by Nikki Jacks
I thought about my guys and how I longed to see them. I wanted to tell them I was sorry—and while I didn’t understand everything about mates, I did love them and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
I wanted to be honest with them about my parents and how they hadn’t really loved me; they’d loved the idea of me and the social power and standing I could provide for them. I wanted to explain how I’d heard them making plans to basically sell me to Marlon so they would have greater wealth and influence in the city.
More than anything, I wanted to see my mates again so I could apologize for being such a stupid brat. For demanding they give me independence when all they wanted to do was love me. I remembered Drake and Lance talking about how true strength was being able to recognize where we were weak and finding the people who could help strengthen those weaknesses.
As I sat, fighting tears and wishing I could see Evan, Drake, and Lance, I heard yelling somewhere in the house, followed by roars.
The door to the room I was being held in flew open and Marlon scurried to the bedside. “Get up, bitch. You are more trouble than you are worth. Your parents promised you could be controlled when they agreed to marry you off to me. When I brought you back, they said they were going to give me a potion that would keep you compliant.
“I paid good money for you! And what do you do? You take off to that backwater, frozen wasteland and start fucking three men! Well, no more. Get up! We’re leaving! We’re getting that potion from your parents, and then I’m getting what’s mine. By the end of the week, we’ll be mated!”
“I don’t think so, Marlon. I could never be yours. Those men you’re raving about? They are my mates. They are going to come for me, and when they find me, gods help you.”
“We’re here, fe’yanil. Didn’t I tell you I would always be there for you? I’m just sorry it took us so long.”
At the sound of Evan’s voice, I felt like collapsing. I looked at the door and my breath caught. My fae warrior was glorious. He was dressed in lightweight pants and some type of leather vest. I couldn’t see any weapons, but I knew that Evan was formidable.
Marlon grabbed my arm and pulled me up. He put me in front of him with a dagger held at my throat. I’d known the sickly jackal was a coward, but I hadn’t realized just how much.
“Let her go, jackal, and your end will be swift. It is the best I can promise you.”
“No way, fairy. She’s mine. I paid her parents good money to make sure she married me, and I’m taking what’s mine. You are going to back up and let us go. If not, I can make her not so pretty. I’d like to keep her looks, but her hair can grow out to cover a couple of scars.”
Evan raised his hands and began backing out of the room. He moved down the hallway steadily, eyes trained on Marlon and the dagger at my throat. As we stepped into the front room, he did that flash thing he’d done to get to the shop to stop the delivery guy.
I felt hands at my waist jerk me from Marlon. Before I could blink, Marlon was screaming and covered in fur. Evan pushed my head into his chest and the world dissolved. When I felt whole, we were standing on a sidewalk outside one of Marlon’s houses. I heard a screech and was wrapped up in sobbing selkie.
“You heifer! How could you let the sickly jackal take you?”
“Good to see you too, Maryn. I wouldn’t so much say I let him as he got the drop on me.”
“Good thing for you that your mates are completely useless.”
“Wait, what? Mates? You know?”
“Of course; I am a shifter, we know all about mate bonds.”
Before I could say anything, I heard two roars that rattled the windows in nearby houses. I spun around, and I am unashamed to say my jaw dropped. Standing side by side on the front steps were the most beautiful leopards I’d ever seen. I started walking toward them before I could form thoughts.
I stepped up to the leopard on the right. “Thank you for coming for me, Drake.” I kneeled and hugged him around the neck. His fur was thick and soft and glowed in the sunlight. Drake chuffed and rubbed his cheek along my head.
Lance gave a little whine, letting me know his brother had gotten too much attention. I chuckled as I turned to the snow leopard. His patterning was mesmerizing. The gray eyes that were usually so full of laughter were steady and a little sad as they stared at me.
I leaned over and kissed Lance’s nose. “Thank you, Lance, for chasing me when I didn’t know I wanted it.” I wrapped my arms around Lance, hugging him close. Lance’s purr was deep and comforting as he rubbed his massive head against me.
I stood and looked at Evan. He’d given me time with Lance and Drake, but I needed him too. I walked down the stairs into his arms. “I was so scared, Evan. Thank you.”
“Always, my fe’yanil. Now, we need to address your parents, and I believe your friend Maryn has promised to beat the three of us for our deception and allowing you to be taken.”
I chuckled, knowing that Maryn had indeed said those words to my guys, my mates.
“Can’t we just go home? We need to talk and I want a hot shower to get jackal ick off me. Trust me, my parents aren’t going anywhere. They can be dealt with later.”
Maryn stepped up, “I’m glad you’re safe. Get back to Silver Springs. I think it’s time that Wanderlust Travel found all the offerings your fair town has to offer. I’ll plan a scouting trip soon and we’ll catch up then.”
I hugged my best friend and let my mates lead me home.
39
A few days later
Lotus
Things had been tense on the plane. Lance and Drake had shifted once we’d got back to the vehicle they’d rented. Once they were dressed, we headed back to the airport and the private plane waiting to take us back to Silver Springs.
I’d been lost in my head trying to process all that Marlon had said about my parents. I still couldn’t believe that they’d basically pimped me to the jackal. I knew my parents were obsessed with money and status, but I never thought they’d resort to selling me to someone so disgusting, with promises of potions to keep me compliant, no less!
A warm hand on my thigh brought me out of my head.
“Fe’yanil, please talk to us. Are you injured? Did that filth hurt you?”
“No, he didn’t. Whatever he used to drug me outside of Vee was very strong. I haven’t been awake for very long. I was trying to let the rest of the drug clear out of my system so I could work on getting out of there.”
Lance’s voice was edged with panic. “Lotus, babe, I’m so sorry! If I hadn’t chased after you, he wouldn’t have gotten you. Please forgive me. I would never put you in danger.”
“He would have found a way to get to me. He’d been in Silver Springs for a while. He knew who you guys were and about the shop.”
“Kitten, I’m so sorry. We never should have kept things from you. We should have been honest from the beginning and helped you understand.”
When I looked at Drake, I could see how contrite he was.
“You should have been honest. I know I wasn’t ready for mates when we first met, but if you’d explained things to me and proposed the arrangement we have now, I would have listened and tried to be accepting. I can’t say for sure I would have been—you saw why I left New Orleans—but at least I would have understood things.”
“Babe, what can we do to earn your forgiveness? We fucked this all up and we don’t want you to leave us. I wasn’t lying earlier when I said we love you and we’d die without you.” Lance’s panic had become frantic.
Evan cleared his throat and leveled a stern look my way. “You are correct in this, Lotus, but you also should have told us about this Marlon. I know you shared with me that you moved because you didn’t want to be forced into marrying the man picked out for you by your parents. You didn’t mention that he was dangerous, and you never told Drake and Lance.”
I hung my head in shame, knowing that Evan was right. Hadn’t my inner voice told me the same thing?
“You’re right. I should have been upfront with you in your office. And I should have made sure the three of you knew about Marlon. I mean, what if he’d decided to hurt you before taking me? I couldn’t live with myself if I’d done something that caused one of you to end up hurt or dead.
The guys got out of their seats and surrounded me. Their comforting strokes and murmured reassurances settled some of my anxiousness. I thought about Lance’s question and giggled. I looked up to the guys’ questioning glances.
“Funnily enough, Rose at Vee? She gave me some good advice, and I think I’m going to follow it.”
The guys had hounded me about Rose’s advice the rest of the way back to Silver Springs. I wouldn’t tell them what she’d said. Once we’d gotten home, I’d gotten the full princess treatment. We all went back to Evan’s house, sans Phoenix.
A bubble bath had been drawn for me, and the guys had scrubbed me from head to toe, making sure I felt like the jackal ick was gone. Once I was clean, Evan had made us omelets. We’d sat in the living room and I told the guys about the conclusions I’d made at Vee and once I’d woken up in New Orleans.
I told them I did feel as though they were my mates, but I wasn’t ready to claim anyone yet. I was still feeling shaky after everything, and the guys agreed to give me some time and space.
That had been two days ago, and I’d been treated like delicate china since then. We’d been staying at Evan’s so we could be together. The guys brought my bed from the apartment and I begrudgingly arranged for a bed of my own to be delivered.
Now that I’d acknowledged the guys were my mates, my body wanted to claim them. My earworm—which Evan had explained were fae mating chimes—was going off constantly. It was a good thing we’d decided to keep the shop closed for a few more days. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on customers with the chimes going off non-stop.
I’d woken up this morning and decided enough was enough. I took a shower and made sure everything was shaved and primped. I didn’t bother with makeup, but I did put on the sexiest lingerie I had at Evan’s and a robe.
I walked into the kitchen to see the guys standing with coffee. They quit talking when I walked in, and I knew the discussion was about me. I quirked an eyebrow and let the robe drop to the floor.
“I need something, and you guys are giving it to me. I’m going upstairs to take care of it unless you’d like to join me.” Declaration made, I turned and walked out the room. Once I was out of sight, I sprinted to my room. I could hear pounding footsteps and was caught around the waist.
“My little fe’yanil is needy and was going to take care of it herself? I don’t think so.”
“Please, Evan, I need you guys. I’m going crazy and I need you now. No more waiting, please!” I couldn’t stand the whine in my voice, but my body was in control of things and we were going to do this.
Evan walked me back to his room. He laid me on the bed and spoke to Lance and Drake. “Our mate is needy. I think it is time we claim her. Is this what you want, fe’yanil?”
“Yes!”
The guys stripped down and then looked at each other.
Evan looked at my snow leopard. “Lance, you claim our mate first. Your leopard has been denied the longest, give him his mate.”
Lance swallowed thickly and forced out, “Thank you.”
Climbing onto the bed, Lance kneeled by my side and looked at me. “You are beautiful, Lotus. Can I claim you? Will you take my mating mark?”
Seeing Lance’s leopard staring at me, I nodded my head. “Yes, Lance. Claim me!”
At that, Lance leaned over and kissed me. His hands roamed my body as he learned my mouth again. I felt hands pulling my panties down. I lifted my hips. Lance broke our kiss only to start kissing down my neck. When he got to my chest, he kissed the tops of my breasts and then took my bra-clad nipple into his mouth.
Using his tongue to moisten the fabric, he pulled back and blew cold air directly on my nipple. The sensation of hot to cold was intense, and I felt the wetness between my thighs as my body responded. As one, all three of my mates inhaled and then groaned.
“You smell so sweet, kitten. I can’t help but remember our time in my office.”
“Mine,” Lance growled out and slipped his hands behind me. He had my bra off in seconds and then just stared at me. “Perfection.”
Resuming his assault on my breasts, one of Lance’s hands slipped between my thighs. He crooked a finger into my entrance and brought it back glistening. He traced his finger over the nipple he hadn’t tasted and then licked up my body’s offering.
“So good! I’m going to do that with whipped cream one day, babe.”
With a shaky voice, Lance declared, “I can’t wait anymore, Lotus, I’ve got to claim you. My cat won’t wait now that you’re ready.”
Looking at him with love and acceptance, I stated, “Claim me, Lance.”
Shifting between my thighs, Lance leaned down and kissed me. He grabbed his cock and rubbed it up and down my pussy. The feel of his silken steel was electrifying.
Lance was making sure his head was rubbing over my clit with each pass. I knew I wasn’t going to last long if Lance kept this up, so I wrapped my legs around his hips and squeezed.
“No more playing, mate.”
“Watch out, Lance, the kitten has claws.”
Lance just chuckled as he slid into my body. Lance was wider than Drake and stretched me beautifully. I was over the hump and sliding down the mountain to Orgasm Town already. Lance slid his arms under my shoulders and cradled my head. The position was intimate and blocked any view I might have of Drake and Evan.
Lance stared into my eyes. “Lotus, my mate. I love you with all that I am, and I claim you as mine for all our lives. I will live for you and lay down my life for you. Always.”
With Lance’s heartfelt declaration, I shattered. My back arched, and my neck was exposed. Lance bit into the crook where my shoulder and neck met. The bite only intensified my orgasm. Releasing me, Lance roared out his release and let his head drop to the mattress.
It took a few minutes for us to catch our breath, but once we did, I grinned at the guys.
“Rose’s advice was to come home and have glorious make-up sex. We’ve gotten started, but you guys have more making up to do.”
The rest of the day was spent with us claiming one another and glorying in our newfound love. Now that I’d had tastes, I was ready to have a three-scoop Jizz Cream sundae.
The next day, I was sore but ready to open the shop. I was headed to the front door of Evan’s house when a knock sounded. I opened the door to see the tallest leprechaun ever standing there.
“I’m looking for a red-headed fae by the name of Phoenix Rose Kallyx. Seen her around?”
The End
Need more?
Moonlit Nephrite by Mia Harlan & Eva Delaney
https://geni.us/Nephrite
Want more? Visit Silver Springs’ sister town, Moonlit Falls starting with Moonlit Nephrite.
Nephrite’s ex said she was a failure. She proved him wrong by opening a magical café. When it might get shut down, can her four fated mates help save it?
https://geni.us/Nephrite
If you liked Lotus, you’ll love these other Spell Library books:
Violet by Mia Harlan
Juniper by Eva Delaney
Lupine by Hanleigh Bradley
Calluna by Jewels Arthur
Dahlia by Tabitha Barret
Willow by Elena Gray
Tiger Lily by May Dawson
Sage by J.E. Cluney
Iris by Aspen Black
Buttercup by Helen Scott
Magnolia by Melissa Adams
Jasmine by Crystal North
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Acknowledgments
I want to scre
am a huge thank you to the Silver Springs authors and fans. You guys read my submission and decided I was worth taking a chance on – thank you so much for the opportunity!
Mia, Eva, Jewels, Helen, and Aspen: thank you for letting Amber, Sapphire, Rose, Buttercup and Igor come out to play. You were all a dream to work with and I had a great time collaborating with you all.
Josie Cluney: You made Lotus come to life. The cover is beautiful, thank you for working through the changes and never letting me see your irritation.
Jewels Arthur: Thanks for all the great graphics. You never told me no and created beautiful images.
Mae Baum: Thank you for your help with the blurb for Lotus. You took my too many words and made me want to read her story.
Angie K & Eliza: Thank you for being fantastic Alpha Readers. You guys took the ride with me and helped create something wonderful. Thank you ladies!
Kaye Kemp: Thank you for editing Lotus and helping me craft her into something better!
Meg: Thank you for the quick proofread and fantastic suggestions. My brain thought those things sounded okay.
Lyndsey: Thanks for being my ride or die! I hope you love Maryn as much as Lotus and I do.
Eliza: You know Phoenix is all you, and I’m so glad all of you is in my life.
Laissez le bon temps rouler !
Angie T: You are probably the most instrumental person in getting this book written. You gave me days off, held me accountable to writing and encouraged me so much. Thanks for seeing what could be and pushing me to go for it!