking until my legs trembled. My eyes met Leo’s. I was flushed, panting—but unafraid.
“I need you too,” I whispered, barely audible.
That was all it took.
Leo crossed the space like a storm. His mouth was on mine, kissing me with the kind of hunger that made my knees weak. I reached for him instinctively, wrapping my hand around the hard length of him, stroking with slow purpose. His breath faltered, lips pulling from mine in a shaky groan.
“Flip her,” Slade said roughly from below.
Leo obeyed, easing me onto all fours like I was breakable—precious. He knelt in front of me, cock teasing the seam of my lips.
“Be a good girl,” he murmured, voice like velvet and danger.
“I was never a good girl,” I smirked, then took him in.
He gasped, head tipping back, fingers immediately sliding into my hair. I moved with intention—slow at first, then deeper, working him with my mouth, my tongue, my breath. Every technique Phoenix had taught me now used with wicked delight.
Behind me, Slade rose, hands firm on my hips. I felt him guide himself to my entrance—thick, hot—and I moaned around Leo’s length, the anticipation making me ache.
“You ready for me, beautiful?” Slade’s voice was wrecked—low and reverent.
I nodded, trembling. “Yes.”
He pushed inside slowly, inch by inch, letting me adjust to the stretch. My breath hitched, muscles tightening.
“You’re okay?” he asked, holding perfectly still.
“Keep going,” I hissed at the sharp pain, then swallowed Leo deeper in response.
Slade groaned, his control slipping as he slid fully into me. And then—he moved. Deep, slow strokes that sent shockwaves through me.
I was smouldering. Every nerve ending alight.
“She’s better than okay,” Leo rasped, sweat beading along his brow. He thrust gently into my mouth, matching Slade’s rhythm. “She’s perfect.”
Slade moved like a force of nature—possessive, careful, relentless. It wasn’t just pleasure. It was homecoming. Worship. A silent oath sealed in skin, breath, and motion.
Our bodies danced between tension and surrender. Every thrust, every gasp, every stroke was a promise: I’m here. I’m yours. I choose you.
I felt Leo start to shake. His rhythm faltered, breath ragged.
And then—release.
He groaned as he spilled into my mouth, my throat taking every drop. Slade gripped my hips tighter, thrusting harder, deeper—until the world split open. I shattered around him, sobbing his name against Leo’s skin.
Slade came with a curse and a cry, burying himself deep as he filled me. We collapsed in a tangled heap, limbs shaking, breath ragged.
And in the stillness, in the sweat and warmth and heartbeat against heartbeat—I felt whole.
Home.
I curled between them and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
“This what I get for sleeping in?” Phoenix muttered, voice rough with amusement. “Blue balls?”
I turned toward him, trailing a hand over Leo’s bare chest as I moved. Slade’s hand caught my thigh, firm but gentle—like he wasn’t ready to let me go.
“Hold on,” he murmured, grabbing a nearby shirt and cleaning me up with surprising tenderness.
Leo chuckled and placed his hands on my hips, stroking the curve of my backside lazily.
I leaned forward, letting my breasts press against Phoenix’s chest as I kissed the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, teasing. “Give me a few minutes and we’ll go again.”
Phoenix huffed a laugh, but the hunger in his eyes gave him away. “Make it one minute.”
The others laughed, soft and raw.
For the first time in too long, I didn’t feel broken.
I kissed Phoenix softly. “I love you.”
Then I turned to the others. “I love all of you.”
“We love you too,” Leo murmured, trailing his fingers down my spine before leaning in to nip my backside. “Never leave us again.”
I looked at Slade, my voice gentler. “That goes double for you.”
He smiled faintly, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, baby.”
I let out a breath. “I don’t want to be away from any of you. Not anymore. Never again.”
I glanced up at them, suddenly unsure. “Is that… okay?”
Leo chuckled, easing closer. “Better than okay.”
Phoenix pulled me against him, laying me flat on his chest. His hands moved slowly—up my back, over my waist, tracing familiar lines. But then they stilled.
“You know we’re going to have to talk about it,” he said softly.
“I know,” I replied, resting my chin on his sternum.
“Where is he, anyway?” Leo asked, stretching with a low groan.
“Outside,” Slade muttered.
“He’s been there all night.” My voice was quiet. “I can feel him.”
“Are you okay with that?” Phoenix asked.
I looked at him. “Are you?”
His eyes flickered, then turned away. “I don’t know.”
“How do we know Ashton hasn’t completely broken him?” Leo asked, his voice sharpening.
I didn’t answer right away. I looked at the door. The air felt heavier suddenly.
“We don’t,” I said. “We just have to trust.”
“I don’t trust him,” Slade said. His voice was low, steady. “Not yet. Maybe not ever again.”
“I know, grumpy bear.” I sighed, leaning back into the warmth of them all. “But I have to try.”
I sighed and stood, tugging Phoenix’s hand. “Come on. That’s your minute.”
He rose, eyes hooded, the front of his boxers doing nothing to hide his interest.
“Where are we going?” he asked, voice thick with amusement.
I leaned in, lips brushing his ear. “Shower. Thought you might want to help…”
Then, softer—wicked—“I’m feeling especially dirty.”
Behind us, Leo groaned into a pillow. “Unfeeling little witch.”
Slade muttered something that sounded like agreement.
Phoenix just grinned. “Happy to be of service.”