Page 31

31

PANDORA

T he candlelight flickered against the high walls of Dad’s manor, casting long shadows around Jenni and I as we were curled up in a nest of blankets and pillows on the rug. My mates were downstairs with Dad and Joel, leaving us to a much-anticipated girls’ night.

Jenni’s blue-green eyes were practically glowing as she gushed about my dad and Joel, her voice dripping with happiness so pure it made my soul ache in the best way.

“They’re so different, you know?” she mused, twirling a strand of dark hair around her finger. Black clove and Moroccan mint clung to her passionfruit scent, more proof that she’d sealed the bond with Joel. “Joel is…wild and sweet. He’s constantly fussing over me while Daryl looms in the back protectively. Daryl is…more stoic but just as kind in his own way. And, I feel whole . It’s like I was walking around with a missing piece, and now, it’s just— complete .”

I studied her with a big smile on my face. She wasn’t just happy —her soul was complete . Her mates had solidified her soul. There had been a gap within her that had been missing, and with Joel, it was filled.

“I can sense it in all of your souls,” I admitted softly. “You belong to them, and they belong to you.”

Dad would always have a gap where Amy would’ve fit, but even with that gap, his soul was filled with love from Jenni and even Joel.

She nodded, her eyes misting up as she grinned. “Exactly, and I love this feeling.”

A pang of guilt settled in my chest. I exhaled, rubbing my hand over Hunter’s mark, feeling all the grooves and bumps of my scars underneath. “I need to talk to you about something that’s been bothering me.”

Jenni’s head snapped up to meet my gaze, brows furrowing. “What is it?”

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. “Hunter had a session with me after everything that happened with us being captured by the cult…when I chose you over Dreadful.” I scoffed, shaking my head. “Not even a real choice. Obviously, I’d choose you over that dreadful bitch.”

Her expression softened. “What about it?”

“Hunter brought up a scenario over if it was between you or Dex.” I hesitated before forcing out, “If I had to choose between you guys in a moment like that…I…I would have chosen Dex. I feel like a bad friend for not telling you and even thinking it, but…” I bit my lip, hard.

It felt like I was betraying her by not telling her about the revelation Hunter and I had made.

Jenni’s face remained unreadable for a moment before she reached for my hand. “I understand it.”

I blinked at her, expecting something else—betrayal, disappointment . But there was none of that. Instead, she squeezed my fingers.

“I love you, Pandora. If it came down to you or Daryl, I would choose you . That’s because I know that’s what Daryl would want. But, if it were Joel…” Her lips parted as she considered her own words. “I’m sorry. I would choose Joel.”

Understanding settled between us.

Fated mates were everything. Literally a part of us, but so was our chosen family. Sometimes, the line between the two blurred. And sometimes, there were choices no one should ever have to make.

Like the choices Dark Veil would force upon us if they had the chance.

“Thank Fates for that.” I exhaled a breath of relief. “I love you, too.”

She grinned, nudging my shoulder. “I know. Now, tell me—have you had a threesome yet?”

My face heated as my threesomes with Reed and Hunter then Skel and Dex flashed in my mind. Desire leaked down my matebonds. “Jenni!”

Jenni cackled with her eyes gleaming. “Don’t act so innocent! Have you?”

“Ugh,” I groaned, covering my face. “Yes, but I am not discussing this with you because you’ll tell me about the threesome you no doubt had with Joel and my dad. ”

“True.” She just laughed harder. “Fine, fine. I’ll keep my stories to myself.”

Before I could retort, a knock sounded at the door.

“Pandora?” Bram’s voice carried through the wood. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

I shot Jenni a questioning glance, but she just smirked. “Go on. I’ve got some demons to do.”

“Ew,” I groaned dramatically. “Jenni, come on! ”

She only laughed as I stood, brushing off my dress.

As I opened the door to reveal a nervous looking Bram, Nebula’s voice pierced the air. “Take me with you.”

Dex suddenly appeared at Bram’s side, arching a brow. “You sure about that?”

Nebula hissed, “Of course, why?”

Dex smirked. “Never mind. Just stay with me in case things get… spicy .”

“Oh, are you two finally going to fuck?” Jenni squealed as Dad and Joel came up the stairs.

Joel chuckled, but Dad glowered at Bram.

Nebula groaned. “Fine. I’ll stay with Dex.”

“We’re just going for a walk,” Bram mumbled, face turning a few shades of red. “I wasn’t planning anything bad.”

“You better not be,” Dad growled out.

“Leave them alone, babe,” Jenni giggled, coming out of the room and wrapping her arms around his waist as Joel rested a hand on her lower back.

“Let’s go, then.” I moved past them to follow Bram.

Bram led me outside of Dad’s manor, guiding me through the shifting sands of the desert.

“I really only wanted a moment with you. Not for sex…not that I would mind that, of course.” His cheeks were still red as he brought us to a blanket spread out beneath the vast sky. Above us twinkled with endless stars. A full moon hung overhead, and in the distance, a storm brewed. Clouds rolled in, illuminated by flashes of lightning.

I exhaled a long breath. “Bram, this is beautiful, and for the record, I wouldn’t mind if you took me out here for sex.”

“Noted.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But I want to share something special with you. Sex with you would also be special, but again, that isn’t my intention…for now.”

“Is everything okay?” My brows furrowed in concern.

He sat, encircling my wrist with his hand and tugging me down beside him. “I’m six months sober, Pandora.”

Dex gasped from the shadows. “What the fuck, man! That’s amazing. Why didn’t you tell us? Congrats!”

“Great job, Bram,” Nebula praised him.

He blushed, but we ignored Dex and Nebula’s stalking from the shadow.

“That’s truly incredible, Bram,” I said softly, resting my hand on his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I wrote you a poem.” With a breath, he pulled out a folded piece of paper and began to read from the page. The words tumbled from his lips, each one laced with heavy emotion.

Bottles of despair,

Love in the air,

I was worthless,

Looking forward to nothingness.

You gave me strength,

You made me break,

Falling into that Fates-damned lake.

You forgave a man who didn’t know right from wrong,

A warped mind for so long.

Because of you,

I’m worth something, too,

I’m sober.

Because of you,

I’m a better demon.

I love you.

Tears prickled at my eyes as he finished, and he pulled out a familiar skull. Voidfire’s scent of dirt pierced the air. Along the skull were our initials carved into the bone.

B+P

“Firewood’s skull, for you.” He handed it to me. “Hunter helped.”

“Her name was Voidfire.” I let out a watery laugh. “What about her family?”

He shrugged. “Who cares? That bitch sucked.”

“She did.” A giggle bubbled up in my throat. I turned and reached into my bag, pulling out a small crystal and handing it over to him. It was his birth month crystal: a diamond. “I knew, you know. I’ve been counting the months, too. Six months is a huge deal.”

His breath hitched as he took it, eyes widening at the number six carved into its surface. To mark his six months without a drink.

Tears trickled down his cheeks. “Pandora…”

“I’m so proud of you,” I whispered, my throat tightening. “I love you, Bram.”

His entire body stiffened. “What?”

“I love you.”

He reached out and cupped my face, searching my expression with his red eyes. “Say it again.”

I shivered as the bond between us flared. “I love you.”

His pupils blew wide, raw desire overtaking his gaze. “Again.”

Heat coiled in my belly, and I repeated the words, “I love you.”

The next moment, he was on me, pinning me to the blanket. “Fuck, Pandora. Again .”

“I love you,” I gasped, tangling my hands in his black hair as he bit and licked at my neck.

“Fates, I could hear you say it over and over again…” His hands trailed up my dress and transformed into claws before ripping my panties off.

“Mmmf, Bram.” The cool air of the desert hit my wet heat as he spread my legs and worked his pants down.

“I need you,” he growled out, planting his claws on either side of my head as his tail wrapped around my stomach, the end of it lying on his mark above my belly button.

“Take me,” I pleaded with him, feeling his cock nudge my entrance. I was soaked for him.

“Tell me you love me again.” His growl was feral as he lifted his head and his stare bore into my eyes.

“I love?—”

He slid his cock inside me with one long thrust, stealing my breath.

“Who do you love?” he moaned, fully settled inside of me.

“You,” I moaned with him.

“Again,” he pleaded, pulling out until only his tip remained. “Say it again for me.”

“I love you,” I panted, feeling my pussy spasm with the need for him to fill me again.

He thrust back inside of me, hard, with a pleased growl in my ear before he started up a brutal, delicious pace.

“Kiss me,” I gasped.

“Tell me you love me again.” He pulled back and stared at me, continuing his pace.

“I love you, Bram.”

He ducked his head to meet my lips, his hand sliding between us and playing with my clit as he rocked his hips against mine. My entire body moved from the force of his thrusts, each one eliciting a pleasure-drenched sound from me that he swallowed each time.

I clutched his shoulders to hold on, but he kept going, pushing me further and further into ecstasy.

He broke our kiss with a snarl. “Say it again, brat.”

A small giggle caught in my throat before his thrusts hit harder, and I moaned. “I love you, Bram. Fates, I love you so much.”

“Come for me, gorgeous.” He ground his hips into me harder.

Our matebond was full of pleasure. It sent me into a jerky, convulsing orgasm. I writhed underneath him, pulling his hair as I whimpered through the white-hot pleasure overtaking my body.

As he reached his climax, he moaned into my ear, “I love you more than the Fates ever thought I was capable of.”

Our heavy breaths filled the air as we moved against each other. The love between us was so strong.

Chaos and Demo both manifested and started barking, jolting us in surprise as we shattered together.

Pleasure roared through us as Bram spilled inside of me.

A slow clap sounded from the darkness, and we turned to see Dex smirking as he walked out of the shadows. “Fuck,” he drawled, “that was hot.”

Bram groaned, burying his face in my shoulder. “Dex, dude, come on.”

“What?” Dex chuckled. “It was.”

“He’s right, it was.” I giggled, feeling myself clench down on Bram’s cock teasingly, making him bite my shoulder in response.

“Fuck, you are a brat,” he whispered roughly.

Dex grinned, but there was a tightness to his eyes. “Let’s get you two back. Demo and Chaos seem pissed about something, and I’m sure that means someone or something is lurking.”

As Bram pulled out, he helped me to my feet before pulling his pants up. “Oh, shit.”

“I do not love that.” I frowned as I noticed Demo and Chaos barking off into the night where nothing was—again.

“None of us do. Let’s get back now.” Dex’s gaze dipped to my shredded panties on the blanket. “That was hot, too, by the way.”

Bram’s face heated as he bent down and grabbed the blanket, wrapping my panties in it, too.

Dex’s shadows enshrouded us as he took us back to the manor.

My soul felt more complete now than it ever did.

I had Bram to thank for that.