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It ended the next, when tree roots pushed through the dirt beneath my feet, wrapping around my ankles and spreading my legs slightly, pulling my stance away from the tree so that I had to arch my back. Around us, the others had stepped away from the tree. I couldn’t see Mab or Twyla, only Rheaghan and Kahlo as they drew their partners back to the grass covered part of the forest clearing and lingered just on the outskirts of where I could see. They didn’t hesitate to strip clothing off as I turned my shocked stare back to the tree.

Caldris chuckled, his voice low in my ear. “Good girl. I don’t want you looking at them,” he said.

I kept my eyes forward, my legs trembling beneath me. I hated the idea of being chained, of being trapped and unable to free myself. No matter how I pulled at the restraints, the tree held me steady. The branches holding my wrists vibrated as if the tree itself waslaughing.

I heard the sound of fabric shifting as Caldris took off his tunic, felt his body move as he stripped off his boots and pants. The next time he pressed against me, he was nude and hard against the curve of my ass as he leaned over me.

“I’m going to fuck you now,” he said, his voice both his and not. I had no doubt my mate was in there somewhere, but he was trapped beneath the undercurrent of magic within him.

“Here?”I gasped, wincing when someone laughed—the sound deep and rough, as if the person didn’t laugh often.

Kahlo.

“Yes, my star.Here.”

He grasped the laces at the back of my dress, untying the neat bow Nila had done earlier that evening. He fed the ribbon through the holes slowly, forcing my dress to hang off my body as he made his way toward my waist. It finally fell to the ground, surrounding the feet I couldn’t move.

My mate trailed clawed fingers up my spine. The touch sent a ripple through me as he reached the base of my neck. He buried his hand in my hair, grasping it and using it to wrench my head back toward him. My spine bowed, arching for him as my breathing turned ragged.

“Tell me to stop, and it all ends here,” he said, leaning forward to press his lips to the curve of my shoulder. His teeth trailed over the skin there; the slightest threat of pain amid the shiver that shot straight to my core.

I laughed uncomfortably, my eyes dropping back to where the tree still held me captive. “The tree disagrees with you. I don’t know what I’m agreeing to. Why aren’t the others—”

“Every Tithe, the tree chooses one God to channel the magic of the ritual,” Caldris explained, that deep voice patient and understanding even as he ground his cock into my ass like he couldn’t help himself. “The tree chose me, and as my partner, you’re to be the conduit.”

“The conduit?” I asked, gasping when his hand freed my hair, sliding around to the front of my neck. He grasped me there, his palm pressing firmly into myjugular as his nails pressed into the side of my throat.

“The tree feeds on sex to help it rise from the ashes after the Tithe. The others’ desire will feed into me because of the magic it’s given me for the night. Desire that I will use to fuck you until morning. The tree will feed from you—your pleasure,” he said, his voice trailing into a growl as his hand lowered, sliding between the valley of my breasts. He moved it toward the apex of my thighs, stopping at the lowest part of my belly and pausing there, lingering, waiting for my answer.

His fingers made small, teasing circles against my skin, making that creature within me rise to the surface as if he’d toyed with her. I felt his chuckle against my spine, felt the smile on his face. The self-satisfied grin of a male who’d triumphed over his prey; he took pleasure in the fact that my monster was his to command—at least in this.

He’d already dominated the most monstrous part of me, and she’d let him.

A growl came from my lips, strange and animalistic as heat slithered through my body in response. The faintest hint of starlight and scales moved on my skin, like the ghost of a memory of what those things were. I immediately thought of the skeletal face I’d seen on Caldris when he claimed me, shock striking me in the chest as my fingernails elongated into claws.

“There you are,” he murmured as my hips writhed, seeking out the pleasure he’d offered.

The undeniable urge to claim him, to let him take what he wanted, was so, so much stronger when she threatened to tear through my skin.

“Give me the words,min asteren.”

“Gods,” someone muttered, and I was too far gone to recognize the voice—to wonder if it was about me and what Caldris had revealed or if it had more to do with their own partner.

I growled again, trying to slide my body along that tormenting hand. Just a little farther, and he’d put it exactly where I needed it. I looked to my side, to the others who were mostly lost in the pleasure of their partners, but never fully took their attention off the glowing golden male behind me.

We’d had sex with an audience before, fucked while people watched, but something about this moment felt more important. It felt like finally ridding myself of my human sensibilities and embracing the less restricted nature of the Fae.

“Would you shut up and fuck me already?” I growled, looking at Caldris over my shoulder.

My mate laughed, but finally slid that hand lower on my body. His fingers trailed through me, brushing against my clit so softly that my hips jolted forward.

“Oh no, my star. I have all night to fuck you.”

His free hand wrapped around my front, grasping my breast in his hand and pinching the nipple as he worked the flesh. His other moved between my thighs, sliding first one finger inside of me and working it slowly.

Too slowly

“By the end of the night, you’ll be so full of cum that it drips down your thighs,” he said, and the creature inside of me purred. “I’m going to make a fucking mess of you. So before you get my cock, you’re going to come on my fingers, and then you’re going to ride my tongue.”