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I wasn’t precisely sure, and I supposed it didn’t matter. All that matters was getting back to my mates.

I got to my feet. My clothes were gone, as was the crown, and the hot rock below my feet burned slightly as I took a step away from the edge. The ground seemed to tremble, and the smoke had thickened, turning the sky black with soot.

I knew we needed to get off this mountain, but I couldn’t force myself to move once I turned and saw the row of my mates all kneeling on the dusty ground with their heads bowed in prayer.

My chest swelled with an overwhelming sense of relief and triumph. We’d actually made it. Against all odds, we were all still here, alive and breathing. Nothing else mattered.

Without meaning to, an anguished sound of shock and relief escaped me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or laugh, and somehow I was doing both, my entire body shaking and my chest heaving for breath

Clearly hearing my sobs, my mates stood as one, running toward me.

Bael was the first one to reach me, wrapping his arms around my figure and holding me tightly. He buried his face in my hair, and he too was laughing and crying at once, tears escaping him as he grinned through the wetness seeping into my hair.

Then, Ambrose was there and he was just watching me in wonderment. In awe. I reached for him around Bael’s arm and gripped his hand tightly, assuring him I was there.

Finally Bael pulled back and simply looked at me. His arms stayed around my waist holding me loosely as I turned to look at Scion and waited.

“How?” Scion demanded, running his hands over my face again and again.

I shook my head. “Think she heard you. Or, I heard you. I’m not certain.”

“And it just gave you back?” Scion demanded, shaking me slightly.

Scion seemed so shocked, so over-rot, so twisted into knots that it was coming out as anger whether he meant it to or not. Ithought of the cruel blonde man crying over his little girl, and ached inside.

“I’m fine, my lord,” I said. “See? I’m fine.”

He stared at me for so long I began to wonder if he was going to speak at all. Tentatively, I smiled.

Then, whatever thought had been running through his mind seemed to break. He took an aggressive step toward me, grabbing my face between both hands, and crushed his mouth to mine.

I gasped, opening my mouth instantly to the kiss, letting him ravage my mouth with his tongue, searching, tasting.

Bael still held me against his chest, letting me use him for support as Scion kissed me. He moved the hand that was nearest to my belly, and began to trace small patterns on my bare skin. I shivered, pleasure creeping over me and moving up my spine.

I arched my back into him, moaning against Scion's mouth. I could feel both of them growing hard for me, and my lower belly tightened in response.

There would be time for explanations later, but not now. I wanted to feel something. Anything, if only to prove I was alive.

Another hand joined us, wrapping around my waist. I pulled back from Scion to see Ambrose beside me, waiting his turn.

Without hesitation, I twisted back and pulled his mouth to mine. He kissed me fiercely, easily parting my lips as I whimpered against his mouth.

"Don't hold back," I whispered against Ambrose's mouth. Though I directed it at him, the command applied to all of them. I wanted more from them, everything they had to offer.

"I won't, love," Ambrose promised. "But…”

I pulled back, narrowing my eyes at him. “But?”

“Perhaps we should get off this mountain. Otherwise ‘dying to be inside you’ will take on a whole new meaning.”

Later that night,I walked outside alone.

We’d finally exhausted ourselves beyond the point of no return, and half-walked, half-crawled, into the house to sleep.

Unfortunately, though I was exhausted beyond all reason, sleep would not come.

I had too much to think about. Too much to do.