Behind her, Branesh tensed before brushing her hair to one side. His lips pressed against her skin and held there. From her periphery, Aveline caught Aaddhar moving closer, and so she turned her head, and like she suspected, Thanasis stood across from him, on the other side of the bed.
Thanasis began to remove his clothes. First his shirt, and then his pants until he stood, beautifully naked. Her gaze traveled down his body, his strong hips and calves and back up to his cock, which was heavily erect. “Warrior,” he said, and placed one knee on the bed. Belly tensing with anticipation, Aveline kept her gaze on him, but he was staring at her scars with reverence, not horror. “Look at what you survived for us.” He touched her cheek, one finger trailing down her skin like a teardrop. “So strong.”
Branesh let out a sigh, and beneath her, his cock hardened. Ettan smiled at his brother and nodded. “Yes. The scars of a warrior.”
“Our warrior,” Aaddhar added. While she was distracted, he’d claimed a spot near her leg. Lightly, he trailed his hand along her thigh and under her knee, encouraging her to bend it. Aveline bit her lip, but his gaze was steady. “You are courageous,” he whispered and touched his lips to her knee. He gave tiny sucking kisses along her skin and down her thigh until his dark head was at her hips. Massaging her leg with his hand, he crept higher and higher until his fingers rested at the top of her leg.
Beneath her, Branesh arched. He lowered his hands from her shoulders to her breasts, cupping them and then squeezing. He caught her nipple between his fingers and pinched. Aveline gasped, thrusting back against him. He moaned. His body vibrated beneath her, causing her core to warm.
Another set of lips touched her knee. Thanasis.
Aveline had cupped Aaddhar’s head, holding him close to her while he sucked and licked at the crease between her thigh and hips.
“Close your eyes,” Thanasis said, breath ghosting across the wet trail his tongue had left when he pulled her skin into his mouth. Goosebumps rose all over her body, but she did as he asked. “Just feel.”
She was nothing but feeling. Her world had shrunk to the hands and mouths on her body. She didn’t know who to touch first. Behind her, Branesh kept up a steady rhythm. His cock was tucked between her buttocks, but Aveline wanted him closer. She lifted her hips and reached behind her for him. A quick adjustment, and he was just where she wanted, poised at her entrance.
For a second, he disappeared, and she fell backward, but then he caught her again. “Sorry,” he whispered. She giggled.
“That’s good when that happens?” she asked breathlessly.
“Very good,” Thanasis replied, and she opened her eyes. His skin was dark, but when he met her eyes, he flashed golden brown again. With a wicked grin, he adjusted his aim.
Aaddhar had moved back to her leg, stroking gently, but his focus was on his brother. Near her feet, Ettan leaned forward, pushing her legs further apart before drawing back. He stood then gripped his dick in his hands and began to stroke.
Aveline sucked in a breath at the sight. The muscles in his forearms shifted over each other.
And he wasn’t gentle. He held on tight, and pushed down hard, holding himself at the base. “Do it,” he told Thanasis.
A slow lick from her entrance to her clit ripped her gaze from Ettan. Between her legs, Thanasis’s golden head bobbed. He turned his head to glance up at her, eyes black before they closed, lashes resting against his cheeks as he went back to licking her. He stayed at her side, focused on her clit when Branesh again prodded her entrance.
“Oh,” she breathed. Never in her life had she felt anything like this. Thanasis sucked her clit into his mouth, pulling hard at the nub before swirling his tongue around her while Branesh slid deep inside her.
Thanasis adjusted his position, put one leg on the floor and reached between his legs to grab his cock. His hips canted, rocking into his fist.
Aveline was at sea. The sounds the men made as they touched her and themselves were overwhelming. Aaddhar continued to kiss her leg, and she reached for him. He moved closer, and with his hand over hers, wrapped her fingers around him.
Aaddhar showed her what he liked, just the right amount of pressure, just the right speed, and soon his hand dropped away. His head fell back, muscled throat exposed to the sun as he met her rhythm.
Branesh’s voice panted in her ear. “Aveline,” he groaned, and thrust hard. She felt him hit something, like he’d pushed so far inside her there was no more room for him to go, and then he shuddered. Inside her body, warmth flood her. It went on and on along with Branesh’s groan, low and deep. A second later, Aaddhar made a similar sound.
She felt the sticky warmth of his cum over her hand and belly and then his hand was over hers, slowing her. Thanasis moaned, and the vibration was her undoing.
Her entire body clenched, and she cried out. Air rushed over her super-heated body, lifting her and spinning her around so she landed on her hands and knees. Now, Ettan was beneath her, mouth level with her pussy, and someone else was prodding her entrance.
“Too much?” Thanasis asked, but she couldn’t speak. Ettan had taken up where Thanasis had left off and she detonated. Light danced beneath her eyelids as her entire body pulsed. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it any longer, Thanasis slid inside her.
He was big, but she was wet and boneless. His hips slapped against her ass before he disappeared and reformed. It was too much and not enough. He stretched her, almost to the point of discomfort, and then he’d lose his form, only to thrust inside her again. The sensations were so disparate—cold, absence, heat, pressure—her body didn’t know what to do. Ettan had slid up so they were face to face, and now he kissed her.
Aveline could taste herself on his lips, but it didn’t bother her. And it didn’t bother him, because when Thanasis hit her especially deep and she groaned, Ettan whispered, “I love the way you taste.”
Her body jerked forward with each pounding thrust Thanasis made, but Ettan stayed with her. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze and smiled. This was right. She’d never been so certain of anything in her life.
Next to her, she caught the motion Aaddhar made. Somehow, he was hard again. When he caught her watching him, he stepped forward, and without thinking, she opened her mouth so Aaddhar could slide inside.
Beneath her, Ettan groaned and sucked on her neck.
She couldn’t really move, caged between Thanasis and Ettan, but Aaddhar did most of the work. In and out, he worked himself while all she had to do was hold on. Branesh stared at them intently, working his own erection.
Thanasis’s rhythm stuttered, and amazingly, Aveline could feel herself building toward orgasm again.
It was too much.
This orgasm would kill her. Thanasis gripped her hips, hands digging into the skin while Ettan slid down, sucking a nipple into his mouth and drawing it, hard.
Aaddhar pumped once, twice, and began to come. Thick liquid coated her tongue, and she swallowed reflexively. A second later she heard Branesh, and opened her eyes to see his head fall back as he came.
Thanasis called out, held himself deep, and came. His entire body trembled, while his cock seemed to swell and jerk as he jetted inside her.
And Ettan. Warmth flowed through her, bathing her swollen tissues as if he was healing her.
She collapsed on top of him, and he rolled them. Thanasis fell next to them and threw a leg over hers. Then came Aaddhar and Branesh. One by one, they found a spot on the bed. The room was silent except for Aveline’s loud panting.
Hands, she couldn’t say whose, touched her, anchoring her.
“Go to sleep,” Thanasis rumbled against her back. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Safety.
Utterly wrecked, but blissfully happy, Aveline closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Chapter Twelve
Ettan
“How do you think she got them?” Aaddhar whispered from across the bed.
Ettan flung an arm over his ey
es. It was one thing seeing inside Aveline’s body, knowing she’d been hurt. But the scars. The scars undid him.
“A blade,” he answered. “There were nicks in the bony structure meant to protect her systems. Little digs, like someone wasn’t careful.”
“Careful?” Aaddhar whispered. “Did a healer make them?”
“No,” Ettan said, and Aveline sighed. His voice was too loud. “No,” he said again, quieter. “No healer did this. Not even the most primitive healer would do this. This was purposeful. You saw her memories, Thanasis.”
His brother stilled. He’d been stroking Aveline’s hair, but at the reminder of what he’d seen, his entire body froze. “A healer, but not. There was a word in her mind. I don’t know what we would call it. He tried things on her body. He’d hurt her and then heal her. Or sometimes just hurt her. None of it had any purpose besides pain.”
Ettan eased away from Aveline in a flash, but Aaddhar took his place. He paced at the foot of the bed, staring at the female who made everything bearable.
“She survived,” Branesh said. “Like Thanasis said. She’s a warrior.”
Ettan couldn’t think in this form, so he changed. He slid along the walls and ceilings, the chaos of his mind reflected in the whirlwind he made. As he breezed above them, Aveline shifted on the bed, one smooth brown leg grazing the other.
Ettan abandoned his Ventos form. “What if the Creators come back?” he asked quietly.
Thanasis paused and kissed Aveline’s temple before shifting and appearing in front of him. He grabbed his clothes from the floor and pulled them on, reminding Ettan he was still naked. His own clothes rested near the foot of the bed, so he hurriedly dressed.
“They will not,” Branesh said. He hadn’t moved away from Aveline. Neither had Aaddhar. Both of them were happy to take his and Thanasis’s places next to her. “They took what they wanted from here and have moved on. Look around, Ettan. They have been gone a long time, and there are infinite worlds in the universe.”
“And we know better now,” Aaddhar said. “We will never make the same mistake again.”
“Do you think we are it?” Ettan asked his brothers as he sat on the end of the bed. He touched Aveline’s foot. Her skin was cool, and he had no way to cover her so he sent a wave of heat through her body. “The only ones left on Sonhadra?”
“I don’t know,” Branesh answered. “Perhaps. I have no memories of our time after our heartstones were taken, merely impressions. I only had one purpose, protect the Creators. I inhabited Zephyr with only that thought. Somewhere, there may even be Ventos. We just haven’t found them.”
Ettan tensed. He thought of other Ventos seeing Aveline and wanting her. But she was theirs.
“Relax.” Thanasis touched his shoulder. “She is ours and only ours.”
“She needs clothing,” Ettan said. He glanced out the window where the sun was beginning to lower. As a healer, he wanted to take care of her. “I’m going to explore this place.”
“I’ll come,” Thanasis replied. Ettan hesitated, but Thanasis added, “She is safe.”
“We will keep her safe, Ettan,” Aaddhar assured him. “You have our word.”
“With our life,” Branesh added, sliding an arm beneath her neck to cradle with his body.
Aaddhar narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms before turning onto his back. “I thought we agreed no more stealing her away from each other.”
“Just give me a moment,” Branesh wheedled.
“There’s enough of me for everyone,” Aveline whispered sleepily and opened her eyes. “Hi,” she said, pushing her hair back from her face. Sheepishly, she slid her hand beneath her chin to prop her head up. “Are we going somewhere?” She glanced around the room. “I’m going to need clothes.”
“That’s what we were going to find,” Thanasis said. “You can stay here.”
Aveline nodded and rested her head on Branesh’s chest before reaching for Aaddhar’s hand. “If you don’t mind. I’d rather not be caught naked by another fire breather.”
“We won’t be gone long,” Thanasis said and gestured toward the door. Ettan leaned over, kissing her cheek before he followed.
Behind him, he could make out the low voices of his brothers and Aveline’s quieter responses.
An examination of the domicile revealed nothing wearable. Any fabric they found disintegrated into dust when they touched it. “The Creators have been gone a long time,” Ettan observed. They had to be if materials were in such poor condition.
“Yes,” he agreed. Without needing to discuss it, they went outside and continued their search.
The sun dipped lower and lower in the sky. It wouldn’t be long before Sonhadra was plunged into darkness. But in Ventos form, Ettan and Thanasis were able to cover greater distances. They split up, raiding homes, and eventually, Thanasis emerged from one holding a pile of clothes in his arms. “Found some. They were sealed up.”
“Good,” Ettan answered. The longer they stayed away from Aveline, the more anxious he became. He could tell from his brother’s tight jaw and quick transformation that he too wanted to get back to her.
The sun touched the horizon just as they came upon the place Aveline and their brothers waited. Ettan, focused on the building, didn’t see the shadows on the ground. But Thanasis did.
His brother pushed him away from the house, sending them rushing away. It was then Ettan made out the strange darkness. The shadows were near the wall, beneath the canopy, but they weren’t due to the light cast by the sun.
Five bodies, all tall, crouched low. Ettan brushed over them, but they didn’t know what he was, and he was careful to stay transparent.
Thanasis hovered, waiting for him. Ettan reached out with his breath, the same healing abilities he’d used with Aveline, he now used to discover what type of beings these were.
One female. Four male. All of them with systems like Aveline’s, but none of them with the injuries.
Suspicious.
As Ettan and Thanasis watched, the group edged closer to the building.
“She has to be in one of these houses,” the female said. “We lost her trail, but I know her. If anyone could survive, it’s Aveline.”
There was something familiar about the female’s voice. It was similar to Aveline’s but harder. Still, it had the same lyrical quality hers did.
Get her out. Thanasis blew past Ettan. In agreement, he followed Thanasis into the house and room where Aveline lay asleep.
Aaddhar and Branesh were awake. Aaddhar held his sword in his hand, so clearly they were aware of the others. “There you are,” Aaddhar said, his voice quiet. “Get her up and let’s go.”
Branesh leaned over Aveline and nuzzled her cheek. She awoke slowly, smiling. It killed Ettan that one glance around the room made it disappear.
He held out her clothes, and she took them from him with shaking hands. But she never spoke.
Rushing to put them on, she struggled with ties on the dress he’d found. Thanasis gently pushed her hands away and took over, lacing up the ties on the back. Once finished, he leaned down and whispered in her ear before drawing back to stare at her.
Aveline nodded and reached for him. Thanasis gave his brothers one glance, and then swept her into his arms, becoming purely Ventos. Ettan followed, and with a rush, they poured out of the house.
Only to be met with fire.
Ventos couldn’t be burned, but fire smothered air, leaving them weak and disoriented. Aaddhar had been first to exit and took the full stream of heat. It pushed his form apart, sending him spiraling in all directions. Thanasis went high, but someone was ready, and hit him with a blast that had Aveline tumbling from his arms.
Ettan was ready. He caught her before she could hit the ground. Branesh whipped around the males like a storm, trying to confuse them, push them off balance, but there were too many of them.
The fire, when it came, hit Ettan hard. He held on as tightly as he could to Aveline, but a second flame hit,
and he couldn’t get away and surround her enough to protect her.
The heat pushed him apart, spreading him out until he couldn’t hold on any longer. Aveline fell from his grasp.
He saw her hit the ground just before the fire hit him again and he flew apart.
Chapter Thirteen
Aveline
Aveline landed on her back, knocking the air from her lungs. She stared up at Sonhadra’s sky. The darkness had fallen, but the flames made everything clear as day.
They were gone.
In a puff of smoke, Ettan, Aaddhar, Thanasis, and Branesh were gone.
Like a fish, she flopped on the ground, struggling to inhale. When it came, she sucked in a breath and screamed. The sound went on and on, carrying with it every piece of hope she’d had until it disappeared into the night.
Along with the men she’d come to love.
“Why?” she cried, flipping onto her stomach. Slowly, she got her legs beneath her and stood. “Why?”
The dark figures stepped forward. The smallest first. There was a sound, like air escaping, and the figure pulled off a hood.
The eyes that met hers were so familiar. At first, Aveline couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She thought the darkness was playing tricks on her, but someone flicked on a flashlight, and she saw it was true. “Marisol.”
“Aveline.” Marisol held out her arms and enfolded her. “I found you.”
“You found me,” she repeated numbly. “You’re alive.”
“Yes.” Marisol squinted as the light shone in their faces. “Get that out of my eyes. I told you we’d find her.”
“How?” Aveline asked. Her knees shook, and she locked them to stay upright.
“Don’t you remember anything?” Marisol asked. “The crash?”
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