“Those men, urgh,” I say, sitting on the edge of a large bed. “Whoever the missing daughter of Clan Aequalis is, I sure hope she is able to put up with such obnoxious pigs.”

Devin laughs. “If she is anything like you, I am pretty sure she’ll be able to handle herself.”

“You think they’ll go for it, that they’ll search for her?”

He sighs. “I hope so. I think you managed to pick at a sore point. Now they want more power. Look at this place, it reeks of it. I think you were right to say what you did. I am hoping, however, that their missing daughter will persuade them to change their attitude. Otherwise we’ll have a big problem on our hands.”

“I hope so too. All of the other clansmen are willing to do what it takes. Yet these three, they have everything they want here. Offering them such a chance at power is risky, given how little they appear to respect women. Whoever she is, she must be strong enough to control them. It won’t be easy for her.”

He looks at me for a long time and I am caught by the love in his eyes. “Have you forgotten how difficult it has been for you? Look what you did for Rhain, for me, for Ezra. Even if we break the curse…” Devin grits his jaw. “This isn’t what I wanted for you, my love.”

“Devin, come here,” I say, holding my hand out to him. He walks towards me, not for one minute taking his eyes off mine. He kneels before me and I take his face in my hands. “I love you. I love all of you, there really was no other choice I could make,” I say. He grabs my wrists in his hand and presses his mouth against the soft skin of my palm.

Red. I feel the tenderness of his soul move against mine. A warmth pools in my belly.

There is a light knock at the door, but he doesn’t pull back as Ezra enters. Devin remains where he is, pressing featherlight kisses up my arm. I look up, trying to regain some control over the longing I feel.

“How is Nostra doing?” I ask.

“He is better than he was. Lissandra is taking care of him. Amos has agreed they can stay here as long as they need to recuperate. He has extended that offer to us too,” Ezra says.

“I am glad they both have chance to rest. They need time with each other without the immediate threat of Adrielle hanging over their heads,” I say softly.

“I know what you mean. I think we could all do with a little time and space to take stock, to breathe, to prepare for what is to come,” Devin says, raising his free hand to my cheek.

“I agree. Just for a while I want to be with you all, safe. Can we do that?”

Rhain appears behind Ezra. He takes one look at me and Devin and steps into the room, his eyes alighting with desire and love. He does not hesitate, but strides over to me and kneels on the floor next to Devin.

“Of course, we can do whatever you wish.” He pulls my head down for a kiss, a low moan rising up his throat. “Cia, I cannot wait a moment longer…” he grinds out, pressing kisses against my bare arm.

“I know,” I say, feeling my body react to him in the same way my soul reacts to Devin. To complete the circle, Ezra must come willingly too. I want him just as much as his brothers, but he has to come without coercion. We were interrupted at Nostra’s place. Now, there is nothing and no one who can stop us from loving each other freely. Each of my men are intrinsic to my survival, I understand that completely. They are a part of me now; my body calls to Rhain, my mind to Ezra and my soul to Devin.

“Ezra,” I whisper, holding my hand out to him. It reminds me of that broken memory in the club, he was so different back then. He loved Thalia still, now he is mine and I am his.

Ezra steps into the room and gently closes the door behind him, twisting the key in the lock. A slow smile spreads across his face.

“If you think I am going to share a bed with these two stinking men, you can think again,” he says with a laugh.

Devin and Rhain pull back. We all look down at our filthy clothes.

“Ezra’s got a point,” Rhain chuckles. “I am not averse to a bit of dirty sex, but this wasn’t the kind of dirty I had in mind.”

“Then let us take a bath,” Devin says. He pulls me to my feet, wrapping an arm around my waist. “This room appears to have a rather large bathing pool through that door.” He points to an open doorway. Through it I can see a whirlpool bath.

“There is room enough for four,” Rhain says with a devilish look.

“So there is,” I laugh. “You’d better start running the water.”

Rhain jumps to his feet and rips his shirt from his back. Buttons fling across the room. I stifle a giggle.

“You idiot,” Devin grins. It warms my heart to see them all smile so. To feel relaxed enough to joke and laugh. We have spent too long running from one crisis to the next, and although I suspect we still have more to come, our part in the prophecy is over, at least for now.

“Afraid of a bit of competition?” Rhain asks, his pec muscles moving up and down in jest.

Devin rolls his eyes. “Hardly, brother,” he says, ripping his own shirt from his chest. I feel my fangs lowering from my mouth and a swell of desire building inside at the sight of their muscular chests and arms.

Ezra strides past them both and heads into the bathroom. I see him twist the taps and hear the water begin to fill the bath. Turning in the doorway, Ezra slowly undoes the buttons of his shirt. Not for one moment does he look away and I feel my own heart thundering at the sexy striptease he is giving me. He takes his time removing his clothes, not caring in the least that Devin and Rhain are watching too.

I didn’t know he had it in him, Devin says between our connection. It shows just how much he’s moved on, Red. To feel comfortable enough with us all to bare himself like this. Nostra is right, love is the most powerful magic there is.

“Now that is how it’s done,” Ezra jokes as he stands utterly naked before us.

Rhain and Devin explode with laughter. Ezra and I join in. It feels good to finally release some of the strain. As our laughter subsides and the room fills with a different kind of tension, I know this moment is leading to a place I’ve never been before, but it feels right. All we have is each other and for now, at least, we are taking what we can and finding the joy in it. A tiny well of happiness fills my chest as I glance at my men. All the other worries I have can wait.

Beside me, Devin takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom. Rhain follows. The bath has filled quickly, and Ezra has already settled himself into the water. On a shelf is a bottle filled with bubble bath. I twist open the lid and pour some in.

“Swish the water,” I say to Ezra.

“Swish?” he says, frowning.

“Like this,” I say, showing him how to move the water so that bubbles form.

Ezra stands up abruptly, backing away from the foam. “What magic is this?”

“Not magic, just science,” I say, biting back the laugh that threatens to burst just like some of the bubbles before me. “Ezra, sit back down.”

Rhain strips off his trousers and jumps in, splashing Ezra in the process. “Ah, that feels damn good,” he says as he sinks into the water up to his neck. Leaning his head back against the side of the bath, he watches me with heavy lidded eyes. Ezra settles back down next to him. He too watches my every move.

Devin pulls off his trousers. I am still wearing the same red dress that Lissandra gave me to wear to the ball. It is torn, covered in mud, ash and filth, and I want nothing more than to be free of it. It reminds me of something I no longer wish to recall. I want to wash away that memory and replace it with something else, something beautiful.

“Here, let me,” Devin says, moving behind me. His fingers trace over the nape of my neck before reaching for the top fastening. I expect him to slowly undo my dress, and am pleasantly surprised and more than a little turned on when in one quick motion he rips the back of my dress open.

I’ve been dying to do that for quite some time, Red, he says, steadying me as I step out of the ruined material. Turning me in his arms, he pulls me in for a deep kiss. I feel his soul caress my own as his tongue probes my mouth hungrily. His hand rests on the base of my spine, pulling me against his own naked body. I react without reservation. That part of me is gone now. I am not that pent up woman from before. The woman who was afraid to open her heart, to love, in case she was rejected. I am not her anymore. I am Accacia, I am Cia, I am Red.

Devin tears off my knickers and lifts me off my feet. We are still kissing and touching each other as he lowers me into the warmth of the bath. As soon as the heat of the water hits my body, Devin manoeuvres me to the centre so that I am surrounded by the three of them. They each begin to clean me. Devin pours water over my hair, taking his time to massage some of the soap suds through the tangled mess. He presses a light kiss against the spot where he bit me on my neck. The skin has healed now, but the crusted blood remains. He is so tender, so loving as he washes it away and it is exactly what I need to feel, it lessens the pain of that memory somewhat. Ezra and Rhain also move their hands over my skin, wiping away all remains of the dirt, cleansing me. It feels heavenly. I feel adored, worshipped, loved.

“Accacia, my love,” Ezra says, lifting me up and pulling me into his arms so that I am facing him. He grabs the back of my neck and rains kisses over my face, my neck, moving lower to my breasts. As he takes my nipples into his mouth and draws them into hard points I groan, my head tipping back, falling against a broad chest, Rhain’s. He takes Devin’s place, his strong arms circling my waist as his legs move either side of me. Firm fingers move lower, finding the nub of my desire, knowing exactly what to do. Ripples of pleasure pulsate outwards from my core as I respond to Rhain’s touch, to Ezra’s teasing mouth. I hear the sound of water trickling over our bodies as Devin manoeuvres himself next to me.

What do you want, Red? he asks.

All of you, everything. This.

Then that is what we’ll give you. Forever more, my love. He bends over, the long, wet curls of his hair falling against my skin, and presses his mouth against mine. I am lost to his kiss, Rhain’s touch and Ezra’s lips.

We spend all day entwined in each other’s arms. I am the centre of their attention, their love. Rhain takes me to the edge repeatedly, falling with me into the blissful afterglow of our orgasms, our bodies instinctively drawn to one another. Ezra too loves me fiercely and without restraint, giving me all of him, as I do in return. He and I are so very alike, two separate minds made whole together in our love. Then there is Devin, he fits the last piece in place, our circle finally complete as his soul entwines with mine whilst we love one another. There is no jealously here or envy, just acceptance, forgiveness and a promise to always care for one another.

We come together, the four of us, in body, mind, and soul, and as we do so the ring on my finger finally releases its grip. I hold my hand up to the fading afternoon light, my beautiful men all wrapped around me and watch as the scratched brass dissolves. In its place a permanent, more binding circle settles around us, one born from a magic more powerful and everlasting. Love.