Prologue

Maureen

S ome believe that ravens are the harbingers of death. That they're damned souls. Others believe they can summon the ghosts of murdered wolves. I'm not sure what to believe anymore. But when a raven dies, their coven mourns them by mimicking their cries. Tonight, I can hear those cries in the distance. It's like nails on a chalkboard.

Up at Valentin's cabin, we are far from Tenebrose, yet still tethered to it. An unkindness of ravens forms a wall in the front yard. They weep for their fallen. They mourn the shifting of the bond. Three weeks ago, we were at their mercy. Slaves to their every whim. But all that changed when I took the mark and pledged my oath to Nocturnus.

"Come away from the window, Maur." Valentin snakes an arm around my waist, and I almost cum from his body heat.

I lean my head back against his chest and close my eyes. "The ravens… they're still out there."

He dips his fingers inside the waistband of my jeans. "They envy us. You should be more concerned about what I'm going to do to you right now."

I let out a soft moan and arch back. He pushes two fingers inside my slick pussy, and I can barely breathe. His scent invades my senses. I want to taste him. To bottle up his essence and drink it while he fucks me.

"It's time for your next sacrament, Firecracker." He presses his thumb against my throbbing clit and drags me backward.

My heart races. It's been weeks since I pledged my oath to them. When I sprawled out on Riot's bed and let the three of them mark and defile me. We've been nesting here at Valentin's cabin while the three of them have taken sick pleasure from edging me ever since.

I want to explode.

Another moan erupts from my throat as he pulls me down the stairs. The darkness begins to cover us, and I start to panic. But he knows the way to the crypt beneath this house better than anyone. He can navigate it with his eyes closed. So I let him guide me down with his fingers still working their magic inside my pussy.

"Do you want me to fuck you?" he growls in my ear.

" Yes ," I plead.

He gives my clit a hard pinch. "Such a needy fucking slut."

As soon as we get to the bottom of the stairs, the sound of a match against stone breaks the silence followed by the stench of sulfur, and the whole room lights up.

My ache for them festers as I come face-to-face with Riot and Atlas. All I can see is their eyes behind their bronzed masks. They stare back at me with a crazed hunger, a reminder of who they are deep down.

Fucking psychos.

Dressed in all black, they pull up their hoods before giving me their backs. They move like predators as they stalk down the tunnel. Valentin pushes me forward as we follow them.

"Please, Val… I need to cum." His fingers are torturous, teasing my flesh with the promise of release but never allowing me to reach it. I don't even care where they're taking me. Or what they plan to do to me. The pain is always worth the pleasure.

As he withdraws his hand, I shriek in protest. He grabs the back of my head and yanks on my hair. "You're not in control tonight, love. So shut the fuck up and stop begging."

The tunnel dead-ends in a small cavern. Its stone walls are lined with sconces and stained with blood. The cold draft that seeps between the cracks sends shivers down my spine.

A large stone altar sits in the middle of the room, similar to the one back at Nocturnus, except this time, there are no initiates watching. No one's eyes on me but theirs—my three devils of Raven's Gate.

Atlas's pet snake, Zeus, slithers around his shoulders, its body hanging five feet to the ground. I shiver as the memory of the reptile sinking its fangs into my thigh rushes forward. The pain had been excruciating, the paralysis that followed terrifying, but the sweet ecstasy that enveloped me after Atlas sucked the poison out was a pleasure that I struggle to find words to describe. It was exquisite torture.

Riot stalks behind me, his fingers dancing across my shoulders before dragging my top down to my waist. He presses a cold blade against my belly. "Before this year is up, every inch of your skin will bear our marks."

My nipples swell as he drags the tip of the blade in circles around them. It takes my breath away. "I'm ready," I murmur.

He steps back. "Take off your clothes and get on the altar."

My teeth chatter from the cool, damp air but also from anticipation. I slowly finish removing my top, then my pants and shoes. The cement floor is like ice against the soles of my bare feet. A spasm flickers in my core as I slide my panties down and off.

They watch me with a feral hunger as I climb the steps of the altar, their need growing like a raging fire. I gasp as the freezing stone meets my flesh when I lie down across it.

But I know I won't be cold for long.

Their silence sends a flutter of nerves to the pit of my belly. I don't know what will happen next. I never do with them.

"Spread your legs, open up for us," Riot orders. His voice is hoarse and gravelly at the sight of my soaking wet pussy.

Valentin and Atlas move in closer, flanking me on either side.

I'm about to be devoured.

The snake hisses and lunges toward me as if he remembers how I taste and craves another bite.

"Don't make any sudden moves, love." Atlas towers over me, his blue-green eyes glowing like fairy lights.

Fuck.

I tense, every muscle in my body going rigid. With Zeus firmly in his grasp, he brings him closer.

Valentin clasps my head in his hands. He leans over, kissing my cheek as he whispers, "Mor tua, vita mea." Your death, my life .

I whimper and brace myself for the bite.

Riot caresses my thighs. "Don't fight it, Firecracker."

Zeus slithers up my leg, returning to the spot he's tasted before. The sigil on my neck burns as if it were freshly carved. A bolt of electricity shoots through my veins like a power growing inside me.

I close my eyes to escape the madness that threatens to consume me, but all I see are angry ravens. "F-fuck," I stammer. Panic rises in my chest.

"Shhh," Valentin coos. He softly rubs my nipples between his fingers. "Stop trying to be in control. Let it happen."

I open my lids and lock eyes with Atlas again. Satisfied that I'm not going to freak out, he loosens his grip on Zeus. The impatient reptile darts forward and doesn't stop until its fangs are sinking into my thigh.

I gasp and arch my back. "Oh, no," I cry out. "It burns."

An eruption of moans echoes in my ears as they watch. My vision starts to blur, and it feels like an eternity before Atlas pries Zeus off me. I feel the poison barreling through my veins like a freight train.

It moves fast, making its way to my heart. True fear consumes me, and I start to doubt whether he'll be able to suck the toxin out in time.

I try to scream, but my tongue feels like a bowling ball in my mouth.

The wound on my thigh grows hotter. Through my haze, I can see Atlas's head between my legs.

I blink a few times, and it becomes clearer.

A light swirls around us. An energy that crackles in between each limb.

I swallow hard as every nerve in my body prickles. I feel everything, but I can't force any part of my body to move.

I'm not in control.

Atlas licks his lips. "Thatta girl. You did so good."

Riot traces my open wound with his thumb. "This is where it should go."

Valentin nods in agreement. He kisses my cheek again. " The power of Serpentis ."

Oh, fuck. He's going to carve the sigil on top of the snake bite. No. I try to sit up, but my body feels like dead weight. "Wait," I whisper."

Riot drags a finger down the center of my pussy. "Relax. It will only hurt a little. Let me show you how pleasure eases the pain."

I let out a moan as he rubs my clit in circles while plunging his other finger deep inside me. He pumps in and out slowly. Every flick is heightened under the paralysis.

"Mmm, yeah. That's it. You look so fucking hot with my fingers inside you."

Valentin takes over as Riot goes for his knife. "Keep fucking her just like that."

I want to roll my hips and spread my legs wider. "More," I whine.

Atlas joins him as they take turns sliding their long smooth fingers in and out of my throbbing pussy.

I'm consumed. Wild with lust and need.

So much so that I don't initially feel the sting of the blade ripping into my flesh.

But when I do, it's fucking horrific.

I gurgle out a scream as he digs into my skin, carving me up like an animal headed for the slaughter.

Val and Atlas thrust harder, sending spasms to my core. I'm being pulled in two different directions—on the edge of coming and dying at the same time.

"Almost done, Firecracker." Riot works the knife like an artist painting a masterpiece.

I want to jerk my hips, and this time, my body actually obeys me. The toxin must be wearing off.

The pain and pleasure intensify tenfold.

"It's done," he growls. "Open her up for me."

Atlas and Valentin pull my pussy lips back. Riot licks his lips and eyes me like prey. "In absentia lucis, tenebrae vincunt." In the absence of light, darkness prevails .

I flinch as he wraps his lips around my clit and sucks. A burst of adrenaline and spasms rush through my core like an explosion, as if I'm erupting from the inside out. I cry out as the orgasm I've been craving finally unleashes.

I don't care about the pain anymore. I grab the back of his head and grind against his face. He chuckles, taunting me even more. Knowing they've been denying me for this very moment.

Atlas squeezes my nipples hard. "Say it, Firecracker."

Riot scrapes his teeth against my swollen nub as he sucks, humming and moaning. I clench, then release, chasing the high as far as it will take me. "Mors vincit omnia," I murmur. Death always wins.

They are devils. They are death itself. And they always get their way. They always win.

Another moan erupts from my chest, and I cum all over his lips.