by Sadie Sears
Ash ignored him and turned serious eyes to mine. “I promise, I won’t let Saul get away with any of this because…” He took a breath. “His plans will destroy Draven.”
I caught my breath and the quiet sound landed loudly in the silence that had fallen when Ash stopped speaking. “Is this to do with the fated mate thing?”
Mate. The voice sounded soothing this time. Confident and comfortable and assured.
“Yeah.” Ash nodded, the motion decisive.
Okay. Okay. I could deal with that. The mates thing was definitely a…thing. That was fine. I’d seen the dragon. I could accept that. But… I slid my glance to Draven in time to see a grimace of pain flash across his face.
There was that small issue.
He’d told me himself he was like Saul. There was darkness, and there was a demon.
And hell, that demon was probably trying to kill me, too.
“And the demon?”
Draven looked at me, not saying a word.
“Inside you, I mean. Will that be a problem?” I had to ask. I couldn’t just surrender myself to an even more dangerous situation.
Of course, he could lie—
“I’m going to fight it. I’ll fight and fight—” He broke off into a strangled gasp and doubled over.
He wasn’t lying. His demon didn’t like whatever feelings he had in his heart or thoughts in his head or however that shit worked.
I nodded at both of them. “Then let’s try to fix this thing.”
I believed Draven, and I’d stay.
Apparently, there were worse things than the demon who wanted to kill me that lived in my fated mate.
10
Draven
I waited for the wave of pain to roll back out then put my mug carefully on the counter before my white-knuckle grip shattered it. Proclaiming I’d fight my demon was risky, especially as I couldn’t hold my thoughts from him, but my dragon radiated quiet approval, and I basked a little in his pride.
“I’ve been thinking about a plan to get Saul’s attention off Mae.” It was a bold claim, but one I couldn’t be afraid to make while Mae’s life was in danger.
“Have you come up with anything?” Ash leaned forward, suddenly all business.
I shrugged, because I hadn’t, and that hopelessness gnawed at me. “Not really. Only a Hail Mary.” One thing. I’d only thought of one fucking thing, and then we were out of options.
He must have caught a whiff of my desperation or seen the desperation in my eyes because Ash only nodded consideringly. “Sometimes you have to go nuclear right away. Go big or go home.”
“What’s your idea?”
My heart ached at the combination of curiosity and innocence in Mae’s eyes. “We have to fake your death.”
“What?” She squeaked the word and her eyes widened.
“Okaaaay. That’s either madness or genius. Is that why you told me to pick up the fake blood? Dude. I thought you were a little early for Halloween.” Ash braced his thumb under his chin and ran his forefinger over his lip then stood. “But you know what? It could work. Where do we start?”
“What?” Mae repeated her exclamation. “What? No. I… I can’t. I have Grandma.” Her voice faded at the end of her sentence, and I barely heard the last word, but my heart squeezed again for the position she was in.
Really, I needed to take Saul out, but I also had to buy us some time.
Mate. The word rippled through me, lending me strength. Protect.
On this, my dragon and I were in agreement. I’d do anything to protect Mae, and so would he.
I didn’t answer the unspoken question over her grandma. I couldn’t. I didn’t know when she’d see her again… If she’d see her again. Instead, I rubbed my hands together and looked at both Ash and Mae. We all needed to be on board for this to work.
“I think we should set the scene on the beach. There’s more room there, and we can get messier. The tide should be out now, so let’s head there and talk it through.”
I led the way back down to the gym and out of a door in the back of the cave. Then we climbed the hidden exterior staircase back up to my yard.
“I’m not sure you need a gym with all of these steps,” Mae huffed, her tone grumpy.
“It’s about to get worse,” Ash murmured, and I shushed him.
We crossed the grass to a cleft in the cliff where someone had hewn a rough-cut set of even more steps leading all the way to the damp sand beneath. Perhaps a dragon had done it for his human form because this would have been dangerous work.
Once we were standing on the beach, I indicated a platform of rock that was mostly flat then pointed way down the beach. “My plan is to chase you from the beach over there, by those rocks at the next peninsula, to the rocks just here. They’re about level with my house, and Saul knows that because he’s familiar with the area, so this will just look like I brought you home to toy with.” I winced, all of this hitting too close to home when I thought of some of the assignments I’d carried out for Saul in the past. “So, we’ll set the scene here, Ash will help us decide the best place for the phone so we can film everything in one shot, and then he will go home so I can kill you for the camera.”
She shuddered as I spoke the last five words but met my gaze steadily. “Okay,” she said.
“Sounds like a plan.” Ash took my phone from my outstretched hand and walked over to the cliff face.
“The fake blood pouches are for underneath your clothes.” I slipped the packs out of my pocket. “It should look pretty realistic on film.”
My demon yipped in his usual way when I mentioned blood and killing, and usually his enthusiasm drove me forward. But nausea roiled in my gut this time, and my dragon radiated disapproval and the desire to protect.
As I fought against my demon’s glee, pain ricocheted through my head and chest, and I blew out a harsh breath of air.
“I’m okay.” I answered Mae’s concern before she could say anything.
Then I turned away to compose myself. I bent over, resting my hands on my knees as I heaved air into my lungs. My wrist prickled uncomfortable, and I slipped my shirt sleeve up to have a look. A patch of sludge green skin pulled tight over my muscle.
I shoved my sleeve back down and pressed my hand over the gross skin. My demon was winning, making himself known. Chloe said things would get harder. I hadn’t realized she meant physical demon changes where he’d win against my dragon.
My dragon chafed, demanding to be let free, to win against my demon, and I took another deep breath at the onslaught of pain as the battle raged inside me. The demon was less and less mine as my dragon asserted himself, and he was trying to claw his way back up.
I needed to let one of them free with his desires soon—before they shredded my soul between them.
And if I could help it, the one being freed wouldn’t be my demon.
I took a final deep breath and returned my attention to Mae. She smiled, but it was forced. I wanted to tell her not to be scared, but she needed to be scared. The fear, the whole scene, had to look real.
“Ash.” I raised my voice to attract his attention. “We’ll give it a couple of practice runs. Can you set the phone up and check the footage for me?”
He waved his consent. “Sure thing.”
I took Mae’s hand for a moment to walk her to the rocks.
When we got there, she turned to face me. “So, I just run?”
“Pretty much.” I nodded and turned my gaze out to sea. “Run as fast as you can and don’t look back. I’ll catch you on top of those flat rocks over there.” I waved my hand in their direction.
I couldn’t guarantee my demon wouldn’t come rippling to the surface, the bloodthirsty little bastard, and turmoil bubbled inside me because I didn’t know how this would end.
I was about to count her in to starting her run, but she took off, spraying sand up as she sprinted away.
Too fast. Shit. She was going too fast. My demon loved a chase, and we
were damn fast, too. “Whoa, no! Slow down,” I yelled as I broke into a run, too.
Ash looked in my direction.
“Grab Mae, get her.” I yelled the words, wincing at the pain, and my arm prickled again as I tried to save Mae from my demon.
Save her. I needed Ash to step in to prevent my demon from hurting her.
Mae squealed and took off faster at my words, and my dragon huffed angrily as I sped up as well.
Ash sprang into Mae’s path and grasped her close. Her screams increased, the note of pure fear exciting my demon further.
I swung wide, whipping past, and hiding my face in case a shift had started. A half-demon shift would make me look like Saul had the night of the party, and I never wanted her to see me that way.
“Easy, easy. Everything’s okay. I’ve got you.”
I could hear Ash’s voice, so Mae was okay. But his words spurred my dragon on, and he thrashed angrily in my chest, desperate to be released. Ash didn’t have Mae. We did. Those weren’t words for him to use.
They were ours.
Mae was ours.
A growl ripped almost from my toes before vibrating inside my chest, and I spun around and ran toward the starting rocks. “Again,” I yelled, beckoning Mae back to me.
I needed to finish this, and I needed to push my demon down to do that—but I couldn’t guarantee how long he’d stay down. This had to be over quickly.
She jogged over, her face blank and empty. I’d scared her, but either she trusted me beyond that, or she was too stubborn to admit it.
I glanced at Ash, still in position by the phone, and resentment rose to constrict my chest and pulse at my temples, but it wasn’t mine. My dragon was still angry at him. “Ash, go home. I’ve got this.” I gestured wildly toward the steps, and my demon shrieked its approval.
Chase! Kill!
Protect.
I shook my head to try to dislodge the chatter of two other minds.
“Are you sure?” Ash boomed his words and hesitated before making his way up the steps.
Mae glanced at me. “Yes.” She confirmed her decision with a nod, and my head filled with more excited chatter.
“Do exactly what you did before.” I hated giving her that instruction. It made me as dangerous to her as Saul was.
The way she’d run and screamed had riled up my demon. I sighed. I had to trust in myself and my dragon not to let any harm come to Mae. I drew us to behind the rock. If we appeared from behind it, the video would need a lot less editing.
“Count me in.” She adopted a sprinter’s starting stance, and I glanced down at her ass, perfectly rounded as she wiggled it slightly, relaxing into her position.
It was the worst countdown ever as my demon also readied to run. “Three…two…one…”
She took off, and I forced myself to stand still, giving her the necessary head start. When I sprang out from behind the rock after her, my demon let loose a roar that came out of my mouth, and she flinched then began to shriek. Each breath she drew sent her closer to panic mode, and her heartbeat thrummed in my ears as I grew closer to her. It would be so easy to crush that out. Just a clench of my fist.
My demon cackled, and I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment as I tried to close him down.
I shook my head as a protective instinct overwhelmed me, and I sped up, determined to protect Mae from my demon.
It was illogical, the idea that I was somehow required in her life to protect her from myself. The smartest thing I could do would be to go up the steps to my house and lock myself away until I had everything under control.
Mate. My dragon didn’t agree.
I reached my arms around Mae’s waist as she reached the rocks and laid her down. My nod to let her know she was okay came with a snarl, and I used my twisted demon claws to slash her shirt. The tips of them grazed her skin, and I punctured the blood bag, covering her in red.
My demon chittered at the sight, but the world slowed, and I met Mae’s gaze. She cupped my cheek briefly then let her hand fall away like she’d remembered she was supposed to be dead.
But something had flickered in her eyes… Acceptance… Love… I couldn’t tell.
Claim.
I shook my head. “No, I can’t,” I muttered.
Want.
And God help me, so did I.
Her gaze softened further, and she parted her lips. I didn’t have a conscious thought in my head, but I leaned forward and captured her mouth under mine, the act at once predatory, consuming, and loving.
My dragon couldn’t claim, but he could take.
He wanted more, though. But we couldn’t truly claim her as ours—not until she understood and consented. That wouldn’t happen today.
But my hand drifted down her side and came to her waist. My dragon was firmly in control. He couldn’t fly right now, but apparently, he could still be in control. As Mae responded to my kiss, her lips softening and welcoming me, I flicked my tongue out, driven by the need to taste her.
As I allowed my dragon to rise, I didn’t feel my demon at all. No pain. Just love and connection.
Mae arched her back, pressing her breasts against me, and she gasped as I took one in my hand, strumming my thumb over her nipple until it hardened under my touch.
She arched again, pressing closer, and my cock hardened between us, pushing against the denim of my jeans. Mae moved beneath me, and my breathing stuttered.
I hesitated, second-guessing my dragon. Maybe he was wrong about loving Mae now. But then she smoothed her hand over my hard-on, and it was like an electrical charge surged through me.
I dropped my head to her neck, trailing kisses across her skin to her collarbone, and she threaded her fingers into my hair, holding on to it in tufts, pressing me lower.
I chuckled, and my dragon growled its need, the sound echoing through my chest. Mae gripped me harder. I eased down her body, my exhales forced from my chest in sharp gasps as I breathed her in—the scent of her skin mingling with the sea spray in the air.
Before I even reached her waist, she unfasted her jeans and began to slip them down her thighs, writhing sinuously side to side as she did. I spanned my hand over the front of her panties, absorbing the heat from her body.
She wanted me. My dragon almost purred with pleasure, and my last band of restraint slipped.
I pushed her pants the rest of the way down her legs then stripped mine off, too. Then I yanked my T-shirt over my head and tugged on the hem of hers, and desperation to feel my skin against her drove my movements.
I wanted to touch her everywhere. Outside…
Inside.
I nuzzled against her panties, inhaling her sweet scent, driving myself crazy as my dragon strained inside me.
Want.
He only seemed to have one thought.
And it was like Mae knew what it was. She tightened her fingers in my hair and tilted my head so I met her gaze.
“Inside me,” she gasped. “Now.”
My dick twitched and thickened, and I could only nod as I moved back up her body. She reached down and pushed her panties off. I’d already discarded my clothing, so now there was nothing between us.
I slide my hand between her parted thighs and groaned. So wet.
I looked at her, watching, waiting for her to stop me. But she didn’t.
She moaned a little and skimmed her palm over her breast. “Want you,” she whispered. “Want you now.” Her gaze met mine, but a touch of uncertainty clouded her gaze.
Only it didn’t seem to be with what we were doing, or not being sure. More like she couldn’t believe we were doing it at all.
Take. My dragon was growing impatient. Want.
I positioned myself between her legs and entwined my fingers with hers. “I want you, Mae.”
She relaxed at my words.
“I need you.” I nudged against her entrance, and she pushed back gently against me.
The tip of my cock pressed into her, and she caught her breath before
sighing.
I could barely restrain myself from taking her in one fluid thrust, but I had to try.
“More.”
At her quiet word, I nudged forward again, and she tilted her hips up, impatient and greedy as she chuckled.
“Take me like you mean it.” She murmured the words against my ear like a challenge, and I shuddered before I gripped her hips and drew her up toward me as I pressed down, filling her.
I lingered for a moment to give her time to accommodate me, but as she sucked gently on the skin at the front of my throat, I lost control. I wanted to wear her mark, her claim.
I thrust myself inside her, each movement faster, harder than the last, and she lifted to meet me, her enthusiasm and pleasure obvious in every tiny noise she made. The sounds spurred me on, and all too soon, my fragile control began to slip.
My breathing became rapid, and Mae responded. She moved faster against me until she froze, and her body tightened around me. She didn’t even breathe as her body pulsed, and I let go, too, finally allowing my balls to tighten as the rush of energy gathered before overflowing as I came deep inside her.
Breathing hard, I dropped my head and pressed kisses all over her face. “I’m so sorry I had to kill you,” I whispered.
She laughed, the sound light and happy. “Oh, I think you can kill me anytime.”
11
Mae
It was quiet in the kitchen as I stood at the window, my usual mug full of coffee and in my hand, and I looked out toward the horizon. I didn’t know if the tide was in or out below the cliffs, but even just thinking about the beach sent a ripple of anticipation and desire right to my core.
No one had ever wanted me the way Draven had yesterday—in that passionate, carried away, need-you-now way. The fact we’d been on the rocks of a beach with fake blood smeared all over me hadn’t done anything at all to dampen his desire.
I tightened my grip around my mug. Incredible. There was no other word for it, and it had been as though I could feel his desire coursing through me, too.
A man staking his claim.