“I love you,” he whispered.
“I know.”
Nick bit into his wrist and offered the wound to me. I wrapped my tongue around the punctures. Once the first taste of the blood hit me, his memories slid through my mind. I pushed them aside and drew upon his blood. The more that I drank the more I sensed a darkness around him. I didn’t know what it was. Before I could explore it, he pulled away. Landon caught my chin and pressed his lips against mine, flicking his tongue across my mouth.
“You shouldn’t have drunk so much.” Nick trailed his fingers over my breast and pinched the nipple.
I broke my kiss with Landon and turned toward Nick. “It’s never hurt me before. And it brings us closer. I can feel you inside of me. I like that feeling. Your hunger and the pulse of your energy fuses us together. I don’t ever want that to go away.”
“I don’t have a pulse. I’m dead.”
“You have a beat of energy because you’re still alive. You’re not dead, just undead. Now don’t worry about it. Something about the three of us filters out the effects of your blood and your bites. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s got something to do with me. The three of us are an enigma. Landon’s your deadly enemy, and yet you were drawn together even before you met me.”
“And I was very happy when he brought you home.” Landon drew me into his embrace and nuzzled my neck. I sighed and let the completeness of the moment wash over me. It was wonderful be in his arms.
When Nick first told me he was already mated to another man, I wasn’t sure where I would fit in. But it was easy to see myself with them once I touched Landon. I bonded with him the same way I had connected with the vampire. They were my life. I would do anything for them. Nothing would ever pull me away from them.
“The first time I saw you, I was scared out of my wits. I’d never met a werewolf before.”
“So I was by far the sexiest werewolf you’d ever set your eyes on?” Landon asked.
I punched him in the chest, hitting his hard muscles. He groaned playfully. “Yes, you were the hunkiest werewolf I’d ever met. And by far the most delicious.”
Nick ran his finger along my inner thigh. “And what about me?”
I rolled my eyes. “You were the sexiest vampire I’d ever been with. Still are. I don’t want to think about being with another undead hunk. Are you both happy now?”
“Not at all,” they said in unison.
“So what do I have to do to make you happy?” I asked.
Landon rolled over and plucked one of the dark blue roses from the vase on the table by the bed. They were a specialty I’d been working on in the shop but hadn’t yet set out to market. They were long-stemmed roses with thorns, with beautiful sapphire petals so dark they could have been black, spread out to show the inner workings of the rose. He shook it off, letting the water droplets fall over my stomach. He then trailed the stem along my flesh and over my breasts, circling it around my hardening nipples. I shivered when Nick blew over the water droplets that cooled my skin.
“You promised that we could do whatever we wanted to you,” Nick murmured.
“Yes, you did.” Landon pressed the thorn of the rose into my flesh, but didn’t let it puncture my skin. “You trust us, don’t you?”
“Is that something you really have to ask me?”
“We have to be sure.” Nick sat up in bed and unhooked one of the manacles from the bedpost. A tremble of dread ran through me. I didn’t enjoy being restrained, even by the men who I loved. I shivered to think about the past and what my parents had subjected me to.
I closed my eyes and gathered my wits. They would never hurt me. This wasn’t a new game to me, but I had to prepare myself for whenever they asked. I loved them and that was the most important thing, knowing they would never hurt me intentionally.
“But it still makes you uncomfortable whenever we ask. Won’t you tell us about it? We can help you with the pain. That’s what we are here for. You can share anything with us.” Landon looked deep and hard into my eyes.
I shook my head and forced a smile. Each of them slipped on their pants. “I’d rather not talk about it. I’m just not ready yet. We all have our secrets and that’s mine for now.” I held out my hands to Nick.
He smiled and slipped the velvet cuffs over my wrists and tightened the straps. He leaned over, opened the drawer in the nightstand and pulled out a black blindfold. Nick wrapped it around my head and tied it securely. Landon drew me up in his strong arms and placed me down a few moments later. I staved off the anxiety because I knew they had taken me into Landon’s room. I stood perfectly still while they lifted my arms and hooked them to a rope that was attached to the ceiling. My arms were slowly hoisted a little higher until they were completely extended, but I wasn’t uncomfortable. Whatever they had on their mind to do, I knew that it would end up being fabulous. It always was. I just had to get over my own fear. That was one reason why I had agreed to let them tie me up in the first place. To completely erase my terror, I had to delve into my past and face the demons that lay there. Many thought vampires and werewolves were evil creatures. They didn’t know the background I had come from.
“Are you comfortable?” Nick asked.
“Yes.”
“Good,” Landon responded. His voice was heady with desire.
I braced myself for what he might do. I’d learned so much pleasure from being with my two mates. I loved them and couldn’t imagine having anything happen to them. Something soft was dragged down my back. The touch was silky. Another of the same was trailed over my breast. A moan slipped from my lips from the suppleness. This wasn’t one of the usual toys they used. This was something else. I reached out my mind to peek through one of my mates’ eyes, but found a wall there. They didn’t want me cheating. That would be too easy.
“No fair for you to be peeping. We’ll just have to punish you for that.” Nick licked my neck.
I bit my lip and waited for the strike. I expected to hear the crack of a whip or the slap of a paddle, but instead sharp pain struck my back. It dug into my skin like barbs and was then taken away. Before I could recover, I was hit again with more force. I arched forward and moaned. Another strike landed on my stomach.
“Ouch!” I cried out.
Someone’s tongue ran over the wounds, lapping at the blood seeping from them. Once the touch of the tongue wound over the gashes, I knew they were mending. They were both at my back and at my front. Fingers slipped between my pussy and began to manipulate my clit. Before I could reach the pinnacle of an orgasm, another slap of pain wracked my back. The pain enveloped me. Now that I knew what to expect I also knew how to flow with it. To drop within the hurt and let it consume me. When the next hit came, I was prepared and it brought me over the edge, driving me higher and higher. But before I could come, I sensed another strike was coming soon. This time they were across my back and my legs at the same time. Both my mates were trying to launch me into another world. When they stopped, I was left wanting more. They moved the silky strips down my body again and then their tongues were on me. Each one was lapping at the gashes and healing them.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked me.
I couldn’t answer him because I cried out from the orgasm that swept over me. Another crack from the barbs hit me across the ass. The sudden explosion forced my hips forward. At the next one, I came hard and lost my breath. I wasn’t sure if I could take any more. I gripped the rope and waited for the next blow.
“Have you had enough yet?” Landon asked.
I tried to answer him, but at that moment, I sensed something. I tried to focus on it, but another blow came. I cried out. My power flared to life.
“Let me down. Let me down!” I screamed.
“What’s the matter? Can’t take it?” Nick chuckled and ran his tongue along my stomach.
I shook my head, trying to get loose. My power crackled. The wards around the house were falling. Someone knew how to counteract my power. I needed to get to my room to reinforce the protection spells. My mates didn’t understand what was happening.
“No. They’ve come for me. Please! Get me down.”
My mates scrambled to release me. Nick caught me and undid my wrists. I didn’t have time to waste. Landon snarled behind me. I pulled the blindfold off and then rushed toward my room, where my altar and other things were. The men were right behind me. I stopped them at the door.
“Landon, take the back. Nick, there’s another coming up the front. They are stronger than I’ve felt in a long time.” The others looked at me and I saw the love in their eyes. I prayed to the goddess they would be okay before I raced toward my altar and threw myself into every spell I knew.
The energy of the earth rose along my spine. I could feel the intruders breaking through the wards I had erected around the house. They were trying to hack into the vibe of my magic to take it out from the inside. But they didn’t know that I mixed my energy with a vampire and a werewolf. It might slow them down. I placed my hands on my largest crystal and focused my power through it. Within my mind, I saw the ones coming for us. It nearly stopped my heart when I saw the leader. Eric.
He looked up, sensing my power.
Little sis, what a surprise.
What are you doing here?
Just doing a little exterminating. Heard about this nest. Never figured I’d find you here.
The smug tone was apparent in his voice.
Bullshit. You didn’t come here looking for a nest. You came here looking for me. I’m warning you. Don’t make me hurt you.
You left the coven. You know how important you were to us. You deserted us.
I didn’t desert you. I was banished.
It doesn’t matter. You’ve had all this time to live your dream life. Now we’re here to bring you back so you take your rightful place. Your little pets won’t stop us. This order comes from the highest.
Eric’s power began to rise, but I counteracted it with a blast of my own. He stumbled to the ground. A line of blood dribbled from his nose. I felt along the perimeter of the house and found the wards that hadn’t been broken. I threw all my power into them and prayed they would hold. The crystal was lending me its strength. A gale of wind blasted against my power and nearly blew me down, but it didn’t knock down my wards. It only strengthened them. I’d learned to pull on the strengths of others and weave them into my magic. I discovered then that there were four intruders. Landon had already taken down one. His satisfaction washed over me. Nick was snacking on another one. With only two left, I could easily handle them. I focused my energy on the other member of the hunting party. I didn’t recognize the woman, but she was an intermediate witch.
Earth rise and protect our home. Defend those that I cherish. Great goddess, hear my cries. I listened to your will. Help me now and aid those I love.
The earth rose up around the woman so suddenly that my target didn’t have time to raise a counter-spell. I felt the earth snuff out her life like a candle going dark. In the distance there was a glimmer of the goddess that I had prayed to. A moment of sadness passed over my soul. I didn’t condone taking life with my power. And yet I already lived with that stain on my soul for so many years. Now my brother was the only one left. Landon and Nick were already circling him. My mate howled. It echoed through the earth and rattled my bones.
I refocused on the crystal. I might not have seen my brother for seven years, but I knew his weaknesses. I was the stronger of the two of us. I hated to hurt him, but he had sided with our family.
I’ll give you one last warning. Leave now. I won’t hurt you.
Sorry, Melina, your little pack doesn’t know about your dirty secret. I’ve grown since you were gone. I’m
warning
you! Come back with me and I’ll let your mansluts live. Maybe I’ll even leave their minds intact.
Eric crossed the threshold into the house with little resistance. He blew down my wards as if they were paper. A surge of power flared through the wards and came back through the crystal, burning my hands. My concentration broke. He was stronger than what I remembered and had learned a few more tricks. I wasn’t sure exactly what would happen, but when I tried to ram my power of earth against him, he pushed me away easily with air and earth magic. But I also felt other stirrings of power inside of him. Maybe what the coven didn’t understand in me was something they were trying to harness now. Maybe that was the reason they wanted me back.