I turned around and stepped forward. If anyone would be getting punished, it was going to be me. Not these brilliant, brave men who'd done nothing but accept me for who I am. I dipped my head. "Master."He stepped closer and I forced myself not to move or shiver. He punished weakness to a brutal degree. "We've missed you in the village, Hollyn. It's time for you to come home."Grumpy, sweet, brave, stupid Grumpy, stepped forward, wrapped his arm around my waist. "That won't be happening. We're keeping her."My eyes fluttered closed. Hollyn. I squeezed them shut now. No. No. No. Get out of my head. I screamed it. Howled it. I grabbed both Tove's and Grumpy's hands. I needed their help. This close to the master, I needed their help to resist his call. Their fingers entwined with mine. Take what you need, sweetcheeks, Grumpy said. I believe in you.So do I, Tove added. You'll kill them. They have no magic of their own. You'll rip their spirits from their chest

I knocked on Thane's door. "Come in," he called. Tove was coming down the hall, adjusting his sleep pants over his junk. He raised his eye at me. I shook my head and turned into Thane's bedroom. And stopped dead. Sweetcheeks was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Naked. Her hair was slicked back with moisture as she patted at her skin with a towel. Thane had a satisfied smile on his face as he lounged back against the headboard. "Ask away, Stretch." He shot me a smile and a wink. I looked at the lady in question. "What's up, sweetcheeks?"She nibbled her bottom lip. "I just got to ea-er, umm-blow Thane's head." He winced and laughed. "Give head, suck my cock, blow job, Stretch."She turned back to me. "Right. Those things. And now I feel all empty and achy."I held my breath. There were only two of us left and she only had one available opening. I raised my eyebrows. "And?" I needed her to spell it out. "And, as long as I can keep my butterfingers, I was wonder

Who was crazy enough to break into the triplet's home? I tried to look around Thane's shoulder. But they were so broad that all I saw was the edge of the room. I wanted to see the face of the idiot stupid enough to breach their lair. Not to mention, that feminine voice was so familiar. I had to know what was going on."Who are you and how the fuck did you get in here?" Tag snarled. The former Marine and ultimate protector of the group. My Grumpy.The female snickered. "I've never heard of a deaf dragon. I just told you my name. Breet. Although it's spelled B-R-I-G-I-D. Make sure you get it right." Her accent was wonderful. Along with the sing-song cadence of her voice."Telling me your name doesn't mean shit. Who are you to Hollyn?"Brigid chuckled, the sound musical. "You really need to brush up on your history, love. But fine, as I can see you're big and strong. I'm Brigid. One of the goddesses. Who do you think has been hearing your prayers of late?"My eyes went huge.

I didn't care if the man was her father or the savior of the natural world. I was going to damage him. Especially for treating this moment like it was something on a game show.Sweetcheeks had never mentioned her father in all the time we'd known each other. Granted, it had only been a little more than a week, but still. For him to just traipse in here like this. I was going to shoot him. Hopefully soon. Not kill him. But let him see how it felt to have holes ripped into him without warning.Sweetcheeks shook her head. Her heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it against my chest. Along with the slight vibration of her body.I wrapped my arms around her, secured her to my body like I was the parachute and she was getting ready to jump from the plane.She settled slightly. Pushed herself further into my grip, tugged my arms around her tighter.I was afraid I was going to crush her lungs. But not my sweet girl. No. She was made of sterner stuff.She released a heavy sigh a

I spun around to Brigid. "Fix him! What the hell have you done to him, you spinach tossing lint licker?" I stabbed my finger back at Thane. My beautiful Thane. The spikes of bone that sprang from his spine looked so painful. The mangled web of wings that ran from his elbow to his midback reminded me of a bat-those horrid flying rats we had in the Valley. I looked back at this man who had saved me. My gaze trailed down the rest of his body. He had a spiked tail that curled between the counters of the kitchen. Watching it grow from his body had curdled my stomach. His beautiful brown skin was now shaded with an opalescent sheen as scales covered him from forehead to toes. His short brown hair was an odd covering on a head that was more elongated than square. His fiery golden eyes, those were the same. And they were sparking like he was getting ready to light the whole apartment on fire. "What the fuck?" He stared past me to the goddess who had ruined all of our lives in a ver