22. Livana

Chapter 22

Livana

" W e'll have to bring you in bound in chains of silver," Jagger explains from where we made camp along the border of Lingate, just far enough away not to draw attention.

We left Rain in the safe walls of The Drifter Academy, not wanting him to get caught up in my plans. It took us five days to get here, and now that we're so close, I can barely sit still from the anticipation wreaking havoc on my body.

"Can't you use some drifter magic on iron to make it look like it's silver?" I ask.

"Drifter magic isn't illusion magic," Zev chimes in from where he's been staring into the fire for the last hour. His forearms are propped on his knees, and those golden eyes look more distraught the normal.

My shoulders drop, but I nod. "It will certainly make it harder for me to use my powers against the Collector," I say. "But not impossible. Fighting off the Prince and his Treasure, if she's there, will be impossible. I'll only be able to manage one good blast?—"

"We can take the chains off of you," Jagger interrupts me. "Once we've made it close enough to the Collector for you to make your move."

"No," I say shaking my head. "You absolutely cannot do that. No one can know you helped me. The last thing I want is for all of this to come down on you after they've dealt with me."

"Such a casual way you speak about your death," Zev says, drawing his gaze to mine across the crackling flames.

I smooth the mask of indifference and confidence over my face and give him a little shrug. "Oh come on, Zev, don't grow soft on me now. This is what you've wanted since the second you arranged for that private dance. You collect the bounty, and I die in that palace."

He growls, low and rough, a muscle in his jaw ticking. "That's not what I want."

Anticipation curls through me, a craving for the taste of him and Jagger both echoing beneath my skin.

"What do you want?" I ask.

Jagger looks at Zev, sympathy in his teal eyes.

"It doesn't matter," I say after Zev's silence practically eats up the space around us. "You two can't take the chains off me. No one can know that you were involved. I want you to get whatever you're looking for and get the hell out of there. I know it's important to you. Besides, I've known all along that I was going to die the second I did what I've planned to do since I was a youngling. I've made peace with that."

I'm lying through my teeth, but I hope they have the decency not to call me out on it if they can spot it.

I might've been fine with the idea of death a year ago, but that was before Six scrolled his first message across my arm.

That was before Zev bought a private dance.

That was before I met a siren-drifter who smelled like autumn and tasted just as good.

I kind of want to hate all of them for giving me hope. For creating a life that would be worth living for.

But the fault lays with me. All of this is due to my obsessive need for revenge. For the hope of a world where beings aren't killed because of what blood runs in their veins.

"Besides," I continue. "My heart is going to stop beating one of these days, I might as well die on my own terms and for something greater than myself."

Jagger hums to himself a little, his eyes churning with thought. Even when he doesn't know he's singing, he sounds beautiful. The sensation slides over me like a warm blanket. Normally I'd chide him for manipulating my emotions, but not tonight. Tonight, I'll take any solace I can get.

He stops humming abruptly, looking at me sharply. "What if there's a way you could take out all the major threats at once? Zev and I could handle the core in the interior chamber, and by that point all of the major players—the Collector, the Prince, and the Treasure—would be eliminated. We'd take control of the palace, and therefore the armies within it. It'd give us time to call Corshna and everyone she's recruited to join the cause."

"A fairy tale," Zev says. "You should have sung it. It would've gone down better."

I snort out a laugh at Zev's dry and annoyed response before giving Jagger an apologetic look.

"It's a lovely idea," I say. "And I truly do appreciate the flattery. I have no qualms about telling you two how powerful I am, you know that. But it'll take everything in me to cut down the Collector, especially if he senses the threat and shifts into his beast form. He's one of the most powerful beings in existence, and the fact that I'll be chained in silver? It'll be a miracle to take just him out."

"I already told you we'll take the silver off at the opportune time," he says, completely ignoring that part. "What if you had an extra boost in power? Say, the power of a drifter? The power of a siren?"

I swear the wooded area around us goes still and silent at his suggestion.

Zev's eyes carefully study Jagger as I look between the two in disbelief. There's only one way for me to have that sort of advantage.

I blow out a breath, finally remembering how to speak. "No," I say despite him not asking me anything specific.

"That's not fair," Jagger says. "It's not solely your decision to make."

I gape at him. "It is solely my decision," I say firmly. "I told you I've Linked once. I will never do it again."

"You haven't even heard me out?—"

"I will not," I cut him off, standing up and pacing the length of our little camp, unable to handle the energy sitting down. "I will not allow you to even suggest it," I continue. "Linking with me is not something you want to do. You'd be tied to me for the rest of my life, which, if you don't remember, it's going to be very long. Severing a bond like that is one of the most unimaginable pains for the Linked. Just shy of losing a Matched."

"I can handle it," Jagger says, standing in front of me to stop my pacing. His teal eyes are sincere and imploring, his full lips offering a supportive smile. "I can handle you," he says. "And I want to support you in this. You should not fight this battle alone. I believe in this cause just as much as you do. The Collector wiped out more than half of my species when the sirens took up arms against him in The Great Purge. The only reason I even exist is because my grandmother sent me to the safety of the Drifter Academy, giving me one chance at a life without persecution. Too many of my kind were slaughtered. Too many of so many kinds were slaughtered." He looks to Zev, then back to me. "I never thought there was a chance at changing things until I met you." He reaches up, gently smoothing his hand over my cheek. "You're the key to everything, Liv," he says. "Let me do this. Let me help you in any way I can. Because you're the only one powerful enough, the last known tress in existence, who can take him out."

Tears well in my eyes, my bottom lip trembling at the offer. At the way he's prepared to endure whatever pain he'll face upon my death, losing his Linked. He's prepared to give himself to me, to lend me his power as only Linked can do, in order to change our world.

"I can't ask that of you," I whisper, shaking my head. "I can't ask you to Link with me just so I can get a power boost. That would be selfish and unkind and irresponsible?—"

" Liv ," he cuts me off, cupping my other cheek to draw my attention to his eyes. "This isn't just about a power boost. This isn't just about the mission. I want to Link with you even if our world isn't about to end. I choose you, because of your heart and your bite," he says, smirking at me and drawing a tearful laugh from my lips. "I'm choosing you, and I'm asking you to choose me."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding with the possibility. My instincts are shouting yes ! I would love to spend what little of my life I have left Linked to someone as amazing as him. But I can't bring myself to say the word.

Heat radiates at my back, and I turn slightly to see Zev standing there, golden eyes glowing in the night.

He looks down at me with a studious gaze, curious and sharp as a dagger.

I nod up at him, motioning to Jagger. "You should talk some sense into him."

I know I can count on him to bring Jagger back to reality.

Zev looks at Jagger, then back down to me. Slowly, he drags one powerful hand down my arm, igniting a trail of internal fire that wakes up every sense I'm trying to ignore. My hunger for them has only grown, but I have to ignore it.

"I choose you too," he says, and my knees nearly buckle at his declaration.

"Excuse me?" I asked. "You hate me?—"

"I chose you the second you put your life on the line for that little boy," he says, stepping closer. "I chose you," he continues as I back away, only to be stopped as my shoulders hits Jagger's chest. "The second you didn't leave us at the mercy of Balan's crew. I chose you the second I bought that private dance, I just didn't realize it."

I have no words.

No thoughts beyond the shock.

Jagger's hands are on my arms now, soothing and comforting from behind.

"We're asking you to choose us, little tress," Zev says as he trails the finger tip over my bottom lip. "Not because of the mission or because of some selfish need. We're with you."

There are a million reasons I should pull away from them, race over the border, and find a way into the palace by myself.

A million reasons for me to deny them.

A million reasons it's a bad idea to chain them to me.

But there is one driving instinct that's making my heart expand in my chest, drowning out every single reason we shouldn't and only screaming at me that we should .

If there was any small chance that we survive this, being Linked to these two incredibly powerful and wonderful and stubborn males would be a fine way to live .

Anticipation pulls between the three of us, tightening like a stretched rope ready to snap. I stop thinking about all the reasons we shouldn't do this and relinquish myself to the demands of my heart.

"Tell me again," I say, my voice cracking. I look over my shoulder Jagger, then look at Zev. "Tell me you'll be okay with chaining yourselves to me for life. Because it might sound easy with the thought of me dying soon, but what if I live?" I ask. "What if we live through this and you have to spend the rest of your lives craving my bite, my body, my heart?" I suck in a deep breath. "You'll always need to be near me and any days that we're separated will threaten to kill us all. Is that really a risk you want to take?" I want to make sure that they've thought of every possibility, no matter how unlikely they are.

Jagger reaches down and interlaces our fingers, drawing my hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it. "I'm counting on you to live, dove," he says. "I choose you."

My heart grows like it's making space for the truth he's delivered.

And then I look at Zev, waiting for him change his mind. Waiting for him to go back to the way things were in the beginning with him hating me and barely tolerating my existence.

His golden eyes flash from my lips to my eyes, and he nods. "I choose you, and I choose whatever life lays beyond tomorrow."

My entire body buzzes with their declarations.

They want me.

They want to be bound to me.

And I cannot deny how badly I want to bind myself to them.

"I'll choose you then," I say. "I choose you both."

The words snap the tension between the three of us, and Zev's lips find mine in a punishing fury, Jagger's mouth at my neck, their hands roaming everywhere they can reach.

I cling to them, the three of us stumbling in a mess of shedding leathers and clothes as we make our way into the small, makeshift covering we'd built for camp.

The second we're naked, Jagger is lifting me, positioning me to straddle his lap as he sprawls out on his back. I lean over him, kissing him, smoothing my hands over his muscular chest, gasping when Zev is at my back, kissing his way up my spine.

"Time for you to take a ride, dove," Jagger says, hands on my hips as he rocks me over his thick length.

I tremble at the sensation, at the anticipation building in my chest, making my head spin. Rocking over him, I shift my hand between us, fisting his cock before situating it at my slick center.

I gasp as I sink down atop it, taking him to the hilt. I lean back into Zev, who's worked his way to my neck, and allow myself a few moments to adjust to the sheer size of Jagger.

"I'm going to watch you fuck him, little tress," Zev whispers in my ear, sending rivulets of heat all over my skin. "And then I'm taking you for myself."

I shudder, moving on Jagger's cock, my body driven wild with need.

Zev continues to kiss and touch me, winding me up without trying to penetrate me.

"Dove," Jagger groans as I lift up, letting his cock slide all the way out before sinking atop him again. "Fuck, you feel so damn good."

"Jagger," I sigh his name, moving faster as I brace my hands on his abdomen for leverage. I ride his cock, each roll of my hips driving me toward that sharp release building beneath my skin.

My magic surges, but I keep it from spilling out, the sensation making me dizzy.

"Come here," I beg, tugging on him, pulling him upward so we're face to face. I never stop moving on him, not even as he sits up, our chests flush, our mouths colliding together. "Jagger," I say his name again, my heart racing as my fangs punch out.

"Yes," he groans, holding onto me and thrusting up as I sink down, our movements complementing each other, our pleasure syncing with every collision.

Zev pushes my hair to the side, kissing my neck as he massages my breasts from behind, pinching my nipples so hard I gasp, going absolutely liquid around Jagger.

"She likes that," Jagger says, looking at Zev. "Do it again."

He does. Goddess, he does.

Magic builds around us, this time from my well of Succubus power, not my Enchantress side.

"Oh, goddess," I say, gasping for breath as I lock eyes with Jagger. "Jagger," I breathe his name, upping my pace as we careen toward release. "We're…we're…"

"Fuck," he groans, pumping into me harder. "I feel it, Liv. I've got you. I'm here. I choose you."

Hesitation brushes my senses, just a whisper of it when I think about opening them and myself up to this kind of potential pain if this all goes horribly wrong.

Their determination, passion, and care for me swallows that hesitation up in one quick swoop, and I'm left with nothing but amazement as I accept them into my soul.

A burst of power rushes from me, slamming into him as we come at the same time. I sink my fangs into his neck, drinking his blood and satiating the final pieces of the Linking bond. I convulse around him, my orgasm wrenching from me as I pour every ounce of that pleasure back into the bite.

I feel the Linked bond snap into place as I close his wounds and pull back, eyes locking as I catch my breath.

Jagger smiles at me, looking a little dazed before giving Zev a small nod?—

I'm whisked off of Jagger so fast I barely have time to gasp.

"You're mine," Zev says, spinning me around so my spine is against his powerful chest, the two of us on our knees.

He spears into me from behind, not bothering to clean me up before he plunges into me over and over again.

"Zev," I sigh, reaching up and clinging to him from behind, my thighs trembling as he claims my body, filling me so much I can hardly breath around it.

His strong hands roam over the front of my body, pinching my nipples until they're pert and rosy for him before plunging lower. I jolt against his touch, his fingers teasing my oversensitive clit as he thrusts into me.

My eyes are lust riddled and hazy, my breaths short and quick as pleasure ripples beneath my skin, narrowing to the point of pain it builds up again so fast.

"Look at you, dove," Jagger says, teal eyes watching from where he's on his knees in front of me. "So stunning taking Zev's cock."

I melt at his words, at the way Zev is claiming me, the restraints on himself totally gone. He's giving me everything and more, knowing I can handle it, handle him. It's intoxicating, giving me a shot of pure confidence that has my heart soaring.

"Feels like hot silk," Zev growls, one hand brandishing my hip, the other still teasing my throbbing clit. "Fucking. Perfect."

Magic builds right alongside my orgasm, a crescendo of heat and need and desire swirling to a crest I know will sweep us both away.

My fangs are pulsing, but I'm facing the wrong way.

"Zev," I plea, reaching for the arm at my hip. He lets me take it, let's me yank his muscled forearm to my lips.

I sink my fangs into him as my orgasm snaps through me, sharp and edged with so much pleasure I nearly double over. I would've, if I hadn't been clinging to Zev's arm while I drank. His free hand at my clit, sending me from one orgasm to the next before he spills inside me.

I drink him down, shivering around him as the Linked bond snaps into place, the connection threading through my soul like lines of unbreakable string.

"Livana," he growls as I lick his wounds closed. He gently pulls out of me, turning me to face him. He smooths my wild hair away from my face, lowering his mouth to mine in a kiss that isn't punishing, isn't frantic.

It's soft and vulnerable and makes me tremble .

I pull away, looking from him to Jagger. "My Linked," I say, breathless. "My Linked."

It's only seconds before I'm between them again, descending into the demands of the newly formed bonds until I'm not sure where they begin and I end.

Jagger and Zev are fast asleep, our Linking having thoroughly worn us all out.

It's hard to describe the sense of fullness I feel from the two new bonds blazing bright inside me.

I should be sleeping, should be recovering, but instead I've left the safety of our little covering, and I've come out to look at the stars. There is one bond I've yet to face, and it's the one I've been avoiding the most.

Despite feeling so complete and content with Zev and Jagger, there's still a piece of me that's missing. A piece of me that I'll never be able to complete.

And he deserves the truth.

I do my best to peel back the mental shields I've locked down over this bond, using my strength to ensure that Six hasn't sensed my emotions tonight.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, preparing myself to break my own heart.

I mentally send words down our bond, writing to what I assume will be a sleeping Six, using his arms and thighs to ensure there's enough space for him to read everything when he awakens.

I have loved very few things in this world, but you're one of them.

I want you to know before you read what I'm sure will feel like a betrayal.

I was selfish with you, Six, and I apologize for that.

Despite trying to keep things casual between us, I allowed you into my heart because it was impossible not to. And not just because you're my Matched, but because you became this bright light in a well of darkness that I'd been trapped in for so long.

Every word, every tease and encouragement and support filled me with hope and life in a way nothing ever has before. You made me believe in love, Six. And I can't thank you enough for that.

And I can't apologize enough for the fact that I'll never be able to meet you.

I'll never be able to run my hands over your face and kiss your lips and tell you how much I love you. You see, I haven't been honest with you. I'm somewhat of a forbidden fruit. Not only am I a succubus, which I think you've suspected, but I'm half tress.

I don't know why fate Matched you to someone like me, someone doomed for a quick end not only because of what I am but because of an ailment I carry in my heart. I was not meant to be in this world for long, so I don't pretend to know why Aletha tied you to me, but I'm sorry.

My only consolation and hope in not completing our Match is that it might spare you some of the pain when I die. Because it will be soon.

I have one purpose. To take out the male who murdered my family.

I'm finally within an arm's reach of that goal, and will carry it out tomorrow. That's why I'm telling you all this now because I didn't want you to feel me leaving this earth and never know why.

I love you. I wish things were different.

Even though we didn't have time in this life, I'll find you in the next.

I open my eyes, my vision blurring with tears as I seal the magic between us, ensuring the tattoo stays present until he reads it. My heart races as I wait, both hoping for and dreading his response.

After several minutes, I realize he's either deeply asleep or he has nothing to say. Which is completely fair. It's a lot of information to digest, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't tell him.

The idea of feeling Six's death on the other end of the bond and not knowing how or why... it's unthinkable. Even now, the thought of him in pain is agony, wringing out my soul. And that's just the thought . He'll have to actually live through it, just like Jagger and Zev.

Unless...unless their powers now at my disposal somehow get us out of there alive.

It's a fun fantasy to have, but I have always lived in the real world.

One that has rarely been kind, so I don't allow myself to dwell on it too long.