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“Discussion time is over. I have somewhere to be…oh, and so do you. We require your presence at Ortus Cottage, Iris. And if you’re not there by dawn, a hoard of demons will descend on Silver Claw’s keep and tear them all to shreds. The demons in that forest answer to me now, thanks to Charity.”

I gripped the wheel tighter, nausea swirling in my belly. She could be lying, but I couldn’t risk it. Draven and his warriors were strong, strong enough to take on a hoard of demons, but they had elders and pups there. I’d never forgive myself if anyone was hurt because of me. “I will find a way to stop you.”

She laughed. “No, you won’t.”

Draven

I yanked on some shorts and strode toward the keep. Ebony ran out and handed me a bottle of water. Taking a deep pull, I spat out the demon blood, then poured the rest over my head, trying to wash the rest off my chest.

The demon population around the keep had increased to worrying levels the last couple of days. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but we’d moved the females and pups into the keep, with Kenric and the other elder males protecting them, and everyone else who could fight had spent the last two nights killing as many demons as we could.

I hadn’t been able to get back to Iris because of it, and I was seriously struggling without her.

The sound of a car echoed in the distance.

I tilted my head to listen, and my heart immediately beat harder.

Handing Ebs the water bottle, I jogged to the parking area. Electricity sizzled over my skin, and heat licked through my veins before I even saw her car.

Iris parked, and I was there, pulling her door open before she’d turned off the engine. I stared down at her, fighting not to grab her up into my arms. She hadn’t looked up at me yet. “Petal?”

Her hands shook as she undid her seat belt.

“Iris.” I conveyed all the yearning and hunger I felt in that one precious word.

Her head tilted back, and tears streaked down her cheeks. Her lips trembled. “I…I need you.”

I didn’t need to hear another word. I hauled her out of her seat, and she wrapped herself around me. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” I said, lips pressed against her soft hair. “I was wrong. I fucked everything up. I let the past cloud my head. I can’t be without you.”

Her small frame trembled in my arms, and then she looked up at me. “I did the same. I let my fears stop me from reaching for you instead of running. I was so afraid.”

Selene had fucked me up like Brody had Iris, and we’d been too scared to allow ourselves to fully trust each other. I refused to let Selene fuck up my future as well. I was done letting her dictate my life.

My mouth came down on Iris’s as I tightened my arms around her and headed for the keep. The chatter stopped when we walked in, and I kept moving, carrying my mate up the stairs and to our room.

Kicking the door shut, I walked to the bathroom. “Shower,” I said against her lips. I was covered in demon blood, and I didn’t want it all over my precious female.

I quickly undressed her, and she shoved down my shorts.

The water hit us, and I lifted her again, pressing her to the wall. “Tell me you’ll stay, petal?”

Her fingers thrust into my hair. “I don’t want to be anywhere but with you.”

My cock was pressed between our slippery bodies, and I dragged my length through her slit, wringing a moan from her.

Her nails dug into my back. “Don’t make me wait,” she gasped out.

I couldn’t. I needed to be inside her right the fuck now. Tilting my hips, I lined the head of my cock up and thrust home, filling her. We clung to each other, eyes locked, bodies sliding together as I claimed what was mine, and she did the same in return.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, panting against her lips. “I fucking hate that I hurt you.”

She cupped my face. “It’s okay. I’m back, and I’ll never leave you again.”

I groaned, happiness and pleasure overwhelming me. “I fucking love you, Iris.” I groaned, pressing my forehead to hers. “God, petal, so much.” The words spilled from me easily. Words that my strong, fierce, beautiful female deserved to hear from her male.

I’d been so damn afraid to let her in, to bare my soul. I wasn’t afraid anymore.

I took her faster, harder. My lower gut ached, my heart raced, and tingles danced up my spine. “Gonna come…can’t hold back, Iris. Come with me.”