7. Elliott

Chapter 7

Elliott

" L orna!" I cried out with my release.

I'd lost count of the number of times I'd had sex over the years, but I'd never blacked out. That had to be what this was. Darkness surrounded me. No, me and Lorna, who was still wrapped in my arms and filled with my knotted dick.

Pinpricks of light flickered around us, shadowed by a faint lavender swirl. Was that magic? It felt just like Lorna's magic caressing my skin. A soft glow illuminated the space around us. Somehow, we were upright, with my arms holding her back against my chest.

The lavender circled past my head, around Lorna's chest, and then disappeared behind me. A moment later, a silver thread raced after it. They both reappeared in my peripheral, only this time they intertwined with each other as they passed Lorna's chest and circled behind me.

The next loop around, the two colors were completely merged. Rather than passing by to make another circle, they dove into Lorna's chest. My hands flattened against her stomach and her head fell back against my shoulder. I expected to hear her crying out in pain, but she looked up at me with a smile.

I smiled back, because of course I did. She was my mate. If she wasn't scared of the crazy dream, then I wouldn't be, either.

Or so I thought. Searing pain flared in my chest, like I'd been run through with a sword. Yes, I know exactly what that feels like. I clenched my teeth, determined not to scream like a girl.

My girl didn't scream, and neither would I!

A moment later, the pain vanished like it'd never happened. Lorna's room replaced the weird darkness. The woman in my arms mumbled incoherently. Could it have been a dream after all?

I sighed and relaxed my jaw, then lifted Lorna and scooted up onto the bed. It wasn't an easy or graceful endeavor with us still knotted together, but we managed. I settled her against me and pulled the covers over us. Her closeness made a sense of peace wash over me. All of my insecurities, doubts, and worries just vanished, replaced by a feeling of complete rightness.

My wolf hummed contentedly, and I completely agreed. It felt incredible to finally be on the same page as him. I was really damn tired of arguing.

I pressed my nose into Lorna's hair and drew in a deep breath. Okay, I sniffed her, and it was a beautiful mix of fresh-cut flowers. Her scent had always driven me crazy, but now it was like a calming aroma that made everything perfect. And I'd get to spend the rest of my night cuddling with her. Wolves needed physical touch, and I really hoped my mate would feel the same.

"Sorry about that," Lorna said. "I should've warned you about the pocket realm thing."

"That's what that was?" I asked, snuggling closer to my mate. My mate .

"That's what Kenrid called it," she replied, then hesitated. "You've probably got a little bird on your chest now, and I've probably got a new rune on mine."

My body froze, and my wolf whined. I'd seen the tattoos on her chest when I stripped off her shirt, two small runes right next to each other. Were those from Damon and Kenrid? I knew she'd marked them, but I hadn't realized they'd also left something with her. In hindsight, I should have known. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. My wolf seemed anxious, but at least he wasn't angry or possessive.

"Are you okay?" Lorna asked, her voice soft and definitely uncertain.

"Of course," I replied, forcing my body to relax. "Just a little surprised. I knew I'd end up with your mark, I just didn't expect the pocket realm thing." I kissed her shoulder and ran my hand up between her breasts.

"Okay. I was worried for a minute there."

Did she think I changed my mind about claiming her? Did she think I'd be mad about the other marks on her chest? My wolf whined.

"I have no regrets," I whispered. "You're mine, and I'll do everything in my power to keep you."

"Mine," she mumbled, then yawned.

She tucked my arm around her waist, hugging it close to her body. She wiggled and squirmed for several more minutes before finally settling. Her heartbeat slowed as she fell asleep, and my wolf hummed with contentment.

"Yes, I'm yours," I whispered before letting my eyes close and joining my mate in sleep.

When I woke, I'd never felt so relaxed in my entire life. Maybe relaxed wasn't the right word. Satisfied. Dare I say happy? I'd been alive for a really long time, so Lorna wasn't the first woman I'd had sex with, but she was the first who truly satisfied me.

Because she was my mate, the other half of my soul. Her dhampir understood my wolf, which only made it better. As soon as Mir had accepted me, all my concerns about not mating another wolf went out the window. It felt amazing. Just like the woman next to me with her head lying on my chest and her hand resting on my stomach. She loved my abs, which only gave me more incentive to ensure they stayed firm.

I traced a finger along her shoulder and smiled at the chills rising on her skin. Her eyelids fluttered before opening. The sleepy look on her face made my heart sing. I would love to wake up next to her every single morning.

"I've never been a cuddler," Lorna mumbled against my chest.

I chuckled. "Could've fooled me."

She'd stayed glued to my side all night, even after my knot receded. Just like a shifter mate, she needed physical contact. Just another thing to add to the list of ‘Things about Lorna that make me happy.'

"It's your fault," she said. "I want to touch you all the damn time."

My wolf gave me a smug expression. I totally agreed with him. Man, it felt good to agree with him.

"It's a shifter thing," I said. "We always crave physical contact, especially with our mates."

Lorna lifted her head and looked up at me. "But I'm not … a shifter."

I couldn't help but notice her pause. I opened my mouth to tell her we didn't really know what her DNA looked like, but luckily I caught myself. I couldn't remember if Kenrid had told her his story or not. If he hadn't, I didn't want to be the one to spill the beans.

"But you are my mate," I said instead, giving her my best smile.

Her gaze dropped to my chest and the small magical tattoo now embedded on my skin. I was an idiot for thinking there was something nefarious about Lorna's mark. It felt so right, not at all like some mystical spy or fae spell or anything else we thought it was. It was just Lorna and her magic.

Damon and Kenrid could've warned me about their marks on her skin, though. I'd be bitching them out for not explaining what happened. I'd noticed the two small tattoos just above her breast—sitting side by side—but I hadn't realized what they were until after the whole ‘falling into a pocket realm' thing. They could've warned me!

"Am I a selfish bitch for wanting all of you?" she asked, tracing the outline of the little bird. It blinked at her while following her progress.

"No," I replied. "Why would you think that?"

She tilted her chin and kissed my jaw. My dick immediately took notice, but I wasn't about to let it dictate my actions. Lorna needed me to listen, not distract her with sex. I rolled onto my side and put a little space between us.

A small wrinkle formed between her brow as her gaze met mine.

"I feel like I'm expecting too much from you guys," she said. "You're going against your nature to share me. Kenrid is going against his nature by being exclusively with me. Damon is feeding me." Lorna bit her bottom lip, and tears pooled in her eyes. "I know fate has put us together, but everything feels so one-sided."

I had no idea how to reassure her, but the pleading look in her eyes said I'd better come up with something. But what? I still wasn't sure I'd be able to stand by while Damon or Kenrid physically pleasured her. My wolf was suspiciously quiet about it right now, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. The typical wolf response to someone touching my mate would be to tear their throat out.

Maybe honesty was best.

"I'm not gonna lie to you," I said, reaching across the space between us and pressing my fingers over the howling wolf centered just below the two runes—my mark. "I have no idea what's in store for us, but I do know that I can't live without you. The fact that you care enough to shed tears over it means a lot. I don't think you'll let us feel like we're getting the short end of the stick."

Lorna squeezed her eyes shut, and several tears slid down her cheek. I couldn't stand to see her cry. I just couldn't. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. She nuzzled against my collar and circled her hands around my waist. The heat from her naked body did all kinds of things to me, but she needed this reassurance.

So I held her close, wrapping my shifter magic around her.

I should've known it was too good to last.

The bedroom door slammed open. I slipped out of Lorna's arms, rolled over, and put my body between her and the intruder. Only it wasn't an intruder. Damon loomed in the doorway in his demon form, his dark eyes scanning the room, only stopping for a moment on me and Lorna. His entire body quivered, but I couldn't tell why. It didn't seem like anger. His wide eyes and pursed lips made me think he was scared.

Nothing scared Damon.

"Where's Nathan?" he asked.

"I have no idea," I replied, a knot of worry building in my gut. "Wasn't he supposed to be with you?"

Lorna crawled across the mattress and sat beside me, pulling the blankets around her naked body. I would've laughed at her modesty if I weren't shocked by Damon's sudden appearance and suggestion that Nathan was gone.

Damon growled and stomped across the room, stopping to kneel in front of Lorna. He drew in a deep breath, and his wings wrapped around both me and Lorna. Was he smelling us? Was he angry because I claimed my mate? No, he was asking about Nathan. If Damon was pissed, I'd know it. He slowly exhaled then looked directly at me.

"I left him at the base of the tower an hour ago," Damon said. "Alyssa called me and said that Kenrid and Brance were arguing, and she feared it would turn violent. I was irritated at the request but not alarmed. Kenrid is more than capable of beating the impotent fool, but Nathan insisted that I go to Kenrid's aid. He opened the elevator, and I left."

Damon shifted his attention to Lorna. His anger slid into sadness. "I flew to the fae manor, but Kenrid was not there. None of the fae I questioned had seen him or Brance since the meeting yesterday."

Tears shimmered in Lorna's widening eyes. Why was Damon telling her this? It would only make her worry.

"And Alyssa?" I asked. I didn't want to believe that the fae would lure Damon away, but it sure looked that way. What had they done to Kenrid? According to Nathan, they hadn't hidden their contempt for his decision to leave them and the council, but they wouldn't harm their prince … would they? Nathan had definitely pissed off the fae with his comments at the clan meeting.

"I couldn't find her, either," Damon replied. "I rushed back here, only to discover that Nathan is also missing."

"No," Lorna whispered, clutching the blanket to her chest. "Maybe Kenrid just went for a morning jog or something. Maybe he and Nathan went to town for donuts. Have you tried calling them?"

Damon reached out and trailed his thumb along her trembling lip. She'd already been crying because she felt like she wasn't good enough for us. She'd probably blame herself if something bad happened to Kenrid or Nathan .

"Of course I did, little d'laej," Damon said. "Both of their phones are going straight to voicemail."

"Damn," I muttered, pushing aside Damon's wing and grabbing my clothes off the floor. "I'm going to get my best trackers. We'll start at the garage downstairs and see if we pin down Nathan's last location. We might get lucky and be able to tell who was with him."

As soon as I was dressed, I faced Damon. He was still kneeling in front of Lorna. His enormous frame and wings hid her from me. I expected my wolf to be pissed about it, but he remained silent. Maybe because he realized we had bigger things to worry about than our jealousy. Or was he okay with my best friend caring for our mate?

"Do you know where to start looking for Kenrid?" I asked.

"Lorna can find Kenrid," Damon replied, slowly rising to his feet.

When he stepped back, Lorna stood next to him with the blankets still wrapped around her. She narrowed her eyes at Damon, then seemed to remember something. She gasped.

"My mark," she said. "I can find him through our bond?"

Damon nodded. "I tried already, but I could only feel you. Let's get you dressed and find your mate."

"No, let's find him now!" she insisted, gripping his arm. "I just need to concentrate on our connection, right? Like we'd been practicing?"

Lorna squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together. Her grip tightened on Damon's arm, but he didn't seem to notice. He just watched her mumble softly.

"I can't," she muttered, not opening her eyes. "Damon and Elliott are in the way." She shook her head and jerked away from Damon. "No, no, no, no."

She had to be talking to Mir, but she didn't normally do it out loud. My need to touch her —reassure her—was overwhelming. I rushed to her side and wrapped my arms around her, but she pushed me away. My wolf whimpered, and I might have joined him.

"I can't feel him. It's just you two," she said, her eyes snapping open. She looked at Damon, then me, then took another step away. Her tear-stained face broke my heart. "I should be able to feel him, right? Maybe I need to be alone for a just a minute. Maybe your aura or whatever is too strong and interfering with the signal."

She darted to the bathroom and slammed the door. I couldn't take my eyes from the barrier between us. She shut me out. We'd just had an amazing night together. She claimed me. She left her mark on my chest, then snuggled with me all night. And she pushed me away.

"They either have him in a warded room, or they took him to another realm," Damon whispered. "I suspected it, but I'd hoped I was wrong. She should be able to feel him as easily as she feels us. Our presence wouldn't interfere."

I didn't know which was worse, trying to find a warded room or finding which realm he was taken to. Either way, I didn't want to see Lorna in pain. Losing a fated mate was supposed to be one of the worst pains in all the realms.

"How do we make it better, man?" I asked.

"Find Nathan," Damon said. "Find Nathan and we'll find Brance. The fae will tell us what they've done to Kenrid."

I tore my gaze from the closed door and turned to my best friend. I immediately took a step back. Glowing runes covered his arms and torso, their bright red an eerie contrast on his dark scales. He glanced at me, and a shiver ran down my spine. Flames danced in his eyes and for the first time ever, I was afraid of him.

He was pissed the hell off—possibly literally. It was easy to forget that he was from the Underworld when he acted so civilized. He'd been angry when the wolfpack kidnapped Lorna, but they hadn't been officially mated then. If something happened to her now, I wasn't sure how he'd react. I'd never met a demon who was mated. If they acted anything like a wolf …

"They will regret their decision to steal those I've chosen to protect." Damon's voice carried an odd echo. "I need to prepare a place in the Underworld for my enemies. Task one of your wolves with protecting Lorna, then find Nathan. I'll be back soon."

Damon's magic filled the room. A thick black fog surrounded him moments before he disappeared. To the Underworld. I shivered again. I suspected I'd never seen Damon's true demon until just now. Thankfully, Lorna hadn't seen him. She already had too much on her plate to deal with.