1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Robin

A headache was building behind my eyes, seeping into my forehead, and ruining my damned day. Dragons didn't suffer from headaches . How mundane. How utterly ridiculous. And how fucking inconvenient , when I had a million other things to worry about right now.

The only time I had ever suffered a headache was when I was afflicted with that whole life-stealing curse nonsense. And since Ruya had healed me and the curse breaker worked his magic, headaches were a thing of the past.

Until today.

My coming of age was drawing closer, and I could feel it. I could feel my body—and my dragon side—starving for its missing magic, yearning for what had been stolen from us. But there wasn't much I could do about it at the moment, except plan. I hadn't forced myself to be patient for over sixty years just to botch things now. So, I would focus. I would ignore every minor inconvenience—like stupid headaches—and carry on, the way I always had.

Someone knocked at my bedroom door, and I looked up with a growled out "What?" Damn it, I should have noticed the powerful auras of the magic users approaching, but I was too distracted. This wouldn't do.

Sanka peeked his head around the door and gave me an unrepentant smile. "You've been holed up in here all morning, Princess. Thought you might want some lunch."

I shoved aside the hand-drawn maps of Detroit's underground tunnel system that I'd been studying, and arched a brow at him. Most of my court was currently out completing various jobs for me right now… including our best cook. If Yukio had left behind something for us to heat up for lunch, then I might be inclined to eat. But if Sanka was in charge of the cooking, I'd be better off roasting and eating one of the rats Ruya insisted on befriending.

"What's on the menu?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

The smile on my sorcerer's handsome face stretched wider, becoming a lascivious grin as he pushed the door open all the way and pulled Ruya in against his side. "Well, us , of course," he said with a wink and an exaggerated eyebrow waggle. "If you're hungry."

Ruya blushed, but didn't contradict him, and I huffed a laugh at Sanka's directness. "Sanka, honestly," I drawled, leaning back in my chair and crossing my legs as if I wasn't dying to leap at the distraction he offered. "You're such a pig. Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps Ruya might object to you treating her like a delicacy to lure the evil dragon out of its cave? She isn't a piece of juicy steak, you monster."

If possible, Ruya blushed even harder. Teasing her was one of my favorite past times these days. I hungrily drank in the way the vivid red of her cheeks contrasted with her perfect white skin and her sparkling silver hair. Sanka caught me basking in the sight, and gave me a knowing smirk. "Oh, no," he said in a playful voice. "Don't blame me. I'm innocent. This whole thing was Ruya's idea, not mine. I'm the one who'll probably end up being treated like a piece of meat here!"

I stood and paced across the room, closer to where they stood. "Ruya," I purred. "Is this true? Did you twist the poor, tiny, innocent little demon-blooded sorcerer's arm and force him to take part in your plotting?"

She played along despite her blushing. Ruya really was a beautiful woman, and she grew more beautiful every day, as she gained confidence and stepped more firmly into her power and strength. Pulling away from Sanka, she straightened her spine and squared her shoulders, chin lifted slightly, projecting that perfect, untouchable priestess air that she had learned during her time with the Order of the Triple Moon. The cult had left her with one unintentional benefit, at least. I wondered if Ruya knew how much that poise of hers changed her, how she moved more like a statuesque queen than a demure religious servant. How when she donned that air of untouchable being, every eye was riveted to her.

The dragon that shared my soul preened and I allowed myself one ridiculous moment of pride. My omega. My true mate. Together we could be so powerful. So perfect. I mentally shook myself out of the alpha mating fantasy, reminding myself that was all it was—a silly fantasy. I couldn't allow myself to be sidetracked from all I had worked toward all my life, from avenging my clan and taking back my birthright.

Claiming Ruya fully would make her my whole world. Nothing else would matter anymore. I cared for her. But I couldn't let myself be consumed by my instincts.

She stepped toward the sound of my voice, her queenly bearing not the least bit hampered by her lack of sight. An impish smile flitted across her soft lips. In response to my teasing accusation. "You caught me," she said in her clear, sweet voice. "I just thought that maybe between the two of us, we could get our sexy, all-powerful alpha's attention."

I reached for her, unable to go another second without feeling her supple skin under my fingertips. Mine , the dragon sleeping inside me insisted. All mine. Always. Smoke curled from my nostrils before I could catch myself and rein in my embarrassing beastly reaction.

Being near her simultaneously settled something inside me, made me forget all of my other worries, and made it harder to maintain my already fraying hold over my dragon side. I wanted to be near her. But the dragon in me wanted more. It wanted us to fully claim our omega true mate, bind her to us and never let her go. It was a ridiculous battle of wills that took place inside my own damned head. And it certainly wasn't making my headache any better.

Ruya couldn't see me, but she probably smelled my loss of control on the air. Sanka saw everything, of course, but he wisely kept his mouth shut, like the experienced beta he was.

"Mmm… flattery will get you everywhere. But you don't need anyone's help to capture all of my attention, my beautiful witch," I told Ruya truthfully, cupping her cheek and drawing her closer so I could brush my lips over hers. "Is that what you want right now? To be the sole object of your alpha's attention? Or should we take pity on poor Sanka and allow him to stay?"

She shivered under my touch, responsive in the way only an omega could be. Especially an omega who was in the presence of her perfect alpha mate. It was as if she had been made just for me. But I was determined to ignore that minor detail.

My tone was light and teasing, but the question I asked was entirely serious. Being an omega meant that Ruya had certain needs that the others in our court didn't have. Or at least not to the same degree. Even though we weren't fully bonded, it was my duty as an alpha—and one I took very seriously—to see to Ruya's every need; physical, mental, and emotional. She was under my protection. If she needed time alone with me to feel safe and secure, and to meet her innate craving for closeness, then I was more than willing to provide, no matter how many other things I should be doing right now.

Sanka understood. He was a beta. Caring came naturally to him. Even if he wasn't affected by Ruya's omega pull, he loved her and wanted what was best for her. If Ruya said she wanted him to leave us alone, he wouldn't be offended or feel left out. He would just be happy to give her what she needed.

Ruya practically glowed at my words. It was both gratifying and maddening at the same time. On one hand, I wanted to provide for her. To be the strong, dominating, unshakable alpha force she needed. But on the other hand, the fact that having so much choice and so much control over her life was still so new and wondrous to her made me seethe with anger. One day, I would murder the people who had kept her imprisoned and treated her like a slave or a beast to be trotted out and used at their whim.

One day. But not today. Not now. No, right now there were more important matters to attend to. Like keeping my rage and my offended dragonish sense of righteousness under control, so Ruya could speak. So she could make her own decisions.

"He can stay," she said easily. Then she bit her lip as she second-guessed herself. "But if we're bothering you, we can go. I know you have important things to do."

'Important things' was an understatement. We knew where the emperor of the paranormal syndicate was hiding. Going after him so directly and rashly wasn't part of the plan. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity that had been presented to me. I was itching to end this long game of stalking and finally sink my teeth into my prey.

I was so close to being able to hunt him down and pry my birthright—my stolen magic—from his corrupt, genocidal hands. It made me rash. But perhaps I needed a bit of rashness to balance out all the waiting and scheming. Maybe it really was this easy. Eliminate the emperor now, deal with the rest of the syndicate and all of the political and social fallout later. One could always hope.

But I got the feeling that Ruya thought she was unimportant, and I couldn't let that stand. A couple of weeks ago, I probably would have stubbornly insisted that she was right. What was one beautiful bit of witch compared to decades of planning to avenge my murdered family and free the paranormal people from the syndicate's corruption? But oh, how my traitorous heart had betrayed me.

I might refuse to tie her to me, but I couldn't stand to have Ruya think she was unimportant.

"Everything else pales in comparison to this," I whispered, letting a bit of my control slip, letting my magic reach out for hers, brushing up against her aura like a cat in heat. "Come distract me, love," I invited, taking her hand and backing across the room, drawing her after me.

Sanka closed the door and followed us, his brown eyes flaring with glints of fiery orange magic. He yanked off his t-shirt and tossed it aside, revealing delicious brown skin stretched over miles of thick muscle. I stopped before the bed, and Sanka stepped up behind Ru, slipping his arms around her waist and bending to whisper in her ear. "Tell me what you want me to do," he said in a low rumble filled with humor and heat. "I'm afraid I might be completely inadequate at satisfying two gorgeous women at the same time, without a little direction."

Ruya snorted, and I huffed a laugh. I wasn't sure what these two had gotten up to with the others—Ruya's freedom was important, and it was better for my jealous alpha nature if I didn't pry—but Sanka was well used to dealing with both my appetites, and those of our frosty pixie lover. I was sure he wouldn't suddenly disappoint us now.

No need to let him know that though. "Don't worry," I told him with a haughty lift of my chin. "Ruya and I are fully capable of satisfying ourselves. You're just an accessory, Sanka, dear. A walking, talking sex toy for our amusement."

He laughed at that. "Well, princess, amuse yourself however you like, then."

Ruya shook her head as her hands landed on my hips, smoothing over the soft weave of my sweater dress as she pulled me closer, pressing our hips together. "I get the feeling you two might do nothing but tease each other all afternoon." She pouted. "And here I was hoping for some excitement."

I chuckled. Ruya had come to us so innocent and sheltered. But that wasn't her true nature. This goddess of a woman was a lusty creature at heart, and I thoroughly approved. Leaning in, I nuzzled at her neck, then bit down, making her gasp and lean into me. "Don't you worry," I purred against her soft skin. "We can focus when we're… properly motivated."

Sanka smirked at me as he set to pulling off Ruya's shirt over her head and ridding her of her bra. "I'm feeling pretty motivated at the moment," he murmured happily. "Very focused."

I kissed Ruya again, deep and possessive this time, as my hands cupped her heavy breasts, glorying in the way her omega need heated her skin to nearly match my own dragonish body temperature. Ruya slipped her fingers into my hair and kissed me back with all the passion I had come to expect, giving as good as she got, sending heat coiling through me as all the blood rushed to my pouch. She pulled back long enough to kick her pants and underwear aside when Sanka slid them down her long legs, then she was back, reaching for me hungrily. "Robin," she pleaded, that breathless little sound going right to my core.

I yanked my own clothes off with less grace than usual, and pressed my more slender body to her curves eagerly, forgetting all pretense of poise. Mine. I sank my teeth into the sweet, tender flesh at the juncture of her neck and shoulder, fighting the instinct that said we should bite deeper, harder, draw blood and mark our mate as we bonded her to us…

Pulling back, I made myself take a deep breath, urging the dangerous instincts to recede. The headache let me know what my body thought of that, with a fresh stab of pain. "On the bed," I said with what I thought was a relatively calm and seductive voice. "I want to watch Sanka pleasure you, witch. You're so handsome together."

Ruya frowned, then held out a hand toward me. "Wait. Something's wrong."

I shook my head, then realized how dumb that was, since she couldn't see me. And since it made my head throb with a little burst of renewed pain. "I'm fine," I said airily. "It's nothing, love."

But of course, Ruya wasn't put off by my lies. She was one of the most stubborn people I had ever met, which was saying a lot when you knew the rest of my rebellious court. But it was easy to forget about that iron will of hers, when she kept it all wrapped up in sweet softness most of the time. "No," she said firmly. "It's not nothing. I can sense it. You're uncomfortable. In pain." When she reached for me again, I sighed and let her have her way. I couldn't stop her from reaching out her senses and finding all my weaknesses even if I tried. She didn't have to touch a person to sense their pain. She'd do it from a distance if I resisted.

Ruya's hands touched my shoulders, and she opened up her healing magic, sending invisible fingers of her aura questing along my own. "It's just a little headache," I mumbled, unimpressed with myself for showing weakness.

Sanka clucked his tongue at me. "You don't get headaches."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Apparently, I do."

He looked away, but I knew his deference only went so far. He wouldn't be satisfied until the matter was addressed.

Ruya sent golden healing magic through my body, easing all my discomfort and making every cell in my body feel as though it was vibrating with vitality and good health. It wouldn't heal what was really wrong—she couldn't restore the part of me that was missing, magically locked away and abused by the nasty slug of an emperor. But it was something. "There, that should feel better," she murmured.

I rolled my shoulders. "Thank you," I forced out. I was grateful for her care, of course. But needing help never sat right with me. Accepting favors without some sort of repayment felt wrong. It wasn't how I operated. "I appreciate it," I added, for good measure.

Ruya frowned and I could tell that she and Sanka were about to start in with the questions. And I did not want to discuss why I might be having headaches all of a sudden. I didn't want to acknowledge my fears and play tiring games of "why" and "how" and "what does it mean."

I was pretty sure I already knew all the answers to those questions. And I didn't like any of them. The source of my headaches came down to one thing—weakness. I wasn't whole. And no alpha in their right mind would be comfortable admitting something like that to the people they were supposed to protect and rule.

Slinking around Ruya, I nuzzled up against Sanka's back and started undoing the fly of his jeans. "Back to matters at hand. Focus, remember, Sanka?" I cooed, freeing his thick cock from his pants. "I want to see this," I said, stroking his previously flagging erection back to life, "sink inside our witch while she writhes in ecstasy." Giving him a firm squeeze, I kissed one smooth, warm shoulder blade. "And don't stop until she comes at least twice, my big, strong, loyal beta."

Grinning against his skin, I continued, saying things I knew would make him forget all about my stupid headache or any talk of weakness. "And if you do a very good job, I might just let you come inside my slit this time."

Sanka groaned and thrust into my hand, immediately hard and ready. His hands gripped Ruya's hips and she leaned back against his chest, tilting her head for his rough, hungry kiss. "Please say you're on board with that idea, Ru," the big sorcerer begged, his deep voice cracking. Asking for consent. Always. A pleased hum vibrated in my chest.

In response to Sanka's question, Ruya pulled away and climbed up onto the bed, probably unaware of the delicious, erotic view she gave us in the process. "Only if you'll touch me too, Robin," she said, her voice gone husky. "I want you both at the same time. Please."

I met Sanka's eyes and lifted one brow. Our omega was so pretty when she confidently voiced her wants and needs. Sanka got rid of his pants and crawled onto the bed with Ruya. "Lay down, sweetheart," he rumbled, his big hand reaching for her thighs as he helped position her in the center of the bed. "Robin's gonna climb her sexy ass up here and sit on your face."

"Oh, that sounds amazing," Ruya said with a breathless little laugh as she made grabbing gestures in my general direction with both hands. "Please, Robin?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "I thought I was the one in charge here. Clearly I was mistaken."

Ruya pouted. Sanka just laughed. We all knew who was really in charge around here these days, and it sure as hell wasn't me. I wanted to be pissed about that. But how could I be, given the circumstances? Sanka gripped Ruya's thighs and dragged her toward him, kneeling on the bed as he sank that thick, perfect cock into her glistening pussy, and I forgot what I was supposed to be offended about.

I watched for a moment, drinking in the sight of them enjoying each other. Sanka was lost in pleasure, his muscles flexing as he slipped his big hands under her generous ass and lifted her hips up to meet him, slowly thrusting and retreating, every line of his big body radiating ecstasy as he eased his thick cock inside her. Ruya met his every thrust, planting her feet on the bed and lifting her hips to silently demand more, owning her pleasure in a way that was sexy as hell. Her pale skin was luminescent against Sanka's warm brown tones, everything about them a perfect contrast—light and dark, soft and strong, masculine power and feminine strength. So beautiful to behold.

I took my place as gracefully as I could, Ruya's hands coming to my hips as I sank down. Her pink tongue darted out to slide teasingly along my slit before slipping into my pouch to taste the slickness there. She delved deeper with a hungry little sound, groaning as Sanka thrust into her. Then she gently pulled my slit open so she could run her tongue along the length of my cock where it lay inside its pouch.

Ruya might have been sheltered and ignorant of the world when she came to us, but she had never shied away from my dragon anatomy or questioned my needs. She just took it all in stride with wonder and enthusiasm. It made me want to reward her. To take my pleasure from her then give it back tenfold. To drown in this thing between us.

Dangerous. She made me want to forget all my goals, everything I had lived for up until this point. It was terrifying. And yet, I couldn't get enough.

I let my head drop back, mouth open on a silent moan as she licked me, her soft hands sliding up my thighs to grip my hips and press me closer. Sanka's short, tight curls brushed my back as he rested his head against me and groaned. "Fuck, you are both so beautiful," our sorcerer breathed.

I turned my head to watch him as he sat back on his heels and pressed his thumb to Ruya's clit while he thrust deep, earning a moan from the witch that vibrated through my sensitive flesh and set every nerve ending on fire. Turning back to Ruya, I cupped her beautiful face in my hands and rolled my hips, riding the pleasure, my gaze locked on those stunning ice blue eyes. She couldn't see me, couldn't really meet my eyes, but her expression of euphoria was enough. When her head fell back and she shook beneath me, I nearly came undone. Sanka's thrusts slowed as Ruya's orgasm crested. He couldn't move with her clutching him with her witch anatomy. But he did his best to do as I'd ordered, rubbing her clit as he pressed deeper, driving her into another climax.

I clambered off our witch and rolled onto my side, stealing a breathless kiss that tasted like me. Mine. I caressed her face, her neck, her breasts, giving her a moment to recover and release our sorcerer, the coals of desire still burning hot inside me. Sanka stroked her hips and thighs, and over the slight curve of her belly, his eyes filled with patience and love.

When the clutching eased, Sanka withdrew and Ruya rolled toward me, clumsy with lethargy as she ran her hand over my chest, her thumb circling my nipple in a teasing caress. "Tell me," she whispered, her cheeks flushed, but her words gaining in confidence as she spoke. "You said Sanka could… come inside you. Tell me how it works. Describe it to me, please. I want to be with you… I want to see."

I kissed her again, a growl escaping me. "You are so perfect," I told her fiercely. Then I rolled onto my back and crooked a finger, beckoning my sorcerer to me. He smiled down at me as he crawled up my body, his eyes heavy-lidded and lust-drunk. After Ruya, I was sure he wouldn't last long, but neither would I.

I reached for him, and he kissed me, slow, deep, and hungry. Then he moved lower, caressing and kissing every inch of me, paying lavish attention to my throat, then to my sensitive nipples, loving me the way only someone who had known my body for decades could. When it came to this, Sanka knew all of me, every preference and every dislike, every flaw and every weakness. Our bed was the one place I didn't always have to be the perfect alpha, but always felt like the most desirable woman in the world.

I held his head close as he suckled at my breast, my voice dropping as I spoke for Ruya, as I included her in our closeness. "He's so attentive," I purred. "Always. Never content to just take." I described each caress and touch in vivid detail, surprised at how much the verbal description ratcheted up my own pleasure. We had Ruya's rapt attention as she hung on every word, on every gasp and sigh. She lost her inhibitions completely, touching both of us, featherlight caresses here and there that drove the pleasure to new heights.

When I was writhing beneath him, barely able to speak, Sanka took over. "You should see her Ru," he said in a low, sexy voice. "Our princess all splayed out and debauched, all long limbs and smooth skin, and that shiny red-gold hair tumbled and tangled all around her. The way her eyes flare with magic and fire and you can tell she's dying to beg you to fuck her, but she just won't give in because she thinks begging is beneath our alpha."

I groaned, unable to respond with the pleasure coursing through me. He was right. I wanted to beg sometimes. To be owned, even if for just this one fleeting moment. To trust in this and let go.

He reached over and took Ruya's hand, guiding it downward to where we were about to join. "Feel that? Feel how slick she is? Her pouch and her cock are practically oozing. I'm gonna slide my cock in there with hers, inside her pouch. It's a tight fit. But it will feel fucking amazing." He guided Ruya's hand so she could feel it, feel his cock sliding in alongside my own, stretching me and rubbing along my rigid length. "Fuck," Sanka groaned as I gasped and arched my hips up into him. "There's no describing it, Ru. She is so slick. So fucking hot. And that hard cock rubbing against mine… it's like nothing else I've ever felt. Pretty soon, we're both gonna explode, and her cum will be so hot it will feel like I'm on fire. But in the best way."

He groaned again, low and ragged, and released Ruya's hand so he could focus on thrusting, slow and careful, driving us both to the edge with every slow, hot slide inside and against me. I growled, my claws lengthening, ripping holes in the blankets as I gripped them and came apart.

"Ah!" Sanka's voice was deep and rough, and he stilled when my superheated release flooded my pouch, bathing his cock in warmth. Then he was spilling too, pumping his seed inside me on a breathless, punched-out groan.

It took a bit for us both to come back down to earth and get cleaned up. But once we did, Ruya snuggled happily between us, a dreamy smile on her handsome face. "That was so beautiful," she murmured, kissing my shoulder. "Thank you for letting me share that with you."

I chuckled and rolled to pillow my head on her shoulder. "Mmm… you're right, it's quite the honor for you. Don't let it go to your head."

She curled her arm around my back and patted my hip. "Yes, alpha," she teased.

And I was more certain than ever… that all of my plans and goals for the future were in serious danger.