27. Reed

27

REED

I sat on the edge of Pandora's bed, taking note of the raccoon skull resting on a floating black shelf above her desk. Spicy bourbon lingered around it, and it made me wonder when Hemlock had given it to her.

She would probably forgive all of them because her heart was just that pure, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me. I knew she’d forgiven Grimshaw already, and I knew they’d kissed. But I also remembered how badly Grimshaw leaked magic and was avoidant more than anything.

Dex had cut into our mate’s flesh, taunted her with his shadows, and was overall unhinged on the best of days. I saw the recognition of how badly he’d messed up when he froze doing CPR on her after seeing her scars. I’d been so angry that he froze so long when Pandora needed those compressions. He was making better choices, and I knew he was actively keeping her safe.

Hemlock’s words had been the worst of his doing, but also the most harmful to her. She’d confided in me many times about what he’d thought of her. She was concerned that he only wanted to make amends because they were fated and not because he was wrong about her. I understood her concerns, but I also never understood why he’d targeted her in the first place.

I glanced over at my mate. Her long, waist-length black hair cascaded like a waterfall of ink, and her red eyes were dull with exhaustion as she sat next to me.

“You look so tired,” I murmured, reaching out, my fingers brushing against her plump red lips. “Let me help you sleep.”

She smiled weakly, her eyes softening as they met mine. “Dark Veil scares me, Reed. I remember Mother mentioning them right before she tried to kill me…I think they’ve known about me from the beginning.”

My heart clenched at the mention of Dark Veil. It brought the memory of my own mom selling me out to them to be sacrificed. But my mom was still not as bad as Pandora’s was.

I wanted to protect her from every single entity in Kalista that threatened her. She’d been through far too much to have to deal with Dark Veil, too.

“Dark Veil again?” Nebula’s voice echoed.

I glanced over at him, the kitten skull perched on the nightstand. He manifested in a swirl of black goo that puddled beneath him. There was something so ominous about Nebula, but he was there for my mate when I wasn’t. I could never thank him enough for keeping her sane under her Mother’s abuse.

“They won’t leave her alone,” I muttered. “They sent infected demons to her again, one with another gem filled with souls and dark magic.”

Pandora sighed, sinking back against the pillows. “If Mother was involved with them as I suspect, I think she’s offered me to them already. She always claimed she was grooming me for a purpose…was that purpose Dark Veil’s?”

My heart swelled with a love so deep it felt like it might burst from my chest. Fates, I loved her so much, and I would do anything to stop whatever purpose they had for her.

“Perhaps,” Nebula hummed before de-manifesting a second later.

“No matter what happens, you will always have us,” I promised. “Hunter and I would never let them touch you, and neither would the other three.”

“I know.” Her frown deepened, and worry lines appeared between her brows.

I leaned over and reached into my bag on the floor, pulling out a small bag of purple cotton candy. Holding it out, I offered it to her. “Cotton candy always makes me feel better.”

Her lips curved into a tired smile as she took the cotton candy. “Purple?”

“Only the best flavor of cotton candy for my dream girl.” I winked, watching her reach into the bag and pinch off some before putting it in her mouth and making a pleasant humming sound.

“That is really good.” She tilted her head. “It melted in my mouth.”

My dick throbbed, but I grabbed a pillow and held it in my lap as I plastered an innocent smile on my face. Oh, Fates, my body wasn’t getting the memo that this was not the time. “Have you ever had cotton candy before?”

“No.” She grabbed another hand full and offered it to me. “But I like it.”

My smile widened as I leaned forward and bit into the cotton candy, feeling it dissolve as soon as it reached my tongue. A low moan escaped my lips as I kissed her finger and pulled back. “It’s the best kind.”

A sweet scent laced with caramel pierced the air, and I knew instantly she was as aroused as I was.

My love for her surged through my heart, and if our bond was complete, she’d feel it.

“I want to complete the bond with you,” she whispered, her breaths turning shallow.

“Seriously?” The wind knocked out of my lungs as a jolt of excitement shot through me. “I’d love that more than anything.”

Her red eyes glistened with want and love. “Come here and take off your shirt so I can mark you when you mark me.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I pulled my shirt off and climbed into the bed next to her.

Lying down beside her, I pressed my forehead against hers. Our breaths mingled as our lips were inches apart. I’d dreamed of being her fated mate since the moment I met her, and all I wanted in this life was to protect and cherish her in the same way she made me feel protected and cherished.

“I love you,” I murmured.

Her palm slid up my stomach and rested above my heart as she smiled. “I love you, Reed. I’m so in love with you that my heart aches when you’re not around.”

My heart slammed at her confession. I’d wanted to hear her feelings for me ever since I told her I loved her after she’d drowned.

Our magic slowly intertwined, along with our souls, in a warm, electric current that flowed seamlessly between us. Dream magic spurred around our consciousness just as a searing heat obliterated my chest.

My dreamscape fell into place around us with a comforting scent of caramel and cotton candy. Purple hazy clouds were underneath us instead of the bed, and the deep purple trees with glowing blue leaves obscured the galaxy above us.

Her eyes fluttered open to meet mine, and our souls snapped together beautifully.

A mark of a purple star formed on Pandora’s temple, and it was the most breathtaking dream demon mark I’d ever seen.

I leaned in and pressed my lips against it. “Your mark is beautiful.”

“So is yours.” She rubbed my chest, and I glanced down to see a white soul mark in the shape of her heart on my chest.

“I love it.” My voice cracked as pure love swelled within me. “You have access to my dreamscape whenever you want, and you’re protected from drudes and other dream demons.”

“I love you .” Her smile stretched, and her eyes welled with unshed tears. “And you should be able to sense souls now. Hunter’s been using it with his vengeance case, and he loves being able to read souls.”

I chuckled. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

“I feel so safe with you.” She leaned in and captured my lips with hers, mumbling between kisses, “I need you, Reed.”

I dug my fingers into her hips and rolled us until I hovered on top of her. My blood pumped hot in my veins as my dick dug into her thigh.

This woman made me hunger in a way I’d never felt before in my entire life.

“I need you, Pandora, badly .”

“Does this count?” Her voice was hoarse, and her red eyes were filled with desire.

“Does what count?” I drew closer, wanting so badly to seal my lips on hers again and drown in my mate.

“Having sex here,” she murmured, her hands tangling in my hair. “In your dreamscape.”

“Of course,” I said with conviction. “This is our sanctuary, dream girl. Making love to you here or while we’re awake is the same to me. It’s always going to be special, and it will always count.”

She nodded, her pink tongue rolling out to wet her bottom lip. “Please…make love to me, Reed.”

Our bond exploded with desire and love wrapped into one scorching bundle.

Pandora set fire to my soul, and our souls mingled in my dreamscape perfectly. I needed her. I was so hard that it hurt—a feeling I’d only ever known with her.

Her beauty was intoxicating in the best kind of way. I smirked as I willed her clothes to disappear. My magic sparked to life, and they faded away, leaving her bare beneath me.

I didn’t think it was possible, but my dick grew harder and weeped against my pants at the sight of her. Her breasts were round and full, and small dark nipples were pebbled in the center.

A moan tore from my throat. “You’re mine. My dream girl.”

She gasped, her hands pulling away and covering her stomach before I could look at it. “How did you do that?”

“It’s our dreamscape,” I rasped. “Imagine me naked. Simple as that. You have just as much control here as I do.”

She fluttered her eyelids, flicking her gaze down to stare at my body. A second later, magic erupted over my skin, and I was as naked as she was. “Fates, you’re beautiful.”

My dick dripped with pre-cum, and I desperately wanted to sink inside of her. “That’s my line.”

“Reed…the scars on my thigh are nothing compared to my stomach and my back.” Her breath hitched, and fear snuck into our bond. “They’re bad.”

“Nothing on you could possibly be bad in my eyes,” I promised, gently grabbing her hands, moving them away to reveal many, many, scars crisscrossing her stomach. There was a larger scar in a rough circular shape above her belly button.

For a moment, I could only stare as my heart crushed in my chest. I loved her more than life itself, and she had been hurt so fucking badly at the hands of her own mother. I’d known about the scars, and she’d told me about her past, but to see them?

A surge of protectiveness flooded me. I’d never let her scar like this ever again.

My fingers reached out and traced the patterns carved into her skin. “You’re perfect. Scars and all. Because they are a testament to your strength.”

“But…they’re so?—”

“I love you,” I cut her off and moved my hand back to the clouds to hover over her. “This doesn’t change anything for me. Touch me, Pandora. See what you do to me.”

Her hand came up and wrapped around my length, eliciting a moan from me. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. ” I chuckled, my dick throbbing in her hold. “I’m yours, and every part of you is attractive to me.”

“You’re big,” she mumbled before her eyes widened. “Like really big.”

Male pride swirled in my chest as I leaned down and nuzzled her breasts, licking and sucking at her nipples. “You’re perfect.”

Desire spiked between us, and I could tell her scars were fleeing from her mind as my tongue flicked over the hard peaks.

I’d picked up a few spicy romance novels after I’d met Pandora. I wanted to be someone she could fall in love with before the bond had snapped in place and I knew she was my fated mate.

In truth, the romance novels were good. I enjoyed them, but I also learned from them. I couldn’t wait to see what she enjoyed.

Her grip on me tightened as she stroked me, and her breath came in soft pants as her sweet scent drenched the air. “Oh, Reed,” she moaned.

“What do you need?” I gently bit down, and her back bowed up from the soft clouds. “Tell me you need me inside you as badly as I need to feel you clenching around me,” I begged.

She tugged my head up, and I popped off her nipple with my mouth as I followed her direction. “I need you inside of me, Reed, please.”

“I haven’t performed ceremonial magic.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “But this is my dreamscape, and you’re protected here.”

A blush rose on her cheeks. “I performed ceremonial magic earlier today with Jenni. I…I already knew I wanted this— you— tonight.”

She…she was prepared for this? That was the hottest thing I’d ever heard in my life.

Blinding love spread through my veins. I swept her up in a kiss that made my heart pound louder, and her tongue slipped into my mouth.

Desperation shot down the bond from both of us as our tongues slicked together. Her legs fell apart, and the bond was desperate for us to come together.

I grabbed my dick and teased her, running it up and down her entrance and circling her clit. The moans and sounds that came out of my fated mate were erotic, hot, and they made me almost come from just the sounds alone.

“Please,” she whimpered.

I pushed my heavy erection against her, and her wetness guided me in with ease. She sucked me in, and Fates, it felt so fucking good.

She moaned into my mouth with desire pulsing through our new bond, and I sank all the way inside.

“Fates, Pandora, I love you so much,” I breathed against her mouth.

“I love you,” she moaned, her eyes lidded with desire as she stared up at me. “Please, more.”

I obliged her, pulling out before plunging in again.

I found her hands and laced our fingers together, resting them on the clouds above her head as I thrust into her over and over again. She felt like a dream.

“You’re a goddess, Pandora.” My hips bucked into her, and the way her face evened out in bliss made every nerve ending in my body light on fire. “You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed about and more.”

“You feel so good.” Her legs wrapped around my waist, and her pussy rippled around me as the sound of our flesh smacking together filled the air along with our moans.

Her body writhed underneath me as pleasure short-circuited our bond. The air around us crackled with energy, and my dreamscape trembled with ecstasy.

Our souls resonated in harmony. Every touch, kiss, and thrust sent waves of pleasure through the bond, rattling my bones with the intensity.

Her fingers tangled in my hair again, pulling me closer as I pounded into her, chasing the feeling of raw need . Our magic surged together with a brilliant, blinding light that lit up the galaxy sky above us.

A raspy, broken cry tore from her lips as her pussy tightened like a vise around my dick, and I knew she’d been swept up by an orgasm.

I gave into the pleasure I’d fought off so I could give her hers first, and my breath rumbled. I thrust deeper, harder, until my muscles froze, and I spilled myself inside of her with a wave of ecstasy coursing through our bond again.

“You’re amazing,” she murmured. “I could do that all night.”

“Same here, dream girl. Why don’t we?” I kissed her, loving the feel of my lips on hers while my dick was deep inside of her.

“Fates, yes,” she moaned.

Aftershocks rippled through me as I caught my breath, but my senses started to tingle in the worst way. A familiar presence niggled at the edges of my dreamscape.

White-hot rage slammed into me.

“W-What’s wrong?” Pandora cupped my face in her hands and kissed my lips softly. “That was amazing, wasn’t it?”

“It was the best experience I’ve ever had,” I told her honestly, kissing her back for a few moments before pulling out of her.

I reached down and spread my cum over her thighs as it leaked out. I needed to mark her with everything I had. “You’re mine, dream girl, and I’m yours, too.”

“What’s that feeling?” She panted, taking my hands as I helped her to her feet.

“A drude is requesting to be allowed in here.” I thought of my mate wearing a simple white night gown and nothing else, and she was. Inhaling deeply, I scented our marking and our sexual pleasure between her legs and my own. I thought of my pajama pants, and I was clothed too. “That’s better.”

“Who is it?” She tilted her head, her lips swollen, and I couldn’t stop myself from cupping her face and kissing her senseless again.

The feeling intensified.

“Charlotte Vane,” I muttered bitterly, loathing that she’d interrupted my fated mate and I during our first intimate experience together. “I don’t want her here.”

Pandora’s gaze turned hard. “Let her in, Reed.”

I hesitated, searching her eyes to see if that was what she really wanted. “Are you sure?”

Pandora’s lips thinned, and her magic leaked from her lips and slithered in front of her face in a way I’d never seen before. “Yes, I am.”

With a deep breath, I allowed Charlotte to enter.

Magic crackled before she appeared before us. “ Reed! You let me in…” Her fiery red curls were the same as always, but then her green eyes flicked beside me.

“Not my choice, actually.” I wrapped my arm around Pandora’s waist and tugged her closer.

I knew this was going to completely implode the plan Hunter and I had to get more information on Charlotte, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care. She was constantly targeting my mate, and I’d do anything to protect Pandora’s peace. Including, derailing our plan for getting intel from my ex-best friend.

Charlotte’s eyes blazed with anger when she saw Pandora next to me. “What…what is she…”

“You must be the ex-best friend.” A dark curtain of hate slipped down our bond as Pandora glowered at Charlotte, unflinching. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but then I’d be lying.”

Charlotte’s nostrils flared as she scented my cum running down Pandora’s thighs, and unadulterated rage blazed hotter in her glare at my mate. “You bitch! How dare you fuck him!”

“I’m his fated mate, and I’ll fuck him if I want to fuck him,” Pandora snapped.

Fire licked up my spine. Fates, why was that so hot?

I stepped in front of Pandora, shielding her. “Charlotte—no— Vane , you used to be my best friend, but you were never the demon I thought you were. The way you schemed behind my back with my mom was bad, but the way you gave Pandora nightmares makes it hard for me to even look at you without feeling sick. I can’t stand you anymore.”

Vane’s face crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached out and clung to my arm. Her touch burned me. “But I was here first! You’re mated to someone who can never be yours.”

Pandora moved from behind me and grabbed Vane’s arm and pushed her off me before I could. “I am Reed’s, and Reed is mine. You can smell that, can’t you?”

Vane stumbled back with a glare directed at Pandora that could have melted gemstones. Her gaze slipped to me with a twisted smile. There was a hint of something sinister lurking in her eyes. “Pandora will be used for a bigger purpose, and that purpose is not fucking around with my best friend. Have you even seen your mom, Reed? She took something of ours, and we need it back.”

Her words hung in the air like a dark cloud, filling my gut with a sense of dread. She vanished as abruptly as she came, leaving behind a chilling silence.

“What is Dark Veil’s purpose with me?” Her voice cracked.

“I don’t know, dream girl, but we will not let them fulfill it.”

“I know…” Pandora wrapped her arms around my chest and tilted her head up to look at me. Her fingers brushed against my cheek. “What do you think she meant by your mom taking something?”

I shook my head, worry gnawing a hole through my stomach. “I don’t know. My mom…she’s been a mess since my dad died. But the way she so easily offered me up to die to bring my dad back?” A shudder worked through me. “I don’t think I want to know what she’s done to Dark Veil to piss them off.”

She pulled me closer. “We’ll figure it out together. Whatever it is, we’ll face it head-on.”

I nodded, falling back and tugging her down with me onto the soft clouds with a soft bounce. “Yeah, we will. Together.”

Our souls tangled tighter, and my magic buzzed as we drifted back to sleep. The warmth of our bond provided solace as our dreamscape fell away.

I had to protect Pandora from Dark Veil. What had my mom taken, and why was it so important? The questions swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside, focusing instead on the steady beat of Pandora’s heart against mine. We’d finally mated, completed our bond, and we’d made love. Nothing Vane could say would ever change that.

Tomorrow would bring new problems, but for now, I allowed myself to simply be with my fated mate.