Page 58

T hank the gods that Caden was having a nap in his cat form across the suite because it would have been impossible to hide my reactions to Logan’s pleasure pulsing through the bond while she was with Yelena and Velda.

Yelena I’d expected, but Velda was a complete unknown.

If Logan liked her, I could get on board with trusting her.

I wasn’t sure what she was doing after her encounter with Yelena and Velda, but flickers of elation filtered through the bond every so often.

When she finally did arrive back in the suite, she hurled herself onto the bed between Caden and me.

Her hands cupped my face and she pulled my mouth down to meet hers before rolling over to scoop up cat-Caden for a vigorous snuggle.

“Does this mean you had fun while you were out?” I asked.

“I gave four people the sight after giving it to Velda and charging her artifact. And I don’t feel like I’m gonna keel over!”

Logan rolled back toward me, Caden’s tiny weight coming with her to settle on my stomach as she cuddled against my side.

That’s a huge jump from before. What changed? Caden asked, his head butting up under her chin.

Logan’s whole face blushed. “Okay, so I’m not super proud of how we figured this out, but Yelena had an idea, and then Velda got involved, and it turns out that edging locks all that power in my body, and I can control the output from there.”

“I did update Caden on things changing with Velda,” I said. “How did that go down?”

“She asked if she could play while Yelena was figuring out her experiment. Oh, I had another Hecate vision too, so I kind of rolled with it when Velda offered. I don’t know if that was exactly what the goddess meant, but it seemed timely?”

Where is Yelena now?

“She’s dealing with a small crisis. Another person freaking out over the lockdown. I have to go to a Protectors meeting later tonight.”

“I’m glad we figured out something for your power,” I said, “but I wish I had been there. It felt fun.”

Logan tilted her head. “What do you mean it felt fun?”

“I could feel you through the bond.”

“Oh, gods. Well, that’s not embarrassing at all.” Logan buried her face against me, but I could only laugh.

“Don’t be embarrassed. It has some interesting implications.”

“What kind of implications?”

Ones that mean I don’t want to be between you two while you figure it out. Caden wiggled out of Logan’s grasp and headed into the bathroom. A moment later, the shower started.

“Explain,” Logan said, pawing at me.

I drew her in for another kiss and reached down to hook my hand behind her knee and pull it across my body. Little frissons of her pleasure ricocheted through the bond. “Touch me.”

Her fingertips trailed down my chest and hooked around my waist before moving back up and under my T-shirt with purpose. “ Oh . This feels like forbidden knowledge.”

Logan climbed up on top of me, her knees on either side of my hips.

I had hoped more than intended to get her into this position.

I wasn’t in any condition to be on top just yet, but I’d been missing her pressed against me.

Our bond was so fresh, and I might’ve been feeling a bit needy after being ready to throw down my life for her.

“Are you okay for this?” she asked, tracing her fingers over my cheek. “I’m not hurting you?”

“You’d be able to feel if you were,” I pointed out.

Elation poured through the bond again, and she tipped forward to kiss me until it felt like I might pass away from lack of oxygen.

Her forehead pressed softly against mine.

“I haven’t properly thanked you for saving me.

I’m sure there are probably better times to say it, but I love you so much.

I hated every time you left us, and the selfish part of me is glad that we bonded, even if by accident, because it means you never have to leave me again. ”

Every word out of her mouth loosened a knot that had lived in my chest for years. I had always known that she wanted me, and certainly that she was fond of me, but I hadn’t quite let myself dream that she loved me.

“Lo, I love you an absolutely ridiculous amount, and I’m more than happy to stay for as long as you’ll have me.”

Her next kiss was like fire, the tendrils of her magic brushing over my skin as she rucked up the skirt of her dress and tugged down the simple sweatpants I wore.

I threw my head back as she lowered herself down.

I shouldn’t have been surprised at how wet she was already, considering Yelena and Velda had played with her earlier, but it caught me off guard how easily we fit together.

I held my breath as she moved. It was hard to think, or do much of anything, with the slick heat of her body enveloping mine.

The surges of pleasure in her own body from her bringing us together shot through the bond like lightning.

Logan’s eyes glowed with power, mewls pouring from her lips as she moved in a steady rhythm.

I locked my fingers onto the softness of her hips, kneading like the contented cat I was.

Being with her was overwhelming in every sense.

The feel of her drowned out everything else, the noises she made were the only sound my ears could perceive, the rest of the room blurred out so my eyes could focus on only her, and the scent of her arousal filled every breath.

All that was left was to taste her again.

I dragged her toward me, greedily licking into her mouth and taking her lips with my own. Through it all, her hips never faltered, her body chasing the pleasure for both of us.

“Fuck, Seth, I’m so close.”

“Come for me, Lo.”

She cried out against my mouth, her hand locking around the amulet I wore at my throat.

The wave of my own pleasure as I burst inside her was almost eclipsed by the tsunami of hers flooding through the bond until I was drowning.

The heat of her was just on the tolerable side of unbearable, the amulet in her hand blazing with light, absorbing the bulk of the power she delivered.

I had no idea how long it took us to come down off that high.

We were like the shoreline—waves crashing and withdrawing to return again, bathing us in a swell of pleasure.

Slow kisses eased us down from the peak until eventually she pulled away, tidying me up with an eager tongue before replacing my pants like she had found them.

“I’m going to rinse off. Do you mind if I…”

“Caden is your mate, bonded or not. I’m never going to stand in the way of you two being together. And I definitely don’t want to stand in the way of you getting as many orgasms as possible in this life.”

Logan laughed and laid another dizzying kiss on me before disappearing into the bathroom.

While I lay there floating in the aftermath, Haru returned to the suite, hopping up to put his front paws on the edge of the bed.

Want to come for some fresh air?

“Fresh air sounds amazing.”

Did you and the witch have fun?

“A lot of fun actually. I might try to walk down.”

You’re feeling well enough for that?

“I think so. Logan charged the amulet and I got a bit of a boost too. Maybe I’ll try panther form. Then I have four legs to keep me upright instead of two.”

Haru nodded and sat back, waiting while I slipped into the familiar form. The amulet swung from my neck when I hopped down off the bed, stretching every muscle before giving myself a good shake.

Hey, Lo, Haru and I are going for a walk.

Have fun. I love you.

Love you too.

Haru managed the elevator and the two of us rode down to the main level together and out into the misty afternoon. I hadn’t quite realized how much I’d been missing fresh air.

Flickers of pleasure still rolled through me every so often, presumably from Logan being taken care of upstairs. I didn’t mind it at all, but it was a bit distracting.

Haru led me to the garden that was full to bursting with fresh produce. I only recognized a few—carrots, beans, beets—with most of the garden being a mishmash of beautiful greenery, flowers, and fruit trees.

I still wasn’t at full strength, so we paused to rest often. It was nice to sit with Haru curled at my side where I could feel the grass beneath my paws and breathe in the cacophony of scents from the garden.

What do you think the monster’s doing? I asked.

It’s on the other side of the nest. Haru replied. I didn’t want to see it while we were out together. It seems to stick by the gates.

That’s good to know.

I flopped backwards and looked up at him from the dirt.

Haru licked my cheek and nuzzled my face with his.

It would’ve been nice if fate had given us an easy path.

I appreciated this nest for what it was, but a part of me was afraid of what would happen after.

If we succeeded in our task, Logan and Caden would go back to Syracuse.

I had to go with them. But I didn’t want to leave Haru either.

A long-distance romance was difficult to manage when you lived a lot of your life as a cat and didn’t have the money to be crisscrossing the nation.

But I knew Haru wouldn’t leave here. He and Yelena were as good as bonded even if it wasn’t official yet.

What’s going on in your head? Haru nudged my cheek with his nose.

A lot of things I probably shouldn’t be worried about considering the high probability of death.

Who says there’s a high probability?

To be fair I did almost die already.

Haru snorted. But you didn’t. And the witch is learning more and more about her power.

You can call her by her name, you know. I set a paw against his side, feeling the plush fur against my toe beans.

I’m trying not to get attached. I’m already far too attached to you, Haru replied.

Are we sharing the same brain cell today?

Haru let out a huffing sound that I assumed was their version of a laugh. Were you worrying about the same?

I might’ve been. I’m ready to walk more.

I rolled to my feet, shaking the dirt from my fur. Haru stayed pressed against my side as we walked the back edge of the nest barrier. The forest stretched out, seemingly endless, and it went against every instinct I had not to race through those trees.

This monster is really throwing off my groove.

Haru snorted again. It’s throwing off everyone’s groove. No one likes being cooped up.

Then I guess we had better get to work and help Logan figure out how to kill this thing so life can get back to normal.

Haru nudged my hip with his. Are you going to be part of that normal?

I spun slowly, running my cheek down his body, scent marking him in a fit of boldness. I’m sure going to try.