His grumble vibrated against my bones. Thane pressed his body flush against mine, the mixture of our body temperatures and the fact he was still hard served a pulse to my bundle of nerves; I was so horny for him it hurt. “You got it, baby.” His lips collided with mine, a white spark shot up behind my eyes, warmth spreading through me like lava—a tingling in my injured leg. When his tongue swept in to caress mine, I whimpered against his soft lips, so demanding. Primal. They took everything yet, at the same time, fulfilled my every wish. My wetness mingled with the water trickling down my leg.
“I can smell your pussy; it's so wet and ready for me, isn't it, Rayah?”
All I did was scream and plead and cry. Just this man talking dirty to me had my mind, heart, and body about to shatter into a million pieces.
Then, a finger slid inside me, and I came undone, melting against him like butter.
“Is this where you want me, baby? Damn, your cunt is so fucking tight. I don't think I'll fit.” He shoved another finger in to the hilt; the pace was punishing my swollen and slippery flesh. Who knew this nerd had such a filthy mouth?
And I loved it, already couldn't get enough. “Ahhh! Thane!” The excitement, the pleasure, the current of bliss flowing through me was electric and dizzying, my body shuddering violently on the verge of erupting like a volcano.
Ding-dong!
His fingers slid out of me, our lips disconnected—the rapacious flow between us, severed.
Or so I thought...
“Who the hell could that be at this hour?”
I couldn't speak. A memory took over my brain.
It wasn't mine.
Thane was too fixated on answering the door to notice my struggle. He set me down. “Wait here.” Without looking back, he stormed out of the bathroom.
My surprise... My knees pulled me back to the ground, an invisible noose tightening around my throat. I blinked several times to get it to clear, but the vision took over me.
Consumed me.
A little boy walked hand in hand through the zoo with a woman I assumed was his mother. She had the most hypnotic...oh my.
The boy's head turned as if he was looking directly at me—the same pair of eyes. A large hand grabbed hold of mine, and suddenly it felt as if I was being jerked backward through time.
“Rayah, where to next?”
“Huh?” I looked up, confused. My grandfather’s soulful eyes met mine. His chocolate-brown skin always had this amazing glow in the sunlight, almost as if he was an almighty god. People were automatically drawn to him. His charm. His welcoming smile. It made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world, for I had the coolest Pop.
“The tigers,” I said without pause.
“That is where we are headed. I will show you the way,” the woman said, matching my grandfather’s smile.
The memory fading left me doubled over, gasping for air. Another foreign tingle shot through my leg, and in reaction, I ripped the bandage off with a muffled cry. Planting my rear onto the cold ground, I ran my hand over my leg. What the…? Where were my wounds? I scanned over both legs. Not a knick or a scratch anywhere. The itch was gone, no more pain—the kiss. I ran my finger over my lips, reminiscing of his lips on mine, the unyielding power he sent coursing through me. Did shifters have the ability to heal? If so, why hadn’t he done it sooner? What else was he hiding?
A sense of dread replaced the electric current. Was he keeping me here to hand me over to the Shifter Elite? After he had been so kind, I didn’t want to believe it, but I couldn’t completely dismiss it either. My grandfather always taught me to have an out in every situation. Know who you could trust, know who you couldn't. Keep your enemies close but forever remain ten steps ahead of them.
Get it together, Rayah! Regardless of his true intentions, sitting on the floor of his shower wasn't going to solve my problems. So, I got up. I was going to confront him head-on. But I would let him enjoy his dinner first. I rummaged through his drawers for a shirt and shorts to use, then quickly rolled up the top of the shorts and tied a section of the shirt off the side into a knot when I heard him arguing with the person at the door.
I was behind Thane. He was fully clothed now, which made me frown slightly. Then again, it would be fun getting him back out of them.
He groaned. "I'll ask you again. What are you doing here, Luther?"
"Braxton sent me, said Rayah requested a surprise dinner for two." He appeared to be chewing and swallowed with a loud gulp.
"Hey. Are you eating my surprise dinner?" Thane grumbled.
I stepped closer as we both glared at him.
He cleared his throat, shrugging. "Damn, okay. You caught me. I got a little hungry on the way up here."
"Oh, give me that." Thane snatched the bag from Luther's grasp and attempted to close the door in his face.
I stopped him. "Wait."
"What are you doing? Move."
"I want him to stay."
"Do you want me to enjoy this nice dinner you planned?"
"Yes, but I need to talk. To both of you." I nervously bit my lip, unable to withstand the anger whirling in his eyes.
"You can’t be serious."
"You heard her; she needs to talk. To both of us." He laughed.
Thane throat-punched him. "Don't get any ideas, Luther."
"Geez, bro." He coughed, walking into the house as he rubbed his throat. "No need to get all territorial." Luther made himself comfortable in the recliner by the fireplace while Thane and I sat around the island.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize he was bringing the food."
"It's quite alright, Rayah. It's not your fault. I'm sure Luther weaseled his way into it somehow."
"I heard that."
"I'm glad." He shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
I arranged the food into a nice little spread on the island and lit the candle in the center.
"This was very sweet of you, Rayah. Thank you."
"Yeah, she's the sweetest," Luther chimed in.
"Dude, dinner for two. Your commentary isn't needed here."
I blushed and was unable to refrain from giggling.
"What's so funny?" His intense gaze left Luther and refocused on me.
I rested my hand on his. "Your jealousy is adorable."
"Adorable?" He shifted his weight to the opposite side.
"Hashtag adorbs." Luther was laughing so hard he almost fell out of the recliner.
I shook my head. "Okay, can it, Luther."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, you listen to her but not your alpha?"
Did he just say alpha? Does that mean…
"No offense, but she's a lot sexier than you. She can boss me around any day of the week." Luther laughed nervously, looking as perplexed as I was.
Thane rolled his eyes, shoving in another spoonful. He pointed a finger at me. "You wanted him here, now we are both suffering the consequences."
How many shifters live here at the zoo?
Thane turned his back to me and grabbed a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon out of the cabinet. "I'm going to need some wine to go with dinner." Quickly, he set three glasses on the counter, and Thane uncorked the bottle, filling each. He handed one to me and motioned for Luther to take the other.
"Thank you."
Thane then downed his entire glass in one gulp as Luther sat at the stool across from him, next to me.
"You look beautiful in just about anything, Rayah. Doesn't she, Thane?" His fingers grazing my ear sent another tantalizing jolt to my core. What was it about these men that had a virgin like me ready to lose all my inhibitions?
I heard Thane growl. "Yes." He filled another glass and downed it just as fast. "What did you want to talk to us about, Rayah?"
I looked between the two beautiful men before me, giving me their undivided attention, and I decided right then that these men were not my enemy. They could quickly become my allies. "I…"
Luther's hand met my shoulder while Thane's ha
nd rested on mine. "Differences aside. We are both here for you, Rayah," Thane said.
"In the shower...after we kissed—"
"You mean, I already missed out on all the fun?"
"Luther!" Thane roared.
Luther mimicked zipping up his lips.
I took a deep breath. "Like I was saying. After we kissed, I saw something—a memory."
Thane, within a second, was next to me. "What? A memory?"
"Yes." Unsure if they would even take me seriously, I began to shake. "From your childhood. I was in it. I think we were here. You were with your mother; I think." I went on to explain the vision in great detail; the more I revealed, the more their eyes widened, the paler their skin became. By the end, they were just blinking at me.
Thane eventually broke the silence, rubbing the length of his face. "That's crazy. So, we have crossed paths before. I remember that day so clearly now. I think my mother was sick of me talking about the pretty girl we met at the zoo."
"Oh." My cheeks felt hot.
"That's touching and all, but do you think the kiss triggered the memory?"
"Who's jealous now?" Thane raised a brow.
I rolled my eyes. Maybe I did make a mistake; this cabin wasn't big enough for all the testosterone these brutes put off. "Guys, focus. That's not all." I showed them my leg.
Thane took a closer look, getting down on his knees to examine my leg with unbelievable focus. "How? Your leg is completely healed."
Either Thane was a good actor, or he had no idea shifters possessed healing powers.
Luther stood up, throwing his hands in the air. "Alright, shit's getting a little too weird for me. Is she some kind of witch or something?"
Yep. Totally no clue. Which left me wondering; was this the reason the Shifter Elite wanted me and would stop and kill whoever to get to me?
Thane got up and started to pace. "Where have I read about this before?" Suddenly, he zipped into the bedroom at lightning speed. It was nice to know he was getting comfortable with me seeing his shifting powers in action. But there was another suspect I needed to investigate.
Luther cleared his throat. "Did you see that? How are you not freaking out right now? Because I'm freaking out." He swiped a bead of sweat away from his head.
"Why are you so nervous, Luther?" I folded my arms, circling him, taking note of his vibrant and captivating eyes, his massive stature, and luscious mane. I narrowed my eyes. "Are you a shifter, too?"
"Fuck, so you do know. He told you about us?"
"So, you are!" I jumped up and down. “What kind? Please, say a lion."
"Well, as a matter of fact—wait. Are you some kind of spy? Should I be ripping you apart instead of thinking how tight your pussy must be?"
"You are thinking…" I shook my head. Luther was trying to distract me. "No, I'm not a spy. Now answer my question."
"No, not until you tell us why the Shifter Elite is after you."
My shoulders hung low. "I don't know."
"I think I do." Both of us snapped our gaze to Thane, who was strolling out of the room with a grimoire-looking book in his hand. "I think you are a Shifters' Sirona, translation; the Healing Goddess of Shifters."
My hands zoomed to my mouth. "I'm what?"
"She's a huh?" Luther scratched his head. The tiny gesture of confusion had me giggling to myself.
"A Sirona." Thane went on to read the passage from the book. “One is born every 500 years, and is fated….oh, fuck me!" He slammed the book closed, his chest visibly rising and falling.
"Thane, what's the matter? What did it say?"
He craned his neck back to look at the ceiling before opening the page up to where he left off. "... to three mates to sustain her powers. Only the power of her mates can heal her, but she can heal and control all shifters due to a particular component in her blood.
The Sirona can see memories from her mates’ and close family members' pasts. The Sirona is not immortal once powers are discovered, but lifespan can be extended for her and her mates."
The revelation hit me in the chest like an iron fist. "No wonder the commander wants me. My powers would make his army—"
"Indestructible," Thane finished.
Luther put his hand up. "Rewind a second. Three mates? You're one, Thane. Who are the other two?"
"God, I don't want to know. Rayah is mine."
"Sorry, to bust your balls here, Alpha, but she is not." He put his hands on his hips, mocking Thane.
My head fell into my palms, the weight of the situation crashing down on me. What the hell was I supposed to do with one mate, let alone three? Mostly since Thane, my first mate, was less than thrilled about sharing me with other shifters.
"I know this isn't ideal, but I think it would be in our best interest to find out. The more we know, the more we can fight back against the Shifter Elite when they come looking for me. And they will."
Thane shook his head. "I don't know."
"Thane, she's right. If she knows who her other mates are, she can better protect herself—all of us. We can stop them once and for all."
"What is she supposed to do? Kiss every shifter in Colorado? Yeah, she will know who her mates are, but will catch a nasty case of Mono. No go."
"For goodness sake, how ironic, me a virgin, someone who swore she wouldn't have sex until she was married to one guy, mind you, is fated to have three mates?! Trust me, Thane, I don't like the idea any more than you, but these are the cards we've been dealt."
"Yeah, Thane."
"Shut up; you just want her to kiss you."
"I most certainly do, lay a juicy one on me, sweet thang." Luther bent down, puckered his lips, making kissy noises.
I playfully shoved him away, giggling.
"I think I am going to throw up. Have fun, I guess. I am going to get some fresh air." He stomped away and flung open the screen door to his balcony, taking the door completely off the rail.
Luther waved his hand in the air. "Thane gots a temper, stubborn as hell, but he will get over it." He walked over to the couch in front of the crackling fire, sat down, and patted his lap. "Oh, sweet thang, my lips are yearning for a taste of you."
I nodded shyly, biting my lip as I sauntered over to him. My heart in my throat, I positioned myself in his lap, straddling him. Luther let out a sharp breath, threading his hand in my hair as I did the same, bringing our parted lips closer.
He playfully bit my lip with a growl. "You have no idea the things we'd do if I were your mate. How many times would I make this virgin pussy come?"
My eyes lulled to the back of my head, a sting spreading throughout my channel. I dug my nails into his shoulder as he craned my neck to the side. His lips now by my ear. "I promise, Rayah. I'd do anything for you, kill for you, die for you, fuck you how you deserved to be fucked. No area on this body will be left untouched by my hands, my lips, my teeth, my tongue." He nipped at my neck, leaving soft kisses behind the teasing bites.
My mind was spinning, my panties soaking wet. "Oh, Luther." My lips pressed hard against his in a desperate dance of tongues. His hold on my hair tightened, forcing my mouth to open wider for him. Luther kissed me so deeply as if his tongue was reaching for my soul.
"Yeah, baby. That's it. Give it all to me." Spreading my legs wider, I couldn't control the animal inside me; my hips fell in tandem with his as he gyrated his rock-hard length into me, making me come with a whimpering cry.
"Fuck, yes."
Coming down, I am jerked backward into another memory.
Open space.
Gunshots rang out.
Two male lions are running, faster, and faster.
Until…
A bullet pierced the skull of one; blood spattered all over the torso of the other as his enormous body hit the ground, dust and leaves flying up all around him. The other lion screeched to a halt then tried to help the other get up, but he wouldn't move. His eyes vacant of life. The lion let out the most painstaking howl.
So much so, I
came out of my vision, screaming. The pain piercing my heart. My body deprived of heat, my teeth chattering.
"Rayah, baby. I'm here." Large arms enveloped me into a warm cocoon. Stomps from outside got closer as I shook in Luther's arms; the pain still rocketing through me.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I think she saw a memory."
Next thing I know, Thane was rubbing my head. "We got you, baby girl." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw them share a knowing glance. They had been at each other's throats all day; it was comforting to see them getting along even if it were just for a second. I didn't want my mates fighting over me.
I sat up, and Luther wiped my tears away with his thumbs. Both my mates were so attentive and affectionate. "You were the other lion, weren't you?" I frowned.
Thane and Luther shared another look, and Luther's gaze softened a bit. He rubbed the length of my arm as he talked. "Of course, of all the memories, you had to witness the worst day of my life."
My hand met his cheek, and he leaned into my touch. "I'm so sorry, Luther."
"Me too," Thane added, raking a hand through his hair.
"My twin brother and I were running from some poachers that day. I would have been a goner too if this man hadn't intervened."
I looked over at Thane with a satisfied smile. "What did you do?"
"Oh, it was nothing."
"Ah, c'mon, bro. You’re my hero. Don't go playing it off."
"Well, if you have to ask…" Thane's eyes filled with light as he talked with his hands. "I was on a safari tour when I had seen these two lions running for their lives in the far distance. I jumped out of the Jeep, ran at them full-speed, and clothes-lined both those poachin' motherfuckers to the ground."
"Knocked them out cold. Straight savage this one."
Luther's comment made me laugh. "Thane, my tiger is a hero. That's so hot." My hand caressed his thigh.
"Woah, is it hot in here, or is it just me?"
"The fire is on, Luther." Thane rolled his eyes. I noticed his cheeks flushed slightly before he broke out into a laugh, and Luther and I followed suit.
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