"A phoenix is nothing without its fire. A fire is nothing without its flame. Therefore, I am nothing without you." His eyes blaze to life, and in my mind, I hear his phoenix whispering its adoration for me.
"Do you hear that?" I tilt my head to the side and close my eyes as I angle my hips to line the tip of his cock with my core.
"Hear what, my flame?" His hands move from the tub to my hips, guiding me down to impale myself on him.
"Your shift. He's talking to me. Telling me how long he's waited for me." Tears well up in my eyes, listening to his bird's words of love and eternity. I feel the heat and stretch from Easton's cock but remain still, listening intently to his shift's words. His love washes over me as if his bird is worshiping me, wrapping me up in its wings of fire.
"He speaks the truth and always will. A phoenix cannot lie. We cannot bend or twist the truth." Slowly, Easton thrusts up into me, and I feel as if every nerve ending in my body has ignited. This is so very different from my other mates. This feels different.
I open my eyes and stare down at the beautiful man below me, and my hindbrain finally engages. Flames begin to gently flicker over his flesh like he said they would. Easton has made me hison a spiritual level. Now it's time to make him mine on a physical level.
My wolf wants to be in the driver's seat, and I cannot allow it. Her intentions are good, but she's strong and her claws are sharp. I don't wish to harm my mate unintentionally. As much as I want to touch him, I feel my claws break through my fingertips. I grip the tub as I press myself down onto him harder, meeting him thrust for thrust. Water sloshes everywhere, and I don't care. His hands roam all over my body as he props himself up and draws my nipple into his hot mouth. A single flick of his tongue, and my orgasm rips through me.
Without hesitation, I release the tub and wrap him up in my arms. Lowering my head, I kiss where I intend to bite him. Easton knows what's coming and tilts his head to the side, allowing me access. Swiftly, I strike and sink my teeth deep into his flesh and muscle.
A surge of power rips through both of us, and I hear what sounds like crackling as Easton follows me over the edge into oblivion. The copper tang of his blood is tinged with something else I cannot describe—sweet, yet with a sour note on the back end. I feel my core finally stop pulsing around him as we slowly come down from our high. Withdrawing my canines, I lave my tongue over the wounds like I have with my other mates. His bird is still whispering its love for me, telling me we have forever now. He thanks me repeatedly for not giving up on his human side, and it makes me chuckle.
"What's so funny, my flame?" Easton caresses my cheek as he looks up into my eyes.
"You didn't hear your bird?"
"No, what did he say that was so funny?" He leans forward and kisses my lips, sipping from them softly.
Both of my eyebrows shoot up, amazed he didn't hear his shift talking to me. "He thanked me for not giving up on your stubborn ass." Smiling broadly, I giggle again. "He's quite the romantic."
"Ah, I see..." He smiles, then looks around. "It appears we made a mess." Easton helps me to stand, making sure I'm steady before he exits the tub first. Offering me a hand, he assists me out and wraps me up in a towel. I get ready to head toward the door, and he stops me, holding out the bottle of water.
"I do agree with Diaval. You need to drink your water, then eat. I will dry up the water, then join you." He kisses me once more and waits for me to drink some of the water.
I walk out of the bathroom in my towel, thankfully with half the bottle of water gone. Diaval's eyes go to the bottle, then look me over. He nods. "Nice feather."
I reach up and touch where it is. It's no longer as short as it was in the vial—instead, it matches the length of my hair. Gently pulling it forward, I smile looking at it. Its color matches my red hair perfectly. Tiny wisps of fire dance over the edges of the feather's vanes and barbs, making me squeal in excitement.
Torben moves closer and examines the feather mixed in my hair. "You look very regal with your adornment, little wolf." He kisses my forehead and hands me a plate of cured meats and cheeses to snack on.
Blushing, I look over at Khal, and he motions for me to approach. I take the snack plate from Torben, along with mywater, over to the window seat. Khal moves, giving me room to sit down. "It's a very becoming look on you, Precious."
"Thank you." I glance out the window, then back up at Khal. "Guard duty?"
"Yeah, after our most recent adventure, I'll probably be going back to being nocturnal." He looks down, saddened by that fact.
"If we have to camp somewhere, can I sleep in your coils?" I search his stony features, and the carefree, soft, lovable Khal surfaces.
"Anytime you don't feel safe, anywhere we are, I will shift so you feel safe enough to sleep." He leans forward and draws me back to sit between his legs while I eat. My eyes drift over to Diaval. He looks over at me and nods. I want to believe he feels the same way.
The click of the bathroom door draws my attention to Easton as he emerges fully dressed. I watch him head over to our bags and dig through mine. He pulls out a colorful sundress and a matching bra and panty set, then brings it over to me.
"Let's get you dressed. As much as I enjoy you in a towel and nothing else, it's not proper in case we have company." He holds his hand out to me, and I accept it. Easton walks me over to the closest room and closes us in it. He smiles as he holds the clothing out to me. Looking it over, I take it from him and lay it out on the bed.
"Are you sharing a bed with me tonight, or should I climb in with Torben?" I turn to watch Easton as I get dressed in the outfit he picked out for me.
"I will share a bed with you." He reaches up and rubs over where I bit him.
"Does it hurt?" I'm anxious that I harmed him with my bite.
"No, it seems to pulse in your presence though. It's quite interesting." He furrows his brows. "I have nothing in my memories about a wolf's mating mark reacting to its owner's presence." He shrugs, matter-of-fact.
"Hmm, that is interesting. Let's go ask the others if theirs do the same thing." I shrug my shoulders slightly. None of my other mates mentioned the bites pulsing. Maybe it's because he's a mythic, and it's different for them.
