I’d forgotten about Brock. I’m not sure how helpful he will be since my mother got them banned from the shifter zone for the time being.
“That’s a good idea,” Lucas confirms.
“And instead of staying at your apartment, we can use ours at the watch headquarters. If you are seen, we can spin a tale about you learning about your new responsibilities,” Brodie offers.
“It seems like we have a plan then. Eat up, because you are all going to need your energy,” Evie says, and we’re quick to do as she suggests. During dinner, the guys and I tell them about my shift training in the afternoon, minus my fuck fest with Liam for obvious reasons.
* * *
The following morning, I wake up early, my internal clock still working on baker time. Through a crack in the curtains, I can see that it’s still dark outside. A warm body is wrapped around me, and the sound of soft snoring is loud in the quiet room. Each breath tickles my ear, and I clamp my lips shut so I don’t giggle at how bear-like Liam sounds. I stay still and simply bask in the feeling of having his body pressed against me, resisting the urge to push back against that delicious naked skin pressed against me.
Liam proceeded to show me how amazing being mated to a shifter with no refractory time can be. To say my body aches deliciously this morning would be an understatement. For someone who was so aggressive and surly, he really is just a snuggly, cuddly sweetheart now that we are mated and his bear is content.
I invited Hunter and Micah to join us as well last night—after all, they won fair and square—but both declined, letting Liam and me spend the night together on our own. Micah needed to return to the barracks, get his personal items, and move them into one of the king’s rooms that now flank my suite. The goddess magic rearranged this section of the palace to correlate with the fact that I now have eight mates. There are eight separate suites for each of the guys, and my bedroom is now enormous with a bed that is large enough to accommodate all of us if we were so inclined. I’m not sure how this will work, and if they’ll want to share my bed or sleep in their own rooms, but I guess we have time to figure it out.
“Little girl, if you keep wiggling like that, my bear is going to have you for breakfast.” The growly voice has me freezing. I hadn’t realized I started squirming at the thought of all eight of my mates and what our sleeping arrangements may be.
His hand drifts up my naked thigh and slides up the front of my tank. He cups my breast and scrapes his teeth over the bite mark on my neck, sending a thrill of excitement through my body. My nipples pebble, and I groan as I rub my ass against his rapidly hardening dick.
Before he can do anything else, though, the door to my room slams open, and Brodie appears in the doorway.
“Uh-uh, none of that. We need to get going if we don’t want to be seen moving through the neutral zone.”
I turn my head to glare at him. He smirks, crosses his arms, and leans against the doorframe as Liam mumbles, “Cockblock,” in my ear.
I smile as my grumbly bear snarls at his bond mate, and then I throw back the covers and slide out of his hold. I stand and stretch, pushing out my tits, and Brodie pushes off the doorframe and stalks over to me. He’s patient and waits until I finish my stretch before he slides his hands to my hips and tugs my body against his.
“That was mean,” he says, resting his forehead against mine and looking into my eyes.
“What you did was mean too,” I retort, pressing a soft kiss against his lips. He flinches, his eyes widening with surprise before he swoops in and takes my mouth in a blistering kiss. I melt into him, unsurprised by his boldness, and enjoy an intense kiss from the normally playful wolf. He tastes like sunshine and happiness, and when he pulls away abruptly, I whimper at the loss.
Liam tugged him away from me and is pushing him out of the room. “Nope. If I can’t get my morning sugar, then neither can you,” he argues, and my door bangs closed behind them, leaving me needy and sad.
Sighing, I head for the shower to wash away the remnants of our fun from last night. My body aches in delicious ways as I run the loofah over my skin, and I smile as I remember all the things Liam and I did to each other while we satisfied the mating need.
When I finally emerge and dress, Violet, Gretchin, and Gracelin are waiting for me.
“There you are. Have a good night?” Gracelin teases, and I roll my eyes at her.
“You’re all up early.” I ignore her as I brush my hair and braid it so it’s out of my way. I’m dressed in some of my old clothes today—leggings and a shirt in case I need to help out in the bakery when we stop in. I also have a backpack of clothes I packed for our trip before Liam and I got busy last night. He told me they will give me a watch uniform when we go there today. I’ll wear that during our trip, because I can shift in it without worrying about being naked if I have to shift unexpectedly.
“We just wanted to wish you luck. I hope you find Nox quickly, and then we can focus on that last mate of yours. He will be a fairy, so I’ve sent a message to my parents, asking if any of the males in our village have received a new mark,” Violet tells me.
“After you speak to the equines about tracking the shifter children, then you can head to her village and see for yourself.” Gretchin watches me with worried eyes. “I wanted to come with you, but Bryson and Dad vetoed the idea. I hate that you’ll be going without me. I’m supposed to be your bodyguard.”
“Yes, but she also has six mates keeping an eye on her ass. They won’t let anything happen to her,” her sister reminds her, and Gretchin rolls her eyes.
“Please, they will all be distracted by the mating need. She needs me because I’m not going to be focused on getting into her pants,” Gretchin argues, and I feel my cheeks heat a little.
“You only wish you were getting a piece of this.” I wave a hand at myself, teasing her, and she grins.
“You wish. I have mad skills that would rock your world,” she tells me, and I feel a sense of relief as I see her lighten up a bit. These girls have quickly become family to me, and I don’t like it when they worry.
“Come on. The guys are already waiting for you near the stables. You’re going through the forest and then straight to the bakery. At this time of day, no one should be about in the neutral zone.” Violet hands me my phone, which I tuck into my pocket, and then I throw my backpack over my shoulder.
I pick up the ring box that Archie gave me and pass it to Gracelin. “Can you see that this gets returned to the vault?”
She winces but nods. “I won’t let Archie see me do it. He’s going to make my life miserable when he learns his sidepiece is no longer in the palace.”
