I squeezed my eyes shut. Afraid my mind was playing tricks on me. When something connected with my shin though...I opened my eyes. I fell to my knees, wrapped her in my arms. Held her close. "You're here," I said against her hair. Tag and Tove dropped next to us. Their hands were running over every available inch of our girl.She nodded, her hair catching in the stubble that covered my chin. "I'm here. Where have you guys been?" She leaned back, her gaze catching on my mouth. She shook her head. "Tell me later. I really need to feel all of you against me. Now.""They haven't the time to settle between your legs, you dirty trollop. Get to your feet and get back to your battle!" Brigid screeched at Stretch. Tag leapt over us and slammed his fist into the goddess' face. "Speak like that to her again, and I'll rip you limb from limb.""Garinion?" Ari asked as she came back out to the balcony. She crumpled to the ground and yanked Stretch from my arms. "You're here. You did it."
My grandmother buried her mouth next to my ear. "Do not fight me, garinion. I will help you defeat Patrick. I will right this wrong that has been landed at your feet. I vow that you will never be bothered by my siblings again."I tried to pull away. Tried to cover her mouth. I'd heard words like that before. Right before my mother allowed me to kill her. Before she sacrificed herself for me as a child. I wouldn't be losing anyone else from my family. I might not fully understand everything that is going on right now, but if all of this was just some kind of game? Heads were about to roll. I was tired of my family, my loved ones, being used as pawns in someone else's game. I pressed my lips to my grandmother's cheek. "Do not fight me, grandmother. I will not let you sacrifice yourself for me." I leaned my forehead down against hers. "A wise woman once told me that I'm more powerful than I realized. I'm going to take her words to heart."Grab her. Don't let her speak. Don't let
We stood behind the safety of the glass. Watched as our sweet girl called down power and horror on the people who had ruined our lives. Watched as our girl drifted farther and farther away from us even though she hadn't moved. "Something's wrong," I said again. "This isn't our Hollyn." I shook my head. "She would never take joy in someone else's pain. No matter who they were. Not like this." I turned to look at Ari. She had tears streaming down her cheeks as she strained against Thane's and Tag's hold. She pleaded with me with her eyes. She knew something was wrong, too. "Let her go," I said. I pulled my brothers' hands away from the goddess. "Let her go. She can help us save her.""Stretch said not to let her talk. You going to be the one to tell Stretch that you didn't do what she asked?" Thane asked, his gaze still glued to our girl outside. I punched him in the face. When he righted, I stabbed a hand towards the window. "Does that look like our girl? Where the fuck is
Incandescent rage flowed through me as Thane's mouth smashed down onto mine. I bit at his lips as his words crashed through my brain. We won't let him have you, Stretch. We claimed you first. You're ours.The drain was immediate and painful. I shrieked against his mouth as I felt them pull and suck away my power. My birthright. My legacy. They ripped it from me in large gulps. My arms were locked to my sides by Tove's hands. My hands were clenched in Grumpy's fists. Made helpless by my men.Not helpless, Stretch. Never helpless. Not with us. We're saving you. Saving you from him. Look inside. This isn't you. I snarled and pushed his words aside. He was stealing what wasn't his to take. Just like all the other men in the Vi-Something sharp carved through my upper arm right before a boiling hot rag was stuffed inside the wound. Thane swallowed my scream of pain. My whimper of agony. We're saving you. I'm so sorry, Stretch. Sorry we didn't notice it earlier. Speak for y
I fisted my hands to keep from yanking Cheeks out of Drace's arms and into my own. She was mine and we'd almost lost her. Again. Drace carried our mate into the house. I turned on the gods who thought to make a game with our lives. Calling to my dragon, I let him out to play. The wrenching pleasure of my hybrid body saturated my senses. "Stand up," I said softly. The rumble of my voice in my chest never ceased to amaze me. My dragon was badass and I was glad he was mine. They stumbled to their feet. All except the blonde goddess. She was dead. My girl had killed a goddess. Here was hoping we didn't have a lot of backlash from that unfortunate circumstance. I fought not to kick the dead woman's body. They better not get in our faces about it. They'd brought this onto themselves. The two giant men slumped against each other while they left Brigid to manage on her own. All three swayed slightly. Their skin had been eaten away in different places while bruises bloomed over t
I woke in the dark. For the first time in what felt like forever, nothing had invaded my sleep. No whispers. No nightmares. Nothing. Just solid, healing sleep. As my eyes adjusted, I saw that my men had left a light on in the bathroom for me. Joy and peace lit my heart. They were the best. And they were mine. A soft knock sounded at the door. I tasted the air, smiled as I recognized the energy signature. "Come on in, Grams."Ari opened the door, a giant smile on her face. "I've always wanted to be called that." She walked over to the bed. "How are you feeling?"I nodded. "Really good actually. How are you?"She spluttered a laugh. "I'm well, thank you. But then again, five days of rest and recovery will do that for a body."I jerked. "Five days? I've been sleeping for five days?" I pushed the covers down my body. I was both unhappy and incredibly relieved to find that I had a pair of men's boxer briefs-blue and red with a giant S in the middle of my pubic bone-and a white
A loud knock sounded on the door. "Now that all the hooting and hollering are done, can Hollyn come out and play?" Drace called. "No. Go away," Grumpy yelled back, a smile on his face. He pulled from my mouth and fell sideways onto the bed.Drace thumped the door. If I wasn't mistaken, she'd kicked it. "Not happening. It's my turn." She chuckled. "You know what I mean. But I kinda need my best friend for girl talk. You've got ten minutes before I open this door."Thane slapped a hand to my butt, causing me to squeal. "Guess you better get in the shower." He leaned down. Pressed his lips to the small of my back. "I'm so very glad you're back, Stretch. Burning down the world was our next option." He pulled out of me. I shuddered at the feeling. Felt our mixed juices slide down my leg. He groaned again. "Fuck. That's hot." He slid a finger up along my thigh. I shivered. Grumpy, spread out before me on the bed, his head hanging off the end, jerked up into a seated positi
I snatched my pants up my legs as Drace stuck her head in the door. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Her face was pointed up towards the ceiling. "Is she ready?""Get the fuck out of here, Drace!" Tag snarled at her. I chuckled. "She's in the shower. She'll be out when she's out. Don't pester her. Now seriously, leave.""Fine. I'm going, I'm going. Bunch of killjoys. You guys still have to talk to the Elders by the way. Seems they want some kind of new council to be formed?" She shut the door before I could open my mouth to comment. I looked at my brothers. "What the fuck?"They both shrugged as they pulled their clothes back on. "I'm taking a shower. I'll be out in ten minutes," Tove said. He strode to the door, went through. Tag soon followed after him. I didn't want to interrupt Stretch in her shower. I knew how much she liked them. So I just cleaned up as best as I could and threw a shirt on. Walking out my door to the living room, I saw that Drace hadn't been lying.