Two days later, Noah stood at the back of the king’s throne room with Eilam as the members of his team were recognized for their bravery—including Angelo who was being treated for the “bite” he’d gotten. It had been more like a nick.
Pride radiated from Noah as each man approached the king and took their award before the entire court. The men had risked their lives to save Midnight, and to see the king pay respect to them meant the world. When their king was done, he turned and motioned Eilam and Noah forward. “Eilam, I believe all of these men were ones you wanted to serve as my king’s guard?”
“They are, Your Majesty. All but one,” Eilam answered.
“Kane was my addition, Your Majesty.”
“I was thinking that this special team of yours could be better led by someone on my king’s guard,” the king murmured. “Someone working side by side with Eilam.”
Noah stiffened. “You’re kicking me off my own team?”
The king lifted one brow. “If you’d let me finish… I thought your team should be led by my Sergeant at Arms.”
“Sire, you don’t have a Sergeant at Arms,” Eilam said.
The king turned to Noah and softly whispered, “I do now.”
Noah met the king’s stare, and a smile grew on his face. The king returned it, a light shining in his violet eyes.
Their warlock turned to Eilam. “And I also have a new Sheriff of Midnight.”
“Me?” Eilam asked.
“You,” the king answered. “It’s pretty much what you’ve been doing all along, but now you both have the titles you deserve. Ones befitting king’s consorts.”
Noah froze and lifted his stare to the king. Their monarch waved a hand and two witch males came up, both of them with heavy gold circlets on velvet pillows in their hands.
Adriel took the first of the two and walked to Noah. “Take a knee.” He smiled before whispering, “So I can reach your head.”
Noah lowered to one knee, his whole body trembling. He stared at the golden circle in the king’s hand. It was very much like the one the king wore for court. He had no desire for titles, or crowns, for that matter—but what it symbolized, he wanted more than his next breath. Adriel took a half step closer and lowered the circlet to Noah’s head. He lifted his stare and held his mate’s for a moment before the king leaned his head and pressed his lips to Noah’s before the entire court.
And then he stepped back, took the second circlet, and moved to Eilam.
Noah turned to watch Adriel crown his brother bear. When it was over, Eilam looked his way, his eyes bright.
He’s ours.
Protect him.
Noah took a ragged breath, stunned they’d reached this point. Still shocked that it had even happened. He tilted his gaze and looked up at the king, who wore a wide smile.
“You may rise,” Adriel said. “And turn and meet the court as king’s consorts.”
Cheers and applause arose around them as they turned to see the court and his team watching what had just transpired.
While the applause was appreciated, these were not the people Noah wanted to see. Not now… not when they had a mate to finally claim. His bear roared within, ready to get their warlock naked.
Once the cheering calmed, Theis stepped toward the dais and whispered something into the king’s ear. Eilam grew worried and moved closer. Noah followed suit.
The king looked at them both. “Follow me.”
* * * *
“He survived?” Adriel asked. “I spoke to the healers, and they said there was no hope.”
“There are no answers… they’re still doing tests, but Ralnur has somehow weathered this storm and is growing stronger.” Theis paused. “And has been turned.”
“His room was supposed to be guarded at all times… how did a vampire get in?” Eilam demanded.
“It has been guarded since he arrived. I don’t have any answers,” Theis said. “We’re pulling surveillance from the hospital and seeing who came in or out of his room.”
Adriel moved to the enchanted map that held his locator spell. A red dot was illuminated at the hospital… the one and only being within Midnight that was both a warlock and a vampire was there.
His uncle.
He stared a moment, getting his head straight. While there was a small part of him that was pleased, he feared for the worst.
How was he changed?
Is he fighting against us?
“I need to talk to him,” Adriel said and stormed forward.
Eilam stilled him with one hand. “Let the guards investigate. See who was in his room… then go see him and ask your questions once you have more information.”
“If he’s working with the vampires, we need to tread carefully,” Noah added.
He’s not. Adriel knew in his gut that his uncle wasn’t working against him, yet there were so many signs that it was possible. Was his love for the man clouding his judgment?
“Double his guard. Search the recording and find out all you can. Come back to me when you have everything you can find,” the king said to Theis.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Theis began to back away, bowing, but paused. He frowned and eyed the king. “I do have one more question to ask you, although I know the timing is horrid.”
“Ask,” Adriel said.
“Reese’s friends… the other three… they returned again.”
Adriel frowned. “A third time?”
“We have no record of wiping a mind more than twice—it’s never been necessary to use the spell a third time—so I wasn’t sure how you wanted to proceed,” Theis said.
Adriel was thoughtful a moment. “What led them back this time?”
“They sensed they’d left someone behind. Even though Reese and Hart were wiped from their minds the last time… they couldn’t reconcile the loss and knew something was missing from their lives.”
“These five seem to have an interesting link.” Adriel thought on it a moment, unsure what to do with three reckless humans in his city.
“I would be happy to take custody of them… and bring them into my home as my guests while you considered what came next,” Theis offered. “Reese has expressed sadness over losing his close friends.”
“Fine,” Adriel said. “Do that and I will consider their case at a later date.”
Theis offered a smile. He bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” The guardsmen backed from the room and left the three of them alone.
“If it’s not one thing, it’s another,” Noah murmured.
“Get used to it,” Eilam said.
Adriel sighed and scrubbed his face. “The last few weeks have been exhausting.” He lifted his stare and looked at his males. “I need to forget it all for a few hours and find something that makes me happy.”
Eilam took a step closer. “And just what is it you want to do, Your Majesty?”
Adriel took a few steps and placed a palm on Eilam’s chest before turning and reaching for Noah. His other mate moved closer, taking his hand.
“I want you both to make love to me… to quench this burning need… and make me forget all the stress of the crown I wear.”
It was a matter of seconds before the two of them surrounded him. With a flick of his wrists, he opened the door between his study and bedroom, and gasped as Eilam lifted him off his feet. After he was deposited into the center of the bed, their strong hands removed his clothing, piece by piece.
The second he was naked, they rested back on their haunches and stripped themselves bare. Adriel could barely think straight as the two males touched every inch of him with their hands and mouths. His body throbbed with need. It had ached for them for so long, and pushed him to the edge of reason. Adriel had never thought he’d reach this moment.
When they were his.
He needed to know Noah’s touch.
He had to feel both their hands on him and their cocks inside him.
Adriel writhed between them, his body tight with need. Eilam lowered between his legs and sucked the head of his cock between strong lips. The king’s head fell back, a moan ripped from his lips, as the man’s mouth worked up and down his shaft, swallowing him whole. Noah rose on his knees beside the king’s head and offered his cock for Adriel’s hungry lips.
He drew Noah’s shaft into his mouth, parroting the practiced moves of Eilam’s lips and tongue. Adriel felt the tip of Eilam’s finger pressing against his anus. The second his muscles relaxed, the finger entered him, drawing a moan that spread around Noah’s cock.
His body tensed, the months’ long fire burning him. While he wanted to go slow, to savor these men, he was too starved for their touch. They laved and licked for what felt like hours, feasting on one another’s bodies. He’d turned liquid, his body a molten mass. When he felt Eilam spread him open wider and spear another thick finger inside his ass, he moaned and pulled Noah’s cock from his lips.
“I want you both inside me,” Adriel said. He waved a hand and a bottle appeared in his hand. He gave it to Eilam.
Soon after, Adriel felt something cold and wet rubbed against his ass a moment before Noah pulled from his lips. Eilam lifted him and Noah lay back on the bed. Adriel was moved to straddle Noah’s thighs and could feel the slick head of the cock he’d just suckled pressing against his ass.
Slowly, inch by inch, he pressed down on the thick cock. He met Noah’s stare, holding it as he sank lower. Noah clasped his hips in a tight grip as Adriel took the man down to the base. A tremor raced through him as he felt filled to overflowing.
“Oh gods,” Adriel whispered, laying his palms on Noah’s bare chest. The muscles under his hands flexed with a strength that amazed him.
“You okay?” Noah asked.
Adriel nodded before lowering his head and kissing his mate. “You’re mine.”
Noah smiled. “And you’re mine.”
“Not officially, though,” Adriel murmured.
Noah frowned.
“Don’t you both need to be inside me to make it a true claiming?”
Noah chuckled, and Eilam moved in behind him.
“I wanted to give you a moment to grow accustomed to one before I added another,” Eilam said lowly against his ear.
“We’ve already waited too long. I need you, Eilam.”
Adriel sighed as he felt the head of Eilam’s cock pressed against the spot Noah already stretched him wide. Ever so slowly, Eilam’s cock entered and penetrated him. He winced at the slight stab of pain. Eilam’s shaft was slightly thicker than Noah’s impressive cock. Together, the two were almost more than he could handle.
But they held him tight, not moving, as his body learned to accept both men at once.
And when he gave them the signal to move, he realized he’d never truly known pleasure. A cry tore from his lips as they filled him, over and over again, offering all of themselves with every thrust. Adriel yielding to their strength, letting them take over, their practiced moves perfectly in concert with one another.
The desire burned through him, engulfing his entire body.
They writhed together in the big bed, their bodies made one. It might’ve been seconds later, or maybe hours… time ceased to tick by… but Adriel felt an orgasm slam into him.
And still his strong bears took him, stretching out the pleasure he felt.
He surrendered his body to them, closing his mind to the outside world—only seeing and feeling his two bears.
When they came inside him, he could feel the heat of their seed as it filled him. They cried out in unison, calling his name, claiming him as theirs.
Once they had filled him with all they had, they fell to the side, still linked. Adriel lay between their naked bodies, boneless. He was exhausted yet could feel that he’d soon be ready for round two. After all their months of lost moments, they needed to play catch-up whenever they could.
Later in the night, after they’d rested, they fucked again, three made one.
When morning arose, their arms and legs were entwined in the sheets together. Adriel had been unable to sleep more than little fits, afraid his night with two bears was only a dream. He looked at the two sleeping bears as the sun began to peek inside his bedroom, sensing Midnight hadn’t fallen overnight.
He slid from the bed and walked naked to the window. Below, he saw the city in all its glory. Safe, for now.
A few moments later, Noah wound his arms around Adriel’s back. “It’s all still there,” he whispered against Adriel’s ear.
“How have you gotten so good at reading my mind so soon?”
Noah tightened his grasp. “Because we’re meant to be, you, Eilam, and I.”
Never had any statement felt so true. “I love you, Noah.” Adriel turned in his bear’s arms, knowing it had happened so quickly… but he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this man had his heart.
Sharing it with his brother bear.
“And I you,” Noah said before lowering his head and capturing Adriel’s lips.
Adriel was breathless when the kiss broke, his heart fuller than he had ever known it. He turned to see Eilam lounging in the bed, watching them.
“You could join us, you know,” Adriel admonished him.
Eilam smiled. “Noah deserves a few precious moments of his own. I had you to myself for a few months.”
“It’s not as if you actually had me during that time.”
Eilam’s gaze turned to Noah. “I just want him to be sure he is equal in your heart.”
Adriel faced Noah. “You are. You know that, don’t you?”
Noah led them back to the bed and sat on the edge. He lifted a hand into Adriel’s hair, cupping the base of his mate’s head. “I do. I was a fool to feel jealous over what the two of you shared—especially knowing how hard it was on you both.”
Adriel moved into the circle of Noah’s thighs and kissed the bear again. “So why not share me one more time before we are forced to leave this room?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Noah said with a smile.
They drew him onto the bed and claimed him again.
This time, leaving a little something behind.