More sprites and witchy lights!
Watching and listening to Madelyn as she got excited over Meadow’s witchy lights might be one of the highlights of my life. She may not be wearing my mark, but I can feel her excitement and how relaxed she is around me. Her willingness to lean against me, to hold my arms around her, has something deep inside me relaxing.That is, until she asks about me staying the night with her. Then I have a very different feeling running through my body.‘She’s not ready to have sex, stupid,’ Baron says.‘You don’t know that,’ I say, but I’m pretty sure my wolf is right. It honestly doesn’t matter. Just her asking if I’ll stay close to her means everything to me.“Um, I don’t have any clothes to change into or sleep in, though,” Madelyn says.“You can sleep in one of my shirts and I’ll talk to Emlyn about getting you something to wear,” I tell her. I’m so excited for her to stay the night at the pack. I know it’s scary for her but I’m so happy that she’s enjoying herself enough to want to stay.‘Ca
I feel like my heart flutters every time Cayd kisses me and his family is just so sweet. My necklace, my very first necklace, is beautiful and one of a kind.When we get back to the table, I see nearly all of their noses go up in the air and several of them frown.“Are you alright, sweetheart?” Angel asks me.“Yes ma’am. Just…a bit overwhelmed.“It’s Angel’s kids. It’s not mine. Mine are delightful,” Grace says, making the others laugh.“Mother, no one has ever called any of us delightful. Well, maybe Emlyn, but definitely not me and certainly not Emerson,” Riley says.“I am damn delightful, thank you very much,” the big man at the end of the table says.“Said no one, ever,” Riley says.“I think you’re delightful, baby,” Quinn says, and it almost sounds like a purr.“Thank the goddess for mate bonds,” Riley says.“Here! Here!” the entire table says, making everyone laugh again.“So, Madelyn, tell us all about yourself,” Malin says.“What do you want to know?” I ask, looking around, see
I can tell that Madelyn thinks that her ‘humanness’ is the opposite of what I want or need in a relationship. It makes sense. When I look around the table at my family and our allies, everyone is powerful. But I’ve always been different. My sisters are Guardians, so it was always a given that they’d be powerful and it’s not that I’m not strong, but I’ve never had to consider being an Alpha. I have two older brothers ahead of me to take that position.So, I could afford to be the softer brother, the fun brother. And I love that role. I’m glad that I don’t have the stress and responsibility that Rich has hanging over my head. That’s not to say that there isn’t stress in the idea of being our company’s CFO. I know there is a big expectation, especially from Rich, that our company will continue to fund the pack and keep it wealthy and financially sound. But I wouldn’t have done well with a mate who was as powerful as my sisters or the other Guardians. And I wouldn’t have done well with som
Wow does this man know how to kiss. Looking back, Alec only ever kissed me here and there and never, ever like this. But then, his motivation was different.With Cayd, it’s like…like he can’t get enough of me, like he could kiss me forever and it wouldn’t be enough. His mouth is so warm, his lips so soft and firm, that I’m pretty sure I could kiss him forever and it wouldn’t be enough for me either.When he pulls back, we’re both panting. He rests his forehead against mine with his eyes closed.“I never hated having to breathe more than I do right now,” he says making me laugh.His eyes open and the sage green of Cayd’s eyes are rimmed with the darker green of Baron’s.“I love that sound, though,” he murmurs softly.“What sound is that?”“Your laughter. It’s a soft, sweet sound, just like you.”“Are you saying I’m soft and sweet?” I ask.He nods, tilting his head and coming in for another kiss. “Definitely sweet.”I let Cayd’s strong, sure arms hold me up, because the longer we kiss, a
I knew Madelyn would consider me saying no to sex a rejection. I know I would have if she’d have said it to me. Although, I would have understood more because of what’s happened to her.In some ways, I’m thrilled that she’s ready and willing to take the next step with me, but I need to be cautious. I was serious that she needs to truly understand what it means to wear my mark and that once she agrees, there’s no turning back. She has to be willing to commit to me for the rest of her life.But all evening while we’d been up on the falls and even once we’d returned, I’d smelled her arousal. Since I couldn’t do much about it, I’d been licking and nibbling on her hands as we walked. It wasn’t enough, but it had made it easier for me to deal with my own body’s response to her.So when she tells me that I can taste her, I practically moan out loud. I pull the blanket down, smelling the scent of her arousal as it floats into the air. I can practically taste her sweet pear taste on my tongue.
I wake up slowly, feeling drunk but not hungover. I’m warm and comfortable and the house smells like buttery maple syrup. It must be winter and I’m snuggled in my warm bed.I hear chuckling from behind me.“Is it time to get up, mom?” I ask.“I am definitely NOT your mother, little mate,” a deep voice says in my ear, causing me to jolt as I feel warm lips press against my shoulder. My BARE shoulder.My eyes flash open and I look around, not recognizing anything.I try to leap out of bed, only to be held by a steel trap. When I look down, I realize the steel trap is an arm. A man’s arm.“Madelyn? What do you remember?” the deep voice is soft and soothing. “You’re safe. You’re with us, Cayd and Baron,” he says softly.“I’m naked,” I squeak.“Mhmm, yes you are. Do you remember last night?” he purrs, running his nose through my hair.“I…” Do I remember last night? We’d been at the falls, then Cayd had carried me back to the packhouse. We’d gone to his room, I’d been ready to have sex final
I feel like I’m going to explode. Madelyn has barely touched me and it’s the most amazing feeling I’ve ever experienced. If her gentle caress has me this close, how the hell do my brothers last when they have sex with their mates. I’m going to have to talk to them, find out what they do so they don’t blow their load every time their mates touch them.“Umm, that feels good,” I say, panting with the effort to not explode all over her. I mean, I know that’s the point, but she’s barely touched me.I feel her press her lips to my chest as her fingers continue to explore my hard length. I look down, gritting my teeth as she looks up at me with her beautiful blue eyes. “Like this?”“Will you think less of me if I come really quickly?” I say, not sure how long I can hold out.“Does it feel that good when I touch you?” she says.“Your fingers are like magic,” I say.“I’m not a witch,” she chuckles just before she wraps her hand around my length. She barely strokes me before I’m shooting off!“F
I’ve never felt so daring as I do with Cayd. There’s just something about him. It’s not what he says, it’s how he acts. His words are great, but I’ve learned not to trust those. His actions though and those of his family are hard to resist. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. I don’t think this many people, siblings, sibling mates, parents, and in-laws would all say the same thing if it wasn’t true.Add to that, Cayd is just, well…Cayd. As perfect as he is on the outside and wow does he have a great body, he’s even better on the inside.“Hey, ready for breakfast? Xander and Maeve are here. I asked them to bring your clothes hoping that you’d agree to go to Araphyra.”“You’re really worried about me,” I say, watching him.“It’s not so much that I’m worried about you here. No one would ever get past me to get to you. Even if they did, they’d also have to get past Rich and Emlyn, and that will never happen.”“So, why don’t we stay here?” I ask.“Two reasons,” he says, stepping up to m
We have lunch with Luna Grace, who told me to call her Aunt now that I’m part of the family, Alpha Eli, who told me to call him Uncle, Alpha Emerson, and Quinn. Quinn insists that I’m her sister, so I shouldn’t call her Luna and Emerson told me whatever made me most comfortable was fine with him.I’m pretty sure they asked more questions about our time in Araphyra than I did about the trial tomorrow. Everyone was shocked that there were two prophecies about me and Uncle Eli and Emerson asked Cayd a lot of questions about us bringing the return of the dragons. I could tell Cayd was proud that he was mentioned in my prophecy, but honestly, if he’s my mate, who else would have been mentioned?Because it’s winter and we stayed for several hours, the sun was beginning to set before we left and I had a chance to see all of the sprites' witchy lights begin to glow in the forest.“We definitely need lots of lights,” I tell Cayd as he walks behind me, wrapping his arms around me.“Should we get
I could feel Madelyn’s sadness as we left Araphyra and I wanted to make it go away. It occurred to me that this decorating thing might make her happy again, and I was right. I’ll decorate my entire apartment if it will keep my mate happy. Hell, I decorate the whole damn building if it makes her happy.I may be more like my mother than my father, but I learned from my father and my brothers that you’ll never be happier than when you make your mate happy. And they are right. Feeling Madelyn’s sadness turn to happiness makes me feel like the king of the world.While I drive, Madelyn turns on the car radio. She begins singing along to the songs. I don’t know any of the words, but I dance along as she sings happily. She’s still singing as we pull up to the entrance of Safe Haven. I stop at the guard gate.“Can you let Alpha Emerson and my sister know that Alpha Cayden and his mate, Madelyn, are here to visit?” I ask the guard.“Go ahead, Alpha. I’ll let them know you’re coming.”“Thank you
I can feel Cayd’s pride in me. There’s so much goodness in him. His heart is gentle and kind. I know that others described him that way, and I knew it from our interactions. But knowing it and feeling it are very different. Everything about Cayd is warm and inviting, drawing me in and making me want more.“So, Madelyn, tomorrow at 10am, you need to be ready to face Alpha Alec and maybe some of his pack members. I’m also expecting that he’ll bring other Alphas with him since we killed his father,” Lily says.“Those Alphas are probably in league with him,” Cayd says.“I’d bet money on it, which is why all of the Guardians are invited to attend tomorrow. We shouldn’t need them since Riley, Leana, and I will be there along with Mehira and Ennata.”“Well that covers the big factions, and it will be interesting to see how these Alphas feel about a council of all females making judgements about them,” Cayd smirks.“I doubt they’re going to like it very much,” Lily says, her smile a bit more v
I stare at my mate’s mark on my neck. I understand now why she wanted me to see it. She wasn’t worried that I wouldn’t like it, it’s just unlike any mate mark I’ve ever seen before.I stand from the water, turning to my mate. I’m not sure what she sees on my face, but she frowns, just a moment, before I take two steps and have her in my arms, devouring her mouth in a possessive kiss.I think I understand the power that I felt now when she bit into me. She gave me her dragon’s magic. Much like she will be stronger with my mark, I’m now stronger with hers. And maybe it’s because I’m a shifter that I feel it more than she has , but damn, dragon magic is very powerful magic.I pour my love and appreciation of the gift my mate has given me into the kiss.When I pull back, we’re both breathless and I can feel her dizziness from the power and emotions in my kiss. I’ll never get tired of this feeling.“I’ll never get tired of it either,” she says, her eyes still closed.I frown at my mate.‘Ca
I could feel Cayd’s body shaking with the control he was exerting in order to go slowly with me. I appreciate it, but something about his touch continues to light something inside me. The more he touches me, the more I want and need his touch. It's like my body is drawing him into me.I begin to feel a possessiveness, a need to have this man in my life, to have his mark on my neck for the world to see. And even more than that, I need the world to know that he is mine, only mine.When his canines enter my neck, and I feel like I’m going to explode with the pleasure inside me. It’s like the light inside me needs a place to exit, as if it’s expanding and is about to burst. My body jerks with the orgasms that Cayd has given me, one after another, but it hasn’t released the light inside me.It isn’t until I feel him release inside me, feel the warm jets of his cum coating my insides that I find my outlet. Something stings my gums and going solely on instinct, I bite down on Cayd’s neck, the
“Are you going to mark me tonight?” Madelyn asks me as soon as we get to our room.I look at her a moment. “Come sit with me," I say and rather than letting her sit in her own chair, I pull her into my lap. I wrap an arm around her waist and take her hand in my free one. This is the moment of truth.I take a deep breath, but then focus on her when I feel her nervousness, her fear that I don’t want to mark her, that maybe I've been putting her off because I had no intention of ever marking her. I quickly put my hands on her face, turning her head so she's looking at me. I am not Alec.“That’s not it at all, Madelyn. I would hope, after everything that we’ve been through here, that you realize that I will never, ever betray you. I will never leave you. I will never want any woman other than you, ever. You are it for me. What you saw was me preparing for YOU to not want this. Because you have to know that once it’s done, that’s it. There is no going back. There is do-over, there is no div
My mate still has no idea how incredible she is or how much power she has. Thankfully, she uses her powers for good.I tune into her mind as Baron runs. She loves riding on his back and howling with him. When we pass the trench with the giants, she howls at them and they raise their giant fists into the air, pumping in their version of a hello, I guess.Once we’ve passed the trench, the woodland creatures join us and my mate, my wolf, and all the woodland creatures begin howling again.When we get close enough to the castle, I hear Hera, Lily’s wolf, howling a welcome to us and we all howl again.My mate is laughing as Baron slows to a stop, letting her slide off our back. Lily smiles at her as I shift and pull on clothes.“Did you have a nice time?” Lily asks.“We did,” Madelyn says.“You could have told me that you’ve been sparring with Hope much more frequently,” I growl at Lily.“Where’s the fun in that?” Lily asks, unable to hide her smile. I knew she did it on purpose, hoping I’d
The giants are sweet. Okay, they’re a little scary, but I can feel their excitement to have a dragon in their midst again.A dragon. I guess I’ve accepted that I have dragon blood. It’s hard not to here, where everything feels magical and safe and loving. Okay, maybe that’s mostly Cayden that feels that way, but it still adds to the overall magic of Araphyra.When I’m done, Cayd shifts back into Baron and I wave at my new friends, the giants. Then I climb onto Baron’s back and howl. That’s another silly thing that I love doing. Howling with Baron. His answering howl is instantaneous and I grip his fur as he takes off again.This time, there are no woodland creatures flying with us. Cayd mentioned that Hope lives if the taboo land and no fae go there, not even Lucero, who stays back as we run forward. When Baron slows down, it’s eerily quiet. Unlike the woods in Araphyra and even back in Cayd’s family’s pack, the aren’t any sounds in the forest. No birds, no crickets, nothing. Just quie
I can tell that all of this is beginning to overwhelm Madelyn. It was a lot to begin with and it just keeps piling on.“Hey, why don’t we go for a run. We can go see the giants and Hope. Baron would love to run with you on his back again,” I say, watching her face. She might need some rest instead of an invigorating run, but she seems happy with anything that will get us out of this room.I see Buppig and Lily about to argue, but Madelyn has had enough for the day.“Why don’t you two speak to Aolis and Ailduin about what we’ve discussed, get their impressions. Madelyn needs to step away. Remember, she’s learning all of this about herself in just a couple of days. It’s a lot," I tell them.“Of course, Madelyn. You must think I’m a terrible Queen,” Lily says to her.“Not at all. I think you’re everything a queen should be, smart and beautiful and caring,” Madelyn says.Lily smiles. “I can see why King Ailduin was so taken with the dragons. You really do have a pure soul, don't you? Hopef