20. LEVIATHAN

Chapter 20

LEVIATHAN

My mates are absolutely gorgeous. Dark, iridescent scales litter their bodies. Their heads are easily the size of my torso, lethal fangs parted as they hiss their displeasure with this moment. I wasn't expecting the cavalry but I'm glad to see them, the poor witch scattered across the other side of the cave. I should be terrified of the blood coating my mates' fangs and the way they so eagerly ripped Briar apart but I can't.

She wanted to bring back power that's been locked away for a century for no other reason than to demand respect. Training her magic would have been safer and easier but she succumbed to the allure of dark magic. Not that it matters. She's dead, her blood spilt and I get to live another day. My magic will replenish itself but it might be a few days before I'm 100%.

One of the Alphas shifts back and moves to the Omega at my side, petting her head as she regains consciousness. She whimpers in relief, her eyes widening as she reaches for the Alpha. She must know him by the sudden excitement flooding through her features and the way she clings to him. Cole's Alpha, however, is focusing on me. So are my mates.

The Basilisks train their attention on me as they slither closer, the movement of their bodies mesmerizing. With a quick swipe of his head, Rowan slices through my restraints with a fang before I reach up to lightly touch his nose, loving the way he nuzzles against my palm. Amand does the same to my cheek, their bodies curling around mine until I'm swarmed in a sea of scales.

"You're both gorgeous."

Sometimes, I'm jealous of shifters and their second form but not now. I'm ecstatic that these men are mine. We stay there for several moments as I soak up the warmth of their body heat and the feel of their scales against my skin.

Cole's Alpha clears his throat as he steps forward while still keeping a respectful distance. He's naked as the rest of his men are, except for the witch, their destruction evident. Briar's materials are strewn across the floor, nothing left to be used. He's a formidable Alpha, muscles lining every last part of his body but he stands there with no shame. Shifters lose their clothes every time they take on their beasts' form, a hazard of a creature's designation. "You okay to talk, Leviathan? What happened here?"

Rowan hisses but I continue stroking just above his nose. My body is tired but the sooner everyone knows what happened, the sooner the case is over. "Greed. Lots of it. She wanted power and thought resurrecting the first Alpha would give her that."

The Alpha cackles as he shakes his head. "Dark magic and things created from it will not listen to pure magic. Even if she had somehow resurrected that beast, it would be an entirely different beast we were fighting."

I cough, still feeling the effects of her magic as well as the numerous times I nearly suffocated with those invisible fingers around my throat or my tongue swelling in my mouth. Amand scoots impossibly closer until I'm just covered in a blanket of heated scales. It's rather nice but I don't want to be in this cave any longer than I have to.

"How do we report this? The police-"

"Are dirty," Cole's Alpha says. "We'll clean up the cave and seal it off since we have the resources to do so. Lily over there is our resident witch and expert of all things magic. She'll make sure this doesn't become another hiding place for future witches. As for the precinct, they'll eventually know that both of you were rescued. How much you want to offer up is your decision."

That sounds eerily similar to how I conduct my investigations. Vince only ever knew what I told him. There have been many nuances and tidbits that I keep to myself until the end, not wanting to ruin all my hard work by zealous officers who want to tack another case onto their wins. I'll settle for mentioning that the Omega was rescued and the witch is dead.

It'll be easy enough to back Vince into a corner because the man doesn't think he can be wrong. "Fair."

"Let your mates take care of you, Leviathan. We'll be in touch." He moves to the other side of the cave, inspecting what is left of Briar with the rest of his team. She's a gruesome mess remnant of the anger pouring through my mates. I wish I had been a little less in pain to truly enjoy the show and as much as I want Vince in ten different pieces, I want him to suffer every single day for what he was part of.

I run my fingers along Amand's scales, drawing little circles as I soak up their presence. Their magic is like a fierce grip, sifting into my skin and mixing with mine. It's perfect even if it might kill me. "We need to go home. I don't want to be here anymore but I'm not so sure the public would enjoy your shifted forms." It's the one thing that brings them back to men, two very well-toned and gloriously naked men pressed against my sides. Heat bleeds through me as their interest thickens against my hips, Rowan nuzzling against my cheek as his tongue runs along the edge of my jaw.

"I think I like it when you call it home, Leviathan," Amand purrs. He stands up and pulls me to my feet, a groan tearing from my throat. I hadn't expected to be this sore but it feels like I got run over by a truck, my limbs weak and heavy. He hauls me into his arms and curls me into his chest before pressing his forehead to mine. "I thought we might have been too late and the idea that there wasn't going to be a future with you was hard to accept."

A smile plays on my lips as we exit the cave, my lids slowly falling shut from overexertion. Fighting against the witch as she stole my magic took more out of me than I thought. Hopefully, a good nap is all I need to right myself back to normal. Well, I could use a drink. And a good fuck.

"Why are you two still naked?" I question, knowing full well that they'll pick up on where my mind just went.

"Because we'll have to shed our clothes the moment we get home anyway." That was Rowan. He's not wrong. I want to feel them against me, to remind me that we're all alive. That doesn't mean they can waltz naked through the city.

"Public indecency is still a thing, guys. Amand? Clothes. You need clothes." The last thing I need is them getting arrested for being naked in public. They share a laugh as they keep trudging through the heavy brush until we're at the edge of the clearing and nearing their car. Amand sets me down and reaches for a small bag from the backseat that has pants and a few other supplies. "You came prepared?"

"We knew we might have to shift. Now, let's get you home, showered, and into bed."

"That's code for fucking right?"

***

Freshly showered and flattened on the mattress, Amand devours my mouth like he owns it. He probably does if the way he's been nibbling on my bottom lip is anything to go by. Rowan dried me off a few minutes ago and disappeared back into the bathroom for his own shower, my whine of disappointment making him laugh.

"He'll be back. Focus on me. You're here, with us, Leviathan." Amand hisses as he kisses me again, his large hands sliding down my torso. My back arches as I melt beneath his touch, Amand reaching between us to deliver soft and slow strokes to my cock. The haze from a few days ago is slowly settling in again, the absolute need for these men pushing any rational thought from my mind.

We briefly discussed dealing with Vince tomorrow before Amand roughly kissed me in the shower and demanded that this night be for anything other than talking about the case. I wholeheartedly agreed and now that Amand is torturing me as he slowly strokes my cock, I'm only thinking of what this Basilisk did to someone who threatened my life.

"Do we trust Cole's Alpha? I mean-"

"Not talking about the case, Lev." His hand leaves my cock and I groan, pushing my hips up to meet his. His fingers push between my thighs, sliding up higher until two fingers are rimming my hole. I bow off the bed, much to Amand's amusement, my mate stuffing his face into the crook of my neck. I dig my fingers into his shoulders as he plays with my ass until I can't wait any longer for them to be inside of me.

"I need to feel you. Both of you."

Amand pauses as he pulls back to meet my gaze, his sea-green eyes several shades darker with lust. "Do you really want this or are we moving too fast?"

It's a strange question when this naked Basilisk is pressed up against me, both of us hard and leaking but I understand why he has to ask. I haven't exactly been enthusiastic about the idea of mates. "I've had time to think," I whisper, pulling Amand's face closer so that my words breathe across his lips. "I hated the idea of this but only because I've been alone for so long." I press a quick kiss to Amand's lips as his arms settle on either side of my head. "And then I thought about enjoying your companionship. I'd use the spare bedroom but that's not enough. Some part of me wants you both and I really like that part of me."

Amand sighs as he rolls off onto my side, caressing one of my cheeks. "I won't push you into a relationship, Lev. That's not what this is."

In the few days I've known these men, I haven't known them to be sweet. Caring? Sure. But sweet isn't their MO. Still, I want both Amand and Rowan to know that I'm not here against my will, that my presence here isn't just because of fatal attraction. "I'm not asking you to go full speed ahead. Neither of us is ready for that. Amand, I'm asking you to give me a chance to love you."

Amand chuckles just as Rowan steps toward the bed, the Basilisk bending down to press a kiss to my forehead. I don't know how long he was listening but it must have been a while. "We'll get there, Lev. Let us take care of you. Our beasts need this just as much as yours does."

Despite the haze clouding my thoughts, this moment is much more passionate than the first time we spent together. The lust and desire are still there but I don't feel rabid with my intentions. Amand slowly rolls me onto my side before propping me onto my hands and knees. Ever so gently, he begins working me open, two fingers slathered with lube from the bedside table. I rock back against his hand, working myself up to an orgasm that's much closer than I expected. Too soon, I'm grunting through my release but still hard as Amand adds a few more fingers.

Rowan hasn't moved from the edge of the bed, naked and wet from his shower. "You're perfect for us, you know that? I wasn't sure at first but you fit so well between us, Lev."

His sweet words have me reaching for him, Rowan gladly feeding me his cock as I lose myself to their magic. It swarms around me and pulses through my veins, their venom heightening the moment until I feel like I'm floating between them. Amand slides into my ass a moment later, my mates filling me with their cocks until I can only think of them and not the disastrous world we'll have to face tomorrow.

In all reality, the chief has already been debriefed but has given Amand and Rowan the go-ahead to bring the case to Vince personally.

I'm just happy that it's almost over.

"Focus on us, Lev. The world can wait."

So, I do. I focus on the salty-sweet taste of Rowan's cock on my tongue and Amand slowly pumping into my ass, his fingers digging into my waist until I'm sure there will be bruises tomorrow. Rowan's hands sink into my unruly curls, directing my pace. We'll get there. Rowan's words run through my head, pleasure exploding through me at the thought that I might finally find love in a world that hasn't offered me much.

This time when I come, I feel like I've finally found something I've been missing.

A family.