Page 69

What followed was a blur of sensation. Hands, mouths, bodies connecting in every possible configuration. At some point we moved from the shower to the bedroom, leaving puddles in our wake that no one cared about. Archer remained inside me the entire time, carrying me as if I weighed nothing.

On the massive bed, Callum positioned himself behind Archer, whispering something in his ear that made Archer shudder and thrust deeper into me. Rowen stretched out besideus, his hand between my legs, circling my clit with maddening precision.

"Let go," Rowen commanded, his voice like velvet-wrapped steel. "All of you."

The combined sensation of Archer filling me, Rowen's skilled fingers, and the knowledge that Callum was taking Archer from behind pushed me over the edge. I came with a scream, my body clenching around Archer's length. He followed immediately, his release triggering Callum's, the three of us locked in a chain reaction of pleasure.

Rowen watched with dark satisfaction before positioning himself at my mouth. I took him willingly, tasting the salt-sweet essence of him as he thrust between my lips. Archer, still joined with me and Callum, turned his attention to Rowen's body. Our hands and mouths working in tandem until he too found his release.

We collapsed in a tangle of limbs, breathing hard, skin slick with sweat and other fluids. For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of what awaited us outside this room seemed distant, held at bay by the fortress of our bodies.

Eventually, Archer shifted, pulling me against his chest while Callum spooned behind him and Rowen stretched out on my other side.

"We need to talk about the prophecy," Archer said quietly, his fingers tracing patterns on my hip. "About what my mother's book says."

I nodded against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "We're listening."

He took a deep breath. "The Shadow Beast can only be banished by Lightbringer. An ancient weapon that holds immense powers.”

"But there's more." Archer's voice tightened. "The prophecy states that 'one of dual blood must sacrifice what they hold mostdear.' My mother believes that refers to me—half angel, half demon."

Callum's arm tightened around Archer's waist. "What does it mean by sacrifice?"

Archer was silent for a long moment. "It means I have to give up what I value most to power the spell that will allow Lightbringer to banish the Shadow Beast permanently."

"And what do you value most?" Rowen asked, his voice unnaturally calm.

Archer's eyes met mine, then shifted to include Callum and Rowen. "Isn't it obvious? The three of you. Our bond."

Ice formed in my veins. "The prophecy wants you to sacrifice us?"

"Not your lives," Archer clarified quickly. "But our connection. The bond we share. It would be severed completely."

The magnitude of what he was saying hit me like a physical blow. After everything we'd been through to find each other, to accept our fated bond. To lose it would be like losing a limb.

Or worse.

"There has to be another way," Callum said fiercely.

Archer shook his head. "My mother searched for centuries. This is the only known method to banish the Shadow Beast."

"And if we don't?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"It will continue to grow stronger, feeding on the darkness between realms until it can fully manifest. Then it will consume everything. Starting with you, Sierra. It's drawn to your power, your ability to bridge worlds. It grows more powerful by the hour."

Silence fell over us again, heavier this time. The afterglow of our lovemaking faded, replaced by the cold reality of our situation.

"How long do we have?" Rowen asked.

"A week, maybe less," Archer replied. "The barrier between realms is already weakening. You felt it, didn't you, Sierra? When it pulled you and Callum through?"

I nodded, remembering how easily we'd slipped into that cold, gray place. "It was like the walls between worlds had turned to tissue paper."

"So we have a choice," Callum summarized grimly. "Sacrifice our bond, or sacrifice everything."

"Some choice," I muttered.

Archer's arms tightened around me. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you. I wanted one more day of this, of us, before..."