Chapter 16
Uri’s Private Cavern, Earth Realm
Alex was sitting there, psyching herself out. Not sure if she should go to Uri or wait where she was. She felt uncomfortable and awkward now that she was back to full strength and her thoughts were once again her own.
Alex had explored the room while speaking with her brother. She loved the soothing sounds of water over stone and the seductive warmth from the grotto secreted behind the shimmering fall that slipped through a crevice in the ceiling. To get over there, she’d stepped over a small stream, no more than two feet wide, which disappeared into the stone wall beyond.
Shelves were carved into the stone just inside the doorway that separated her from where Uri had gone after giving her time alone. She’d noticed soft white towels and several more cutouts surrounding the room that housed simple yellow candles. Most of which he’d lit for her when they arrived. Their light created a soft glimmer that mixed with the turquoise rock nearly glowing beneath the water.
Intricately carved stone seats in many forms encircled the room. Most seemed carved directly from the walls themselves. Had he created them? She wondered at this element of the male she’d spent so many centuries enthralled with. She truly knew so little of him.
After a moment, she bumped her head back against the stone wall, willing the damned male to come to her. She had been absently revisiting her conversation with Vane for the last few minutes.
Vane had said the situation with Erik was covered, but it killed her not being with them, doing something useful. There was nothing she could do there that wasn’t already being done. Her brother and a couple of the Guardians were forcing energies to Erik, which was apparently something they didn’t need her help for.
She felt stronger now, but renewing arousal was making her skin feel tight. It had to be the mating frenzy, because this was not her. She was acting insane. Instead of centering on her brother, her mind kept going to Uri. No matter how much she willed it to stay focused. No, this wasn’t normal arousal, this felt more like compulsion, like she’d come out of her skin if she didn’t feed her need for him again soon.
She’d thought that Uri would have helped her re-energize, but instead, he’d left her in this waterfall room to refuel on her own. She had been thankful at first because she didn’t like how depleted she’d been, hadn’t been comfortable with his seeing it, and truth be told, she wanted the time to process everything. She was sure he had his own thinking to do, but now she needed not only his body, but to talk. To learn what all this meant, because she was definitely out of the loop.
Nerves and her ever-present insecurities weren’t helping either. She was a damaged Demi-Goddess with little control of her abilities, and she wasn’t sure he’d signed up for that.
Banging her head into the wall wasn’t doing anything to help her train of thought. Everything was happening so fast.
She had to admit that she was happy that Uri was hers. She wasn’t sure he’d feel the same when he learned the extent of her baggage. The connection they were building was on another level, not just the wild nearly animalistic desire, but something deeper. It almost felt like she knew… him, not just what he showed to the world. Was that what happened when one found a destined mate? Because in reality she didn’t know him. She knew he was a sexual creature made to hit every one of her desires.
Fantasies of his body aside, there was more to him and she needed to know what that was because she wasn’t ignorant, this was permanent. They’d have to learn more about each other, aside from what the bond was making her feel. They needed to discuss expectations. He was dominant as hell, but, for her, that dominance could never seep out of the bedroom.
For centuries it had just been her and the twins. And even though they were protective asses at times, they still understood her need, her craving for freedom. But would Uri? He was a force of nature and dominant like no other male she’d seen. It turned her on more than anything to witness it… even experience it. Gods, she was wet thinking of all the things he’d do to her, but would he want to command her life along with her body? She supposed he could try, but would he find himself disappointed by her, not just her flaws, but also who she was.
If she could keep her clothes on long enough, they’d discuss it all. Not just for her, but so that she could learn everything about the bond for Erik.
She focused on the serenity of her surroundings. She was giving him two minutes; then she was going to him. It had been so calming to take her energies while in a place that held so much of Uri within its tranquil embrace.
She liked it as much as she loved her own cave and hadn’t thought that possible. The cavern she’d claimed even before the Exile was located on a tiny island in the Pacific. It had gorgeous beaches to one side and rocky cliffs along the other.
She blew out a breath, deciding to check on her brothers one more time. Vane told her earlier that Sirena had been examining Erik at the time, and Alex wanted to know what happened.
How is he? Any news from the exam?
He was pretty drained, and Sirena confirmed he is in some early stage of the mating frenzy. The Guardians and I have been forcing energies into him, at Sirena’s direction. Man, is she a hard-ass. You wouldn’t know it looking at her, but, shit….
Good, I should be there soon.
There’s nothing you can do that we’re not already doing. Sirena is taking care of him, and she said she has a lot of ideas about why he’s using so much energy. It was a little like gibberish to me. Drake said for you and Uri to “get your shit figured out” and be back at the compound in an hour, but Sirena said it’s extremely important that you and Uri spend time working on your bond. I definitely don’t want details.
She didn’t give you any other information on mating?
I know more than I ever wanted to know about what you’re going to do with your mate. I would clean my mind out with Drano if I could. You figure it out with that douchebag and I’ll check in if we need you sooner. If not, I’ll see you in an hour.
She shook her head and told him she’d see him soon. It sounded as if he was bonding with the Guardians some, which made Alex happy. And it alleviated some of the stress, knowing that Sirena was taking Erik’s care so seriously. She could tell from Vane’s mental tone that the healer had definitely eased some of his worries.
Alex felt the air thicken and looked up to see Uri enter the room. The dominance he exuded filled the space, causing goose bumps to rise along her skin and ending all other thought. She took a deep breath. Gods, he was gorgeous. His chest still bare, she saw the muscles from his stomach to his wide, taut shoulders flexing as he moved.
They had an hour, but she needed answers just as much as she needed his body. She wasn’t sure if she could learn anything when he looked like that. All the moisture in her mouth fled to her lower extremities at the sight of him. Her heartbeat sped up watching his long strides eating the distance from the entrance to the seat she’d taken at the other side of the pool.
Uri stared intently into her eyes before taking a slow trip down her body, lingering on her lips, breasts, legs, all the way to the tips of her shiny black boots. Slowly, he lifted his head, scenting the air like a predator and closing his eyes on an erotic groan.
“You have twenty seconds to undress and get into the grotto. If I do it for you, the dress will be shredded; your choice.” His voice was strained as he opened his eyes again; his jaw was tense like the muscles of his biceps.
A little thrill ran through her as she moved to heed his command, and there was no doubt in her mind that it was just that—this kind of dominance was so damned intoxicating. She grew slick with the thought of what he’d do to her.
“As much as I’m on board with being naked with you, we need to talk. I need information on the mating and we only have an hour before a meeting with Drake and my brother.”
“Ten seconds… This will provide your answers.”
Her stomach clenched, realizing that talking was likely impossible until they fed this need. She cocked a brow. “Mmm-hmm, and how, exactly, will that work?” she asked. Getting up, she walked with what she hoped were slow seductive strides, even though her legs felt wobbly. The clicking sound of her boots sounded loud against the stone, echoing along the walls as she strode toward the grotto. She slowly pulled down the zipper at the back of the dress. Each click of the metal teeth ramped up her excitement. She wanted to feel seductive instead of inexperienced and inept. She wanted to make him burn, just a little. In reality they didn’t have much time to get this out of their systems.
She looked over her shoulder as she let the dress drop, leaving her only in the sky-high boots that flowed over her calves like a second skin. Alex saw that he hadn’t moved. He stood in the same position, but his body was taut like a bowstring ready to spring. His eyes were focused on her ass so intensely she felt it as a touch. His mercury gaze lowered to her boot-covered feet, and a low growl issued from his throat. The sound brought more goose bumps to her overheated flesh. She felt the mist from the waterfall now as she drew closer. Not wanting to ruin the boots, she lifted one to the nearest stone seat and slowly unzipped it. Bending at the waist, she arched her back to give him the view she hoped would stretch his restraint.
Glancing back, she saw his jaw clench tighter. The hint of fangs peeking erotically over his bottom lip made her lower body pulse.
“Two seconds and you go in with the boots on,” he growled.
She felt a surge of feminine power at his slowly shredding control.
She suppressed a grin and moved faster, extricating herself from her favorite footwear, not wanting to see them ruined. Before she was even upright, he was behind her. He sifted his fingers through the strands of her hair, pulling lightly, then moving the mass over one shoulder, causing a shiver to rack her body.
Heated puffs of breath touched against the sensitive skin at her neck, and her nipples pulled tighter than she thought possible. She moaned and tried to arch back, wanting full skin-to-skin contact. Instead he kept his body away. He was bending from his greater height to rub his beard stubble lightly against her throat, marking the skin with the delicious friction. All the while his big hands sat low against her hips and his thumbs moved in circles in the indents below her waist. The dual stimulation of his gentle hands and the rough abrasion at her neck blurred her vision.
“How, exactly, is this going to help me understand the mating?” Her words came out breathless.
“Our powers blend the more we bond. We’ll both gain more control over our own abilities and get some of each other’s gifts. I intend to work on your shielding.”
“How do you know it’ll work like that?” She breathed, her brain not able to fully process what he was saying.
He nipped at her shoulder. “It will… I’ve told your brother already, so the bastard won’t come running once the shield goes up. I heard about that link when you were projecting.” His words were whiskey smooth as he laved the spot behind her ear. His decadent scent made her lick her lips. Mmm, she felt her knees weaken. “As for the powers meshing, we’re not entirely sure how it will work, since I’m the first Guardian to go through it.” He nuzzled her flesh, making her suck in a breath. She felt as if she were in a dream as he continued, “Sirena thinks that my Guardian powers may not meld at all, something to do with it being a gift of the Creators. I’m not sure I understood a word she said about that part, but our regular gifts should definitely meld and become more controllable.”
“So you’ll have my powers, and I’ll have your Aletheia mental strengths?” He was nibbling at her earlobe, making it nearly impossible to get the question out. Liquid painted the inside of her thighs, and her breathing came out labored.
Once the mating is complete, theoretically… Right now we’re just in the beginning. When we finally complete the ceremony and blood-bonding, the melding should start coming more rapidly. He spoke into her head, as that decadent mouth was otherwise occupied, licking at the point between her shoulder blades as he held her hair firmly wrapped in a hand. “Later, we’ll work on controlling the head-hopping. That’s what Conn said your brother called it,” he added.
She felt a hint of fang scraping across her shoulder, causing a tremor to run through her body. She swallowed as he slowly moved his way back up her neck and behind her ear.
She couldn’t think straight with the wicked things he made her feel. Did she dare hope to gain enough command over her abilities? She moaned when his teeth tugged at her lobe.
Her face flamed when realization of what Uri had said hit. He’d told her brother he would be screwing her… No wonder Vane wanted Uri’s blood. Vane was already aware of what was going on, but Uri’s talking to him was high-handed.
“Stop thinking.” His voice was a low hoarse rasp, and then his teeth moved to her shoulder while he pulled her hips back into his hard body. She sucked in a breath and melted into his body. She’d rip into him about Vane later.
He’d taken his pants off at some point. She moaned, pushing even further into his hold. Feeling the solid jut of his need pulsing against her lower back made her sex quiver in response. He was so warm and stiff against her. She wanted to feel him sliding deep inside her again.
“Out of time,” Uri growled as he smacked her bottom just enough to sting slightly while leaving a delicious warmth in its wake. The noise seemed loud even over the sounds of flowing water. He lifted her, and suddenly she was waist deep in warm water, her senses completely overloaded. She tried to turn to him, but instead, he crowded her body from behind, his body moving her further to the other side of the small pool. Their movements folded the water around them, and it caressed her sensitive flesh. She trembled with the need to feel him everywhere.
She saw movement, and a thick black cushion landed on the stone edge in front of her seconds before Uri’s big palms cupped her needy breasts from behind. Her back arched, pressing harder into his palms, desperately craving firmer contact against those large warm hands. He pinched her nipples lightly, teasing her, as his cock rubbed up and down against her lower back. He was driving her wild. Alex’s breath came out in gasps. Her head fell back against his chest while her body pushed against his, loving the feel of his wet skin against hers.
“Stand with your feet on the seat and bend over, head all the way down. I want to see every single inch of that cunt and ass in the air.” Her body burned as he lifted her up so that her legs were still submerged. She felt the smooth glide of his hands up the backs of her thighs while he growled, “Wider.”
She thought she’d pass out from the anticipation. Her upper body was wet, including the tips of her hair, which now stuck to her oversensitive flesh.
She spread her legs at his demand, feeling her juices on the insides of her thighs. She was shaking as she bent forward to rest her head against her arms on the thick cushion. Every added sensation served to overload her. His roving hands inched so close to where she needed them. Her body twitched at the feel of heated breath against the crease of her bottom, followed by a deliciously languid lick that elicited a low moan she was barely aware came from her own lips. Her back arched further, wanting him to have all the access he needed to give her this new kind of pleasure. The thought of his mouth pressed against her was too much; her pussy ached for it. “Uri, please.” She hated to beg, but she couldn’t take it anymore.
She heard his deep inhale as he massaged her ass, spreading her cheeks wide so that nothing could possibly be hidden from his gaze. There was another deep moan followed by, “I love that you’re bare, love that I can see every bit of this gorgeous little pussy.” His tongue slid along her slit; Gods, his breath and hot mouth nearly scorched her. He took his time, swirling his tongue over her clit, making her pant and writhe while strong hands held her motionless against his tortuous mouth.
Crying out, she knew she was close. Instead, he denied her, moving from her aching clit to suck at her folds, one at a time. Then, his mouth was gone.
“No,” she cried out in frustration. Pushing back, she imagined what he was seeing. She was spread and completely vulnerable to his sight and touch. He teased her again, this time with one finger pushing just inside her opening. She pushed against it, trying to get more. He slowly added another while giving her quick lashes of his tongue. He was keeping her at the edge of sanity, madness just one long lick away. Taking his time, he kissed, licked, and sucked his way around where she needed him to be. She was desperate, begging by the time he pushed both big fingers all the way inside her.
Heated moans came out unbidden as he pumped her with his fingers. His wicked tongue slid up and laved her tiny back hole. Her movements stilled at the unexpected sensation, entranced by the sheer eroticism of having his tongue on her ass.
“Someday, I’ll bury my cock deep in here. There isn’t a part of you that I won’t claim.”
She was light-headed, ready to come just with his words. He swirled his tongue once again around the small opening, then finally moved back to her clit; the nub was swollen with need.
“I need to be in your mind,” he said, and she felt the delicious slide of him inside her head as she opened to him without thought. Something she’d think about later. It was more than a caress inside her head. She let him feel what he was doing to her. The added intimacy was out of the realm of any fantasy. It was dangerously seductive. The sensation was like nothing she’d ever experienced; she felt all his heat inside and out.
She sucked in a breath as his mouth suckled her clit. It was all too powerful. Her entire being was completely in his control. One last firm suck wrenched a climax from her so strong it felt like a hurricane was taking her away. Her cries echoed off the wall as her knees started buckling. Uri had her in his arms before she collapsed, holding her close.
She’d felt the release, then subsequent push back against her shield, then some kind of snapping sensation, and finally the smooth retreat of its protection. She relaxed in the aftermath. Uri had only jerked slightly, still sharing her mind but unharmed. He’d done it. Somehow he’d manipulated her shield. She turned in his arms and stared at him, completely in awe as her senses came fully back. Looking internally to her shield, she saw it as a silvery haze along with a shiny thread that linked her to Uri’s mind. It had to be their mating bond attached to her shield. The mental image had her reeling, feeling the sheer magnitude of their bond.
“How did you do that?” The words came out as a shocked gasp. Gazing at Uri, she saw the tense muscles of a male in need. He was the picture of undiluted sexual extremity. Her sexy Aletheia, complete with protruding fangs. The sheer beauty of him thrilled her, especially in his current feral state.
“I used the mating bond to manipulate the shield. I took it into my body. I also severed the link to your brothers at the same time.” At her shocked look, he added, “Vane was aware of what I intended. You are mine to protect, Alexandra. He conceded once I reminded him that with the link intact he would know every time I made you come.” There was a possessiveness to his gaze that stilled her for a split second.
Then she pinched the bridge of her nose in anger. She could just imagine that conversation. As pissed as a part of her was that he would take control without even asking her, and she was pissed, she looked at the water for a second.
He didn’t even tell her what he’d planned, much less ask. “High-handedness will never be okay with me.”
He gazed at her for a beat as she took a deep breath and continued. “We have a lot to learn about each other, but that’s something you need to understand now.”
She had to own that she really didn’t want her brothers to know when she climaxed. It felt freeing, yet in a weird way she mourned the loss of any added connection to her family.
Uri nodded and scrubbed a hand over his face as her mind processed more. She looked to the ceiling. That link had been a constant reminder of her failure and weakness. With one more inhale, she willed away the ache in her stomach.
His sexy rumble made her look back at him. “I apologize. I assumed you wouldn’t want that complication.” He looked entirely uncomfortable as he admitted he was wrong. She hadn’t expected him to utter the words. It pleased her that he did.
She blew out a breath. “You’re lucky I’m not kicking your ass. That was your one free pass. This is new to us both; next time ask before you do something that affects me.” She had dealt with dominant males her entire long life; he would learn. She realized he was already making a concession by apologizing. That was huge for a male like him.
She closed her eyes and hoped for more, that this bond would be a new beginning, a way to control her powers. She felt like it truly was, and that made her sit a little straighter in his hold.
Uri must have felt her change in attitude because he brought her attention back to his current lack of satisfaction by taking possession of her mouth. She moaned deep as his tongue aggressively probed her depths. She tasted herself on his lips and gasped. In mere moments, she was ramped back up, arching her body into his, holding his head to hers. Pulling lightly at the soft strands of his hair earned a growl against her lips, vibrating them so good. He tasted and taunted her with his wicked tongue. She felt the tips of his fangs, surprised he hadn’t nicked her. “Are you going to bite me?”
“In the mating ceremony.” His voice was deep and raspy. She wondered what it would be like. His fangs were so incredibly sexy, but she didn’t really understand why they kept slipping free. She’d have to ask. He pushed against her, letting her feel the hard evidence of his need while his tongue dueled with hers in a manner that showed just how little control he had. The thought filled her with feminine pride. Loving that she had the ability to make him as wild as he made her. He lifted her with one hand, then moved the cushion to the other side of the small pool and set her on it. There was no step on that side and the water was shallower, positioning him perfectly between her open thighs as he stood in the water.
She watched as he devoured her with his gaze while running his iron-hard length along her pussy, making tantalizing contact with her clit as he moved. After a couple of slow glides, he was coated in the juices of her renewed arousal. His eyes glittered and swirled as the muscles of his arms and chest pulled taut.
“Lay back and hold on to the bench leg behind you.” The demand came out low and harsh.
She did as he asked. Lying back with her arms over her head pushed her breasts up in offering and made her squirm. The legs of the bench were a part of the floor. His eyes fixed on the hardened tips, peaked for him.
“I won’t be gentle,” he said, jaw tense. He reached out to pluck one tight bud, and her eyes went half lidded. He used his other hand to guide his way into her pussy. She felt her body expand to take the massive length. He hissed out a breath through clenched teeth. The tendons along his neck strained, and he looked like a primal beast ready to rut.
“I don’t want gentle,” she said as she pushed against him. He groaned when she added, “I can take anything you can give me.”
Not needing any further encouragement, a groan tore from his throat as he seated himself fully inside her. She wiggled, loving the sensation of being stuffed full of him. She held on tight to the stone leg. It was even more amazing than the first time he took her. An odd primal feeling encompassed her. She wanted him rough and demanding, wild. She was stretched around him and aching in the best way. He was so deep, the press of his sac against her bottom was hot, making her cry out. She pulled him tighter with her thighs, wanting him to move but loving having him all the way to her womb.
The deep rumble of his growl made her pussy quiver.
A small surge of warm liquid slipped inside her, making her take a deep, ragged breath. He pulled out slowly, only to pound all the way back in. They both moaned as he filled her again. Then his strokes became harder, faster, more demanding. Alex never wanted him to stop. She cried out as he hit a spot so deep, so sensitive her eyes nearly rolled back. She watched, mesmerized, as he closed his eyes and pumped as if his life would end without this joining. She felt her walls pulse around him as, panting, she struggled to meet his thrusts. She was as much a wild animal as he was.
Uri’s heavy breathing and tight groans mixed with the sounds of wet skin against skin were all her mind could focus on. He wrenched her legs from around his waist, putting them up on his shoulders. He felt even bigger and deeper inside her. Before she fully registered the change in pressure from the new position, those big hands were caressing her thighs all the way to her feet. She watched as he turned his head and licked her instep. Oh, Gods, the sight of his tongue lashing out between the tips of those sharp fangs, mixing with the look in his eyes as he savored the taste of her skin, had her pushing tighter against him.
He rotated his hips seductively before thrusting again. She cried out when a single fang grazed along the bottom of her foot, only to be followed by the circling of that magnificent tongue.
She writhed and moaned, barely able to breathe through the pleasure. Alex was out of her mind when one large thumb made its way to roll against her clit. All the while, he never missed a beat in the relentless pounding of his hips against hers. She crested in a blinding rush, her body bowing as she screamed her release.
She registered him shouting out at the same moment. Her shield seemed to pulse between them but not release. She felt Uri’s euphoric release inside her mind. Feeling his climax pushed her into another world-shattering orgasm. Her body tightened over and over against his still-hard shaft, and he shouted again, bathing her womb.
It was beyond anything she’d thought possible. She didn’t realize males could have multiple orgasms, but she’d felt the warm liquid filling her a second time. It somehow soothed her aching inner muscles. It was incredible, magical. She’d never truly been sated on her own, had only been able to take the edge off.
He lifted her into his arms, lowering them into the soothing water. For long moments she settled against him, held gently in his embrace with her cheek cradled into the curve of his neck. She was lulled by the rapid beat of his pulse. It relaxed her, and she cuddled into him, sated and content. It felt so right, perfect.
Her heart stilled. “Doesn’t the fact that I’m your mate make it possible for pregnancy now?” She held her breath waiting for the answer. Unsure how she felt about that. Or how he felt about it for that matter.
“Only after we’ve completed the bond, and Sirena says it usually takes at least a decade, or longer.”
He tucked her under his chin and rubbed her back in soft strokes for long moments before speaking again. “I need to know what happened to you.” It was spoken softly but had the impact of dumping her in ice water; her body instantly tensed.
Crap, why did she have to relive her biggest life-altering mistake with him? She would rather forget about that now that she didn’t have the constant reminder that had come with her connection to her brothers.
“I know this must be difficult. I heard enough in your mind to guess, Alexandra.” His jaw was clenching so tight, she worried for his teeth. Thankfully, his fangs had retreated. “Part of the mating ceremony is the blood-bonding. In that, I will relive the most poignant of your memories, as you will mine. Trust me when I say that there are things I’m not looking forward to you seeing either. We have both lived long lives. If you’ve been through what I expect, I would rather hear it before I see it.”
Her heart stuttered in her chest. He was going to see it? She felt the blood drain from her body and she grew chilled. He rubbed her back gently and tucked her head under his chin. He whispered into her hair, “Just breathe and tell me.” At least she didn’t have to look at him. Best to get it over with. She took a heavy breath.
She cleared her thoughts and figured it best to start at the beginning. “I grew up very sheltered. With the Gods falling to madness from taking in dark energies of death and destruction, my mother and father felt it smarter to keep us a secret and hidden away. Especially since our mother always thought my powers would evolve into something amazing. Though, that never happened.” She brought her head up and looked at him, finding she’d rather see his face while she spoke.
With a tight nod, he urged her on, watching her with those penetrating eyes that seemed to see everything.
“The news apparently got out about my odd powers and my mother’s feelings about my immense potential,” she said caustically before clearing her throat.
She needed to stop stalling. “The Tria came for me… it wasn’t until later that we found out about the rumors and pieced it together. My mother felt the attack was Artemis and Ares’ doing, sending their demented offspring to… breed with me…” She had barely gotten the words out as bile built in her throat, almost choking her at the sickness of the two Gods. “My mother, Aphrodite, and Hades tried to kill them after finding me, but they couldn’t. That’s why they were imprisoned in Hell. My brothers and I were unconscious and in bad shape at that point, but I heard Drake and Pothos were also there and helped imprison the bastards.”
Athena, Aphrodite and Hades had been the only just Gods during very dark times. Though that fact obviously hadn’t saved them; they’d been put to sleep by the Creators along with the evil Deities.
“Go on,” Uri said in a tight whisper, but she heard his teeth grinding. All during her explanation, he held her in his lap, sitting in the warm water, absently rubbing circles on her hips or on her back. It relaxed her, and she appreciated being soothed.
“That was it. Vane and Erik found me unconscious. I’d hopped into another’s head and was lying in one of the hallways in my mother’s palace.” She tried not to mentally go back there, it was so long ago. “I wasn’t inside my body, so I don’t remember the act itself. I only remember waking up near death.” His body got even more rigid against her. She leaned back into his chest and cleared her throat.
Her stomach churned as she continued. “I was broken, and I could hear my brothers fighting them.” She fought back the tears that threatened as she relayed that part of the memory. Uri had gone back to drawing the soothing circles against her flesh, but she had seen the fury in his eyes before curling into his body. She practically whispered the hardest part. “They were toying with Vane and Erik. I’m lucky that was part of their fun. It’s the only reason my brothers lived. Gods, Uri, they were so young. Not even twenty at the time and the Tria were so powerful. It was the worst thing imaginable to wake up broken and violated, only to be forced to witness the brothers I loved more than anything being ripped apart. I tried to move… but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help them.” She had to stop and take a deep breath. “Finally, my mother and father, along with their warriors, came. That was the last I saw before losing consciousness. I was told the rest later.”
“And…” he encouraged her. She wasn’t sure how he knew there was more.
“I guess the worst part was my ‘knowing’ power had made me want to leave the palace. But I ignored it. I didn’t understand the compulsion because I’d never felt the intuitive power until that moment… The whole thing was my fault.”
He ground out with force, “It wasn’t your fault. They would have found you eventually. Someday, I’m going to find a way to kill those fuckers.” He took a deep breath and kissed her temple, still holding tight to her.
They stayed that way for a long time, with Uri just holding her in his comforting arms.
A long while later he sucked in a breath and spoke. “Let’s see if we can work with the head-hopping.”
She nodded. “Then you can explain that talk of a syringe.”