Along the base of the wall there’s a canal, similar to the one outside. Which makes sense if this was a home for bothmerfolk and humans. If I could turn part fish at will I’d want the water nearby. It's only about three feet wide, just enough for someone to slip in and swim off.
The rest of the floor is stone, though some odd groundcover has spread from the water wall to the area just by the canal. It’s almost like moss, but instead of patchy, spongy growth, it's as if it's thousands of tiny succulent spears. Like thick blades of grass as soft as the leaves of a lamb’s ear plant.
Similar to the area we first entered, there is a stone bench carved as part of one wall, and the glowing lines we saw before decorate this space like silver veins in the stone. They give the small space an eerie, otherworldly quality.
Madi plops down onto the greenery, lying on her back with her eyes closed as she catches her breath. Her chest rises and falls in a mesmerizing motion. I’m not the only one who can’t look away.
The meds that normally hide the omega’s sweet perfume aren’t working anymore. Sweaty and high on adrenaline, a new scent fills the air. Piña Colada. Warm, creamy coconut. Fresh pineapple. Heady booze. Fuck me, she smells intoxicating. No wonder Hunter’s been acting like such a love-sick fool. One whiff, and I’m ready to drop to my knees and worship her like my own personal goddess.
No one has ever affected me like this. And I immediately know why.
But she’s not the only one whose scent blockers and neutralizers have failed under the pressure of our recent adventure and so much time in the ocean. The salty margarita I’d scented off Caspian before blooms in reaction to Madi. It’s brighter than when I firstscented it, with a touch of fresh air and sunshine. I lick my lips. They smell incredible together.
My own scent rises to meet theirs, papaya and vanilla, sweetening the freshness in the air, subtle at first but growing. The only scent that’s missing is Hunter’s, since he’s religious about taking his blockers. But I know the flavor of him by heart, as well as I know my own, so well I can imagine it now. The richness of sandalwood, the floral sweetness of plumeria. It grows stronger in my mind, so strong I start to doubt if I’m only imagining it.
I look at Hunter. His gaze is locked on his omega.Ouromega.
Fuck, what am I gonna tell Seb. He’s always been hesitant about packs, always worried he’d lose me to one. I know he’d love Madi, Caspian, and Hunter if he’d give them a chance, but convincing him to do that is gonna be hard.
Madi’s eyes are still closed, golden hair spread around her like a crown of silk, body laid out like a feast. Her cheeks are flushed, a light sheen of sweat glistening on her skin. She makes a soft humming noise, then trails her fingertips between her breasts to her belly. I’m not sure she even knows she’s doing it. Her lips part on a sigh.
Her scent thickens, changing, deepening, so rich now it makes my head spin. There’s an immediate reaction from the rest of us. Lime, papaya, sandalwood, all explode in rich hunger.
Madi’s eyes fly open. Her nostrils flare, pupils dilating. Her gaze bounces between Hunter and me, something like awe in her expression.
“Mine,” she whispers, almost like she can’t believe it.
Hunter falls to his knees beside her, brushing a strandof hair off her damp cheek. “That’s right, sweetheart. Yours. Always yours.”
Caspian leans against the wall, watching them with a soft smile, his scent nearly as strong as hers. He doesn’t seem surprised by this new information.
Madi’s gaze shifts away from Hunter, and her delicate fingers reach toward me.
“Mine?” she asks, uncertain, but no less hungry.
I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want to take her hand and tell her how completely I’m hers. But I’m also keenly aware that I’m Seb’s too. I wish he were here. I wish he could tell me this is okay, that it’s what he wants. But I know he’s never wanted a pack. My heart squeezes tight, mouth going dry.
Madi’s face falls when I hesitate for too long. Fuck, no. My knees hit the cushion of groundcover, and I crawl to her other side, reminding myself that Seb’s okay with me being with other people. This feels different, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. He just needs to meet Madi, and he’ll love her. She’ll break through all his fears. I know she will.
I bend over and kiss the top of Madi’s head. Her skin burns my lips. Fuck. I pull back, placing the back of my wrist on her forehead. I look from Madi to Hunter. He nods like he already realized what I’m just putting together.
She’s in heat. Or a heat spike. Gods and goddesses, I hope it’s a heat spike. Going into full blown heat while in an abandoned ancient city with wild seal-cat-things prowling outside waiting to eat us seems like a recipe for disaster.
“Alphas,” Madi moans. Her hands slide over her hips and up her sides to her breasts, cupping them beforemoving back down to her thighs. Without any warning, she’s wiggling out of the little shorts she’s wearing and taking her swimsuit bottoms off with them.
Three alpha groans rattle the small space around the canal. She hums happily, squirming when her gaze meets mine.
“Please, alpha,” she whispers, barely louder than the soft trickle of the waterfall, a seductive smile on her face. She looks half-drunk, eyes lidded, cheeks flushed, damp lips shining a bright pink.
How can I resist her?
36
I’ve known Phoenix long enough to understand his hesitation. Madi’s already too far gone to give her consent like this, and Phoenix would never overstep. I’m feeling the same hesitation myself. We should have talked more after her last heat spike, when she was sober.
“Hurts,” Madi moans, curling onto her side toward Phoenix. The new position puts her ass on display for me. So plump and round, just begging for a bite.
Fuck, I’ve got to get myself together.
