Lorelei (9 page)

As they walked past Rebecca, the woman reached for their mate, stopping her sister’s progress. Rebecca hauled Lorelei into her arms. “I love you. More than the moon.”

“I love you more than the moon and the stars,” Lorelei whispered and he realized it was a small ritual between the two sisters. Something beautiful shared by women who meant the world to each other.

Zeke prayed they’d someday have something similar.

“They’ll find her, right, Lor?” Rebecca sounded so small and broken. Nothing like the vivacious woman who had given her mates a hard time.

Lorelei pressed a kiss to Rebecca’s cheek. “Of course. They’ll be too afraid of Zeke and Dylan to fail.” They exchanged a quick hug and then Lorelei stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, huh? All freshly mated?”

At her sister’s nod, Lorelei continued on her path, following Levy across the suite, past little sitting areas and other rooms until they came to a set of double doors.

Lorelei was the first to step into the room and Zeke and Dylan were on her heels. She paused by the bed, staring at the smooth surface for a moment before she stroked the blanket.

“Not here.” She turned her attention to a far corner and Zeke realized a few chairs surrounded a low table. “There.” She nodded. “Yeah, there. And… I need a couple of minutes alone with the guys. We’ll open the door when we’re ready.”

Levy nodded and quietly retreated as their mate made her way to the cushioned seat.

When she settled onto the seat, Zeke dragged another chair over to her while Dylan did the same. They sat and stared at her, waiting to find out why she’d asked for time alone before…

“So, we’re gonna be mated.” She flashed a rueful grin. “I’m okay with it, but I didn’t even ask… Is-is this something you two want?”

Zeke didn’t think, didn’t even hesitate. No, he acted on instinct alone. One moment she sat in the chair beside him and the next she was on his lap. He definitely didn’t ask for permission when he sealed his lips to hers. She stiffened against him, but when he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, she immediately relaxed into his kiss.

Lorelei opened for him, allowing him to drink from her mouth and absorb her sweet flavors. She was sex and sin and so damned delicious. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough of her. His cock throbbed with the need to have her, to take her and make her his.

Theirs.

She gripped his shoulders, fingernails digging into his flesh. Her tongue tangled with his, tasting him as he explored her. When she moaned against his mouth, he did the same, his groan slowly transforming into a growl of need.

God damn. He’d never get enough of her.

Lorelei’s arousal perfumed the air, the heady musk filling his nose, and he distantly heard his partner snarl. Yeah, Dylan wanted Lorelei as much as he did and it wasn’t fair to keep their mate all to himself.

Just one more taste…

He suckled her tongue and gathered more of her flavors. When she wiggled her hips against him, he groaned, his cock pulsing and hardening further, demanding he sink into her wet heat.

Soon. God, he hoped it’d be soon.

Right after… His mind shied from the pending truth. He would savor their kiss and pray it got him through the coming confrontation.

When his friend began a rolling rumble, he knew his time was at an end.

Zeke pulled from Lorelei’s lips, ignoring her whimpering protest. He cupped her cheek and forced her to meet his gaze. “Your other mate needs you, baby.”

Her dilated eyes widened and then a flash of need filled her expression. She turned on his lap until she faced Dylan and he fought the urge to moan. His partner deserved her full attention now. They’d both get their fill of Lorelei after all was said and done.

“Dylan? Do you—”

*

Dylan didn’t let her finish her question. His cock was rock hard and ready to burst through his slacks. There was no room for nice and sweet and seductive. No, he was pure need and animalistic desire. His wolf rode him, his magic pushing past the animal to reach Lorelei.

His. His. And his again.

He met Zeke’s gaze for a brief moment.

No, theirs. He had to remember that even as the wolf howled that he should race away with her.

He reached for Lorelei and hauled her to him, adopting a position similar to the one she’d shared with Zeke. Across his lap, her lush body was at his mercy. Her berry colored lips swollen from his partner’s kisses tempted him, but it was the seductive scent of her arousal that called to him more. It coated her skin, every inch of her creamy flesh trembled with her need.

Dylan captured her lips much like Zeke, but that’s where the similarities ended. Zeke, with his carefree attitude, was passionate, but not like Dylan.

He didn’t hold Dylan’s history, his anger, his power.

He didn’t have the things that made Dylan dangerous.

Teeth scraped and bit her lips, nibbling and sucking on the small bits of flesh when his tongue wasn’t deep in her mouth.

Lorelei squirmed and moaned against him and he felt her pebbled nipples hard against his chest. Answering her soft plea, he cupped one mound, squeezing and kneading. It was easy to capture one nipple between thumb and forefinger. Easy to pluck the nub and pinch it ever so slightly.

A gasp hinted at the sting he caused and the shudder told him she enjoyed the small bite. Oh, his sweet, sexy mate liked a little brush of pain.

He was happy to give her whatever she desired.

He sucked on her tongue in time with his naughty attentions to her breast, drawing her deeper into his sensuous spell. Her moans and groans warred with his own.

Did he want to mate her? Yes.
Yes.

There was no question and he hoped she didn’t cling to it any longer.

Lorelei rocked her hips, wiggling and squirming, drawing his attention to her ass. And what lay hidden between her thighs.

It would take no time to free himself, tear her shorts away and sink into her heat. No time at all…

But that meant he’d mate her. Mate her before they performed the ritual to find Paisley and she’d never forgive him if his actions prevented that.

So, he eased their kiss, slowed his caresses and lowered his hand to her hip as he withdrew from her lips. She panted, bathing him with the moist air of her heavy breathing, and collapsed against his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling close.

He met his partner’s gaze, noting that he rode the edge of control as well. They needed to get this done so they could claim their mate.

“Lorelei,” he murmured, and she released a questioning whimper. “I don’t like the way this came about. I don’t like that you’re being forced to accept this mating because we won’t be able to control ourselves. But do not, for a second, think we don’t want this. I would have claimed you the moment we touched if you’d been willing.”

“And if I hadn’t been a human-sized nightlight,” she drawled.

“That too.” He grinned.

Lorelei buried her face against his neck and her words were hardly more than a mumble. “I don’t want you two to feel trapped.”

Dylan’s “never” was echoed by Zeke’s “fuck that.”

Then his partner was there, kneeling, his hands stroking their mate. “Baby, D’s right. If it wasn’t for the fact we have to take you together, I would have laid you out on the damned hallway floor and tasted every inch of your skin. I would have put my mark on you and made sure every male that came into contact with you knew you were mine.”

Dylan rubbed his cheek on the top of her head, transferring his scent to her. Those Wardens needed to know she
was
theirs even without the bite. “You’re ours, sweet. Ours and no one else’s. Don’t think we’re being forced or we’re trapped. If anything, we know we’re moving fast. We know it, but are selfish enough not to care because in the end… it means you’re ours.”

Okay, he admitted that made him sound like a dick. Didn’t mean he’d take it back though. He’d been missing having a family and now it was within his grasp. He was not above taking advantage of the situation.

“Okay,” she whispered and tilted her head back to meet his gaze. “Okay.” Then she focused on Zeke. “Tell Levy we’re ready.”

*

Lorelei prayed she was ready. Deep gouges and blood drinking did not sound like an enjoyable experience. At all. She was excited about the mating though. Belonging to them—them belonging to her—sounded like heaven. They were strong and gorgeous and… they made her feel beautiful.

The soft click of the bedroom door’s knob disengaging reached her and then low murmurs followed in its wake.

Ready. She was ready. Right.

The sound of several people entering the suite filled her ears and she tensed, knowing what was to come. They’d surround her, cut her, drink her blood and then heal her.

Then
she’d mate with Zeke and Dylan.

Ouch. Ew. Fix. Boom-bang.

Right.

Dylan must have sensed her unease because then he was stroking her, hand sliding over her arm and then fingers entwining with hers. “We’ll be right here. The moment they’re done, we’ll have you and from now on, nothing will ever hurt you again. I swear it.”

“
We
swear it.” Zeke loomed over them, deep frown in place.

Lorelei nodded. “Okay.” She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Dylan shifted as if to rise and she clung to him.

“What are you doing?” She practically screeched the words but didn’t care.

“We’ll be touching your shoulders, but Emmett and Levy have to keep us from going after the Wardens who have to touch you.” He pressed a firm kiss to her lips. “Otherwise, we’d kill them.”

Wow. Okay then. “Alright.” She eased from his lap and took his place in the chair, remaining tense until she had the heavy weight of their hands on her shoulders. “I’m really ready now.”

It wasn’t long before they
were
doing it.

Two men who introduced themselves as Miles and Holden slowly eased past her mates and came to stand on either side of her. They kept their distance and it wasn’t until Zeke and Dylan tensed that she realized why. The Ruling Wardens finally restrained them.

“Miss Twynham? Are you ready?” The man on her right spoke low. Holden. He was Holden.

Lorelei closed her eyes, unwilling to see what would come, and nodded.

Then she simply felt. She noted the roughness of Holden’s fingers while Miles’ were smooth. Miles’ touch was firm and sure, while Holden’s was gentler. They were opposites and yet, they seemed perfect for each other.

That new part of her bristled at their stroke, but she begged it to stay back. She couldn’t find Paisley without the two men. Family seemed to be something the magic in her understood and it retreated.

They murmured words she didn’t understand, their thumbs pressed against her pulse point as they spoke. It had to be some sort of spell, something that would help them, and she took a deep breath, determined to remain passive as they worked.

The press of cool metal to her skin told her what was to come. She fought to push the impending pain from her mind and keep it at bay. Screaming would only enrage her mates further, and that couldn’t happen. She had to endure. She had to get through this.

That cold was immediately followed by pain. No, agony. The blades sliced into her skin, digging deeply and she arched her back, battled the anguish that filled her veins. It pulsed and pounded in time with her heart and still she remained silent. She allowed a harsh inhale, but nothing else. She tilted her head back, eyes squeezed shut against the room as she demanded her body to listen to her.

It didn’t give a fuck. No, it allowed her to remain quiet, but her magic—her power—told her to take a flying leap. It screamed and battered her, raging against the pain she endured. Warmth enveloped her and she knew it was that part of her pushing past her control.

Dammit.

But it wasn’t attacking the men. No, it had a singular purpose.

It didn’t attack. It fed. It fed them her thoughts, her feelings, her… connection to Paisley.

Yes, her soul called out to her younger sister, and the magic inside her made sure the two Wardens had exactly what they needed to hunt her down.

Distantly, she accepted that Paisley was with Dylan’s brother. With him and… not in the hotel.

No, she was—

The two men drew harder on her wounds, sucking more blood from her body and she realized… they liked it. They wanted more.

Her power was no longer helpful. No, it was a hindrance. It drew them like bees to honey and they craved just one more drop.

No.

That power, her strength, was for her mates alone.

Lorelei didn’t even have to ask for assistance from that piece of her. No, it recognized what the Wardens were doing, and it was a mere thought that had the two wolves flying from her body. With the pain still thrumming through her veins, she lowered her head and watched as the men were propelled across the room, their backs colliding with the wall and sending drywall dust raining down. Gasps surrounded her, but she didn’t have time to worry about everyone’s response. Not when blood flowed freely.

“Heal me,” she thought she whispered, she was pretty sure she tried, but the air seemed to tremble and shake with the strength of her voice. The walls rumbled with the force.

Two men rushed forward, eyes wide, hands glowing as they approached. Her magic tasted the males, slid through their bodies and finally let them approach. That part of her weighed and examined them, still fighting to protect her. An invisible guard dog. Lorelei huffed a small chuckle and she noticed the way everyone shuffled a step. She should be quiet.

The Wardens stopped just short of touching her, their gazes meeting hers for a moment and she nodded. She’d like to
not
bleed to death.

The tingle and warmth of her knitting flesh and skin soothed her power, sent it sliding to the back of her mind with a soft sigh. It relaxed, allowing Lorelei to breathe normally once again, and the moment the pain receded fully, she jerked from the Wardens’ touch. She appreciated their help, but she couldn’t stand anyone else’s hands on her. Or mouths. She shuddered, remembering their desire for her blood.