Page 34

Roman

Thursday morning

Third Floor Common Room

I hadn’t realized how much I craved stability until our lives descended into pure fucking chaos. Now everywhere I looked there was some creature prowling and the girl I wanted to keep safe couldn’t stay away from danger.

The sky was gray and overcast, rain drizzling on the window I was gazing out of. It fit my mood and I couldn’t seem to tear myself away from it.

“Alright, enough of this bullshit,” Drake said. It broke the silent bubble I was in. I snorted at his entrance, not even surprised to hear an outburst from him.

My amusement fell when I saw his eyes locked onto me as he stalked over to me.

“What?” I demanded, glad it was just us here. He laughed humorlessly at my narrowed eyes.

“You shouldn’t even have to ask this. Clearly this is the time for an intervention. We’ve got Hiro acting dangerously, diving into situations he isn’t prepared for. Then there’s you on this side of the spectrum, brooding and shutting down because you have some asinine opinion you’re no longer a worthy protector.”

“I let him die, Drake,” I stated plainly, not bothering to hide the root of my issues. It felt like he would see through it anyway.

“How old were you?” he demanded. I didn’t answer, we both knew Hiro and I were too young to have dealt with the shit we faced. “Exactly. What happened then has defined you as a person, as people . But letting it win over the person you are now? That’s the fucking problem.”

“What can I offer her?” I asked, refusing to let my anger rise. Drake and I have always shared a blunt exchange, respecting each other. I knew whatever he would say was coming from a place of knowing me, not of judgment.

“Take this,” he told me, handing over a glowing blue blade with an obsidian handle. “Come with me.”

“What the fuck?” I demanded, but he was already done speaking to me.

He stalked to the elevator, hitting the button and standing in the open door until I stood and followed him.

The dagger felt heavy in my hand and I had a feeling I knew where this was going. What I didn’t expect was for Drake to take me to the fifth floor.

“What are we doing here?” He still didn’t answer as he walked past Vane’s office and pushed open another door, ushering me in with an urgency I didn’t understand.

Until I walked into a horde of demons.

They were all lurking in the halls, in and out of rooms. The moment we stepped inside, they turned at once, lunging toward us. Something was off with them, their blue eyes feral and clouded with rivulets of acidic green cutting through them.

“Fight,” Drake said absently as he let his demon take over.

My choice was taken as they swarmed us.

It was far too easy to swing the blade. I sliced and stabbed at every demon, my mind going blank as I hyperfocused on my task. I was running on adrenaline and instinct now.

The scent of death and smoke filled the hall and burned my nostrils, but it was little more than an afterthought as I refused to let a single demon past me, slaughtering them without breaking a sweat.

It was hard to see through the rain of ashes and flare of blue flames but it didn’t matter. My blade landed on target with every strike, their primal screams filling the void that had cracked open in me.

When it was finally over, my chest was heaving and sweat and blood coated my skin.

“Look behind you,” Drake said as he let his human side take back over. I did as he asked, not seeing a single thing.

“Why? There’s nothing there.”

When I turned back, he was smiling so smugly I kind of wanted to punch him, but instead I raised an eyebrow, waiting for whatever wisdom he assumed he was imparting on me.

“Exactly. Not a single drop of blood behind you. We just fought a horde of demons and not a single one got past you. So, you want to tell me again how you’re just that scared little boy? That you can’t keep her safe.”

Gods, he was a cocky bastard.

“Fuck you, Drake,” I said without venom. He laughed and walked past, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

“Harlow’s probably worried, and I think she’s in her room right now. Might want to swing by and tell her you’re getting your head out of your ass,” he said before walking away.

It took me a few minutes to realize he was right. I was being a dumbass, hiding away like a scared child while the world unraveled around us.

Harlow needed us more than ever and I was nowhere to be found.

“Fuck,” I bit out and stalked from the room.

As I headed back to the third floor, I forced my insecurities away, reminding myself I’d kept Hiro safe all these years.

That counted for something.

Drake and Harlow both thought I was capable, and that was what mattered. There weren’t a ton of moments in life I could remember someone giving a shit about me, much less thinking I could protect them.

I winced at how loudly I knocked on Harlow’s door. She opened it with wide eyes and dagger ready but the moment she saw me she panicked.

“Is that blood? What happened? Are you all right?!” she asked as her hands lifted my shirt, checking for wounds underneath. Her cold fingers met my heated skin and my cock jerked in response.

“Did I ruin this?” She froze at my question and looked up with wide, blue eyes that quickly narrowed at me.

“Wait. Between us? Is this you doubting again, Roman, because if so, then I’m going to kick your ass,” she threatened, pointing at me. I backed away, trying not to laugh at her attempt at intimidation.

“Look. Drake gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I can protect you, that I won’t fail you like I did my brother. My head is back on straight. But I want to know how much I have to fix,” I admitted.

“Well, right now you can fix this blood situation.” She wrinkled her nose as she looked at her now blood-covered hands. “You don’t smell like yourself. Then come back and prove to me you want me. Prove to me that you’re going to be present and want a part of this chaos that’s now our lives. If you don’t, that’s something I’ll handle. But if you do, show me.”

The challenge had my cock stirring already, and I slammed my lips to hers before running to my room for clothes, then the showers to clean up.

I had a woman to win over, and I would not hide this time.

Harlow

When Roman knocked on my door the second time, I was ready for him. I needed to send Drake a fucking fruit basket or give him a blow job or something for what he did or said to knock Roman out of his own head.

Roman was the rock. The one who was protective and observant and took no shit. Seeing him in his head like that had nearly killed me, especially since I couldn’t convince him he was worthy of me.

“Holy shit,” he breathed out at the sight of me in my bra and panties. With everything going on, we’d never progressed past our first encounter, and I was more than ready.

“You like?” I asked as I spun in a circle, showcasing my frame for him. He moved forward and closed the door so fast I barely let out a startled laugh before I was in his arms and on the bed.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?”

“Not too long. I’ve only been here a few months,” I joked but his face never faltered from a serious reverence as he studied me.

“You’re perfect,” he said instead. My heart clenched as he leaned over me, hovering just over my face before brushing his lips over mine, then deepening the kiss. My toes curled as he claimed my mouth, tasting and teasing me until I was breathless and rocking my hips into him.

If he could kiss like that, then I was ready to see what else he could do.

Even his scent was back to normal, stronger as his rigid cock pressed into me. Campfire, smoke, and alpha spice. How I hadn’t noticed before was crazy, then again so was our life right now.

Part of me wondered if he could knot me now or if his body was still in turmoil.

Now who was in their head?

Roman didn’t let me for long. His hands were everywhere, gliding over my skin delicately as he continued to kiss me. Our tongues warred as he unclasped my bra, letting my breasts spill free.

He pulled back and moved lower, teasing the tip of his tongue over my hard nipples before sucking one into his mouth, kneading the other. The warmth of his skin on my cool flesh had me arching into the touch. He grew more confident the more I reacted. Every moan seemed to help him learn me, giving me more without having to beg for it.

My fingers craved to touch his skin, but he still had too many clothes on. I tugged at them,struggling since my focus was split between the need to see him naked and the pure fucking bliss his mouth was inflicting on me.

“Clothes off,” I demanded as he pulled away. His eyes danced with amusement and pride as he ripped his clothes off.

“I’m glad I could affect you as much as you affect me,” he purred as he stood back so I could admire him this time. My eyes slowly ran over his body, memorizing every rippled muscle and dusting of dark hair. He was so much sexier than he realized. “Now let’s see just how much I can unravel you, Harlow. I want my name falling from those gorgeous lips of yours.”

“My pleasure, literally,” I joked, deflecting the overwhelming emotion I was feeling in the moment.

This was a huge moment for us, and I wasn’t usually the sappy sort, but it felt amazing to know he trusted me enough for this.

The moment his tongue descended on me again, I was lost.

He let out a low purr that I didn’t know if he realized he was making as he moved lower until he spread my legs wider for him.

“Yes, alpha,” I groaned as his breath fanned over my glistening pussy. “Take what’s yours.”

“Fuck,” he cursed, diving forward and sucking my clit into his mouth. Roman likely didn’t have experience but I never would have known. He licked and sucked at me like he couldn’t get enough, learning me just as I planned to learn him.

Roman expertly brought me to the brink with his tongue before he was slowing back down. I might have protested if he weren’t already ramping it right back up with fervor, pushing two fingers into my core. Each flick of his tongue and curl of his fingers inside of me had my moans turning to pleading.

“Come for me, Harlow,” Roman demanded, sucking hard on my clit and giving me no choice but to comply.

My body clenched around his fingers and my back arched off the bed, pleasure coursing through me and leaving me boneless as he pulled away and settled on his knees, cock already teasing my entrance.

Roman’s eyes were dark as he stared down at us. His cock teased through my slick, spreading it around and coating himself. The pressure against my swollen clit had me whimpering but he was in no hurry.

Finally, he let out a sigh that felt tortured as he pushed into me. It was a slow, yet unforgiving motion, forcing me to take him all at once before finally pausing and giving me a chance to adjust.

He was nowhere near the size Monty or Kol were, which was a good thing. I wasn’t looking to be broken tonight, just thoroughly fucked.

“This is amazing,” I breathed out as he finally moved. He didn’t respond, only picked up the pace as his hands continued to skate over my body. It was as if my boyfriend was trying to learn every inch of me in one night, but knowing Roman, he was committing it to memory and would treat every night like the first.

He was quiet and controlled, being in his sights felt like an honor and I knew I’d never take these men for granted.

Soft praises fell from his lips as he fucked me, the rumbling in his chest fueling us.

“Bite me, Roman. Prove to me you’re mine.”

Roman’s eyes locked onto mine as his fingers stilled on my hips. His control was unraveling and my words only made it more.

“I’m not an alpha, Harlow.”

“You are,” I argued. “Let instinct win for once. You’ll keep me safe. Now claim me, alpha.”

The last words were a feral plea, one he refused to ignore. He slammed home at the same time he ran his eyes over my skin, trying to figure out to claim me. My gargoyle, demon, and half- demon had all bitten me, claimed me, he and Hiro needed to join.

Roman finally picked up my wrist, holding me in place before he teased my clit with one hand and bit down, using pleasure to counteract the pain. It was quick and fleeting but the way his presence filled me had a sob escaping.

I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him despite the emotion it was stirring in my chest. It was the most intimate moment of my life, like he could see every part of me yet still chose me.

And I chose him.

“I love you, Roman,” I whispered. Even as the words tumbled out unprovoked, I wouldn’t take them back. His smile was blinding as he leaned down and kissed me again.

“I love you, too,” he said just as softly before he tensed. Something was pushing against my inner walls and he gasped as we both realized what it was.

He was knotting me.

“Fuck,” I groaned as he stretched me to my limits, pushing against me in such a way that had my body quaking, another orgasm threatening to drown me.

Roman was stunned, but the satisfied growl he let out and my pained groan was enough for him to act. His fingers found my clit and brought me to the edge again and right over the precipice, both of us coming together as he spilled inside of me.

We didn’t untangle as we came down from the natural high. Instead, I snuggled into his chest, his knot releasing me and his cock softening yet we didn’t move. I didn’t want to break the moment.

But in Dark Haven, that was never the case.

A loud knocking tore us from the bubble we’d created, and I groaned internally.

“The advisers are looking for you, Harlow,” Drake called out. “Put your tits and Roman’s dick away and get ready. Time to show these demons who is the real boss around here. I don’t think they got the message last time.”

“Not me,” I muttered, making Roman chuckle. We both knew that was no longer the option. I was the chosen and had to show I would not be pushed around.

If they didn’t eat me alive before I got the chance.