Page 48 of Desired for Her Blood

Seeing my distress, all three men have come to me.

“You okay?” Sitting, Ryker puts his arm over my shoulders, pulling me back to make room for Zuben to sit in front of me, and the three men arrange themselves around me in a tight circle of protection and caring.

“I’m okay.” I make eye contact with each of them in turn, moved by the concern I see. “How did I get so lucky?“

“Lucky?” Ryker winks. “Are we talking being trapped in a dungeon lucky?”

Stroking his cheek, I smile softly. “I’ve been alone my whole life.” I shake my head. “Even before my mom was taken away from me, I felt alone. No friends. She didn’t let me leave the farm.” My eyes close as another memory comes back.

“I don’t think Icouldleave the farm.”

“What do you mean?” Zuben asks. “Was there a barrier of some sort?”

I shake my head. “It’s strange. I don’t even remember a fence, but…” A shiver traces through me and all three men shift closer, stroking my back and my arms.

“Even though I could see the property’s boundaries, I could never reach them. It’s bizarre to me now that I never questioned it.”

I gasp. “No. Ididquestion it. And when I asked, Mom said something about dangers and us having everything we needed on the farm…” I look down. “At some point I stopped questioning her. I stopped trying. I feel like a fool.”

“You were a cub,” Axe says softly.

“And she’d clearly cast a spell over the property,” Zuben adds. “And likely one over you too.”

Axe’s body tenses beside me and I lean into him, hoping to offer him the same kind of comfort they’re all giving me.

“I’ve decided,” I say softly. “I want to try.”

“Butt stuff?” Ryker grins, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

“You know what I mean.” I look into his eyes and my cheeks flush. I know he’s joking but it’s been a few days since I’ve had sex, and even the mention sent a frisson of heat racing through me.

“No.” Axe’s voice rumbles through me. “It’s too dangerous. Too painful.”

“Not with enough lube,” Ryker says.

“This is not a joking matter!” Axe growls. “We can’t risk Ember’s life. I won’t allow it.”

I take his hand. “Axe. I’m sorry, but it’s not up to you. It’s up to me.”

He lowers his head but I can feel the tension and fear charging through him. Axe is so gentle and kind that I forget he was once his clan’s alpha. He’s used to being in charge.

But it’s unbelievably selfish of me to not at leasttrythis. All three of them could escape if not for me. And if it doesn’t work, if I die…at least they’ll be able to get free.

“I need to get out of here,” I tell them. “If nothing else, I need to get back to my job,” I add. “Shana will be worried about me.”

“I took care of that,” Zuben says.

“What?”

He shifts on the fur, looking uncomfortable.

“What did you do?” I ask him.

“Forgive me,” he says.

“For what?”

“Before we were captured, I talked to your boss, Shana. I told her of my intention to offer you a position at DEFTA.”