Chapter 47

Through Bronson’s eyes, I watch Logan drop.

There’s nothing graceful or agile about it. He lurches forward, blood forming at the edges of his lips, and twists his head in my direction. His wide, baby-blue eyes are stamped with pain before his lashes flutter shut, concealing them.

He slumps forward, still.

“No,” I scream, my voice nothing but a rasp of air. “No!”

Denial thrums through me.

Logan can’t be dead. He just can’t be. Not now. Not after we just found each other. A part of my heart breaks into cruel, jagged shards that stab repeatedly at my chest, drawing blood.

He’s my mate.

The realization doesn’t take me by surprise. Not truly. And the second I think that, I can sense a silver cord linking my soul to his, just as it does with the other men who have captured my heart.

Logan is my mate.

No. No. No.

Rion releases a roar of pain somewhere in the distance as five shifters pounce on him, holding him down. Damien turns to help him, but two vampires leap at him from either direction. He slashes with his knife, but his arms are physically yanked behind his back, holding him still.

I’m consumed by ineffable energy. It’s almost as if all of the magic I’ve used before now has been nothing but water dripping from the faucet. Now, it surges out of me, so potent that it tickles my skin. Rage blazes a red-hot trail as I turn my attention in the direction I know Narian to be.

After a moment, Bronson twists his head in Narian’s direction as well, and I’m able to see the coward for myself, hiding behind his men.

Anger like I never felt before erupts out of me like a detonating bomb. I raise my hands in his general direction and scream my rage and heartbreak for the world to hear.

“You’re all going to die!” I scream…or I think I scream, but the voice isn’t mine. It’s superimposed with something infinitely darker, ten times more malicious than I can ever remember hearing it.

My magic curls around me, whispering to me.

Hurt. Kill. Destroy.

Yes… I agree as I tilt my head back and let my power free.

It disregards all of my mates, searching only for our attackers.

And then, the screams start.

Agonizing, horrified screams erupt as their bodies are ripped apart, their limbs tossed in opposite directions. Blood splatters in all directions, staining my skin and dress, as more and more power flows through me. My body convulses with the force of it. This much power…

It shouldn’t exist in one person.

Narian releases a scream of terror as my magic wraps around him, tightening. His eyes flicker past Bronson and towards me, the fear in them plain to see.

“You don’t get to hurt my mates,” I rage. “You don’t get to hurt Logan and Damien. You don’t get to hurt anyone!” The last word is a roar as the tendrils of magic turn into keen blades that slice at his skin. Blood wells as he struggles to free himself, struggles to overwhelm the power containing him, but for the first time in his life, he’s the prisoner.

And I’m his captor.

He screams and screams and screams as I skin him alive. Nothing but pink muscle remains, and even then, I don’t kill him.

Not yet.

My magic actually keeps him alive, forcing him to remain conscious for every second of this torment.

First one arm is removed. And then the next. And then his left leg. And then his right.

When only his torso and head remain, I step forward, pushing past my mates and stopping beside Logan’s fallen body. I’m distantly aware of some of my magic splintering away from Narian and entering Logan, but I don’t pay attention to that. Not yet. I know my magic won’t hurt him. Instead, it seems almost…tender as it caresses his fallen body.

“You will pay for all of the things you have done, Narian.” I speak each word slowly, succinctly, allowing him to stare into my eyes and see the face of the Grim Reaper herself. Because I’m going to kill him.

For the things he did to the men I love.

For the things he did to me.

For the things he did to countless other “experiments” in the Compound.

And maybe, just maybe, this will finally be over.

I lift my hand, relishing the way his face creases in agony and fear, and snap his neck.

He falls to the ground in a heap of dismembered limbs.

My magic snaps back into me like a rubber band being pulled too taut. I stagger back a few steps, my fisted hand resting on my chest and rubbing at my heart. I’m forced out of Bronson’s head and back into the darkness as I tilt precariously to the side.

Strong arms catch me, holding me against his body. The pine scent indicates him as Bronson.

“I got you, Goddess. I got you,” he whispers into my ear.

“Logan…?” I moan as I struggle to maintain consciousness.

The last thing I hear before I surrender to the encroaching oblivion is Logan’s weak voice whispering, “Nina?”

I black out.

“She’s going to be okay…”Bronson’s soft voice pulls me to the land of the living. “You checked her out yourself, man. She and the baby are fine.”

“I would feel better if she just woke the hell up,” Damien snaps as I wearily feel for my power. It does my bidding slowly, sluggishly, searching for a familiar mind and plunging inside.

The height shows me that I’m in Bronson’s head once more, though I don’t recognize our surroundings.

We appear to be in a…vehicle? I haven’t been in many, but my guess is that this is one of the Compound’s. Bronson is currently staring out the window, and I marvel at the sights and sounds.

Lights. So many lights. They adorn every building and tree, giving the town a festive look. Darkness blankets the surroundings, and a moon is bright overhead. Midnight, perhaps?

I don’t know for sure where we are, but the storefronts resemble the set of a romantic movie I watched with Abel and Rion the other week. They’re so close together that it almost appears to be one long continuous building instead of numerous tiny ones.

My mind is fuzzy as I try to remember all that has happened. A mental inventory confirms that I’ve been cleaned since I was last awake, though I can’t remember why I would need to be washed. And then it hits me with the force of a wrecking ball.

The escape.

Narian.

The Compound.

My powers.

Logan.

Logan!

I sit upright in the car, my pulse skittering and my head pounding.

“Nina,” Damien says in alarm, nearly swerving the car into oncoming traffic. Bronson curses and catches the steering wheel from the passenger seat, righting the car.

“Careful!” my growly wolf shifter snaps. “We have precious cargo.”

“Logan,” I whisper desperately.

“I’m here,” a soft voice coos from behind me. “It’s okay, Nina. Everything’s okay.” A gentle hand guides my head back to his lap where I must’ve been lying. His hand leisurely strokes my hair as my body shakes and shakes and shakes. “You overexerted yourself after…after the showdown,” Logan continues. “But you’re safe now. The baby’s safe. We’re all safe.”

“Where are the others?” I won’t believe it until I see with someone’s eyes that they’re alive and well. The escape combined with the fight afterwards have left me lightheaded and reeling.

Could we have done it?

Have we really escaped Nightmare Penitentiary?

Are we free?

“They’re in the car behind us,” Damien explains in that curt way of his. “They’re safe.”

Logan’s hand continues to stroke my hair until it pauses, one of his fingers touching my cheek tenderly. Reverently, almost.

“Nina…”

“I forgive you,” I say quickly. “I don’t even think I need to forgive you for anything, but I know you were just about to apologize. I forgive you, Logan, but you don’t need my forgiveness. I can’t blame you for something you never did.”

“But I almost did,” Logan protests softly. “If I hadn’t met you, if I hadn’t fallen in love with you,” my breath hitches, my heart pounding a racing tune, but he continues on, “if you had just been a normal girl…I would’ve turned you over to them.” Self-loathing thickens his tone.

“I don’t believe you would’ve,” I reply automatically, pulling out of Bronson’s head so I can focus on Logan. “You see yourself as the villain. As someone who isn’t deserving of…anything.”

“I’m not deserving of you,” he states scathingly.

“I don’t believe that.”

“Nina—”

“I know you’re my mate,” I interrupt again, attempting to sit up. He pushes me back down. “I can feel the connection between us. Have you…have you known?”

He’s a cupid and was able to sense the mate bonds between me and the others. How long has he known? Why hasn’t he said anything?

Logan swallows audibly. “I didn’t know.”

“Because you weren’t looking, man,” Bronson says from the front seat. “You didn’t even think it was a possibility, so you didn’t bother to look.”

“Yeah, well…” Logan trails off, the silence stretching between us until it feels fragile.

“I thought you almost died, Logan,” I press on. “And I realized…” I pause, suddenly uncomfortable. What do I say to him? I know Kai assured me that the others would be okay with me claiming my mates, but are they really? My hesitation extends a moment too long, and Logan releases a defeated sigh, removing his hand from my face.

“Goddess?” Bronson’s voice is a rumble that travels through me.

“Yes?”

“Claim your fucking mate.” Heat laces his tone, shooting fire straight to my core.

Logan’s breath hitches as I sit up in his lap, straddling him.

“Well…maybe claim your mate with a seatbelt on,” Bronson grumbles, and Damien makes a noise in his throat.

“Let the kids be, Bronson,” he chastises.

“Drive carefully,” Bronson retorts.

“Like a grandma on Sunday,” Damien reassures him.

I giggle at their banter before focusing on the man before me. The man with the gentle heart, flirty demeanor, and tattered soul.

Slowly, giving him ample opportunity to pull away, I press my lips to his.

It’s the first kiss to end all kisses. Gentle and chaste and achingly sweet. Each brush of his lips feels like fireworks are exploding in my stomach.

I moan into his mouth, and he takes it as permission to deepen the kiss. His hands move to my ass, groping the tender flesh, as he tilts his head to the side. His tongue tangles with mine as I arch into his touch.

We’re both gasping for breath when I pull away, though his lips don’t leave my skin. He places tender kisses to my jawbone, my throat, the swell of my breast…

He pauses, his warm breath on my skin eliciting goosebumps, and whispers, “We did it.” There’s a note of wonderment in his voice.

A giddy laugh escapes me when I comprehend what he means. “We did it.”

We escaped.

We’re free.

“Unless we get caught,” Bronson murmurs, and Damien hushes him.

Logan reclaims my lips fervently as I rock against his rapidly hardening dick. I can feel it straining against his pants.

Consumed by desperation, I dig my nails into his shirt and rip. He hisses out a breath as my palm touches bare, hot skin.

“Fuck, I want you. I want you so bad,” he moans.

“You have me,” I promise as I clumsily remove the rest of his shirt.

I know that this isn’t the time or place, that we’re not truly safe yet, but I can’t stop myself. And apparently, neither can he.

He pushes my dress down until my breasts spring free and then takes one of my nipples into his mouth. I gasp, throwing my head back as he licks and sucks on the aching nub. My fingers tangle in his blond hair, my nails scratching at his scalp, but if he’s bothered by my rough treatment, he doesn’t show it.

I reach between our bodies for his zipper, but his hand on my wrist stops me.

“Sweetheart, are you sure?” He removes his lips from my breasts and presses a chaste kiss to the corner of my lips. “We can stop if you don’t?—”

“I want you, Logan. I told you that already.” I roll my hips against his cock a second time. “You’re my mate, and I want you. Every. Last. Part.” I punctuate the words with kisses to his jawline, cheek, and lips, respectively. “I want your pain. Your fear. Your happiness. I want the tears you try to hide and the genuine smile you haven’t found anyone to be worthy of. I want you.”

He makes a strangled noise in the back of his throat before claiming my lips with his own and tilting our bodies so I’m sprawled on the seat with him over me. He pushes my dress down the rest of the way, rips away my panties, and then spears me with one of his fingers. I gasp at the sensation, my hips bucking, and Logan kisses away the noise.

“For fuck’s sake, drive slower,” Bronson snarls.

“I am driving well under the speed limit,” Damien responds stiffly. “And for all that is holy, quit touching your cock in front of me! I’m already traumatized from the time I saw Rion’s. We are not masturbating together.”

“Fuck off. You can’t even touch yourself, asswipe. Not while you’re driving,” snaps Bronson.

Logan lifts his weight off of me, and I hear the sound of him removing the remainder of his clothes. When he’s on top of me again, I feel nothing but bare skin.

“Are you sure?” He waits until I nod my approval before adding, “You don’t know how long I’ve been imagining this.” He slowly slides inside of me, inch by inch, until he’s seated to the hilt.

I gasp at the sensation, pleasure flooding me, and I lift my hips to get him to move.

“Logan…”

It’s feral and primitive and rough.

Desperate.

Wanton.

Hungry.

He pounds me into the seat with the force of his thrusts, his lips capturing one of my bouncing breasts in his mouth. His other hand tangles in my hair, baring my throat, and when his teeth leave my nipple, it’s to graze over the sensitive skin there.

“I’m going to?—”

“Come for me,” he demands, his free hand playing with my clit. I explode, stars dancing in my vision, but he doesn’t stop. He can’t.

He’s a man possessed.

He flips me so I’m on my hands and knees before plunging his cock back into me. My body is awkwardly bent, but the uncomfortableness is overshadowed by the angle he’s hitting with his thick cock. This new position also causes my breasts to dangle, and I lift one hand to fondle them as Logan squeezes my hips.

“Fuck this,” Bronson growls.

“What the devil are you doing?” Damien demands, but Bronson doesn’t answer. I hear the sound of his seatbelt being removed and then his huge body joins us in the backseat. “Oh, for fuck’s sake! You’re not going to fit back there! This isn’t a fucking clown car, though I’m beginning to believe you guys think it is.”

“Is this okay, Goddess?” Bronson whispers, nibbling my ear.

“Yes,” I moan as Logan continues to thrust in and out of me.

I don’t know where Bronson fits his huge body, but the next thing I’m aware of is his lips on my nipple. I gasp at the dual sensations as Logan brings his finger back down to my clit and expertly begins to circle it. And then he pushes a little bit of his power into the touch…

I scream like I’ve never screamed before, my voice turning hoarse.

Damien curses, swerving the car to the sound of many angry honks.

“Can you take me, Goddess?” Bronson growls, and in answer, I twist my head in his direction and open my mouth. A second later, his thick cock brushes my lips as I swallow him.

“Fucking hell, I’m getting passed left and right for going too damn slow,” Damien grumbles. “Shall I put my hazards on for you three? Did you forget that we’re on the run from the paranormal police?”

His words penetrate my head, but I’m too lost in the tidal wave of pleasure to answer him.

Bronson slides in and out of my mouth as I hollow my cheeks. I try to lift one hand to wrap around the part of his base my mouth can’t quite reach, but the car takes that moment to jerk, and I nearly lose my balance. Only Logan’s hands on my hips keep me upright.

My cupid’s grip turns bruising on my skin as he throws his head back, roaring his release.

Pulling my lips away from Bronson’s cock, I tilt my head back. “Logan…”

He grips my hair, forcing me to arch my neck, and then kisses me senseless. I’m sure he can taste Bronson on my mouth, but that only makes me hotter.

“I love you so goddamn much,” he murmurs against my mouth before releasing my hair and spanking my ass. “Now go please your other mate.”

I whimper but do as instructed, feeling with my hands for Bronson’s muscular thighs. He must be uncomfortable the way he’s positioned, squished against the door, but he doesn’t complain as I crawl onto his lap and line myself up with his hard, thick cock.

He might not be the longest of all of my guys, but he’s definitely the thickest. His cock brushes against my walls in a way that’s almost uncomfortable as I begin to ride him, my breasts bouncing in front of his face.

“Fuck, I’m gonna come again,” Logan warns, and I wonder if he’s touching himself. The thought spurs me on, and I quicken my pace, my breaths coming out in shallow pants.

“Can you come for me again?” Bronson’s voice is more of a demand than an actual question.

“Yes!” I cry as he presses down on my clit.

“Now!”

We come together, his hips jerking erratically underneath mine before slowing. My orgasm courses through me, liquifying my veins and turning me into a puddle of lust and need and desire.

And love.

So much love.

“I love you,” I whisper as I kiss Bronson’s lips, sweaty and sated and so incredibly happy.

“I love you with everything that I am,” he declares.

“And I love you.” I direct that at Damien, who grunts in response, muttering something about ‘proving my love in the next vehicle,’ before turning towards the last man in the car. My newest mate. “I know that this isn’t the most romantic setting.” I giggle. “I mean, another man’s cock is still inside of me. But I?—”

“Not yet,” Logan says, placing a finger to my lips and cutting me off. “I want you to be sure.”

“But I am?—”

“And I want to be worthy of you before you say it,” he continues. “I know what you’re going to say, but this is for me as much as for you. I don’t think I’ll truly believe it until I can prove myself to you. And to your other mates. My…brothers.”

My heart swells with love.

“Okay,” I reply softly, resting my cheek on Bronson’s sweaty chest. I understand where Logan’s coming from.

For so long, he’s been without love. And when he thought he had it, he discovered it was nothing but an illusion. His past is tainted by shadows and darkness, and I can’t even begin to understand all that he went through. But I do love him. The sweet, flirty cupid who makes me laugh and protected me in the Labyrinth. The man who deems himself unworthy of any true happiness.

The past doesn’t matter. I want to hear every sordid detail of it, know everything he endured, but it doesn’t change my feelings for him.

And we’ll get there in time. Soon, he’ll know everything there is to know about me, and I, him.

But for now…

I slip into Bronson’s head to see him glancing at Logan out of the corner of his eyes.

My cupid’s baby-blue eyes are fixed on me, a gorgeous smile lighting up his face.

A smile that will only ever be directed at me.