I can’t breathe.
I can’t stay.
Stumbling off the bed, I ignore my trembling hands and pounding heart as I race from the room to let the madness and shadows devour me whole.
31
BAELFIRE
Ice-cold water crashesover my head, jolting me awake. My dragon snarls at the rude awakening as he rushes to take a backseat, extra fussy first thing in the morning.
Spluttering, I wipe water off my face and realize Crypt just dumped an entire fucking pitcher over my head where I was sleeping on the floor.
“What the—” I start to snarl.
He holds his fingers to his lips and glances at the bed, indicating that Maven is still asleep. But when I try to sit up to check on her, my leash tugs painfully, nearly choking me—and that’s when I remember that I told Everett to tie me up overnight so my dragon wouldn’t set the bed on fire for shits and giggles and fry my quintet in their sleep.
“You were starting fires thanks to your dream,” Crypt mutters as an explanation, stomping out a couple of small blue embers dancing on the ground before he drops back into Limbo.
Probably to go back to snorting Maven’s dreams like they’re crack.
Trying to stay quiet, I untie the damn leash from the leg of the desk until I can finally stand and peek at the massive bed. A stupid grin crosses my face when I see my mate.
Naked in the sheets, covered in hickeys, and drop dead fucking gorgeous with her dark hair a mess around her peaceful, sleeping face. She’s resting deeply, tucked snugly against Everett’s chest as he keeps his arms around her like he’s afraid to let go of her even while unconscious.
Meanwhile, her glass-like knife-scythe-thing is in her hand. I watch as she squirms slightly in her sleep before relaxing again, a soft sound escaping her pretty lips.
Godsdamn it, she always looks so good. And last night? Fuck. I bite back a groan, trying not to linger on the fact that she wants to take two of us at the same time. My little hellion is adventurous in bed and for the fucking life of me, I can never guess what she’s going to say or do next.
This room is filled with the chill from Everett’s presence and Maven’s indescribable scent. It’s light and sweet and just as teasing as my dark queen likes to be.
Gods, I fucking love the way she smells.
It’s making me so damn hard and desperate, to the point that my skin feels like it’s prickling with need for her touch. Maybe if I pull her away from Everett and get on my knees for her and she might let me wake her up by licking her pussy. She could yank on my leash and call me her good little pet with her raspy morning voice and bite my neck and drive me fucking insane and…
Oh. Shit.
This is more than just me drooling over my keeper. That obviously happens all the fucking time—but right now, I’m nearly trembling as I broil in the sight of her ridiculously fuckable body. I want to lick and bite and fuck her so much it hurts.
It’s been months since I was in human form this long. I’m supposed to take extra-strength rut suppressants at least once a week. If I don’t track some down soon…fuck. I already have next to no control, thanks to the asshole who’s trying to erase me. Going into a rut right now is a huge hell no.
Still keeping as quiet as possible, I slip out and rummage through my old room for a sweatshirt to go with the shorts I wore to sleep. Slipping into my shoes, I pause when I see my brown suede jacket nearby. As usual, I don’t feel the cold, but it might cover my collar and leash a bit.
I don’t mind that Maven put these on me. I get why she did it—I’m still pissed my dragon fucking dropped her in Everbound Forest and was practically hunting her. Taking away my ability to shift is the wisest course of action until we figure shit out.
But I can’t help the humiliation I feel when other people see it.
Silas mentioned something about us being broadcast to the rest of the world when they were trying to burn him and Maven at the stake. I don’t remember much of that nightmare, thanks to my dragon. Still, knowing so many people, especially other shifters, saw me collared and feral like a common fucking animal…
I huff and turn to leave the room, leaving the coat.
So, the collar’s humiliating. So what?
People can think whatever they want to think about me, so long as my mate is safe and sound and in my arms.
For the next half an hour, as light starts to dawn outside, I raid one of the abandoned university stores, the healers’ area, and even my wolf shifter friend Cody's old apartment. No rut suppressants to be found.
Irritated and cranky as hell to have to be away from my mate for this errand, I storm into the administration hallway, hopinga past instructor at Everbound might have stashed something here.
