I cradle her face between my palms, kissing her with all the tenderness I possess. No performance, no agenda. Just us connecting in the most honest way I know how.
We rock together slowly, barely moving. Her breath catches with each subtle shift. My hands travel down her back, supporting her, drawing her closer. Our eyes remain locked, unwavering.
“I feel you,” she whispers, her eyes growing unfocused as pleasure builds. “Just you.”
I hold her against me as her climax washes over her, gentle but profound. She presses her face into my neck, trembling as waves of pleasure move through her body.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, holding her tight.
I follow her moments later, grinding softly into her, my release gentle and deep. I press my face into her hair, breathing her in as I fill her.
We remain still afterward, still connected, still holding each other. My fingers trace patterns on her back as her breathing steadies against my chest.
“Stay with me,” I whisper, and I know I mean beyond this moment. I never want to let Cora Pike go.
23
DOMINIC
Cora feels impossibly light in my lap, her body slumped against my chest. After the feast ends, I’m thankful that this is almost over, even if I don’t want to be parted from Cora for twenty-four hours. The weight of what we’ve done presses down on me with every shallow breath she takes. Her father’s face when he saw her—saw us—keeps flashing through my mind. The perfect revenge.
So why does victory taste so fucking bitter?
I adjust her, trying to make her more comfortable without disturbing her. Her skin is cool to the touch despite the room’s warmth. I reach for a velvet throw draped over a nearby chair and wrap it around her shoulders.
Across the ceremonial chamber, the Dexter twins stand with their prey—a slender woman with dark hair who looks equal parts terrified and fascinated by the brothers flanking her. Ace’s calculating gaze sweeps the room while Cyrus grins wickedly beside him, his hand possessively gripping the woman’s hip. Their matching black and yellow masks hang from their belts now that the feast has concluded.
The Dexter twins finish claiming their prey on the platform and help her off. She looks exhausted, like Cora, but those twoare far more fucked in the head than we are. It means it’s our turn now.
Cora stirs in my arms, her eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. Each time she looks at me now, I see the betrayal fresh in her gaze.
I glance at Liam and Ryder, finding my own conflict mirrored in their expressions. We’ve won our revenge against Pike, but the cost feels steeper than I anticipated.
With a decision crystallizing in my mind, I gather Cora more securely in my arms and stand. Her head lolls against my shoulder, too tired to even lift it.
“Dominic Vega, Liam Hayes, and Ryder Caldwell,” I announce formally, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. “We claim Cora Pike for the full year term. Together.”
Xavier raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment. It’s unusual but not unprecedented for multiple hunters to share a claim.
Looking down at Cora’s exhausted form, I know we need to go easy on her. We’ve put her through enough.
I lead the way toward the raised dais at the center of the chamber.
“It’s time,” I tell Ryder and Liam. My voice sounds distant to my own ears, all business despite the weight of Cora in my arms.
Cora’s breathing quickens. Her eyes open fully now, panic flashing across her features as she realizes what comes next.
“We have to claim you publicly,” I explain, setting her down gently on her feet. “It’s the final ritual.”
Her shoulders slump. “Just get it over with.”
I turn to Ryder. “Sit on the dais. She’ll ride you, facing you.”
Ryder nods and positions himself as instructed, his back against the ceremonial pillar. His eyes never leave Cora’s face, searching for something—forgiveness, perhaps.
“Liam, you’ll take her mouth.”
Liam moves to Cora’s side, his hand ghosting over her shoulder, not quite touching. The hesitation is uncharacteristic for him.
