I was floating, suspended in pure sensation, my body no longer my own but a vessel for pleasure so intense it bordered on spiritual. My orgasm hit without warning, exploding through me with such force that I choked on a scream, my vision going white at the edges.
As my pussy squeezed around them, cold drops of liquid hit my face. Opening my eyes, I saw snowflakes drifting down from the ceiling.
Vix cursed, his rhythm faltering as he drove deep and stilled, pulsing inside me. Pierce followed moments later, his fingers digging into my hips as he emptied himself.
Blitz groaned, his cock swelling in my hand before he came in hot spurts across my fingers. Don, his face a mask of restrained pleasure, pushed between my lips, finding his release with a deep moan that I felt in my bones.
As we collapsed in a tangle of limbs on the furs, snowcontinued to fall gently around us, dusting our heated skin with delicate crystals that melted instantly.
“Did I do that?” I watched the flakes drift lazily downward.
Blitz laughed, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “Your magic seems to respond strongly to emotion.”
I smiled, feeling strangely peaceful despite the chaos of the past weeks. “Then we should definitely do this again.”
Chapter 21
Snow Sharks
We trudged through knee-deep snow toward a wide-open clearing bordered by enormous pines as the sun peeked over the horizon. It was content to hover there like an indecisive houseguest who couldn’t commit to fully arriving or leaving. At this latitude in November, the pathetic glow was apparently as good as it got.
“Could we do this training thing inside? Where there’s heat and coffee and better light?” I flailed my arms toward the floodlights mounted outside the cabin that seemed to struggle against the persistent semi-darkness.
Pierce adjusted his beanie. “Magic like yours needs space. Preferably outdoors, where if something goes unexpectedly, we won’t destroy the cabin.”
“That’s super reassuring, thanks.” I shoved my gloved hands deeper into my pockets and tried not to look at Rudy, who walked several paces ahead with Don, their heads bent in serious conversation.
Rudy had barely glanced at me since our confrontation yesterday, and the petty part of me was determined to match his indifference. The less petty part was busy composing elaborate, cutting speeches I’d never deliver.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I yanked it out with embarrassing eagerness, hoping to see my parents’ names on thescreen. Nothing. Well, except for a low battery warning, which was splendid considering I’d just charged it. Apparently, being close to the veil led to electronic malfunctions.
I’d tried calling my parents three times since learning the truth, but each attempt went unanswered. Were they avoiding me? Did they even know I was here? Maybe they were in some remote part of the North Pole where service was spotty. Did the North Pole even have regular service? Or were they sitting around a cozy fire, staring at my name on their caller ID and debating what lie to tell me next?
Dash fell into step beside me. “You look like you’re plotting murder.”
“I’m processing the fact that my parents have been lying to me my entire life and now won’t pick up the phone.”
Kip appeared on my other side, brushing snow from his shoulders. “They sent you away to protect you.”
“Yeah, well, they could have protected meandtold me the truth. Or, I don’t know, helped me control my apparently destructive magic instead of pretending it didn’t exist.” The snow around my boots crystallized into jagged patterns, and I couldn’t tell if it was me that caused it or something else. “Someone tried, I think. I remember a man... not my dad... trying to teach me, but he was kind of an asshole about it.”
We reached the center of the clearing, where Rudy and Don had stopped. The rest of the men formed a loose circle around me, and I fought the urge to shield myself from their expectant gazes.
Cole unfolded a blanket and placed it on the snow. “Sit.”
“I’m not a dog.” I eyed the blanket dubiously. “And won’t my ass freeze?”
Vix winked. “I’ll warm it up for you later.”
I rolled my eyes but sat, crossing my legs and trying to ignore how the cold immediately seeped through my leggings. “So how does this work? Do I get a wand or some magic words or, oh! I want a sword!”
The men exchanged glances that did nothing formy confidence.
Don knelt beside me. “First, we need to understand your baseline. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing.”
I closed my eyes, shivering slightly.
“Inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight.” Don’s deep voice guided me through several rounds of breathing that seemed to be random counts he was pulling out of his ass. “Now, visualize your magic as energy flowing through your body. Where do you feel it strongest?”
