9. Escape

9

ESCAPE

D aphne

I would have never found my way to the end of the maze.

Without Adam and Andrew, I would have surely been lost. I watched the last of the shelves approach us, and my stomach twisted as they both slowed.

This was it.

We were almost there, almost free.

I had walked into this maze a single college student, and I was leaving mated to two Cyclopes. My entire world had changed.

The sound of claws scraping echoed around us, sending a shiver up my spine. Adam held me tighter for a moment and then held his finger to his lips, reminding me to stay silent.

I gave him a nod. He slowly set me down, careful to make sure our movements were barely audible. He gripped my hand for a moment, and I knew that he was nervous.

Andrew was ahead of us, standing in the shadows as he peered out into the open.

I knew the dragon was there.

The maze, I realized, had led us back to the entrance of the library. I could see the desk if I squinted hard enough.

" The three of you might as well come out," the dragon's voice floated around us. " I know you are here."

Andrew straightened, and I fought a gasp as he stepped out of the maze. Adam gave my hand one more squeeze and then left, following him out.

"We need to talk," I heard Andrew say.

My heart began to pound in my chest. The dragon wanted them to stay, to guard his knowledge. The books in this library were a vast treasure, but…

"We can't stay here forever," Adam said.

I crept a little closer, trying to see them. I could see all three now, the dragon, Adam, and Andrew.

" Bring your human."

"No," Andrew growled. "She is our mate, and we will not put her in danger."

" Keeping her from me will put her in more danger. You've left her unprotected in the mouth of the maze. One flame from me would destroy her."

Fuck. He had a point.

You know that I speak the truth, human, the dragon's dark voice curled through my mind like wisps of smoke. Come out.

You'll hurt us, I responded back, my heart pounding.

I promise I won't kill you.

I heard Andrew and Adam continuing to argue, and I felt the seconds counting down.

The dragon was…was what? Giving us a chance? After trying to kill us a couple times.

A shuffle behind me had me spinning around, and I gasped, seeing the harpy bastard that had tried to snatch me up earlier.

Fuck, now I had no choice.

He started to move towards me, but I was already running, popping straight out of the mouth of the maze and back to where everything began.

Where I'd first met my Cyclopes mates.

Except for this time, the picture in the book I'd seen on the desk was…more real?

A magnificent crimson dragon hulked in front of Adam and Andrew, his massive wings stretching around him. He had a long neck and a long tail, scales that glistened in the soft lighting, and eyes that burned like massive gold coins.

His tongue flicked out, his teeth baring.

Adam and Andrew immediately jumped in front of me.

"God damn it," Andrew cursed.

It was the three of us against the dragon.

"What do you want?" I asked, staring directly at him. Fear iced my blood, but…

Maybe, we could talk our way out of this. Make a bargain with the scary book whore dragon.

"Because if you want librarians, you've got one. I just would need to be able to come and go as I please."

Andrew and Adam both hissed at me. "Daphne, no!" Andrew bellowed. "She will not be working for you!"

The dragon shifted his massive body, his muscles rippling as he moved closer. I was tugged behind my monster boyfriends, but I could still feel him looking at me.

" I have two librarians. You are taking them."

"I'm freeing them because they've been your slaves. Not librarians," I snapped, my anger starting to simmer.

Andrew tried to block me, but I slipped between their two huge bodies, planting myself between them and a creature that could destroy me within a breath.

"You're a fucking coward," I said. Yep, my temper was definitely hitting now. "A fucking cowardly dragon. You want librarians to help you keep all this wonderful knowledge, but you just imprison monsters! It's insane! I'm their mate, and they should be able to have a life outside of this place! One with me!"

The dragon blinked heavily, and his head swung towards me, smoke curling out of his nostrils. Andrew's arms came around me, and he yanked me back, letting out a growl.

" You call them mate, and yet you've never seen them in their real form. Would they still call you mate if they lost control? If they became what they truly are?"

"Daphne, don't?—"

"Yes. They would," I snapped, glaring at the beast.

A low chortle clinked in his throat. " I'll make a deal with you, human. If they can keep themselves from devouring you, as is their true nature, then I will let the three of you leave without any harm or any curses."

"Daphne," Adam wheezed next to me. "Daphne, don't do this."

"Deal," I said immediately.

I was determined to prove this snotty bastard wrong. I spun around, looking at Adam and Andrew.

Andrew's eye was burning with anger and a hint of fear. Adam already looked defeated.

"I'm your mate," I whispered. "I trust both of you."

"You shouldn't," Adam murmured, swallowing hard. "You shouldn't trust us. We're monsters."

" She already made the deal," the dragon snarled, shifting his heavy body.

I felt the air thrum around us, plucked by what could only be described as magic. Goosebumps rose over my skin, and I watched Adam and Andrew start to shift before my eyes.

They both took a step back, their low growls becoming a lot scarier than I'd heard before.

Fuck.

This could have possibly been the worst idea I'd ever had.

The dragon chuckled behind me. " They won't know you once their darkness takes over. They will hunger for you, hunger to devour your pretty little bones. Good luck, human. I'll enjoy your screams from my treasury."

I let out a gasp as the dragon lifted up, leaving me alone in the circle with my two Cyclopes mates.

Their clothing ripped now, their muscles bulging. I took a step back, too stunned to speak.

I had to remind them that I was theirs.

I watched Adam's turtleneck split, and he stumbled back, letting out a ferocious snarl. His bright eye blinked as his teeth sharpened. He grew and grew until I was faced with a fifteen-foot monster.

Andrew held on a few moments longer, giving me one dark look. " Don't run. That will make us hunt you. Hide, if anything, Daphne. We will fight our inner beasts. "

Adam released an ear-shattering scream, one that tore straight into my heart. I listened to Andrew and didn't run, but I moved to the desk, slipping beneath it as Andrew began to shift too.

I heard his yells, his enraged growls.

My heart pounded in my chest, the mate marks stinging on my shoulder. I could feel their pain, and it hurt me too. Their hunger was something that would be almost impossible to control.

But I had to trust that they'd find a way.

Silence filled the library, and I curled up into a ball, listening intently.

" Human ," an unrecognizable voice spoke. " Must eat."

A heavy footstep. Heavy enough to make the desk rattle around me.

" Close," another voice spoke, deeper. " Find. Devour."

I squeezed my eyes shut, my thoughts rushing. I couldn't run even if I wanted to. I opened them, seeing the foyer to the entrance of the library. I stared at the heavy wooden door, the temptation staring back at me.

If I got to that door, I knew that I would lose them. If I left without them, I wouldn't get them back.

I could put everything behind me. Go find a nice young guy that could give me average sex and a normal life.

That didn't appeal to me. Not one bit.

I had to make them see me and defeat whatever monster was telling them to eat me.

Suddenly, the entire oak desk was lifted into the air. Two shadows fell over me, and I let out a squeak, looking up.

Holy fucking shit.

They were both naked, their clothes in shreds on the floor. They both towered above me, impossibly big. Their muscles now bulged with layers of skin, which had changed colors too. Now they were both a soft gray, contrasting greatly with their green and purple eye.

Andrew, and I knew it was him because he had a green eye still, threw the desk across the room. I winced as it crashed, the sound of wood splintering echoing around us.

Look at them. I should not have felt the way I did, but from this angle, I had a perfect view of their insanely massive cocks.

Before, they had been big. But this? This was different.

An idea started to form just as Adam started to reach for me. I got onto my knees and reached for his shaft, running my hand down the top.

He froze, letting out a snarl.

His cock began to harden, the length and thickness making me swallow hard. There was physically no way for me to take that thing, but maybe I could distract them…

Andrew immediately snatched me up, his one hand fitting around my torso. I fought the urge to scream as he lifted me into the air between them.

"Mate," I said urgently, trying to remind them. "I'm yours, Andrew! Remember me!"

" Fear," he growled.

"Mate! I'm your mate. Look at me. I belong to you," I said quickly. My heart beat hard enough to fall out of my chest.

Adam let out another noise, one that made me want to cry, but instead, I just let out a breath.

Andrew breathed in my scent, his nostrils flaring. I watched in horror as his jaws parted, showing me the rows of teeth.

Fuck. I was really about to get eaten.

I squealed as his teeth dug into my clothing, tearing them away like strips of paper. My shirt fell apart, my bra straps snapping.

Of course, he'd start with the tits.

He let out a low growl, and I braced myself, accepting my fate.

But then, his tongue slid over me, the tip flicking over my nipples.

The mating bond on my shoulder burned even more, but not with pain.

With pleasure.

Adam let out a low grunt behind us. " Remember ," he growled.

" Mate ," Andrew snarled.

I gasped as he lifted me, giving Adam the chance to tear away the rest of my clothes. Then, I felt his tongue dart between my legs.

Oh, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I couldn't help it. I let out a throaty moan, trying desperately to ignore the pulse in my pussy.

A dark chuckle rumbled through Andrew's chest, and his nostrils flared again, breathing in my scent.

" Wet. Ours. Eat, in a different way."

Andrew continued to hold me up in the air like I was nothing, leaving my legs dangling. Before I had a chance to say anything, Adam came up behind us, and I felt his tongue touch me again.

"Fuck," I gasped, heat spearing my core.

His tongue began to move between my legs, stroking my pussy. I started to writhe but was bound by my Cyclops's fingers, held in place as my other mate drove me crazy.

" Cum ," Andrew growled. " For mates."

Did the dragon know this was what was going to happen? It was a funny thought, one that made me question whether or not he was actually evil…

I cried out as the tip of Adam's tongue pressed into me, spreading me wide.

Andrew's grip tightened enough to keep me from wriggling free. My moans echoed through the hush of the library, my cries growing louder. I found myself wishing I could take one of their cocks, even if it meant I would not live to see another day.

Adam gave one last thrust with his tongue, and my orgasm unfurled, overcoming me like a wave against the shore. My entire body seized, trembling with pleasure.

Andrew lifted me higher, and they both lapped at me, tasting my cum.

And then, they both began to shift.

I was left in a daze as I was slowly lowered to the floor, watching the two of them slowly turn back into the Cyclopes men that I knew.

Andrew let out a moan. "Fuck," he gasped, falling forward. I was swept up into his arms now, by Adam too.

The two of them cradled me, and Adam let out a soft cry.

"Little dove," he crooned. "That was…"

"Amazing," I whispered.

"Terrifying," they both said.

I let out a soft laugh. "I think it worked out."

Andrew shook his head. "Lucky little dove. Somehow we came to an understanding once we smelled you."

"Thank god because I thought I was about to get eaten. But, I did get eaten…just in a different way."

Adam snorted. "Little dove, I'll eat you any day."

"Are you free now?" I asked, raising my head.

Andrew and Adam shared a look, both hesitating.

"All we can do is see. We can try to walk out.…"

"If we pass into the foyer, we will know," Andrew said. "But uh…our clothing…."

"Maybe I can text Catherine now," I whispered. "And ask her for clothing."

Adam nodded.

With that, the three of us got up. I grabbed my phone and my torn shirt, trying to slip on what I could that would cover something. I opened my phone, doing a little happy dance.

There was a signal now.

I sent Catherine a quick text and then looked around.

The dragon was gone, the desk was turned over, and at the center of the floor, there was a book. The same book I'd seen when I'd walked in. I went to it, picking it up to look at the spine.

Creatures of History and Their Curses.

I let out a laugh and then turned, tucking the book under my arm. "Alright, let's go before he comes back."

Farewell, human, a dark voice said.

Goodbye, dragon, I responded.

The three of us stood together for a moment, staring at the doorway. We then went to the foyer.

Adam and Andrew both stepped through.

We all let out an audible sigh, and tears sprang to my eyes.

"We did it," I whispered.

"We're free," Andrew said in shock. "We're free. All because of you."

The door to the library swung open, and Catherine popped in, giving all three of us a series of happy hugs. I listened to her talk, answering her questions as we changed into clothing.

Even as she chatted with us, all I could think about was one thing.

I had come to this library to find a book, and I'd found a new life. An adventure. One that was worth living, with two monstrous mates, a dragon, and books. I'd lived my own story, and this was just the beginning.

"Are you ready, little dove?"

I looked at Adam and Andrew and nodded, grinning. "Let's go get a drink."

The four of us left the library, stepping out into the crisp sunlight. It was as if no time had passed.

When I looked back, the door was gone.

"Shit," I whispered.

Catherine winked at me. "It'll come back. When it's needed. When someone's mate comes along. It's magic that way."

I started to ask more questions, but then I looked at Adam and Andrew.

The two of them stood together, simply staring up at the sky.

Joy filled me, and I went to them.

"Aye, it's as blue as I remembered," Andrew whispered.

Adam swept me into his arms, holding me and the book. "Our little human mate. Brave enough to face down an ancient dragon. I love you, little dove," he said.

I cupped his face, kissing him. Andrew pulled the two of us close, and I turned, kissing him too.

"I love you both. I had a moment where I thought I would run, but…I had to stay. I want this with both of you."

"I love you as well," Andrew said. "Both of you. More than life itself. But I can't wait to build one. Together."

"Together," we all agreed.