~ CASIMIR ~As I walked further from Jesse’s chamber feeling smug, but still a little sweaty, something itched between my shoulder blades. I tapped into the bond, careful to hold myself apart, yet open myself enough to measure her… and to my irritation, discovered her emotional descent becoming more drastic.I’d felt the pang of her desire for me—which was a good sign—but this sudden plunge into fear, while perhaps natural, was frustrating. And as I held her heart on that glowing string between us but kept myself blocked, all too quickly her fear threaded with hints of despair.Already? Already we were back to this… this failure?I wanted to bite something. What had happened? What was she thinking to make her so scared?Far from being the strongest I had found, was she going to fail me even faster than the others?I stopped in the middle of the corridor, turning to look over my shoulder in the direction I’d come from, suddenly tempted to return to her, a combination of frustration and
~ CASIMIR ~“I need to know if you’ve discovered any more hints about the human female fertility,” I muttered a few minutes later to Ghere as I picked through the strange items spread all over his desk.He watched me cautiously. “We discussed it, Cazz. I told you that their emotional and mental state is incredibly central to their likelihood to conceive—and to sustaining the pregnancy also.”“Yes, yes,” I muttered, flapping a hand at him impatiently as I turned away from the detritus on the desk to face him.His brows were high and he eyed me warily. He’d been shocked when I walked in. I supposed it wasn’t common for me to come all the way down to his study cave under the Palace. But after that delicious taking, I’d needed to move to wake my mind back up. So, I’d come to him rather than linking to summon him.“It’s all well and good to speak of emotional and mental health. But how do we improve our chances after the last two fuck-ups?” I muttered.Ghere scratched the back of his neck.
~ JESSE ~Watching a naked Cazz walk away from me was a feast for the eyes. His body was perfect—broad, thick shoulders and chest, narrowing to a muscled and lean waist, an ass you could bounce a dime off of, flawless skin and perfectly cut lines… everywhere.The thrill of watching the muscles on his back roll and twitch as he walked, my sense of the sheer masculine power of him as he moved away from me, distracted me for a moment from the sinking feeling that started as soon as he turned to go.But then he disappeared out of the room.I stared at the door for a minute, suddenly feeling sick as I turned that last conversation over in my mind.He’d agreed to leave the other women alone, which was a huge relief. But it also seemed like he believed it wouldn’t be a permanent arrangement. My head spun with images of laying alone in the dark while my husband had sex with someone else…I wanted to throw up.I wanted to believe he really would wait until I told him he could—which I’d never d
~ JESSE ~Self-loathing and injustice burned in my chest. But it soon twisted into gut-wrenching fear.What was I going to do? How was I going to survive this?And how did this man, who I barely knew, have such a grip on me? Why couldn’t I shake free from him?My entire body shook and I wondered if I was going to lose my mind even without him compelling me.I had thought it was odd when Cazz said human women didn’t survive in the wolf world. I had thought he must mean they couldn’t fight off other wolves and got killed or something. But then, why would his wife commit suicide?But now, as my chest constricted and my heart pounded, and no matter how I tried to think clearly I couldn’t get free of this sense of impending doom, I feared I might have an inkling of what pushed the poor woman over the edge. I mentally ticked off the reasons why she might have reached her limit.
~ JESSE ~“So, what did he make you come here for?” I muttered, taking a handful of grapes and popping one into my mouth sullenly. It was surprisingly sweet.“He hasn’t made me do anything,” Rake replied.I looked at him skeptically as I ate a couple more grapes. They were actually really good. Then I saw berries in a bowl next to them and chose one of those too, eating it—then having to awkwardly catch the juice before it dripped down my chin. Rake smiled. I stifled embarrassment, but waited for him to actually answer the question.Rake sighed and folded his arms. “He asked me to come talk to you, to see if I could help.”“Help with what?”“Understanding that he isn’t, perhaps, exactly what you think?” he said carefully.I sat back in my chair shaking my head as I picked up a little toothpick thingy from a
~ JESSE ~“My brothers sold me to them,” I muttered, still not quite able to believe it myself. I’d known my brothers hated me, but I’d never thought…Rake stiffened. “Like the story of Joseph? Sold into slavery by his brothers?”It was my turn to blink. “You know that story?”Rake huffed. “The title Cleric isn’t an honorific. I am a spiritual advisor, Jesse. Yes, I know the story of Joseph. I also know what your name means.”That made me squirm. “Don’t tell him.”“I won’t. That won’t make it less true.”I gave a one-shouldered shrug, but didn’t answer. I didn’t think there was really any truth to—“So, truly, your brothers sold you to the Reapers? In this day and age that’s—”“Human trafficking. Yes.”R
~ JESSE ~The minutes that followed were possibly the most surreal of my life—and given the day I’d had, that was saying something.At first Cazz dodged my questions about a Wolf Den. I’d heard the stories, of course. But once again, I’d assumed they were just that—stories.Cazz kept smiling and refusing to give any meaningful details, insisting that I would have to see it to understand it, which only made me more nervous.But then, out of nowhere, another raft of servants arrived. And this time they were all carrying clothes and boxes of shoes.Hangers filled with dresses, gowns, tunics, sweaters, shirts, blouses, and every kind of skirt and pant I could have imagined.There was a dozen of them, and they made several trips each, disappearing into a large door off beside the bathroom that I hadn’t explored yet. When Cazz encouraged me to follow the second wave of them in and be
~ JESSE ~It took a second to get my wits back, but when I did I turned around to call after him, he was really gone. No longer in sight of the door. And I wasn’t sure if there were servants coming back now that he had left. So I hurriedly whipped off the robe and started pulling on the clothes…And then I cursed him.The pants were fine—black leather, though thinner than his. They were a little tricky to get on because they were tight. But the leather was soft and pliable, and once I had them up and buttoned I was surprised how comfortable they felt.But then I grabbed the top and pulled it over my head—except when I got it down over my ribs I thought I had ripped it.I looked down, freaking out—I couldn’t even put a blouse on without tearing it? But then I realized it was a crop top that had fooled me.The sleeves fell silkily from the points of my shoulders, but the necklin
~ CASIMIR ~I was pretty sure if I didn’t get inside her, I was going to eat her alive.Scooting with her in my lap, still straddling me, I got her so both my knees and her back were flat against the wall. Then I flipped open the wide, leather cuffs that had been secured directly to the wall and first lifted one of her hands, to strap it in so her hand was levered above her shoulder, but with her arm comfortably bent so she could relax. Then I did the same with her other hand on the other side.So I straddled the banana-seat, while she straddled me and her hands were secured to the wall behind her.Her breasts rose and fell with her heavy breathing, and her eyes were bright with desire.Overwhelmed again with how much thought she’d put into this, for a moment I just took her face in my hands and kissed her. But that drew us together—my cock pressing against her, and I couldn’t resist rolling my hips, teasing
~ CASIMIR ~“I made a new Den,” Jesse whispered, her hands over her mouth, staring up at me—those beautiful eyes wide, but also a little fearful. “I know it’s not the same, but I got Ghere to help me because he remembered what things you’d had before and… I hope you like it.”Like it? Was she serious?My heart was slamming against my ribs, and I was having trouble breathing.The room seemed smaller than I remembered because the walls were painted a dull black. But the tighter space than what I’d had down next to the Den just made it feel more intimate.There were two lamps, one on each end, and a chandelier high above. Candles everywhere, though she hadn’t lit mo
~ JESSE ~It was Cazz’s turn to plan the monthly date. But I was humming about this one. Things were finally ready, and impossibly, Ghere had helped me successfully pull off the surprise. But I still had to figure out how to get Cazz there without ruining it.He’d taken me out to the meadow again—my favorite date. Though we’d enjoyed several others now too—and we’d just finished eating. He was leaning back against the cab of the truck, looking out at the city lights, his brows a little heavy.“What are you thinking about?” I asked him, though I had a hunch.He had his arm around me and I was leaning on his shoulder. His hand trailed up and
~ CASIMIR ~I came out of the bathing room after a long bath rubbing my hair with a towel, to find my mate standing in the middle of the chamber with her arms folded and looking sternly at my daughter, who sat on the floor in nothing but a diaper, with her chubby legs straight out. She, too, had her arms folded and her lips pursed in the perfect reflection of her mother.The two glared at each other and half my heart went cold, while the other half wanted to splutter with laughter.“Abigail, I have told you—”“No!”Our daughter could only get her tongue around a few words so far, but
~ JESSE (a few weeks later) ~I had just finished nursing Abigail and was holding her on my lap while Reeca sat with me on the couch.Her eyes were bright and she was beginning to smile, so I was tickling her cheeks to see if I could get her to do it. But she was sleepy because she’d just eaten and only yawned and cooed.“She’s a very calm baby,” Reeca commented from the other end of the couch, smiling. She loved babies, and had been so helpful when I was tired—and just for reassurance for me.She was a calm presence in any room, and with Abigail, she showed a lot of delight and joy that she seemed to stifle in other areas of her life.“Reeca,” I said carefully, because I’d b
~ JESSE ~I was too tired to do more than lift my hands to his neck, so I just curled my face into his chest and let him settle us into the chair, cradled in his arms with my ass in his lap.When he’d sat, I had my head resting on his shoulder and my body curled in his arms.“Do you hurt?” he asked quickly.“No, just tired, like I said.”I felt him relax a little then and another chill started in my blood.“Cazz… what’s happened?” I asked quietly.He turned his head to meet my eyes and lifted his hand to comb hair back from my face. His throat bobbed, but his touch was g
~ JESSE (Hours later) ~My dreams were disturbing—my body in pain, screams of terror, darkness, the floor shaking, the mountain falling, humans fleeing and wolves…I tried to break free, tried desperately to open my eyes and to speak, because I knew I was asleep. But all I did was fade… in and out. The nightmares, or nothing.And through it all, his voice.“Heal… live.”My heart ached. My body hurt. My chest didn’t want to expand. It was as if my flesh fought his words, and I didn’t understand.But finally, the dreams faded and I could hear a heartbeat. Little, and quick. And feel warm flesh. And the breath of my m
~ CASIMIR ~I felt the moment the power went out of Jesse. The entire mountain felt it.I howled with triumph and shifted, sprinting towards the room, ecstatic when there was no sense of Maya gripping my mind or stealing anything from me. But of course, there was no power left for her to steal.I prayed and pleaded and ran, Rory and the others coming in my wake. And the moment I broke through that door in my wolf—the only power left to me anymore—everything slowed. Though my body whipped and my mind was singularly focused, it was as if everything happened in slow motion.I caught a bare glimpse of Jesse on the bed, and at first my heart leaped. She was moving, awake, aware,
~ JESSE ~Maya had me sitting up in the bed, curled forward, gripping my knees. Reeca on one side, helping prop me up, a guard on the other.My body was nothing but a conduit for pain. Wave after wave, my entire lower body condensing, contracting, pushing to get this baby out. I could barely think.Cazz was there, so quiet, so distant, but there, calling his encouragement and pushing love at me through the bond.There was a moment when I thought I wouldn’t make it, when I thought my body would give and I would just drift away.But then I caught Maya smiling. Leaning forward between my legs, reaching, grasping, for