Chapter 28

Mátyás

I lie on my side, watching both Elek and Kiara. It's been a rough week, and they're wiped out. Between the attack, her kidnapping, and her rescue, we've been in hiding. We've been spending our time fucking and sleeping.

My finger traces over the fading bite mark on her cheek. Elek killed the bastard that violated her, but it wasn't without consequence. Having Kiara tense up whenever one of us touched her took a toll on us. We hated seeing that look in her eye—the fear he put there. Luckily for us, our mate is strong, and the two of us were able to help her work through it together.

All possibilities of what could have happened to her if we arrived a second later tear at my gut. With Farkas still out there believing she's his mate, her safety will always be of concern. At least once we've completed the mating bond, she'll be much stronger than she is now and become an even greater threat to the Lycans. Elek is okay with letting her be free to do as she wishes. As for me, I prefer to keep her tied to our bed and stuffed with our dicks, but as he reminds me, that will only make her resent us.

"It's creepy to watch a person sleep, you know." Her nose wrinkles as she begins to awaken. I've come to learn that she is cranky in the evening when she first wakes up.

"Not if that person is you." I lean down and kiss the tip of her nose. "How are you feeling?"

"As good as the last hundred times you've asked me." She stretches her arms above her head and yawns. The movement wakes up Elek.

"Why are you two awake?" He grumbles as he rubs the sleep from his eyes.

"Because it's All Hallows' Eve, and we have much to celebrate." I grin at the implication. "Not only is it Kiara's birthday, but we have the mating ceremony."

Kiara's body goes still next to me. "What does this mating ceremony entail?"

"Fucking you within an inch of your life." My body comes alive at the thought.

"I think I should be the one that gets to fuck either one of you to the brink of insanity." She slaps my bare chest as her eyes crack open.

My finger halts its movement. "Is that something you're serious about?"

"Why? I'm sure you're too much of a control freak to let that happen." She laughs.

"When will you realize there isn't anything we wouldn't do for you?" Seeing the flicker of excitement in her eyes, I make a split-second decision. "Put the dress on that Ysabel left for you and meet us at the foot of the stairs in thirty minutes."

"Why there?" Her eyes narrow.

"It's a surprise." Elek stretches his arm over his head.

"And what if I said I hate surprises?" She rubs the sleep from her face.

"I'd say to trust us and that you'll love this one." I tuck a stray strand of her sable hair behind her ear.

"Fine." She sighs but lets it go.

"Good girl." I kiss the side of her head, not missing how her body shivers from my words.

Elek does the same, and we leave her to get ready without a backward glance.

We run into a smiling Ysabel and a frowning Sebo on the way out. I thought these two would have worked their shit out by now.

"What is it?" Elek asks as he crosses his arms over his chest. If these two are within punching distance, it never bodes well.

"Nothing." Ysabel picks at a purple fingernail.

Not buying her over-the-top attitude, I turn to the pouting blond. "Spit it out, Sebo."

"She kissed me." He scratches his cheek but won't look me in the eye.

"You touched Kiara." I shove him into the nearest wall and step into his space.

"Not Kiara." He points over his shoulder to a grinning Ysabel. "Her. The she-demon."

"Say what you will, Sebbie, but you liked it and want me to do it again." She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, antagonizing him.

"Why are you bothering us with this?" I have other things I would much rather be doing, and dealing with this is at the bottom of my list.

"Because," he clears his throat before continuing, "After Akos, you said we couldn't sleep with members of the coven."

"Oh, trust me. Sleeping is the last thing we'll be doing." She taunts, adding fuel to the fire. If she weren't one of Kiara's only friends here, I'd leave her outside until sun-up.

I roll my eyes up to the ceiling, looking for the strength not to shove them both down a flight of stairs. They're worse than children.

"The two of you are more than capable of figuring this out, but if it affects any of the rest of us, then be prepared for the consequences. Understood?" I glare between the two of them.

"Yes." Sebo grinds out through clenched teeth.

"Yup," Ysabel bounces on her feet and walks around us. "See you soon, Sebbie."

"That woman is a menace." Sebo takes one last look in her direction before storming off after her.

With that shitstorm handled, Elek and I make our way to our room and get ready in record time. Our faces are painted to look like skeletons, and we're wearing nothing but our black leather pants within minutes.

"You ready for this?" I clap a hand on Elek's shoulder and squeeze.

"I have been ready for this for the last four hundred years." His icy-blue eyes glow beneath the black paint surrounding them as he smiles.

"Good. Then let's go claim what is rightfully ours."

When we reach the foot of the stairs, Kiara is at the bottom waiting for us. Instead of half her face being painted like during the rapture, this time, her entire face is painted to match ours. The only difference is that she has red jewels made up to look like a crown on her forehead. She's wearing a black dress that's similar in style to the one she wore the first night we chased her, and knowing she isn't wearing anything underneath has my dick immediately taking notice.

The black halter dress dips down, showing off her plump tits. My fingers itch to rip the bands crisscrossing her sides to reveal the treasure I know is hiding underneath. A different pair of stilettos covers her feet. The straps wrap around her ankles, stopping mid-thigh.

Elek and I hold out our arms for her to take. She slips her hands in the crooks of our arms and lets us lead her down the same hall where we had our fun with her after she ran from us. This time is different, though.

Her heart rate picks up the closer we get to our sex dungeon, and I have to fight back a grin. Knowing how much she likes the way we play means only solidifies her place amongst us. And after tonight, we can play however she wants for as long as she wants.

She bites her lip and glances around when we walk past it. I can sense the hint of disappointment in her, but that won't last long. Tonight is all about her. Pleasing her, fucking her, and showing her what she means to us.

We stop at the door, and István is there waiting for us. He's been caring for this room until we could reveal her surprise to her.

Her head swivels around, taking it all in. Shelves of potted plants line the far wall. The front one is all glass, as is the glass ceiling, letting in plenty of light, and after tonight, the threat of the sun will no longer be a concern for us. To the right of that is a small garden with plants, herbs, flowers, and every other variety we could think of.

On the opposite wall is a wall-to-ceiling bookshelf with every romance author Ysabel could manage to get her hands on. Another perk of their newfound friendship. In the center of the room is a white chair hanging from the glass ceiling, doubling as a swing for her to relax in.

"What are we doing in here?" She drops her hands and walks around, touching everything as her green and blue eyes glow with curiosity.

"The mating ritual is for us." Elek waves his hands around the room. "This is for you."

"Happy birthday, kis boszorkány." I step forward and kiss the side of her head, careful not to mess up her paint.

"My beasts built me an atrium with its own library?" She presses a hand over her chest as her plump lips curve into a wide smile.

"Being together as long as we have means we know how important it is to have someplace where you can go for some quiet and enjoy being alone." Elek runs a hand through his hair as he watches her reaction. To everyone else, that would be normal, but I know him well enough to know how nervous and excited he has been to show this to her.

"Of course, the playroom is right next door if you get bored reading and playing in the dirt. We can always find other ways to entertain you." My tongue flicks out, toying with my lip ring and reminding her how much she likes my forked tongue licking her delicious cunt.

"This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." Tears well up in her eyes as she clears her throat.

"This is just the beginning," I promise her. "Are you ready for some fun?"

"I am." She eagerly nods.

"Good." Elek grins, showing off his dimples, and places the bloodstone around her neck. The three red rubies are a perfect contrast to her porcelain skin. Now that we've found her its purpose is pointless, but it does look perfect against her flawless body.

My lips spread into a wicked grin as I utter one single word that'll make this night all the more fun.

"Run."