by M F Adele
“And when they won’t submit…” Blaire trailed off, closing her eyes as she twisted her head away from the conversation.
“That’s the law of the pack, Blaire. It keeps the disobedient in line. There are more alpha types in this crowd than you realize. Having the threat of public humiliation or death lumbering over their choices usually makes them think twice.”
I gripped her arm, curling the corners of my lips to resemble a smile, but I understood her reservations.
As an apprentice, I’d had quite a few fights.
I hated the challenges.
But I watched on as my mate prevailed.
Sloane hooked her arm underneath the wolf’s neck, using the forward momentum to swing her right leg over Anna’s back. She locked her knees against the wolf’s rib cage, pushing herself up like a jockey riding a horse as she grabbed ahold of sensitive, brown ears.
Anna’s head whipped side-to-side, sharp teeth biting into Barbie’s calves.
Jack snorted. “She’ll ride a wolf, but not a horse. I’m not that much bigger.”
I rubbed my hand up my neck, snorting back at him. “Wanna compare? I’m not that small either.”
“Oh, that’s—” Novak started before Jack cut in.
“Not what I meant. That’s definitely not what I meant.” The hellsteed slashed his hands and then folded his arms over his chest. “I’m just going to shut up now.”
Blaire grinned. “Please. Do continue. I’m enjoying this conversation.”
I shook my head at them, wincing when skin hit the ground in front of me.
Anna had torn a chunk of flesh from Barbie’s ankle. The meat attached wasn’t the usual pink of healthy muscle.
“That’s where the Komodo dragon bit her,” Stone commented. “I’ve been counting the minutes to see how long it would take her to heal from his venom. It’s been sixty-two.”
“The rest of her leg looks fine,” I acknowledged.
He shrugged, disagreeing but not wanting to talk about it with so many people around.
My eyes traced over Sloane’s body, scanning for any tells or tics about things that may be bothering her or causing pain. She didn’t seem fazed by anything right now, but I could feel her anger through our bond, the finality of her next movements.
She flung herself off Anna’s back, landing in a crouch about ten feet away from us. Anna’s wolf lashed out, claws extended to swipe at Sloane.
Barbie caught the brown wolf’s paw with her left hand, using her right hand to bend it backward, snapping it at the joint. Alpha power rolled off her in tangible waves, forcing Anna to shift again.
When I glanced around the amassed crowd, all the shifters had dropped to their knees except Charlie and me.
Baylor cut his eyes up at me, tilting his head to the right. The Colorado faction alpha glared at me, his eyes murderous as I smirked back at him.
Sloane had her hand around the back of Anna’s neck. She followed my line of sight, snapping her attention from the faction alpha back to me.
“I’ve already warned him that his life is in yours and Baylor’s hands. Would you like me to take care of that problem today too?”
Her gaze bounced between Bay and me as she questioned us. Her voice neared an echo as her demon roiled beneath the surface of her skin, ready to protect anyone she thought of as her treasure.
I’d have to remember to explain the significance of that to Bay later.
My brother shook his head. “No. Let him sweat it out. He’s too weak to be a real threat.”
Barbie shrugged, indifferent to his response.
The Colorado faction alpha would be at the top of her to-kill list when we got a break.
She nodded her head to the struggling woman in her grasp. “Would you like her heart now?”
“I’m sorry,” Vaughn said, cocking his head as he looked at me. “What are we doing?”
I knew I hadn’t given her an answer earlier. Truth be told, I hadn’t wanted to at the time.
I studied her eyes, heavier in glowing green and fiery red than normal. And I didn’t know how she knew what I’d want when I didn’t know the answer myself, but when she asked so casually…
“Briggs?” Barbie called, waiting patiently for my reply.
I tossed my arm over the fae’s shoulders, smiling at my mate and him. “I’m going to stomp on her heart.”
“Of course, you are,” he drawled, sarcastically adding, “Because the Devil forbids we do anything without covering ourselves in a blood sacrifice first.”
Stone chuckled, crossing over the rope to stand behind Anna, replacing Sloane’s hand on the back of her neck with his own. She tried to fight against him, snarling when his talons extended to pierce her skin.
Barbie squatted down in front of her, placing her index finger under Anna’s chin.
“My mate wants your heart,” she murmured. “And I want to keep your soul as a trophy. I have a beautiful glass box to preserve you in. You can give your heart willingly, and I’ll grant you a quick and merciful death—”
“Fuck you.” Anna spat, and I grimaced.
York leaned forward, whispering, “Wrong answer.”
Sloane wiped her cheek, continuing to speak in that calm voice that let everyone know she was teetering on the edge of homicidal rage.
“I really hate spit, you know? I can see you’ve made your choice. Personally, I would have chosen the first option. At least there was no immediate suffering.”
Anna laughed in her face. “You think you’re such a bad bitch, beca—”
The grin on Sloane’s face was vicious as she slowly trailed her finger from Anna’s chin down her chest.
“I don’t think I’m a bad bitch, Anna. I know what I am.”
Her finger stopped where Anna’s ribcage met, and she sighed.
“I’m also a smart bitch, but I don’t hear you calling me that. How about a devious bitch? Or maybe an angry bitch? Protective bitch?”
Barbie pursed her lips, shrugging one shoulder. “Not only am I the druid’s princess, the High Coven Mistress of Vampyre, and the Third Devil... I’m your new Supreme Alpha, and you’re in my den.”
With her right hand, she pushed Anna’s hair behind her ear, leaning in to whisper, “I tried to play nice, but it’s not really my style. You should have been more careful about whose mates you were fucking with.”
I heard the ripping of flesh as Sloane’s talons grew from her nails, slicing across the skin beneath Anna’s ribs.
She tried not to scream, but it didn’t last long. Her enraged shrieking made my ears ring. Several of the shifters in the pack winced as they covered their own ears.
Pained wails left the she-wolf’s mouth as my mate pried her ribs apart with the utmost care. Every crack of her bones brought goosebumps to my arms, though I didn’t feel a single ounce of remorse.
Anna deserved much worse than what she was getting.
Sloane was precise with every cut and break, causing the most pain without her victim losing consciousness. It made me wonder how many times she’d killed someone with this method, but I didn’t want the exact number.
Her hand disappeared into Anna’s chest cavity, and she blew the she-wolf a kiss before removing her hand, heart in tow.
As Sloane backed away, Stone released his hold on Anna’s neck. Her limp body tumbled to the ground, blood pooling around her as it poured from her open chest.
My mate studied the heart in her hand, humming as she grinned. “They’re always smaller than I expect them to be.”
“It’s all muscle,” Jack chimed in. “You’d be surprised at how filling they are.”
“I’m not going to taste it.”
Vaughn cleared his throat, lifting his index finger. “Questions. Is there a reason why you’re still holding that? And is it possible to not fight on the weekends?”
Barbie passed the heart to me, and I tried not to think about the wet warmth of it as it sat in my palm. Squishing it under my boot had been the ide
a, but I’d forgotten that I was barefoot.
“Okay. The last time I said this, it was an unintentional lie, but I promise that was the last one,” she told me. “I won’t kill any more of your exes. If there’s a next time, then I’ll just ask one of the guys to do it.”
The hellsteed cackled, holding his hand out to me. “Don’t stomp on it. I’m starving.”
“The weekends are busy,” Sloane sassed to the fae as she picked fur off her black shirt.
“Yer covered in blood... Again. Why are ye worried about the hair on yer clothes?” Palmer inquired.
York laughed suddenly, and she narrowed her eyes at him before turning to the rest of us.
“Don’t laugh,” she warned, observing as the crowd thinned.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” the mage shot back.
Jack snorted, and Grim swatted at him.
“What?” he asked the reaper. “It’s funny, and you fucking know it. We’re her best friends. We can laugh.”
She groaned, tossing her head back to stare at the night sky. “I think I’m allergic to myself.”
Palmer uncrossed his arms to cover his twitching lips with the tips of his fingers, his eyebrows nearly disappearing into his hairline.
Novak tilted his head, squinting at her as if he could see through her lies.
Vaughn opened and closed his mouth, a fish out of water as he tried to find something to say.
Stone tucked his hands under his arms, not even attempting to hide his amusement.
York outright chortled. He'd already known, or at least suspected.
“I fucking knew it,” I blurted, slapping my hand over my mouth when she glared at me.
“I mean, that’s very unfortunate to hear, Barbie. Have you tried allergy medicine or bathing your fur regularly?”
“You’re so funny,” she deadpanned, her facial features blank, but her eyes danced in mirth.
I bowed. “Thanks. I’m here for eternity.”
She stalked forward, her narrowed eyes lighting up as a brilliant smile stretched across her red lips.
“You are, aren’t you?”
Her bloodied hand slid into my hair, and she pulled me down to meet her mouth. My tongue mingled with hers, my hands roaming down her body. I cupped her thighs, picking her up to press her against me.
I heard a gag and a grunt.
“What? It’s been years since I’ve had to see him kiss anyone, and I could have gone years more,” Baylor admitted too loudly.
I pulled my right hand away from Barbie, middle fingers raised to let him know he could get fucked. Blaire cackled as Novak complained.
“Now you know how I feel, Bay. Seeing you with my sister is enough to—”
“Don’t,” Jack interrupted. “Neither of you have it bad. I’ve had to listen to Lo’s filthy thoughts for weeks, and I’m just so fucking relieved that she’s decided to not share them with me anymore…”
He sighed deeply. “So, no. You guys haven’t had to see anything that your siblings are doing. I don’t want to hear your griping.”
Barbie grinned against my lips as I pulled us into the Void, and Jack shouted, “Godsdamnit, bitch! Why would you show me that?”
22
Sloane
Saturday, June 6th
Late Night
I had only a brief moment to realize that Briggs had pulled us into the Void before we stepped out into his bathroom. The rips in my clothes allowed the cold tiles to touch my bare skin as he pushed me against the wall. His lips never left mine.
He turned the water on, and cool droplets splashed my cheek as they bounced off him. I removed our clothing without much thought, basking in the low growl that reverberated from deep within his chest.
My adrenaline had subsided after all the fighting, but gods did it leave me in a state of need.
I didn’t care about washing the blood away.
I just wanted more; needed more to bring me down from this high.
“There’s time,” he whispered against my lips. “Slow down. I’m not going to fuck you while you smell like someone else.”
I groaned like death was imminent if we paused for even a moment. As if his dick was the single most important thing in the universe: the key to survival, the savior of mankind.
When I mumbled my thoughts aloud, he ducked his head, chuckling at me.
“You’re being dramatic, Barbie. You can wait three minutes.”
“I can’t. I really, really can’t.”
I counted every second in my head.
One hundred and eighty-seven seconds later, the water shut off. I was a panting fucking mess.
He tossed me a towel, snorting when I twirled my index finger to dry us off.
“That’s—” he cut himself off. “Doesn’t fucking matter. Come here.”
I lunged, thrilled when his arms wrapped around me to lift me up. I locked my ankles against his back as his fingers teased the insides of my thighs.
Briggs stumbled out of the bathroom, his lips on a dangerous path down my neck. The scent of flora was heavy in the air, and the furniture wasn’t quite right.
With the lights dimmed, I couldn’t be sure, but I thought we might be in the wrong room.
Not that it was important.
I was too worked up to care if anyone else joined us.
I wanted more.
I wanted the buffet.
To fill myself to the brim.
To take all the pleasure for no reason other than the greed in the forefront of my mind.
My back collided with the wooden trim around the doorframe. The edges dug into my left shoulder blade with a pinch of pain. I bucked my hips, feeling his cock slide through my slick folds only to have him pull back.
“How much more do you want, Barbie?”
The seductive rumble of his voice sent shivers coursing through my entire body. Goosebumps tingled along my arms as he leaned in to speak directly in my ear.
“Tell me. Who else are you coming for tonight? Who’s going to fuck your ass while I make that tight pussy mine?”
“I won’t choose,” I murmured, my rasping words echoing in the quiet room. “I want it all, in every combination I can get. I want to use and be used.”
“Call them,” he commanded.
I let my legs fall away from his waist, my toes barely touching the ground as he refused to let me go. Pushing at his chest, I directed him backward with both of my hands on his pecs. I shoved him onto the bed when his legs hit the edge, delighting in the surprise on his face.
And I dripped in anticipation.
I prowled toward him on my hands and knees as he moved to the center of the bed. Pulling my hair over my shoulder, I swirled my tongue around the head of his cock before glancing up at him. A smirk graced my lips as his hands gripped the planks of wood that made up... York’s headboard.
I summoned my druid to me as I bobbed my head on Briggs’ dick.
The doorknob turned seconds later, and I felt not only York’s but Palmer’s presence too.
“What did we—”
The door slammed shut as my mage shouted, “What the fuck, York?”
I listened to my druid’s heavy footfalls crossing the room. His shoes hit the ground as the bed dipped behind me. I moaned around my wolf’s cock, knowing exactly what York was going to do.
With my head lowered and my back arched, my ass was up.
My druid had always had a preference.
York buried his face between my buttcheeks, his tongue trailing from my soaked core to my star—I regretted that thought immediately. I heard his laughter mentally, but he didn’t pause as he rimmed me.
The door swung open and closed, Palmer’s light footsteps moving through the room before he stopped on the right side of the bed.
“That escalated quickly,” he whispered to himself.
I pulled away from Briggs, grinning up at my mage as I admitted, “Not as fast as I planned.”
Briggs snatched me up, rolling to the edge
of the bed with his hands rough around my ribcage. He dropped me in his lap. York groaned, jumping up to amble to his nightstand. His shirt flew through the air as he discarded his clothes.
My wolf rocked, the head of his dick meeting resistance as he pressed into me. I held Palmer’s eyes, silently challenging him to join us.
“What do you want, Love?” he questioned, his accent a little thicker than normal as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“Stroke yourself.”
“No.” My mage shook his head. “You’re not the one giving the orders here. Answer the question. What do you want, Sloane?”
“All of it. Everything. I don’t want to make the decisions.”
I closed my eyes, moaning as Briggs’ thick length filled me completely.
But I still craved more.
A slick hand rubbed along my starfish, and I threw my head back, groaning at my thoughts. I bumped against York’s shoulder, feeling the slight burn as he breached my pucker slowly.
Palmer’s eyes burned my skin as he studied me closely, teasing me with every pop of a button as he shed his shirt. His hand tugged at my hair, and I pried my eyes open to stare into the storm that was my mage.
Mine.
And all I really wanted was to continue giving myself over to them.
York and Briggs drove me higher as I swallowed Palmer’s cock, dragging my tongue along the veiny underside. My core throbbed and tightened, my sounds garbled as I tried to scream through my sudden release.
I opened my mind, leaking all my thoughts to my mates.
I was needy, wanton.
I wanted the most from them at this moment.
Briggs took my breath away as he drove into me, steady and rough. York timed his thrusts, making sure that one of them was filling me constantly.
Palmer took a step back. His dick popped out of my mouth audibly. I groaned at the loss, then heaved in a breath as my wolf sped up.
I heard the door open again, and turned my head to the left, catching sight of Stone leaning against the door frame. Dark eyes roamed over my body, his gaze pushing me into an abyss of pleasure.
My inner walls clenched as Briggs swelled inside me. His hips slammed against me, pushing me further onto my druid, as he fucked me through my release and his. York’s chest pressed into my back, his abdominals flexed as he tumbled over the edge with us.