Heir (Bloodline Vampires 2)

With that cryptic statement, we all head into the master bedroom and take turns showering off. Under other circumstances, it might have turned into some sexy fun, but I’m barely managing to stay on my feet, and the men don’t seem like they’re doing much better. Malachi orders us into the massive bed before we fall down, and no one argues with his command. That, more than anything, speaks to how fucked up things are right now.

I end up wrapped in a blanket, cuddled between Wolf and Rylan while Malachi reclines on Rylan’s other side. It’s a strange sort of puppy pile, but it feels effortless. Especially when Rylan idly sifts his hand through my hair.

As tempting as it is to close my eyes and let them comfort me with their presence, we have to talk about this and we need to do it now. I twist a little to see Rylan’s face, but not enough to dislodge his hand in my hair. “Did you know this might happen?”

“No.” He closes his eyes, his expression strangely peaceful. “But the seraphim weren’t exactly sharing the inner workings of their powers with everyone else. The bond was common knowledge at the time, and everyone was aware that it could cause compulsive obedience, but beyond that, it wasn’t clear.” He frowns a little. “Though it doesn’t make sense that it would share powers like this. Plenty of vampires who were forcibly bonded would rather die than stay linked like that. I can’t imagine they’d hesitate to use more power against the seraph who held their leash.”

Kill the seraph likely meant killing every vampire they were bonded to. “Is that possible even with the compulsion?”

“Yes.”

He doesn’t need to elaborate. If he says it’s possible, then it is. Sharing power the way we have would make it much easier to kill the seraph involved. “Maybe it happened because we chose this. Tonight, I mean. Maybe the bond responded to that willingness.”

“That seems likely.” Malachi’s staring at something off in the middle distance. “In the end, it doesn’t change the end goal or the plan. We’ll stay here as long as we can. It will give us time to figure out if this is temporary and teach you what you need to know to control them.”

That makes me laugh, but not like anything is funny. “It takes Bloodline vampires decades to learn to control their powers.”

“Who told you that?”

I start to snap back, but realize that he’s right. My father was my source of all my vampire lore until I met Malachi. It stands to reason that he would keep information close to his chest, even from his children who did inherit his magic. Information is just another kind of power, and my father never parts with power willingly. “Well, shit.”

“Cornelius really is an asshole.” Wolf chuckles. “A month should be more than enough time. Maybe less since you have all three of us helping. You’ll be fine, love.” He says it with such confidence, I almost believe him.

On the other hand, when has anything come easily for me?

“In the meantime, we maintain the course.” Malachi looks down at me. Even as tired as he obviously is, there’s heat in his dark eyes. An answering pulse goes through me. No matter what else is true, I love having sex with these men. Love it.

I…love them.

I won’t say it. Not now. Maybe not ever. It’s too new and raw and unknown. No matter what we’ve chosen for the future, the power between us is so precariously balanced. Telling them what I feel is asking for trouble.

Coward.

I ignore the little voice inside me and close my eyes. “Yes. We’ll maintain the course.”

I don’t remember going to sleep, but I wake up with Rylan’s mouth on my breasts and Wolf’s tongue in my pussy. It feels like a fever dream to glance down and find Malachi’s mouth wrapped around Rylan’s cock. A fever dream, but so right my heart gives a painful thump in response. This is how it should be. The four of us. Together. This is how it is now.

Wolf moves back a little and flips me onto my side. Rylan and Malachi move to adjust, Rylan shifting down to tongue my clit and Malachi moving with him. And then Wolf is pressing into me. “Love your ass,” he murmurs against the back of my neck. “Can’t neglect this pretty pussy, though.”

Rylan chuckles against my clit, and I shiver. “This…”

“Shh, love.” Wolf clasps my jaw and urges me back so he can claim my mouth even as he thrusts deeper. “Just a dream.”

I reach down and sift my fingers through Rylan’s short hair. He’s rubbing my clit with his tongue slowly, teasing my pleasure higher. This entire experience feels lazy in the best way. No one is rushing. We’re simply giving and receiving pleasure. Each orgasm they deal me feels like a little death that builds on the last one, a slowly rising tide.