Golden Claw spread out below us and the sea of lights was stunning. Off in the distance I caught sight of the Thenguard and Reeves offices, which stood higher than all the rest. I had no idea what had happened to all of Sorenson’s properties, now that he was dead and his pack was lost to whatever Fletcher did to them. For now, the lights remained on, as if everything was running normally.
Talon banked to the left in a slow, gentle swirl before he flapped his huge wings. The breezes picked up around us as he moved across Golden Claw, and I was finally starting to understand why Slade hadn’t been able to describe this experience. It held a fraction of the thrill of driving fast, but was unique all on its own.
Through all of it, though, there was this unfathomable awe. We hovered above the world.
Like gods.
No wonder dragons were arrogant. They’d definitely earned it.
CHAPTER 18
EMME
By the time Talon landed smoothly in front of our house, my body felt weightless, while my legs were heavy, as if they refused to walk after experiencing the thrill of flying. It took a full minute to adjust to being grounded, and Talon didn’t rush me, letting me have all the time I needed to find my equilibrium. Eventually, I was able to slide off his huge back, and his head stayed with me all the way down to my thud of a landing against the front sidewalk.
He returned to his bipedal form in a flash, and I threw myself into his arms, exploding with all the emotions—joy, excitement, fear, and so much love for this shifter who continued to demonstrate that we could be more than our upbringing.
We could rise above our circumstances in life.
Talon had spent countless years acting as the nameless weapon of a psychopath, an assassin who was never taught to question anything, which was the scariest part of all. This shifter had only ever known forced loyalty and false truths, but he hadn’t let that define his future. Sure, his future had been helped along by a life-changing bond that rearranged our very cells and essences, but the choices that brought him to this moment… they were all Talon’s.
“Thank you,” I gushed against his throat, and he wrapped me up tighter, burying his face in my hair. “Thank you for fighting so hard to be part of this pack. For trusting and accepting us. For being mine.”
His voice broke on a rasp. “Thank you for existing, Emme.”
We stood there long enough to give the street a great view of his naked butt, which had my possessive side all riled up. When I attempted to hand Talon his jacket, he shook his head. “You keep it, mate. It looks better on you anyway, and I enjoy seeing you inmyclothes. It’s another sign that you belong to me.”
“The bite on my neck is an even clearer sign,” I reminded him with a laugh, but since I also enjoyed wearing their clothes, I didn’t object.
“The bite is my favorite,” Talon agreed, his eyes darkening to a deep black. “I’d like to claim you again and again, and mark all over your soft skin.”
Only a claiming bond was supposed to leave a scar on a full-strength shifter, but my alphas certainly enjoyed testing that theory.
When we made it inside, Hunter strolled in from the kitchen, and I was surprised by Talon nudging me in his direction. “Go to our entitled alpha,” he said. “He needs to tell you about Kassidy.”
He brushed a kiss across my lips and then strolled out of the room. I watched his perfect muscled butt until he was all the way up the stairs, and while Hunter’s scent grew stronger, he didn’t interrupt my drooling.
I turned to find him wearing an amused smirk. “You really are the perfect match for us,” he drawled in that deep rasp. “I’d have worried that five alpha males might end up being too much for you, but so far you’ve handled us very well.”
My cheeks heated, even though I knew he spoke of more than sex in that statement. Still, my mind was naturally designed to flop around in the gutter when it came tohandlingmy mates.
Hunter’s smile faded. “Just remember that you have all the power here, little omega. Don’t let us take more than you have to give us.” It was the same warning I’d received from my other mates earlier. Clearly all of them were concerned about it.
“We’ve only been a completed quintet for half a day, therefore my experience is limited, but I don’t think there’s anything for you to worry about.”
I stepped into him, needing to see his concerned expression eased. “I’m glad you’re our entitled alpha. I wasn’t sure at first, with how dominant and demanding your beast is, but you’re levelheaded and truly care about your entire pack. I might be the heart of this quintet, but you’re the structure that holds us all together. We’d just be a pile of blood and organs on the ground without you.”
Hunter arched an eyebrow. “Eloquently put, Emmeline. Please, tell me more about the massacre that would occur without me.”
I tapped him on his chest, and he straightened to his full height, leaving me to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. “Nah, I wouldn’t want you to get a big head. Yours is just the right size for your body.”
With a wolfy grumble, he wrapped an arm around me and drew me into his side, moving us toward the kitchen. The house was quiet with Finley and Kellan in press, Slade patrolling, Talon upstairs, and I could only assume Constantine was still researching in the library.
The relief I felt at not having to deal with him yet was far too great, but as I’d thought earlier, the avoidance of myfathercould not go on much longer. Not with the magic swirling inside me. It hadn’t burst out yet—thankfully—but surely it was only a matter of time.
I’d always heard that magic was as volatile as our beasts, and neither could stay trapped for long. A theory I didn’t really want to test.
The kitchen was warm, with low lights illuminating the cabinetry. There was a large platter set out on the widest of counters, and Hunter directed me toward a stool, his fingers tracing along my biceps in a teasing movement. When I sat, he leaned down to run his nose up the curve of my neck, his teeth grazing over his bite. My thighs clenched against the sudden pulse in my core. It took less than a single touch for these alphas to reduce me to a soaked, needy mess.
