She reached behind her and grabbed the tongue. The sound she heard was of surprise. It was nearly a chicken squawk.

The one holding her looked toward the gate and slowly closed it.

We aren t staying.

The one behind her walked into view and took on a human shape. Well, elf, well, elf made of midnight skin, white hair, and red eyes. No clothing was visible.

Whoa. We definitely aren t staying.

He smiled and beckoned to her.

She drummed her hand on the claw holding her. Sorry, naked dude. I am indisposed.

The drake holding her set her down, and the first elf approached Rex. Cool air blew on her back, and her shirt was loose. The male bowed low as the second drake became an elf as well.

Uh, guys. I am just here to make sure that my sister got where she was supposed to be. A few more years and you will be out to find your own partners, and you don t want to spoil your palette or anything.

The man bowing low straightened and stepped toward her. Mostly, sex is just sex.

The other man shifted, and his features were blockier than the first. We will be careful, but your sibling is in heat, and her scent is enthralling.

Great. Stop snorting my sister. She felt a tingle in her palms, and when they moved toward her, the swords came out. Stand back.

The men halted. The one who had held her said, We mean you no injury, only pleasure.

When two guys eighteen inches taller than you approach you with dripping erections, tell me how relaxed you would be. She gritted her teeth.

The guys looked at each other and smiled sheepishly. We apologize, miss, but the scent of heat is very enticing.

Yeah. I know.

You are coated in it.

She wrinkled her nose. I guessed as much.

Will you dismiss your blades?

Oh, absolutely not. I do that, and he pins my arms while you start chewing on me.

They paused. The broader one said, How do you surmise that?

I work in stunt work. You are advertising your intent with your posture.

What is stunt work ? the first of the two asked.

I fall off cliffs in place of more delicate actresses so that the audience believes she faced peril in the entertainment production. She also tried to formulate it for someone who hadn t lived in the modern era. I also get punched and shot a lot.

They both frowned. You, a lady, are courting injury?

No. I rarely get injured. I know how to fall and take a hit. She kept the swords aimed at their midsections.

Where do your blades come from? The one on the left had moved closer to her.

Not a clue. They have been here since I was a teen.

She kept her hands steady, and when they moved, she moved. Long slashes from hip to shoulder made them stumble back. The cuts were shallow but got her point across.

They each touched their wounds and examined their fingertips. The blood surprised them.

Welcome to the modern age, where no means next time you can lose a hand.

They looked at each other, blurred, and she was suddenly unarmed, and her shirt was gone as they held her hands behind her back. Oops.

They were scowling down at her. We are not ones to threaten, lady.

It wasn t a threat. It was a fear display. She muttered, If this is what you think I deal with on a normal Saturday, you are out of your fucking minds.

They paused but didn t let her go.

I understand this is the first time you have seen a female in nearly eight hundred years, but trust me, I am not the one. Wait a few more years until things settle, and there will be women fawning over you. Cute ones. Pretty ones.

One of the men stroked her hair firmly enough to tilt her head back. You are lovely, and it isn t just the abstinence.

She swallowed. Uh-huh.

What is your name, lady?

Rex. Uh, Teagan, but everyone calls me Rex.

I am Kael, and that is Ignis. We are the king s assassins.

Her stomach went icy.

Also, his private guard and oldest friends. We held him back when his mate was murdered and kept him here so that the rest of your species would not have been wiped out.

Yay, you.

His hand shifted to loosely grip her hair and keep her head tilted back for him. So, we are wired to know our mate when we see them. We knew you the moment Ignis grabbed you.

So, you weren t mates to a dead woman?

No, you had not been born yet. Had there been no attack, we would still have been waiting.

Ignis murmured, For you. For now.

Oh, no. I am not going to chance a pregnancy. Reggie needs me, and us both being knocked up wouldn t be good. She swallowed. I need to keep her and her child safe. You know what happened when it was left to the guys last time.

They winced.

Ignis rumbled. We didn t think of someone attacking a labouring woman, let alone an infant. It is so foreign to our natures, we were in shock.

I get it. She gets it. We get it. But this next time, she is having their daughter on her terms, with her friends and family to protect them. She will return, and she will be protected.

You are sure the same soul will return?

Rex nodded. She hasn t left her mother s side in all this time. It has been driving Reggie nuts. That was why we came here; it was time for Tawney and her baby to get together again.

Ignis nodded and smiled. And you came with her because?

She needed someone to drive and watch her back. She could see a pale body on her hands and knees under the darker one. Seems like her back is currently covered.

Kael smiled. She s definitely safe. No Elite or dark mage can come through those gates without our agreement.

Well, the Elite are busy trying to find all of the dark Elite who were released ten years from now and are making noise all over the globe. Time travel is interesting. She was leaning back on Kael s hand, and he was supporting her.

They smiled, and Ignis asked softly, Just to touch? Just to taste?

Kael said just as softly, Please, lady?

Why me? Aside from the fact that I am the only other woman here.

Kael smiled. Because I could shift for you, he could shift for you, and because you could injure us with a soul blade. These are things that mean much to us.

So, like, is this comfortable to you because it is very weird to me? she muttered.

Kael leaned in and pressed a kiss to her neck, tasting her before pressing his lips to her neck. She widened her eyes, and Ignis pressed his lips to hers before his tongue slipped in to taste her. She was still held at her wrists, and she moaned as Kael moved from her collarbone to her breasts.

When the pale silver fire began to spill into her, she closed her eyes and let it in. She would have ten years to plan to kick their asses. She felt a hand unfastening her jeans.

She was going to be ready in five.