Page 48 of Entwined
Without another word, Vaelor urges me away. I never look back, ignoring my mother as she stridently yells my name, causing a stir before my grandfather harshly demands her silence.
“You okay?” Vaelor’s question is quiet, meant for my ears only.
“Yes,” I assure him, letting out a soft exhale. “I didn’t expect them to be here, but I should’ve guessed. But it doesn’t matter. They don’t mean anything to me, and they know it.”
He makes a humming sound, right before he leans down and casually brushes a kiss against my forehead. The touch is fleeting, over as fast as a blink, but my skin sizzles for long seconds after. Vaelor isn’t a demonstrative person and physical affection has never come easy for him. Even so, over the years, he’s found new—and interesting—ways of making sure I know how he feels about me…outside of the bond that holds us together.
He has never given me reason to doubt him, despite our inauspicious beginnings.
“Let’s find Connor and get out of here,” he tells me. I have absolutely no arguments, warmth curling through my bloodstream, urging me to get my mates alone.
Connor quickly breaks away from the group he’sstanding with when he sees us approaching. His expression is strained, his tie hanging out of his pocket, and the buttons of his shirt open at the throat.
As soon as I’m within reach, he tugs me away from Vaelor, banding his arms tightly around me. “Can wepleaseleave?” he begs. “This is a new kind of hell.”
Vaelor’s mouth twitches down, something dark flickering through his gold eyes. “It would be best if we left now,” he murmurs, glancing around the room. “The way some of these people are eyeing up our mate is making me feel…violent.”
Connor laughs wickedly, his chest vibrating under my head. “You should’ve known better than to fuck her at an event full of shifters.”
My cheeks grow impossibly warm at the way they’re talking about me like I’m not standing right there, but sharp arousal races through me.
After years of learning each other, exploring, they almost know my body and mind better than I do—including the secret desires I pretend I don’t have. But they don’t use those desires against me. Not anymore.
Now, I’m filled with absolute certainty that while they might treat me as theirfuck doll, I’m also their most precious possession and the person they value most in the world. Their love for me is boundless, even if it’s coated in danger—but never for me.
I’m safe with them, always, and giving myself to them is my proof of that trust.
I snuggle into Connor, sending Vaelor a little smirk. “Don’t tell me you regret what happened in the bathroom.” I send him a coy little pout, and he closes the distance between us, sandwiching me between their bodies.
“Never that, Princess,” he vows, his fingersgripping my chin. “But I do have a little surprise waiting for you at home.”
My brows furrow in question, eyes bouncing between his. “A surprise?” I ask. “Why does that make me nervous?”
“I’m not nervous,” Connor exclaims, sounding far too excited. “What did you do?”
Vaelor shrugs. “I acquired another vial ofMireveil. I figured if we’re gonna knock her up, what better way to do it than recreating how we started?”
“My man.” Connor fist bumps Vaelor before looking down at me. “Hope you haven’t changed your mind about that baby, Starling. You’ll be knocked up before dawn.”
My mouth drops open, but I can’t deny the flash of heat that surges through me, along with a low throb of anticipation between my legs. They’ve made me promises that they’ll never steal my choices from me again, especially after their actions back at Bartholomew, but this…
This was him asking. Vaelor’s watching me carefully, his swirling eyes taking in every twitch of my expression. This is him telling me that I have the power here, and that my submission is a choice.A gift.
“What do you say, Princess?” Vaelor presses his fingers into my chin, waiting me out. With a shudder, I bob my head.
Suddenly, Connor is swinging me over his shoulder, leaving me hanging down his back. His large hand cups my ass, stroking me through my dress. “Fuck, you smell like Vaelor’s cum,” he rumbles.
“Shut up, shut up, shutup!” I demand, unsure whether the heat in my face is the blood rushing to my head or mortification.
“Don’t worry, Princess,” Vaelor murmurs, falling into step beside Connor as they march out of the ballroom, loudwhispers following us. “You’ll be so lost to pleasure soon, you won’t remember to feel embarrassed.”
“Maybe we should record it,” Connor says, and I canhearhis smirk. “That way, our Starling will never forget how we own her.”