Chapter 8

Eight

Jolie had warned me that to be fully mated, each race required a different thing. Mages and elves each used a spell. Dragons and wolves used a bite. With us being hybrids, we weren't sure which was going to be required. So, they had researched information for all options.

"Which are we going to try first?" I asked. The guys had all opted to put the bloodstone from me beneath their right eye. So, I had put the four bloodstones in the diamond formation beneath my right eye as well.

"We're going to try biting, since that's the easiest," Caleb answered.

"First, we need a picture," Triston said as he set his phone on the windowsill and put a book in front of it so it would stay standing upright.

"A picture?" I asked as I stood off the couch.

"Look at you, we need this gorgeous dress documented." I smiled, and he added, "Plus, I thought you might like to have a picture of us on our anniversary with our fresh bloodstones."

"I would," I said with a nod. I loved how considerate he was.

"Line up," he ordered us.

Caleb stood at my right, Riddick on my left, Branson on Caleb's left and Triston on Riddick's left. We all turned so our right side faced the camera.

Triston stepped forward, and said, "Three second delay … now!" He pressed the button and stepped back into position. "Smile!"

There was no way I would stop smiling at this rate. The camera flashed and Triston checked the picture. "Looks good to me." He held out the phone. "What do you think?"

I looked down at the picture and nodded, smiling wider. "It's perfect." I was going to print it and put it in my room.

"Great, now we can get you out of that dress," Caleb said, his hand dropped down to my lower back and he reached up, releasing the clip that held the halter top. The dress fell and pooled down at my feet, exposing the matching lace thong I was wearing.

Riddick groaned. "Fuck, that's hot."

Caleb cupped my cheek and rubbed his thumb over the bone. "The bite's going to hurt a bit," he whispered.

"It's okay, the pain will be worth it."

He kissed my lips gently, then stepped back and removed his shirt. Once his skin was bare, I stepped forward and ran my hands from his chest down his abs. "So hot," I whispered.

Bending forward, he kissed the side of my neck, whispered, "With this bite, this mark, you become mine, my mate, my partner, and I become yours, forever after." His teeth sank into my neck and I sucked in a sharp breath, but the pain quickly morphed as a surge of power flowed from Caleb into me, the power heady and made me moan the next instant.

He licked the bite and whispered, "Make it quick, you three. The urge to mate with her is incredibly hard to resist right now."

Riddick stepped up behind me, swept my hair off my shoulder, and whispered, "With this bite, you become mine, my mate, my partner, and I become yours, forever." His bite hurt less than Caleb's, but the surge of power, though less pungent, spread through me. My head fell back and I let out a breathy moan.

Caleb stepped to the side, letting Triston move closer, he licked my shoulder and said, "with this bite, this mark, you become mine, my mate, my partner, and I become yours, forever." One more lick and then he bit my shoulder. I didn't even feel the pain this time, only the power surging into me.

My core was tight, and I was so wet it was dripping down the inside of my legs.

Branson stepped up next to Riddick, leaned down, and whispered, "with this bite, this mark, you become mine, my mate, my partner, and I become yours, forever." As he bit me, Caleb reached down and slipped his fingers beneath the thong and through my folds.

"Fuck, she's drenched," he whispered.

Branson pulled down my thong while the others stripped.

Once everyone was naked, I whined, "Please."

Caleb smiled and said, "Don't worry, my queen, we'll take care of you."

Triston dropped to his knees and began licking my legs from ankle up, cleaning up everything that had dripped down. He licked my clit, and I gasped, nearly coming just from that.

"On the cushion," Caleb ordered.

Branson laid me down on the cushion, my back on it, but my butt partially hanging off. Triston followed, burying his face into me, licking and sucking. I screamed and gripped his hair as I came, grinding against his face. He purred and it sent a jolt straight to my core. Standing, he moved to the side.

Caleb knelt between my legs and pressed against my entrance. "Are you ready, Ember?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He pushed into me, slowly, allowing my body to stretch and become accustomed to his girth. "Fuck," he said, drawing out the word as he slid fully inside. Dropping his head to meet my eyes, he said, "Sorry, sweetheart, but this isn't going to be a long session. The mating urge is so strong."

I nodded, not caring how long it was, only that he moved.

He gave me exactly what I wanted, thrusting hard and fast, I screamed his name as I came hard, and he snarled as he came and shouted my name. A thick, bright bond snapped into place between us, almost visible from the corner of my eye. Panting, he bent forward, kissed me, and withdrew.

I whined at the loss of him inside of me.

Caleb took a cloth and wiped his come from me.

Riddick grabbed me, pulled me to my feet, kissed me, then flipped me around, pushing inside of me. I put my hands down on the cushion to keep steady as he thrust into me fast and erratic. "Fuck, I get it now," he hissed.

Caleb chuckled, but I couldn't turn to look at him, my eyes full of stars as I came again, screaming Riddick's name. He came next and a second bond formed.

Triston laid me down, caressed my face, and pushed into me. "You are gorgeous, my goddess."

"Come for me, my tiger," I crooned, rocking my hips up to meet each of his thrusts. His bond formed and I nearly cried tears of joy.

Branson flipped me over as he lay down, setting me atop him and thrusting up in the same move.

"Yes!" I screamed, leaned forward, and dug my fingers into his thick chest. Adjusting my legs to allow me to ride him harder and faster, my eyes rolled up into my head as I came on him, my release drenching him. He didn't seem to mind as he roared his release.

High on endorphins and bliss, I nearly shattered when the fourth bond was fully formed, their magic flowing within me, and all four bonds glowing within my chest.

I started to fall, but Riddick caught me and carried me upstairs to a bathroom that was ninety percent shower with six shower heads and a rainfall shower head over the top. The tile was a forest green with silver and gold tiles randomly dispersed throughout it.

"This is beautiful," I praised.

He nuzzled my neck and said, "I'm glad you like it." Setting me on my feet, I kept a hold of his arm due to the lack of coordination I was experiencing. He kept an arm around my waist and smiled as he asked, "Legs not working, right?"

A surge of warmth, happiness or amusement, flowed into my chest. "Is-Is that your emotions I'm feeling?"

He nodded. "The bond will take some time to get used to and adjust. After a few days, it should settle fully into place."

Riddick walked in, ruffling his hair, and said, "It's a bit odd, but I like knowing how you're feeling."

"Can you guys feel each other?"

They both shook their heads.

"That would be extremely overpowering," Triston said, as he and Branson joined us. "Two of you in my head is enough."

"Two?" I asked, frowning.

"As their alpha and king, I can communicate telepathically with them and sense their emotions a bit," Caleb explained.

Riddick turned on all of the showerheads and I squealed as the rainfall one turned on, right over my head, drenching me in cold water.

They all laughed, and I realized he'd done it on purpose.

"You jerk," I muttered and rubbed my cold arms.

He wrapped his arms around me and said, "It'll warm up in just a second."

True to his word, it warmed up the next moment.

Stepping away, I asked, "Can I control the temperature on my own showerhead?"

He nodded and showed me how to work it. When I turned it hotter, he and Caleb, who had been close by, stepped farther away.

"Are you trying to boil yourself?" Caleb asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't you know? Women take hotter showers to commune with our demons. It's the only way we stay sane." Stepping forward, I closed my eyes as the water poured over my head and face and down my body. Gloriously steaming hot perfection.

"So weird," Branson muttered. "I'd rather be in cold water than boiling water."

"Remember that quote and I'm sure our relationship will be great," I teased.

"I think Caleb will be the one constantly in hot water," Triston said with a snicker.

Caleb threw a loofa at Triston and it hit him in the back of the head. "Watch it."

Triston picked up the loofa and used it to lather himself up.

I should have been excited by all of the gloriously sexy naked men around me, but at the moment I only felt joyous contentment. Once I finished washing, I walked over to a wall where several towels hung and started drying off.

"Don't leave the bathroom!" Caleb yelled as he rinsed the conditioner from his hair.

My brows rose. "What? Why not?"

"We have another surprise for you," Triston answered as he shut off his showerhead and walked over to grab a towel. "We want to all be with you when you see it."

Sticking my lower lip out in a pout, I whined, "But I want to get dressed."

Triston pinched the tip of my nose. "No, you're a curious critter and want to go spoil the surprise."

"Fine," I sighed loudly and tied the towel around my chest.

Once they were all finished, everyone headed out of the bathroom, towels on, and Branson led the way to a door at the end of the hallway. He looked at Caleb, waited for a nod, then pushed the door open.

Branson and Triston walked inside while Caleb and Riddick walked behind me.

Stepping into the room cautiously, I peeked in, and gasped, immediately walking all the way inside.

This room was huge and in the center of it was a giant bed that had to be made from multiple king-sized mattresses put together, as I had never seen one that large anywhere before. The bed was covered in a thick comforter that looked incredibly soft and five pillows with matching pillowcases. There was a small fridge in one corner and a low table with a plush carpet and five cushions to sit on. The ceiling was all glass, allowing you to see the stars and moon easily. One wall had a sliding glass door and the other walls had pictures, dozens of pictures of us. Apparently, someone had been sneaking candid photos when I didn't notice. There was also a dresser with five drawers, each with our name burned into them.

"What is this?" I asked, spinning in a slow circle as I continued to take everything in.

"We're calling it our nest," Caleb said. "It's the place we can all go to be together. You know, for cuddle sessions or more sessions like tonight."

"It's … it's so much more than I could have ever dreamed of." Tears slid down my cheeks as I fully accepted that I was no longer a hermit. No longer a lonely woman who had to resort to animals as companions. I was a mated woman with four amazing men who had created a place for us to be together, one where I would feel safe, comfy, and loved.

They circled around me, touching me in silence.

"Thank you."

"We told you, Ember, we will do anything for you and this is just the beginning," Riddick whispered.

"Do you want to see your bedroom?" Branson asked.

I nodded vigorously. "Yes, please!"