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“I have a brother,” he offers. “The herd leader at Wyland, several days south of here. He has three young boys with his mate, and every one of them is wild.”

He makes no reference to them visiting nor us visiting them. Despite what happened in the Royal Woodland, I sense that a large part of Nox is still held in reserve. Maybe he loves Eiden and is worried about how this will play out. Only there is nothing about his demeanor to suggest he is jealous nor feels slighted in some way. He seems intent and watchful, but I don’t yet know what it means.

“You will find a wide selection about our culture and history,” Eiden says, distracting me. “If you’re seeking more on the subject.”

Nox quirks one brow so quickly I might have missed it had I not been sending a surreptitious glance his way.

“I mostly read storybooks,” I admit.

I hear a strange chuffing noise. Did Nox just chuckle?

“Here we are,” Eiden says brightly.

Here? I have gotten lost with all the lefts and rights. Ahead are two arched wooden doors, the wood highly polished and glistening.

“I’ll see you both later,” Nox says, voice low and rough. He bows to me and strides off.

My eyes follow him.

“Don’t mind Nox,” Eiden says, smiling. “If you like story books, there is a wide collection on the second floor. I can show you.”

Eiden opens the left library door, distracting me from Nox’s retreating form.

He steps aside, allowing me to enter first.

“Oh,” I say inadequately as we step into the huge circular room. Rows upon rows of bookcases lead outward like spokes on a wheel. The layout is repeated in open floors—I count a total of six. A staircase twists around the outer walls, linking the floors. High above, a domed glass ceiling bathes the entire room in light.

In the very center is a high podium where a man in a very formal-looking black robe sits surveying a leather-bound tome.

Taking my hand in his, Eiden leads me up the stairs to the second floor and the storybooks section. With a promise that he will not be far away, he goes to browse for himself.

Nox

I excuse myself as Eiden and Fawn head into the library. I do not frequent this part of the palace, so I try several doors before I find one that is unlocked…

Dark, dusty, and full to the brim of scrolls. I slam the door shut, put my back against it, and fumble with my belt buckle. My cock is already hot and heavy, and it takes all of a dozen strokes before I spill my seed all over the fucking floor.

Finally, I can think straight again.

Her scent is damn near killing me. I’m going to lose my fucking mind if I don’t get inside her soon.

Control is everything to me—a legacy of my parent’s drifter ways. But that book, that fucking book that Persa gave to Fawn, has tipped me over the edge.

I sensed the little doe had a naughty side lurking under her well-behaved facade. Now I have no doubts. Given that I’m friends with one of Persa’s mates, I know exactly what kind of books she reads. They are not cultural insights, that’s for sure.

Bred.

I didn’t have time to read the full title—it was upside down for me—but that one word was more than enough to get the gist.

My cock is getting hard again. I tuck myself away, chuckling as I remember the way Fawn had been reading the title with a frown, much like me, only to suddenly snap the book against her chest, her pretty cheeks turning crimson.

Such a naughty, guilty look. One I can’t wait to exploit.

Seven hasn’t done more than get her off, and that was only today.

Tonight shall be his, with Jude there.

Eiden won’t cope well with that going down mere doors away. He is like a big pup, but one can never forget his inner stag has a feral side. I will keep him in line by whatever means is necessary.