Leaving Eden

by Kelly A Walker et al.

  Her aura furled out around them, fabulous wings of power that shook the air, making it difficult for him to take in a full breath. So much power trapped within her delicate shell.

  The woman snarled, her eyes landing on him. “What of it?”

  Midas had never met one of the ancient’s before. They were thought to be extinct. Griffins were rare, but Wyverns were practically legendary. Midas was a bit of a nerd when it came to Affinities. Being able to clearly see them, their colorful auras pulsing around those he saw, made it all the more fascinating.

  He stepped towards her, careful to stay out of reach of her kicks. Ody moved slightly, almost as if to put himself in between them. That was strange…They had shared women before. Not that anyone was sharing her, of course. No. That was absurd. They were going to get the ruby back and move on. They weren’t going to focus on how creamy her legs were, or how powerful her eyes looked as she gave the brothers a death glare...

  They were so fucked.

  “I’ve never met one of you before,” Midas said calmly, closing his hands into fists to resist the urge to reach out and touch her.

  “Yeah, well, we like our privacy,” she sneered. Pain licked up her aura, betraying her words. She was alone. The loneliness practically oozed from her.

  Midas’s empath ability saw right through her. He ached to hold her, to ease that loneliness. Instead he said, “Where’s the ruby?”

  “What ruby?” she replied, eyes widening in faux innocence. Ramé snorted.

  “Our mother’s ruby,” Midas said, allowing the sentimentality to seep into his voice. He felt the flare of uncertainty in her. Mothers, she understood. Pain, she definitely understood.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She lifted her chin, stubborn as the day was long.

  Ody stepped forward, gripping her chin. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, sunshine. Just give us the jewel and we’ll be on our way.” His tone sounded harsh, but Midas saw how his fingers rubbed the spot he gripped, how his aura lashed out, wings tangling with hers.

  That was not good.

  “What will you give me in exchange?” she asked, her eyes deliberately avoiding Ody’s.

  Ramé chuckled, running his nose along her neck. “What would you like, wild cat?” he whispered.

  The woman blushed.

  “Ramé,” Ody warned, the militant tone sharp.

  Ramé leaned back, smirking at them both. He was hopeless.

  “What would you like?” Midas asked, shocked to see he had moved forward another step without realizing it. Their reactions were not normal. Something wasn’t right here…

  She shrugged. “You had quite a bit of gold on that pretty boat. We’ll make a trade.”

  “This woman has bigger balls than you do, Ody.” Ramé laughed, squeezing her a little. It was more an affectionate hug than threat, however.

  They needed to go. To be away from this creature and regroup.

  “Fine. Take us to the ruby,” Midas said, noticing that Ody hadn’t moved his hand; instead, his fingers moved along her jawline, tracing the delicate curve there.

  Yep. Time to go.

  “Let me go, and I’ll bring you the ruby,” she quickly replied.

  Ody snorted.

  “Forgive us if we don’t exactly trust you,” Midas said.

  “And I’m just supposed to trust you? How do I know you won’t take the ruby and slit my throat? Or worse, leave without giving me the gold?”

  They all blinked at her.

  “You have our word,” Ody said, as if that closed the matter.

  The woman scoffed, shaking her head. “Gonna need a bit more than that, handsome.”

  Midas watched Ody’s aura flare at the flattering term. His Affinity’s tail reached up and slid along her back.

  The longer they stood there, the more their auras entangled.

  Striding forward, Midas withdrew his blade. The girl’s eyes widened, but before fear could fill her, he slid the tip of the knife along his palm. Then he grabbed her wrist, making a shallow cut along her own palm.

  “Our word is bond. We will exchange the ruby for the gold, and no harm shall befall you.” Midas spoke the old words and pressed his wound against hers, ignoring her curse.

  He wasn’t expecting the flare from both of their auras. Golden sparks shot through them, until he could feel them wrap around one another. He could sense his Affinity brush up against his brothers, interacting in a way they never had before.

  What the fuck was going on here? He had done blood oaths before. Nothing like this had ever occurred.

  He shuddered a little, leaving his hand in hers as he met her gaze. Her pupils were dilated, her lips full and pink. She was gorgeous.

  “That was a bit dramatic,” she said, sounding breathless.

  “Midas always was one for theatrics.” Ramé smirked, smelling her hair, and then frowning. “She smells of you now.”

  “I’m sure it will fade,” Midas muttered, his voice deeper than it had been. “Lead the way, Wyvern.” It came out sharper than he had intended, but Midas was in uncharted territory, and he didn’t enjoy the uncertainty pounding through them all.

  The woman growled, shoving away from Ramé. He kept a hold of her wrist, though, his fingers gripping her tightly. She glared up at him, only to be on the receiving end of one of Ramé’s signature grins. Her scowl was dampened by the blush that graced her cheeks as she looked away.

  “Where to, then?” Ody asked.

  Sighing in resignation, her body finally relaxed from her fighting stance. The Wyvern replied, “The Graveyard.”

  How romantic. Hopefully it wasn’t prophetic.

  7

  AVA

  The dock’s graveyard was quiet this time of day. Truthfully, it was always quiet. That was one of the reasons Ava had chosen it for her home. Abandoned boats littered the small cove, some tied down for spare parts, others bouncing between docks. Ava had come across the graveyard one night as she fled a local policeman, finding refuge in the tattered ships.

  So wasteful, she had thought. Some of these boats were clearly once magnificent, gifting the sailor with countless miles of sea. To be discarded in such a way was practically criminal.

  Ava had found a small houseboat tucked away deep within the graveyard, and it had been home ever since.

  Walking to her secret place now with these strangers put her teeth on edge. Her eyes flicked from one to the other, before finally settling on the one who hadn’t once let her go since they had found her. Ramé. His grip on her wrist had migrated into holding her hand, his palm warm in hers. It was a casual gesture in a not-so-casual circumstance. It felt almost natural, which weirded Ava out more than anything else tonight.

  She wasn’t one for affection. Unless it was for a purpose, of course. Affection meant that someone wanted something from you. It was a bargaining tool, nothing more. So why did Ava feel the heat from Ramé’s fingers moving up her arm, warming her from the inside?

  Glancing sideways, she watched the elegant man beside her, trying to find an opening for escape. Of course that was why she watched him. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was six feet of pure deliciousness…

  “See something you like, wild cat?” Ramé asked, looking down at her.

  “Your jugular vein looks pretty tempting,” she retorted, lifting her chin and focusing on the dock instead.

  Ramé merely chuckled, squeezing her hand softly. Ava frowned. More affection… Yuck.

  “Are we getting close?” Midas barked, making her jump. He was an interesting one. He had an intelligence that practically oozed from him, his golden eyes taking in more than the average person. She could see him calculating all outcomes, which would make her escape that much more difficult. He was also just as beautiful as the other two, which only furthered her irritation. Seriously, what was in their genetics? Were all Griffins so damn attractive?

  They were oath bound, but Ava knew better than most that oaths we
re just words in pretty packages. She would give them their ruby and get her gold. There was nothing in the oath about “re-stealing” the ruby once their transaction was complete.

  Instead of answering Midas, Ava turned left, weaving down a side dock, deeper into the graveyard, until she found her tiny slice of home.

  The small brown houseboat didn’t look like much, but it was cozy, and Ava loved being so close to the sea. There was something calming about hearing the crash of the waves against the side of the boat, the gentle swaying easing her mind. She felt her soul calm as she boarded, slipping onto the deck after finally getting her hand back from Ramé.

  She felt Ody sidle up behind her, the heat from his body making her flush. She couldn’t get the thought of his lips out of her head, the gentle way he had held her, the passion she had felt when things started to get out of hand. Ever since that kiss, she had felt him in the back of her mind, as if he had carved a spot there.

  Shaking her head, Ava tried to push back the feelings that were tightening her stomach. Why were these men affecting her so? They were bounty hunters. While she may steal rubies and gold, they stole lives. It was barbaric. And yet, Ava couldn’t help but remember the way Ramé clung to her hand, his fingers stroking her knuckles softly. Or how Ody had just now steadied her with his hand on her waist when a wave rocked the boat. Even Midas, with his stern features, kept stealing glances at her that made her heart skip a beat.

  It had been a long time since Ava had felt anything romantic towards another person. To allow herself to become close to anyone was a liability. Not only that, but when one was in a relationship, certain things were expected. Things like…sharing. Ava shuddered at the thought.

  No, she was perfectly content with her life just as it was.

  “So, who were you guys after, anyway?” she asked, ducking into her doorway. The men followed, having to stoop to not hit their heads on the low ceiling.

  “It’s none of your concern, Wyvern,” Midas said, taking in her humble abode.

  “My name is Ava. Not Wyvern.”

  Midas looked up at her, his gaze seeming to penetrate her very soul. “Very well, then. Ava.”

  Ava swallowed, unable to look away from him. His eyes were liquid gold, and the way he said her name...

  “What’s this for?” Ramé asked, tossing one of her Faberge eggs into the air.

  “No! Don’t touch that!” Before the big oaf could drop it, Ava rushed forward, scrambling to get her precious trinket back. And succeeded smashing her face right into Ramé’s elbow.

  Blood pooled in her mouth as the men surged towards her, their concern overwhelming.

  Ramé reached up, wiping a thumb across her chin. “Damnit, wild cat. What did you do that for?”

  She clung to the beautiful egg and looked back at him accusingly. “I didn’t want you to drop it. If you could leave your hands off my things, that would be great.”

  Ramé chuckled, his gaze moving down to where she clung to the egg. “Until you ask nicely, my hands will remain where they are.” Then he lifted his thumb to his mouth, slowly sliding the blood-coated tip between his lips.

  Ava watched him, transfixed by the sensual gesture.

  And then the world shifted.

  As if they had hit a particularly hard wave, they all swayed, nearly collapsing in the tiny cabin. Ava watched as the faint color of their auras swelled, golden magic tangling about them. Their scents magnified and filled the air until she felt like she was on the verge of drowning in scent. She gasped, the feeling of wings brushing against her inner self making her shiver. Staring up into Ramé’s stunned eyes, she knew he felt it, too.

  “What’s happening,” Ody mumbled, smoothing his hand against her back. It was as if her aura sensed him, reaching out to pull him closer.

  “Ody, get back,” Midas barked.

  Ava turned, her eyes meeting his. They were wide and panicked, his cheeks flushed. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Ava could practically taste the desire coming from Midas in waves. She licked her lips, reveling in the taste.

  Suddenly, Ody grabbed her chin, turning her face until she was staring up at him instead. Their gazes locked. Without a word, he leaned forward, capturing her mouth with his.

  Golden lava shot through her, making Ava reach up and bury her fingers into Ody’s leather jacket, pulling him deeper into the kiss. In that moment, he was the air she needed to breathe.

  Groaning, Ody gripped her face, deepening the kiss.

  She knew she should stop. That she should pull away and run before this need overwhelmed them completely.

  She could more easily rip the heart from her chest. They were hers.

  ‘Mine’ her Wyvern purred, pushing her further until she was nearly crawling up Ody’s front in desperation.

  Another pair of hands caressed her shoulders. Her aura latched onto Ramé, melting with his aura until they were one and the same.

  She ate at Ody’s mouth even as Ramé moved her hair over her shoulder, sliding his lips along her neck.

  “Fuck...You taste incredible,” Ramé groaned, his hand tangling in her locks, tugging her head to the side so that he could better feast at the column of her throat.

  She knew what he meant. Ody’s mouth tasted like all her favorite desserts wrapped into one scrumptious package. He tasted like apples, books, and hidden treasure. He tasted like home.

  Ava gasped, pulling back from the temptation that was Ody’s kisses.

  “What’s happening?” she whispered, fear lancing through her.

  “Midas?” Ody asked, his voice guttural. His hands replaced Ramé’s and slid into her hair, running his fingers through it in awe.

  “I... I don’t know.” Midas sounded far away, then closer. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. Your auras...They’ve merged.”

  “Merged how?” Ramé asked, his teeth grazing the top of her spine.

  Ava shuddered, closing her eyes.

  “Just...merged. As if you’re one spirit.”

  “And yours?” Ava asked, looking towards him. She knew the answer. She could feel the magic pulling at him, begging him to come closer. She wasn’t sure how, but her craving for gold and shinies had suddenly been replaced with these men. She wanted to strip them bare and roll around on top of their golden bodies.

  Midas swallowed, stepping forward slowly, as if moving through quicksand.

  Ava held out her hand, watching as her aura extended, wrapping around him like a kitten weaves around one’s ankles.

  “Midas,” she whispered, her voice pleading.

  With two large steps, Midas closed the distance, his mouth slamming into hers.

  In that moment, Ava knew what heaven was.

  Their clothing disappeared, their inhibitions and hesitations vanishing like mist on the open sea. There were no more oaths or rubies. No bounties or betrayals. There was only them and the magic that bound them together.

  Was it a curse or a blessing? That was the question.

  Before that thought could gain purchase, Ody picked Ava up, tossing her onto the small bed resting in the corner. The three men descended, as if they were one being. At the thought, Ava got a sudden glimpse of what their unit must have been like. Ody had mentioned they were once soldiers. She would not want to be the enemy on the opposing side of these three. But seeing that she was not the enemy…

  Gasping, Ava’s back arched as Ramé settled between her thighs, his mouth discovering her for the first time. His tongue mastered her, teasing her in all the right ways, his hands wrapping around her thighs and holding them open.

  The idea of this relative stranger feasting on her in such an intimate way was almost more than she could stand, and shock warred with her pleasure.

  Pleasure won.

  Ody’s mouth latched onto her own, muffling her cries.

  Teeth grazed her nipples, and she knew how Midas had chosen to occupy himself. Even with her eyes closed in ecstasy, she could feel the touch of Midas’ aura caressing her
chest as his tongue swirled around her taut peaks.

  Utterly overwhelmed by them, Ava felt her body break out into goosebumps, a shiver wracking her very soul as they consumed her.

  And she reveled in it. She wanted all they had to give, and more. Always more.

  “Come for us,” Midas whispered, licking across her breast before roughly biting her nipple.

  Her orgasm very nearly shattered her.

  Ody pulled back, releasing her mouth to allow her cries to echo off the wooden walls.

  Ramé took Ody’s place, and the heat in his eyes made Ava’s heart clench. He leaned down, whispering above her lips. “Honey so sweet should be shared.” He kissed her then, his tongue sensually sliding against her own. The taste of her sweetness caused Ava to whimper.

  The feeling of hands lifting her bottom from the bed pulled Ava out of her haze. Reality fought its way through the fog of lust. Pulling her face away from Ramé, she stared down her body at where Midas knelt between her legs.

  His gaze locked with hers, the intensity there nearly burning a hole through her. “Ava?”

  It was both a question and a plea. The need burned through them all, swelling and pulsing through their auras. It was as if she could see their actual Affinities, the animals within them holding their breaths, waiting for that moment they could become whole again.

  Ava nodded her consent.

  Without another word, Midas took her, sliding into her body in one smooth thrust.

  The four of them cried out, their auras surging forward, golden sparks encompassing them all. It felt almost painful as the energy ignited around them, like a bomb had been set off in her small boat. Only with touch would the chaotic throb ease… Touching her men, smoothing her hands down their auras, seemed to calm their beasts. To her delight, her touch made them purr; the rumble shooting straight to Ava’s core. Her own beast stretched--the Wyvern licking along their golden flesh greedily.

  Ava spread her kisses among them, her mind vaguely categorizing each one. Ody, with his passionate tenderness. Ramé, with his seductive teasing. Midas and his desperate abandon. They consumed her, and she them.