“So he’ll be a man and not on four legs?” I ask…since this is really crucial information.

“Yes,” Damien says, working hard to resist a smile when I go lax with relief. “I’ll even prime you, because he’ll be quite savage and rough with you.”

His smile falls after he adds that last bit.

“And I’ll make the pain feel really good, because you’re already too battered to endure him as it is,” he adds.

I bat a dismissive hand. “If I withstood Caroline’s rage, I can handle Emit’s wolf.”

“You can’t compare Emit’s wolf to Caroline. It’s like comparing a shark to a stingray,” he tells me as he clicks his tongue.

“You all underestimate the fury locked inside the tormented who’ve lost their voice,” I volley.

His eyes stay locked on mine.

“Will you let me allow you to enjoy this? Consent is sort of a must in this situation. I don’t want to upset my relationship with you to help him forge his,” he dutifully points out. “I need to feed, and I want to feed on you and you alone. Clearly, I need to be in good standing to reach that point in the foreseeable future.”

Only Damien can be this obnoxious and endearing.

Unsteadily, he suddenly sways to the right, and I grab his shoulders, my brow furrowing, as he blinks several times.

“This is why I need to feed,” he goes on, clutching his head. “I can’t even form a psychic link to your dreams without getting dizzy. I’m struggling to keep the link active.”

“You’ve successfully made you both look pathetic. How do I do this? I don’t want him dead. I’d rather be his mate and deal with all that when I have to,” I tell him, slapping at his arm. “Hurry up and get started before he hurts Arion or Vanc—”

His lips are on mine in the next instant, and the violets swallow us, as he presses down on me. Our clothes seem to vanish, and I have to remind myself this isn’t real…even though it feels really, really real.

My breath catches and my toes curl, when his mouth starts a slow descent. Each kiss to some innocent patch of skin seems to have a live wire connected right between my thighs.

A startled cry escapes me when I damn near have an orgasm, and the only thing he’s doing is kissing my shoulder. I also feel the asshole grinning against my skin, because he knows he’s incredible and proud of it.

“One would think you’re too innocent, Violet,” he murmurs, as he begins kissing his way down the valley of my breasts…working me to that edge he’s just taken from me.

“Or incredibly starved for affection, in spite of having four very complicated relationships, where sex was most definitely on the table,” I say through clenched teeth, trying not to make any sounds of approval while he’s being an ass.

I fail miserably when his mouth finally reaches the spot I want him most.

He winds my body tighter and tighter, keeping me on that sharp razor’s edge, leaving me to teeter on it. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to fall over it.

“Sorry, Violet,” he groans, swaying up to his knees when my eyes snap open to glare at him. “I’m simply not strong enough to hold this illusion any longer and relieve the pain. I choose to maintain the latter.”

My breath leaves in a rush as the waterfall, violets, and everything else leaves in a blurry rush. I almost feel like my soul leaps out of the frame and gets dragged back down to my body.

A painful burst of air flares in my lungs, and my eyes truly snap open, just as the mother of all orgasms rips through me.

My nails bite into slick, firm flesh, as long, silky hair slides over my cheek.

My eyes land on a set of feral brown ones that are dancing with fire-like embers, as the skin sliding against mine rages uncontrollably hot.

I hiss out a breath when my entire body vibrates with the spasms of my never-ending orgasm, as Emit’s mouth collides with mine, feral growls rumbling his chest against mine.

Apparently this party got started before I was even fully awake.

Another painfully explosive orgasm crashes through me so hard that I end up biting his lip and breaking two nails on his steel-like skin.

A sharp cry tears out of me when the bed crashes to the ground under us, Emit still fucking me with abandon. There’s no pain, in spite of my bruises and barely-healed wounds.

Only untethered pleasure burns through every single inch of me, wringing every ounce of euphoria from the brutal force Emit is using on me.

His teeth are clenched, canines fully extended, as those wild eyes stay focused on me. His claws are stabbed into my thighs, anchoring me in place.

Even that feels good.

I notice Damien in the corner, as he sways to a seat, even as another crackle of bliss rocks through my body so hard I arch into Emit. The vicious, rough wolf flips me abruptly, claws circling my neck as he shoves himself inside me again.

I don’t know why I’m enjoying this so much. I don’t know if it’s because it’s been forever since I’ve had good sex. Or if it’s because Damien is doing whatever it is he’s doing to me. Or if it’s because Emit’s so out of control, due to how desperately his wolf needs to claim me.

A thought occurs to me too late.

This is his wolf. This isn’t Emit.

Emit told me to run.

Emit’s wolf is who sought to claim me.