Page 19

I can do this.

I totally can. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

The tome my birth father left me in that room sits on my lap, still hiding all the curiomancer secrets behind its closed cover.

Axel hums and busies himself in the kitchen making dinner, while Luka is sprawled out on the couch next to Aero, running his fingers through his white mane while his gaze remains fixed on the television.

Neither one of them has asked questions or begged to sneak a peek at what lies within. They both know what it is. Luka read the letter after I came back clutching the book like my life depended on it. He didn’t ask like I expected him to, a silent understanding passing between us.

I appreciated it more than he knew.

Now, here I am, trying to psych myself up to actually crack open the book. Aero huffs in his sleep, almost like he’s telling me I’m being ridiculous. And he’d be right. I am being ridiculous. I have books in my dorm that I haven’t even cracked open yet, but I doubt they even scratch the surface of what’s contained in this one.

Enough, Bailey, I tell myself. Just freaking do it. Stop being a pussy.

I don’t even know why I’m so damn scared. This is what I wanted. To learn everything I can about my kind. And this book has it all. Everything I need to know and information no one else has. It’s not like there’s anyone at the academy that can teach me so in-depthly.

With that thought in mind, I take the first step and lift the cover, opening it to the first page. Blank. I chuckle under my breath, shaking my head. Of course, it’s blank. Flipping to the next, there’s a table of contents, and skimming over every subject, most of them are foreign to me.

A familiar word stands out amongst the rest—Transmutation—and I flip there immediately. It’s bound to have answers as to how Aero came to be outside my body, instead of me turning into him myself.

But gah, how embarrassing would that have been, changing into a male shifter. I grimace. I’d never live down that humiliation.

First glance at the page has me seeing Transmutation in bold words at the top. Then there’s several symbols below it. All looking like the transmutation rune I have on my thigh, but there are slight variations to each one. What the differences are between them, I have no damn clue.

Flipping to the next page, there’s a table diagram, each rune drawn at the top and a list beneath it. My finger skims across the designs, finding the one that matches mine. As I look at the words below, I realize it’s a listing of every animal the bearer of the rune can change into—or at least change into one of them.

Wolf, bear, rabbit, snake—ewww—and the list goes on. All pretty normal, as far as I’m concerned. But there’s one animal I don’t see. A Pegasus. So, what the fuck. Now I’m even more confused.

My eyes dart over to Aero, only to startle, finding him looking back at me. There’s something in his pink gaze that tells me to keep looking. That I’m not even close to being right. How can that be right, though? Not only is he not on the list, but as I keep on reading on the next page, I find that I’m completely wrong.

Transmutation - the action of changing or the state of being changed into another form.

Shifting into your animal or animals as some have, it’s a painful process of your limbs contorting and your bones breaking, only to rearrange themselves into your new form.

Over the course of our history, there have been curiomancers with only one animal counterpart. While others, like your mom and I, have many. There has never been a curio who has every single one listed under their respective rune, but you never know. You could be the first. Either way, we’ll be proud of you.

“Dammit,” I huff, slamming the book closed.

“What’s wrong, goddess?” Luka asks, looking away from the TV.

I scrub my face with my hands, totally at a loss. “I don’t know what he is,” I nod at Aero, “but I do know, he isn’t my transmutation.”

“Then what is he?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, huh?” I snort, though inside, I just want to cry. Why can’t something just go my way for once? It shouldn’t be this hard to figure out.

“How about you take a break and come have dinner?” Axel injects before I can start tearing my hair out.

I slide the book off my lap and get up, racing Luka into the dining room. It’s set up like something out of a romance novel. The table itself has three place settings, a wine glass perched next to a water glass, elegantly folded napkins, and glowing candles adding ambience to the dimly lit space. In the center rests a covered dish, with smaller ones circling the outside.

One thing I do know is that whatever he cooked, it smells absolutely divine.

Like the gentleman he is, Luka pulls back the chair at the head of the table, holding out his hand for me to take a seat. Heat rises on my cheeks, and I duck my head as I sit down, trying to hide how much it all affects me. The dual chuckles tell me how unsuccessful I was, though.

Axel takes the spot to my right, while Luka claims the one on the left. Steam curls from under the dome as my vampire gives me the first view of what we’ll be dining on tonight. And it just so happens to be one of my favorites. Steak. The other little dishes get uncovered next, and all the sides pair perfectly with it, making my mouth water.

“Bon appétit,” my sexy vamp murmurs, a sly smile on his handsome face.

Don’t mind if I do.

* * *

Dinner was a quiet affair. Not because we had nothing to say. No. It was because the food was so damn good, I didn’t want to pause long enough to actually say anything.

Now, I’m fat and happy, curled up on the couch between my two mates after changing into pajamas, watching the TV drama, Supernatural, on a streaming service. The guys bitched and complained when I turned it on, but I’m not going to lie, it’s quite entertaining to listen to them yell at the television for the wrong portrayals of their kind.

Me, though? I just wanted to watch it for Dean. Cause damn, I’d take that man as my mate in a freaking heartbeat. He’s all danger and badassery, with a side of gut-clenching dry humor. And don’t get me started on that man’s looks. Yummy.

One thing that doesn’t escape my notice is the close ties between Cassius, the angel in the series, and Cassian, the angel councilman who literally saved my life.

Guardian angel indeed.

The brush of Luka’s fingers on my bare thigh pulls my focus from the show, centering my attention on the raging heat his touch leaves in its wake. My breath hitches as he does it again, only higher this time, closer to where I suddenly need him more than I need my next breath.

A sinfully delicious chuckle sounds in my ear at the same moment Axel’s arm tightens from where it’s bound across my chest. He shifts in his seat, sliding his leg around me so I’m lying between his spread thighs.

The blanket covering my legs disappears and is tossed somewhere over the back of the couch, leaving my heated skin exposed to the brush of a chill in the air. Goosebumps prickle my flesh, and my nipples tighten, poking through the thin material of my tank top.

But then that’s gone too, my upper body on full, naked display for the two men looking at me like they’re going to destroy me in the best ways possible.

Axel’s cooler body temperature is a balm to the heat coursing through my veins. He twists my loose hair around his fist and pulls my head to the side, exposing the delicate vulnerability of my throat for his greedy eyes.

The first scrape of his fangs has me trying to clench my legs together. The second has me wiggling on the couch as a throb starts in my clit, perfectly in time with my thudding heartbeat.

“I think she likes that, vampire,” my demi-god mutters, lifting the lower half of my body and slowly peeling down my sleep shorts along with my very wet panties. Before discarding them, Luka brings them to his nose, inhaling deeply. “Oh yes, she very, very much likes that.”

“Of course, she does,” Axel murmurs into my neck, placing a small kiss beneath my ear. “My good girl can come from a single bite.”

“Our good girl. Don’t forget you have to share, dude.”

“Mmm,” Axel hums, sending a delicious vibration through me. “I’m very adept at sharing.”

My breath hitches, and a rush of heat pools in my lower belly.

Fuck yes. Bring on the sharing.

“Is that what you want, goddess? My dick in your pussy, and Axel’s cock in your mouth?”

“Please,” I whine, spreading my legs so they’ll get to it already.

“So impatient,” Axel tsks, pinching my nipple in punishment. “Maybe we should just go to bed.”

“No!” I cry. “I’ll behave. Please don’t leave me like this.”

There’s a good chance I’ll die if my mates walk away and leave me unsatisfied. Poof. Gone. Like I was never here in the first place.

I don’t know if someone can die from sexual frustration, but if they don’t touch me soon, we’re going to find out really freaking quick.

“Good girl,” Axel purrs in my ear. “Luka, get her good and wet, but don’t let her come. She’s going to learn what delayed gratification is today.”

“What? No! I said I would be good!”

“And you will,” he murmurs lowly, watching Luka’s every move as he opens my legs, tossing one over his shoulder and pushing my knee on the other back, spreading me wide open. “And I promise it’ll be even better when we do let you come.”

The swipe of Luka’s tongue against my opening silences my protests.

I lose myself in the feeling of both my mates touching me, kissing me, bringing me to the brink and back, but never letting me fall over the edge.

It doesn’t matter how much I beg and cry for the release I know they can give me. They want me a trembling mess before giving in.

When Luka’s finally satisfied with how wet I am, he flips me over onto my hands and knees, immediately slamming home.

My mouth opens in a silent scream at the invasion, but my walls give way at his intrusion. Axel takes the opportunity to stuff his cock in my mouth, resting his tip on my tongue. But that’s not good enough for Luka. His hand finds the back of my head, and he shoves me down Axel’s length, taking him all the way to the back of my throat.

I gag, but he doesn’t relent, determined that his best friend buries every inch in my mouth.

His other hand collars my neck, his fingers flexing as he massages my throat, but then Axel’s grip replaces Luka’s on my head. “Eyes on me, cor meum .” He tilts my head back, his blood red eyes flaring when my pink ones find his. “Good girl. You look so beautiful with tears running down your face and saliva dripping down your chin.”

I moan at his praise, loving the dirty words that come from his mouth.

He brushes my tears away, but they keep falling. Everything hurts so good, but I need to come. Badly.

With every thrust of Luka’s hips, he pushes me further down on Axel’s cock. My vampire groans, content with Luka doing all the hard work while he reaps the benefits.

“Fuck, cor meum , your throat is my own version of heaven. Relax a bit and let me in fully.”

I do as he says, aware of the flexing of the fingers around my neck threatening what little precious air they’re affording me.

Axel’s groan is music to my ears, and his thighs tense under my grip, telling me he’s close and won’t last much longer.

The delicious burn in my scalp as Axel’s hand returns heightens my awareness and, with one hard pump of his hips, his cock slides deeper in my throat.

“Oh fuck. That’s my good girl. Are you ready to drink my cum down?”

I hum around his dick in reply, and that’s all it takes for him to explode.

Axel keeps my nose buried in his pelvis as the salty taste of him floods my mouth, yelling my name as he reaches his peak.

When he’s satisfied I haven’t spilled a drop, he pulls me off with a pop, a shudder wracking his lithe frame at the sensitivity.

“You’re not done yet, mate. I want you to clean my cock until Luka comes in that tight little pussy of yours, and only then will we let you rest.”

“Fuck,” Luka croaks, a stutter in his movements. “She gets so godsdamn tight when you talk to her like that.”

Axel’s chuckle is downright wicked. “That’s because our sweet little mate isn’t as innocent as she looks. She’s a dirty, dirty girl, who needs a firm hand and a hard cock.”

“Isn’t that the damn truth.” Luka’s punishing rhythm kicks up a notch, a sharp crack of his hand on my ass telling me to do as I’m told just like the good girl they claim I am. “One of these days, goddess, you’re going to take both of us at the same time. Axel in his perfect pussy, and me,” his thumb brushes my asshole, making me tense, “here.”

I cry out in surprise at the sting of his slap and the unexpected touch, and Axel takes that opportunity to slip his dick back in between my parted lips. I slurp and suck and lick my vampire like a lollipop, determined to hear my mates praise me one more time.

I’m so damn close. I feel it coiling tighter and tighter, ready to spring wide open, but I need that little push only my vampire mate can give me.

He seems to know me better than I know myself, already anticipating what I need. He pulls his once again hard length from my mouth and tangles his long fingers in my hair, bunching it in a tight fist.

Quick as a flash, he embeds his fangs into my neck, sending his venom flooding through my veins. I scream as the dam finally breaks, my piercing wail bouncing off the walls. Dark spots dance in my vision and, with every pull of my blood into his mouth, the walls of my pussy contract around Luka’s cock.

“Shit. Shit. Shit. So.” -thrust- “Fucking.” -thrust- “Tight,” Luka grits, fighting against the tight hold I have on him. “Dammit,” he groans, long and low. “I’m coming, goddess.”

Warmth floods my pussy as Luka empties himself, his dick twitching as he bathes my inner walls with his cum.

Axel gives my neck one last slurp with a satisfied groan before carefully pulling his fangs from my flesh, swiping his tongue over the marks and healing them instantly.

“Delicious, cor meum .”

Luka shudders when his now-soft cock slips from between my legs, falling back against the arm of the couch. Peeking over my shoulder to make sure he’s okay, I watch as his chest heaves with every labored breath, but it’s the satisfied smile on his face that really does me in.

I did that. I satisfied my mates.

My arms tremble and then give out, and I collapse between my two mates, my heart pounding out a punishing rhythm in my chest. Sweat clings to every inch of my body, and my pussy and mouth are deliciously sore.

It’s official. Threesomes freaking rock.

“That… was… amazing,” I pant, groaning as I shift slightly to pull my arms from beneath my chest.

It would be so easy to erase the pain with my healing rune, but honestly, I want to feel this—feel them—for days. The way they took me, the way I had both of them in my body. And I know, with these two, it won’t be a one-time occurrence. Especially when Luka said one day I’ll take both of them at the same—one in my pussy, one in my ass.

I can’t wait.

“It really was. Thank you, cor meum .” Axel grips my chin, planting a sweet kiss on my lips. “Let’s get you upstairs and cleaned.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply, swooping me up in his arms and heading for the stairs. Luka trails behind us, just as naked as Axel and I, and totally unashamed of it if the shit-eating grin on his face is anything to go by.

A shine glints off his cock with every swaggering step—my cum. He follows my gaze from over Axel’s shoulder, and when he realizes what I’m looking at, his smile turns particularly smug. Making sure he has my attention, he swipes his finger over his semi-hard dick, gathering what’s left of my wetness and popping it in his mouth.

How the hell is that so freaking hot?

The warmth that cooled off in my belly after I finally came comes roaring back, turning into a blazing inferno. Axel’s steps falter, and he groans, no doubt smelling my renewed arousal, though he doesn’t know why.

“Round two? He chuckles, clutching me a little tighter.

Damn straight round two. Maybe even three or four at this rate.