Page 23

“ S tubborn as a gods-damned mule,” Kendrick muttered as he pushed the wheelchair Dr. Atling insisted I use during my recovery.

It was a weird time for my body where we desperately had to balance my healing with maintaining the wards.

I kept Kendrick’s torque around my neck and it drank down any excess energy I had, but I was thankfully very easy to replenish.

A well-placed touch or sweep of lips against my throat and the gold would spark, absorbing the rush of excitement my body instantly converted to power.

I didn’t mind taking a normal human amount of time to heal if it let us keep the wards standing.

“I could’ve done this myself,” Kendrick insisted.

“I still want to be part of things.”

The predators had their time outside and now it was time for the prey shifters. I was the only Protector besides Kendrick who didn’t wig them out on an instinctual level. The fluffle was chilling in a pile, bunny heads popping up among squirrels and other rodents.

My little squirrel friend from the library, Tilly, came rushing over, scaling my leg and all the way up my body to tuck herself under my hair. Are you okay?

“I’m doing just fine,” I promised. “The chair is because I get tired easily.”

She pressed her nose and paws against my cheek. Are you going to play with us?

“I’ll be watching, but not participating today.”

She hopped onto my lap, giving me her best approximation of a squirrel pout. I’ll run extra fast for you.

“I’ll be cheering you on from right here.”

Tilly scurried back over to her friends.

They love you . Kendrick’s thoughts swept over me.

I plucked his hand off the chair handle and set it on my skin so I had an easier time communicating with him. The feeling is mutual.

He swept his thumb along the back of my neck, the torque sparking beneath his touch, goosebumps racing down my arms, my omega perfume intensifying. Rude of you to be a temptation when I can’t do a damn thing about it right now.

Does that mean you want to do something about it later? My body thrilled at the idea. Guilt was part of the sensation, but it was easier to ignore than usual.

You’re in recovery. The movement of his thumb paused. I’m not in a headspace where I can handle seeing the marks of my antlers on your skin. Guilt is a pretty spectacular mood killer.

I couldn’t fault that.

“Organize by species,” Kendrick ordered. “Races start in two minutes. You’ll run to the tree and back. First one to tap Protector Logan wins.”

He positioned me in perfect eyeline of the same big tree the predators had used in their race, but about a hundred feet back. Everyone tidied themselves into groups: rabbits, squirrels, mice, raccoons, and a few assorted that would run together.

“Are you going to run too?” I asked Kendrick.

“Our other ungulates will be coming out later. We don’t want to risk anyone getting trampled. I’ll run with them.”

“Fair enough.”

Kendrick let out a sharp whistle and the rabbits took off, sprinting over the grass, using the tree as a springboard to change direction. A sweet little orange one sailed through the air ahead of the rest, crashing onto my lap.

She peeked up at me with big brown eyes. Did I win?

“You definitely did.”

She let out an excited squeak, hopped down, and celebrated with a handful of binkies that melted my heart.

Kendrick moved me closer to the tree, mindful of the bunnies. His next whistle sent the squirrels off. I could’ve died of cuteness seeing their little tails above the grass, tiny bodies leaping, almost reminiscent of dolphins in the sea.

One pulled ahead; a frantic chant of run, run, run filled my head as she got closer.

With one daring leap, she reached my leg, climbing upward a second before a cascade of squirrels landed where she had been.

I scooped her into my hand, holding her aloft.

She lifted her squirrel arms, victorious, tail swishing excitedly.

Kendrick helped me settle in the grass for the next race so the mice would have an easier time.

Half a dozen of those who had already competed settled around me, leaning their small bodies against me as they relaxed in the sunlight.

The mice were next, and then the assorted small shifters, a teenaged raccoon winning that one.

The monster outside our gates had been blessedly quiet today.

I didn’t love having my back to it, but if it wasn’t going to kick up a fuss I wasn’t going to give it my attention.

I turned to glance at it. It looked as sharp and dangerous as ever, but it had a weird vibe to it, like it was observing, exposing a curious intelligence I hadn’t felt from it before.

All of us moved toward the door for extra safety as the much larger prey shifters joined us outside, dropping into their animal forms one by one: deer, moose, and elk. The birds would race with them.

I turned away when Kendrick began to disrobe so I didn’t perfume while surrounded by nest residents.

His gorgeous stag form paused next to us, his nose tapping me on the forehead before he took his place in line with the others.

With one sharp whistle from me, they bolted, the birds following quickly.

Hooves thundered against the ground and I held my breath. Kendrick flew like the wind. The first lap around had the breeze whipping up as they dashed past. A few of the shifters with me turned back to human form so they could cheer loudly, each as naked as the last.

Winner gets a kiss?

I jolted at Kendrick’s voice in my head. Depends on if the winner is you.

I wouldn’t let anyone else win it.

I laughed to myself. Give the others a chance. I could be persuaded to give you a kiss no matter how you place.

They surged past once more. Each one of them was gorgeous in their own way, raw power packed into their bodies.

The moose won with a last-second burst of speed. He trotted over proudly, accepting a pat on the nose as the others thronged him.

Kendrick kneeled next to me. Feeling up to a ride?

I wasn’t sure how I would do on his back while maintaining stability with my core muscles, but I supposed it didn’t hurt to try.

Kendrick offered his antlers to help me stand and I held tight as I slipped my legs over him. He stood as carefully as he could, but I wasn’t graceful trying to keep my balance with the way deer stood up ass first.

Sorry. Doing okay?

My chest ached, but I wasn’t going to turn down this opportunity. I’m fine.

He kept to an easy walking pace, navigating the outer perimeter.

I kept my hands on his antlers, fingers wrapped around two of the points.

The morbid part of me wondered which ones had almost killed me.

It was probably a good thing I hadn’t seen him coming.

Would I be able to appreciate how beautiful he was in this form if I had been facing the other direction, seen these antlers coming for me?

What’s going through your head?

Morbid thoughts.

A shiver rolled through him. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Let me get you down and I’ll change back. Hold on tight.

I gripped hard and Kendrick got back down on the ground, letting me slide off before he switched from stag to spectacularly naked man. I was in his arms before I could blink, his hand cupped against the back of my head.

“I won’t ever ask for your forgiveness. But I will promise to do better.”

I locked my arms behind his back, all too aware of the expanse of skin he offered.

Shifters didn’t care much about nudity since it was a necessity, but I wasn’t raised by shifters and it still meant something to me.

“Thank you, but I need you to put clothes on or my brain is going to go in directions it’s not supposed to. ”

It didn’t help matters that my simple statement had his cock rising to attention against me. He angled away, letting it rise all the way before moving closer once more.

“My thoughts go there every time I see you.” Kendrick nudged me backward until I was touching the cool stone of the nest. “Tell me to stop.”

I stared into his eyes, his searching mine desperately. “But I don’t want to.”

His mouth devoured me before the next breath had passed, power and perfume erupting in equal measure.

This wasn’t a panicked kiss before a potential death; this was worshipping.

His lips alternated between soft and fierce, as if he couldn’t decide which he wanted more.

I surrendered to it, letting my weight rest against the wall and lacing my hands together behind his neck.

Kendrick abandoned my mouth for my throat, drawing out a needy whine as I arched into him, heedless of the ache it caused. His hands swept over my body, settling on the curve of my ass.

Who are you with? Yelena’s voice slipped into my thoughts and I froze, Kendrick drawing away to look at me, questions bright in his gaze.

Kendrick .

A pause followed that felt like it was a year long.

Carry on, precious. I’ll update the others. Be sure he’s mindful of your injuries.

I will.

Kendrick looked startled as hell, and I could only assume Yelena was making sure he followed the rules of my recovery.

I didn’t need her permission, but having it cracked something open inside me, magic spilling forth that the torque greedily consumed.

“Don’t stop.” One quick tug had Kendrick diving back in. I don’t like the rules .

Kendrick’s laugh echoed in my head. The one where you’re not allowed to come?

Exactly that one.

I’ll take any ire she throws at us if you want to stage a little rebellion with me.

I squirmed, pussy throbbing and heart racing. I’m not healed enough yet to be fucked.

Who said anything about that? I’m talking about getting you off.

I’m not going to argue against that.

He kissed over the curve of my throat. Want me to finger-fuck you over the edge or eat your dripping cunt until you drown me?

I groaned, desire tightening every inch of me at his question. Surprise me?

Both it is. His fingers snaked down my body and under my dress, dipping into my panties. So fucking wet.

I arched hard, ignoring the pain it caused, my head thunking on the stone behind me.

Kendrick carefully slid his hand between me and the wall the same moment he drove a finger into my pussy.

He lowered just a bit, bending his knees so I could hook mine over his and use him as a support as he added another finger.

“ Please. ” I panted, rocking desperately against his touch, holding onto him for dear life.

Perfect omega. Kendrick added a third finger, fucking me roughly while I trembled in his arms, just trying to stay upright. You’re going to ruin them all in your heat.

Are you—fuck—are you not planning on being part of it?

I’d need an invitation to plan on that.

I whined, so close to the edge, but Kendrick ignored Yelena’s rule, pressing my clit to shove me over that cliff. Electricity arced through my body, the torque drinking down my magic, each cell infused in the wave.

Kendrick pulled away, leaving me empty and throbbing. He was on his knees the next instant, dragging my panties off and pulling me down to the grass, propping my legs over his shoulders. Before I could scream, he closed his hand over my mouth as his tongue swept against my clit.

His fingers pressed in again, resuming a pattern that would lead to my ruination.

I held so tightly to his hair I had to be hurting him, but he kept going.

I was already so primed and ready, when his thumb ground against my clit alongside the sweep of his tongue, I lost it all over again.

Power seared into the earth beneath me, Kendrick groaning as it washed over him too.

The torque glowed around my neck, the ache in my body all but gone.

I forgot how much of a punch you can pack.

I whimpered, lying sprawled in the grass as he crawled up to lie next to me, drawing my mouth back to his, the earthy floral sweetness of my cunt still on his lips.

That felt like you were breaking the rules, precious.

A hysterical giggle erupted from me. Worth it.