Page 14

Killian

“What the fuck, guys? So you all get to have a taste of our woman, and I’m the only one who hasn’t yet?!” I shout at Adonis and Dax as they sit at the table, downing their whiskey.

Adonis kicks his legs up and rests his hands behind his head. “Sorry, Kil. You gotta be quicker, I guess.”

I could punch that smug smile right off his face.

Selfish bastards.

“Someone is jealous. Perhaps next time, you can join us,” Dax sends me a warm smile. His calming influence envelops me, filling me with a tranquil warmth that makes my body feel pleasantly fuzzy and weightless.

“Don’t fucking do that, Dax! I have every right to be pissed!” Flames erupt from my palms, and Dax stops his influence over me immediately, raising his hands in surrender.

“I should go up there right now. Release her from your influence and shove my cock down her throat and then take what’s ours.” I grit my teeth with irritation.

“Okay… I might have fucked up, just a tiny bit…” Dax admits, looking as guilty as ever.

“What. Did. You. Do?” Adonis leans forward; his brow furrowed with intensity.

The tension in his hands is tangible; his knuckles have turned stark white, straining against the force of his fists tightly clenching.

Each muscle in his body seems coiled, ready to spring, as the weight of his words hangs in the air.

“Dani… she uh… she accidentally had some of my blood,” Dax admits, rubbing his chin thoughtfully .

“Great!” I throw my hands up and pace back and forth. “Did you have any of hers?!”

“I ugh, no. I don’t think so.”

Adonis sprang to his feet, anger radiating from him as he seized Dax by the collar of his shirt, the fabric crumpling beneath his grip. “You don’t ‘think’ so?! She took it—willingly?!” His voice is a low growl laced with disbelief and frustration.

“She did it to me! We were kissing and she bit my lip! I didn’t make her do shit! She is a curious one, let me tell you.” Dax, using his smooth voice, pats Adonis gently on the chest.

Adonis growls and swats Dax’s hands away.

Amelia strides into the room, her arms laden with a vibrant assortment of clothing that sways gently with each step.

She raises an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugs at the corners of her lips.

“You guys are at it again?” she teases, her voice laced with amusement.

“All of you are practically drooling over Dani. What’s the big deal?

Didn’t you all plan on bonding with her anyway?

Who cares who does what with her first…” She eyes all of us and continues as we stay silent.

“Why not just sit her down and lay it all out for her? I bet she’d be more than willing to help if you took the time to explain everything. Keeping her cooped up in your room, Adonis, won’t do either of you any favors. It’s clear she’s already interested in you all… that much is obvious.”

With a flourish, Amelia tosses her long white hair over her shoulder, the silken strands glistening like moonlight as she sets down the garments with a soft thud.

Amelia is persistent on being the one who cares for our home and makes sure Dani has everything she needs.

I tried telling her that wasn’t necessary, and I had no problem tending to Dani’s needs, but she insisted she do it.

She said something along the lines ‘women need women’ and I couldn’t really disagree with that .

I notice the handful of tiny fabrics in black, red, and gold, and I smile to myself. I can already envision how Dani will transform into a radiant goddess, her aura glowing like sunlight when she puts on that stunning filmy gold fabric.

I snatch it from Amelia’s pile and put it in my pocket.

“Hey! That’s for Dani!” She pouts.

“Oh, I know.”

Amelia rolls her eyes at me.

“I think Amelia is right,” I say, tentative but steady. Everyone turns to me, their expressions a mix of surprise and intrigue.

Amelia arches an eyebrow and leans closer, a mock microphone materializing in her hand. “I’m sorry. Could you repeat that for the record, please?” she prompts, her tone light but laced with seriousness.

“Stop that.” I swat her hand away, the corners of my mouth twitching upward despite the moment’s seriousness.

“We should all sit her down and explain everything to her. Make her understand. We should just be honest and tell her she’s already bonded to us.

She just has to complete it. The sooner she knows about the curse, the sooner she can lift it. ”

“Yeah? I think that is a piss poor idea, Killian! It’s too early for her to know everything. She is a gods-damned human and will freak out and not want to help us,” Adonis barks.

“Gods, Adonis! Can’t you just fucking try? We will be stuck like this forever if you don’t! The bond can’t be formed by just one or two of us. It has to include all three of us or the curse will never be lifted. Don’t be a selfish bastard because you think you can’t love.”

Fucking prick.

My blood boils with frustration as I step inches away from Adonis, my heart racing with a challenge I typically would back away from.

Dax stands up, his tall frame creating a barrier between us, and gently places his hand on my chest, urging me to calm down. “Kil, take a breath, man. Adonis is making an effort,”

I cut him off. “Not enough!” I press back, my voice a growl.

The vein on Adonis’ forehead bulges prominently, throbbing like a live wire, while his contorted expression radiates an intensity of pure, unbridled anger. A shiver snakes down my spine, prickling my skin, leaving me acutely aware of the storm brewing within him.

Lightning flashes outside.

“You don’t think I know that, Killian!? You don’t think I want the curse fucking broken?

You think I don’t want to bond with Dani?

Well, you’re fucking wrong! I would love nothing more than to get that part of my fucking soul back, but that can’t possibly happen.

It’s gone!” Adonis throws the chair across the living room with such force that it splinters upon impact, shattering into a cascade of jagged pieces, scattering fragments of polished wood everywhere.

“Octavia took the part of me that can love! I won’t be able to bond with Dani because of that!

She won’t be able to complete the bond with me, which means the curse can’t be broken!

I’m sure of it! My soul isn’t whole. Octavia said the curse would never break because of me!

I. Am. Not. Enough!” His voice booms like thunder, causing the lights around us to flicker ominously. I flinch at the weight of his words.

“Okay, listen. I’m trying to say something here,” Dax clears his throat.

Adonis and I look at him, waiting for him to go on.

“I already told Dani all of this.” Adonis and I groan.

I run my fingers through my hair. “I thought she already knew! She didn’t seem bothered with it either. So, you’re fucking welcome!”

I glare at Dax.

“Nice work, Dax,” Amelia says sarcastically.

She continues, “And Adonis, stop that self-pity this instant! It’s getting tiring!

” Amelia roars, her voice cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife.

“You’re all being childish! Especially you, Adonis!

Yes, Octavia may have taken a part of your soul, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t enough—more than enough, in fact!

Dani will see that, you foolish idiot! Now, all of you, pull yourselves together and go upstairs to talk to—”

Her fierce gaze suddenly shifts behind me, her expression transforms from determination to alarm, and her eyes widen.

I quickly turn to follow her line of sight and I’m met with the shocking sight of Dani, hastily wrapped in nothing but a rumpled sheet.

Her green eyes pierce my soul.

“Way to fucking go, Dax. You imprinted her with your rune already…” I run my hands down my face. I whip my head towards Dax, a surge of frustration causes my lips to press into a thin line. “We were supposed to do it together, Dax.” Disappointment fills my tone.

She bolts for the front door in desperate urgency, her bare feet barely making a sound on the polished floor.

“She wants to be chased,” Adonis says. None of us move. We not only watch Dani dash out the front door but we let her. Dax imprinting on her allowed her to get past his influence and escape Adonis’ room.

Amelia sighs, “Men are so dumb.”

Adonis and Dax move toward the door, but I can’t let them leave. With a determined gesture, I halt them both in their tracks, the weight of my anger hanging heavily in the room.

“I will go and get her! I will fix this mess. You two, sit the fuck down and get your shit together.”

Dax arches an eyebrow, a playful shine in his eye as he glances down at my hand resting on his broad chest. The warmth of his skin radiates against my palm, and I can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath it. He then shifts his gaze back to me, his lips curl into a smirk, “Yes, Daddy. ”

“Well, go get her then. Our girl is on the run. If you don’t catch her and fuck her, I will.” Adonis says with excessive sarcasm in his voice.

Without saying another word, I swiftly make my way through the creaky front door. There’s no rush; I know I can catch up to Dani instantly and convince her to come back. Instead, I decide to turn this moment into the game, knowing she wants to be chased.

I’ll do anything she wants.

I allow her a few moments to distance us, savoring the thrill of the chase.

I stand on the weathered porch, and take a moment to absorb my surroundings, my eyes tracing the intricately spun cobwebs that cling to the corners. Gods, Adonis truly excelled at transforming this place into an eyesore from the outside.

As dusk settles, surrounding the world in a deepening shroud of darkness, I smile, knowing Dani won’t venture far into the rainy gloom.

I close my eyes, tune into the soft rhythm of her breathing, and let the sounds guide me. Then, with a sudden shift, I vanish from the porch, and materialize effortlessly in front of her, the thrill of the pursuit ignites my senses.

Her body slams into mine, and she screams.

“Wh-what the hell!?” She almost falls but I grab her by the elbow.

“Hello, sunshine.”

Her big green eyes look up at me. “Hello, Killian,” her smart mouth says back, matching my tone.

The satin sheet clings to her soaked body.

“You want to run? Then, by all means, RUN.” I practically whisper ‘run’ for the sake of drama.

Did I see a smirk? She fucking loves this. And so do I.

I adjust my hard cock, tucking it into my waistband.

Dani bolts to the right and starts running .

She weaves through the dense forest, ducking beneath branch after branch as she ventures further away.

I creep after her, taking care to be silent so she doesn’t hear me.

Her breathing is shallow and her heart pounds loudly. I remain hidden in the shadows of my darkness so she can’t see me.

She stops for a minute to catch her breath.

I want her to know that I’m right beside her, so I lean in close and whisper a playful “BOO!” directly into her ear.

She spins around with a start, her eyes wide with surprise, as a delightful gasp escapes her lips.

At that moment, the air crackles with the unexpected thrill of our game, but she can’t quite see me. Even though I stand just a breath away, cloaked in the shadows of her mind’s illusion.

She is undeniably the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Her pulse beats like a drum, and I want nothing more than to bond with her. Right. Fucking. Now.

Dani takes off again, but this time, I’m going to catch her.

I wave my hand over my face so my mask appears, and I vanish into my shadows once again.

Appearing right behind her now, I grab her, my fingers digging into the sheet wrapped around her small body.

I pull her back right into my chest and place my hand over her mouth.

Ripping the sheet from her body, I move my hand down to cup her breast. It fits perfectly in my hand.

She moans.

“Caught you,” I whisper into her ear.