Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

Colbie

A splash behind me has me spinning in a circle, and I gasp in shock when I find Micah staring at me, his eyes wide with wonder. “Holy shit, Liam was right. We have a mer as the shifter queen. People are going to lose their shit.”

I hold up a finger. “One, we never admit Liam was right. That would be unbearable for all of us. Two, I’m not just a mer shifter. I think my main form is the one I first shifted into. Three, I would like to avoid people losing their shit if possible. Apparently, I have a challenge day to get through, and I have no doubt if everything I have been told is correct, then being a mer will get me challenged up the wazoo.”

His smile drops, and he frowns. “Yes, you would be at a disadvantage. Challenge day takes place on land, so you wouldn’t be able to shift. You would have to fight in human form, whereas any challenger could shift. I assume you don’t have a lot of fighting experience.”

I shake my head as we bob in the water. “None. Hell, I don’t even exercise. The most I do is walk to work in the morning.”

“I would offer to be your champion, but that would only prove you need someone to protect you.”

I see the worry in his eyes, so I decide to put him out of his misery. “Don’t worry about me. I’m lucky enough to have more than one form, remember?”

“Yeah, but you don’t have enough time to master any of them, which is a disadvantage.”

“Micah, once shifters see what my original form is, no one will challenge me for anything,” I assure him.

“What are you?” he asks again, and this time I decide to answer instead of leaving him hanging.

“I’m a hydra.” His reaction is so comical, I can’t help but burst into laughter when his eyes widen and his mouth drops open.

“A hydra? Fuck,” he mutters, running all the possibilities through his mind. “No one will challenge you once they know that.”

I nod. “Yes, that’s what we’re all counting on, and if they do, well, apparently the hydra has a few tricks up its sleeve—poisonous claws and acid spit or breath to start with, not to mention the ability to regenerate. I’m basically indestructible. I just need to learn how to stay on my feet, which hasn’t been very successful.” I feel my cheeks heat with a blush, and he chuckles.

“That’s okay. I’m sure you will get the hang of it quickly. You did with this form.” He waves a hand at me. “You scared the crap out of the others when you disappeared.”

I scowl. “Maybe Liam shouldn’t have tossed me into the pond. That was a dick move.”

“Definitely a dick move,” he agrees, “but effective. Let’s relieve their panic though. They were freaking out, thinking they killed their mate, and the others were about to send Liam to his own watery grave.”

To be honest, I kind of feel the same way about Liam right now, despite our rather hot interaction outside of my bedroom, but as a polar bear, he probably wouldn’t drown. I guess he’s as comfortable in the water as he is on land.

He offers me his hand, looking hopeful, and as I place mine in his, I feel a pulse of happiness. He looks around the cave, and his eyes twinkle. “I wouldn’t mind coming back here when we have more time. I’d like to show you all the pleasures of having a mer form.” He winks, and my eyes widen with curiosity.

“What do you mean?” The water flows around us, and he glides toward me, wrapping one of his hands around my waist before pulling me against his muscular torso. Our tails brush below the surface, and I moan as a rush of sensation courses through my limbs.

“Holy crap,” I murmur as he brushes our tails together again with deliberate, powerful strokes.

“Unlike animal shifters, who don’t often fuck in their animal form because they’re mates are not always the same creature, mers can and do. I can show you the pleasures of what being a mer mate is about. Our scales are designed to send signals to the brain, warning us of dangers in the ocean, but they can also amplify pleasurable sensations as well. I can bring you to orgasm just by brushing my tail against yours.”

My breath becomes shallow, and my nipples prickle beneath my sports bra, becoming hard points. Micah’s smooth torso brushes against my exposed skin, and all I want to do is rub myself against him like a cat. Instead, I sigh, knowing I need to prioritize having full control of my shifts before any pursuit of pleasure.

Rain check?” I ask hopefully, and although I see the disappointment in his eyes, he gives me a nod.

“Anytime. Let’s go put your other mates out of their misery and work on getting you to shift seamlessly between forms. If you can do that, even if there is some idiot who wants to challenge your hydra, then showing you have access to nine different forms will leave no one questioning your ability to lead.”

He slowly sinks below the surface, dragging me with him, and I hold my breath, my body tense with the unnatural idea of breathing underwater. Soon, the need to inhale overrides my compulsion, and water flows through my gills, expanding my lungs once more. That’s going to take time to get used to. “

Micah leads me under the churning waterfall, and light returns to the depths as the sun shines through from above. When we surface not far from where Liam threw me in, the remaining five are arguing with one another, but that quickly comes to a stop when they spot us.

“Oh thank God.” Brodie sinks to his knees and gazes at me with relief. “I thought he killed you.”

Liam scoffs, and I notice he has a split lip that dribbles blood. “She’s a hydra shifter. Even if she didn’t have a mer form, they are just as much at home in the water as on land, you fucking asshole.”

He swipes the back of his hand across his chin and smears the blood across his face, yet it makes him look even hotter. I flip him off, and he smirks at me, looking pretty pleased with himself, and my gaze drops to his mostly naked body. He catches where I’m looking, and his eyes narrow in challenge. His hands go to the waistband of his shorts before he shoves them down.

“How’s the water? I wouldn’t mind a swim myself.” He steps forward, and I can’t stop my gaze from going to the weapon that swings between his legs. Holy shit, is that even legal? There is no way that’s going to fit inside me.

He chuckles darkly, noticing that I’m looking exactly where he wanted me to. He fists his cock, and something glints in the sunlight—a piercing. Well, that might be fun. He strokes up and down, and my creature rolls around inside me in delight.

“See something you like?” he growls, his bear in his tone. I drag my eyes away from the mesmerizing sight of him handling his dick and arch an eyebrow.

“Meh, I’ve seen better.” It’s a lie, but he doesn’t like it. He throws his head back and roars. It’s a sound I’ve never heard come out of a human’s mouth before. His body starts to contort, and within moments, a huge polar bear is standing on the side of the pool.

“Oh fuck, you’re in trouble now,” Gem mutters, grinning like an idiot.

The bear stalks toward the pool, his black eyes locked on me. I swim backwards, but he just keeps coming, launching himself into the water. A squeak leaves my mouth as a large figure brushes past my tail. He swims a circle around me, and I spin to keep him in sight.

“Stay still, Colbie. If you swim away, he’s going to take it as a challenge and treat you like prey,” Gryffin warns, crouching down and watching Liam’s path. “Liam’s bear has been on edge for months now. One wrong move, and it will take the mating choice out of your hands.”

I don’t take my eyes off the swimming bear who paddles circles around my body, brushing against my tail with every pass.

“There isn’t really a choice though, is there?” I ask. “The goddess took that out of our hands when she marked us for each other.”

“Yes, but we can work with your timeline. We know this is all very new for you and won’t rush you,” Brodie promises, and I think back to what the goddess said. I need to seal the mating bonds as soon as possible for everyone’s sake. Without them, I can’t be crowned, and the shifters are vulnerable to someone else usurping the crown and the powers it holds.

Coming to terms with being mated to eight men may take me a little time, but I want to be queen now. I want to protect the shifters, and if I have to be mated to eight men to do it, I can think of worse things to have to endure.

I concentrate on the shifting power inside me, reaching down and trying to get a feel for it. When I shifted before, it was kind of subconsciously, but this time, I want to choose which form to take. Imagining the figure of a polar bear, I nudge the power. I feel it swell inside me, and my body shudders. With a blinding flash of light, I change, shredding my sports bra that was still covering my breasts.

My body reforms, and my consciousness recedes slightly, taking a back seat to an overwhelming animalistic nature. I growl and paddle my front paws, then I hear a commotion from the side of the pool and turn my large head to look.

“Holy shit. She turned into a polar bear! Now she’s fucked. Liam’s bear is going to go nuts.” I’m pretty sure that’s Hunter, but my instincts zero in on the large white figure still swimming around me. I throw my head back and roar before diving. My body brushes against Liam’s, and he stops, his black eyes widening in surprise. He shoots to the surface, and it’s my turn to swim around him. My huge paws cut easily through the water as I paddle around him. Just as I’m passing him, my jaw opens, and I latch onto his rear, biting down. The taste of his salty blood hits my tongue, and a thrill of accomplishment flows through me. I release him and push to the surface, gulping for air and roaring loudly.

“Is that blood in the water? Did she bite him?” The four men on the side of the pool look at Micah, and I watch him pop below the surface before returning.

“Yup, she took a chunk out of his ass,” he confirms, and Gem chuckles.

“Oh, she’s fucked now.” Gem looks at me. “Pretty lady, you better start swimming. You just baited the bear, and he won’t stop until you wear a matching set of teeth marks.”

A thrill of excitement goes through me, and my bear preens with pride. I turn my gaze to Liam’s bear. He’s gasping for air and looking slightly befuddled. I swim closer and lick a stripe across his muzzle before nudging him. His black eyes narrow, and he grabs for me with his huge paws. I manage to evade them and slip from his reach, paddling away from him, the thrill of being pursued flooding my body with endorphins.

Liam roars behind me, and I hear furious splashing as he takes chase. I take a breath and dive, the sound of the waterfall becoming silent as I plunge deep into the pool. I can feel Liam on my tail, but despite him being bigger, he doesn’t catch up to me. My smaller body becomes more streamlined as I glide through the water and under the falls. I’m almost certain I know where this is going, and I don’t really want to end up naked on my back, being fucked in front of everyone just yet. I know I have eight mates, but all of them deserve for their first time with me to be special. I don’t doubt that group sex will eventually become a thing, and I’m looking forward to it, but I’ve had enough changes in such a short period of time. I can ease into orgies.

I surface inside the pool behind the waterfall. The noise becomes deafening, but I don’t stop. I paddle for the edge and try to haul my large body out of the water, but I slip and scramble for purchase, and that’s when he strikes. I roar out in pain as his teeth dig into my hip, and his paws wrap around me, pinning me to the rocky edge of the pool. I roar my displeasure, but it turns into a whimper when a sudden wave of rolling desire turns my limbs into putty.

He removes his teeth and licks over his mark before he releases me and surfaces. I can’t hold onto my shift any longer as pulses of need flood my system, and I shift back, finding myself naked, my chest heaving and core throbbing. I moan and press my thighs together to stem some of the pulsing want.

Liam surfaces, also in his human form. He looks at me with wide-eyed wonder. “You bit me?” It’s like he can’t believe I had the audacity to make the first move.

“Ah, yeah. Was that not what you wanted?” I ask, desire receding as panic starts to flood my system. Fuck, I’m an idiot. In my desire to get the job done, I didn’t think about asking. I’m as bad as those people who are turning the ferals.

“You do know this means we’re mated, right? There’s no switching it off or changing your mind.” He reaches for me but fists his hands like he’s trying to resist touching me.

“Yes, of course, but I’m sorry I didn’t ask,” I say quietly.

“You want me? You really want me?” he asks, sounding confused. “You didn’t do it by accident or because your bear made you?”

“Of course I do. You’re my mate,” I assure him. “And while it isn’t what I’ve known, it feels right.”

“Thank God!” He lunges for me, and his lips press to mine. He drags my body against his and kisses me like I’m the air he needs to breathe. Our lips and tongues clash in a frenzy of desire, the ring in his lip cold despite his body heat. His hands caress every inch of my skin, like he can’t get enough. I wrap my body around him and feel his dick press against my core. I grind into him and moan as I slide my clit up and down his thick length, feeling that hard bit of metal in the tip.

“I’m going to fucking ruin you,” he mutters against my lips before pulling away and climbing out of the water. I whimper as the heat of his body leaves mine, but I don’t have to wait long, because he bends down and tugs me out of the water. Holding my hand, he guides me through the first cabin then down a tunnel, our footsteps muffled against the rocky floor. Both of us are breathing like we ran a marathon, and the sound echoes off the tunnel walls, the noise of the thundering waterfall fading behind us.

It’s dark, and it takes a bit for my eyes to adjust, but when they do, I see better than I’ve ever been able to before. Liam is in front of me, and I don’t stop my gaze from roving over his toned, muscular backside. I catch sight of a bite mark that’s still oozing blood on his left butt cheek, and the bear inside me roars her delight. We did that. We marked our mate, and nobody is taking him away from us. Fuck that bitch Gianna. I should have marked him in a place for everyone to see. I will make sure I do that as well.

The tunnel opens up into another cavern, and this one actually looks cozy. There is a pile of cushions lying on the floor that have white fur all over them. I guess this must be Liam’s bear’s nest. Farther back, though, there are a few couches and a large bed.

“What is this place? How did you get this furniture here?” I look around, searching for another entrance, but behind the bed is a solid wall.

“I come here when I need to get away, and I paid a witch for a transporting rune,” he replies, stopping in front of the big bed. He rummages around in a large wooden chest at the end of the bed and pulls out a glass ball. Liam gives it a shake and throws it into the air. The globe floats in the air and pulses a blue light, illuminating the cavern. I shiver as a cool breeze wafts over my dripping body, and he turns back to the chest, grabbing a towel out of it. It’s big, white, and fluffy, and he uses it to dry me off. His hands are gentle, almost reverent, as he runs it over me, his eyes not leaving mine.

He tosses it to the side and steps closer, so our chests are brushing together, and he cups my cheek.

“You mated me?” Despite the dim light, I can see him perfectly, and he stares at me with wonder, like all of his dreams have come true. It makes me feel amazing.

“Well, yeah. I kind of thought that was what you wanted.” I drop my gaze to my feet and shuffle on the spot, feeling all kinds of awkward. Did I already mess this up?

He lifts my chin so I’m looking at him. “You made all my dreams come true, and now I’m going to show you exactly how good being my mate can be.”

He scoops me up in his arms and tosses me onto the big bed. A small screech escapes me before I can stop it, but when I land, it’s soft, and I practically sink into the mattress. I scramble back as he crawls up the bed, feeling like I’m about to be devoured. He smirks as he grabs my leg and tugs me toward him, spreading my body out across the bed.

“Look who’s sleeping in my bed.” He chuckles as I roll my eyes at the nursery rhyme reference. “Luckily she’s exactly where I want her to be.” He spreads my legs and looks at my naked body. Liam runs a finger through my dripping folds, and I shudder as he brings the same finger to his mouth and sucks it. “And her honey makes this bear’s mouth water.”