Page 57

Callum

I savored Sierra's weight against my chest as she reclined in my lap, her body warm and pliant after the meal.

Her silver hair spilled across my shoulder like liquid moonlight, the scent of her.

That intoxicating blend of honey, jasmine, and something uniquely her.

It filled my senses with each breath. The simple act of feeding her had satisfied something primal in me, a need to provide and care for my mate that ran deeper than I'd ever expected.

Her breathing had slowed, becoming deep and even. I glanced down to find her eyelids growing heavy, her long lashes fluttering against her cheeks as she struggled to stay awake. The contentment radiating from her was palpable, a warm glow that seemed to suffuse the air around us.

"Someone's sleepy," I murmured, moving my hand to stroke her hair, my fingers threading through the silken strands. The motion seemed to relax her further, and I watched with a surge of possessive pleasure as she nestled closer to me, her head finding the perfect spot beneath my chin.

Across the table, Rowen's obsidian eyes tracked every movement, his gaze heated despite his outward composure. The muscle in his jaw ticked, a telltale sign of his restraint. Archer wasn't faring much better, his ice-blue eyes darkened to stormy cobalt as he watched Sierra's body meld to mine.

The power of it, of being watched by these two dominant males while I held our shared mate, sent a thrill down my spine.

There had been a time when such vulnerability would have been unthinkable, when allowing anyone to witness a moment of tenderness would have felt like exposing my throat to a blade.

But that was before Sierra had crashed into our lives, before she'd somehow managed to carve out space in the calcified chambers of my heart.

I felt her body grow heavier against me, her breathing deepening into the unmistakable rhythm of sleep.

Her lashes came to rest against her cheeks, and a small sigh escaped her parted lips.

Even in repose, she was exquisite, the silver piercings in her lip catching the morning light, her full breasts rising and falling with each breath, the curve of her neck exposed and tempting.

"She's asleep." I kept my voice low to avoid disturbing her. My hand continued its gentle stroking of her hair, partly for her comfort and partly because I couldn't seem to stop touching her. "Poor thing's exhausted."

"Small wonder, with how she's been burning energy," Archer replied, his gaze never leaving Sierra's sleeping form. "The changes she's going through would tax anyone."

I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over me like a mantle.

"Her true heat has to start soon. Her scent is too alluring for it not to be.

" I inhaled deeply, drawing her fragrance into my lungs.

"It's changing by the hour. Becoming sweeter, more concentrated.

Like honey about to boil over. Fuck, it's driving me crazy. "

Rowen leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.

The movement pulled his shirt taut across his broad shoulders, highlighting the coiled strength beneath.

"I've never encountered a primal heat in someone with her.

.. unique heritage," he admitted, his deep voice pitched low.

"The books speak of fae heats, demon heats, even witch heats, but never a hybrid like Sierra. "

"And now we know about the angel blood," Archer added, running a hand through his already messy hair.

The revelation of Sierra's celestial ancestry had been a shock to all of us, another layer of complexity in an already unprecedented situation.

"I've been combing through the archives, looking for any mention of hybrid angel-witches, but there's nothing.

And certainly nothing about them being omegas as well. "

I tightened my hold on Sierra instinctively at the mention of her omega status.

She was rare beyond measure, a treasure that I would kill to protect, die to possess.

The beast inside me, the primal part that recognized her as mine despite sharing her with Rowen and Archer, stirred restlessly at the thought of what was to come.

Only an omega such as Sierra could birth the most powerful alphas. It was why everyone wanted her when her powers began to emerge.

Now…

Well, now he was thankful that they were secluded away in Hell in Rowen's home. No one could find her here.

"She's breaking all the rules," I murmured, pressing my lips to the top of her head in a gesture that was half kiss, half claiming. "Just by existing. Typical Sierra."

My eyes lifted to find Rowen watching us with an unreadable expression, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. His obsidian eyes seemed to see beyond the surface, piercing through to the heart of things as they always did.

The contemplative look on his face gave me pause.

Rowen rarely held his tongue when he had thoughts to share.

"What is it?" I asked him directly, sensing there was something he wasn't saying. "You've got that look."

Rowen's gaze flicked to me, then back to Sierra's sleeping form. "I don't know," he admitted after a moment, the words clearly costing him. Rowen hated uncertainty almost as much as I did. "There are too many variables, too many unknowns."

"But?" I prodded, knowing there was more.

He uncrossed his arms, splaying his hands on the table as he leaned forward.

"But whatever is in store for her heat, it's going to be incredibly explosive.

" His voice deepened on the last word, a note of anticipation threading through the concern.

"The combination of her lineages, her omega status, the fact that she has three alpha mates.

Especially of our power level. It's unprecedented. "

The word hung in the air between us, laden with both promise and warning. Unprecedented meant powerful. Unprecedented meant dangerous. Unprecedented meant we were flying blind into what might be the most significant event of our collective lives.

I looked down at Sierra, so peaceful in sleep, her face untroubled by the storm gathering on her horizon.

My thumb traced the delicate curve of her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin.

Such a deceptively fragile package for the power she contained.

The contrast never failed to stir something protective and possessive in me.

"We'll be ready," I said, the words emerging as a vow. "Whatever comes."

I gathered Sierra's limp form in my arms, cradling her against my chest as I rose from the chair.

She weighed next to nothing, her small body fitting perfectly against mine as her head lolled onto my shoulder.

The silver strands of her hair cascaded down my arm, catching the light with every movement.

"I'll take her upstairs," I murmured to Rowen and Archer, who both nodded, their eyes never leaving Sierra's form. The possessiveness in their gazes mirrored the feelings churning within me—a potent cocktail of protectiveness, desire, and something deeper that I wasn't quite ready to name.

Navigating through the corridors of Rowen's palace, I marveled at how Sierra had seamlessly integrated herself into our lives.

The chaos that followed her, the danger that seemed to stalk her every step—none of it mattered compared to the light she'd brought into our existence.

For beings who had lived centuries in shadows, she was like the first glimpse of dawn after an endless night.

When I reached our chambers, I shouldered the door open and carried her to the massive bed dominating the center of the room.

The sheets were still rumpled from our earlier activities, a tangible reminder of the pleasure we'd shared.

I laid her down gently, taking care not to wake her.

She murmured something incoherent, her brow furrowing slightly before her features smoothed out once more.

"Let's get you comfortable," I whispered, though she was too deeply asleep to hear me.

I began removing her clothes, starting with her boots and socks, then moving to unbutton her jeans.

The soft denim slid easily down her shapely legs, revealing the lace edges of her underwear.

My fingers brushed against her warm skin, and even this innocent contact sent a spark of heat through my veins.

Next came her top, which I eased over her head with practiced care.

She stirred but didn't wake, her breathing remaining deep and even.

The sight of her nearly naked body, clad only in a matching set of black lace, stirred my desire despite my best intentions.

Her curves were lush and inviting, her skin pale and perfect in the dim light filtering through the curtains.

The silver piercings in her lower lip caught the light as she breathed, drawing my attention to her mouth, those full lips that had been wrapped around my cock just hours ago.

Fuck. I needed to focus.

I pulled off my own shirt, the fabric warm from my body heat.

The faint scent of my skin clung to it, and as I slipped it over Sierra's head, I couldn't help but feel a primal satisfaction at covering her in my scent.

The shirt was massive on her small frame, the hem reaching mid-thigh and the sleeves extending well past her fingertips.

She looked adorable and sexy all at once, drowning in my clothing but somehow making it look like the most enticing outfit imaginable.