Page 13 of Reign of The Beast (Immortal Passions #2)

13

~Mia~

Finally!

I’d done it.

My magic was finally stabilized.

Now I could move on to the next step.

For us to succeed, for the Covenant to be solidified, I needed to go beyond my comfort zone.

I was to become the vessel for the joining of extreme power, but I was also to become the wielder. I couldn’t balk in the face of channeling that.

In fact, I had to be ready to welcome it.

I needed to learn to revel in my magic.

And now was as good a time as any.

“Here goes nothing,” I murmured to myself, as I fired my magic into the night sky.

That familiar warmth rushed through me and I watched as a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors sparked into being, lighting up the sky in an awe-inspiring series of magical fireworks.

I smiled, savoring the stunning sight.

I rarely ever used my power for frivolous things. It had always been about need, rather than want. I’d used my abilities for battle, for Guardian tasks and missions. Professionally, rather than for my own pleasure.

It had left me disconnected from my magic, with that entire side of it left unexplored. It was like getting to know only the professional side of somebody and the job that they did, instead of their non-work persona as well.

I needed to be at one with my magic, to embrace all its facets, in order to increase my stability and control over it, in spite of whatever may come my way and try to challenge that.

“Breathtaking,” a voice sounded all of a sudden. That velvety-smooth voice that had an almost hypnotic quality.

I pulled my magic back, the fireworks dissipating, the sky returning to its dark blanket with a light sprinkling of stars providing some partial illumination.

“Just doing a little experimenting,” I said, turning to face Lucian.

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Experimenting?”

I pulled my silver silk cardigan closed against the chilly night air and folded my arms across my chest, as I settled in to live up to my recent goal of being more transparent. “I’ve always been very rigid about my magic usage, only really using it as a necessity. Ryker revels in his . It’s a true part of him. He’s extremely comfortable with it, use to pushing the envelope. He doesn’t hold back. He was even able to access next-level power without any dark consequences. That’s pretty much the opposite of my experience. So, it occurred to me that, perhaps, I need to bask in it more like Ryker, use it for fun and personal pleasure, rather than just as a weapon or a tool to complete a task.”

“An interesting theory.”

He was smiling, but it was a tight, polite smile. He seemed to merely be humoring me, not on board with it .

“You don’t agree?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Experimenting is a great tool for growth and opening yourself up to things you would otherwise keep the door closed to. But I do think you are overlooking the foremost issue that impacts your magic usage.”

I shifted my weight uneasily, trying to resist my instinctual urge to shut him down or even bite his head off at being questioned.

It was a go-to defensive tactic that I’d had as long as I could remember.

And Lucian brought it out in me more than either of the other two. With all of my recent self-reflection, I had managed to figure out why.

As much as I hated to admit it to myself, let alone to him or anybody else, Lucian Black intimidated me sexually. He was an indomitable force in that department. Just a look from him affected me. The desire was there, but I couldn’t bring myself to act on it. I was worried he’d run right over me, leaving me as nothing but a messy puddle begging him for whatever pleasure he deigned to hand over to me. I couldn’t submit like that. I couldn’t kneel, not to anybody, not under any circumstances.

But the man had skills and I feared that I’d succumb despite myself, that I wouldn’t be able to handle it with my stark inexperience.

Jaxon should have posed the same issue to me. And I guess he had very briefly. But the connection between us as mates transcended that somehow. It put me at ease knowing that his intentions were noble. They had to be, nature wouldn’t have it any other way. It had made me comfortable enough to be able to let go, to lose myself in him, and taste true sexual freedom. I’d actually been wild with him.

Ryker was a different story. Wild hadn’t been our thing when we’d been together. He was my best friend as well as my lover. We’d been safe, loved, and cherished in each other.

But I had to find a way to drop my guard with Lucian too and allow him in. Jaxon and Ryker each had a special connection with me already. To join, all three of them had to share a connection with me.

So, I swallowed down my irritation at him questioning me, and said, “I’m listening.”

“You have a tight-fisted grip of control over every aspect of your life, including your magic. Unfortunately, as is the nature of life, not every aspect can be controlled. When you come up against that, you balk. You’re not equipped to handle it. You have never allowed yourself to learn.” He moved closer. “Ryker may not have been like that with his magic, but he was when it came to his sexuality and his true desires. Magic-wielders as a species are known for struggling with control. Your kind wields great power and the fear of that power becoming corrupted and untamable goes hand in hand with that. With practice, however, these things can be streamlined. The struggle will lessen, the burden will feel a great deal lighter.”

“Is that what it’s like with your bloodlust?”

“Yes.” He reached out and took my hand. I tensed and he noticed, but he didn’t call me on it.

Softly, he traced his fingers over my palm, sending sparks of sensation thrumming through me as he drew leisurely circles with feather-light pressure. God.

“Your father cut you off from so much in his bid to protect you and hide your true heritage. You haven’t explored who you are, or what it even means to be an Immortal Descendant. Your work as a Guardian was the only aspect of your life allowed open to you. Now, in such a short frame of time, the doors have been thrown wide open. Your fear took the wheel, however, and you turned away from the new and unknown, including the dark power that you touched during the Maven Coven battle.”

“I’m not turning away now.”

“You’ve come a long way. Allowing Jaxon to take you is a testament to that.” He reached out and slid a hand into my hair. “However, the mating bond offers a safety net through your interactions with him. Your friendship with Ryker acts in much the same way.” He pulled away. “You and I do not possess that and it is why you continue to turn away from me .”

I nodded, my throat dry as sandpaper.

“It’s not a lost cause. Like I said, Ryker was repressed and in a deep state of denial when he first came to me. I’ve helped him to explore his needs, wants, and desires. He’s found his true self and thrown off the shackles that had him merely playing a role that didn’t fit correctly for too many years. He’s helped me too.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Ryker helped you? The almighty, infallible Ancient, Lucian Black?”

Amusement danced in his eyes. “Indeed.” His expression became sober and thoughtful in the next beat, as he told me, “After the regrettable incident wherein I became a rabid beast when the scent of your Immortal blood was unveiled, I was afraid of losing myself to it wholly, of not only being unable to be anywhere near you, but not being able to be around anyone, even my beloved. It was a crisis of faith, a stumbling block that called to long-held, deep-set fears and insecurities that I never let myself address. Ryker helped me to see beyond that, to trust in myself, to shore up my mental strength.”

I stared at him in open-mouthed wonder. “I… wow.”

He frowned at my stunned reaction. “Too much?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head vehemently, not wanting him to take it like that. “I just… I didn’t think you had… insecurities.”

“As you get to know me, I’m sure you’ll be horrified,” he said, with a laugh.

That had me laughing too.

And it really helped to take the edge off.

It occurred to me that it had been his intention.

He was shifting the power dynamic between us, softening things for me, trying to put me at ease.

It was unbelievably endearing.

He kicked that up another notch by confessing, “I am so sorry for my attack on you, beauty. I regret it deeply.”

“I know you do. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily.”

“I’m not worried about you hurting me, Lucian. I understand. The veil suddenly dropping was a shock to all of us. I couldn’t control my reaction either. It just so happened that mine was an incapacitating ringing in my ears and a surge of weakness, whilst yours was uncontrollable bloodlust. I’m at peace with what happened, with you . I promise.”

“I am relieved to hear it.”

“I’ve actually been meaning to thank you.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Ryker. You’ve given him a new lease on life, coaxed him from a dark pit of depression. You’ve made him happy and shown him such love and profound understanding, something he’s been craving for so long.”

“He has been a gift to me.”

I smiled, recalling my best days with Ryker fondly. “That’s him.”

Lucian shifted his weight. “For too long, I couldn’t accept what had happened between the two of you, the hurt you’d inflicted upon him. It was soul-deep when he and I came together. It took time and effort for him to offer me even a sliver of his trust.”

I winced at the recollection.

Lucian went on, “But with the truths coming to light about Cornelius and the Covenant, it became clear that you acted out of love. You went to great lengths at the expense of your own happiness to attempt to spare him. You protected him despite it breaking your heart and leaving you all alone at a time when you were dealing with the weight of your duty to the Covenant, when you needed somebody the most to share that burden with.”

Emotion clogged my throat. “He didn’t deserve it, any of this,” I choked out.

“The world doesn’t deserve Draco, but he is here, nonetheless.”

“I know, but—”

He grasped my shoulders gently. “We accept what we need to do. We are ready. You need not worry, sweet sorceress. We are here with you, not merely out of duty, but because we wish to be. I am in awe of you.”

“Right there with you,” a familiar raspy voice boomed from behind us.

I peered around Lucian to see my sexy wolf striding over.

The way he worked a pair of jeans was something else.

Hanging low on his hips, bolstered by his golden wolf’s head belt buckle, they really emphasized his thick, muscular thighs and the power residing there. Not to mention, other appetizing things.

I saw a brief chin lift exchange occur between him and Lucian, sparking my curiosity.

Jaxon draped an inked arm across Lucian’s shoulders, a friendly gesture that I’d never seen from either of them before, and one I hadn’t thought possible. Their heart-to- heart the other day had dramatically shifted things between them.

I didn’t doubt for a moment that Jaxon, being as astute as he was, had put two and two together as to why Lucian had come out to the backyard to me. Yet, he wasn’t trying to rip him away from me, to warn him off touching what was his , or anything.

“Jaxon?” I questioned.

He broke from Lucian and grasped my jaw, then swept down and took me in a deep, searing kiss that stole my breath.

He moved behind me and eased my cardigan off me, the silk sweeping down my arms, before it dropped to the floor at my feet.

He stroked his hands over my hips, before taking them in a firm grip, and holding me in front of Lucian.

Presenting me to him, it seemed.

It made me feel so wanton.

I didn’t understand it, but I couldn’t deny it either.

I didn’t want to.

I wanted more of it, those feelings of butterflies, of my stomach clenching in anticipation, my pussy weeping in a plea for more. I wanted to let go, to give in and let them sweep me up in their sexual spell.

Jaxon trailed his tongue along the column of my throat, making eye contact with Lucian as he did, silently goading him. “You’re wet for him. I can scent it, princess. Your body wants him so bad it can barely stand it.”

“I…” I struggled, hating my nervousness in spite of everything.

Jaxon’s hand slid under my skirt. I gasped as his fingers unceremoniously dove into my panties. “Mmm, that’s right,” he growled, spreading my wetness everywhere, saturating my clit, my inner thighs .

He pulled his hand free, dripping in my juices, then shocked me as he spread it over Lucian’s lips.

Lucian’s eyes hooded.

A growl rumbled as Jaxon took it further, breaching his lips and gliding two of his fingers into Lucian’s mouth.

Lucian’s talented tongue that I remembered so well, swirled around his digits, licking them clean.

Jaxon brought them back to me and I jolted as he called his claws forth.

He swept them across my strappy black tank, shredding it to pieces.

He brushed the fabric away from my body, then drew a light scratch across the tops of my heaving breasts, leaving a tantalizing burn in its wake.

He stepped back and guided Lucian forward.

I moaned out as his warm, wet tongue soothed Jaxon’s sting.

A flick to the front clasp of my bra bared my breasts.

Lucian cupped them in his large hands, his hooded eyes burning into mine. “Exquisite.”

His mouth descended on them, licking and flicking my nipples with his tongue, his lips suckling at my soft flesh, his teeth nipping.

“Yes,” I groaned, throwing my head back into Jaxon’s waiting hands. He gathered my hair into a makeshift ponytail, sweeping it off my neck and shoulders to give Lucian unfettered access, while also using it to hold me at their mercy.

Lucian made his way down my body, licking, kissing and nipping my stomach, across my hips, my navel. He gave my skirt a tug and it slid down my thighs, pooling at my feet.

I’d barely stepped out of it when Lucian grasped my hips and buried his face in my lace-covered pussy, kissing me through my panties that were very nearly translucent all over with how wet I was. He rolled his lips over my clit, alternating between soft and hard pressure, moving excruciatingly slowly.

It had a plea bursting from me, “More! Please, Lucian! I need more.”

He smirked up at me.

My hair fell loose down my back, Jaxon releasing me.

I watched him walk to one of the patio chairs.

A thrill shot through me as he kept his eyes on me, and pulled out his hard cock. He licked his lips at me, then started stroking himself in the vigorous, rough, unhinged way wolves were known for.

Mmm. Especially the Alphas.

Lucian drew my attention back to him as he tore my panties from my body with one rough tug of strength.

I went to reach for my heels, but Jaxon called out, “Nah, leave them on.”

“Indeed. The make quite the visual,” Lucian agreed as the two of them roamed their hungry gazes all over my naked body.

Not long ago, I would have been so incredibly intimidated having their eyes on me like this. But now? Now it just served to fire me up.

Judging by the look in Lucian’s eyes, he’d picked up on that.

He was so perceptive, able to intuit my needs with such ease.

As that realization hit me, his sexual prowess and his overt seductive charm was no longer something to shy away from and be uncomfortable with. It was an asset, a most welcome thing.

Emboldened, I stretched onto my tiptoes, linked my arms around his neck, and kissed him hard and deep .

He groaned in appreciation and slid his arm around my waist, holding me to him.

Our tongues clashed in an erotic dance that had me moaning out at the exquisite sensations it was evoking in me, desire coiling, need surging.

A choking cry escaped me as he brushed his fingers over my drenched pussy. “Show me,” I uttered on a breathy plea. “Show me everything.”

His shining red eyes burned into mine. “With pleasure.”

In a burst of vampire speed, he was on his back on the picnic bench with me straddling him and facing his dick, his mouth beneath my thighs. I shuddered as I felt his cool breath fan over my folds.

Instinctively, I reached out to free his straining dick from the confines of his dress pants.

But my brain misfired as he suddenly speared me with his tongue, thrusting up deep inside me. I bucked on him and dug my nails into his thighs. “Oh my God!” I cried.

He fucked me with his tongue, slowly and leisurely, drawing out my pleasure.

And then he switched it up abruptly, eating me out furiously, snarling primally as his lips, tongue, and teeth devoured me like a man starved.

Pleasure built to a crescendo so quickly.

I watched Jaxon sitting beside us on the patio chair fisting his cock violently, his hungry gaze boring into mine.

Watching him watch what Lucian was doing to me was all too much, and I crashed over the edge, riding Lucian’s face, and screaming out into the night.

Before I could catch my breath, Lucian flipped us. My back hit the table and he was on me, licking his way down my body.

“That was just a taste, little sorceress. ”

Oh shit.

His tongue swirled inside my navel, then trailed a wet path down to the inside of my thigh, avoiding my still pulsing pussy. He licked up the other one, making me moan out and spread myself open to him.

In a flash of vampire speed, his clothes were gone.

He took his dick in his hand, eyeing me predatorily.

And then he breached me.