33. Pandora

33

PANDORA

I sat on the edge of my bed, brushing out my long black hair, letting it fall like a curtain around me. The sweet scent of caramel, my own scent, mingled with sweet chocolate and cotton candy. It was a perfect mix, and I loved how my scent changed since bonding with Hunter and Reed.

They doted on me all day, making sure I stayed hydrated with my enchanted bottle next to me, and the both of them kept feeding me small bites of steak. Not that I was complaining. I loved steak, water, and Hunter’s and Reed’s company.

Hunter’s gentle hands brushed my hair aside, and he leaned in to look at me with those calculated white eyes—eyes that made my heart swell. “Are you sure you’re feeling better, starlight?”

I nodded, taking a sip of the cold water. “I am. Thank you for worrying about me—thank both of you.”

Reed was on my other side, and he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “We’ve been so worried about you,” he murmured.

I smiled at both of them, feeling a warmth spread through me and our bonds. “The last few days have been hard on all of us,” I rasped. “But we got through them together.”

Hunter nodded, his hand resting on my thigh, tracing his mark. Every stroke sent tingles through me. “You saved Skel's sister. On purpose. That was incredible. You're incredible.”

Heat crept over my cheeks, and I looked down, fiddling with the hem of my nightgown. “It was nice to be part of something like that. To see how close Skel, Kat, their dad, and even Dex are. I'm glad I was able to help her.”

Reed sighed, leaning back against the headboard. “I wish I would’ve been there to support you.”

“Bram missed it, too,” I pointed out.

“When did you get on a first name basis with him?” Reed’s violet eyes widened.

“When he relapsed on drinking. I, ah, drank whiskey with him. Remember?” I reminded him, the heat from my cheeks traveling down my neck.

“Oh, right. That’s who you were with when you needed space after eating dark magic.” Hunter’s lips thinned into a line, and he shared a look with Reed.

Neither Hunter nor Reed forgave Bram—and I didn’t either, not yet. But they really held a grudge. I understood it.

“Speaking of Bram, I wanted to tell you about Ironwood.” I glanced at Hunter. “He's been messing with Bram, failing him because of his own issues. Evidently, Bram’s mom was sleeping with him, but they broke up, and he’s taking it out on Bram. It's not fair.”

Hunter's expression darkened. “I’ll handle Ironwood,” he said firmly.

“Um, just do it where Bram isn’t implicated.” I climbed up on the bed and moved next to Reed. “He doesn’t want to accept help, but I don’t want him to suffer if we can stop it.”

“I understand why Hemlock doesn't want to rely on me.” Hunter sighed, moving to my other side and lying down. “I’ll still handle it.”

I reached out, taking both of their hands in mine. “Thank you,” I murmured softly, squeezing their hands. “I know Bram appreciates it, even if he won’t say it or know about it yet.”

Hunter leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll always do anything for you, starlight.” His worry lines deepened as he pulled back, but the worry shooting through the bond was paralyzing.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I haven't been able to get in contact with Joel, and I'm worried about him.” Hunter sighed.

Reed's expression mirrored his concern. “I haven't been able to reach my mom either. It's not unlike her to not respond, but I have a terrible feeling in my gut.”

I pulled them both into a comforting embrace, pressing gentle kisses to their cheeks. “I know you’re both worried, but you’re doing everything you can to find them already. There’s nothing more you can do right this second. Is there?”

“No. There’s not.” Hunter's arms tightened around me, his lips brushing against my ear. His breath was warm against my skin. “Thank you for reminding me.”

“I’ll do anything I can to help,” I murmured. “I wish there was more I could do for you both.”

“You do help.” Reed's hand slid up my leg, sending licks of magic through me from our matebond. “You keep us grounded.”

The air between us charged with desire, flooding the bonds.

Hunter's lips captured mine in a deep, all-consuming kiss, and his hands roamed my body with a possessive tenderness that I couldn’t get enough of.

Reed’s lips trailed down my neck, sending shivers through me and making my legs clench to relieve the tension building from their arousal both in the bond and in the air.

Nebula manifested from his skull in a swirl of black goo, his voice cutting through the haze of our desire. “I’m happy you're happy, Pandora, but I'm not a pervert. Put me in the drawer if you're going to have a threesome.”

Reed blushed furiously, clearing his throat as he leaned back while Hunter chuckled, clearly amused.

I felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of the three of us together that I didn’t know I would feel.

“That’s not happening right now, Nebula,” I gently reassured him.

“Could’ve fooled me,” he huffed, de-manifesting back into his skull.

I hesitated before leaning over Reed and scooping his skull up and placing it in the drawer.

“This doesn’t mean I’m prepping for a threesome,” I blurted as I turned my attention back to Hunter and Reed. “I just don’t want him to be uncomfortable if he manifests…”

“Of course,” Hunter mused, desire twinkling in his gaze.

“Understood.” Reed bobbed his head, swallowing hard.

“So, um, I think I understand the difference between my regular soul eater powers and the special dark magic eating powers now,” I changed the subject, my voice breathy.

Hunter and Reed both looked at me, and while the want was still there, curiosity took over.

“Tell us,” Hunter encouraged, running his fingers up and down my mark. Tingles of magic spread through it as he touched it.

“I can sense dark magic and how much is around. It’s a lot denser than a soul. I can sense souls, too, so it’s easier to distinguish between them now. I can choose which one I want my magic to consume. The hard part seems to be when dark magic is in my stomach and breaking down.” I rest a hand over my abdomen. “I still haven’t quite figured that out.”

“That’s very good,” Reed murmured. “I’m proud of you, dream girl. You’ve come so far.”

“So far so quickly,” Hunter added with a smile. “We’re both proud of you.”

“I’m so grateful for you two.” My eyes fluttered shut as I leaned my head on Reed’s shoulder. “I’m learning to forgive Dex and Bram, but something's holding me back. And even though I have forgiven Skel and kissed him, I'm not ready to bond with or mark him…”

Reed's hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. I opened my eyes as he turned me to face him. “It's okay,” he said gently. “They hurt you deeply. Healing takes time.”

Hunter nodded, his fingers rubbing higher on my thigh, inching toward my aching pussy. “We'll be here for you, every step of the way.”

“I love you.” Tears welled in my eyes as love and belonging thrummed through my veins. “Both of you.”

I was so thankful to the Fates for blessing me with them.

Reed's magic sparked around us before sleep consumed me and pulled all three of us into his dreamscape.

The scene around us shifted from the room to a stunning beach. It was the same one Reed had taken me to before.

Soft sand warmed the soles of my feet, and the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore soothed my soul. The sky was a perfect gradient of purples and pinks with the sun setting in the distance.

We stood at the water's edge, and I relished in the cool water washing over my feet.

Reed’s dreamscape was so vivid, so real, that once again, I forgot about the scars hidden beneath my clothes. It was becoming more often than not that I was forgetting about the darkness of my past, but when I was with my fated mates…I felt free, untethered from all of that.

Hunter and Reed were beside me, and a salty breeze cascaded over us.

“This is stunning.” Hunter’s eyes widened in awe.

“I know, right?” I murmured gently, glancing at Reed. “The first time he took me here, I stayed the entire night. It’s breathtaking.”

“You know what else is breathtaking?” Reed asked.

“What?”

“Do you trust me not to let you go?” His violet gaze flicked toward the ocean.

My heart beat picked up before I nodded.

Reed wouldn’t let me drown.

“Are you sure?” Hunter’s concern was palpable through our bond, but I nodded.

“Let’s go, dream girl.” Reed scooped me up and spun me around before running into the shallow water with me, dunking us both into the cold water until it hit my neck.

A giggle left me, and I held onto Reed’s neck. “Oh, this is fun!”

“I’m so glad you’re brave enough to get into water again.” Hunter’s breath hit my neck as he stood behind me. “Even in Reed’s dreamscape.”

My heart thumped like a drum in my chest, echoing out into my veins.

I’d thought of that night on the cliff often, but what I would never forget was that my mates had saved me. Dex had pulled me out of the water and started CPR, and Reed took over. Then, Skel had given me breaths while Reed gave me compressions.

I was thankful for them.

Honestly, I had expected the water to scare me like it usually did. But instead, it was almost as if I’d lost the fear entirely. Or maybe, it was just because I had my fated mates with me.

I knew I was safe with them.

Being pressed between both Hunter and Reed, the ache between my thighs grew more insistent. “I’m so glad we're fated. After my upbringing, I truly didn’t think anyone could want me.”

Hunter’s warm hands cupped my ass from behind. “Who wouldn’t want you? You’re gorgeous, starlight, and I’m so fucking in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you, too,” Reed murmured. “More than I ever thought was possible.”

Tears filled my eyes, but they were tears of joy. Mother’s abuse and lingering scars didn’t have the hold on me that they used to.

I leaned in, pressing a kiss to Reed's lips, then Hunter's. “I love both of you so much,” I whispered again, my voice breaking with the love I had for them.

Love .

It was a trivial emotion to Mother, and she insisted it was a weakness. I never believed her, and now more than ever, I knew I was right not to.

We stayed in the water together, the three of us, wrapped in each other's embrace. The dreamscape felt more like reality, a perfect moment in time where the past couldn't hurt us.

But…I couldn’t get my mind off my three other mates. Even with the two that I was bonded to, my soul ached to have all five of them.

“I think I can forgive Dex and Bram,” I said quietly, my fingers moving the water. “But it is going to take a little more time.”

Hunter pressed a kiss to my neck, and heat raced down my spine. “And that's okay, starlight.”

Reed nodded, his hands warm around my waist. “We'll back your decision, no matter how long it takes.”

As night wore on, we stayed in the ocean, under the stars, holding each other close. The dreamscape had become a sanctuary for not just Reed, but for me too.