Marked for Them

by Lia Davis

  There was nothing sexual between the two. The act was Zane needing to be close to his Packmate. In his current situation, Dimitri was his Pack. That made me sad.

  It was my father’s fault. The demon, and the Council, had ruined each of our lives.

  “I’ve been an emotional mess since my bastard father murdered my mother in front of me.” Zane’s hand fisted in my shirt. I rubbed his arms slowly to let him know it was okay. “The images of that night still haunt me. It was partly why I checked into the nut house. The other part was to hide from Salrus. The drugs they gave me helped, along with the protection spell around my room.

  “Anyway, I knew I couldn’t stay there for too long. He would have eventually found me, one way or another. But to hear Wyatt say he’d told Salrus where I was placed doubt in my mind about working with you guys. Made me think that I was setting myself up for a trap. It brought back emotions and visions of my mother’s death. I had to get away, to think.”

  Wyatt stated, “You knew the truth before Wade and I got there to bring you home.”

  I nodded. “I can think clearly in the Inbetween. Besides any of you could have found me at any time if you truly wished to.”

  “Through the demon marks,” Zane and Dimitri said at the same time.

  “Yes. But instead of hunting me, you had a protection rune tattooed over your marks…” I trailed off, recalling the mating conversation that Wyatt, Wade, and I had had in the Inbetween. Then another thought entered my mind. The tattoos kept Salrus from using the mark to track and control them. Yet I could still sense them through the link.

  I met Wade’s wide-eyed stare. He smiled. “Then our theory could work.”

  “What theory?” Zane asked.

  “I’m not sure it can work a hundred percent. There are rules about demons marking others.” I started bobbing my right foot like I did when I thought. “I’m not talking about Council laws. The demons kind of govern themselves and have their own rules.”

  "But it could work," Wyatt added.

  "Maybe," I replied.

  A growl rumbled from Zane, and he squeezed my hip with his hand. "What. Are. You. Talking. About?"

  Wyatt and I locked gazes as I answered. "Wade, Wyatt, and I were talking, and the subject of mating came up. There is a possibility that if I mate with Zane through the traditional wolf claiming methods, then I could mark everyone else. Maybe my mark mixed with the mating would cancel out Salrus's."

  Zane went completely still beside me. I thought for a moment that he actually stopped breathing for a second.

  Silence filled the room, and I frowned at Wyatt, unsure what else to say. Did they not want me? A part of me was saddened by the thought. I'd grown used to the idea of having them all in the short time we’d contemplated it. "We don't have to. It was just a theory for how we could use the demon mark to our advantage. Anyway, Wade went to do some research."

  Zane released a sigh before nipping at my shoulder. "For us to mate, you have to fully accept my wolf and me into your heart." Then softer, he said, "If you need help, I'll gladly help your decision along."

  Desire bloomed in my belly at the promise of pleasure in his tone. Zane cupped my cheek, forcing me to look at him. His green eyes flashed brighter. "I knew the moment I saw you that you were my mate. I admit that I didn't trust you at first. My only experience with a demon caused me to lose everything. All of us lost things when we were marked."

  My heart ached, and I fought the tears. "I'm half demon, and my only experience with a demon was to watch the bastard kill my mother. I can't live my life or any kind of life until he is dead. But I'm not strong enough to defeat him on my own."

  "You don't have to," they all said together.

  Then Dimitri added, "We're going to help. I'll let you unbind my powers if you help me not to fear them."

  I threaded my fingers through his curly, light brown hair. "I promise." To the others, I said, "I'm not sure how this works. I assume I will need to get to know each of you and keep some kind of balance. And we’ll have to train to defeat Salrus.”

  My stomach chose that moment to growl. Zane and Wyatt jumped up. Zane nudged Dimitri. “Let’s go feed our girl.”

  Our girl. The emotions those two words evoked made me pause while the guys moved to the door. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, collecting myself. Trevor came back to the bed. I met his gaze, and he smiled. I returned the smile as I sat up.

  He held out his hand, and I placed mine in his palm as he tugged me to a stand. Not letting go, he laced his fingers with mine and led me out of the room to the kitchen.

  When we entered, Wyatt glanced at us, then down to our hands. A tic formed in his jaw. He wasn’t sold on the relationship thing. Not that I was asking them to commit to me.

  Pushing away the unwanted emotions, I focused on creating some mental shields against the guys. Not to block them out completely, just so the constant whirlwind of jealousy, pain, and sadness didn’t overwhelm. I needed to think.

  I released Trevor’s hand and took a seat next to Zane. My wolf mate let out a growl. “What did you just do?”

  “She’s blocking us,” Dimitri said as he sat on the other side of me, setting down the platter of waffles, reheated from earlier.

  I stabbed a couple and placed them on my plate. “I can’t think with all the tension.

  Instantly, Zane stood, jerked my chair away from the table, and then picked me up. Once he settled back in his chair with me in his lap, he dragged my plate over. “Eat.”

  Confused, I glanced at the others. Wyatt narrowed his eyes at Zane with his hands in fists as if ready to take on the wolf. I didn’t need to feel his emotions to see the concern in his grey depths. Trevor looked at me, gauging my response. Dimitri continued to eat but glanced at me with an apologetic smile.

  Clarity hit me when Zane whispered so low only I could hear it, “Don’t shut me out.”

  Sagging against him, I reached up and cupped face. His Pack had shut him out. Had shunned him because he was marked by a demon. With a sigh, I spoke to the group. “The four of you should make a schedule. I need to have equal time with each of you for this thing to work. We train as a group to learn to connect through the mark and work together to defeat Salrus.”

  Wyatt nodded. “I can draft one up, and we will talk about it later. Should I add Wade to the schedule?”

  “Yes.”

  Dimitri spoke up then. “Wade? Is he staying?”

  I shrugged. “He wants to. He can take physical form and is connected to us.”

  My comment was more for Zane than the others. I’d grown to like Wade. Plus, Wyatt needed his brother.

  “Good. Wade will be able to help us.” Zane kissed the back of my neck, and I shivered while holding in a groan.

  Just then, Wade materialized, became solid, and took a seat next to Wyatt, tossing a tablet on the table. “I copied as many of their archives as I could. They are holding some kind of secret meeting tonight, so I’ll go back and listen in.”

  I picked up the tablet and studied it. “Where did you get this?”

  “From Wyatt and Trevor’s place.” Wade grinned.

  I laughed and opened the folder marked archives. “Do you think you can check with the ghosts in the ritual room to see which ones are willing to help you? Assemble a small group to back you up?”

  Wade bobbed his head. “Sure.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered as I read through some of the files. There was a whole section on demonology that I was sure wasn’t taught in the covens. I’d have Dimitri read the notes later. Right now, I was scanning for keywords like mating, marking, and for names that stuck out. The Council noted everything, including things they didn’t want others to know. Mom spilled so many of the bastards’ secrets to me while we were on the run.

  Then the words demonic children caught my attention. According to the Council, demons couldn’t have children. About a millennium ago, a group of very powerful witches—the Council founders—cursed all demons so
no more would be able to have children. “It says here that the Council cast a curse over demons so they couldn’t have kids. Then killed most of the females. Others died at the hands of the males because they couldn’t bear their children. Then how am I half demon?”

  Dimitri met my gaze. “There were stories that demons who escaped the Underworld would kidnap female witches and other paras. The demons would take them to the Underworld where they would rape them and force them to bear their young.”

  He paused and glanced down at his plate. “I thought it was just stories told to keep us away from dark magic and stop us from summoning demons.”

  Zane tightened his arms around me. “Similar stories were told in the Packs. My Alpha training included keeping the Pack, especially the females, safe from demons and witches who performed dark magic. Our stories said demons would destroy the entire den and take the females.”

  No wonder he was stripped of his Alpha heir title. Being marked would raise fear and chaos in the den. They would believe Zane would hand over the females to the demons.

  “Mom said demons govern themselves. That a war broke out between the worlds and that Lucifer locked down all gates to keep the demons in and all others out.” I wondered if it was the Council who started the war. It would make sense. They mistrusted anyone who was stronger than they were and those who showed any signs of dark powers.

  “I still think our priority is the demon,” Wyatt said, drawing my attention back to him. “He is too focused on killing you. The Council must have promised him something in exchange for your death.”

  Trevor nodded. “It has to be worth more than a half-demon female who could carry a demon’s child.”

  I froze and locked gazes with him. I’d never thought that I would be a mother period, let alone have kids with a demon. “Salrus could sell me in Hell. Get a lot of…whatever monetary items they use. Power, probably.”

  Zane growled. The sound vibrated through me. “He won’t kill you or sell you in Hell.”

  He spoke like an Alpha laying down the law. In that moment, I loved his strength and command. It comforted me. Without him speaking the words, I knew he would die for me. Like any shifter would die for their mate…

  Pushing that last thought out of my head, I agreed with Wyatt. “We focus on Salrus. Wade will dig some more for what the Council offered the demon. It might even be in the archives that he stole.” I held up the tablet. “But we need to train, build our physical and magical strengths before we can set a trap for the demon.”

  “Are you done eating?” Zane’s warm breath tickled my neck.

  “Yes. Why?” I turned in his lap to look at him.

  He rose to his feet, taking me with him. I wrapped my legs around him. “Then we should relax and watch a movie or something. Tomorrow, we start training.”

  The guys all nodded and followed us into the living room.

  Once there, Zane sat me on the sofa and then settled against my left side. Wyatt sat on my right, while Trevor sat on his other side. Dimitri started a movie before settling on the floor at my feet.

  A sense of family filled my soul. Each of them cared. I sensed it through the demon mark that linked us together. The need to be close to them swirled inside my heart. I could get used to this.

  And I was in danger of losing my heart to each of them.

  Chapter 12

  I must have dozed off at some point during the movie because I opened my eyes to the credits rolling. The smell of earth and cedar filled my senses. Zane. His warmth surrounded me, comforting and protecting.

  On my other side, Wyatt stood and stretched with his hands linked over his head. When he finished, he met my stare and smiled. Then, to my surprise, he leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Night.”

  I glanced at Trevor behind him, who had a ghost of a smile, then back to Wyatt. “Night.”

  They left the room. I watched them go. A sudden feeling of loss passed over me before I shook it off.

  Dimitri came up on his knees and faced me. Smiling, I reached out and cupped his cheek. “Are you leaving me, too?”

  His lips lifted at the corners, and his nose crinkled. “Only until the morning.” He placed a quick kiss on my lips and whispered, “Zane wants you to himself tonight.”

  He did? “We’re going to have to do something about all the conversations where I’m not included.”

  Dimitri laughed and pushed to his feet. “Goodnight, Reese.”

  I sat up and glared at Zane. His features didn’t give away anything as he stood. Unlike the others, he didn’t leave me. He scooped me up in his arms and carried me across the foyer to the downstairs bedroom I was staying in.

  The sheets were cool and soothing against my bare arms as he laid me on the bed. I instantly scooted over, giving him room to stretch out beside me. He rolled to face me, and I melted under his intense, desire-filled gaze. His wolf peeked out at me from behind his green eyes.

  A strand of his blond hair fell onto his forehead and covered one eye. I brushed it aside, my fingers grazing his skin. He closed his eyes briefly and inhaled deeply. So calm, yet dangerous. “How can your wolf be so okay with the others touching me?”

  It was a question that had bothered me most of the day. Maybe since he saw Dimitri and me kiss. Was he silently plotting his friends’ deaths for touching me?

  “My wolf claims the others, too. Just not as a mate. Not like he does you. The guys and I have been friends since we were young. Now, they are my only family, my Pack.” He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. Warmth shuddered through me.

  “But even in a Pack fights break out. Jealousy and possessiveness are part of your nature.”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t say it would be easy. When I saw you and D…”

  My heart sank. What had I done? I’d encouraged this…whatever this was. It would be on my shoulders if the relationship tore them apart. “So, you aren’t silently plotting their deaths?”

  A flash of dark green rippled in his stare. “Maybe at first.” A lazy smile formed, telling me he was teasing. “Am I jealous? Yes. Would I deny them the opportunity to seek you out? No.”

  “Why?” I needed to understand. Especially from his viewpoint. In essence, he was the Alpha of the group, and for the benefit of his animal half, I needed to allow it to be that way. I sensed that the others felt the same way. It was what they’d done for so long, I guessed they didn’t realize they’d fallen into roles of a Pack.

  He shrugged. “Maybe it’s the demon mark, maybe it’s the way it should be. Who knows? I do know that I can’t lose them or you. So we’ve come to an agreement.”

  “What kind of agreement?”

  Another chuckle escaped him. Reaching out, he snaked his arm around my waist and tugged me close then rolled to his back so I lay across him with my head on his chest. “We share you. We each love you, take care of you, and protect you. Even once the marks are removed, they won’t be able to walk away. I think my wolf connected with them a long time ago. They will always want you as I do. Our issues and jealousies are ours to deal with. So don’t try to fix it.”

  I smiled. “I will not stop worrying about tearing you five apart.”

  “If anything tears us apart, it’ll be your demonic father.”

  “I will kill him before I allow him to hurt you.” The words came out as a growl, and I didn’t realize until that moment that I also felt the mating urge. The drive to protect what was mine. “We still need to figure out how you guys will be affected by bonding with me since I’m a demon.”

  He kissed my forehead. “Half-demon. It couldn’t be worse than being marked by your father. I think you’re worrying too much. We need to focus on one thing at a time.”

  I sighed. “You’re right. Let’s focus on Salrus and ending him.”

  “In the meantime, we train. I also want you to get to know the others more. Find out their strengths and weaknesses. We will build on our strengths and work to overcome the weaknesses.” He pulled me farther up his bo
dy until I straddled him. His eyes flared with desire. “Right now, I want you. I can’t wait any longer.”

  I needed him, too. Needed to feel our connection, draw from his strength. Bending down, I pressed my lips to his. A spark of raw pleasure shot through my system. His hands gripped my hips, squeezing.

  There were too many clothes between us. I tugged at his shirt. He gripped my hands and tossed me onto my back. I bounced on the mattress and laughed.

  It took him seconds to strip. I fought a groan as I marveled over his lean, muscular, sun-kissed body. A dusting of light hair covered his chest. My hands itched to touch him, to run my hands over every inch of him.

  He climbed on the bed in a slow prowl, not removing his heated gaze from mine. When he hovered over me, he undid my jeans and tugged them over my hips, taking my panties with them. The slow act of him undressing me heightened my desire more. I was growing impatient.

  A lazy smile spread across his face as if he knew my thoughts. Which he probably did. We were linked via a demon mark and a mating urge.

  After discarding my pants and underwear, he crawled back onto the bed. A low growl escaped him, sending shivers and pinpricks of desire over my flesh. I groaned and rubbed my thighs together. The ache between my legs was too much. I needed release.

  I tugged off my shirt and threw it on the floor. My bra followed shortly after. Sitting up, I reached for him, but he grabbed my wrist and pushed me down again. He pinned my arms to either side of my head and lowered himself between my legs.

  “Zane. Please.”

  He chuckled and then nuzzled my neck. “As much as I’d love to tease the fuck out of you, it’ll have to wait. Right now, I need to be so deep inside you it hurts.”

  Yes. Gods, yes.

  With a quick thrust, he entered me. I gasped at the invasion and fisted my hands. Pleasure assailed me, washing over me in wave after wave. Each thrust pushed me further over the edge. I wrapped my legs around him, drawing him in deeper.

  Zane let go of my hands and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly. Then he bit me. The sharp pain from his fangs puncturing my skin made me cry out, then moan as pleasure took over. He was claiming me. Marking me.