23. Austin

Chapter twenty-three

Austin

A ddy was talking in her sleep. At least, I think she was asleep. Her eyes were shut tight, but she was frowning, whispering under her breath.

She sounded like Piper.

"Addy?" I murmured, smoothing her hair out of her face. I shifted behind her, pulling her tighter against me, trying to calm her down.

"Dark. Too dark," she mumbled, and I frowned, looking around us. It was a little dark in here, but not that bad. The sun was just starting to creep over the horizon, letting a hazy red light in through the windows.

"Puppet's coming," Addy sighed, leaning back into me. I was gazing down at her face when her eyes shot open, clouded over and white.

"Austin, don't let her in! "

I jumped, nearly shoving Addy off the loveseat. It had been her mouth opening, but it was Piper's voice that had come out, shouting into the silence of our studio.

"‘S wrong?" Addy mumbled, rubbing her face. "Wyatt okay?" She sat up, looking over at the prone figure next to us. He was still tucked in exactly where she had left him last night, the casts making it impossible for him to move around in his sleep.

"He's fine," I rasped, watching her nervously. She seemed like herself again, snuggling into me as she tried to get comfortable, her eyes closing once more. I couldn't risk falling asleep, not after whatever that was. Instead, I held her tightly against my chest, keeping my eyes trained on the stairs. I was ready this time. Jake had stolen her from me once, but I had been weak back then, unable to protect my mate. I was stronger now. I would tear his flesh apart with my teeth if he dared to come near her. My vipers refused to leave her side. They saw her as theirs, and it made me so fiercely proud. I buried my face in her hair, breathing in her scent. She smelled a little like all of us now, with that spicy undercurrent that was all Addy. I shifted, feeling my cock harden as her ass pressed against me. I wanted to have her right here. Claim her and listen to her moans. I missed her taste on my tongue. My fangs ached with the need to sink inside of her.

No, it wasn't the time for that. I had to stay vigilant. A low whine slipped out of my throat, and I heard an answering hiss, a small head poking out of her hair, close to my face. My male viper – Helios, she called him – stared at me, eyes glinting in the darkness. I hissed a gentle reassurance that I wasn't going to wake her. He seemed content with this and laid his head back down, disappearing back into her long black tresses.

Once we were safe, my beautiful mate would stay out of clothes for an entire week, and I would do nothing but worship her that entire time. She wouldn't lift a finger, just relax and grow big with our brood. I liked this plan, and I was sure the others would too, especially Piper. He was always saying we should be naked more often, anyway.

My heart ached for my missing den mate. My friends hadn't been able to track his scent. This city was too polluted, too heavy with other scents. They weren't giving up, though. They liked the strange man who slept in our den so often, and they knew how important he was to Addy.

The sun was fully up when Wyatt began to groan, trying to shift on the couch. I carefully climbed over Addy's sleeping form and left her on the loveseat, moving over to him quietly. "What do you need?" I asked, his eyes blinking open under his glasses.

"Bathroom," he muttered, "then pills, I think." I threw his arm over my shoulder and hefted him up, my muscles sore after our climb yesterday. With my support, he was able to hobble to the bathroom, and I stayed with him, making sure he didn't fall over. I could tell he was getting frustrated at his immobility, especially his arm, which was basically useless with the cast on. I didn't mind taking care of him, because he was my den mate, and it was my job to keep him safe, too.

His face was pinched in pain by the time we got him back to the couch, and I helped him prop his leg back up as he laid back. "My pills. Addy had them, I think," he mumbled, his face pale underneath all the bruising. I looked for the container and spotted them on the kitchen table. I filled up a glass of water for him, because Addy had given him one with the pills last night, bringing both back to him.

"Thanks, Austin," he murmured, popping a couple of the pills into his mouth and chasing them with water. I crouched by his head, waiting for him to finish the water before taking the glass away, setting it on the nearby table. He heaved a heavy sigh and dropped his head back onto the pillow, turning to face me. "This is a nightmare, man."

I nodded quietly, glancing at Addy to make sure she was still asleep. "Can I help? Can I… take some of the pain?" I offered, touching his hand. Wyatt shook his head, grimacing at the movement.

"No, don't. We need one of us functional for Addy. You're the only one who can protect her right now," he replied, and my chest tightened. "S'okay, man. I've got the meds. They help some," he mumbled. I thought about it, considering what Piper had done the last time to help him.

"Do you need something else? Do you need-" I lifted my wrist to my lips, angling one of my fangs so it pressed into the sensitive skin there. I applied just enough pressure to pierce the skin, and blood welled up immediately, dripping down onto my lip.

"Austin!" Wyatt hissed, grabbing my free hand with his good one. The pain disappeared immediately, and he groaned low in his throat, the sound sending a surge of desire down my spine. He scowled at me, reaching for the arm that was still raised to my mouth. Smirking, I bit down again, this time ripping my fang down, tearing a jagged line in my flesh. He snatched my hand, wrenching it from my mouth, and I watched as the line knitted itself back together, leaving only a smear of blood behind. "Stop that, damnit!" he growled. The hand on my wrist was firm, a strength he hadn't shown five minutes ago.

"I want to help," I rasped. He didn't let go of my arm, but I could tell his resolve was wavering. Glancing down, I could see by the way his sweats had tented that he was enjoying what I was doing. He shook his head again, slower this time. "It's not… it's not a good idea," he sighed. The pain meds were starting to make him slur his words.

"Austin, what's going on?" We both looked up to see Addy sitting up on the loveseat, her hair a wild mess. Wyatt's cheeks turned pink, and she studied us for a moment, her eyes lighting up with understanding. "I heard about what Piper did, and I was furious," she announced, her voice husky with sleep. She unfurled from where she was sitting, padding over to us in her bare feet. I shifted out of the way as she took my place, grabbing Wyatt's bad leg and shifting it off the couch, propping it up on the coffee table instead. I helped him sit up, his limbs growing heavy as the painkillers kicked in.

"There are a lot of ways to cause pain that don't involve blades," she told me sharply, and I looked down at the floor, chagrined. Wyatt looked embarrassed, but his expression shifted to one of bewilderment as Addy gathered up her hoodie and carefully pulled it up and over her head, setting it gently on the floor. She wasn't wearing a shirt underneath, or a bra for that matter, her breasts naked and horribly tempting. Helios coiled tighter around her neck, glaring at me like I was the one who'd disturbed his nap. "Come here," she ordered, staring at me, and sank to her knees between Wyatt's legs. I didn't need to be asked twice. I was behind her in a flash, dropping to the floor as she tugged Wyatt's sweats down his hips, his cock bobbing free, already hard and leaking pre-cum.

"Addy, you really don't have to-" Wyatt groaned, Addy cutting him off as she grasped his cock and dragged her tongue up the length of it. She looked back at me, her pupils blown with lust.

"Austin, you're going to hurt me," she murmured, watching me under her thick lashes. I opened my mouth to argue, because absolutely not. I would never hurt her. "A little pain can be good, remember? Like the piercings," she explained, stroking Wyatt with her hand. "Wyatt will help you. He'll tell you what to do." She looked up at him. "Right, baby?"

He nodded tightly, and she smiled, taking the head of his cock into her mouth and making him moan, his eyes closing as he tangled a hand in her hair. "Austin, play with her breasts," he instructed, his voice hoarse as her head bobbed, taking him deeper into her mouth. I didn't need to be told twice. I pressed into her back, my hands wrapping around her chest to grasp her breasts. They felt bigger somehow, heavier, and I explored them with my fingers, kneading and squeezing them until she moaned around Wyatt's cock. "Fu- okay, tease her nipples. Pinch them, t- tug on them." His hips bucked, his good hand tightening his grip on her hair as she took him all the way down.

Addy's nipples were hard points under my fingers, reacting instantly to my touch. I pinched them both, feeling her shiver as Wyatt moaned, his head tipping back into the couch. I gave an experimental tug on one, and when that elicited another full body shiver, I did it to both. My own cock was rock hard as I pressed against her ass, shifting to get some friction. Addy whimpered, her thighs clenching together as she gripped Wyatt's thighs, and he thrust into her mouth, panting hard. I continued to pinch and abuse her tender nipples, ignoring the desperate need I had to rip off her leggings and sink into her right here. Wyatt shuddered, and I gave them one last sharp tug as Addy swallowed him down. He moaned loudly as he spilled into her, his body going slack as she milked every drop from him, her chest heaving as she leaned back, pressing her body against me.

"Fuck, I need you Austin," she moaned, rubbing herself against my hard length. Wyatt was slipping his pants back up his hips, looking half asleep and pain-free, watching Addy with a satisfied smile on his face.

"What are you waiting for, Austin? Take care of our girl." He smirked, his voice hazy, as he sank back into the couch. I didn't need to be told twice. I hooked my fingers into the waistband of her leggings and pulled them down roughly, leaning down to nip at her ear.

"Climb up on his lap," I hissed, and she surged to her feet, kicking off her leggings and carefully maneuvering herself onto Wyatt's lap. He grinned as she put her elbows on either side of his face, leaning over him with her knees on the couch.

"I like this view a lot," Wyatt chuckled, cupping one of her breasts with his good hand. I shed my sweatpants and stepped up behind her, reaching my arm around her hips to cup her sex. Addy leaned down to kiss Wyatt, moaning as I began to stroke her, my erection pressing into her hip.

"That's it, sweetheart, soak my lap," Wyatt murmured as Addy's legs began to tremble against mine. I toyed with her clit until she started panting, and then I gave it a pinch just as I slid my cock inside her. Her pussy clenched around me as I bottomed out inside of her, and she cried out as she came, Wyatt swallowing her sounds in a brutal kiss. I didn't give her any kind of reprieve. Once I was inside her, I was a man possessed. I pounded into her, holding her hips in place while Wyatt continued to tease her swollen nipples, her hair draped over his chest as she held herself above him.

"Yes, oh god, fuck!" Addy screamed, and I felt her go slack under my hands as she came again, half-collapsing into Wyatt's arms. Her pussy was still spasming when my balls tightened and I spilled into her, slowing my thrusts and softening my grip as my release ebbed.

"God, you're so fucking sexy," Wyatt groaned, stroking her hair out of her face. His eyes widened when he noticed the snake coiled up around her neck, and I smirked, kissing a line of kisses down her spine. "Am I high, or did your hair turn into snakes?" he asked hazily, making Addy laugh.

I helped her climb off Wyatt's lap and scooped her up in my arms, ignoring her protests as I carried her upstairs to the master bathroom. Cain had a shower too, but this one was big enough for both of us since I had no plans to leave her alone anytime soon. Addy grumbled something about being a grown woman with functional limbs as I set her down on the tile and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature to a heat she liked. My viper friend took a bit of convincing before I was able to remove him from Addy's neck. He even hissed a warning at me, flashing his fangs. It actually took Addy stroking his long body and murmuring encouragements before he loosened his hold and let me pull him away, setting him down on the clean towels I'd taken out.

Addy rolled her eyes at me as I ushered her under the spray, but she quickly calmed down as I began soaping up her body, gently washing her tender breasts and between her legs. Her hair was getting long and wild, and it took a lot of her fancy hair soap to untangle the mess, but the noises she made when I dragged my nails along her scalp made it worth it. We stayed in the shower until the water started to cool off, and I spent a lot of time washing along her abdomen, admiring the small bump that was forming there. It was so round and perfect already, I couldn't help but marvel at it.

Once Addy convinced me to shut the water off, I helped her out of the shower and got her towel, dislodging a now irate snake so I could wrap it around her. Addy laughed as I hissed out a reprimand to my friend, who rose up and flashed his fangs at me with a boldness I had no choice but to admire.

"Let him be," Addy scolded me, holding out her hands towards him. Helios was as smug as a snake could be as he coiled up her arm, making his way back to her neck. "Are you jealous?" She asked, smirking at me, and I glowered, following her out into the bedroom.

"No," I muttered, watching her wander into the closet, scowling as she started pulling out clothes. Why did she need clothing? I hated the fabric layers that hid her away from me. Addy caught me staring and laughed, pulling out a shirt that looked like it belonged to Piper and another oversized hoodie that had tiny burn holes peppered across it.

"I'm not walking around here naked while we are, so… out of sorts," she told me gently, and I sighed as she got dressed, carefully tucking Helios into the hoodie's front pouch. "Maybe after, when we can relax a bit," she murmured, coming over to pat my cheek. I nodded quickly, capturing her mouth in a kiss, my hands roaming underneath the hoodie. She smelled like Cain and Piper, and it made me wistful.

Since she was getting dressed, I figured I should put on some clothes too. I found my sweats where I had left them in the living room, and I dumped Selene out of Addy's discarded hoodie, pulling it over my own head. I think it was Cain's too, or maybe Wyatt's? But now it smelled like Addy, and I burrowed into it, feeling a touch better. Selene slithered off and found Addy, disappearing under her long hair to curl up in her hood.

I followed Addy around all morning as she made breakfast for her and Wyatt, then made a new breakfast when the eggs she had cooked made her queasy. Wyatt had dozed off on the couch where we'd left him but woke up when he smelled food, and we all sat together and ate on the couch - well, they ate, I watched - so he didn't have to get up.

Wyatt peppered Addy with questions about Cain and Jake, trying to piece together what he'd missed. She explained as best she could, but I could tell she was angry and as in the dark about it all as we were. I just couldn't understand why Cain would lie. If we had just known, we could have done something, we could've helped him.

In the early afternoon, Little Red slithered up the banister, hissing up a storm. We'd been going over a map of the city, and I'd pointed out some of the places my friends had already checked so we could cross those off our list. I frowned and looked at Addy, who paused, her hands clenched into fists. "There's a girl at the front door," I explained, and she frowned in turn.

"Let's go check it out," she replied, heading down the stairs. Wyatt shifted up in his seat, watching us leave with a grimace.

"Don't open the door," I warned, catching up to her and grabbing her arm. Addy glared at me and peeked out to see who it was, her face relaxing with a sigh.

"It's just Hannah. She's probably worried because I've called in sick so much this week." She explained, moving to unlock the door. I hesitated, glancing down at Granddaddy cobra, who was eyeing us from his spot in the corner. I hissed a gentle warning, and he slithered underneath the shoe rack, out of sight.

"Hannah!" Addy exclaimed, plastering a weird smile on her face as she cracked open the door. "What are you doing here?" She opened the door a little wider, and the tiny blond girl slipped inside, glancing at me nervously as I stared at her.

"I was worried about you! You've seemed so… off lately? And then you weren't coming to the lab. I didn't know what to do." Hannah walked toward me, stopping a few feet away, her eyes darting around the studio. Addy stepped in beside me and I put my arm around her, pulling her close.

"Sorry, I should have let you know. I just haven't been feeling very well the last few days, my stomach. Must be the bug going around," Addy lied, and I could smell Hannah's nervousness as she glanced up the stairs briefly before she looked back at Addy.

"So, everything's okay, then? You aren't… you aren't mad at me?" she asked, shoving her hands in her coat pockets. She was fidgety and anxious, and I didn't like it. My lip curled slightly, and Addy elbowed me in the side as Hannah's eyes widened in fear.

"No, of course not! I'm sorry for worrying you. Thank you for checking up on me," Addy replied gently, moving to walk Hannah back to the door. Hannah side-stepped her casually, wandering into the middle of the studio.

"It's no biggie. But hey, maybe while I'm here, I can get that piercing?" she asked brightly, her smile faltering when she met my eyes.

"Um… now's not a great time, actually. Austin caught what I had, I think. He's not feeling the best today," Addy replied, catching my eye. I nodded slowly, and Hannah's face fell.

"Oh, well, that's okay then. Hey, what if we went for a walk together? We could get a coffee and chat a little?" Hannah offered. I didn't like the whine in her voice. It was grating, but it seemed to affect Addy, who looked genuinely sad for her little friend.

"I don't know if that's a good idea. I'd hate to get you sick…" Addy replied, and Hannah took a step toward her, reaching out her hand.

"I'll be fine, come on! It'll be fine!" She smiled, and I snarled as she took another step toward Addy, who frowned and backed up again, watching her friend.

"No, not this time. We can grab coffee next week when I'm back in the lab," Addy replied firmly. Hannah's face took on a pinched look, her eyes sad.

"Please, just come with me, Addy?" she asked again, more firmly this time. Her hand went back into her pocket, and I snarled, stepping toward Addy.

"I tried the nice way," Hannah mumbled sadly and pulled out the gun, aiming it at my chest.

Addy swore, and I froze in my tracks, judging the distance between us. Hannah was a lot closer to Addy than I was to either of them, so I doubted that I could lunge and reach her from this distance. At least the gun was trained on me. I could deal with that. I just had to keep it on me, and away from Addy.

"Hannah, what the fuck?" Addy snapped, and Hannah glanced over at her, keeping the gun trained on me.

"I was supposed to get you to come with me, that's it. I didn't want to hurt anyone. But I have to hurt you if you don't listen," she explained, a pained look on her face. "You understand, right? I didn't want to hurt anyone." Addy paled and looked at me, shaking her head as I inched closer. Hannah glared at me, and pointed the gun at Addy, making me snarl.

"Don't, don't move!" she snapped. "I'll hurt her if you touch me. You need to stay away. Walk over to the stairs," she ordered, and I took a step back, hissing in rage. My shoulders tensed and my fangs ached. I flashed them at her in a threat. I couldn't risk Addy, or the babies, so I continued backward, slowly. Once I was far enough away, she turned the gun back on me and I could breathe again.

"Hannah, who told you to do this?" Addy asked, pulling her attention. Hannah's face went slack, her eyes dreamy as she smiled.

"My boyfriend, Jake. He's perfect, Addy, but you already know that." Hannah smiled dreamily, and Addy scowled.

"I wouldn't say that," she muttered. Hannah snapped back into reality, a frown on her face once more.

"Okay, now please, just come with me, yeah? I need you to come with me so you can meet him. It'll all be okay then," she told Addy, and I clenched my fists.

"Addy, no!" I rasped, seeing the decision on her face. "Don't, please!"

"I'm sorry, but if you try to stop us I'm supposed to hurt you," Hannah sighed, and Addy reached toward her, her hands outstretched as she lunged for the gun.

I shouted and leapt forward as Hannah twisted; the gun going off with a bang.