CHAPTER NINE
CAILYN
Cailyn woke slowly, humming with satisfaction at the sore stretch between her legs and the ache of her thighs. She sighed as she rolled over, smiling at the hint of her Alpha’s scent that still remained with her. She reached for him, only to find that she was alone. Confused, she sat up groggily looking around, unfamiliar with her surroundings, until her memory flooded back to her.
Somehow she was back in her temporary quarters on one of the upper floors of the sanctuary, but she vividly remembered being with Drocco in another bedroom. Her heart began to race as memories returned of the viciousness of his eyes and the brutal nature in which he had tried to claim her. And yet, she had managed to calm him. She had actually purred for him. The memory of his softening brought a smile to her face. Their mating had been just as delicious as always. The way he had kissed her and held her had invoked those familiar feelings of safety that she craved. But where was he now? And how had he managed to escape the Mothers?
Being with Drocco had soothed her so much that her distress had almost disappeared. She had finally been able to sleep, and the baby’s vibration was certainly stronger. Her mind had cleared and was more focused; she needed to take advantage of that while she could. So many questions still remained and she finally felt strong enough now to tackle them.
She slowly bathed and got dressed, gingerly examining the bruises on her body. It was nothing that would not heal, but it was a good reminder of what had happened.
She exited her quarters and wandered down the corridor seeking out the Mothers to question them. Over the last week, she had hardly seen anyone, apart from the twins who had been treating her, and Mother Naysa who accompanied them. But they only ever arrived in the evening, and she couldn't wait that long. Turning down corridor after corridor, she found that most of the doors did not open, and the ones that did were empty.
Eventually, she came across a large room filled with sofas and bookshelves and tables, suggesting some kind of meeting room or living area. Inside, three of the Mothers huddled in one corner of the room in quiet discussion. Mother Naysa and Mother Orlee sat on the couch and Mother Fern leaned against the bookshelf.
As she approached, Mother Naysa noticed her and stood up.
"Cailyn," she said in surprise. "What are you doing out of your room? I told you not to wander around the sanctuary."
"Why?" Cailyn asked bitterly, fighting to keep her growing anger under control. "Are you afraid I will be locked in a room and attacked by an out-of-control Alpha?"
Mother Naysa's face dropped. "Cailyn," she said slowly. "It is not how it seemed."
"You took me there and you knew what would happen! You knew that he would be like that. What did you do to him?"
"We did nothing to him, Cailyn," Mother Orlee said. "That is who he is. He is an Alpha. That is what they are like."
"He has never been like that with me," Cailyn stormed, her anger barreling through her at the suggestion. "Never! Something got him into that state and you know what it is."
The Mothers were silent for a moment. Mother Fern and Mother Naysa glanced at each other, but that only served to frustrate Cailyn even more.
“If you expect me to stay locked up here quietly, while you damage my Alpha and put me in potential danger that is not going to fucking happen!"
“Cailyn," Mother Naysa said, holding up her palms. "Let me take you back to your room and I will answer any questions that you have."
"No!" Cailyn ground out. "I'm tired of all these empty promises. You answer my questions now!"
Mother Naysa's hands dropped. "Ask way."
"Is my mother here, yes or no?"
"She is here," said Mother Orlee.
"I want to see her."
Mother Orlee took a breath. "We said we will answer your questions, we did not say that you would get to see your mother."
"If you want me to believe anything you say," Cailyn snarled at her, "then I need to see her."
"What are your other questions, Cailyn?" Mother Fern asked.
"Where is Drocco and what happened to him?"
"Drocco is still in the sanctuary," Mother Fern responded. "He is exposed to raw magic constantly which brings out the animalistic nature of his Alpha dynamic."
"Why is he being exposed to raw magic?"
"It is the only way that we can hold him," Mother Orlee said. "He has a high tolerance to magic and filtered magic does not have much of an effect on him. In order to contain, him we have to use raw magic. It is not ideal. He is able to withstand it for long periods of time, but it overwhelms him. Obviously, time with you helps to alleviate it."
"Why didn't you warn me that that was going to happen?" Cailyn asked Mother Naysa, her voice low. "He was almost uncontrollable."
"And yet you did control him," Mother Naysa said quietly.
Cailyn glared at her, unable to believe her argument. Mother Naysa had been the most sympathetic to Cailyn situation and shared the most similar view of Omegas returning to the Lands, but she had purposefully put her in a dangerous situation without warning her what was coming. It was almost unforgivable.
“You told me he wouldn’t be hurt,” she almost hollered, her anger spiking.
“I said I didn’t want anyone to get hurt,” Mother Naysa corrected. “And I don’t. But I cannot control the circumstances we are in. You are the only one that can ease his suffering if he is forced to be in that cell.”
Cailyn pressed her lips together, annoyance raging through her.
"Would you be willing to see him again? If he needs it?" Mother Naysa asked.
The other Mothers glanced at Mother Naysa and Cailyn had a sudden inkling that something strange was happening. But she was too distracted by the question to think about them. The idea of seeing Drocco again, even in that state, appealed to every fiber of her being.
"If it means helping him, yes," she replied.
“Good,” Mother Naysa said, relaxing into a smile. “If you can persuade him to take the charm chain off, it will be easier for everyone.”
“He is not in the ideal state for pleasant conversation when he is like that,” Cailyn said, irritably. “And I don't know why you are keeping him here.”
"He is here for you," Mother Orlee said. "It doesn’t matter if we cast him out. As long as you remain here, he will keep on coming."
“Then reason with him,” Cailyn insisted. “The Lox will come for him soon. The longer you keep him here, the more chance there is that they will find the compound."
“Our priority is to your Omega child. We must convince him to take off the charm chain.”
Cailyn clenched her teeth. Something was amiss about the whole situation to do with the child, and she couldn’t pinpoint it. "It has been over a week and he has not been persuaded," she finally pointed out. "How long do you intend to keep this going?"
At that, the Mothers did not answer, and Cailyn got the feeling that it was not their decision to make.
"I want to speak to Mother Azia," she said.
"I don't think that is wise," Mother Naysa said softly.
"I don't care what you think," Cailyn snapped. "Anyone who can put me and my child at risk is not someone whose opinion I hold in high fucking regard."
“Cailyn,” Mother Naysa said sternly.
A surge of shame threatened to overcome Cailyn at Mother Naysa’s authoritative tone, but she forced it away. There was once a time she would have been mortified to even think of speaking to any Mother in such a way, but she was starting to realize that their actions were indeed questionable. They were not always right. She thought she had found an ally in Mother Naysa, but even the most amenable Mother could not be trusted. Drocco had been right all along. She ground her teeth, a sorrow staggering through her at the idea she had caused this this whole situation. Her Alpha, her child… both suffering because of her.
“I know you are upset but you must look at the bigger picture here,” Mother Naysa stressed, clasping her hands together. “You need him. Both you and the child need him. There is only so much I can do to ease your distress at not being with him. If he is here, and you require his purr and his presence, I don't see why it should be a problem that you have it. Even if he is not as tender as you expected, it is better than nothing, isn't it?"
Cailyn narrowed her eyes. There was something that Mother Naysa wasn't saying. Maybe she was expecting Cailyn to somehow read between the lines, but she did not have the patience for that.
At Cailyn’s scrutiny, Mother Naysa's eyes lowered. "There are things happening you don't understand, Cailyn."
"I'm completely aware of that. But no one here is willing to improve my understanding by giving me satisfactory answers."
The Mothers did not respond.
"I want to see my mother," Cailyn said. "If I need to see Mother Azia in order for that to happen, then that's what I want to do."
“We will arrange it," Mother Orlee said finally.
“When?”
“As soon as we can.” Mother Orlee paused. “You agree to see Drocco again then?”
Cailyn gritted her teeth, looking between the Mothers. She hated the niggling fear that told her the Mothers were not telling her everything. Still, if seeing Drocco would help both him and the baby, why not? “Yes.”
The Mothers looked a little relieved.
“Good,” Mother Naysa said. “We will arrange everything, Cailyn. You will get your answers.”
***
Cailyn kept her eyes on the door, waiting for Drocco to come through. Although she was prepared this time, it was still nerve racking that he would come through in a state in which he could barely be controlled. She took a breath, calming her nerves and excitement. Strangely, there was something fascinating about Drocco being in his pure Alpha state, something wildly primal about submitting to him when he was like that.
She had to admit that she had taken pride in purring for him, soothing him, and it had aroused her more than she thought possible. She hadn’t intended for her soothing to turn into a mating session; however, his scent had shifted from aggression to something so enticing and complex, something she needed, and her body responded in kind. It was with that anticipation as she waited, hoping to once again find comfort in softening him.
Over the past few days, the Mothers had told her she would be visiting her mother within the week, which had appeased her somewhat, but she wanted to make sure they did. Unfortunately, she had once again been unable to sleep, and the weight of exhaustion pressed down on her. She hoped Drocco could once again soothe her. She longed to be underneath him, his solidness settling her, his scent surrounding her, his hands kneading and stroking—moving her to where she needed to be. The thought of it made her slick drip to her thighs with anticipation.
The door banged open and he was there.
She held in the gasp of shock at the sudden sight of him. As always, he looked enormous and wild and beautiful. He thundered forward as his eyes landed on her and she stayed rooted to the spot, pushing away the fear that threatened as the mountain of muscle approached her.
As soon as he grabbed her, she began to purr.
He yanked her into him, gripping her hard, and lowered his nose to scent her once again. She held still, purring as loud as she could, while he ran his nose up her neck and to her face again. His eyes were still hard when he looked at her, pressing his nose against hers, and after a moment, he pushed her down onto the bed, holding her down and tearing away her clothing.
She tried not to react, knowing that it would take time for her purr to penetrate, but hoping that it would do so before she was too hurt. Even though she wanted him, and she knew he could smell her arousal, he needed to soften. He needed to be her Drocco before she could enjoy it.
She reached for him, stroking him and caressing him the way she had before, and he stilled once again his eyes beginning to soften as her hands roamed him.
His body relaxed, and she pulled him into her as she whispered in his ear and scratched her fingers through his hair. He began to paw her, running his hands over her, squeezing her muscles, palming her round stomach, and her purr deepened as satisfaction flooded through her body to have her mate’s hands on her.
Drocco flipped her around and pulled her up onto her knees before slamming himself into her with a growl that shuddered through her body. Before she could even register the beauty of him inside her, he was fucking her, one hand underneath her holding the curve of her stomach, the other gripping the back of her neck, holding her in place like he was supposed to.
Cailyn arched her back in the pleasure of being held in such a way, not only was his cock deliciously divine pounding so deeply in her pussy, but his rough, wide hand on her stomach, supporting her there and recognizing her need for him to, made her eyes roll back with a satisfied glee.
His thrusts became wilder, and he held her tighter, the growl in his throat causing so much slick to gather their fucking was a wet, slathering frenzy. She widened her legs on her knees, tilting her hips up to give him easier access. It was so good she mumbled words to him without even knowing what the fuck she was saying. It had been so long since she had him in this position that the sublime pleasure racking her whole body made her delirious.
His hand inched up to her head, grabbing her hair and pulling it back until she was arched so far, an ache sparked in her back with every snap of his hips, but she didn't care. In fact, she needed it, she loved the sensations that shuddered through her, the pleasure, and the slight pain, at least at this moment when she desperately needed him and he desperately needed her. Her orgasm blasted through her with no warning, ripping into every tender nerve—it was an almost unbearable sweet torment. She didn’t even realize she was screaming until it abated.
He was unrelenting, his hips slapping her faster until he slammed into her erratically a few times, his fist tightening in her hair and a gust of breath escaping as he moaned. On his final thrust, he fell forward, covering her completely with his body and pinning her to the bed.
They lay still, breathing heavily for a long moment.
Cailyn twisted her head up to push her nose into his sweaty neck, breathing in his scent and luxuriating in the feel of him all around her, protecting her, making her feel secure. She didn't even realize she was purring until he pushed his face down into her neck and sought out the sound. She relaxed underneath him, blissful and happy as a drowsy sleepiness overtook her. Wriggling her hips, she sighed at the pleasure of his knot still stretching her open and her hard nipples against the bed sent a thrill through her body.
Drocco breathed into her neck for a moment, and then, wiggling a hand underneath her, he began playing lazily with her clit.
She whined and he growled in response. Moving his head, he sucked on her earlobe and increased his strumming of her clit. Wriggling his other hand underneath her, he brushed her nipples to the different rhythm, squeezing and pulling on them as her orgasm approached, he began to press into her harder, causing friction on that sweet stretch.
She came with a shuddering cry, once again convulsing and writhing against the weight on top of her as the climax raged through her, but this time knowing and accepting that under him was where she belonged.
As her high faded, she drifted to sleep, her Alpha’s purr rumbling on her back and the baby’s vibration quickly matching it.
When she woke again, she was still in the same bed this time but Drocco was gone. The sense of loss was almost staggering. Although she was once again well rested, it wasn’t enough. The time spent with him was too short. It would now be another three or four days before she was able to touch him again, to soothe him, and for him to do what she needed him to do.
She winced as she made her way to the washroom. Although Drocco had been soothed quickly this time, he had still been rough, and her body was littered with new bruises, aches, and pains. However, the feeling between her legs was incredibly satisfying, as usual. She fixed the bed in the room and made her way back to her quarters for a long bath.
***
Cailyn paced in her living area, wondering if Mother Orlee would stick to her word. Her distrust of the Mothers had lessened somewhat with the promise of seeing her mother, but they never failed to surprise her. If she didn’t get to see her when Mother Orlee arrived, she would have to take action. However, she didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, a knock fell on the door.
"I need to take you to a different region,” Orlee said briskly. “You might want to wear a cloak."
Cailyn grabbed a cloak and followed Mother Orlee as she led her out of the room and out of the building. When the cool air hit her, whipping across her face and causing her eyes to water, Cailyn realized that she had barely been outside for the entire time she had been back at the compound. Everything seemed very much the same, except some of the Omegas stopped what they were doing to stare at her as she passed. She smiled, nodded, and waved at the ones she knew, but the expressions on their faces were strange to her. They looked at her as though they had never seen her before. Perhaps they were not expecting to see her back at the compound, which was understandable considering what the Mothers had told them. And that was another thing she had to address.
Mother Orlee led her through a region that specialized in design and dressmaking and led her straight to the edge of the compound. Cailyn prepared herself to go through the edge barrier again, wondering what she would see on the other side. Of course, it made sense to her now that her mother would be in a hidden region of the compound. Now that she knew there were hidden regions, the Mothers could be hiding anyone and anything in them.
She followed Mother Orlee straight through the sheen, embracing the warm rush of magic on her skin.
On the other side, the compound extended a little farther out once again. The buildings and the layout looked similar, even though she knew she had never been in this area before.
Mother Orlee led her across a large communal area with benches and toward a tawny building that looked like a cross between a large house and a meeting hall. As they entered, Cailyn tried to prepare herself for what she was about to see.
Mother Orlee navigated through an entrance hall to a door opposite. She paused at the door and turned to Cailyn, hesitating before she spoke. "Try not to get too upset in here," she said, quietly. "You will unsettle them."
Before Cailyn could process what she meant, Mother Orlee open the door and strode in.
The room inside was a living area, filled with worn couches, chairs, tables, and a central fireplace all made it seem somewhat homey. Pictures adorned the walls, and it had been decorated to be light and airy. However, a large number of women filled the room, sitting on the couches, reading in the chairs or playing games around the tables. They seemed to be mostly older women, although not like the ones in the main compound. They moved slow, as though they were in pain and although few of them spoke to each other, generally the room was quiet, with just the blaze of the fire and whispering of parchment filling the air as those that read turned their pages.
Mother Orlee headed across the room and Cailyn tried to take in as much as she could. Looking closer, she noticed that many of the women were not actually elderly though they held themselves as if they were. The ones standing had bent spines and some of the ones sitting were staring into space, their minds completely elsewhere.
Mother Orlee came to a stop in front of a woman relaxing on one of the couches. She wore a long dress tunic and looked tired and haggard; however, her rich copper-brown curly hair suggested that this was likely her mother.
"Nearra," Mother Orlee greeted. "I have brought someone to see you today."
Nearra's brown eyes took some time to focus on Mother Orlee, but once they did she grinned suddenly. Cailyn peered closer at her.
"Do I have a mission, Mother?" Nearra asked.
Mother Orlee knelt down so that she crouched next to Nearra’s knee. She took both of her hands in her own. "You have done all the missions you need to do, Nearra," she said gently. "You have done us proud. You are one of the best."
Nearra beamed hearing those words.
"I would like you to meet someone," Mother Orlee continued. "She is your daughter."
Nearra didn't seem to respond, or even notice that Cailyn stood there until Mother Orlee gestured to her.
As her mother’s eyes slowly turned to Cailyn, she held her breath, unsure how the woman would react. She clearly wasn’t of sound mind and Cailyn couldn't particularly see any great resemblance between them apart from their hair.
The two Omegas, mother and daughter, stared at each other, examining each other from head to foot in curiosity.
"Greetings, Mother," Cailyn said, almost a whisper. "It is good to see you. I didn't realize that you are in the compound."
Nearra turned her attention back to Mother Orlee. "Is she true?"
Mother Orlee nodded. "Yes, you did well."
Nearra grinned again, and turned her attention back to Cailyn, but did not say anything to her. She simply stared at her, a silly smile on her face.
"Mother?" Cailyn asked, bewildered by a strange behavior. She glanced at Mother Orlee. "What's wrong with her?"
Mother Orlee sighed and rose to her feet slowly. "She's had a hard life, Cailyn. She is not fully with us."
Cailyn turned her gaze back to her mother, disappointment trickling through her. She had thought that maybe her mother would have been able to answer some of the questions she had, but this woman didn't even seem to want to speak to her. She lowered herself down like Mother Orlee had.
"Mother, do you remember my father?" Cailyn asked.
Nearra blinked a number of times before answering. "Yes, a strong Alpha father."
Cailyn smiled at her. "Did you love him?"
Nearra stared at her for a long moment and then frowned. "I could have."
"You could have?" Cailyn said, confused. "Did you know he had a wife?"
"Maybe."
Cailyn shook her head and looked up at Mother Orlee shrugged.
"She is not fully with us, Cailyn," Mother Orlee repeated, somewhat sadly. "She is not capable of answering your questions, and she can never be a real mother to you. Not now."
Cailyn rose to her feet. "Then why is she here? Why have you not reintegrated her into the main compound so that she can be looked after?"
"She is being looked after."
"I mean looked after by me," Cailyn stressed. "Me or any other who is willing."
Mother Orlee steadied her gaze on Cailyn. "You had a job to do," she said evenly. "This would have been a distraction. She is being well looked after here, more than you realize. There is no more care that you would be able to offer her than she already gets."
Cailyn lifted her head slowly, as understanding approached. "You did not want me distracted from my mission to look after my mother," she said slowly. "So you would rather tell me that she didn't exist."
"Your mother wouldn’t want you distracted from missions to sit by her side," Mother Orlee said. "She was a spy herself, she never would have wanted that."
Cailyn looked back down at her mother, who still gazed at her smiling, then turned to observe the other women in the room. "And who are all of these other women?" she asked. "Other spies?"
"They are women who have been damaged in the call of duty and need looking after. They need specialist care that they cannot get in the main compound." Mother Orlee turned to look at the other women. "And you may think that they have been hidden away, but they would not prefer to be in the busy main compound where there is noise and disruption. Or where someone's Alpha might suddenly turn up and cause havoc."
Cailyn snapped a sharp look at Mother Orlee, who was looking at her dryly.
"They are happy here," Mother Orlee confirmed softly. "And we strive hard to keep them that way."
"Which one?" Nearra said to Mother Orlee. "Which one is that? I don't remember."
Mother Orlee lowered again to take Nearra's hand. "The best one. The truest."
Nearra grinned again, and this time reached the Cailyn's hand. "It was a pleasure," she said to Cailyn from, squeezing her hand. "It was a pleasure to do anything I could for the Omegas."
Cailyn squeezed her hand back. "I know, Mother. It is my pleasure to do anything I can for the Omegas too. I just wish that I had known about you."
Nearra didn't seem interested in what Cailyn was saying. She stopped listening halfway and turned back to Mother Orlee. "Where are the rest?"
Mother Orlee rose to her feet again. "It is time we go, Nearra. Be well. I will see you soon."
Nearra slumped back in the chair, blinking lazily as Mother Orlee beckoned to Cailyn that it was time to go.
Cailyn stood, staring at her mother for a long moment. Her mind worked in a way she couldn't understand. It wasn't like the Alpha in the other region who simply didn’t have any cognitive ability and it wasn't quite like a Talent-crafter when they lost their mind. It was almost as though she was simply exhausted, burnt out, both her body and her mind. She didn't look old, and yet she seemed eternally exhausted. As though it was a struggle to speak, and even move.
Cailyn followed Mother Orlee back out of the room, and as they walked back across the deserted communal area, she asked, "What caused her to be that way?"
"Her missions."
"Her missions caused her that kind of suffering?" Cailyn asked, horrified.
"Unfortunately, yes," Mother Orlee said. "She required mental conditioning. It's one of the reasons why we want to ensure that she and the others who suffered are well looked after and protected from the main compound."
"You don't think that maybe she would want to be with her daughter?"
Mother Orlee remained quiet for a long time, leading Cailyn back through the barrier and into the main compound in silence. Finally, she slowed as they approached the Mothers’ sanctuary. "Your mother was an important spy for us, Cailyn. She was constantly on missions, even when you were a child. She was barely here as you grew up, which is why you didn't meet her during your training. Your mother worked hard, extremely hard for us. The Omega cause was her priority."
"And I wasn’t," Cailyn said evenly, unearthing the point that Mother Orlee was trying to get to. "She did not care that she had a daughter, she only cared about her missions? Is that you are trying to say?"
Mother Orlee inclined her head. "She knew that you were in our care, and she was content with that. But she would not expect you to carry the burden of looking after her now, not when you had your own missions."
"And what if I want to take her with me now? What if I want her to come with me?"
Mother Orlee shook her head. "She needs specialist care, constant care. You would not be able to keep up with the demand."
"My true mate is an Emperor," Cailyn pointed out. "I'm sure that we can care for her."
"When your memories are erased," Mother Orlee said gently, "you won’t even remember that you saw her."
Cailyn reeled at the shock of her words. Of course. She had agreed to the memory wipe. She would not remember that her mother lived in that kind of state once she went back. She nodded, exhaling a breath. There was nothing more to say.
Cailyn entered the sanctuary in deep thought. The idea that her mother had been in the compound all this time, but unable to function, sent her mind spinning. It didn't feel right that those women were hidden away, just like the Alpha hidden in the other sector. The entire revelation that the compound was not at all what she thought it was, confused and disappointed her greatly.
She climbed the stairs to her floor, and trudged along the corridor, wariness seeping into her. She knew she would not be able to sleep again until she saw Drocco in a couple of days, but she knew when she saw him it would be worth it.
A hand clamped around her forearm yanked her sideways into a room she had been passing.
She gasped in shock but avoided squealing as the door behind her shut. Turning, she was shocked to see Victoya.
"Victoya!" She threw herself around her friend, glad to finally see a face she could trust after all this time.
Victoya hugged her back, squeezing her tightly and rubbing her back. "Cailyn," she whispered.
Something her tone made Cailyn pull back. "Are you well?" she asked.
Victoya took her hand, a strange expression on her face. "Cailyn, I need you tell me what the Mothers told you."
Cailyn frowned. "About what?"
"About everything."
Cailyn glanced around the room that they were in. It was some kind of storage room, holding supplies and equipment for cleaning. "They don't know you're here do they?" she asked slowly. "I've been asking them to see you for ages. What has happened?"
"Just tell me what they have said to you," Victoya insisted.
Cailyn began at the beginning, from what Drocco had told her back at the lodge all the way to the state she had just found her mother in. As she spoke, Victoya's expression turned to one of utter and complete shock.
She remained in deep thought after Cailyn finished speaking, and Cailyn watched her warily. Finally, Victoya lifted her head. “Something is strange about this whole situation with the Mothers.”
Cailyn blinked in surprise. “You believe me?”
“Yes.”
Cailyn was speechless for a moment. She thought Victoya would defend the Mothers as strongly as she did last time. She watched her, waiting for her to explain but she was silent, falling further into thought.
Cailyn became more uneasy the longer she said nothing. "Toya, what is it?"
"I'm going to come to get you in a couple of weeks," Victoya said firmly. "Look out for me. Don't tell the Mothers I’m coming."
Cailyn grabbed her arm. "Toya," she warned. "You're making me worry."
Victoya rubbed her hand over hers. "There is no need to worry, Cailyn. I just think there is something that you need to know so you can make some decisions about what you need to do."
With that cryptic line, Victoya slipped out of the room without any further hesitation.
***
The next time Cailyn saw Drocco, their mating was just as intense as always, if not a little more savage. Drocco took her in every possible way he could before knotting her.
He pinned her in position every time, grunting as he thrust that incredible hardness between her legs, his mouth kissing and biting every patch of skin he could reach. He pulled her onto all fours again, held her growing stomach, pinched her nipples, and gripped her hair. Then pinned her down on her side, throwing one of her legs over his hip as he scissored her. He didn't even knot her the first time he came. Instead, he sprayed her with his semen, a growl of satisfaction rumbling from his chest as he watched her bare skin being covered by his seed.
Cailyn was shocked at how much she loved it. She loved the potent smell of him on her and she loved the ferociousness with which he fucked her, even though he was not the same Drocco that she had always known. His behavior seemed to invoke an even deeper need to submit to everything he wanted, urging him on with her whimpers and whines, knowing that he could not resist when she called to him to relieve her. And relieve her he did. Although he was wilder than normal, the satisfaction being with him remained the same as always.
The only thing that was different was that she had to ensure she purred for him often. The next time he arrived in the room, he was too wild, too savage, too brutal—it took longer to calm him. She began to ensure she purred before the door even opened, and by the time he was thrusting into her, the raw edge of his violence had faded.
But what she loved most was the way he covered her with his body while they were still knotted. Whether she was lying on her front, her side, or on her back, the heat and weight of him settled her completely. And it comforted her so deeply, she fell asleep every time. She tried not to because she desperately wanted to find out if he was more lucid and more able to communicate with her after they had mated, but after having not slept for a few days every time she saw him, it was impossible to stay awake while in such a comforting and safe position.
He instinctively purred for her whenever he lay on top of her, and to her relief, the baby responded with delight. The vibration in her stomach grew stronger every time she was with Drocco and that intense contentment that she had felt before, at the lodge, flooded her. It was the only indication she had that the baby was doing reasonably well during their encounters. At first, she had worried if the rough sex would hurt the baby in some way, but she never had any time to think about it during. She made a note to ask one of the Mothers about it.
Every time she went to the room and she knew she would meet Drocco, she wondered how long this situation could potentially go on for. If the Mothers were hoping for Drocco to remove the chain during their encounters, it was impossible for him to do so. He wasn't himself. He could barely communicate let alone respond to a request to remove the chain around her neck. At some point, the Mothers had to realize that this was a truly pointless endeavor. If Drocco did not want his daughter to use the Talent, then that was something that both she and the Mothers had to come to terms with, and deal with accordingly. She had now spoken to her mother and had her answers, even if she couldn’t quite make sense of everything.
Finally, as she snuggled under Drocco after yet another mating, both of their purrs vibrating between them, she decided to speak to the Mothers. As much as she loved being with Drocco in any capacity, this could not go on. She had no idea how the raw magic was going to end up affecting him long-term but it couldn’t be good that he was exposed to it so much.
The Mothers simply had to admit that their plan had not worked.