Chapter Four
Kai
It’s several mornings after Ollie had unceremoniously escaped our first ‘family meeting’” rather abruptly. We’re all digging into a breakfast of fresh herbs and goat cheese omelets when Lo clears his throat.
“I’m taking Finn for a swim this evening,” Lo declares before taking a drink of apple juice.
Zola smiles, “Out to Misery Bay?”
Lo nods and I look to Ollie. She’s grinning. Her eyes are on Finnick, who looks surprised.
Ah, Lonan didn’t tell him. I bite down a smile. That tracks.
I’m glad Lonan is starting to connect with Finn.
The last four nights, since the construction of the monstrous bed in Lonan’s apartments, we’ve been sleeping—actually sleeping—together.
But with Ollie as a physical block. I’m not sure how Finn feels about me yet, but I can’t deny I’m drawn to him.
His protection of Ollie in the enemy camp, even though he had been terrified, had solidified my interest in him.
And when he, and Ollie, had allowed me to play with them.
.. well, now we just need Lonan to get on the same page.
“I’m heading to speak with Fane at the training center,” I say, pushing my plate away as I stand.
“May I come with, General? I’d like to see the space and also chat with the guards that came with me,” Zola asks, not at all cowed by the look I level at her.
“If you wish.”
Zola smiles, her warm cheeks crinkling. She looks nothing like the woman I considered my mother, Aunt Mia—who was Lonan’s birth mother—but she gives off a motherly vibe. I dislike it on principle, though I know logically she’s probably a good-hearted Fae. I sigh inwardly. I’ll attempt to be nice.
Tazi smiles, “Zola, will you join us too, for girls’ night?”
Lilac rubs at her temples before muttering, “Rosie is excited.”
“I’d love to,” Zola says, smiling.
“Great!” Tazi exclaims. “We’re going to the Fiddle and we’re gonna get lit!”
The groan that escapes Lilac makes the entire table laugh.
“AFTERNOON TEA” AS OLEANDER has been calling it, happens between lunch and dinner, and I wouldn’t admit it to her, but I enjoy it.
Today, as we all enjoy a hard cider, compliments of Cook, I can’t keep my mind out of the gutter.
I consider myself fairly disciplined when it comes to such things.
I can’t lead an army if I can’t stop thinking about where my dick isn’t, so I compartmentalize like a pro.
Normally. But surrounded by three gorgeous Fae, two of whom are my mates.
.. well. It’s doing things to me. I feel absolutely feral.
“I better get going,” Finn says as he stands. I yank my gaze forcibly from his pants. “Faust and I are constructing some target dummies for training the griffons this afternoon.”
Ollie smiles, standing to kiss him goodbye. “Have fun, husband.” She smiles. “See you at dinner.”
Lonan stands as Finn hits the stairs, sweeping Ollie into an embrace. He kisses her deeply, his tongue in her mouth. She lets out a tiny pleasure sound and I’m suddenly rock-hard. Fuck.
She kisses me quickly and heads off. At that Lonan crosses to me and he repeats the move he did to Ollie, kissing me forcibly. I thrust my hips into his. He pulls back and arches an eyebrow. “Needy, flame?”
I nod and dip my head to rest on his shoulder.
“Everyone’s energy is getting to me too,” he says softly, “Our bond lines feel stronger, and Ollie is a horny little beast all the time, I can feel it.”
I grunt.
“Take that out on Ollie. She needs it.”
I nod, seeing the wisdom in it. I kiss his forehead and turn, hurrying after Ollie with an idea for one of these fall evenings.
OLLIE HAD BEEN AMENABLE to my suggestion. I had proposed the next evening and she had happily agreed.
Now, out in the woods as the light is starting to fade, I rub my hands up and down her arms.
“Sure about this, baby?” But I’m grinning at her.
She quirks a smile and tugs her hood up over her white hair, tying it firmly under her chin. “You’ll never catch me, Kai, I’m an earth.”
I growl, loving the challenge. I stretch, eyes taking in the dim late afternoon, clouds across the sky. “If I catch you, princess, I fuck you. I’ll give you three minutes.”
She slips down the small footpath into the woods without a second glance. As I stand, counting down in my head, I readjust my cock. I can’t very well stalk her down with a raging erection.
I start down the path silently, jogging just for a minute, before stopping and listening. The leaves are mostly on the ground and my eyes scan for something upturned, out of place.
“Ohhh princess,” I call, “Come out and play, my love.”
I walk stealthily, senses on high alert. Suddenly, I see a few leaves, damp on top; they had been disrupted recently. Got her.
I grin and step off the path to follow them. My footsteps fall with crunching sounds now, but it’s alright. I don’t need silence to catch her.
I study the forest, the sound of birdsong, the fresh air, the rattle of the leaves still on the trees. A stick snaps, far to my left. I bolt towards it, hoping my greater speed will overcome Ollie. With her link to the trees, she has an upper hand.
But I’ve been a general for Misery’s Militia for decades, and before that, lived in the forest north of the Gaeba ruins for years. And before that, I was trained by our fathers, two incredible warriors and huntsmen.
I’ll catch her. It might take a bit, but I’ll get her.
I freeze, looking and listening again. Silence.
I stand, waiting. After a few moments, I start to stalk forwards again, looking for signs of my mate. When I enter a small ring of young evergreens, I drop down on my haunches, forearms resting on my thighs, and wait. Hopefully, I’m far enough from any mother trees to rat me out to Ollie.
Time passes. I turn my face slowly, peering out from between the trees.
I’m enjoying the crisp fall air and the sunlight shimmering through the leaves.
Finally, there’s another snap and this time I freeze, silently searching.
And as I turn, I catch a glimpse of her cloak snapping around a large oak.
Mine.
I stand and sprint after her. My heart pounds, adrenaline flowing and making my legs move fast. I see her as I clear the oak, my feet hitting the ground rhythmically. I grin as I place a hand on a fallen tree and vault it, cutting her lead.
She flicks a glance over her shoulder, white hair loose and cheeks pinked. Her big eyes are wide and I can feel her excitement through the bond.
Mine.
She dodges, trying to trick me, but her muscles convey her intentions so I veer to the right as I run, feet crunching the dry leaves faster and faster as my legs pump. Her cloak flaps as she runs and I reach out, snagging it.
As soon as I see her falter, I let go, not wanting to choke her.
I grab her around the waist, taking us to the ground.
I roll as we fall, making sure I take the brunt of the landing, Ollie on top of me, shrieking like a banshee.
But her energy is exhilarated. I continue the roll, partially to dissipate the energy of the fall, and partially to pin Ollie under me.
“Caught you princess,” I purr in her ear as her yells turn to whimpers. I grab her cloak, yanking it from under me. She squirms. My pulse pounds in my ears as I reach under me, tugging her skirts up.
“Ready for it, baby? I’m so fucking hard for you.”
My mate whimpers again and pushes her hips up, quite happy to be caught.
I start to undo my belt when I am suddenly, inexplicably thrown sideways, pain burning through my shoulder.
I roll as a force hits me again, daggers digging into my side. I scramble to my feet, pulling my short sword as I drop into a crouch, my eyes flicking to Ollie, worried about her safety. My eyes turn to take in the threat even as Ollie gasps.
“Vale!” she yells.
The man in front of me has pale blue skin and white hair that brushes his shoulders.
Markings in a darker blue cover much of what I can see of his flesh.
He’s snarling, and his fingers end in large claws.
But what is more surprising are his wings.
Large, deep blue wings covered in scales, twice his height, with a cruel talon on the joint.
He leaps at me, eyes furious.
I pull heat, a ball of fire appearing in my left hand. I twist, sword unsheathed and arching as I raise my left and let my magic fly.
“Kai, no!” Ollie screams, terrified. “Don’t hurt him! Vale, stop! Don’t hurt him!”
I pull my magic back, confused, but the pain in my mate’s words, the sincerity... my body reacted without much thought.
Apparently, my mate’s plea affects this man too. She runs between us, hands out, hair mussed and eyes wild.
“Please,” she begs, eyes on me first, then him.
As her head pivots between us, I glare at him, taking in his loose brown pants and drapey, open sweater. My brain finally registers what she said.
Vale. Vale, the dragon connected to Narisa’s Clan in Guivre Shores. Her ex.
My hackles rise, immediately ready, again, to kill this man, pulling magic to me once more.
“Kai,” Ollie pleads, grabbing my left arm and tugging it down.
“You know him, star?” this Vale demands, voice outraged. “I thought...”
“Yes, of course, you idiot!” Her head spins to him. Her face is soft despite her rough words. “This is my mate. Do not harm each other.” She demands.
“Your... mate?” he asks, clearly flummoxed, even as I beam evilly.
He strides forwards, pushes Ollie carefully, but firmly, to the side before grabbing my collar, his blue wings spread wide and high.
“You would do this? You would do this to her, knowing her background?”
He’s furious, indignant, barely contained.
My eyes find Ollie, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Your background?”
Her eyes flash sorrow quickly replaced by fear and anger. “Don’t, Vale.”
But at the same moment, Vale spits, “The rapes.”
There’s a pounding in my ears. My vision blacks around the edges, out-of-control rage held back by only the deep sorrow I’m feeling.
“Rapes, baby?”