by Bailey, G.
That isn’t the end of it, though. Hunter, smirking against my inner thigh, continues the movements of his tongue on my clit, albeit more slowly this time, and I’ve hardly recovered from my first when a second, equally intense orgasm comes creeping up on me.
“You’re so beautiful,” Landon says, pressing his mouth to my collarbone.
Hunter hums in agreement against my clit, and that’s all it takes to make me come a second time. At last they have mercy on me, their hands caressing my bare flesh as I tremble from the aftershocks, the world around me a haze of relaxation and pleasure.
At last, the vampire shifter gets up and sits down next to me on the couch. “Not bad, Ash,” Landon pronounces.
“Not bad? I made her come twice!”
“I guess we’ll just have to find some time to break that record,” Landon says, winking at me as he slides in on my other side.
“Don’t tell me you guys planned this,” I groan.
Landon snorts. “Hardly. You just looked like you needed it.”
“I did,” I admit after a moment. “I really did. Thank you guys. Seriously.” Swallowing hard, I look at each of them in turn and say, “I love you.”
“We love you too, Millie,” Hunter says.
“Always,” echoes Landon.
Chapter 77
I wake up the next morning nestled between Landon's body and Hunter's, their radiating warmth striking a sharp contrast to the cool hotel room. I'm tired in the best possible way, still basking in the relative calm of the moment before the reality of our situation sinks in.
"Morning, Boots," Hunter mumbles against my back when he feels me stir.
"Damn it, Ash, why'd you have to break the silence?" Landon griped. "If we had all just kept pretending to be asleep…"
"Sorry, Landon," I say, leaning forward to kiss him on the nose, "but no can do. God only knows how we're going to have to risk our lives today."
"Happens at least once a week," Landon agrees, grunting as he sits up. "I look forward to the day we can just go back to having a normal relationship. You know, without being in constant fear of getting brainwashed."
"One of those normal, every day, four-guys-one-girl polyamorous relationships, you mean?" I joke.
"Technicalities, technicalities," says Landon, waving me off. "Come on, let's beat feet downstairs. If we're lucky, they'll still be serving breakfast."
They were indeed still serving breakfast, and the three of us now find ourselves sitting in the restaurant, a giant platter of gourmet pastries between us. We're at a huge table that stands in the middle of the room, no doubt at Theo's request. I'm still a little nervous about our next step, and a nagging thought has taken hold in the back of my mind, no matter how much I try to push it away: if the amulet requires a brainwashed shifter in order to work...
"There they are!" exclaims a familiar voice from behind us, which pulls me abruptly out of my thoughts. Turning around in my seat, my face lights up when I seek who spoke: Hazel, my first friend at the Academy. She's standing in the doorway of the restaurant, looking even more immaculate than usual, but she rushes over to us the moment she makes eye contact with me. "I heard you were here, but I figured you'd still be recuperating," she says as she sweeps me into a hug.
"Funny how we're always able to find each other when we get separated," I remark as I reciprocate her embrace. The bubbly siren shifter is among the most important people in my life, next to the guys, and I don't think it would be exaggerating to say I view her as a sister at this point. Knowing she's safe is a much-needed boost, and I can feel a fresh boost of optimism go through me.
"We're just telepathically connected," Hazel quips. "No big deal. Suck it, Landon."
"What'd I do?" Landon retorts, sounding mock-offended.
"Just don't go getting a big head now that you guys are official," she says, turning to Hunter. "That goes for you too, Hunter. Remember who introduced you." Scooting into the chair next to me, she adds, "Speaking of which, where are the others?"
"Right here," comes Shade's voice. I turn to see him and Silas making their way over. We make room at the table as Hazel embraces the newcomers.
"What about Ruby and Xander?" Silas asks.
"She's still recovering from the attack," Hazel replies. "As for Xander, I have no clue, but I'm sure he's around here somewhere."
"Ms. Van Buren." Theo, flanked by two of his bodyguards, arrives and sits at the head of the enormous table. As soon as he arrives, it's like the energy in the room undergoes a dramatic shift: any pretenses of this being a fun, friendly hotel breakfast go out the window, replaced by the responsibility of a real, honest-to-God strategy meeting. And just like that, whatever fleeting positivity I felt when I woke up crumbles.
"Theo," Hazel says, nodding her head respectfully at the fair-skinned man.
"I take it the rest of you will be joining us?" Theo says, glancing around at the guys. His expression is stoic, but it carries the vaguest hint of annoyance… except when he turns his gaze on me.
"They will," I say, feeling as if I need to speak on behalf of the others. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Shade's hands clenched into fists on the table.
Theo clears his throat, his eyes lingering on me for just a second. "I suppose that's fair, considering they will be involved," he says
"Damn right we will," says Shade.
"So this amulet," Silas says, changing the subject, "it needs to be given to an enchanted shifter in order to lead to the shifter who cast the enchantment. Right?"
"Right," says Hunter. "So we have to find someone we know is working for Hawthorne."
"Easier said than done," mutters Shade.
"Hardly," Theo responds breezily, his eyes flashing for just a moment as he looks at the wolf-shifter. "We happen to have recently acquired the location of one of Hawthorne's older research facilities. One with which Millie is well-acquainted.”
I blanch. "You're not…"
Theo nods somberly. "If I'm not mistaken, you were taken there recently. When your powers were drained."
I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, the painful memories flooding back to me. I had thought I was going to die. And in a way, I suppose, part of me did.
I'm back now, I remind myself, straightening up in my chair. I'm stronger than ever. And I'm going to make him pay.
"The base is still under Hawthorne's control," Theo goes on.
"Sounds like there will be plenty of opportunities to find an indoctrinated shifter," says Hunter.
“Indeed,” says Theo.
“We can’t just waltz in there and ask one of them to wear the damn amulet,” Shade protests. “That place will be swarming with agents. We might not even make it in the door.” He glances at me, and I can see the distress and protectiveness in his silver eyes.
“Not if you go in with both guns blazing, that’s true,” Theo replies, “which is why you’ll be going in pretending to be indoctrinated yourselves.”
Landon gapes at him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Theo levels his cool gaze on the siren shifter. “I assure you, I’m not.”
“It’s… not a bad idea,” Silas admits. “We know we’re high priority targets for Hawthorne. He’ll want us alive, if only so he can have the satisfaction of knowing he brainwashed the people who have been causing him problems.”
“You’ll have to be convincing,” Theo reminds us, glancing once more at Shade. “We still have no idea how this enchantment works. If they suspect anything, there’s no knowing what they’ll do to you.”
Hunter snorts. “Sounds trivial.”
“On that note,” Theo says, getting to his feet, “I wonder if I might borrow Ms. Brix for a moment?”
Shade stiffens, and the others look at one another uneasily, but I nod and get to my feet. “Be right back,” I say, feeling the wolf shifter’s eyes on my back as I follow Theo into the next room. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?” I ask, swallowing hard.
“Ye
s.” Putting his hands behind his back, Theo turns to me, his expression unreadable. “I think it would be best if you stayed here for this operation.”
My eyes go wide. “What? Why?”
“This would be a dangerous task for anyone,” Theo replies. “Considering all you’ve done already, all you’ve endured—”
“Theo, I can’t send the guys in there alone,” I protest. “You’ve seen me in action. You know I can take care of myself. And I have my powers back now.”
Theo stares imposingly down at me. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Millie.”
I look back at him in disbelief. “But you would let them get hurt for me?” Theo’s brow furrows, but he looks away, and it’s all the confirmation I need. “I’m sorry, Theo,” I tell him, taking a step back, “but I’m not letting them do this alone.”
“Millie…” The rebel leader’s voice is soft enough that it almost gives me pause, but I resist, turning on my heel and heading for my room. I’m afraid of what I might do if I look back.
I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, picking at my fingernails and mulling over the morning’s discussion, when the door to my room flies open. I immediately stand up, preparing for a fight, and barely have time to relax before Shade is striding across the room to me, slamming the door shut as he goes. “What are you—” I begin, but he interrupts me by pressing his mouth to mine.
“I couldn’t just sit there,” Shade murmurs when we finally break apart, his hands already on my shirt. “Not with the way that bastard was looking at you. Practically undressing you with his eyes, the fucking—” But he doesn’t bother to finish, his lips connecting with mine once more as he pushes me back onto the bed, his hands fumbling deftly with my top.
“Shade,” I manage, threading my hands through his sandy hair. “I want you.”
The wolf shifter pulls back, drinking me in with his eyes as he tosses my shirt to the side and shoves his hand into my jeans. I can feel myself growing wet almost immediately and gasp with pleasure when he strokes me open with his finger.
I struggle out of my bra, all other plans and responsibilities rushing out of my mind in an instant. All that matters right now is him, his body over mine, the desire with which he’s looking at me. Like I’m the only person in the entire universe. My bra drops to the floor, my fingers digging into his muscular back as he arches his finger inside me.
“Say that again,” Shade mutters, lowering his mouth to my breast.
“Shade, I want you,” I repeat, wriggling desperately beneath him to get him to touch me more. “I need you. Not Theo, you.” The wolf shifter sucks in a breath, his eyes flashing with a heady mixture of possessiveness, protectiveness, and passion that lights a fire in the pit of my stomach. Then his lips close around my nipple, and my thoughts become a jumbled mess. I can feel my orgasm building already, the feverishness and intensity of the situation only exciting me more.
With a growl of passion, Shade rolls me onto my stomach, one hand dropping to my lower back while the other fumbles with his belt. My heart is fluttering in my chest, my whole body vibrating with pleasure, and when he withdraws his hand so he can push into me from behind, I can’t help but moan. He sets a quick pace, finally able to release the stress of our predicament, of our feelings, and of the danger we’re all putting ourselves in. He rubs my clit with surprising gentleness as he moves, peppering my back and shoulders with kisses even as the pleasure threatens to consume me. His hands are in my hair, caressing my skin, and between my legs, and before long I’ve been reduced to a melted puddle by his touch.
I come a moment later, gasping for breath as Shade follows suit. For a moment, neither of us move, the wolf shifter stroking my hair gently before helping me up, his arms encircling me as he kisses me tenderly. “Are you all right?” I ask as I finally catch my breath.
“Better now,” Shade says, still breathing hard as he drops his face to my shoulder. “You?”
“Same,” I say. “Do you want to stay in here with me for a bit?”
I can feel him smirk against my skin. “I thought you would never ask.”
Chapter 78
The first thing I become aware of is the crashing of waves against far away ocean cliffs. Salt water sprays up from the sea below me, stinging my eyes and leaving a strong smell in the air. The sun is beaming down from a cloudless sky, reflecting off the steadily breaking waves with such intensity that I nearly have to squint as I look around. I crane my neck as I turn, not sure how I got here but hardly caring; it’s such a beautiful day, and the world I find myself in is so relaxing, that it almost doesn’t matter. There’s something familiar about this place, like a long-forgotten memory from childhood that’s been dragged back up to the surface after many years of being lost. I can’t place it for the life of me, though.
I’m standing alone, high on the cliffs that jut out over the churning water below me. Blue waves stretch out as far as the eye can see, and I’m the only one here. There’s something peaceful about it, almost comforting: the only sounds are the sounds of the ocean and the crunching of the dirt beneath my shoes.
Taking in a breath of the salty island air, I make my way down along the shoreline, the fresh breeze whipping my hair and carrying me easily along a well-worn dirt path. To my right is a mighty forest, so dense that I can barely see past the first row of trees, and again, there’s something familiar about it, but I can’t for the life of me place what it is. No matter; it’s all in good fun, and besides, I could use a break from the constant toil of my real world… Whatever my real world is. I’m having a hard time remembering. The sunlit path leads gradually downhill, illuminated brilliantly by the glaring sunlight. It’s peaceful here, although there isn’t a person for miles around.
As a matter of fact, it’s only now dawning on me how alone I am.
I feel the first stirrings of unease; that familiar feeling is only getting stronger as I go, but it’s bringing with it a dull sense of fear that sits in the pit of my stomach like a demon. Swallowing hard, I try to push it away, but to no avail. The feeling of wrongness is unshakable, like a flash of intuition from my lizard brain that has my heart beating more and more rapidly in my chest. I need to stop, to take a breather, to try to get my head on straight again, but to my growing horror, I realize that I can’t seem to stop moving. It’s like my legs are working of their own accord, carrying me somewhere I don’t want to go in spite of my best efforts. Panic rises in my throat, but I can’t do anything to stop it; I’m unable to even cry out.
It’s only as I’m making my way around a switchback leading down to the waterline that it dawns on me what feels so eerie about this place. There are no sounds at all, except for the crashing waves. No birds sing in the trees, no insects chirp, no distant animals chatter and roar. There isn’t a single seagull in the sky, nor is there the sound of anything human for as far as my ears can hear. It’s as silent and abandoned as the grave, and I can’t break that silence for all that I try.
Adrenaline is coursing through me by now, fear threatening to take hold of me. I try to shift, to fight off this strange sense of possession, but it’s no use; it’s as if I never got my powers back at all, that comforting pool of magic in my stomach forever out of my reach. I want to call out - where are the guys? Where are Hazel and the twins? Where’s Theo? The sense of growing dread only increases with every step down the path I take, my heart hammering in my chest and goosebumps creeping up my arms. I scan the area, desperate to see someone, anyone, who can tell me where I am and explain what’s wrong, but the island is as deserted as a ghost town.
That is, until I arrive at the beach.
In the distance, I can make out a figure standing by the water, and I’m flooded with relief. Finally, I find my voice. “Hey!” I call. The figure doesn’t turn around, so I try again. “Hey, hello! Can you hear me?”
But the person by the water doesn’t even seem to notice me. I can’t make out any distinguishing features, and the only thing that’s clear from this d
istance is that they’re standing stock-still, staring out across the water as if seeing something invisible to my eyes. The uneasiness has set in in full force by now, and I can feel my throat thickening as I follow the beach up to the figure of a petite woman, with short, dark hair and long, svelte limbs.
My eyes widen. “Edith?” Relaxing a little, I hurry up to her. Even if she does still hate me, at least she’s another living being, and right now, that feels like a matter of increasing importance. “Edith, it’s me, Millie Brix.” When at last she’s in reach, I touch her shoulder hesitantly, not wanting to startle her.
The moment my hand makes contact with her arm, Edith crumples to the ground on her back, as stiff as a board. She’s dead, I realize, and my heart stops in my chest. Her green eyes are glassy and staring, and her flesh is rotting. I recoil in horror, stumbling backwards and falling into the sand in my haste to get away from the body. The moment I turn around, however, I’m greeted by the sight of dozens—no, hundreds—of other bodies lining the beach, all rotting, all dead, and all staring at me with those same blank, glassy eyes. It’s only as I start to flee that I realize I recognize the faces: Samantha, Silas’ parents, the old registrar worker, Mrs. Fairbanks. There are others, too, people whose names I don’t know but whose faces I know: they’re all shifters I’ve fought somewhere along the line, all under the sway of the humans, and all deceased.