Epilogue

Feeling You Up With My Face.

"My favorite definition of chaos is this: the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system. Inherent unpredictability… That just sounds fun." ~Nico

"You're just going to walk into the council meeting and tell all the shaman that Wolfgang and Talulla were in bed with Azure with no proof?" Raphael looked at Nico. "The words of a dead woman won't go very far."

Nico lounged in his chair with nonchalant ease, a grin playing across his lips as he watched the incubus demon pace back and forth in agitation. "We will have the testimony of the Dire Wolf and his mate. Even so, proof is overrated, my friend," he drawled, leaning forward to rest his chin on steepled fingers. "All we need is suspicion. The council will do the digging if we create enough doubt in their minds."

"And what happens when King Wolfgang finds out you're the one who threw them under the bus?" Raphael looked at him with raised brows. "What then?"

"By then, I'll have found the next in line to be king." Nico blew out a breath as he stood up. He tilted his head from side to side, trying to work out the kinks in his neck. "Wolfgang thinks he's untouchable because there is no known heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Chaos. He thinks even if his treachery is found out, the council won't be able to do anything about it. I'm going to be the rock that hits his glass house." Nico had been thinking about how to handle the information Gage and Katy had given him. With the Kingdom of Venom dealing with the death of their former king and queen, and adjusting to a new pair, he knew the council wouldn't want to rock any boats. But Nico couldn't let this stand.

"I'm sorry, Nico," Raphael said sincerely. "I know how much Chaos means to you."

"You of all people know why it means so much to me," he reminded his longtime friend. "The demon who chooses not to use his power. You're different from the rest of your kind. Kingdom of Chaos is for those who don't fit anywhere else. They deserve just rulers who care about them, not power. Wolfgang used to be a man of good character. I don't understand what happened."

"Well"—Raphael held out his hand, and they clasped forearms—"for what it's worth, I'm with you."

"I didn't realize it would be so sticky. Or that it would spray so far. How on earth did he spray me across the room?" Maddie tried to wiggle her arms, but they were wrapped up tightly.

"Could you please stop moving?" Roan said through clenched teeth. He knew this wasn't Maddie's fault, but his anger at their situation, at letting a spider shifter get the drop on him, was testing the last of his patience.

"How are we supposed to get free if we don't move?"

Roan sighed, trying to rein in his frustration. Getting angry wouldn't help them break free of this predicament.

"Just … hold still for a minute." He attempted to twist his wrist, which was trapped on the side of their bodies. If he could just get a little range of motion…

Maddie huffed but stopped squirming, allowing Roan to concentrate. He slowly flexed his fingers, feeling along the sticky bindings. There had to be a weak point somewhere.

He jerked in surprise when Maddie's forehead bumped his chin. "Oops, sorry," she muttered. "My neck was getting a cramp."

Roan clenched his jaw, willing himself to be patient. "It's fine, just try not to headbutt me anymore."

"No promises. I can't really see anything with my face smushed into your chest. It's a nice chest, or at least it feels like a nice chest. Not that I'm feeling you up with my face or anything. Okay, that's a lie. I'm totally feeling you up with my face. But to be fair, I deserve it after the couple of days we've had."

Despite their dire situation, Roan felt his lips twitch. Trust Maddie to find humor even while they were both trapped and weaponless. Focusing back on the task, Roan continued searching for any slack in the webbing.

"How's it coming? Not that I'm rushing you. Feel free to take your time. Or you could find a paper clip, rubber band, and bubble gum and use it to bust us free."

"How would any of that help us get free?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, but it worked for a dude on TV."

"Working on it," Roan gritted out. "But it would go faster if you would please stop talking."

"Sheesh, someone got up on the wrong side of the web today," Maddie muttered.

However, she fell blessedly silent, letting Roan concentrate on finding a way out of this sticky mess. He tried not to get distracted by Maddie's proximity, her soft curves pressed against him. He needed to focus on finding a way out, not how nice she smelled even while covered in spiderwebs.

Flexing his fingers, he felt along the sticky bindings, searching for any tiny give in the material. But the webs cocooning them were thick and stubbornly unyielding.

Maddie continued to stay quiet, though he could feel her breath against his neck as she waited patiently. He had to give her credit for holding still despite their cramped position. Her lithe frame came up to his chin. After all the chest talk, she tilted it back at an awkward angle to avoid her nose being smashed. She had one arm pinned between their bodies, the other wrapped around his back as far as the webbing would allow.

Roan shrugged his shoulders experimentally, trying to see if that would loosen the strands. But it was futile, the webs locking them in an embrace that allowed barely any movement. Frustrated, he twisted his neck, straining to see if he could make out any weaknesses in their prison. But with Maddie's head blocking his view, all he got was a face full of her hair. It smelled like coconuts and something uniquely her.

He exhaled heavily. "I can't see anything at this angle. We need to figure out a way to shift positions."

"Up, down, left, or right?" Maddie quipped. Then she tensed, eyes widening. "Wait, don't actually move! I was kidding."

But her warning came too late. Roan had already tried to rear back in an attempt to gain space. The result was instant chaos as their cocoon lost balance and toppled over, sending them crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs.

Maddie's muffled voice sounded from where her face was pressed into his shoulder. "Next time, warn me before you rock the web."

"How many web jokes can I expect before we get out of this?" Roan asked dryly.

"Are they annoying you?" Her voice was full of mischief.

Roan sent up a thanks to Visata that she was as good-natured as she was. He knew warriors that would panic or whine incessantly in the same situation. "Not yet."

"Well, I'm not a woman who gives up easily, so if I'm quiet, it's because I'm trying to think up more."

Roan wondered how long it would actually keep her quiet.

"Do you think the silkies use regular cameras in their dungeons, or… wait for it … webcams?"

Apparently not that long. He rolled his eyes. "Why aren't you freaking out?"

Maddie's shoulders shrugged slightly, as much movement as she was able. "It wouldn't help anything. And I'm with you. I know you'll fix this somehow."

"I'm the one who got us into this mess," Roan pointed out.

"No, you trusted the wrong person. This is on them. I mean, not technically, obviously, since we're the ones wrapped up. But you get my drift."

"Do you always ramble when you're nervous?"

She sighed. "No. That seems to be the Roan effect. It's a recent development in my life."

Roan chuckled and then grunted when she somehow managed to shove her fist into his stomach. "Be nice," he growled.

"Or what?" Maddie challenged.

Roan glanced down at Maddie's indignant face, still partially mushed into his shoulder. Even trussed up in spider webs, she managed to look adorably fierce. It made him want to tease her more just to see that fiery reaction.

"Or I'll have to punish you," he replied, pitching his voice low.

Maddie sucked in a sharp breath, those mesmerizing blue eyes going wide. A pretty blush stained her cheeks.

"You wouldn't dare," she managed after a moment, but her bravado had cracked. Roan could have laughed at how flustered his empty threat made her. She tried so hard to appear tough and unflappable. He enjoyed knocking down those walls and seeing glimpses of the soft woman underneath.

Unable to resist, he leaned in closer. "Wouldn't I?" He all but purred.

Maddie's throat bobbed as she swallowed. This close, he could see flecks of silver in her soft blue eyes. They really were exquisite, even wide with alarm.

When she stayed silent, Roan took pity and backed off. "Relax, Maddie. I'm not going to punish you." He wouldn't mind exploring that scenario under better circumstances, but he kept that thought to himself.

Maddie's shoulders sagged in relief and exasperation. "You're incorrigible." But there was no real heat to her words.

Roan chuckled again. "And you're very entertaining when riled up. Though we should probably focus on escaping, as much as I enjoy being wrapped up with you."

"Roan?" she asked a minute later, her voice lacking the playful banter it held before. He thought he even heard a slight tremble.

"Yeah?"

"What are they going to do with us?" She paused. "I mean, if we don't get out?"

Roan's memory was long. He remembered how the Kingdom of Silk handled their prisoners back in the Damarian realm. He wasn't about to share that with her. "Look at me," he told her sternly. She tilted her head back, and he did, too, so he could look down at her. "We're going to get out of here. I promise you that." She dropped her eyes with a small nod. Roan didn't like the defeat in her eyes. He pressed a kiss to her soft, pale hair and whispered vehemently, "I don't break my promises."

Katy stood with her back pressed against the bathroom door. She'd gone in to brush her teeth, but twenty minutes had passed, and she hadn't emerged.

"You okay in there?"

Her skin flushed. Just from hearing Gage's voice. She had no idea what the hell had happened to her since they arrived home a week ago, but every day got harder. This desire that she had for him was bordering on psycho. Like she might need an evaluation, a straitjacket, and a padded room psycho. Katy found herself avoiding him, which was difficult to do considering the cabin was only three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-floor-plan living space. She was pretty sure he thought she had a bladder infection or irritable bowel syndrome by the number of times she "used the bathroom" a day.

She rubbed her hands over her face and blew out a breath. "Get it together, Katy Dire," she told herself as she looked in the mirror. Gage had been nothing but a gentleman, though at night he did wrap himself around her like a boa constrictor. But he hadn't pushed for anything more. "Why not?" she groaned at her reflection. All he would have to do is wiggle his finger at her and Katy would assault him. Like full-blown, rip the clothes off, and have her way with him.

"Why don't you quit thinking about it and come out here and follow through, mate?"

Katy jumped, and a ridiculous squeal emerged from her mouth.

His voice was right against the door.

"Don't do that," she snapped.

"What? Talk to my female through the door?" He chuckled. "I'd much rather talk to you face to face, but you keep hiding from me."

Katy took a deep breath and nodded her head. He was right. This was ridiculous. He was her mate, essentially her husband. She had every right to lust after him. Right?

"I'm opening the door," Gage warned before the knob turned. The lock broke as if it was nothing, and he pushed it slowly open. His green eyes practically glowed as he stared at her. His dark, wavy hair fell around and framed his face. He was shirtless, as usual, so really, this was all his fault.

"I can smell you," Gage growled.

"Okay, that's just rude." Katy huffed folding her arms across her chest.

"And you smell delicious."

She shifted on her feet as she tried to look unaffected by his words.

"I want my mate," Gage told her as he stepped toward her. "And you want me. So what's the problem?"

Katy's mouth dropped open, then shut, then open again. Great, she was doing an impression of a fish. "I've never done this."

Gage reached for her. "Excellent. Fewer people I have to kill."

As Gage approached her, Katy's heart raced in her chest. She couldn't tear her gaze away from his powerful stride or the way muscles rippled beneath his tanned skin. His emerald eyes blazed with hunger as he closed the distance between them.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted, nerves still fluttering in her stomach. "What if I disappoint you?"

Gage's response was a primal growl. "Never." He took control, closing the space between them with a predator's grace. With rough hands, he framed her face and gazed down at her with an intensity that made her knees go weak.

"You were made for me," he declared in a gravelly voice. "My mate. My perfect match."

Katy's breath caught at his words, heat spreading through her body despite any remaining doubts. This beautiful man wanted her and only her.

In a moment of surrender, she turned her head and brushed her lips over his palm. Gage sucked in a sharp breath, his grip on her face tightening.

"Show me," she pleaded, meeting his fiery stare with determination. "Teach me how to be yours."

Without hesitation, Gage answered by claiming her mouth with his own in a fierce, dominating kiss. Katy melted into him, feeling every inch of their bodies pressed together. His tongue commanded entrance to the softness of her lips and she eagerly yielded, letting him explore every corner of her mouth.

His arms caged her in against the hard wall of his chest, every point of contact sending sparks of desire through Katy's veins. She forgot all hesitation in the heat of the moment, lost in the taste of him and the ferocity of their passion.

When they finally pulled apart to catch their breath, Gage's intense gaze burned into hers. "Ready for me to show you what it means to be mine?" he asked in a husky voice, promising so much more.

In response, Katy fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him back to her with a sense of urgency. She was beyond ready to embrace her true nature and join with her mate in every possible way. It was time for her to take her rightful place by his side.

Katy gasped as Gage's hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake even through her clothing. His lips trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down the slender column of her throat, nipping and sucking until she was mindless with need.

"Gage," she keened, giving his hair a slight tug. His answering growl vibrated against her racing pulse.

"Minx," Gage rasped, fingers flexing and bunching the material of her shirt. "Do you have any idea what you do to me? What you've been doing to me for days?"

In response, Katy pressed herself more tightly against him while trailing her lips along his stubbled jaw. Gage cursed, a delicious tremor running through his powerful frame. His hands slid lower to grip her backside, keeping her locked in place.

"I need you, Gage," she whispered against his ear. Whatever fear had been there was gone. Now she wanted him to make good on his words. "Make me yours, completely."

With a snarl, he lifted her effortlessly until her legs wrapped around his lean waist. Bracing her against the wall, Gage captured her mouth in a searing kiss. Katy could feel his restraint hanging by a thread, his desire a palpable force surrounding them. And she wanted nothing more than to shatter that restraint completely.

Dragging her nails down his chest, she breathed his name like a plea. "Show me everything, my mate."

Gage's eyes blazed, and his voice dropped an octave. "As my female commands. No more hiding."

Anticipation swirled hot and low in Katy's belly at the sensual promise. She couldn't wait to drown in the all-consuming inferno about to ignite between them. To be consumed by the wolf that had claimed her so utterly. "No more hiding," she agreed as he carried her into their room and pressed her into their bed.

"Wait." She stopped him. "Where's Otto?"

Gage's eyes flashed with his wolf as he bared his teeth at her. "First lesson about making love: my name is the only one you say."

Katy felt her face blush but narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't want him walking in."

"It's a good thing I sent him to visit his new king and queen then."

"So you planned tonight?" She grinned.

Gage started to lift her shirt, his rough hands rubbing along the sides of her ribcage. "I knew you were ready. Second lesson of making love: once the clothes start coming off, the talking stops." The smoldering look in his eyes as he took in her flesh rendered her speechless anyway.

He covered her body, pressed his forehead to hers, then gave a deep rumbling sound of contentment. "I love you, Katy Dire."

"I thought talking stopped when the clothes came off," she whispered, loving how his larger frame enveloped hers.

"The rules are only for you, baby. Now hush and let me show you how much I love you."

The End

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