17. Lorna

Chapter 17

Lorna

I sat at the dining table in Damon's half of the tower surfing the internet and rolling my eyes at the dumb stuff on social media. I was bored out of my fricking mind. The guys insisted I had to stay put ‘in case Kenrid needed me.' I didn't mind being there for my fae mate, but I suspected they just used it as an excuse.

I'd been locked in the tower all night and all day while Kenrid slept. He'd stayed awake long enough to eat and tell the guys everything that had happened before they'd arrived at Alyssa's home. He also refused to let any of the other fae into our space to finish healing him. Not that I blamed him. I'd have issues trusting any of the fae for a really long time.

I tried to find things to keep me busy while he slept, but Damon was a neat freak. There was only so much cleaning I could do. It didn't feel right to reorganize his kitchen, even though he'd said I could.

The rest of the clan should see that we're fine and not hiding from the fae, Mir insisted.

You know I agree, but trying to convince Damon and Elliott …

Yeah, overbearing assholes.

I laughed, knowing she didn't mean it. She liked it when Elliott was overbearing.

Only in bed, she grumbled. We've only got to have him once. I need more to find out if I really like it.

I blushed but didn't disagree. I secretly hoped he'd let us be in charge.

Mir created an image of me in a dominatrix outfit kneeling over a naked Elliott who was tied to the bed. My blush turned into a wave of desire with her vivid imagination.

Pretty sure Elliott won't go for that, I said. But nice try!

Damon said he would.

Damon replaced Elliott in her fantasy. My desire turned into an aching need. I'd never been horny like this until after I'd claimed Kenrid and Damon. As a matter of fact, my ex-boyfriend was lucky if we had sex once a month. I had no idea what I'd been missing out on. I hadn't even given my ex a chance to explore anything kinky. I'd been so caught up in my need to … I wasn't even sure what I'd needed back then.

You needed me and your mates, Mir said.

Possibly.

Kenrid's bedroom door opened. I spun around and slid off my chair. I started to apologize for not realizing he was awake, but all my thoughts abandoned me at the sight of him.

He stood in the door wearing nothing but a pair of boxers that were already tented. He wasn't using a glamour to tone down his fae beauty. His lean muscles flexed beneath the faint bruises still showing on his skin. Pink patches marked all the spots where the iron chains had burned his torso. The little bird on his chest fluttered its wings.

I'd kill that fae bastard again if I could, Mir swore.

I didn't stifle her anger. While I wasn't onboard with killing anyone, I would've loved to see Brance punished over and over again .

Kenrid scrubbed a towel over his wet hair then tossed it back into his room. He must have taken a shower, but how had I not heard him wake up and turn the water on?

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you," I said, crossing the space between us.

He pulled me into his arms as soon as I reached him. "I deliberately tried to be quiet."

His cool summer rain bloomed around me, soothing all my anxieties. I hugged him back, enjoying the feel of him against me. One of his hands slid down my back and cupped my ass, pressing me even closer. Kenrid was hard as a rock beneath his boxers. I wasn't the only one who was horny.

"I'm going to be selfish," Kenrid whispered. "I want you all to myself."

My entire body heated at the thought of having alone time with him. Every time I'd had sex in the last few weeks, it'd been the three of us. Me, Kenrid, and Damon. And usually after I'd tried and failed to suck Damon dry. He healed too quickly for me to ever really hurt him, and I was beginning to think he was indestructible.

"Like I'd ever tell you no," I said, leaning back enough to look at my beautiful fae.

"I'm so glad to hear that."

He gave me one last smoldering look then kissed me, sweeping his tongue against my lips. I welcomed him with enthusiasm. We stumbled back into the room, refusing to release each other or relinquish our kiss until Kenrid's legs hit the bed. We only separated long enough to get naked.

Kenrid reversed our positions, laying me down on his mattress. I ran my fingers through his silky hair that fell around his face as he hovered over me.

"I was so worried that I'd lose you," I whispered.

His magic wrapped around me again, but this time it felt a little different. A little more intense, like the charged air just before a thunderstorm.

"So was I, but I'm not interested in talking about what happened yesterday." He nipped my neck. "I need to feel you." He feathered kisses over my collar, giving me shivers. "Just you." He inched downward, circling his tongue around my nipple. "Only you and me."

The trail of kisses he left down my stomach ignited a fire in my core. I wanted him inside me, but I didn't want to miss the chance of finding out what he could do with his tongue. So I dug my fingers into the blanket beneath me and held on tight.

I wasn't disappointed. He knew exactly how to lick me in all the right places and use those long fingers to bring me to the edge. His tongue circled my clit, and his fingers explored every part of me. Teasing. Touching.

Just like Elliott, he stopped before my release.

"Kenrid, please," I begged.

He chuckled, then finally gave me the orgasm I so desperately needed. I gasped, riding the intense waves of pleasure for several seconds. Kenrid didn't wait for me to come down off my high. He crawled up the bed, hovering over me again before sliding his cock into me.

I groaned, wrapping my legs around his hips to give him more. He thrust into me, then slowly pulled back. A smile spread across his face. Not the reassuring smile I was used to. No, this one matched the magic circling us.

Powerful.

Intense.

Possessive.

Kenrid slammed back into me. I forgot about the blanket and grabbed his shoulders, holding on as his efforts became less measured and more wild. His magic kept pace with his motion until Kenrid arched his back and cried out. The chords of muscle on his shoulders and neck rippled as his entire body tensed.

Uncertainty wiggled its way past my pleasure when a wave of magic exploded with his release. Kenrid's magic normally calmed my anxiety and made me feel good. There was nothing calming about the power radiating from my fae .

It churned in the air around us, lifting Kenrid's hair and raising goosebumps along my skin. A faint glow haloed Kenrid's head and shoulders, making him look like the otherworldly creature he was. Beautiful, powerful, and alluring.

The magic settled like a fine mist, coating both of us. My body itched, and the mark on my chest from Kenrid prickled for several seconds before fading into a soothing tingle.

Wow, Mir whispered.

Ya think?

She snorted, and I tried not to grin.

Kenrid rolled over to his side. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked, surprised by the concern in his voice.

"I don't know what just happened with my magic. It's never done that before."

I rolled over so I could face him. He looked the way I felt, a little overwhelmed but not in a bad way.

"I wouldn't mind if it decided to do it again," I said. "It was intense, but it didn't hurt."

His eyes searched my face for a moment, then he smiled. "We'll definitely be doing that again."

I moved closer and laid my head on his shoulder. "I enjoyed having just you. Not that I'm complaining about any of the time I've spent with you and Damon."

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me. "I need alone time with you. Not that I'm complaining about any of the time I've spent with you and Damon."

Laughing, I rested my palm on his chest over one of the many burns. My humor faded quickly. "Does it still hurt?"

"It's just a little tender. It should be completely healed by morning. "

"I'm so sorry—"

"Don't you dare," Kenrid said. "We already talked about this. Placing blame won't change anything, and it wasn't your fault anyway."

I didn't argue, even though I would always carry some guilt over it.

A tug on my bond with Elliott was the only warning I had before an enormous wolf launched itself onto the bed. Had we left the door open? Kenrid pulled me closer, and his magic wrapped around me. Elliott's wolf ignored my fae, running his nose up my legs, huffing at the evidence of Kenrid's orgasm, and continuing along my torso to my face.

The wolf's big eyes met mine, and all I could do was stare back at him. I couldn't tell if he was angry. Worried, yes. Angry… I had no idea. He must have decided I was okay, though. He scooted back and shifted to his human. Of course he was naked.

"You're okay?" Elliott asked, laying down and snuggling next to me.

I nodded, enjoying being sandwiched between Kenrid and Elliott. Kenrid had never shown any signs of reservation around Damon, so it didn't surprise me when he gripped my shoulder and rolled me over so I could face Elliott. My fae molded his body against my back. I didn't miss his erection pressing against me.

Elliott kept his focus on my face, his eyes changing shades of blue.

"Are you okay?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't push Kenrid away, even though I would understand if he did.

"Yeah, I'm good," he replied, but it wasn't very convincing. "I was at Nathan's and felt that surge of fae magic. I was worried…" Elliott looked over my shoulder at Kenrid. "I thought someone had gotten into the tower. It didn't really feel like your magic, but I see that it was."

"Nathan's not alone, is he?" Kenrid asked.

"No, Damon stayed with him, just in case."

Kenrid didn't respond. Not verbally, anyway. His hand slid around my waist and stopped just under the swell of my breast. Elliott's eyes followed the movement. Part of me wanted to stop Kenrid, to prevent any surges of jealousy from my wolf. The other part needed to know if Elliott would be okay with the display of intimacy.

He's the one who raced into the room while we were both naked, Mir said.

She wasn't wrong, but I didn't want any drama or hard feelings between the guys.

There's definitely something hard, she continued, forcing my gaze to slide down Elliott's chiseled pecs and glorious abs to his enormous cock.

It was standing tall and proud between us. Would he really be okay with having sex with Kenrid right behind me?

Elliott lifted my chin, and I blushed furiously.

"I love it when you ogle me," he said. "But I can't have sex with you right now."

I met his gaze and swallowed my urge to ask him why. I'd respect whatever decision he made.

He smiled. "Obviously I want to, but it would only be my wolf claiming what was his. I don't want to be a possessive asshole." He glanced at Kenrid. "I'm not the only one who loves you."

I placed my hand on Elliott's chest and scooted closer until our faces were less than an inch apart. "I love you, Elliott. I'll do my very best to ensure you never doubt it."

"I know you will."

He ran his palm up the back of my neck and tangled his fingers in my hair. Then he owned my mouth with a bruising kiss. I would've continued to kiss my wolf, but Kenrid's hands slid off my body, and the bed shifted behind me. Elliott nipped my lip and let me go.

I rolled over to find Kenrid rummaging through his dresser. His body didn't seem tense, so I hoped he was okay.

"Damon and Nathan will be here soon," Elliott said. "We need to get ready to meet the queens."

Kenrid spun around, glaring at Elliott. "What do you mean? "

Maybe Kenrid wasn't okay, but now wasn't the time to ask him about it.

Elliott narrowed his eyes at Kenrid, then shifted his gaze to me. "Did Damon not tell you about the fae's demands?"

"No, he did not," Kenrid replied, pulling on a pair of jeans.

I wasn't sure I wanted to know. I had a bad feeling that none of us would like it.

"The queens demanded an audience at the Fae Estate," Elliott explained.

Kenrid's face paled, and his glare morphed into panic. "And we agreed?"

"Yes and no." Elliott bared his teeth in a feral grin. "We'll meet with them in one of our warehouses. Damon has a plan that'll ensure the fae royalty won't harass our beautiful little mate ever again."

The look on Elliott's face made me shiver. It wasn't nice or comforting or even remotely human. Did they plan to kill the fae queens? Did I want to know? Kenrid's fear scared me. I knew there was a lot of unpleasant history between him and his family, even if I didn't know the details. They were still his family, though.

Kenrid turned back to the dresser and pulled out a shirt. He didn't speak again until he was completely dressed.

"I understand. Damon didn't mention it to us because he doesn't want the queen's guard to read our minds and have the information," Kenrid stated, then drew in a deep breath. "What time do we leave?"

"We have an hour to get ready."

I didn't really understand what was happening, but the looks flying between Elliott and Kenrid didn't give me any reassurances. I took that as my cue to get in the shower and find something presentable for an audience with royalty. I scooted off Kenrid's bed and frowned. No, I wouldn't. If Kenrid was showing up in blue jeans and a t-shirt, so was I.

I kissed both my guys and rushed to my room.