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My stomach fluttered at the rumble in his chest. I turned to Lucien, my eyes gleaming. “And you, Lucien. Since you’re so sleek, elegant, and far too predatory for your own good... I’m thinking Prince. Or perhaps just Puma, if you’re feeling literal. You have that royal, 'better than everyone' air about you.”

Lucien’s amber eyes darkened, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Prince? I suppose I’ve been called worse by others. It’s certainly more fitting than being compared to a common house cat.”

I laughed, feeling the tension in my shoulders finally start to melt. I felt sparks of magic ripple where our bodies brushed. The hum from the safe grew louder, the shard reacting not just to me, but to the three of us together.

“See?” Lucien murmured, his gaze locked on mine. “Even with a little contact, the sound spikes. It’s aware of the alignment, Ivy. It’s feeding off our collective energy.”

I swallowed hard, the heat rising through my body. The crystal was alive, responding to our shared heartbeat. I shifted slightly, letting my hand hover near Kael’s. The faint vibration of energy beneath my palm sent shivers up my spine.

“Don’t fight the pull,” Kael said, his voice husky and close to my ear. “The connection is ours to command now. It isn't a burden if we carry it together.”

My breath caught. I let my hand brush lightly against Kael’s calloused knuckles, then reached out to touch Lucien’s silk-covered arm. I marvelled at the subtle electricity, the way our three distinct magical signatures were beginning to braid into a single, shimmering cord of power.

“Alright,” I said, my voice firming despite the slight tremor in my chest. “We have the honesty and the rules down. But if we are going to do this, we also need to find the joy in it. I’ve spent too long being afraid of what I carry.”

Lucien’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “We are already finding it, little red.”

Kael leaned closer, the pressure of his thigh a delicious, distracting weight. “No more holding back. We explore the magic, we protect the shard, and we see exactly how far this triad can go.”

My pulse raced. Protect each other. Explore the magic. It was exactly what I needed. I let myself linger in the heat of their proximity, the subtle teasing of names, and the pulsing hum of the penthouse answering our combined energy.

Violet, curled at Kael’s feet, lifted her head. Her green eyes glinted knowingly as she let out a chirp.

“Even Violet approves,” I whispered, laughing softly.

Lucien’s gaze softened as he lightly touched my shoulder. “Everything about this feels right, Ivy. Powerful, dangerous, and perfect.”

Kael’s dark eyes flicked between me and Lucien, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve got us both wrapped around your finger, little red. And you like the power of it, don't you?”

I felt the heat rise through my chest and stomach. I didn't just like it—I craved it. I wanted to see what happened when the storm finally broke.

“Yes,” I admitted, my voice dropping to a low, honest rasp. “I do.”

In the quiet of the penthouse, with the shard pulsing in its safe and the men’s eyes lingering on me, I realised just how deep this went. We were a witch and two shifters, but we were also the start of a new history.

And for the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid to turn the page.

Maelstrom and Rising Power

The penthouse was warm, thick with the lingering and magical synergy of the bond we had just forged. I perched on the sofa, still flushed from our conversation, my fingers idly brushing up and down Kael’s thigh while Lucien’s hand drew slow and hypnotic circles on my shoulder. The shard pulsed faintly from within the safe, its blue glow syncing with the subtle brush of skin against skin. Even as the sexual tension hummed between us, we had begun to explore slow and careful mutual touches that left us all trembling.

Every nerve in my body was aching and wanting more. There was suddenly too much fabric touching my skin, an unbearable barrier. Standing, I tried to pull at my shirt, but Lucien stopped me, his eyes dark as he did it for me. Kael leaned in, his large hands reaching around to unclasp my bra and free my breasts to the cool air. Goosebumps pebbled my skin, but I was burning from the inside out.

I moaned into Kael’s mouth as he devoured mine. I had never been this wet before, my body reacting to the combined presence of the wolf and the puma with a frantic, shameful intensity. Kael pulled back for a second, his nostrils flaring as he caught my scent. He made a low, animal-like noise in the back of his throat.

“Little red, I can smell you,” he rumbled, his voice vibrating against my lips. “Do you want my mouth on that sweet pussy? Do you want me on my knees for you?”

His fingers traced over my soaking wet lace, his thumb rubbing over my clit with a bruising, perfect pressure. Oh goddess. My head fell back as Lucien’s fingers found my nipples, circling and pinching them firmly until I cried out.

Kael knelt before me, removing my underwear with a hungry focus. He growled, his hot breath hitting my clit as his fingers grazed along the edges of my parted lips. He stroked up and over my slit and back down again.

“Ivy,” he whispered, gazing at me as if I was something to be worshipped. “Is this all for us?”

I felt a fresh gush of heat at his words. Kael’s strong, rough tongue lapped around my lips before pushing inside me, tasting me with a primal hunger. He worked a thick finger deep into my core while his tongue worked circles on my clit, using a rhythmic ‘come here’ motion that sent the pressure building toward a breaking point.

Lucien was behind me now, his strong fingers kneading my breasts and rolling my taut nipples. I tossed my head back, finding his mouth and moaning into the kiss. They were being too gentle, and I was aching for the storm to break. I lifted my hips, thrusting myself over and over into Kael’s face, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Harder,” I whispered to Kael. “Faster.”