Chapter 9

I fixed my eyes on the brown hue of the wall, mustering up strength. I shouldn’t be a coward. Looking into Tanner’s eyes was the least I owed him, especially with how I had ignored him while in evil bitch mode. I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth. Talking to him should be a piece of cake, he was my mate. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want to be, right? Okay, enough stalling.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. His coffee-colored eyes softened, and his thumb rubbed against my lips. When had he taken the gloves off?

“Stop apologizing,” Enzo snapped, smacking my thigh. I yelped, jerking against Tanner.

I glared at the dragon, and he returned it. Enzo felt that way, but did Tanner resent me?

Tanner pinched my chin and returned my attention to him. “Stop apologizing or I’m going to give you orgasms until it hurts.”

Well, that didn’t sound too bad.

Tanner tugged me higher on his chest, pulling me off Enzo and jostling Elliot to free the path to reach down to my sensitive pussy.

I squealed and twitched. Oh, he meant right now .

“Okay, okay,” I croaked, freezing as his finger pressed on my clit and sent my legs into a quivering mess. “I need a break.” I scooted higher on my ass and hugged his arm.

His chuckle floated to my ear.I squeezed his bicep, and his muscle flexed.

Oh my, that was sexy . . .

Fuck, no distraction. I just needed a moment of rest. Then I’d fuck him. I peered over at Elliot who rested back on his elbows, gaze searching my face. Something flickered in his green gaze, and I focused on his terse expression.

“Elliot?” I said hesitantly. It was like he looked through me. He jolted and crawled out of whatever mental hole he’d sank into.

“We have children in the car,” he said in a rigid tone, moving to stand. Releasing Tanner, I caught his arm, and it bunched under my touch as his eyelashes lowered.

“Are you okay?”

He stopped and met my eyes. Whatever shone there moments ago washed away like I’d imagined it. He nodded, and a smile spread on his lips. “I have you in my sights, ma mignonne, of course I’m fine.”

An amber scent that was all Elliot filled my nose. What was this anxiousness spearing into my gut? I froze and watched his stiff retreat. That emotion . . . It wasn’t mine.

Why did he feel that way?

“He wasn’t joking, there are children.” Tanner dragged my attention back to him.

“Oh?” I’d focused on what he hadn’t said so much that what he did say barely registered. Where had they gotten kids? My eyes widened. “ Oh ! The kids Osmodus almost fed on.” I bounced to my feet, but Tanner’s grip on my wrist stayed me.

He cleared his throat, hungrily eyeing my nudity. My face heated, and my horns and tail popped free without me forcing them out. I sighed and closed my eyes. A touch at the base of my spine where my tail started sent a ticklish surge up my vertebrae. I yelped and whirled on Beckett who knelt behind me. The base of my tail was overly sensitive, which was funny since the rest of it wasn’t.

“Sorry,” he muttered, the corners of his lips twitching.

“Here.” Tanner unbuttoned his shirt.

“It’s okay.” I cleared my throat and dashed through the foyer and up the stairs to my bedroom. My feet pounded on each step until I reached the top. Yanking open my closet, I rifled through one of the four wooden drawers for panties and a bra, then grabbed the first articles of clothing I touched—a soft pair of leggings and an oversized Twilight shirt with Edward’s face on it. Shoes were last.

As I exited, my nose smushed into a wide chest, and I grunted up at Enzo. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“You were taking too long, and I want to see your room.”

Too long? It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, not even. His hazel eyes flickered behind me, moving side to side as he took in the mess of a room. Never having been one of the tidiest people, he couldn’t have been surprised that my floor was hardly visible. But if Tanner saw it, I’d be done for. I cleared my throat and gripped his wrists, forcing him after me.

He grunted but followed without resistance. I pressed into his side and squeezed his large bicep, marveling at him. I wanted to get in as many touches as possible; they were everything to me, and I wouldn’t have forever with them if Osmodus killed me.

Enzo peeked down at me with a soft expression. The hard line of his lips gentled, and his gaze searched my face. His eyebrow piercing glinted, reflecting the indoor lights. Neat how both his piercings remained intact even when shifting into his monstrous dragon form. The same form that had fucked me damn near unconsciousness.

My face heated at the reminder.

I had been psycho, but it was a life changing experience. I never thought I’d be one to say I fucked a dragon. Like a full-on dragon. The way he’d bathed me in his cum . . . I shivered.

His lips twitched up knowingly, and his gaze fastened on my nipples poking through my shirt. I cleared my throat, refocusing on walking and getting my mind out of the gutter.

Enzo stopped near the front door. He peered into the cabinet lined with figurines, paying special attention to the glass dragon like the one depicted in the stained glass above the door.

“Lucian’s family crest?” His words tilted at the end like a question.

“I think so.” I never realized it or connected the dots until seeing all the crests symbolizing each of their families. A low, conversational, and almost soothing tone floated to my ears. I didn’t have the best Unnatural hearing, so it had to be close.

I tugged Enzo outside. Pebbles shifted underfoot as we neared Elliot standing in front of three kids. With Enzo’s heavy steps crunching into the ground, their eyes shot in our direction. A dressed Beckett leaned against a vehicle, and a frown settled on his lips.

Their little eyes widened, and they all took a step back. The wildest-looking kid of the group stepped in front, chin tipped up. Poor kid seemed ready to kill while the others wavered between posturing and nervous shuffling. Wait, who were they scared of?

They didn’t seem to have any issue with Elliot. I shifted my weight and one of them stumbled back, and the dark-haired angry one pounced. Elliot stepped in his way, blocking the attack with his body. The too-slim boy bounced off my vampire.

They feared me .

“Watch it kid.” A threatening rumble vibrated in Enzo’s chest, and he sneered down at the group. They cringed, their chests rising in rapid bursts, pulses fluttering at their throats.

“Chill out, Enzo,” I chastised him and waved my hands up in a cease motion. “Hey,” I said awkwardly and crouched. They froze but no longer seemed on the verge of bolting like they had when Osmodus showed them to me.

“He’s not going to hurt you. I’m not going to hurt you. No one will,” I said in a low voice.

Elliot’s eyebrows raised, and his attention fastened on my clothing. “Someone wearing that shirt can’t be out to hurt you.”

I narrowed my eyes at Elliot, and the corner of his lips twitched.

“Although, ma mignonne , I am glad to discover you prefer vampires to werewolves.”

Beckett glared at Elliot.

“Not the time,” I huffed, refocusing on the kids. “Have you guys eaten?”

The dark-haired boy stared at me with unmistakable anger. A second boy, identical to him and clutching onto his arm, had a lighter shade of blue eyes. His wide gaze flicked side to side. I turned my attention to the taller blond behind him. He nodded, trembling.

“At least you guys did something right.” I took a jab at my mates. A smirk grew on Elliot’s lips. “I can’t be thinking of you guys as hair descriptions. You have names?”

The shifty taller blond spoke up. “They named us based on our creature.” His lips pressed together, and his shoulders moved with his sigh. “I’m Fox, that’s Griffin.” He tipped his head at the aggressive one standing at the front. He tilted his head down at the kid now grabbing onto his arm. “Bear.”

Who were ‘they?’

The words bubbled to the surface, but Elliot shook his head, so I held back my curiosity. The closest Unnatural to a fox was a Kitsune and a bear would be a berserker. Whoever named them weren’t being creative in the slightest.

Clearing my throat, I straightened and waved my hand back toward the house. “Why don’t you guys get some rest,” I said, and the three boys shared a glance with each other. Griffin returned his gaze to mine and nodded. Okaaaay , then. Little dudes were eerie.

The crunch of pebbles beneath our feet was extra loud with all the people following me to the house. As soon as the kids were in their room, I could get info out of the guys. Then we’d figure out what to do with them. They seemed too old for their age and bodies.

They wouldn’t want to be separated so I didn’t take them upstairs. Instead, I headed toward Lucian’s bedroom to the left of his office. He might give me shit for it, but I’d deal with it when he returned. Surely he would understand . . . Wait, who was I kidding? Lucian wouldn’t care to understand, but whatever, he could deal. Not only was the room furnished, but it was also the largest.

The well-oiled gold hinges swung the door open soundlessly and Lucian’s cedar scent wafted out of the bedroom. “Here you kids go.” I couldn’t deny the feeling of being out of my element when talking to them. Out of my element and awkward.

“If you guys need anything, call for us, oui ?” Elliot waited until all three nodded and waved them into the room. They dashed inside and Griffin gripped the edge of the door, meeting my eyes with his little aggressive expression, then slammed it shut.

“That little shit,” Enzo snapped, moving forward as if he would smash through the barrier.

I bunched the back of his shirt and tugged him to stop. He could have broken free, but he turned to me, disgruntled.

“They see me as a monster. I can’t blame them.” I grimaced. “We need to talk.” I turned on my heel to guide them back to the kitchen.

“That’s not a phrase we want coming from our woman,” Elliot whispered. Fur tickled my fingertips and Beckett’s wolf form pressed into my side. Brown, coarse hair rubbed against my arm. “I mean I don’t have much exposure to relationships, but this is bad news, right fae?”

Tanner’s sigh reached my ears, and I rolled my eyes to the ceiling.

“Enzo, I heard about your extensive sexual past, you should be able to confirm for us, yes?” Elliot glibly said.

Enzo snarled and disappeared from my side. A hard thump against a wall repeated. I pinched my nose and let my half shift push forward.

“Enough,” I snapped and whirled on them, shoving Enzo and Elliot into the space beside the office door. Their bodies thudded and shook the surface under the impact. I poked Elliot’s chest with the tip of my tail to drive in my point. My sharp talons tore the sleeve from Enzo’s shirt, but even though I had him pinned, he didn’t look at me. Elliot brushed his shirt off with a stiff expression. I removed my palm from Enzo’s chest and crossed my arms, looking back and forth between them.

I’d already experienced pissing contests between Beckett, Tanner, and Enzo multiple times. Seemed like something was bothering Elliot if the sharp, underhanded comments were anything to go off.

“Beckett, can you show Tanner and Enzo where the kitchen is?” I asked as if it wasn’t just a few feet to the right across from where we stood. He huffed in that wolf way he had and snapped his teeth at Elliot before prowling away. Tanner pressed his lips to my temple and followed Beckett, grabbing Enzo’s shirt. Enzo shoved him off and trailed behind, attention still on the belligerent vampire.

When they were gone, I turned to Elliot. “What’s bothering you?” I tilted my head and studied his features. Strands of onyx hair framed his intense green eyes and sinfully curved lips. Our mating bond heated my entire body with awareness. An urge to lean forward and press my skin to his nipped at my senses.

“Nothing,” he grunted. His eyes flashed with anger and then narrowed. I didn’t like him upset or angry, or jealous, though I would understand. My stomach soured at the look he directed at me.

“There’s something wrong,” I said softening my voice. “I just want?—”

“Nothing is fucking wrong, Maya,” he snapped.

My lips smacked together, and I blinked up at him, trying to figure out where the aggression came from. It couldn’t just be jealousy . . . did he regret mating me? Even though I hoped to break our bond, the thought that he didn’t want this, me , ached like a sword through my chest.

Before, I may have fought him on telling me or snapped right back at him, but I didn’t have it in me. We would soon not be mated anymore if I had my way, and it seemed a waste of energy to fight. I licked my lips and stiffly nodded.

“Okay,” I said, sounding a bit off. I turned on my heel, but then he hissed behind me. His long fingers wrapped around my wrist, but I yanked out of his hold. Tears prickled my eyes and I fought against them.

“ Merde . Wait, Maya,” he started but was cut off by my full shift. I popped my neck and rolled my shoulders. Much better.

Bulldozing into the kitchen, I beelined toward my fae and rubbed my cheek against his bicep. His palm settled on my hair, and he rubbed my scalp in a soothing massage. I forced my shift back, and the sheet yanked off my dulled emotions.

At least shifting had helped get myself out of thinking too much, since that part of me wasn’t much of muller. Was I using it as a shield? Yes, but I didn’t have time to cry about shit. Without my demon mentality at the forefront, noticing details relating to emotion came forward. All of my mates’ eyes had widened upon my entrance—shocked.

“Don’t worry, I won’t go on a killing spree unless someone attacks.” I chuckled. Enzo leaned his elbows on the kitchen island.

“What did the fucking vampire say to you?”

I scowled, ignoring his question. Enzo would choose a fight above everything within a heartbeat. I didn’t want them fighting with each other. They needed to lean on one another if I didn’t make it. Tanner’s hand left my shoulder and he crossed his arms.

“We need to call someone to take the kids,” I said immediately, not in the mood to discuss anything. Elliot’s steps approached, and he hovered near my elbow. His stare felt like a physical touch on my cheek. “Like the Unnatural Bureau. They have to have someone who can help with this sort of situation.”

Tanner’s fingers squeezed my hip. “I’d like to have someone investigate the UB before we entangle ourselves with them. We know how last time went with them, but now that Cyrus is gone, it may be different,” he said with a frown.

True, I’d gotten them involved and had an agent stab me in the back—and kill his partner. It’d turned into a real shit show. Tanner was right, we couldn’t turn them over to someone when we didn’t know if there was still corruption.

“By their descriptions, they were being held in a sterile environment, caged, and waiting until they were sold,” Tanner added.

Oxygen tugged out of my lungs. No . . . Helen had told me about the hell she’d experienced being bounced around cages by Cyrus’s people. The image of the truckload of Unnaturals we’d picked up from that warehouse for the Volkov party came to the front. I didn’t want to think about how people who purchased children would treat them considering Osmodus had planned to feed on them. As rushed as I was, I couldn’t put them in danger because of my plans.

I pressed my palms to my temples and squeezed. Each blink became slower than the last, and the graininess had nothing to do with shifting. “Maybe Lucian will know.” The likelihood of that was very low since he’d been essentially denounced.

“Lucian was here?” Tanner asked sharply.

Beckett growled.

“He’s going to help me. Us,” I corrected, forcing my expression to remain the same.

“How do you know he’s not coming back to trap or kill you?” Enzo straightened as he lifted his pierced eyebrow.

“He won’t,” I retorted mulishly. “He worked with Cyrus. He’s involved in all of this, but he wants to help.” That stretched it a bit, but I’d go with it. The expressions of disbelief all around didn’t help the swirling in my stomach.

“We’ll figure it out together, Maya.” Tanner’s words rustled the hair at my temple—his roundabout way of telling me that we couldn’t trust anyone but each other. If only it could be like that, but I couldn’t tell them my plans. They’d have a fit if they knew I wanted to hunt down each piece on this fucked up playing board. Weber, Osmodus, that warehouse . . . and that was only one part of it. If they caught wind of what I was after from Weber? They’d chain me down any way they could.

“It’s late. I’m calling it a night.” I stifled a yawn, exhaustion turning my movements sluggish. Discomfort prodded my belly, the hollow sensation letting me know I needed to feed more than what I’d accidently stolen earlier. “You guys are welcome to one of the four bedrooms on the third floor. Up to you. Beckett, your old room is still available.”

I wanted to ask them to follow me to my bedroom. I wanted to be near them, but I worried they’d see through my clinginess.

Before the words bubbled from my lips, I made a swift exit, ignoring their heavy gazes.