A Cat for All

T Vtà yÉÜ TÄÄ Copyright © January 2012, Crymsyn Hart Cover art by For the Muse Designs © January 2012 Amira Press Charlotte, NC 28227 www.amirapress.com ISBN: 978-1-937394-26-4 No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Amira Press.

A Cat For All

Crymsyn Hart

Chapter One She stared at the stars while sipping at her drink. The tart taste of the lemonade helped to soothe the strong bite of the alcohol also in the glass. It also eased the sad ache that surrounded her heart. The hotel she was at was a bit run-down, but it was the same one she stayed at with her mother when she was a child. Now her mother was dead, and the funeral had been a few hours before that. She trembled to think about how her old pride had stared at her when she stood at the graveside service with her sister. The growls of disgust and loathing were something she had expected, but it still stung her soul. Mason had his fun torturing her with not inviting her into her old home. Any way that he could torture her, he would. Finally he allowed her to enter. More memories of her past threatened to overwhelm her. I can’t think about that anymore. The pride banished me five years ago, and it was something I had braced for. But that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t hurt. Mom is gone. Mason didn’t speak to me at all. Patty was the only one glad to see me. Tomorrow night, I have to leave this land behind once more. A cool breeze slipped along her skin, teasing the strands of her shoulderlength brown hair. The strong scent of the ocean accompanied the gust and made her cringe. It had been a long time since she’d watched the sun rise over the water, painting the horizon in strips of pinks, oranges, and light yellows. Her favorite was when the sun reflected off the clouds, transforming the dawn into a gateway to another world. Now the dark water was a churning vat of ink that had no color. Many times Orianna wished she could stand on the warm sand and feel it squish between her toes. If she walked on it now, it would be cold and clammy. The beach at night wasn’t appetizing anymore. Orianna leaned on her balcony railing, hearing the ice cubes clink in her glass from the subtle movement of her shifting feet. A band played below. Couples were dancing and enjoying themselves, not knowing a predator lingered in their midst. It would be too tempting to join them. Just by focusing on the couples below, she could smell their alcohol-tinged sweat. Hear the enticing murmurs of their heartbeats and the sweet nothings the 1

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lovers cooed to one another. She took another sip of her drink, but her throat was already parched from the thought of the blood running underneath the paper-thin skin. She swept her gaze over the crowd. A couple of men sat with their backs toward her as they watched television. The one wearing the red shirt had blond hair so light it seemed white, and the other wearing the blue shirt had dark brown hair. A gaggle of women had gathered in one corner and were talking amongst themselves pointing toward the two men at the bar. They were probably going to try and hit on the men. Orianna felt a little bad for the unsuspecting males who were focused on the television screen mounted above the bar. From her vantage point she saw the man in red had his hand on the other man’s thigh, caressing it. She chuckled. Sorry, girls. I guess you’re out of luck. As she peered at the rest of the crowd, she noticed a lone man apart from the others. His gaze took in the band, the couples, and then trailed along the balconies. She was only one floor up so she could watch his eyes. The man seemed normal enough, but something about his eyes held her attention. Orianna licked her lips. The hunger burned in the pit of her stomach, branching outward until her veins felt like they were stretched thin. Her jaw muscles tightened. She gripped the terrace and fought the oncoming transformation. As she clenched her drink, the glass shattered in her hand. The sudden pain of an embedded shard in her skin helped Orianna focus through the ravaging hunger. She plucked the glass from her palm, licked the wound, and then pressed it against her leg to staunch the bleeding. When she glanced at the man below, he beckoned her to join him on the dance floor. A small smile turned up the corners of her lips. Why not go down there and see what he’s all about? I haven’t had any fun in a long time. Something good has to come out of tonight. Orianna raised her hand in acknowledgment, and his grin widened. Once she reached the bar, the band had put their instruments down and begun to mingle with the crowd. The pounding of the hearts around her were louder than the band’s drums had been. She gritted her teeth, pushed the hammering away, and focused on the one part of her that helped her remain normal.

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Orianna hunted for the man who had lured her from the safety of her room. But he had vanished. After waiting a few more minutes, she shook her head and headed to the beach, drawn by the distant flame of a bonfire. Memories of times past with the pride played on her consciousness, but she shoved them away. Maybe she could draw some warmth into her cold body. “Going somewhere?” She turned toward the voice. The man who had drawn her downstairs stood before her. The light from the club cast his shadow along the edge of the sand and the boardwalk. His face remained in shadow, but he possessed a magnetism that drew her toward him. She figured that charisma got him into trouble. He had no idea how much trouble he was going to get into with her. The mystery man stepped further into the light. His skin was golden. His arms were crossed over his chest and showed off the defined muscles of his biceps. He was taller than her, over six feet. Leather pants hugged his wellmuscled legs. Orianna noticed his hands were large, but his nails were manicured and gleamed in the light. Designer shoes encased his feet. The night was balmy, but even with the vest he didn’t seem to notice the cutting breeze coming off the ocean. “I was going for a walk. Get away from the crowd. All the noise gives me a headache.” The first thing she noticed was his eyes when he came fully into the light. One was blue and the other was honey brown. She stifled a gasp. The man chuckled. The silky sound caressed her skin like smooth hands that knew how to pleasure her. It added a new level of intrigue to him. “Don’t let my looks deceive you. I may look like a freak, but I assure you I’m not one.” “I never said that you looked like a freak,” Orianna stammered, trying to hide her curiosity. “You didn’t have to. It was written all over your face.” He waved his hand and smiled. Orianna crossed her hands over her chest. She drummed her nails on her arm, getting tired of beating around the bush with him. “I can’t control my

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facial expressions. But I’m sure you must use your unusual eye color to pick up many women.” He stepped forward, leaving only a couple of planks of the boardwalk between them. Close enough that the heat of his body blasted against her. She licked her lips, which gave her a taste of that warmth on the tip of her tongue. So close to him now, she sensed something about him that hadn’t been there before. The way he smiled, the natural swagger, and charm were more than him knowing he was a fine specimen of a man. “Whoa! I never said anything about trying to pick you up. And I don’t think I’m God’s gift.” “Really?” She raised an eyebrow. A small bit of rage wound along her veins from this foolish banter. Orianna had been fine in her room trying to forget about what had happened earlier that evening. “You were the one who invited me to join you.” Her suitor growled. “How do you know I was focused on you? There are other women in the crowd. Do you think that every man wants you?” Orianna didn’t think about what she would do next. Normally, she plotted out what she did when interacting with anyone. It was one reason she tried to stay away from the public because situations arose like this one where she would lose all control. She had carefully planned out the confrontation she’d had earlier that night. If she hadn’t, then all hell would have broken loose. Although in some part it had. Her sister had been the one to help her stay cool. Mason knew how to push her buttons. Her base instincts had torn at her reason when dealing with the asshole. She curled her fingers into a fist. Her nails dug into the meat of her palm. “I never believed that. Once upon a time, I had someone who thought the world of me. Now I’m on my own. You’re being a dick. Forget we ever talked.” She pushed past him, but he grabbed her arm and spun her around. Orianna was inches from him now. So close the musk of his flesh sat on the tip of her tongue. It was then she knew exactly what he was. He’d been very good at concealing his nature. “I know what you are,” he purred next to her ear.

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The timbre of his voice awakened a part of her that had been buried for a very long time. The sudden desire forced her to pull in a breath. The act of drawing in another ragged gulp of air brought in the salt of the ocean and left it sitting on her tongue. By nature she didn’t need to pull in air, but it was out of habit she kept doing it. It helped her hold onto her humanity. “You have no idea what I am. I know you’re a tiger. The way you masked your presence was commendable. Now kindly let me go before I rip your fingers off and use them for chew toys.” Orianna tried to wrench her arm away, but his strength surprised her. The pain in her gums grew to hot nails pressing into her jaw as she fought the coming of her fangs. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. The man before her drew in a deep breath and forced a smile. That gesture eased his intense expression. The furrows smoothed out in his forehead. He released her, but didn’t retreat. “I’m sorry. This isn’t going the way I had planned. I had hoped you might join me for a drink so we could get to know one other. I didn’t want to come off as a pompous horse’s ass.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Ryker Marsh.” Orianna glanced at the hand and mulled over if she should accept it. She raised an eyebrow. “Your parents named you after a prison?” Dark laughter exploded into the night. That sound shook the very foundations of her soul. Only one man had done that, and he was out of her life. She thought their relationship would last forever, but how wrong she had been. I can’t let his laughter be my undoing. It’s just a physical reaction. Nothing more. All humans and shape-shifters stir my hunger in some way. It’s my curse that I can’t run away from. I’ll be in the darkness until the end of time. No matter how hot one man gets me. “No. They didn’t name me after the island—or the prison. I was named after my great-grandfather. Please, can’t we start over?” He remained where he was, but his voice had taken on a softer, more insistent tone that tugged at her heartstrings. Something inside of her softened. It shouldn’t have, but it had been such a horrible night up until that point that maybe she did need someone else to help her crawl out of her funk. Not that she needed another man in her life. 5

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But she was hungry. She sucked on her lip for a split second, contemplating if it would really hurt her to have one drink. Orianna glanced at his eyes one last time and felt her lips curl into a smile. Her anger melted away. Taking his hand, she introduced herself. “I’m Orianna Depaul.” Ryker squeezed her hand gently. His hand was rough, and it covered hers completely. He could do some damage with those strong fingers if he desired. No rings adorned his fingers, and he didn’t wear a watch. His warm skin overwhelmed her coolness. It was like being near a fire to which she yearned to draw closer. But to indulge in it would only get her singed or burned. “Nice to meet you. So would you like to have a drink with me?” “I’d like that.” He released her hand and gestured back toward the hotel. Orianna walked before him, noting how he kept his distance. She couldn’t help but steal glances at Ryker while they walked down the boardwalk and stepped back into the bar. The band had resumed playing, but the crowd had died down. The breeze was a little cooler. Ocean waves retreated from the beach as the tide went out. They slid into the seats at a hidden table behind two tall, potted palm trees. It was a secret escape from the world around them that made her believe for a second she could pretend to be mortal. The waiter appeared, and they ordered drinks. Beer for him, and she got another lemonade and vodka. As she sat back in her chair, Orianna felt her muscles relaxing. It would take more than a couple of drinks to have any effect on her, but it was nice to sip and play human with this man. After a few minutes of them not speaking, Ryker took another swig of his beer and then ran his fingers over the sweating bottle. “I have to confess something to you.” “Really? What is that? You’re really a horse’s ass after all?” She laughed. The corners of his mouth turned into a smile. “No. Well, some think so.” “So, what’s this big confession?” He slid his hand over hers. This time the touch sent a spiral of lust through her. She gazed into his unusual-colored eyes. They held her captive, pinning her to the seat. Ryker traced small patterns on the back of her hand 6

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with his index finger. The little hairs stood along her arm. The passion he stirred in her caught her by surprise. Orianna tried to shrug it off because she had assumed it was only brought on by her mounting hunger. “Even before I saw you there on the balcony, I knew who you were.” “Really? And who am I?” “You’ve been cast out of your pride. Today was the leader’s funeral, your mother.” She jerked her hand away from his. “How do you know that? What the hell do you want with me?” “I have my sources. Like I said, I have a proposition for you.” Ryker motioned to the bar behind her. Orianna followed his gaze. The two men at the bar, whom she had spied earlier, had gotten up and were walking toward her. Each wore jeans, but one had a red T-shirt and the other a blue one. Wait a minute. I thought they were together. What are they doing with Ryker? They stopped at the table but kept their distance from her. A cold sweat broke out over her body. If she had a pulse, then it would have been racing. She glanced around for a way to escape. The quickest outlet was to vault over the railing behind her, but she didn’t know how quick the other men were. If the other two were shifters, then they would outrun her or at least keep up. It would be impossible for her to fight off two of them, let alone all three. Instead she took a breath and forced herself to stay in her seat. “Are you gentlemen here to escort me away from the crowd and declare me a threat to society? Maybe slam a stake through my heart?” The two others glanced at Ryker. The one in the red T-shirt answered. His golden skin shimmered under the light of the moon. Brooding, dark brown eyes were hidden under long, silver lashes. A white gold mane hung to his shoulders. He had defined cheekbones and lips full enough she’d love to taste them. He pulled out the chair next to her and perched on the edge. “We’re not here to harm you. I’m Dallas, by the way.” “Then what are you here for?” she asked. The other man stepped forward. He was shorter than Ryker and Dallas. His hair was short and reddish brown, she observed now that he was closer. 7

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Blue-gray eyes studied her and darted to the other men. His nose was bent as if it had been broken one too many times. A scar marred his temple and sliced through the top of his left eyebrow. Another raised mark slashed his collarbone and went down under his blue T-shirt. He was wirier than the other two men, but she could still see the lean form of his muscles. His clothes were a little more ragged, and yet something about him was wilder than the other two. The kinetic energy around him disturbed the air and made her antsy, too. She figured he was a newly transformed cat and didn’t have control over his inner beast yet. “We caught your unique scent three nights ago and found the carcass you left,” the other man said. “This is about me leaving a dead deer on your property? I didn’t realize any shifters lived there outside of pride lands. If so, I would’ve hunted somewhere else. Do I need to pay you for the animal? That is why you tracked me here?” Her jaw tightened, but she held in her anger. “This isn’t about the deer, Orianna.” Ryker leaned over the table and took her hand again. He brought it to his lips and nipped the skin. “What Pierce is trying to say is that when he showed us the deer and we caught your scent, he insisted we come after you.” He leaned nearer, closed his eyes, and drew in a long breath. A look of pure ecstasy crossed his face. The corners of his eyes scrunched up. His mouth formed into an O, and a small moan slipped from his throat. He opened his eyes and met her gaze. Ryker’s eyes burned with a passion she was starting to understand. When she studied the other two men, she saw the same fire in theirs. Dallas gripped the edge of the table. The muscles were tight in his jaw. Pierce placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. A look passed between them that made her wonder if they were romantically involved. Ryker withdrew and took another sip of his beer. “We want you to come home with us. We can give you everything you’ve ever wanted. We can take away the hurt that haunts your soul.”

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Chapter Two It took a moment for Ryker’s words to sink in. Orianna glanced at the three men, not sure she believed Ryker’s proposal. She understood what they were asking. It had happened to her once before with the man who had stolen her soul and left her to die. There was no way these three were now claiming to be her mates. The world around her slowed. It seemed they were in their own little bubble and nothing else mattered except them. The ice cubes cracked and whined in her drink. Crashing sounds of the ocean dulled in comparison to the three men’s racing hearts. So loud they deafened her. It can’t be possible. They’re playing with me. “Did the others send you here? Is that what this is about? Are you here to taunt me? Did Mason put you up to this?” She gritted her teeth. This all had to be a setup. Wasn’t it bad enough that she had been ordered never to venture into town after tonight? The ban had been lifted because her mother had called her home on her deathbed. If not for that, then she wouldn’t have been allowed to return. “This isn’t a hoax. We’re aware of your mother’s passing. She was well known even for those not belonging to the pride. Please hear us out,” Pierce said with a slight plea in his voice. He reached for her, but pulled his hand away before it touched her arm. The fight in his eyes made it apparent that he yearned to caress her, but he had clamped down on it. “What’s your name?” she asked. The top of his ears turned bright red. “Sorry. I’m Pierce.” “Orianna. Nice to meet you.” She felt some sympathy for him, but it was Ryker who seemed to be making fun of her for proposing that they were her mates. “Ori, you—” “Don’t call me that. Only one other person called me that. And you don’t know me well enough to call me that!” she growled at Ryker, her rage bubbling up before she could clamp down on it. Hearing the nickname flashed her back to the happy days she had with Mason and how those had vanished. 9

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“Sorry,” Ryker muttered. “We’re telling you the truth. I don’t expect you to believe us. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. It’s rare among our kind to discover that one individual who we know is our other half. You catch that sweet scent, and it drives you insane until you find the person it’s attached to. Most of us are lucky to find a mate and settle down. Pierce came into the house and told me he discovered a scent he had to follow. We weren’t going to let him go alone.” She got up and shook her head. “Look, guys. I appreciate the ahh . . . compliments you find me irresistible, but you have this all wrong. I’m not a shifter anymore. I’m a freak. I can’t be your mate. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to my room. Please don’t follow me when I leave tomorrow night.” Orianna pushed past Pierce and wove through the thinning crowd. The overwhelming need to escape into the night and never look back seized her. It took everything she had to stay on course and go back up to her room where all her clothes were. When she slipped into her hotel room, she peered out the balcony window and saw the three men were back at the bar drinking and staring up at her window. She pulled the curtains closed and glanced at the clock. There was still time for her to slip away and hightail it out of town. Her backpack sat slumped in the corner. Her purse was on the nightstand. All she had to do was shove what she had in there and make a run for it. I’d have to be careful because they’re going to follow me. She ran her fingers through her hair. Think, Ori. Think. No one just suddenly comes up and claims they’re your long-lost mates. Not three men. It hadn’t happened that way with her and Mason. She’d been at a pride gathering, and her cousin had introduced her to Mason. It wasn’t the magical scent that drew her to him. He was kind. They started dating, and he asked her to marry him. It was few and far between that shifters were enticed by scent. It had happened to her parents and she had always wanted it, but it had never happened to her. No. I’m not a shape-shifter anymore. The cat died in my soul the same time my body did. They probably have me confused because I don’t smell like a vampire, and I don’t smell like a shape-shifter either. Even if I crossed their land and killed a deer. It just can’t be. Orianna gathered her things and threw them on the bed. The urge to flee 10

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split her in two and drove her onward. She couldn’t deal with the idea of having another mate, let alone three of them. In the end, they would bring her heartache, and she’d had enough of that. Love wasn’t something she wanted to foray into again. She wasn’t sure if she believed in it anymore. That had always been one of the arguments she had put to her mother. How could a shifter, like her parents, know their mates by instinct or smell even if they didn’t love them at first? Her mother had answered that the love grows over time. Orianna didn’t think she had that animal attraction in her anymore. This was a time when she needed to talk to her mother. A pang of sadness hit her heart. That wasn’t going to be possible ever again. Now her mother was cold in the ground and her home was gone forever. The only lifeline she had to her past was her sister, and it was hard now to talk to her. A knock echoed through the room. She spun around and clutched her purse to her chest. Just a few more minutes and she could have been gone from the hotel. The knock sounded again but softer this time. Orianna glanced toward the window. It was possible for her to leap from the firststory balcony, but it would cause too much of a ruckus with the people below who remained at the bar. Shit! She went to the door, looked through the peephole, and then opened it. Ryker stood in the doorway. “Planning on running out?” he asked. “What? No!” She threw her purse across the room so it landed on her bed. “You’re a horrible liar.” A smirk curled up the corners of his eyes. “Why did you come up here?” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the doorjamb. He looked comfortable, as if he could wait there all night for her. When the sun came up, she’d be dead to the world. One of the many things she hated about her condition. “I’m here for you. I won’t let you out of my sight. Pierce would have my hide. He’s hell-bent on coming up here and begging you to return with us. Him being so young and not able to keep control. He’s only been a shifter for a couple of years. Unlike Dallas and me, he was bitten. I’ll let him tell you his story. Can I come in, please?” 11

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The elevator dinged, and the doors squeaked open. A couple strolled out and toward their room. Orianna reluctantly stepped back into the room. It wasn’t prudent to have this conversation in the open where human ears could hear. Ryker entered and took in the state of her room. “You’re in. Listen before you say anything else. I’m not looking for a relationship with one man, let alone three. There’s a lot about me you don’t know. I can’t give you any cubs. I’m not even a cat any more. That part of me died the day I did. Don’t you get it?” She shook her head while sadness wracked her body. Now would be the time for a good cry. Try as she might, the tears would never come again. “Hey.” Ryker lifted her chin so she could look into those oddly colored eyes of his and have her breath taken away. “I’m aware of what you are. You’re a beautiful woman who survived a horrible accident. You’ve been shunned by your pride. The mate who swore to protect you and love you turned his back on you because he couldn’t handle it. When I look at you, I don’t see what fate has turned you into. I see a strong, vibrant woman. Whether you know it or not, your cat is still inside of you. Maybe you’ve lost your way to her. We can help you find it, if you let us. If you trust us, just a little, we can make your heart beat once more.” He swiped his thumb across her lips so she got a quick taste of his tang. It reminded her of cinnamon with a hint of cayenne pepper. Just enough kick to make her desire more. Orianna desperately wanted to believe him. The past five years she had been all alone. Compelled to keep moving because she belonged nowhere: the vampires didn’t embrace her, and neither did the shape-shifters. Her new condition made the sun her enemy, and she was forced to live on the blood of living creatures. Humans were in danger around her. Being a shifter, the appetite for meat, especially from mortals, was something she had learned to suppress. They had killed wild creatures. So far, the temptation to pierce a vein and drink deeply from a neck hadn’t whited out Orianna’s reason yet. Although the hunger for the hot, crimson liquid haunted her no matter how much she repressed the urge.

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“Nothing can force my heart to beat. It’s a shriveled husk inside my ribcage. Look, Ryker, I appreciate you coming up here to cheer me up and plead your case. But nothing you say or do—” Ryker’s mouth pressed into hers. With his body so close, the warmth of it burned through her clothes and inflamed her skin. He slid his fingers along her cheeks until they entwined with her hair. His nails scraped along her scalp. Orianna went rigid while he sucked in her bottom lip, biting on it. Her hands stayed at her side. If she touched him, the she would be giving in. He released her lips and kissed a line along her cheek. Ryker tugged on her ear. “Please trust us. Trust me.” He held her face gently between his hands. She saw the sincerity in his eyes and how vulnerable he was. He was offering her not to be alone. That part of her she still considered human reacted to that. No being should be alone. Her mother wouldn’t want her to be by herself. Ryker offered a reprieve from her wandering, from the long nights of traveling and hunting for food. They had plenty of deer on their land. She had passed by many of the docile animals when she traveled through their property. At the time, she had been so focused on getting blood so she could hide her condition the best she could, that she didn’t catch the scent of the three men. Orianna raised her hand and almost touched his face but stopped herself. Instead, she placed her hand on his and then pulled out of his grasp. “I’ll come with you, but I have a couple of conditions.” Ryker smiled. “Anything you want.”

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Chapter Three “So, what did she say?” Pierce asked. The anticipation was hard to hide in his tone. He was nearly jumping out of his skin, tearing up a napkin as they waited. A pile of shredded paper lay on the table with several bent and knotted straws. Ryker glanced up at Orianna’s room and then back at his expectant mate. He sighed. Pierce isn’t going to like her conditions since he’s hell-bent on bringing her back with us. Dallas is along because he’s concerned. I’m not sure he really believes Pierce has found another mate. “She’ll come back with us, but you can’t expect to jump into bed with her right away. She’s a little skittish.” “Fair enough. What else?” Pierce asked. “Orianna wants to get to know us before she declares herself anyone’s mate.” Pierce nodded, but the frustration was clear on his face. “That isn’t the way it happened with you and Dallas. Once we caught one another’s scent, we knew we were meant for one another.” Dallas ran his hand over Pierce’s shoulder. Ryker knew he was trying to calm their mate, but Dallas’s dark gaze held his concern. They were both of the same mind. This was something they were doing for Pierce. He had insisted they come after her. If it wasn’t to make him happy, then they would have stayed on their land. Ryker knew exactly what Orianna was, and it didn’t please him he had to convince her to come with them. “We were lucky. Not all mates catch one another’s scent and get together. Normally the attraction grows the way it does between regular humans,” Dallas commented. “Part of her is still a shifter. She’s the only one I know of who has survived a vampire turning. It’s made her different. Even if you react to her scent, she doesn’t seem to. Woo her like a normal human woman,” Ryker answered.

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Pierce nodded. “I will. Thank you for this. I know we’re all going to be happy together.” He planted his lips on Dallas’s and wrapped his arms around the other man’s neck. Ryker watched his two mates kiss. His cock firmed at the sight of them embracing. He yearned to take them both and fuck their tight asses. Throwing a woman in the mix of things would disrupt their lifestyles, but he couldn’t say no to Pierce. To deny him a mate would be to cut off part of who he was. And he didn’t want to cause any ripples in their relationship. For the first time in a very long time, Ryker was happy. Now having this outcast woman among them was only going to screw things up. Pierce released Dallas and then went over to Ryker. He conformed his body to Ryker’s so he could feel the firm muscles beneath the material of his shirt. He clutched Pierce’s arms and held him close while he thrust his tongue into his mate’s mouth. The taste of the beer clung to Pierce’s lips, but Ryker didn’t mind. His cat stirred under the strong grip of his mate. It rubbed against his skin wanting to be released from the fleshy confines of the human body. Orianna had been wrong about what he was. Well, only half wrong. He wasn’t a tiger, but a hybrid. A liger. Because he wasn’t a pureblooded tiger or lion, he wasn’t accepted among his pride and no one had wanted him growing up. Being an outcast had made him work harder to gain his status in the shifter world. Accepting Orianna into the house would upset the delicate balance he had precariously built in the world. It was bad enough he had turned down an offer to work on a sculpture for someone in the local pride. The man had left angry and told him he would blackball him with the local shifter businesses. Now he was inviting a freak into his household, and that would alienate him from the pride even more. Before he could let the frustration of the incident consume him, Pierce plunged his tongue between Ryker’s lips. He touched it with his own. They intertwined, and Ryker enjoyed Pierce’s arms for a moment longer and then released him. The love the other man had for him lit up Pierce’s blue-gray eyes. “I’m going to get another beer and then take a walk on the beach. I’ll catch you guys later.” Pierce walked away with a bounce in his step and a little sway to his hips that made Ryker growl with delight. 15

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After he disappeared, Ryker turned his attention back to Dallas. His other mate sat across from him on the bar stool and pulled another swig from his beer. He sighed, set the bottle down, and examined the label before turning back to Ryker. “Pierce doesn’t understand. Bringing her under our roof might cause problems with the other prides. She is an outcast among them. He doesn’t see it that way, but he’s only thinking about love. You do know she’s the daughter of the pride leader who just died.” “You know Orianna?” “No, but I had heard rumors from others who said that what happened to her was impossible. Every shifter knows that vampire venom is toxic to shifters. But she’s an anomaly. Her scent is something I’ve never come across before.” Ryker sighed. “Shit! Why did Pierce have to stumble upon her? Honestly, I don’t smell what he does. You?” Dallas shook his head. “No. She’s got an amazing body. Nice tits.” He let out a low whistle. “I’d love to play with those babies. No offense to you.” He patted the other man’s hand and ran his middle finger over Ryker’s. “None taken. We both knew that this is going to be difficult. I don’t feel the same pull toward her Pierce does. I laid it on thick to get her interested in coming back with us. If Pierce wasn’t so hell-bent on this, I wouldn’t even go near her. Honestly, she’s a little creepy. Besides her mixed scent, there’s a cold energy about her. The air moves around her as if it doesn’t even acknowledge she’s there. It’s very strange. What if Pierce doesn’t get over his infatuation with her?” “Then we deal with it. We aren’t going to sever our connection with him because of her. If she causes any trouble, then we’ll address it.” Dallas took another swig of his beer. “For now we need to think about where we’re going to put her.” Ryker gazed at the ocean. “How about the guesthouse? You’re not using it as a studio right now.” “I hadn’t thought about that. It gives her a way to come and go as she pleases, and we can watch her. That and she doesn’t have to be in the house.” 16

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Dallas nodded. “I don’t think she’s that bad, but whatever you want.” He got up from the bar and leaned over Ryker. “I’m going to find Pierce. Come and join us in a bit in the room.” He tugged on Ryker’s ear and squeezed his cock underneath the table. “Already hard, I see. That makes my job so much easier.” Ryker chuckled and batted his mate’s hand away. “Go find Pierce. I need some time to mull over this drastic change in our lives. Take your time. I’ll be up later.” The other man nodded and walked to the beach to find their third mate. Ryker fingered the drink before him. He had used all of his charms to convince Orianna to come back with them. Orianna was an attractive woman, but he didn’t find her appealing for mating. When he first sensed her, the hairs rose on the back of his neck. There was a wrongness about her he couldn’t describe. It was one thing for him to be a hybrid, but she wasn’t even that. She was an oddity of nature who shouldn’t have survived the vampire attack she’s been subjected to. Yet, underneath the undead energy was that wild, sensuous, untamed nature of the cat she had once been. He couldn’t fathom what it was like for her existing in two forms. By putting her in the guesthouse, he would make sure she didn’t bring her victims back to bury them in the fields. The space wasn’t being used for his studio. Ryker was taking a break from sculpting, which was another reason why he had turned down the commission early that day and angered the pride leader. Having the hiccup of Pierce needing to claim Orianna as his mate was something they would overcome. He glanced up toward Orianna’s balcony. She stood outside gazing at the horizon. The wind caught her brown hair and blew it into her face. She turned into the wind, probably inhaling the scent of the sea. At that moment, he wondered how this whole scenario would affect her. From what he knew of her, she was cast out of her pride. Her mate had also disowned her. No one knew what happened to her once she was banished. To see her now, he could hardly believe it. A wonder to be alive, and yet she was the ultimate hunter. It eked from her pores how dangerous she had become. A vampire mixed with a shifter made for a deadly combination and an oddity among the 17

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supernatural community. That peculiarity was a danger to him and his two mates. The cat in him was uneasy around her. It had taken all his charm and patience for him to go up to her room and play at being attracted to her. She could never find out. He clenched his teeth as he contemplated how far he would have to take the charade. He hoped Pierce would fall out of his obsession with this woman and return to wanting to be only with him and Dallas. Orianna pushed the hair from her face and caught his gaze. A small smile turned the corners of her lips. However, her eyes remained shadowed by the furrows he saw creased in her brow. She was having doubts about coming back with them. He understood her trepidation. In response he raised his drink to her and then gave her an inviting smile. She waved and then headed back inside. Ryker took another mouthful of his beer and then thought about Dallas and Pierce. The idea of them together warmed his soul. It stirred his libido enough he couldn’t ignore the call of returning to their room and joining in whatever activity they were involved with. He finished his drink, got up, from the table and ventured back to the hotel room. When he entered the room, he discovered Dallas naked with Pierce on his knees. Dallas held Pierce’s head between his hands. His face was locked in ecstasy as the other man’s head bobbed up and down. Ryker’s cock shifted from the sight of his two mates. He licked his lips and closed the door behind him silently. He walked into the room and slipped his clothes off, dropping them to the floor. In turn, he took a position behind Dallas. Ryker ran his fingers over Dallas’s back. He pressed his nose to Dallas’s nape, inhaling the masculine and heady scent of the man—and the cat that lay underneath the flesh. Ryker’s inner liger roared to be set free. He didn’t fight the majestic beast as it merged with his human nature. He rolled his shoulders, feeling the bones pop and the muscles stretch. The extra weight of the cat came into his being, and he rejoiced from it. His eye teeth shifted, becoming sharper as all four canines grew. Nails become hard claws, and his body temperature elevated a little. Ryker bumped his head against Dallas’s back. He the rubbed his cheek along his mate’s shoulders feeling the warm, velvety skin. A purr rolled from 18

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his throat being so content with the two men he had mated with. It wasn’t his first idea to be with men. Women to him were still beautiful, and their relationship was an open one that they could indulge themselves with another woman if the mood came upon them. They were not strictly monogamous, but they did not sleep with other men. Love so strong speared his soul when he thought about Dallas and Pierce—so strong, it stopped the breath in his throat. Ryker would do anything to keep them both safe and make sure they were happy. Dallas groaned, being close to coming. Ryker nipped the skin along his back, sucking on it until the blood rose in the flesh. With one final thrust into Pierce’s mouth, Dallas came. Ryker supported the other man’s weight while he recovered from the passion shared between him and Pierce. The one thing he never got used to was the mutual emotions among the three of them. It took his breath away every time they shared their feelings. Pierce stood, naked himself. His cock pointed at the two men, begging to be petted. “I want you next.” Pierce ran his fingers down Ryker’s arm. The soft touch made him tremble. Pierce was still acclimating to the shape-shifter lifestyle. He had strength and cunning, but he didn’t have the power to dominate a pride if it ever came to that. Ryker didn’t flaunt being an alpha. Neither did Dallas. They all had an equal say in the major decisions transpiring in their lives. “Then you can have me, but I want Dallas’s ass as well. I need to feel connected to both of you,” Ryker responded. “I love it when you’re in the middle. Love to have your fat dick in my ass.” Dallas grabbed a handful of Ryker’s hair and claimed his lips in a wet, sloppy kiss. Dallas’s tongue swept over his sharpened teeth while the other man’s hand clutched his cock and pumped it until Ryker thought he would lose it right there. Then Dallas stopped and turned around. He leaned on the bed and spread his legs. Pierce licked his palm, slid it along Ryker’s shaft providing the lubrication from his spit, and then seized Ryker’s ass in a firm grip, pushing his legs apart.

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Ryker moaned with the sudden pleasure and show of dominance Pierce showed. Maybe he’s coming into his own. Dallas readjusted on the bed by leaning over a little more to give the other two men a better view of his firm ass. Ryker spread Dallas’s asshole before slipping his dick inside of the tight orifice. He clutched his mate’s hips and drove into him slowly. Before he could find his rhythm, Pierce pushed him so he was lower than Dallas. Pierce’s sharp nails dug into the fleshy mounds of Ryker’s ass, and then Pierce plunged his length inside of him. The feeling of being full was so satisfying that even at the first thrust, a hiss of pleasure escaped Ryker’s lips. Pierce planted his hands on Ryker’s hips, nails piercing his flesh. And then he began a pace that Ryker had to match. Pierce’s hot breath blasted onto his shoulder. The cat squirmed within Ryker’s flesh, hoping to come out completely and yearning to share in the experience with them. Dallas backed into Ryker, to match the speed of their three-way mating. Ryker pressed his forehead into the hollow between Dallas’s shoulder blades and drew in deep breaths. Sweat had formed on his forehead and slipped down into his eyes. The world was falling away with each drive of his cock into Dallas and Pierce impaling him. His stomach muscles clenched. He couldn’t hold on much longer. He allowed his hands to rove over Dallas’s flat stomach and grasp his firm length. Pierce breathed loudly against his back. Ryker shut his eyes and let instinct take over. Nothing would come between him and his own. He would protect them no matter what happened, and that meant taking on Orianna if she brought trouble with her. Pierce’s teeth dug into his shoulder. Ryker cried out from the sudden bite, but it also was the push that he needed to send him over the edge. The world exploded in stars and balls of fur. His claws sunk into Dallas’s hips and his mouth tasted the blood of his mate. In the throes of passion, he must have also sunk his fangs into Dallas’s shoulder. He swallowed the hot, coppery substance and then let the world return back to normal. Pierce rested against his back, hands clasped around his chest and breathing heavily. Ryker opened his eyes and licked the wounds he had inflicted on Dallas. Even he was breathing hard. A loud rumble reverberated in Dallas’s back and vibrated Ryker’s cheek from the contented purrs his mate was uttering. A 20

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smile crept over his lips as he took one last lick of Dallas’s salty skin and then gently removed himself from his mate. Pierce had done the same, leaving him free. Ryker slid onto the king-size bed and the other two men cuddled on either side of him, keeping him warm with their body heat and the force of their love. He rested against the pillow and stared at the ceiling, totally spent. Dallas flicked his tongue over his pert nipple before nibbling on it. Pierce lay on his chest, his breaths slowly easing out into sleep. The happy bliss descended over Ryker as well. Dallas settled and fell asleep too. Ryker glanced at his two mates. Nothing was going to come between them—no matter what.

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Chapter Four By the time Ryker awoke, he realized they had slept the night away. He groaned and heard the shower going. Pierce still laid curled into a ball next to him with the covers half on and half off him. In sleep, he looked younger than his twenty-six years. The scars that decorated his body were from his attack by a were-leopard. The beast had been feral, and by the grace of God or sheer dumb luck Pierce had survived the attack and come out whole on the other end. The bite raised marks on his abdomen where the leopard had sunk its fangs into his flesh, but Pierce had fought him off. Ryker moved out of bed slowly so as not to wake Pierce. He stretched and wondered when they could leave. It was going to take a little bit for them to turn the guesthouse into a suitable residence. There was a lot of cleaning to do before Orianna could move in. Though he pondered how much of the regular amenities she’d utilize because she didn’t eat and probably needed the shower. There was a comfy, raggedy couch where he slept on occasion if he grew too tired to stumble back into the house. He figured they would have to buy a bed for her. What would a creature like her need to live? A coffin? Blankets on the windows or tin foil to keep the light out? She had said she fed from the deer, but he knew she must have eaten people. What if she goes feral? What if she draws unwanted attention? Ryker shook his head and shoved that away. Once Dallas emerged from the shower, Ryker headed into the bathroom and also got cleaned up. When he was done, Pierce padded in, sleep still crusting his eyes. It took him a few more minutes, but he also emerged showered and smelling like fresh soap. “Are we ready to get back to the house with Orianna?” Pierce asked. Dallas glanced at him. Ryker saw his strained expression. “We can.” All three left the room and then walked down to the first floor where she was. Pierce knocked softly on the door. No one answered. Ryker gritted his teeth because Orianna didn’t answer. He listened and didn’t hear anyone stirring on the other side. He tried again with a little more force. “Do you think she ditched us?” Pierce asked, trying to hide the disbelief in his voice. 22

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Ryker leaned closer to the door and inhaled deeply. “No. She’s in there. Her scent is fainter, but she hasn’t left.” He banged on the door again. “Orianna, open the door. We’re going to check out. Are you coming with us or not?” Still no movement. Irritation rolled through him. His cat kneaded the inside of his brain, telling him it was not happy with the way this morning was turning out. The cat hadn’t decided if it wanted Orianna with them or not. Now it was frustrated with the turn of events. He figured she would be ready by now. Dallas pushed him out of the way. “Let me try, but block the door. You don’t want the sun to get on her.” He dug into his pants and pulled out a lock pick set. “Where did you get that?” Pierce asked. “Never leave home without it. You don’t know when you’re going to need it. Gotten me out of a few situations.” Dallas smiled and then worked on the lock until it opened. Ryker watched with fascination because Dallas always surprised him. There were things about his mate he didn’t know. He always kept his past a secret. After a few quick turns and a sudden click, the door popped open. Dallas pushed the door open. Ryker stood in the doorway. He immediately thought of all the vampire movies he had seen where a vampire’s lair was dank and smelled like decay. He shook the thought off because he knew it was a musty hotel room. The interior was completely dark. A blanket covered the window. The small shaft of sunlight that sliced into the room from the door landed on the bed. Orianna lay motionless. Pierce tried to push through to get to her. When Ryker moved, the sun hit her arm. The stench of burnt meat filled the room. A lick of flame appeared on her skin. She sat up in bed and uttered a piercing scream that deafened him. “Oh, shit!” Pierce rushed in and nearly shoved him to the floor. Orianna had leaped from the bed and was huddled in the darkest corner of the room. Her arms enveloped her face, and she was shivering. “Shut the door,” Pierce shouted, grabbed the sheet from the bed, and wrapped it around Orianna. 23

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The room was plunged into darkness. Her hollow gasps filled the room and sounded like broken bellows. Only three heartbeats sounded in the room. Hers was silent. “Are you okay?” Pierce asked, stroking her hair. “I-I think so,” she responded. “What are you doing here? I expected you last night, and you didn’t show.” “We got a little distracted,” Ryker answered. “We came up here to get you so we could bring you back to the house, but it appears we have run into a complication. It slipped my mind.” Orianna glared at him and held up her blackened hand. “You think! The sun isn’t just a complication. It’ll deep-fry me into oblivion if I step foot into it. Just go on without me. I’m more trouble than any of you want to deal with. I’ll leave at nightfall and be on my way. You won’t have to see me again.” “No!” Pierce cried out and pleaded with the two men. “You can’t just leave. You have to come back with us. Ryker, tell her. She’s our mate!” Dallas cleared his throat and knelt on the floor by them. “No, love. She’s your mate. To me, she is nothing more than a beautiful woman with an intriguing scent.” He put a hand on Pierce’s shoulder and squeezed. The other man looked at Dallas and then back at Ryker. Hurt danced in Pierce’s eyes, and that cut Ryker to the quick. I knew this was how it was going to go. Fuck. “Dallas is right. Orianna is a unique being, and I find her attractive, but her scent doesn’t wind around my heartstrings and tug on them the way they do when I’m with you or Dallas. Pierce, you’re still young yet as a shifter and don’t fully understand our ways. Your cat is confused when it comes to Orianna. Maybe you got the whiff of her and her perfume hasn’t worked its way out yet. I used my wiles to get her to come back with us.” Pierce’s expression darkened. Rage ignited his eyes and gave him an edge that Ryker had never seen before. He could feel the anger running through the connection they shared. A low growl came from Pierce’s lips and almost sounded like a challenge. The hair bristled on the back of Ryker’s neck and along his arms. His inner cat stood at attention and was ready to pounce at the one who issued the snarl. He had to remind himself this was his mate and 24

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he would never hurt Pierce. Dallas had the same shocked expression on his face that Ryker felt. “You always tell me what to do or how to feel. Just because I wasn’t born a shifter doesn’t mean that I don’t understand what my leopard wants. And it wants her.” Orianna laid her uninjured hand on his. “Pierce, you should listen to them. You don’t want me. Being with me would make you unhappy, and I couldn’t allow that. Please forget you ever caught my scent and go on with your mates. They only want what’s best for you.” He glanced at her. Ryker saw an expression of utter devotion on Pierce’s face, the way he looked at him and Dallas. Seeing that meant Pierce was serious in having her with them. “Pierce, even she’s telling you to let her go. Come back with us.” The muscles locked in Pierce’s jaw. His skin was taking on a redder hue by the second. The muscles rolled along his cheeks as he fought for control. “I’m not leaving her.” “But—” Orianna began. “No! I’m not leaving you. That’s final.” Dallas sighed. “What about us? We’re your mates, too. I can’t . . . I won’t lose you.” He twined his fingers with the other man’s. Pierce stared directly at Ryker. “If you don’t want her, then you don’t want me. I love the both of you. But my place is here.” He pulled his hand from Dallas’s. Ryker felt like he had been dealt a physical blow. It took him a moment to catch his breath. Pierce had made up his mind to abandon them for some woman he knew nothing about. He was discarding them for a monster who was dead all day and ate people at night. Everything they had built was coming crashing down. He pressed his nails into his palms and looked at the nearly helpless creature on the floor that his mate was protecting. She might be helpless now, but wait until the sun goes down. Pierce will see then what an oddity she is, what a danger, and he won’t want her anymore. He tugged on Dallas’s shirt. “Come on.”

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The other man stood slowly. Orianna looked at them, a confused expression adorning her features. Ryker’s liger yowled and dug its claws into his brain. Stars appeared at the periphery of his vision. His legs were shaky, and he wasn’t sure he would make it out of the door. Everything in him was stunned at the turn of events. He clutched the door frame and gathered his wits. Dallas opened the door quickly, and they exited the room. Ryker grabbed the railing and doubled over. The pain and realization he had lost Pierce ran rampant through him. Part of him had died. “I-It’s one thing for her to come back with us. Y-You can’t just let him stay with her. He doesn’t know any better. I know how dangerous her kind can be,” Dallas stammered. Ryker felt his rising anger jam up his throat. He slammed his fist into the railing, which left an obvious dent. Tears stung his eyes, but he fought them off. “I don’t have a choice,” he said through clenched teeth. “Wait. How do you know so much about vampires?” “Go in there and drag him out. Beat some sense into him. And it’s complicated.” “And have him resent us even more? I’m not going to jeopardize us getting back together once he wakes up and realizes she isn’t his mate. We are. For now, we go home and wait for him to come back.” Dallas squeezed his shoulder. “That could be a very long time. Her kind can be charismatic. Once they get their fangs into you, it’s hard to get away.” Ryker stared at the crashing waves. Dark clouds hovered over the water, slowly encroaching on the hotel. Soon they would blot out the sun. Maybe then she could escape into the world and leave Pierce behind. A sharp gust blew over the balcony and tried to knock them down. Either way a storm was brewing. “Well, then, we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.” “I wouldn’t count on it.” “If we force him to come back with us, he’ll hate that we made him leave her behind for the rest of his days. I love him too much to have him look at me with loathing in his eyes for eternity. His cat will come to terms with Orianna not being his mate. Once that happens, he’ll come back to us.”

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Dallas raked his hands through his hair and growled. “You’d better be right.” He walked back toward their room. Ryker looked down at the beach. A couple dragged their child to the edge of the ocean. The baby screamed. The parents were frustrated with the toddler. The baby squirmed in its mother’s arms until finally they moved back to their towel. After a few moments, the tot got up and waddled toward the ocean, stumbling a few times before he made his way into the water and then started splashing. Happy baby laughter rippled from his lips. Ryker chuckled and wondered what it would be like to have a brood of his own. But no one wanted a hybrid. Now Pierce had turned him away for a woman who had no heartbeat. What purpose could she serve? He shook his head, glanced back to the closed door of Orianna’s hotel room, and then followed in Dallas’s direction. He wasn’t sure what he would do if he lost Pierce. Ryker had had his soul torn to shreds once before. The woman he loved was forbidden to see him once his father found out he was in love with a purebred. Ever since that he had been wary of anyone entering his life. He wasn’t going to stand in Pierce’s way because he knew what it was like to lose someone and never get them back again.

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Chapter Five Orianna opened her eyes slowly. It took a moment to recognize her surroundings. She remained in the hotel room. She remembered the pain in her hand from it being burned. Ryker, Dallas, and Pierce hadn’t come for her the night before. So, she had settled in for the day. Then they had barged into the room, and brought the sun with them. Pierce had told his mates he was choosing her over them. That thought turned her stomach. A sheet covered her. The room was still dark, but she sensed a heartbeat. It had to be Pierce. She took the sheet from her head. Her arm pained her, but it was manageable. He shouldn’t have given up them for me. “You’re awake.” Pierce got off the bed and rushed over to her. He stopped a couple of feet from her. She smiled and beckoned him closer. He knelt next to her and took her burnt hand in his, kissing the back of it. His hand was so warm that it made her gasp and awakened her hunger. It took everything in her not to push him away. A struggle started within her for wanting him close to comfort her and yet with the hunger inside of her, she wanted to tear into his veins. This was one reason she didn’t think it was wise for him to be with her. She was a danger to him. His eyes showed his concern and the feelings he possessed for her. Orianna knew he wasn’t going to abandon her, even if she tried to warn him about her nature. “I’m awake. You didn’t have to stay here with me. You know that, right?” He nodded. His sensuous mouth turned down in a frown. The small scrunches near his eyebrows made her wonder how much he truly regretted letting his other two mates go. “I stayed because I had to. Don’t try and convince me to go back to Ryker and Dallas. If they can’t accept you for who you are, then I don’t want them in my life.” “Don’t say that. They love you. I saw it in their eyes. Heard it when they talked to you. Before you profess that you’re my undying mate, you have to understand what I truly am.”

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He leaned closer and sniffed her throat. The subtle brush of the tip of his nose against her flesh caused a shiver to ripple through her. “I already know what you are. The woman I love. My cat recognizes you as a mate. It wants you. I want you. I can sense the cat inside of you, locked away behind walls, scratching to get out.” Orianna shook her head. “The cat died when I did. What remains is the remnant of what I used to be. Now I’ve become this.” She pulled away from him as she felt the difference between him and her. It was more than her not being alive anymore. The cold, alien presence of the vampires that dwelled within. It was a constant battle between it and the beautiful lioness she used to be able to become. “That’s where you’re wrong. You might not be able to sense it, but I can. What happened to you was a horrific event, but you can’t keep running from what you are. Trust me, I know. I’m still trying to figure out how to be this. My life has changed. I never believed in vampires and shape-shifters until I woke up in the hospital. One of my nurses told me exactly what had happened. I didn’t believe her. Then on the first full moon I changed. I drank to drown what I had become, hoping the shift wouldn’t come. It only made it worse. Over time, I’ve learned to listen to the cat inside of me. When I came across Dallas and Ryker, my cat wanted them. Their scent overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t contain myself. I feel that same zeal with you. It doesn’t matter what you are. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll be your daytime guardian. No one will—” She placed a finger on his lips. “Hush. You don’t have to convince me how you feel. I understand. I had a mate once. I loved him with all my heart. Now he’s the local pride leader and threatened to kill me if he ever saw me on pride land after my mother’s funeral. You’re offering me another chance, and that’ll take me a while to get used to. Just be patient with me. There are some ground rules we gotta set.” He nodded. “Okay. But first, can I kiss you? I want to taste you.” Before Orianna could respond, he claimed her lips with his. Pierce’s mouth was soft. He tasted like cherries. A small rumble grew in her throat, the beginnings of a purr. The response surprised her. It had been five years 29

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since she had done that. His kiss was so sudden and so tender that it pushed her into a different world. The pleasure of Pierce’s lips on hers roused her hunger, and before she could pull it back, her fangs had pressed through her gums. The pain made her turn her head from him. She didn’t want him to see the monster she truly was. “What did I do wrong?” “N-Nothing.” His heartbeat thundered in her ears. The heat from his body encompassed her. The dull ache from her hand remained, and her body needed sustenance to finish repairing the damage by regrowing new skin. Pierce’s cherry scent was dampened by the copper of his blood. A groan slipped from her lips. The alien presence she’d come to accept took over, making her body even colder and her senses switch into hypersensitive mode. Pierce was too close to her. He smelled like a big cat with the enticing musk of another predator. “You have to feed?” She nodded. He took her face in his hand and turned it back to face him. Orianna knew what he would see. Red eyes that glowed in the dark set in ivory, smooth skin. Lips pale and drawn back to show dangerously curved fangs. She didn’t want to see that rejection in his eyes the way she had seen it in so many, including his other two mates. “I’m a monster. Don’t look.” Pierce ran his finger down her cheek. In her sensitive state, she could feel every swirl of his fingerprint on the pad of his thumb. “You are stunning. Feed from me, Orianna.” “You don’t know what you’re asking me to do. I’ve never taken blood from a human, shape-shifter or other. I could kill you.” He offered her his wrist. His resolve didn’t waver. “I believe in you. Have confidence in yourself.” She had often dreamed about the taste of human blood. However, she had kept a promise to herself to feed only on wildlife. But he was offering himself. What will he taste like? What if I can’t stop? There were too many

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factors. Killing someone wasn’t worth the risk even if her hunger drove her insane. “I can’t.” “Yes, you can. You need it. I don’t see any fluffy bunnies running around here. It’s either me or you find a rat scurrying around in the walls.” “Gross,” she muttered. The steady beat of his pulse told her he was relaxed about this. He trusted her with his life. Orianna didn’t know if she could trust herself, but she needed the blood to heal her hand. As she took his wrist, she watched Pierce’s face, waiting to see if he would draw away from her. And yet he didn’t. The faith lingered in his eyes. She flicked her tongue over his flesh, tasting the salt on his skin along with the musky flavor of the cat. Her fangs pushed all the way through her jaw, and the pain was a welcome thing. At least that was one sensation that let her know she was still alive. Please don’t let me hurt him. He cares for me. If he dies, I’ll have to bring him back to his two mates and I won’t be able to face them. Please don’t let me lose control. She found the vein and ran her tongue along the line of it, sucking on his skin to draw it up. The warmth of the blood was so close. With one bite, she sank her canines into Pierce’s flesh and right into the vein. The hot liquid burst into her throat so quickly she nearly choked on it. The coppery taste was beyond her wildest dreams. It was ten times that of the animals she fed on. At once she lost herself to bliss. The first moment she drank, the blood rushed to her wounded hand. The skin itched where it had been burned. The hollow ache she’d had in her belly faded away. Orianna wanted more of his blood. The alien consciousness overpowered her reason. It was all about food. All about drinking the victim dry, immersing herself in the passion of feeding. Pierce moaned, and she felt his heart slowing. The part of her that was human fought to regain what she was. It was the hardest thing she had done so far in her existence. When she pulled away, Pierce was breathing hard. His eyes twinkled from the excitement of the experience. A smile adorned his lips and made him appear younger than what he was. He took his wrist and pressed it against his pants to stanch the bleeding. Some part of her wanted to stop his heart for good. Instead, she forced a smile and then looked at her hand. The 31

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black skin had cracked. Underneath showed the pink, healthy flesh that would soon pale. She moved her fingers a few times to make sure everything worked. When she realized everything was okay, she placed her hand on Pierce’s cheek. “Thank you.” “Are you feeling better?” “Yes. Thank you. So, now that I’m functioning again, we have to get you back to your mates.” She rose from the floor and stretched. The last of the burnt flesh fell to the floor like ash. “We can’t go back there. I told them I was going to stay with you. I won’t look like a fool in front of them. Unless you plan on disowning me, too?” His voice cracked with anger at the end. She saw the hurt in his eyes. His neck muscles bulged, and his hands were curled into fists. “I’m not going to abandon you. But you also made me realize something. You said that you had to stop running. All I’ve been doing is running since my mate threw me to the wayside and my pride disowned me. My sister, Patty, is the only one who talks to me. It was my mother’s dying wish that got me the ability to return for the funeral. I know you’re frustrated with Ryker and Dallas, but I have no home. These past five years, I’ve been roaming across the country, living in cheap motels and sticking to the fringes of society. Shifters normally can’t stand me. Vampires don’t want me around. One told me they sensed the life in me. How can I be alive when I’m already dead? My point is you’re the first person to give me a second look and to look at me without disgust. And I appreciate that. I can’t have you running all the time when you have two perfectly good mates here who love and care about you.” “If we go back there, what will you do? You’ll dump me there. And I can’t be without you.” “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll figure something out. If your mates can stand my presence, then there’s hope. We have to at least give it a try. I’m willing. Are you?” The struggle in his eyes was the way she felt when she had seen her mother for the last time. The memory was still so painful and raw that she 32

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couldn’t deal with it right then. Orianna pushed that away and swallowed the ache. The one thing that mattered now was Pierce. He had to be taken care of. “I-I can’t see myself without them or you. Maybe we could work something out. Ryker suggested that you could sleep in the guesthouse. He uses it for a studio. Maybe he’d still be willing to do that. You would be close enough and still have your own space.” “I think that would work. And then you could come visit me.” She placed her hand on his chest, enjoying his heartbeat vibrating underneath her palm. His smell drew her closer. She licked her lips and then looked at him. His eyes were a pale blue. A little baby fat remained in his cheeks. He was taller than her, but not as tall as Ryker. She traced the scar on his neck, feeling the raised skin. The wound had been made by a claw. His chest muscles bunched underneath her hand. It stirred her passion. She wasn’t sure if it was the blood that pulled her toward him or if maybe he was reaching the long-dead part of her. She stood on tiptoe and rubbed her cheek along his. Pierce went completely still. His skin felt like crushed velvet. Her fingers explored the expanse of his stomach through the fabric. “What are you doing?” His breath exploded against her flesh. “Not sure,” she breathed, half-lulled into a trance by the rhythm of his heart. She ran her fingers along the top of his waistband, feeling the subtle imperfections in his jeans. Just a little lower and Orianna could feel his firming erection. She hadn’t felt this drawn to a man since her mate. The urge was there, but she had been the one to set the boundaries with Ryker that she didn’t want to jump right into bed with a man without getting to know them. “Do you want me?” His words echoed in her head. They registered as if they were through a tunnel. Her mind couldn’t be made up so easily. Of course she wanted him! That was a given. With those sexy lips and the baby face, he was drawing her to him. It took all of her control to shake herself from the daze she was in. “I’m attracted to you, but I-I can’t take that step. I don’t want you to think that just because I took your blood that you have to sleep with me. 33

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Your instinct is to take me to bed, and I appreciate you not pushing that. I’d rather we get to know one another first.” Pierce leaned down and brushed his lips across hers, rubbing cheeks at the same time, marking her with his scent. “Okay.” He pulled away from her a couple of steps. “We should get going. Don’t want you being caught in the sunlight again.” “Okay. I’m going to get cleaned up. Why don’t you get something to eat while you’re waiting?” “Good idea.” Pierce left the room, and Orianna hopped in the shower. While the water washed over her, the idea of what she was going to say to Ryker and Dallas flowed through her mind. The one thing she did know was that she had to stop running. It was time for her to face up to what she was and what she had become. The cat might have been dead inside of her, but she couldn’t kill the creature she had become.

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Chapter Six Ryker stared at the landscape that surrounded the farm. Pine trees spiraled toward the sky intermixed with crape myrtles and the feathery leaves of the mimosa trees. Most of their wispy blossoms were dying off, but their sweet perfume still permeated the air. The forest around the farmhouse was lush with old trees, and the bygone fields were starting to return to their once-lush growth. The tract of land had been a fully fledged farm two centuries ago. When he bought the house, it was dilapidated and they had to tear it down to its bones and redo the entire structure. They had saved many of the fixtures and reused them. Besides the house, there was a small barn he had converted into a guesthouse, which was now a studio where he would sculpt. “You got a second?” Dallas asked, interrupting his train of thought. “Yeah, what’s going on?” His mate motioned him to follow. Ryker left the bedroom and went downstairs. Outside Pierce and Orianna were sitting on the bench by the waterfall they had installed last year. The tinkling sound of the fountain helped to ease some of the tension that suddenly rose in the air. His hackles bristled, but he didn’t step out of the door. A small growl came from his throat. Her smell seemed more human, and yet there was that otherness to her. Pierce waited patiently next to her. He glanced at Ryker and then smiled. Ryker wasn’t sure how he should greet him. Should it be with open arms or not at all since he had chosen Orianna instead of him? “What are you doing here?” Ryker asked. Pierce stood and hesitated. “Orianna and I talked about things, and we both agreed I should come back here.” “There was a stipulation with her coming with you?” Ryker asked. The other man’s jaw hardened. “I wasn’t going to leave her behind. She’s my mate, just the same as you are. Even if you can’t accept her, that doesn’t mean that I have to suffer for it.” Ryker glanced at her and then back at him. “You sure you want to stay with us?” 35

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She stood up. “I told him I’d stay. I figured we could work something out.” “Why should I let him back in here when he chose you over us?” The coldness of his voice was not really how he felt, but it came from the hurt of losing Pierce to a woman he hardly knew. The way his mate looked at her was the way those eyes had gazed upon him. That look always cut his heart and made him feel like he was the only being in the universe. “Because you’re his world. If he loses you, it will tear him apart. Don’t turn him away because you can’t get over that he found another. Cats can have more than one mate.” Orianna stepped closer to the door and then winced at the threshold. She made a pained face and stepped back. “You and Dallas both know who I am and who my mother was. This wasn’t my choice. When I woke up as this, I wanted to die. I know how to make myself scarce, but don’t take that out on Pierce.” Ryker sighed and glanced at Dallas, who had an expectant look on his face. The other man didn’t want to put Pierce aside. “I guess we have to redo the guesthouse after all.” Pierce flung himself through the door and into Ryker’s arms. Having him in his embrace once more was a dream come true. Orianna’s scent covered him, but it wasn’t something that Ryker couldn’t get used to. He squeezed his other mate, making sure he was truly there. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I didn’t stop loving you just because of her. Please know that.” Pierce kissed his cheek and slid his fingers through Ryker’s hair. Ryker smiled and clutched his biceps. “I do. She’s just going to take some getting used to.” He turned to head back into the house. He made it a few steps when he realized that Pierce had stayed outside with her. “What’s the matter?” “You have to invite me in,” Orianna said softly as she gazed longingly inside. “So that myth about vampires is true. That must suck when you’re trying to creep in and sup on innocent children’s necks.” Ryker stood by the door and smiled. 36

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A flash of darkness ignited her eyes and made her seem alien. “I don’t feed on humans. And I certainly wouldn’t eat a child.” He threw up his hands. “Whoa! I was just joking.” “I don’t find it funny. You don’t know anything about me except whatever rumors are flying around the shifter community. I’ve been called a demon by those who I used to know. It was hell for me to go back to see my mother lying in her coffin. Then the funeral. The pride tolerated it because it was her last wish. What hurt worse were the looks Mason shot at me. My sister kept me sane. I was dead to them, and yet they still tortured me. My mother left my room the way it was. She—” Orianna’s shoulders heaved and she sniffed, but the pain embedded in her eyes hit something in his heart. He understood about loss because he, too, had been shipped away from his pride. “I’m sorry, Orianna. Will you please come into my house? You’re welcomed here.” She seemed visibly relieved when he invited her. Pierce held her close and kissed the top of her head. Pierce seemed more relaxed and comfortable with her being around him. Ryker showed them into the living room. They sat on the couch. Orianna stayed on the edge of the cushion while Pierce rested his fingers on her back and ran them down her spine. She glanced at him and smiled. Ryker wondered if she returned his feelings or not. Time would tell to see if she was genuine or if she was using him for refuge. “Thank you for the invitation. I appreciate it.” “So, what exactly happened to you?” Dallas asked. “You really shouldn’t ask her that. It’s her business.” Orianna squeezed Pierce’s knee. “It’s okay. They have every right to ask about me. If I’m going to be a part of your life, they want to be sure I’m not dangerous and you wind up dead.” “So, you can read our minds?” Ryker sat next to Dallas. “No. Well, I can sense emotions, but it’s harder with shape-shifters because there are two minds.” Ryker saw a faraway twinkle to her eye. Whatever she was going to say, it was taking her back. “When I first woke up after the accident, my mind was 37

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open. Mason had thought that I was dead. He had fought off two of the vampires who had jumped us. There was a pack of five of them. The leader was a cocky son of a bitch. He knocked Mason unconscious and came to me next. They thought it’d be fun to play with me. They wanted to have my mate watch what they did to me. The vampires forced themselves on me, fed on me, and then gave me their blood. I fought back with everything I had. It should have killed me. I felt my heart stop beating. Mason broke loose and killed the ones who held him. I could feel myself dying. It was surreal and light. I wanted nothing more than to move on, but at the last beat of my heart, I was locked in my broken body. Mason brought me back to my mother. My mother had already known something had happened to me. She was always connected to me that way.” Orianna ran her fingers over her arms as if warding off a chill. “My mother cleaned my wounds. No one heard my screams. The next night, I woke up. My cat had died with me. My mother rejoiced I had risen. When I went to Mason, he flipped out. Called me a monster, a fucked-up freak of nature. My mother wanted me to stay. She thought I was going to make a great pack leader, but Mason called a meeting of the pride elders. They had all seen my body. “They banished me from the pride, and I couldn’t claim refuge with another pride. From there I had a little time to gather what little I could. My mother didn’t want to let me go, but even with her being the queen, the others fanged up on her and we parted ways. I left pride land, and I’ve been running ever since.” “How did you end up back here?” “My sister called me. Said that my mother was dying and that she wanted to see me before she passed. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it. She was already dead when I got there. They were having the wake when I arrived. The pride allowed me to see her the one final time. After the graveside service, Mason confronted me. He drew me aside and told me to get off pride land and never return or he’d kill me. He was already the leader of the pride. There was nothing of the man who I loved and with whom I’d originally mated. All that was in his eyes was disgust and hatred. The things that I see in your eyes when you look at me.” 38

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Ryker’s mouth fell open. Dallas remained silent and looked between the both of them. Pierce growled low. “I never said that I hated you or that you disgusted me.” Orianna flashed him a small smile. “You didn’t have to. You’re only putting up with this because you want Pierce to be happy.” “Orianna, just because we may not like what you are doesn’t mean that we don’t want you around. Pierce loves you the way that he loves us. We just have to acclimate to you being around. Stay in the house tonight, and we’ll work on getting you set up in the guesthouse.” Dallas got up from the couch. He glanced down at Ryker. “Pierce, why don’t you take Orianna up to your room? I’m sure you can make her comfortable for the day so no daylight gets in.” Pierce nodded and then took her upstairs. Ryker watched them disappear. “What are you thinking?” he snarled at Dallas. The other man sighed. “Come on, Ryker. You heard her story. She deserves some consideration. Her pride has thrown her out. She has no family. The vampire and shifter communities don’t want her. She’s an outcast like us. Give her a break. You know what it’s like to be alone.” “So, you’re getting soft on her now?” Ryker asked. Dallas rested his hands on Ryker’s shoulders. Jealousy ate him up knowing that Pierce was upstairs with Orianna. I can’t be doing this. I just want Pierce to be happy. But there was a wrongness about her, and having her stay with them would bring them trouble. He could feel it in his bones. They were close to pride land, and he had to interact with them every day in his business dealings. They all did. “I’m sympathetic toward her. She could’ve convinced Pierce to not come back. She lost everything she had. She needs some support. We can at least give her that,” Dallas said. Ryker glanced at the floor. Everything he was saying was true. Her circumstances were similar to his in that they shared being thrown out of the pride. He gritted his teeth and growled. It wasn’t something he wanted, but he was conflicted about Pierce and Orianna. To do right by him, they needed

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to keep her close. “Yeah. You’re right. Come on, let’s start cleaning out the studio. We’ll have to keep the sun out of it somehow.” Dallas guided Ryker’s lips to his. Those sweet, full lips melted his fears and worries. They kissed and pressed their bodies into one another until Ryker’s cock stirred from the closeness of his mate’s warm, hard muscles. Dallas traced his tongue along Ryker’s bottom lip while he trailed his hands down Ryker’s back and gripped the mounds of his ass. Ryker closed his eyes and moaned. His mate presented a temptation to take him right there on the couch, but he wanted to make a place for Orianna and get her out of the house so he wouldn’t feel so claustrophobic with her near. All that fell away being in Dallas’s embrace. The strong arms grounded him. The musky, feline scent calmed his cat. Dallas pulled away and cupped his cheek. “We can have some alone time later tonight. I’m sure Pierce and Orianna are getting along. Let’s go clean up that studio of yours. It’s covered in stone dust, and if we want a woman to live there, then we have to make it presentable.” “She’s hardly a woman.” Dallas eyed him. “If we’re going to make this work with her, you have to change your attitude. She might be a vampire, but she’s still a woman. Her kind and ours might not get along, but we can be civil for Pierce’s sake. Don’t get crazy jealous the way you did when I brought Pierce home. You were ready to throw him out until you clicked with him and realized that he was your mate. Maybe it’s the opposing sides of your cat, the lion and the tiger fighting with one another. You even fought the idea that I was your mate. Come on, give her a chance. She’s easy on the eyes. I give her that, but it’s your ass that I want to fuck right here.” Ryker grumbled and thought about the first time he had seen Dallas and smelled his scent, triggering the mating instinct within him. Dallas had chased after him because he couldn’t believe that someone desired to spend the rest of their days with him. Why would they if he was a hybrid? Once he had accepted Dallas’s love, his heart opened. Maybe there was a chance he could warm to this new addition to their family.

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“Come on. Entice me again. I’ll spread your ass cheeks and ram my cock into your asshole.” Ryker went outside and headed toward the studio knowing there was a lot of work ahead of then. Dallas would help. In the end, she would be out of the house to make their living situation a bit more harmonious.

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Chapter Seven Orianna stood by the window and watched Dallas and Ryker hauling things out of the guesthouse. It was several hundred feet from the house, nestled under a large canopy of trees where the sun wouldn’t beat through the windows too much. Knowing she would have a secure place to sleep was a godsend. However, she could feel the animosity radiating off Ryker about her disrupting how they lived. He was happy about Pierce returning. And Pierce was more relaxed now he was back in the house. His love for her radiated around her like the sun she missed. It was something she thought she’d never feel again. After Mason, she had shut her heart off and assumed no one would ever love her again. Pierce was there supporting her, loving her no matter what. He didn’t care that she was a vampire. When she told the others her story, Dallas seemed moved by it. She hoped he had started to accept her. Ryker, on the other hand, was complex, and she couldn’t completely discern his emotions. Having her outside of the house made him more comfortable. He was jealous that she’d take Pierce away from him and the other emotions were gray. There was a dark side of him that reminded her of Mason in a way. “Are you going to watch them all night?” Pierce asked. She turned toward him and took in the room. The plush carpet was burgundy, and the walls were a plum color. The bedroom was inviting, with a king-size bed with a blanket and pillows the shades of purple that matched the walls and the carpet. There was some kind of sculpture in the corner that reminded her of a cat, with sharp edges and teeth, but the shape wasn’t completely realized. It was more subjective, like looking at an optical illusion. A chest of drawers leaned against the wall near the door. There was a desk with a laptop on it. Pierce sat on the edge of the bed. His mind was open to her. Maybe it was because he had shared his blood. Along with his cat, all she felt was love from him and concern about her well-being. The most important thing was that she sensed that he would do anything to keep her safe. He had such an innocence to him that drew her and made her feel human again. Besides that she couldn’t help feel the 42

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attraction that loomed between them. He saw her as a beautiful woman and not some beast that had crawled out of the coffin. The instincts he had awoken inside of her screamed for her to take advantage of the situation and stake her claim to him, marking him as hers. Plus she hungered for the taste of his blood once more to be flowing down her throat. It was stronger than anything she had taken in before. Relying on Pierce to quench her hunger wasn’t something she wanted to do. If the others found out, then she assumed they would throw her off the property or revoke their invitation and she wouldn’t be able to get back into the house. Many of the old wives’ tales she hadn’t thought about before associated with vampires were true, which was one reason she had to be invited into the house. At least she didn’t have to be invited into Pierce’s room. “No, I’m not going to watch them all night. I’m content to watch you.” Orianna sat beside him on the bed. He chuckled and pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. The small gesture stirred the lust inside of her. He trailed his fingers down the expanse of her neck. Pierce’s soft caress brought her back to earlier when they had been in the hotel room. It was so easy with him to forget about that she had said she didn’t want to jump into a relationship. It had been almost six years since she had been with someone. The last time she’d had sex with Mason they were in a hurry and hadn’t enjoyed one another. Orianna missed the intimacy that she had shared with her mate. Now she would have to become accustomed to that familiarity again. “What are you thinking about?” Pierce asked. “About staying here. About the last time I was with someone. Being with you has made me realize how lonely I’ve been. Even being around Dallas and Ryker will take some getting used to. They may not be potential mates, but at least they talk to me. Once people figure out what I am, then they want nothing to do with me. Thank you for finding me.” Orianna wanted to cry, but that was taken away from her. The growing warmth and lump of emotion that was in her heart was something she wasn’t sure she could express fully. Pierce didn’t understand how much this meant to her to be with someone again. 43

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“I didn’t find you. Your wonderful scent was what led me to you. It wasn’t by chance that you happened across this land.” He ran his nose along the line of her throat and inhaled. His hand settled on her knee lightly, but his touch made her hot for him. “How do I smell to you? Others think I just dug myself out of the grave.” Pierce gazed at her. She saw the longing in his eyes. “Like jasmine and fresh earth. The musk of your cat is heady and mixed with the lavender of your soap. It makes me want to lick you all over. Have our bodies sliding against one another until you beg me to stop making love to you. It’s getting harder to constrain myself.” He squeezed her knee and pulled away. “I’m trying to control the urge to throw you down on the bed and make passionate love to you.” Orianna watched his lips move and heard the words, but she was hypnotized by the way they formed around the syllables. At certain points a small dimple formed at the left corner of his mouth. She nodded absently and inched a little closer to him on the bed. She ran her fingers over the tops of his thighs, feeling the strong muscles enclosed in the jeans. Pierce trailed his fingertips along her cheekbones, almost afraid to touch her. She couldn’t watch him any longer; she had to feel those lips. Once their mouths connected, she was in heaven. Her whole body relaxed, and it felt like she had come home. Pierce’s arms slipped around her, drawing her closer until her breasts pressed against his chest. She ran her finger over his torso and along his sides, until she wrapped her arms around his neck. She tucked her knees under her and straddled him. Orianna feathered her fingers along his neck settling over his pulse point, and then slid her fingers through his hair. Pierce dragged his nails along her back until the points bit into her skin. She broke the kiss and cried out. “I’m sorry,” he said, then rested his forehead against hers. “I’m not. It’s wonderful to feel something again. To have someone make me feel again.” She sucked in his bottom lip. Her nipples pushed against her bra and shirt, which made the extra garments uncomfortable. The clothing was constricting between them when it would be so much better to have 44

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their naked bodies entwined together. Her inner cat stretched and kneaded at the confines of her mind. It was the first time she’d felt it so active in a long time. It hadn’t even roused when her mother had passed. Orianna thought it had died, but with the idea of having another man for a mate it was slowly coming back to life. She couldn’t ignore it any longer. It wanted out even though she wasn’t sure how to unchain it from the cage it had been thrust into. Pierce took in another breath. She realized then how much he was hanging by a thread. His body shook. His muscles were tensed. A vein throbbed across his forehead. The tempo of his heart thundered in her ears. Orianna inhaled hearing the rattle of her lungs from the air that wasn’t needed, but it allowed her to taste his desire and smell it. The heaviness settled on her tongue and tasted like cinnamon. With a small movement, she slid herself along his erection. Pierce’s eyes widened, and he shifted in an attempt to put a little room between them. The skin rolled on his face from the fight of keeping his cat under control. His eyes had taken on a golden hue from the beast being so close to the surface. “I never thought I could feel this way about a woman. Even before I was attacked, I was into men. It didn’t impact me when I found Dallas and Ryker attractive. But I desire you the same. With you being this close, I can’t hold on—” Their combined longing was what drove Orianna over the edge, along with the craving to feel loved once more. She claimed his lips in a slow, hungry kiss claiming him for her own. Her inner lion yowled with agreement that it wanted Pierce as its own. He answered that kiss with a fervor that she hadn’t felt in him before. He clutched her breasts and swept his thumbs over her pert nipples. He thrust his tongue between her lips until their tongues touched and entwined. She grabbed the sides of his shirt and yanked it from his jeans. Once her hands touched his chest, Pierce pulled away from her and grabbed her wrists in an iron grip. A devilish smile appeared on his lips. “Teasing me now?” Orianna asked. “No. I just want to be sure this is what you want.” “No more talking. I want you. All of you.” 45

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Pierce released her. Orianna shimmied off him enough to reach his zipper. He fumbled with her shirt until he got it over her head and threw it to the floor. He cupped her breasts and feathered his fingertips over her nipples. A bolt of pleasure hit her from the soft caress. She slid her hands under his shirt to feel his flat stomach underneath. The warmth of his skin blasted against her and made her remember what it felt to be warm. She pulled his shirt off too and nipped his throat, licking one of his scars. Claw marks adorned his stomach that were raised but already smooth. She traced one of them to the waistband of his jeans. “Leftover from being attacked. Ryker said they should’ve healed when I turned. Dallas thinks it was because the one who attacked me was insane and that maybe something went wrong.” Orianna touched the scars again. “I’ve heard of it happening. There are exceptions to all rules. Look at me.” “All I see is a night beauty who is my mate.” Pierce pressed his lips to the place above her heart and dragged his mouth over the top of her left breast before taking the nipple into his mouth through the lace of her bra. She held his head there for a few seconds. Her nerve endings were coming alive with the raw excitement he enticed in her. His free hand wandered down her stomach, undid the button of her jeans, and then slipped over the fabric of her panties. When he found her buried nub, she cried out. He pushed the thin material aside and began to fondle her. Orianna pressed herself into him to encourage Pierce to take her. Orianna worked on the zipper of his jeans, but it was stuck. The more he touched her clit, running his other fingers along her moist folds, the more she found it hard to concentrate. All she wanted was him inside of her. Pierce sucked on her nipple, and that sent bolts of ecstasy through her, combining with his caresses. She was ready for him. More ready than she had been in a long while. She drew in a breath automatically and found she was surprised at the gesture. She pushed it aside and focused on Pierce. Her head was light and swimming with the awareness of his body. Her instincts were kicking in to feed on him. His heart echoed in her ears, but she pushed all that aside and just wanted to feel the bliss of being with a man who cared for 46

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her. Finally she was able to get the zipper down on his jeans and caress his hard cock through his boxer-briefs. If only he wasn’t wearing anything, then this would be so much simpler. I’d fuck him right now, but no. Her whole body ached for him to sink inside of her wet depths to claim her as his. She hadn’t wished for something so much since the last time she had been with Mason. Orianna realized in that moment that she was Pierce’s mate. It wasn’t because he had staked a claim to her, but she could feel their connection, too. His scent enticed her more than any man’s had. Even more than Mason’s. They had married because she had fallen in love with him. But now she was experiencing the same thing that her mother had always talked about. With her being able to sense his emotions, his hope was that he could treat her right. There was concern too that he wouldn’t please her. “Why are you so worried?” she asked. He looked up at her. His pupils were slitted now, showing his combined desire along with the cat’s. “Because it’s been so long since I’ve been with a woman. It wasn’t until college that I realized I was attracted to men and decided to accept that. Does that bother you?” “No. And you’re doing just fine. Guess I have a partner to go shopping with, too.” He laughed. “Sorry. I couldn’t tell you the latest fashions if I tried. Ask me about football and hockey, and I can give you stats all day. It gets hairy in here during football season with me and Dallas going at it.” “As long as no one’s claws come out, I think we’re fine. Too bad on the shopping, though. You could give me a great opinion on what bras might look good on me.” A twinkle came to his eye. “I might be able to assist you with that.” Pierce pushed against her nub one final time, causing her to arch her back and move closer to him. He slipped his free hand from her breast, and around her back and began to undo her bra strap. Orianna wanted all the clothes gone between them, and this wasn’t happening fast enough. Now that Pierce had gotten a little bit more control of his cat, he was trying to take his time with her. She needed him now. All the heavy petting and kisses had brought her to the brink. If she waited any longer, she was going to explode. 47

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Her bra strap came off with a snap. The back of it dug into her flesh, but Pierce slid down the first strap over her left shoulder and kissed every place where the fabric had touched. His lips burned a trail along her flesh, warming her cold skin. Once he got one off, she held the lace triangle over her breast. He gazed at her and went for the other. He sucked in the skin of her right arm until he took the other strap off. He drew in her middle finger and wrapped his tongue around it. She gasped from the sudden wetness and grasped his cock rubbing it more until he released her and then backed away. “I need you,” Orianna cried out. Pierce stood up and took off the rest of his clothes. She did the same and stood before him in only her panties. Looking at him now, she saw the remaining scars on his well-formed calves, crisscrossed over all of his flesh. He was lucky that he hadn’t gotten the sickness that infected the cat. She bit her lip and then sat back on the bed. She trailed her fingers over her thighs. She glanced at him and beckoned him closer. His smile widened, which gave him a boyish appearance. The cat inside of her roared to life so much that she felt its presence filling her, riding down her arms, and eking into her legs, where it wanted to take form. But there was still something blocking it. She wasn’t sure if the transformation was ever going to happen again, but she did know that this match was good for her. It forced the cat in her to reawaken. Maybe it had because she had given up hope about it, and now that she believed in it again, it was coming back to life. Pierce sauntered over and slid his knee between her legs, opening them further. He pushed her down on the bed, and then pinned her between his hands. “You’re all mine now to do with whatever I want.” She wrapped a leg around his waist. “Promise?” He slipped his hand over her stomach, further down until he grabbed the fabric of her panties and then tugged on them, ripping them away from her body. She pulled him down to her body and held him above her chest. He clutched her breasts and squeezed until his grip hurt. But the pain felt good. It made her remember that she was alive. When he stopped, he bit her swollen nipple and then gave her another look. The devilish gleam in his eye

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only turned her on more. She reached for him, and a small noise of wanting slipped from her lips. His smiled widened. He slipped his hand between her already wet folds and found her core. He thrust his fingers deep inside of her pussy. He pumped them inside of her for a few strokes until she grabbed his wrist. Pierce brought the fingers to his lips and sucked off her juices. She wrapped her other leg around his waist and locked him to her. Pierce licked a line from her chest and up her neck until he tugged on the end of her earlobe. “You taste so good.” “So do you. I could eat you all up.” “I’d love to sample you, but I’ll save that until next time. Right now, I want my cock inside of you.” Orianna reached down and grabbed his dick. The fat shaft was engorged with blood and burned her palm. It stirred her hunger, but not for blood. She needed it inside of her. She had to have it before the lust drove her crazy. She hugged her knees tighter around him and then guided him into her pussy. Pierce moaned when he entered her. He clutched her shoulders and then pushed his lips into hers as he plunged inside her. Orianna felt the familiar tightening of her jaw as the hunger that coursed through her threatened that her fangs could pop out. She focused on the shared pleasure moving between them. Pierce’s mind was open to her, and the raw wanting and desire turned her on more than she could handle. It amped up their lovemaking because he was in a frenzy to claim her. Her nerves were on fire. It felt like she had blood rushing through her veins once again. He drove into her again and shoved his tongue into her mouth to taste her once more. She raked her nails down his back, feeling the skin underneath her fingers. Orianna closed her eyes and gave herself over to the building ecstasy inside of her. She ran the soles of her feet over Pierce’s hard ass. Her toes curled from the heights he was bringing her to. Each time he pushed back into her pussy, he hit her clit and the world crumbled. Pierce was losing himself to the act. His cat shared his pleasure. Hers was still trapped in the cage howling to get out, but she didn’t have a 49

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key. Orianna drew in another breath and cried out from the pleasure that shot through her. From the tips of her toes to her head it felt like she had been plugged into an electrical socket. She felt alive once more. Pierce plunged into her once last time, cried out, and came. Orianna clutched him to her, not wanting to let him go. He still remained buried inside of her and when he moved once more she came as well. Pierce rested his head on her chest and tried to catch his breath. The warmth of the orgasm swarmed through her body and made her seem like she had never died. She took in another breath, a gasp, as she tried to hold onto the air and the wonderful moment the two of them had experienced. Together, they lay in a shared second of harmony. Pierce breathed in heavily and held her. Orianna ran her fingers through his hair. Her mind lingered in the white bliss that surrounded her and allowed her feel alive. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I found a man who loves me. After all this running and Mason rejecting me, there is someone who cares. I never thought that would happen again. A smile played on her lips as Pierce lay with her. Everything seemed right in the world, until a pain started in her chest. It squeezed her ribs and burned. She cried out. Pierce bolted off her. Orianna held her chest, trying to figure out what was happening, and soon dropped to the floor. It felt like everything inside of her was on fire. Pierce knelt down beside her. “What’s the matter?” Orianna glanced at him, panic engulfing her. She tried to answer him, but another strangled cry left her lips. More pain clutched her. It felt like someone had stuck a red-hot iron in her chest. She raked her fingers through the carpet. Pierce screamed for Ryker. He touched her again, not sure what to do. His panic touched her mind. “Oh, God! What’s happening? What did I do? What’s going on?” Pierce asked. She was too engrossed in the agony of the moment to answer him. The vibration of pounding feet shook her, but she couldn’t concentrate. Pierce was there again, holding her to him. He rocked her back and forth, but all she could think of was the fire that blazed in her heart and spread outward forcing its way through her body. Other hands held her and tried to make 50

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her focus beyond the moment, but she was trapped. The burning finally touched every inch of her flesh and wiped across her mind, causing her to see nothing but darkness until she knew no more.

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Chapter Eight Ryker stared at Pierce while he held Orianna’s naked form close to him, rocking her back and forth. His mate’s cheeks were flushed and covered with tears. He’d never seen his mate so flustered and concerned about someone else besides them. Dallas stood in the doorway. It was obvious that Pierce and she had had sex from their nakedness and the smell that Ryker detected about them. “What’s wrong with her?” Pierce asked. Dallas came over and knelt next to them. He looked at Ryker and then placed a hand on her forehead. “She feels warmer than before. Did she feed on you while you were . . . together?” Pierce shook his head. “No. She needed blood when she woke up tonight because her hand hadn’t completely healed from being caught in the sun. After she fed from me, she didn’t react like this. We were relaxing on the bed and she started screaming. What did I do to her?” Pierce’s voice cracked, and his eyes burned with tears. Dallas yanked the sheet from the bed and wrapped Orianna up in the fabric, then took her from Pierce’s arms and laid her on the bed. Ryker wasn’t sure what to make of the vampire. As he examined her more closely, he saw her skin was slightly flushed. He listened and thought he heard something coming from her chest. That can’t be right. She didn’t have a heartbeat earlier. He listened harder, and after another minute he heard another thud. It was faint, but it was definitely a heartbeat. “What the hell?” Ryker placed two fingers on her neck, checking her pulse. After another minute, he felt the throbbing of her rhythm underneath his fingers. He waited and checked his watch. After five minutes there was another thump. It wasn’t getting any stronger, rather it seemed to be weakening. As he kept his hand on her, she was not so blushed. Her skin was growing colder again. Whatever was happening to her was fading away. He watched her again and saw her draw in a breath. The hollow echo of her lungs filled his ears. Pierce sat on the other side of the bed and looked

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between him and Orianna. The horrified expression on Pierce’s face had only grown worse, and it pinched his features. Ryker reached over and clutched Pierce’s hand. “She’ll be okay.” “How do you know that? What happens if this occurs again?” Pierce asked. “Maybe you shouldn’t be with her again,” he snarled and got off the bed. The jealously that choked him up wasn’t something he could help. His inner liger growled and began to pace in his mind. It was feeling something for her and restless for being cooped up. He couldn’t quite figure out what the cat was feeling, as it didn’t want to agree with him. Ryker found that difficult to understand when they were normally copasetic. A low rumble uttered came from across the bed. Ryker glanced up and saw Pierce’s eyes had grown amber. The bulges of his cheekbones pushed outward, and his face had taken on a more catlike appearance. His nails punched into the fabric of the mattress. Pierce leaned over Orianna’s immobile form with the grace of a hunter he hadn’t seen before with his mate. It seemed he was coming into his own. Maybe that was something Orianna was helping him to temper. “You will not say anything ill about my mate, Ryker. No matter how much I care about you, I’m here because she convinced me of it. You were the one who threw me aside because you were not able to deal with me loving her the same way that I loved you. I will not leave her. Now get out!” Pierce lunged at him. Ryker hissed and pulled back. His cat didn’t retaliate against his mate, but Ryker felt a shiver walk up his back at the confrontation. He tried to contain himself and not lash out against Pierce. “I will not leave you alone with her. Not again. Not until we figure out what’s happened to her. To discern—” “Both of you—enough,” Dallas snapped. Ryker and Pierce glanced up at him. He gestured toward Orianna. Ryker looked down and saw her eyes were open. Ryker touched her skin again and it was cold. He listened but didn’t hear the thunder of her heartbeat. He didn’t know how long she had been awake. A small smile turned up on her lips. When she looked at him, for a moment, it seemed she saw inside of him 53

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and something about that look made his heart turn. His cat responded to it, but then he remembered what she was and how she had charmed Pierce away from him. “Don’t fight over me. You can’t come apart,” she whispered. She reached out and took Ryker’s hand and placed it over Pierce’s. Her touch was soft, and then he looked at Pierce, whose appearance had stabilized some. “You’re awake. What happened?” Dallas asked. She looked at him and smiled. Pierce smoothed the hair from her face. “I’m okay. I’m not sure what happened. After we were together, my cat surged forward. I didn’t think that was possible, but it’s still there. For a minute it raged through my body. The pain was unexpected. The cat was locked away when I turned, and then it was there for a while.” “I caused this,” Pierce whispered. She tried to sit up, but couldn’t make it all the way and then fell back against the pillows. “No, Pierce. You didn’t cause this. It’s because of you that I realized that my cat isn’t truly dead. Maybe, one day, I’ll be able to tap into her completely and turn into the lioness that I once was. I apologize if I had scared you. I’ll be okay.” This time she sat up, but Ryker saw how she struggled. She wrapped her around arm Pierce and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Why don’t you go get something to eat? I can hear your stomach growling.” “I shouldn’t leave you.” “I’ll be fine. Go on.” He hesitated a moment and then grabbed his pants, slipped them on, and headed out of the room. Dallas followed leaving him and Orianna alone. She leaned against the headboard, closed her eyes, and took a moment to collect herself. Ryker watched her intently. She seemed fragile, a little girl in a big bed. It didn’t appear she was the fearsome vampire that he had seen before. Finally she opened her eyes and stared at him. “Will that happen again?” “I don’t know.” “It scared the hell out of Pierce.”

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“It scared the hell out of me, too. I haven’t had a heartbeat in five years. Then all of a sudden I do, and it feels like my body is on fire, burning from the inside out. Right before I blacked out, I connected with my cat. You know how it is part of your personality. She was right there, and I touched her for a few seconds.” Ryker sighed. He wasn’t sure what to make of the strange creature Pierce was so enamored with. One second he couldn’t stand her, and the next he was sympathizing with her. “As long as you’re better. The guesthouse will be ready tomorrow if we work on it through the day. I’m sure Pierce can set you up for the night in here.” He got up to leave, when she reached out and grabbed his arm. He glanced down, but she let go before he could comment. “Thank you, Ryker, for all of this. I know how I’m interrupting your life and that you don’t want me here. You may not realize how much it means to me to be around people. I’ve been alone for a long time and it’s nice to feel loved again. I won’t get in your way.” “It’s fine. Just get dressed and come downstairs when you’re ready. I’m sure Pierce will be wondering how you’re feeling.” He left the room and headed down to his other mates. He found Dallas standing by the stove heating up dinner. Pierce was shoulders-deep in the refrigerator rooting around for something to eat also. Seeing the round mounds of his ass, Ryker wanted to claim him right there. He couldn’t resist running his hand over the firm buttock and squeezing the bottom of it. Pierce jumped and pulled out of the fridge, dropping a loaf of bread and a package of cheddar cheese slices from the load of cold cuts and condiments in his arms. “Don’t do that, man!” “What; I can’t even touch you now because you’re with her?” Ryker growled. “No, you know it’s not like that.” He set the things down on the counter, took Ryker’s hand, and brought it to his cheek. Pierce rubbed his palm over the smooth skin and then kissed the inside of it. He flicked his tongue over Ryker’s middle finger, before drawing it between his lips. Ryker’s anger melted away. His cock stirred from the gesture with the sudden yearning to be with Pierce again. It wasn’t to claim dominance or 55

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about wiping away the smell of Orianna. He still needed to know that Pierce hadn’t left him. He took Pierce’s face between his hands and pulled him to his lips. Ryker thrust his tongue between his mate’s lips, tasting a little of Orianna on him, but then it was wiped away leaving just the clove taste of his mate. His hands roved over the flat expanse of Pierce’s stomach and the mishmash of scars until he clutched his stiffening dick through the jeans. He undid the button and the zipper of the jeans and slipped them down around Pierce’s waist. The other man broke the kiss and moaned. The light of desire lit his eyes. Pierce was half-drunk with pleasure from the caresses. With the slightest nod, Ryker knew that Pierce wanted him, too. He wasn’t being pushed aside by the strange woman who had entered their house. Ryker clutched his mate’s cock and slid his hands over the fat shaft, pumping away. Pierce drew in a sharp breath and groaned. He gripped Ryker’s hips. Ryker kept his gaze locked on him while he manipulated his length and worked it until his fingers ringed the sensitive head. His mate’s hips bucked forward. His breathing quickened. “Do it, Ryker. Jack my dick!” Pierce cried out. He slipped his hand through Ryker’s hair and pulled him close until he kissed him fiercely enough to bruise Ryker’s lips. He clutched Pierce’s cock and quickened his pace. After a couple of more tugs, Pierce groaned and spilled his hot seed. Ryker held him close. Both of them were out of breath. Ryker kissed his neck. “I love you,” he murmured. “I’m sorry.” Ryker turned Pierce’s face to his. He saw the desperation in his eyes that made the other man look so vulnerable. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put you in that spot to make you choose. I was wrong. Forgive me.” “Always.” “Now that we have all the mushy stuff behind us, Pierce, go take a shower. Ryker, go clean yourself up. I’m not doing your laundry again. We still have hours to make that place livable out back for Orianna,” Dallas said to both of them.

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Ryker glanced at him and smiled. He thought about the woman upstairs and how she had come into their lives and already changed it. He never thought he could get so resentful of another. She didn’t want to pull his family apart. She only wanted to make Pierce happy. It didn’t matter how he looked at it, he had to accept that she was going to be part of their threesome. Of course, it would take some getting used to, and she did say that she was glad to be a part of something again. He understood that fact all too well. He never thought he would be a part of anything until Dallas came along and then Pierce. They had made a life with one another and it had changed him. When Pierce had come along, he thought that he was going to lose Dallas for good, too. He shuddered when he reflected on the way he reacted to the new addition a few years ago. His own actions had nearly cost him his mate. He vowed he wouldn’t do that again, but it appeared he was acting the same way. Now he had to pull back and stop being a prick. There were other things in the world that were messed up and he didn’t need his family to be. “Yes. There’s a lot of work to do. For all of us.” He nodded at Dallas who raised an eyebrow. Ryker didn’t respond, but he went to get cleaned up and figure out how they were going to redo the guesthouse for their new addition.

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Chapter Nine Orianna perched herself high in a tree, reclined along the sturdy branch, and took in the night around her. Pierce and the others were romping in the woods. Her hunger had been sated on a deer earlier that night, and she was glad to be out on her own. For the past week, she had stayed in the house while the others had cleaned out and made the guesthouse livable for her. Pierce had sun-proofed his room so she wouldn’t burn, but since that first night he had not tried to make love to her. She missed his touch. He was stiff around her but relaxed with the other men. Orianna missed him, but understood why Pierce was skittish. She didn’t push the issue, but when it came to the thought of her body being warm again, she wanted to be sure that it wasn’t a fluke. The next time she would prepare herself for the pain and would welcome it to feel her heartbeat and the warmth rushing through her veins. But the one thing she wished more was to touch the cat that shared her flesh. Ryker was being civil to her, and she was staying out of his way the best that she could. The night called to her, and she heeded it. She spent her nights trooping through the forest around the house. Orianna was learning the vast lands and the fields surrounding the property. Plenty of deer mingled in the wood that would feed her hunger. She had acquired a taste for the deer, but after tasting Pierce’s heady blood, she longed to experience it once more. Orianna licked her lips at the thought of him. He stirred the emotions of her heart, and she was falling in love with him. When she mulled over his taut muscles and his golden eyes, hers purred in contentment. After that first night, it was apparent that Pierce and Ryker loved one another. Part of her felt bad about interrupting their way of life. Dallas and she were getting to know one another. She found him warm and inviting, but he was tightlipped when it came to how he and Ryker came to be together. He didn’t offer any personal information on his mate, just that it was his story to tell. Dallas was even reticent about his past. It made her wonder what had happened to him or if he would ever open up enough to tell her about his history.

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The sounds of the night animals filled her ears. Stars twinkled in the night sky. The moon was a small sliver in the darkness. The clean air was something she missed. She was happy to cohabitate with the three men, to be a part of some kind of family again. The only one of her family who still talked to her was her sister, Patty. Orianna hadn’t called her yet to tell her about what had happened. Patty would be worried about her. She had warned her not to marry Mason. That he was up to no good, but Orianna had never seen that. She growled when she thought about her former mate. When Mason had rejected her before the pride, her soul had shattered. Nothing of that love remained. The rough bark scratched her back as she reclined against the tree. She closed her eyes and inhaled the odors of the forest. Animals moved underneath her. The musky aroma of a squirrel in its den stung her nose. The damp fragrance of rain gathered in the west. The faint scent of the three men who had gone hunting still lingered around her. But there was another smell that caught her attention. It was strong, and it wasn’t one she associated with the house. Orianna slipped from the tree and landed silently on the ground. She waited a minute and listened. Whoever was snooping around wasn’t being subtle about it. She stuck to the shadows and waited for the person to come nearer. In the dark, she saw the outline of the man as he came closer to the back of the guesthouse. She inhaled again and couldn’t believe her nose. A warning growl left her lips. “Why are you trespassing?” she snarled. “I’m looking for a woman who might have passed through here. She’s wanted by our pride.” Orianna laughed. “Why is that?” The man stepped into the moonlight, but she remained hidden. At that moment Ryker and the others emerged from the darkness, laughing and smiling until they saw the trespasser. Their conversation fell away, and they grew serious. Although she stayed in the shadows, she was happy to see all three men and noted how beautiful they looked under the silvery light. Ryker was stunning in only his loose pants and his smooth chest. Dallas’s skin 59

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glowed in the moonlight, and he had a fulfilled expression about him as if he had caught something. The faint perfume of blood was on him. When they saw the other man, Ryker dropped to the ground and growled. The intruder stopped. “Why are you trespassing on my land?” The man whipped around to face them. “I’m looking for a woman. I caught her scent and followed it here.” “What woman would that be? And what do you want with her?” Dallas asked. “She is an enemy of my pride. If you’re harboring her, then my pride will come here and make sure that nothing is left of this place and claim it for ourselves. You have to do business with us every day. We can make your life a living hell.” Ryker curled his hands into fists and approached the man. Orianna was impressed at the control he had. “I’d like to see you try. We’re not ruled by the local pride. Go back and tell your leader that if he comes here, we’ll make sure that he doesn’t leave.” The interloper stepped forward until he was only a few feet from Ryker. Dallas and Pierce moved closer to Ryker. “I don’t appreciate you threatening my mate. If the others decide to come here, be sure we will fight anyone or anything that steps foot on our land. There is no woman here. A woman did pass through here a few days ago. Maybe that’s what you were following. We saw her, but she raced through the fields and was gone in a blur.” Dallas and Pierce surrounded the man. Ryker turned toward her into the darkness. Orianna strolled out of the wood and stood before the visitor. His expression darkened. “So, it’s true. They are harboring you.” “Patrick, why can’t Mason leave me alone? He already denounced me.” “You’re an abomination. That was made clear when you came to the funeral and we had to accommodate you and have it at night. She should have been buried under the sun.” “Mother declared I was to be left alone. It was understood that if I stayed off pride land, you would leave me be. We used to be so close. Why do you follow Mason?” 60

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“Mother may be in the grave, but Mason rules us better than Mother ever could. She was soft. Father never should’ve given the pride to her to rule.” “It wasn’t just Father who left her the pride. The elders agreed, and she earned the right to rule. I would’ve done the same thing. I would’ve shown them I was worthy. Tell Mason you found nothing here. He only wants to get rid of me because I’m a reminder that I was once married to him. Once he wipes that away, he’ll be happy.” “What do you want us to do with him?” Pierce asked. Ryker glanced at her. “We don’t do anything. Let him go.” “You will be made an example of,” her brother spat. Orianna couldn’t help but see the hatred in her brother’s eyes. Knowing how close they used to be cut her heart. She never thought they would be bitter enemies. They used to romp when they were younger, climbing trees and getting into trouble. When they were children they threw seaweed at their mother. Now he saw her as something to be stomped out. It was the same look she had seen in Mason’s eyes. “You’ll have to take her over my dead body!” Pierce roared. Patrick scowled. “Has she bewitched you, too? She’s nothing but the devil’s whore. You’ll come to see that after a while. No being such as her should be permitted to live.” Pierce snarled and then slashed Patrick’s face. Her brother growled and turned from the force of the impact. When he faced them again, she could see the gashes on her brother’s cheek running red rivulets down his pale skin. He launched himself at Pierce, and they fell to the ground. Patrick’s skin rippled, and then he was a cat hacking at Pierce. Ryker and Dallas tried to rip Patrick off Pierce, but he had his claws sunk deeply into him. Pierce was struggling to shift, but her brother had his teeth around Pierce’s neck. He was ready to tear his throat out. She wasn’t going to let that happen. Patrick slashed at Ryker and caught him across the belly as he tried to pull him by the mane. Dallas jumped on top of Patrick and tried to tear him off that way, but Patrick threw Dallas off with a great shake and crunched down on Pierce’s neck. If he shook him again, Patrick would rip out Pierce’s throat.

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“Stop. Leave him alone. Get off of him. If you hurt him again, I’ll slash you to shreds. I was always stronger than you. Remember that.” Her brother looked at her with red-stained teeth. He grunted, which sounded like a laugh, and raised his paw, claws extended. Pierce gasped for breath. There were large holes in his shoulder where he had been bitten. All the blood stirred her hunger. She used that anger and rushed at her brother. Her fangs pushed through her gums, and her inner cat screamed. She landed on Patrick’s back and sunk her teeth into his throat, gagging on the mouthful of fur. Orianna tore away bunches of his mane and sank into him with her claws. Patrick tried to shake her off. She kept biting and clawing until she felt the blood gushing across her face. Finally, her brother stopped struggling and lay quiet underneath her. His heart still beat, but his wounds were healing slowly. Orianna backed away from Patrick and wiped the blood from her lips and spit out what was in her mouth. She didn’t want to taste her brother’s blood. He slowly metamorphosed back into human form, shivering from his nakedness and the wounds she had inflicted. Pierce moaned and rolled over onto his back. Please be okay. Please don’t die. She rushed over to Pierce and pulled off her shirt and pressed it to his wounds. Dallas was tending to Ryker. After a few moments, Ryker rose and then came over to them. “How is he?” Ryker asked. She lifted her shirt and saw the wounds; the bleeding had stopped. Thank God. “He should be fine. His heart is beating strong.” She flicked her tongue over her fangs. With all the blood around, it enticed her hunger. She couldn’t run away from it. Patrick had to be dealt with first. Orianna curled her fingers along Pierce’s face. He drew in a few breaths and then opened his eyes, but she saw how weak he was. Orianna brushed her lips across his and then went over to her brother, who was trying to crawl away and curling up in a ball each time he moved. “What’s the matter, Patrick?” He glanced up at her from his beleaguered position. “What have you done to me?”

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Dallas leaned over her brother. “Wounds inflicted by vampire teeth are poisonous to shifters. Don’t you know that? You might live or you might not, depending on how much toxin gets into your system.” Orianna glanced at them. She hadn’t known about that. “Go and tell Mason to leave me alone. I owe him nothing. Once upon a time you and I were kin.” Patrick struggled to his feet. “You’re not my sister. She died five years ago. You’re nothing more than a thing that came back in her shell.” He limped into the woods, turned into a lion with only a light ripple of the air. It brought her back to the lion she had played with as a child batting at his tail until she tired herself out and fell asleep curled at his side. When he was out of sight, Orianna returned to Pierce’s side. “Are you okay?” Pierce asked, his voice coming out raspy. “I’m fine, you silly man. You need to rest and heal from your wounds.” “I’ll take him upstairs and get him cleaned up.” Ryker lifted Pierce onto his feet, and they moved back toward the house. Before they left, Orianna met Ryker’s gaze and nodded. “Thank you.” They went into the house and left Dallas outside with her. “Are you okay?” Dallas asked. She glanced at him. At that moment, she viewed him as nothing more than a walking Slurpee. Her fangs ached, and the beat of his heart pounded in her ears. The blood that covered her and scented the ground was driving her mad. She had to get away and feed. “No. Not really.” Orianna turned her face from Dallas and tried to focus on the night. To draw in the energy and let it take the edge off. The smell of the coppery substance on her skin was starting to smell like rotten tomatoes. Another breath only made it worse. She pressed her nails into her palms. The pain helped her to focus before the beast in her nature rose up and took over. But the cat was also there as well. It was stronger than it ever had been. The warring nature of the two of them had come to a balancing act. How long it was going to last she wasn’t sure. It was already a losing battle as the hunger was starting to eat away at her.

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A hand squeezed her shoulder. She spun around and snarled. Her claws were raised, but before she could strike, Dallas caught her wrist. A hiss escaped her lips, and she tried to swipe at the man before her even though she knew he was a friend. Her hunger was going to make him into her dinner if she didn’t find blood soon. “I will not hurt you, Orianna. You know that. Concentrate on my voice.” Dallas didn’t release her wrist. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Dallas. All the blood and dealing with my brother. It’s arisen the hunger, and I can’t control it.” “You need to feed.” “There are deer enough on the land. I just have to catch one. Release me, and I will find my dinner.” “You need more than the deer. You need human blood.” He drew her close to his body. Orianna tried to escape him, but he held her fast. Dallas’s arm touched the small of her back. He guided her to his neck, but she resisted him. He smelled so good it was tempting for her to sink her fangs into his throat. “I can’t. You don’t know what you’re asking.” “I do know. There’s much about me you don’t know. That even Ryker doesn’t know. I was raised by vampires. When I was old enough, they fed off me nightly, injecting me with the venom on their fangs. It made me horribly sick at first. Now I’m immune to it. But I crave it. I’ve watched you this past week, staying out of our way. You try to be invisible. You love Pierce, and he loves you. I see how you look at him. A side glance here. The brush of your hand across his face. His love is infectious, and it’s spreading along our mental bond. I’ve found myself thinking of you, and my cat yearns for you.” Dallas touched the side of her face. His gentle caress stirred the lioness inside of her. “Seeing you with Pierce has made me a tad jealous. I didn’t think that was possible.” She shook her head, not sure of what he was confessing. “No. You can’t be falling for me, too. I can’t have you fighting over me with Pierce.” “I won’t have to do that. Besides, I can feed you. Think about it. If you bite Pierce or Ryker one too many times, you would kill them, unless you 64

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slowly get them used to the venom of your fangs. It can be accomplished, but it has to be done carefully.” Orianna stared deep into his eyes and saw the longing. “What else do you want?” Dallas growled and looked away. “Nothing else.” His voice wavered. “Yes, there is.” She placed his hand on his chest. The fixed beat of his heart helped to steady her. She licked her fangs as she felt another lust rise in her. Orianna rolled her shoulders and tried to keep herself centered. The lioness rubbed along her insides, and it longed see what Dallas wanted. What other can of worms am I about to open if I say yes to this? What else is he hiding? Can Pierce handle this? Can I? “If you desire me to bite into you, then you have to be straight with me.” “If I tell you the truth, there could be consequences you’re not ready to deal with. Or that I’m not either.” He ran this thumb over her bottom lip. “Then you shouldn’t have offered yourself up for dinner.” He lowered his mouth until his forehead rested against hers. Dallas was so close she yearned to claim his lips for herself. What will he taste like? He released her hand and guided it down to his groin, where his erection bulged against the seam of his pants. “To say that I’m not attracted to you would be a lie. You have an exquisite body. Pierce is lucky to claim you for a mate. Through him I feel an echo of that tie. I want to offer myself to you for a mate. I will protect you in all ways possible against those who would harm you. Let me into your heart.” She was stunned by his admission. If Dallas was feeling this way, then how was Ryker feeling about the whole situation? Was he also sensing the love Pierce had for her? Would he then come to tell her that he was also her mate? “Dallas, your words flatter me. If this is something you’re getting from Pierce, then I think you need to discuss it with him first. You have to be sure that this is what you want. You have to think about Ryker. He’ll think that I put a spell on you or some—” Dallas stopped her midsentence. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and wrapped it around her fangs before meeting her tongue. Her fangs were sensitive, and that single caress had shaken the core of her soul until her 65

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whole body was alive. Her cat growled contentedly. It wanted him the way it had already laid claim to Pierce. She cupped his cock, then slid her hand lower and grabbed his balls. I can’t be doing this. I can’t. God, but it feels so right and he accepts me for who I am. He understands me a little because he was raised by vampires. Her nerves sang with the bliss of his lips. Orianna wanted their kiss to continue, but she broke if off. “What have I done?” She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m hungry that’s all.” He tilted his head to show off the column of his neck. “Then feed.” Orianna ran a finger along his jugular vein. The warmth made her jaw ache. She slid her free hand through his hair. Pierce had offered himself up to her, and now his mate was doing the same. Her nipples hardened as she thought about being with Dallas. She licked his neck and tasted the salt of his skin. Dallas shook against her but made no move to touch her further. He smelled of desire, and it sparked her hunger even more. “Please.” His appeal hit her heart. He wants it the way I want blood. A little bit won’t hurt. Orianna gave into the hunger they both felt. Dallas cried out when she sank her fangs into him. His hands fumbled with her jeans and worked them down around her hips. She heard the tear of fabric as he pulled away her panties. His blood scorched her tongue and inflamed her own longing. Dallas’s emotions were strong and flowed into her the way his blood did. His craving for her made her want him more. He lifted her up and pushed her back into a tree. One hand supported her nape while the other clutched her left ass cheek. The call of his blood was a hard one to force herself away from because she shook from the passion that he stirred in her. Orianna withdrew from his throat and looked into his dark eyes. They held nothing but fierce devotion for her. “Do you want this?” Dallas asked. She hesitated, thinking about the last time she had made love. Would her heart start beating again with Dallas? The fear of the pain almost made her say no. But the idea of her touching her cat again was more compelling. “Yes.” 66

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Dallas didn’t wait and sunk his shaft inside of her. She cried out when he hit her clit. He kissed her throat and bit along her skin. When he did, her heart started again. Orianna groaned, but the fire that burned within her wasn’t as bad as the first time. The blaze stretched along her nerves, and the cat was there with her. It lengthened out along her skin and her muscles, and she was able to hold onto the lioness inside of her while Dallas thrust into her. She squeezed his arms and held on. Dallas claimed her lips once more in a swift kiss and then plunged into her one last time. Their coupling was short, but at that last moment, he rubbed her buried bud and she was rocketed to another world. Orianna rested her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. He slid his hand down her back. “I can feel your heart beating.” “Yes.” He looked at her strangely. “Does it hurt you?” “A little, but not like before.” “Do you know why?” “No idea. It just is. I can feel my cat more, too. It’s there with me now. I don’t know how long it will last, but thank you.” Dallas kissed her lightly before setting her down on the ground. He held her to him. Orianna enjoyed the thumping of his heart and hers. Her lioness pushed aside the alien presence that was the vampire. The impossible had happened. She was warm once again and had found another man who loved her. “You’re welcome. Although I should be the one thanking you. I never assumed that I’d ever feel this way about another person or indulge in the craving of another vampire biting me. Not that I was going out and trolling for vamps, because you know our kinds don’t normally get along. But here you are, one and the same.” “I never thought I’d wake up and find myself like this. Now you have to deal with my brother and what Mason has in store for me. I never should’ve gotten you involved in all of this.” Dallas drew her into his arms for a hard hug. In his embrace she felt secure. While she was with Dallas, her cat had responded to him. It was 67

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bonding to him. The one thing that she was most grateful for was the chance to have love again. That and her body was warm once more. Now she had one other person who cared for her well-being. It was such a wonderful thing that it seemed she had died and gone to heaven.

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Chapter Ten Ryker watched from the window as Dallas and Orianna made love against the tree. His jaw clenched. He curled his fingers into his palm and let the pain of his nails help him keep a grip on his fury. He was mesmerized by the sight of them because it was turning him on, too. The display stirred his anger and his lust. Their cries echoed through the night. He sensed Dallas’s passion for Orianna through their bond and when she and Pierce were together. Had Orianna bewitched him? Had she summoned her brother so it would bring her and Dallas together? “You need to stop thinking that she’s going to take us away from you.” Pierce slid his arm around Ryker and kissed his throat. The feel of those soft lips on his made him turn and study his mate. He was still pale from the blood loss, but he was up and moving around. The claw marks that were inflicted upon him had healed. Even Ryker’s wounds had mended. No matter what Pierce said, he still couldn’t tear his eyes away from Orianna and Dallas. She bit into him and drank his blood. Dallas enjoyed it. Ryker shivered at the thought of being bitten. He never wanted that. He never would have thought his mate would let him bite her. In the past week their lives had been turned upside down. They had cleared out the studio so Orianna would have a place to stay. They had even bought some furniture to spruce the place up. They were going to keep it a secret, but he wasn’t sure now. He wasn’t sure if she should stay, but telling her to go away now would tear his small family asunder because they were falling for her. Am I falling for her? Has she cast a spell over me? Is it even possible for me to have feelings for her? Was he going to start experiencing his mates’ love for her through the bond they shared? So many questions bombarded his mind that it was hard for him to think about anything else. “I can’t help but think about her. She’s brought her shit to our doorstep. Her ex-mate leads the pride. She’s just fucked Dallas, and all you can do is stand there and ask me if I can stop thinking about her? It’s all been about her this past week because you were the one who had to follow her scent.” 69

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“Are you blaming me for bringing her into our lives? For making you realize that there is more out there than us and this world? You’ve closed yourself off except for Dallas and me. The bond we share can’t be broken. If it’s expanding with the love that I feel for Orianna, then you can’t close yourself off to it. Dallas has already accepted it. He came to me and asked me how I would feel about him getting to know her better. I didn’t expect them to sleep together this soon, but, hey, I’m not jealous. I wouldn’t be if you tried to pursue her, too. Eventually you’ll feel what I do for her.” Pierce drew him closer and let his hand trail down Ryker’s front. He cupped his cock and ran his hand over the fabric of Ryker’s jeans. He shifted and pulled away from the other man. He couldn’t think about being together right now. He wasn’t in the mood to have sex. The urge to run so he could clear his head gripped him. His liger needed the air. And he needed the air so he could think straight. “I’m not blaming you for anything. I just need to be alone for a while. We need to worry about what’s going to happen with the pride. They can make our lives a living hell. Now I need to feel the night and get away from this place.” “What about showing Orianna the studio?” Ryker strolled toward the door. “You and Dallas show her. You’re the ones who’ll be servicing her there.” He rushed out of the room, trying to get away as swiftly as he could. He wrenched open the back door and could still hear Dallas and Orianna talking. She laughed at something he said. Her amusement grated on Ryker. She seemed happy and not concerned about what was happening to the pride. Ryker pulled his pants off and let the cool night air caress him. He was tired from the run he’d had with his mates earlier, but the fresh air would do him good. To feel his muscles stretching and pulling while he switched forms was a welcome relief as his cat and he formed into one being. The togetherness was the most wondrous thing. The merging helped him to drop away his human persona. The feline came forth, and he merged with it. At first he felt some resistance. That is a first. We’ve never been at odds with one another. He tried to confront the liger before he

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changed, but it wanted nothing to do with him. It backed off, but the change was already on him. His muscles stretched and screamed with the pain of shifting his form. Relief flooded through him when he relaxed into the shift. The night air ran over his form, and his paws sunk into the dirt of the forest. He extended his claws and kneaded them into the earth. Ryker needed to purge Orianna from his mind. She was monopolizing more and more of his thoughts. He wanted to dig his claws into some stone. At least that would be something he could control. His entire life was starting to take a downward spiral, and he couldn’t get a grasp on it. If only she hadn’t crossed their land, then none of this would have ever happened. Pierce and Dallas would still be completely his. He shook his head and pushed her from his thoughts. A loud roar erupted from his throat as he bellowed his irritation into the night. Ryker rushed through the fields and picked up on the scent of a doe. Earlier he had hunted with his mates, but a darker hunger had awakened in him. Ryker skulked the night. A heartbeat was loud in his ears. He locked onto the sound and silently went through the night, hoping she wouldn’t get spooked. The high grass hid his approach. He licked his fangs, and every instinct in him said for him to pounce on the doe. As he watched her, a small fawn wobbled out from the copse of trees. The human side of him responded. When Ryker saw the family together, his heart kicked back in and he didn’t want to hunt her all of a sudden. He watched how she cared for the little one, and then she looked in his direction. Something in his heart turned. Orianna was like the fawn, struggling through life. Even while dealing with all three of them, she was trying to figure out where to fit in. He roared, and that spooked the deer and her baby. He couldn’t see Orianna fitting in with the two men because she was so different, but she was winning them over. Ryker shook his head, feeling his short mane. A twig snapped behind him. He turned around and growled. Orianna stood before him. The moonlight accentuated her skin. He sensed the hunter before him. He bared his teeth but made no move to go any closer. “Would it be okay if I touched you?” she asked. 71

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He heard the sincerity in her voice. She must have followed me. It’s part of her plan to bewitch me. She’s here to lure me back into her bed just like the vampire Siren she is. He curled his lips over his fangs and advanced on her, extending his claws so that he could gut her if she made a move toward him. She stood perfectly still. He could take her out with one swipe. He wasn’t sure if she would heal from the grievous wounds that he yearned to inflict. He advanced farther still toward her. Ryker growled again. Orianna held out her hands and slowly sunk to the ground so they were almost at eye level. It would be easier now for him to attack. He snarled. “I realize you don’t trust me after what happened with my brother earlier. I didn’t want to endanger Dallas and Pierce. You don’t have to hide your emotions. I can sense them, but it’s also apparent the way you stay away from me. I didn’t think me crossing your land would lead Pierce to follow me or that Dallas would start to feel something for me either. Honestly, I’m just happy that you have allowed me to be part of your family. My brother and I used to play practical jokes on one another. There was so much that I miss about not being with the pride. Here I’ve been able to have a small slice of that again.” He heard her words, but they did little to melt his heart. He raised his paw and stretched his claws, waiting to strike. It would be so easy that he didn’t even think about it. All he would have to do was separate the delicate skin of her throat. Once her head was severed from her body, then there would be nothing else to worry about. His life would return to normal. Pierce would be awoken from the spell that he was under. Ryker raised his paw and went to strike, but the cat inside of him stopped. He struggled to regain control of his body, but the liger wouldn’t let him. They had always worked together, been together since the first time he had ever shifted. Instead, the cat took a step forward until they were close to Orianna. They stared eye to eye. He peered into her eyes and saw something of what she used to be. Orianna slid her fingers through his mane. At her touch a small shiver made him shake all over. His cat was overjoyed that she was touching it. The liger wanted to claim her for a mate, but he couldn’t do that. It went against everything in his nature, because she was a vampire. She trailed her fingers 72

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over his flank and then pulled her fingers away. He heard her sniffle and butted his head against her arm. She looked up, and he saw the longing in her eyes. “It’s been so long since I’ve touched a cat. You are magnificent. Thank you.” Orianna got up and silently walked away. The cat urged Ryker to go after her, but he had taken control again and he wasn’t going to fall for her silent sobs. Ryker wandered into the night, trying to figure out how he and his cat were going to come to a meeting of the minds. No lights were on when he returned to the house, but he heard laughter coming from the studio. Ryker remained in the shadows and slipped on his pants. When he got to the door, he listened. He heard Dallas talking to Orianna. “You have to be careful if you feed on Pierce for too long. It’d be best for you to slice into his wrist or neck. That way then you don’t have to worry about poisoning him with the venom of your fangs. The same with Ryker.” “I don’t think I have to worry about ever feeding off him. He doesn’t want anything to do with me. He hates that I’ve stolen you away from him.” “You haven’t taken me or Pierce away from him. Ryker doesn’t like change. His father cheated on his wife with another woman. The other woman got pregnant and dropped the baby off for his father to raise. He doesn’t discuss his past much. When he was old enough, he challenged the leader and was exiled from the pride. The woman he loved was torn away from him, and it made him shut off his heart. I wandered into an art show that my girlfriend at the time was in. Once I caught his scent, instinct took over. Ryker was mine. It took him a while to accept that we were mates. He thought I was jerking him around. Being a hybrid among other shifters is hard when you aren’t accepted. It’s taken him three years to build a relationship with the local pride here. Your pride. They didn’t accept him easily.” “I didn’t know that. I didn’t want to bring this trouble involving Mason and my brother to his doorstep. I don’t expect Ryker to take to me the way that you and Pierce have. Having two men who care about me is more than I

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could’ve hoped for. Although I wish it would’ve been Pierce who made the initial offer for me to come and stay with you.” “Pierce is shy. I think it took him by surprise that you triggered his mating instinct the way it was set off when he caught my scent. Honestly, the three of us are great together because we’re all a little screwed up. None of us came from a healthy background. I was raised by vampires and then set free when they died. From what Pierce has told me, his other boyfriends used him for a doormat. And Ryker, well, he has issues. So we’re all a little wounded.” Orianna chuckled. “Yeah, well, then I guess I fit right in.” Ryker sighed. It was hard for him to pass judgment because his two sides were warring with one another. There was the cat who wanted to run in there, rub against her, and start playing with her. However, the man side of him didn’t want anything to do with her. Listening to Dallas divulge their history riled his anger, but there was also some pity as well. Why can’t this be easy? Lately when I get around her, I can’t think of anything else. The way she swayed her hips stirred his desire. The bounce of her breasts caused his dick to harden. The whole slew of emotions churned inside his head like a tempest, and he was the ship lost in the middle of it. He didn’t have a safe light to guide him out of the emotional storm. Ryker didn’t want to deal with all of the problems she had brought to his doorstep involving her family. It would be easier to give her over to her ex-mate so that she would be out of their lives forever, but if he did that now, then he would be hurting his two mates. He slammed his fist into the tree. There’s nothing I can do. I’m fucked either way I look at it. I can’t ship her off. The only thing I can do is avoid her. At least that way there will be peace in the house. She won’t get to me the way she did with the others. I swear it.

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Chapter Eleven Orianna stood behind the stove stirring the chili she had been cooking. Pierce and Dallas were both at work. Ryker was working in the garage. He’d been in there for the better part of two weeks, and she barely saw him. She presumed he was avoiding her. The other two men in her life were treating her like she was their one and only. They lavished attention on her, took her shopping to furnish the guesthouse, and purchased whatever clothes she wanted. They had bought her flowers and offered to get her whatever she desired. Feeling so loved, she had almost forgotten the threat of her pride coming for her. The peace could be shattered at any moment. The last thing she had wanted to do was bring her problems to Dallas and Pierce. They had carved out a life for themselves, and now they were on Mason’s radar. He was a cold-hearted bastard who she had once loved, and now he was trying to wipe her from the face of the Earth. Her mother wouldn’t have stood for it. She still hadn’t told her sister about the threat, although Patty did want details on her two mates. Orianna glanced down and saw the chili was bubbling. When she inhaled, she could smell the chili powder, pepper, jalapenos, and a dash of cinnamon she had added to the pot. Tonight was going to be a surprise for the two men in her life. One thing she got to do with her mother was cook, and she knew all of their recipes by heart. Cooking was an art she missed because she didn’t eat anymore. Dallas had bought everything for her, and when she had gotten up that night, she had started cooking. “What smells so good?” Dallas walked into the kitchen dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. It was Friday, the casual day at the real estate office where he worked. He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. His warmth helped to keep her rooted. The way his heart beat made her remember that for a few minutes hers had too. Since that time she had been able to feel the lioness inside of her mind stretching and pacing, waiting for her to release it from her mental cage. She turned her head and stood on tiptoes so she could reach his mouth. His bottom lip formed a crooked smile. She sucked in his lips and kissed him 75

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quickly and tasted the salt on his skin. “Chili. I hope you like it. I used to love to cook when I was hu . . . at home.” She stopped herself from saying human because that part of her was behind her. “How can you tell if it’s seasoned right?” Orianna shrugged. “It smells like the way I used to make it. Why don’t we find out?” She dripped the wooden spoon into the bean-and-meat–filled sauce and held it out to him. Dallas forced a smile, but she saw the trepidation in his eyes. She figured he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he slipped his hand over hers and guided the spoon to his lips. He blew on the chili and then took a tentative taste. After a moment, his eyes lit up and a grin spread on the lips she was still getting used to kissing. “Like it?” “It’s amazing. Where did you learn to cook?” “I don’t think the question is where did she learn to cook, but how much sheer luck did it take for her to get it right this once?” Ryker stood in the doorway. Sweat glistened on his chest and beaded on his forehead. Minute specks of stone dust clung to him, giving his tanned skin a pale sheen to it, almost as if he’d been bathed in the moonlight and it stuck with him. Her inner cat purred contentedly when it looked upon him, but she wasn’t about to approach him. The tension in the air grew. Dallas growled and was about to stay something when she grabbed his arm and gave it a small squeeze. He glanced at her. A vein bulged in his forehead, and his face was turning red. “My mother taught me. Our pride is the biggest in the state. When we gather, we have to cook for two hundred souls not including the distant relatives who would attend or the guests who were invited. I was always there in the kitchen with my mother. She was determined that I learn all the ins and outs of managing a pride, from the laws to cooking and keeping a household. She was a good woman.” “And you still remember how to prepare a meal after all these years you’ve been a vampire?” Ryker crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her.

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“Just because I am what I am doesn’t mean that I have forgotten everything my mother taught me. There’s plenty here for the three of you. I wasn’t just cooking for Pierce and Dallas.” “Suit yourself. Dallas, when you’re done playing with the dead thing, why don’t you come upstairs? I have some things I need to go over with you.” “Fine,” the other man said through gritted teeth. Ryker left the room, but Dallas was still fighting his rage. “Don’t let it get to you,” Orianna encouraged. “He shouldn’t treat you the way that he does. It’s one thing to avoid you, but it’s another to say such horrible things. Why do you put up with it?” She shrugged. “Because he loves you and still has that fear I’m going to rip apart his family. He wants to hold on to you and Pierce so tightly, so he lashes out. It’s like you said: he’s afraid of change. I just let it roll off. I’ve been called worse things.” When she looked into his eyes, she saw the concern and the love that he had for her. The same way that Pierce had. Dallas slid his fingers over her arms. His expression was relaxing, but she still sensed his anger. “I’m getting tired of him treating you this way. You shouldn’t have to deal with that. I love him as much as I love you. He has to understand that.” “Have you or Pierce spent some quality time with him lately?” Dallas sighed and then looked down. “No. I’ve been working and then spreading my time between you and Pierce.” Orianna walked her fingers up his chest. “Well, then, I think you need to show him that he hasn’t been forgotten.” “You don’t mind?” “Why would I mind? You are his mates. Why don’t you and Pierce spend some quality time with Ryker? I’m perfectly fine on my own.” Dallas wove his fingers through her hair. “I think that’s a good idea. What about dinner?” Orianna chuckled. “It’s done. Eat it when you want. I’ll be out hunting.” “You don’t need to do that now. We talked about that.”

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“I know. But I can’t rely on you to feed me all the time. I’m still adjusting to this new lifestyle, too. Now go up there and make up with your mate. He misses you.” “That’s kind of hard after how he’s been with you these past few weeks.” She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her hands around his neck, conforming her body to his. Dallas backed her away from the stove a little. She kissed him before resting her head against his chest and listening to the calming rhythm of his heart. After a moment, she sensed Pierce had come into the kitchen. He stepped behind her and pressed his body against her back. He brushed her hair away from her throat and kissed along the line of her neck. A small moan slipped from her lips. Pierce nipped at her flesh before sliding his hands along her sides and then cupping her breasts. Her nipples hardened at the contact. Her lioness purred contentedly. It would have been so easy for her to stay in between the two of them and let the passion burning inside of her sweep her up in its arms, but they had to heal the rift between them and Ryker. “Are we making you the meat in our sandwich?” Pierce whispered in her ear. Dallas rested his chin on the top of her head. “No. We need to make Ryker the meat.” “What if I want to stay here with you two?” Pierce asked. “It would be best if you spent some time with your mate. I think he misses you.” Orianna wiggled out from between the two handsome men and then focused on stirring the chili. It looked excellent, but if she tasted it, her body would reject it. The sauce would taste like bleach and the beans and meat like cardboard. “How about we come and find you later?” Pierce asked. The puppy-dog look on his face made her all gooey inside. But they needed to be with Ryker. He was hurting inside and trying to reach out to his mates so they would come to him. When she thought back to her pride, hybrids were not treated well. Her mother accepted everyone. It didn’t matter if they were a mixture of two different cats. She let them into the pride, but some members didn’t appreciate that. Mason had been one of 78

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them. He considered them a second tier of their society. He had talked about when she was made leader that he encouraged her to abolish the hybrids from the pride. Her inner lion roared in disgust when Mason ran through her mind. It had completely disowned him for a mate. If only it were that easy for her to cut off her feelings. There was still some small part in her human heart that loved him. But fate had dealt her a different hand. Now she was bonded to two other men, and she loved them. “No. You need to spend the night with Ryker. Forget about me, and just immerse yourself in him. That’s what he needs. We’ll have another night together. Just the three of us.” She cupped Pierce’s cock and felt his growing erection. “Okay.” He kissed the side of her cheek. “But I’ll be thinking about you all the way.” “No. Just be with him. Please.” Pierce bit down on her neck but didn’t break the skin. The sudden, sharp sting made her moan. It took all her willpower to back away from him and grasp the doorknob. If she didn’t get out into the night now, then she wasn’t going to and might find herself wandering upstairs to join the three men even if Ryker didn’t want her there. “You two have a good night. I’ll be around after the sun sets. Let me know how you like the chili.” She opened the door and flung herself into the darkness. The energy filled her, and she felt somewhat alive. Everything in her urged her to turn back around and take advantage of her mates, but she kept on running. The night engulfed her, and she let it. She was on the outskirts of the property Ryker owned, and they were far away from the city. The sky was dotted with stars. The breeze caressed her face. She smelled nothing but the world around her and no scent of humans to entice her hunger. It was joyous to be in the wild. Part of her had longed to roam free again without being constrained by men, but that part of her life was long gone. She was happy to be out and not think of any responsibilities. Orianna sat on a hill and watched the sky. It would be dawn soon. The black of the night was

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giving way to a dark cerulean of the creeping light. She had an hour at best before she had to get back, when her body would be forced to sleep. “Feeling satisfied?” She turned and saw Ryker standing a few feet behind her. He was still bare-chested, but she smelled the hint of soap about him. She hoped that the rift had been healed between him and his mates. All she desired was for him to be happy. “I’m out here enjoying the night, or what’s left of it.” “It was your idea to send Pierce and Dallas to me tonight, wasn’t it? Did you tempt them with your wiles?” “Ryker, I didn’t entice them to do anything. Please, I don’t want any trouble. Not now. If you want to rant at me, do it tomorrow night. I’m not in the mood. I just want to take in what’s left of the evening. Can you put aside your hatred of me for half an hour? Maybe forty-five minutes.” He stared at her, took a minute to think over what she said, and then sat a few feet away from her. She glanced at him and then continued to gaze up at the horizon. The azure was giving way to a small band of gold. Soon that would be layered with pinks and oranges. A few clouds passed lazily across the remaining stars. The night was silent around them. Shortly the world would wake up and she would be driven from that life. “Do you miss it?” Ryker broke the silence. “The sun?” “Yes.” “Every day. When I wake up, I feel the remnants of the warmth from the day cooling down as the night sets in. I used to love to sunbathe. There were times I’d shift and roll around in the tall grass around our house or just bask on the warm rocks when we went to the beach. This is the closest I can get to it now. It makes me feel that my mother is still looking down on me, guiding me.” “Your mother sounds like an amazing woman from what I’ve heard you say about her. I never met her in person, but she was revered among the prides in this area for being a fair person.” “She was. She looked at everyone as equals. She taught me the same. Mason, on the other hand, we had a few differences of opinion.” 80

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“But he was your mate and you loved him.” “I loved him. But that doesn’t mean that we always agreed on everything.” “Why do you think he wants you now if he rejected you?” Orianna sighed and stared at the oncoming dawn. I could head back now, but Ryker’s being civil with me for the first time. I can already feel the warmth of the sun. In a few minutes I’ll start itching. But I can spare the time to mend the rift between us. “I think, now that my mother’s gone, he wants to wipe away any memory of me. Maybe he has some residual feelings for me. Or maybe he just thinks I’m going to try and claim my rightful place and challenge him for leadership of the pride.” “But you can’t shift anymore.” The emotion of missing her cat overwhelmed her. If only she could feel the lioness flowing through her and embrace the strength that the lioness imparted to her and not what the vampire had. She threaded her fingers through the grass. Her cat paced inside of her head, warning her that she had to get into the shadows and somewhere safe. It was interesting to see how the cat had accepted the change in her when she had become a vampire. She pulled a few of the blades and then threw them until they fluttered down to the ground like injured butterflies. The warmth was making her uncomfortable, and the light was soon going to break over the horizon. She stood up and looked over at Ryker. “No. I can’t shift. Since meeting you three I have hope that one day I can at least feel her in my bones again. You really don’t know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get inside before the sun does me any real damage.” Ryker got up as well. “I’ll walk you back.” The surprise that went through her stopped her in her tracks. She turned and then looked back at him. Holy shit! He’s actually being nice to me. What has changed in him? Hopefully he’s feeling better. “That would be nice.” Ryker walked beside her while staying a good distance to her side. She kept glancing over on their way back to make sure that he was still there. Part of her was waiting for him to say some kind of snide remark, but he didn’t. 81

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When they reached the house, the sun was going to crest on the horizon. She could hold off her sleep for a little while, but it drained her and she didn’t like that it made her weak. At the guesthouse she discovered the curtains had been drawn tightly over the windows. Ryker lingered when they stopped outside of her door. “Is there something else you wanted to say?” The first shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds and landed on her arm. She hissed in a breath of pain. Ryker pushed her back into the darkness where the sun wouldn’t reach. “You have to be careful and stay out of the sun.” “Why are you so worried about me now? He stared at her for a long time. Then he eased a small lock of hair from her face. “Because you mean so much to the others. Dallas and Pierce would hate me if I let anything happen to you. Thank you for sending them to me tonight. I appreciate it. I’m sorry about the things I’ve said to you these last few weeks and how I’ve avoided you.” “Apology accepted. Thank you for that.” She guided his hand away from her cheek. He stopped her hand and brought it to his lips, where he brushed a small kiss over the back of it. He didn’t break her gaze. The shock of the gesture was enough to make her speechless. Orianna studied his eyes and tried to figure out where this had come from, but his expression revealed nothing. Instead, he released her hand and then backed away. “You should sleep now. We can talk more tomorrow night.” She nodded and then retreated into the house, into the blissful darkness so that she could sleep and contemplate what had just happened between her and Ryker.

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Chapter Twelve Ryker sat at the table with his two mates. After leaving Orianna, he had gone to bed and gotten a few hours of sleep. He poked at the chili and thought about the night before with his two mates. Their coupling had helped heal the rift between them. Because of their bond together, he had felt their love for Orianna. It had changed his perspective of her, but he wouldn’t call it love on his part. It was definitely respect. He knew that she had to be protected because his other mates cared for her so much. It was going to be a big adjustment for him to include her in his life, but he was willing to make an effort so they all could live happily. His cat was content with that decision. He tried the chili that Orianna prepared and found it quite good. “So you went out late this morning. Find anything interesting?” Pierce asked. He glanced at his mate and felt the corners of his mouth turn up. “I went for a walk. Does that bother you?” “No. I was just wondering if you ran into Orianna. That’s all.” “If you want to know if we talked, then, yes, I spoke with her. I think that she’s good for the both of you, and I don’t have a problem with her staying here. But I don’t want to horn in on what you two have going with her.” Pierce tried not to smile, but Ryker could see the brightness in his eyes. He glanced at Dallas and also saw the pleased expression on his face. Dallas slid his hand over Ryker’s and squeezed it. “Thank you. You know it means a lot to me, and her, too. She needs a new start, and she needs a family. We can be that for her.” “If she can continue to cook like this, then I am willing to give it a try. Dallas, why didn’t you tell me about the vampires who raised you?” His mate sighed. “I didn’t think that you’d accept me if I told you about where I’d come from. It was easier to tell you that my parents died. The vampires were the only ones who I could call a family, and I know how others of our kind look at them.” 83

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“Are they still alive? If you were so close to them, then don’t you want to go back and see them?” Pierce asked. Dallas’s expression darkened. “That would be impossible. They released me because they both wanted to go into the sunlight. It was time for them to die. They would’ve liked you both, but they’re nothing more than dust now.” This time Ryker clutched his hand. “Know that you can tell me anything. I know I’m a prick sometimes, but that doesn’t ever mean I’m going to disown you because of where you come from. I know I treated Orianna like shit, but I promise that I’ll do better.” Dallas nodded. “Good to know. Let’s eat and figure out something that we can all do with Orianna. I think it’s time we all make her feel welcome here. Do you agree?” “Yeah. Good. I think we can think of something,” Pierce said. Ryker didn’t say much, but by the pleased expressions on his mates’ faces he knew they wanted to bring her into their lives as much as possible. However, they were going to have to figure out some kind of schedule where he could have one or both of his mates to himself. Maybe he didn’t have any control over who they were mated to, but in a way he was glad that Pierce was becoming more confident in his skin. It also came out in the bedroom. Last night he had taken the lead with their lovemaking. Pierce had always been timid when they originally got together. At first Ryker hadn’t wanted Pierce anywhere around him. Even though his smell had triggered the mating instinct in Ryker, he fought it tooth and nail. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t act that way again, but look what I did with Orianna. It dawned on him that another reason why he didn’t want Orianna in their lives was because he was insecure about how she would impact their lives. It was the first time he was able to admit it to himself, and that made him feel good. All he had to do was keep that in mind the next time something threatened his relationship. He realized that with the three of them sitting there it was the most normal his life had ever been. He wanted to keep it that way. “Good.” Ryker finished the chili and decided it was time for him to start another sculpture. He had just the idea. He plunked the dishes into the sink and walked out the back door. The first thing he noticed was that the 84

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blackout curtains weren’t on the windows of the guesthouse. A moment of panic gripped him. Oh, God! What’s happened to her? Orianna was either turned to ash or something had happened. He raced toward the door and saw that it was busted open. A panicked cry left his lips. Dallas and Pierce raced from the kitchen to him. “What happened?” Dallas asked. Ryker turned and faced his mates. Pierce’s expression grew dark as he surveyed the guesthouse. Before Ryker could speak, the other man stepped forward and was nearly nose to nose with him. “What did you do to her? Did you suck up for one night and then arrange for her old pride to retrieve her so they could torture her?” Pierce growled and shoved Ryker through the doorway so he landed on the broken door. Glass from the shattered window lodged into his back. Ryker hissed in a breath of pain from the shards and slowly got up. The anger welled up inside of him, but he didn’t hold it against his mate because Pierce was worried about Orianna. Ryker dusted himself off and took stock of the guesthouse. The new furniture had been trashed. Stuffing from the couch littered the floor. Tears had shredded the fabric of the chairs. The overwhelming odor of dried blood filled the kitchen. Smears of crimson sullied the white floor and walls. Shit! It looks like a bomb exploded in here. What the hell happened here? His sense of urgency increased. “I didn’t do anything, Pierce. After last night, I know that she was trying to bring us all together. To hurt her would be to injure you. Then you wouldn’t speak to me. I recognize the scent in here. It isn’t another vampire, but a shape-shifter. It has to be her brother with two others I don’t know. I don’t know how they got in here without us hearing them or smelling them; they had to have masked themselves pretty well. This had to have happened a little while after I went to sleep.” “Orianna!” Pierce rushed into her bedroom before Ryker could stop him. The other two followed him. In the bedroom, they found the bed was a mess. The blackout curtains were in a heap on the floor. Ryker grabbed one of the sheets and inhaled, 85

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seeing if he could find any more scents. Primarily it was Orianna’s. An image of her naked form with her hair spread onto the pillow flashed through his mind. He tried to shake it off and tell himself that he wasn’t attracted to her, but he wasn’t going to go there. Taking another whiff, he realized the scent also permeated the house. He had smelled it before. It was the client who he had met with a couple of weeks before and for whom he’d declined to do the commission. The man had wanted to order a sculpture with two massive lions standing on a hill looking down at the others. It had vaguely reminded him of the Lion King movie, but he had said no because he didn’t like the vibe of the man. The muscles in Ryker’s jaw locked. That man had to be Mason, Orianna’s mate before she was turned into a vampire. He threw the sheet down. “I know who took her. It was Mason, her brother, and someone else from her old pride. Her brother said they would come for her, and it appears they have. I didn’t think they would kidnap her. They are not on pride land.” “They won’t get away with this. What they did was an affront to us. We have to get her back,” Dallas growled. He hurled down a piece of clothing that was stained with blood. Orianna must have put up quite a fight. It might have been daylight, but she wasn’t going to let anyone take her against her will. Ryker had a newfound respect for her. She had fought against her own family to remain with them. He only hoped that they could get there in time to make sure that nothing else had happened to her. If they had come to get her during the day, then they had to have plans for her. He clenched his fists. “They won’t get away with this. No one comes onto our land and takes our girl. We do not belong to the pride. They were supposed to leave us alone. They’re fanatics who have Orianna. It’s time that we go and get her.” Pierce and Dallas nodded. A determination like he’d never felt before settled in his bones, making him realize that she meant more to him than he thought. That, and no one was going to trespass on his land and hurt one of his own. It would take everything in him, but if it meant that he had to challenge the current pride leader, then so be it. 86

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“Do you know where she is exactly? The town is rather large,” Pierce asked. “We don’t know where they took her. She could be anywhere,” Dallas said. Ryker looked at his two mates and saw the concern in their faces. He had to act fast even if it meant breaking every speed limit on the way. He left the guesthouse with his mates in tow and grabbed his keys in the kitchen of the main house. They piled into his car, and the only destination in his mind was getting to Orianna. They drove until they reached the center of town. Ryker had no idea where she was in the vast town, but he had an idea where to start. He parked the car along the side of the street in front of a small restaurant that was a hangout for the locals. Ryker had eaten there before. When he walked in, the few patrons looked up. Orianna’s brother was behind the counter wiping it down. Patrick looked up, stopped, and bolted toward the back door. Dallas was already there. He grabbed Patrick and held him against the wall. Ryker could see the resemblance to Orianna. He sharpened his claws. The other people who had been eating scattered out of the diner. Pierce was keeping the two waitresses at bay. “Where’s Orianna?” Pierce demanded of her brother. “You’ll never find her.” A grin spread on Patrick’s face. Dallas growled. “You dare come on our land and kidnap our mate. If anyone did this to your pride, you’d have their head. Tell me where she is, or I’ll rip yours off. Answer our questions.” The unmistakable cha-ching, cha-ching of a shotgun sounded next to Ryker’s head. “Release him and get out of here.” Ryker glanced over and saw the chef had a gun pointed at his head. He looked over at Dallas and nodded at him. Ryker put his hands up. He heard other footsteps behind him. When he looked behind him, another man had Pierce at gunpoint. The new addition was dressed in a deputy’s uniform. When he inhaled, he noticed the heady scent of the other man and recognized it as the one who had also invaded Orianna’s home. “Patrick said you’d come looking for his sister, that abomination. We just assumed it’d be 87

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tonight. Surprised she hasn’t turned you three into her minions,” the chef said. “Look, we just want her. You came onto our land and took her without due cause. She did nothing against your pride. We want our mate back. Isn’t that a reasonable thing to ask?” Pierce said through gritted teeth. The tension in the air was escalating, and Ryker didn’t want anything to happen to his mates. “She’s not an abomination. She’s a beautiful woman. We have no quarrels with your pride. We are independent from you and want to stay that way.” “What should we do with them, Patrick?” the deputy asked. Patrick looked at the both of them and nodded to the chef holding the shotgun. “Dexter, we bring them to Mason. They’ve made threats against the pride and scared our business away. That in itself is grounds for punishment. Maybe they can watch their woman burn. That should be fun. Lee, why don’t you put him out of his misery for a while?” Ryker was about to say something when he felt the impact of the butt of the shotgun on his head. The pain blinded him, and he saw stars. He followed them as they fell to the ground, and he went unconscious.

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Chapter Thirteen Orianna opened her eyes and was immediately met with pain. It ran through her body, and there wasn’t anything she could do to stop it. A cry burst from her lips. Next to her she heard a soft chuckle. Mason sat across from her. His smug smile hadn’t changed. She used to love it when his grin was focused on her. Now the hatred in his eyes was burning her as much as whatever torture he was putting her under. When she moved her hand, more agony flared through her skin. She gasped and flexed her finger again, only to bite her lip from the torture. “What are you doing to me?” Mason got up, took something off the counter behind him, and then threw it at her face. It landed on her flesh, and her cheek exploded in pain. She screamed at the acid that ate her face. When the anguish subsided, she opened her eyes again and glared at Mason. The rage boiling inside of her was ready to explode. Her cat yowled to be released. The barrier that held her in place was weakened. If she could just give into the cat, then she could find a way to break free. “I never thought it’d be so easy to get you away from those three men that you have under your spell. Once the sun rose high enough and you couldn’t fight us anymore, it was so easy to take you. Patrick enjoyed watching you fry for a little while. Then we packed you up in a body bag and brought you here. Once we tied you up and put you in a dark room, we began experimenting while you slept. Your burns healed rather quickly. I’ve been looking at the folklore of your kind. We rubbed you with consecrated earth, but that did nothing. Garlic didn’t work either. Then we got to the holy water, and that did the trick. Not sure why it did. There was the choice of staking you, letting you cook in the sun, or even chopping your head off, but I figured this way would be better. A slow way to die so I could see the pain in your eyes.” “I haven’t done anything to you.” She shook her head and tried to figure out why he was doing this to her. They had been so in love when she was human. 89

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He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “It would’ve been so much easier if you died when you were supposed to.” Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?” Mason chuckled, seemingly pleased with himself. “Did you really think those vampires happened upon us by chance? I told them when I hired them to make sure they finished you off. But no, you had to come back from the dead.” “What did you do? You killed two of them. You loved me. We . . . ” Mason growled and stood eye to eye with her until their noses almost touched. “I never loved you, Orianna. You were just my ticket to get closer to the leadership of the pack. You were a great fuck, though. Too bad you turned into a monster. Now your men coming here is the icing on the cake. Those three think they live outside of pride authority because they’re not within the boundaries of our land, and there’s the issue of one of them being a hybrid. They all have to be punished.” “Leave them out of this. You’re pride leader now even if I came back from the dead. I can’t believe you wanted to have me killed. I would have done anything for you. Why are you putting me under this torment now? Why can’t you let me live my life?” Mason backed away from her and turned around. When he did, he squirted another stream of holy water that landed on her chest. She screamed from the pain that stole her breath away and lit up her nerve endings. That morning she had fought with all her might until the power of the sun had forced her body to shut down. All she had wanted to do was curl up in the shadows and forget her problems. The night had ended with Ryker finally being nice to her and the change in his demeanor was a breath of fresh air. She had some hope that maybe they could all get along. Now she was trapped and the others had come for her. It would be Dallas’s and Pierce’s natures to rescue her. Ryker would likely follow because he didn’t want his two mates to be hurt. A moan slipped from her lips as she thought about what would happen to them and the fact that she was the cause of it. Mason shook his head and moved a piece of hair away from her face. So many times she enjoyed his caress, but now it disgusted her. Orianna 90

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wrenched her head from his touch and tried to stay away from him, but the ties that bound her were tight and she didn’t have her strength. It seemed to have been a couple of days since she had fed. He caught her chin and forced her to look at him. “After your mother died, I found her will. It appears that she left everything to you. I may be pride master, but I don’t have the financial backing. Your mother owned half of town, including this house. When people look at me, they don’t see the leader of the pride, they see a man who’s been beaten down by a ghost. You’ve been the bane of my existence since you were resurrected. There has to be a way to kill you. And these men of yours make me look like a fool.” Orianna was speechless at the knowledge that her mother had left her everything. He has to be joking. Mom would never leave all of it to me. It had to have been her way of letting me know that she still didn’t believe that Mason was strong enough to lead the pride. It was her mother’s way of sticking it to him. What did I see in him? Her cat grumbled in agreement. “You only think that. Your friends are the toughest in the pride. They always have been. I don’t want the property. Any of it. I’ll gladly sign it over to you if you just let me go.” Mason glanced at her and then back toward the front door. Orianna wished that her old house was still the loving place she remembered it to be. The furniture was the same, but the hominess she once associated with it had been strangled out. Her ex-mate’s oppressive nature had stripped the family home she had grown up in. Her mother never would have stood for it. The door opened. Her brother came in, and behind him were Ryker, Dallas, and Pierce—all in handcuffs. Pierce tried to rush over to her, but Patrick slugged him and threw him down to the ground. Seeing her gentle mate on the ground made her cat angry. It battered against the wall in her mind, clawing at it until she hoped she could find a way around it. Maybe the only thing to do was to give in to what was inside of her. To let the vampire completely take over might release the cat. She had been fighting against her nature for so long because she refused to accept what she had turned into. Maybe that would break the divider that 91

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surrounded her cat and let her two natures merge. Orianna had never heard of a vampire who could shape-shift before, but then again she was a rarity by surviving the vampire attack. Her brother kicked Pierce in the stomach while he was down. Dallas dropped beside him and picked him up. “You didn’t have to do that. He’s already handcuffed.” “Shut the fuck up,” Lee, the chef from the restaurant, demanded. “What have they done to you?” Ryker asked Orianna. He tried to go toward her, but there was a rope around his neck. Mason grabbed it and then tugged it. Ryker’s hands went to his throat as he tried to pull the cord away. “Mason, leave him alone.” Orianna struggled against the bindings. Upon hearing Ryker’s words, she figured she must have appeared pretty bad because she could feel that she wasn’t healing. Her veins burned with the need for blood. Her stomach was starting to cramp. If she didn’t feed soon, then the animal nature inside of her would be unleashed. “I’ll leave him alone only if he swears loyalty to me and the rest of the pride.” Mason wound the rope along his hand. “Don’t do it, Ryker,” Orianna cried. “Even if you do, he’s going to kill me. He just wants you to suffer more.” “She’s right, you know. You three have been a thorn in my side, thinking that you can flaunt your freedom outside of the pride. You denied me my sculpture. No one tells me no. Least of all, a hybrid scum like you.” He yanked the rope tighter until Ryker started to turn purple. “Stop it! Mason, if you ever cared about me, let him go.” “You care about him?” He chuckled. “How fitting. I didn’t think vampires could feel anything. I’ll let him live long enough so he can watch you die.” Mason released the rope so Ryker could breathe again. He dropped to his knees and loosened the now-slack rope. Orianna saw the marks from the rope where it had bruised his skin. She shook her head. This isn’t what I wanted! This can’t be happening! We’ll get through this. I know we will. “I’m sorry,” she said to Ryker. He nodded. “It’s okay.”

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Mason was ready for her to give up. When she was human, she had been meek. Being a vampire had forced her to fend for herself. The cat raged inside of her trying to find a way to escape. The hunger roiled inside of her bones, and it was getting unbearable. She gritted her teeth, not sure if she could hold on for much longer. If she could cry, she would, but not for her, for the men who had come all this way to save her. “There is nothing to be sorry about,” Mason said. “Soon you’ll be out of my hair for good and your men here will have no other choice but to join our pride even if they are second-class to the other lions.” “You just want to claim our assets so it’ll fatten your pockets,” Dallas snarled. Pierce hadn’t opened his eyes yet, and Orianna was worried about him. She felt along the bond they shared. He was still alive, but in a deep state of unconsciousness. Her brother kicked Dallas in the back. “Shut up!” Dallas grunted, but held tightly to Pierce in an attempt to protect him from the idiots who had kidnapped her. Ryker remained very still. The muscles twitched in his face. When he looked at her, both eyes had turned amber. The flesh had receded around his cheeks. He stood up. “I will never swear anything to you. Now let her go before something happens.” Ryker slowly advanced toward Mason. Mason stood next to a lamp and then flipped the switch. When the light touched her, she screamed. It felt like the sun was shining directly on her. No matter how much she struggled with the ropes, she wasn’t able to get away. Orianna watched as her skin began to blister and then char. The little hairs on her arms caught fire. The agony was so overwhelming it forced her teeth all the way out. She bit down on her tongue to keep from crying out. “Leave her alone!” Ryker screamed and rushed toward her. Mason put the light closer to her arm. She screamed as the flesh broke open and blood oozed out. The skin peeled back and fell to the ground like ash, which exposed the white bone underneath. She struggled in the chair as she tried anything to escape. All her instincts said for her to hunker down in

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the shadows. The pain was so intense that she could barely stay conscious. Stars flashed before her eyes, but she didn’t pass out. “We also discovered that ultraviolet lights work on vampires, but they have to be a high wattage. We tried smaller wattages while she was asleep. It’s amazing what technology can do and how some things are still surviving just like vampires. You would’ve thought they would’ve been outed by now. Then again, the shape-shifters haven’t either.” “Shut it off. Please stop this torture,” Ryker urged. Mason pulled the light away and then switched it off. It felt like she was doused in cool water. The peace of it was something she wished that she could feel forever. Her skin itched, and the nerves were trying to regrow. Her body was trying to heal, but there was no blood left. The alien inside of her was seeping into her being. “Kneel before me and swear your loyalty to me,” Mason demanded. “Ryker, no,” Dallas cried. Sadness rushed over Orianna as she witnessed Ryker put under this kind of torment. He glanced up and she saw something in his eye. Just as he was about to kneel, he took a swipe at Mason and caught his cheek. Three long scars marred the flesh. Dexter and Lee rushed to Mason’s aid. Ryker pulled off the noose and went toward her. He began to untie her hands but was only able to free one of her wrists before he was flung across the room by Mason. Orianna ripped her other hand free from the ropes. Cable marks were burned into her skin. She struggled to get her legs free. The small effort weakened her. Lee and Dexter came to Mason’s aid, leaving Dallas with Pierce, who had been lying silently. Pierce sprung on Lee and pinned him to the floor. Ryker stood up and pushed Mason through the sliding glass door. The sound of shattering glass filled the room. The events around her made her dizzy because they were happening so fast. Patrick dashed to assist Mason, but Dallas pounced in front of him. Orianna stumbled a few feet and leaned against the wall to watch the outcome of the fight. Mason and Ryker seemed evenly matched in size, but she wasn’t sure how they would do if their cats were unleashed. She didn’t want to see Ryker or the others hurt any more. They rolled around on the 94

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ground, but the scent of Mason’s blood where the glass had cut him was driving her crazy. Ryker struck Mason, which knocked his head back. Her ex-mate grimaced in pain and then started laughing. “There is no way that you could best me in a bout for leadership.” “I don’t want leadership of your pride. All I want is for you to leave my mates alone.” Ryker raised his hand again and separated cloth and skin with his claws. The scent of the blood enticed Orianna. She was losing control. Her consciousness was slipping away. She licked her dry lips and slid down the wall toward the source of the blood. Before she could stop herself, Orianna had crawled over to Mason. The alien persona of the vampire was creeping into her personality more than it had ever done before. The walls around her cat were falling down as well. She couldn’t grasp onto any rational thought. All she could see was the blood. She licked her lips one last time. For the first time in her existence, she let the hunger engulf her completely.

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Chapter Fourteen Ryker sat on top of Mason’s chest and let the rage of everything that had befallen him and his mates wash over him. The other man was hurt worse than what Mason was letting on because of the amount of blood that was pooling underneath his back. Ryker figured he had a large piece of glass lodged in his back. Orianna growled and edged through the broken sliding door with no cares of the scattered glass. She had a wild look about her eyes. The light and the ropes had damaged her so that he barely recognized her. Her skin was chalk white, and her eyes blazed red. Her face was pointier and her fingers had grown longer and thinner. Instead of two fangs, all her teeth were jagged points. The caring woman he had come to know was no longer there. What Ryker sensed was the cat and also the vampire. It seemed the two of them were becoming one, if that were possible. Even her scent had changed, a mixture of the musk from the lioness and the edge of decay from the vampire in her nature. “Don’t let that thing near me!” Mason roared out and tried to wiggle away from her. The fear in his eyes was something he never expected to see in the big man. “You deserve what you’re going to get. I knew I was right about declining to work on your sculpture. You know that, don’t you?” Ryker said. “He’s all yours,” he said to Orianna. Mason tried to escape the predator advancing on him. The muscles in his face rippled. In the woods surrounding the house, Ryker sensed others watching the confrontation. There were many heartbeats thundering around them, too many scents for him to discern who was who. The whole pride had come and waited on the outskirts of the property to see if their pride leader would fall. “Tell them the truth!” Orianna grumbled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mason rose to his knees. “Tell them how you hired the vampires to attack me.” Her voice had somewhat normalized. Mason shook his head. “They’ll never believe it. You’re dead. Who cares now? I’m pride leader in their eyes.” 96

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“Even if you tried to kill her regardless of whether her mother made her off-limits to anyone if she stayed off pride land? Or kidnapping her because she owns all of the pride’s assets?” Ryker asked loudly so the others could hear. Hisses and low roars came from the surrounding woods. The bushes parted beside him, and a woman and an older lion stepped out onto the lawn. Orianna looked at the elder pride members. “Mason wasn’t content with being the mate of the next pride leader. He wanted to rule all by himself and get all the money because he’s a greedy asshole. He hired the vampires and had them attack us. They left him alive, and he had me killed. But I rose, and here I am.” The old woman looked at Mason. “Is this true?” “Of course not. She’s telling you this because she’s a monster.” “She never lied to us when she was part of this pride. Why would she lie to us now?” the elder woman asked. The cat next to her grunted in agreement. More lions materialized from the forest and gathered around Mason. Orianna advanced on him, slowly following his every move. Her form was roiling, changing into that of a cat. When it happened, it was the smoothest shift Ryker had ever seen. Her skin and bones seemed to roll together seamlessly until what stood before him was the largest lioness he had ever laid his eyes on. His mouth dropped open when he saw it, and then he closed it. Mason lunged at Orianna, switching his shape into a huge lion. He swiped at her, but she advanced on him. When she growled, Ryker saw that her fangs were longer and sharper than a normal lion’s. Her claws caught Mason on the underside of the jaw. She licked the blood from the deadly daggers. It seemed to perk her up a bit. My God. She said she would never shift again, but here she is. She’s amazing. I was wrong about her. His liger wanted to mount her right there and fuck her. She was a beauty in the works. His cock hardened because she was everything that he had wanted. Mason and Orianna circled one another. The pride gave them a wide berth. Her jaws stretched into an even-larger smile. Mason stayed out of the reach of her claws. Ryker held his breath as he waited to see what would 97

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happen. Orianna flicked her tail back and forth. Her ears lay back on her head, and she hissed. The muscles in Mason’s body bunched. His eyes narrowed. He swung at Orianna. She dodged out of the way, but he pounced on her back in that moment and wrapped his jaws around her throat. She yelped in pain. Ryker went to help her, but the elder put up her hand. “This has been a long time coming. She deserves her vengeance.” “What will you do if she wins?” “We will see. To see her shift is awe-inspiring. I understand that vampires can’t shape-shift. Being dead and all. It seems Orianna is more of an anomaly than we thought.” Ryker watched as Orianna twisted and got her claws across Mason’s face. Mason shook and dislodged from her throat. Relief flooded Ryker. Orianna shook her head and hissed. “She has a heartbeat, too. If you listen, you can hear it.” “Impossible!” the elder exclaimed. Orianna jumped first and enclosed her legs around her ex-mate’s throat. She sunk her fangs into his fur where his neck met his body. Mason tried to shake her off, but she lodged to him. She opened her mouth wider as it wrapped around his throat. A loud crack filled the night. Mason lay still underneath her. When that happened, her lion form retreated and she was human again. Mason slowly reverted as well. Orianna still had her fangs buried in Mason’s throat. Ryker watched in fascination at how she drank from the body. After a minute, she looked up and wiped the remaining blood from her lips. Some of her wounds had healed. She was completely naked from the shift. She gave him a small smile, took a few steps toward him, and then crumpled at his feet. Ryker didn’t care what the elder of the pride thought. He raced to her and cradled her in his arms. He held her to his chest. Another woman rushed from the house with a blanket in hand. She swathed it around Orianna. Ryker tucked the blanket underneath her and made sure she was close to his heart. “Mom never liked Mason and didn’t understand what Orianna saw in him. Neither did I,” the woman said. “Bring her inside.” 98

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“You’re her sister?” Ryker asked. “Patty. I was the only one in the family who still talked to her when she was banished. Come inside, out of the cold, where she can rest. Your wounds need tending to, as do your mates’.” Dallas and Pierce were both still holding Patrick and Lee. Dexter was surrounded by other members of the pride. Her brother spat at them when they walked by. “The elders will take care of the three of them. Patrick, you never should’ve sided with Mason.” Patty went inside the house, and Ryker followed. Orianna’s skin remained warm. Her heart was beating. It was slow but steady. Whatever the reason, he was glad that she had come through the ordeal alive. Now the elders of the pride had to negotiate who was going to run the pack. Honestly, he wished that responsibility wouldn’t fall on her. Ryker didn’t want to lose her to the pride when he had just discovered that he, too, loved her. Dallas and Pierce followed them upstairs to an empty bedroom. The stench of death lingered in the house, but the overwhelming scent was that of Mason. Underneath that he caught Orianna’s faint scent the way she was now. When they went into the room, his senses were enveloped with her. It was the warm perfume of when she had been human. All he could picture was her stretching out in the sun the way that she had described to him. Ryker yearned to smell the fragrance of her hair when it was full of the sun. But he knew that would never happen. They laid her down on the bed. Ryker waited for her to wake up. He glanced back at Patty. He could see the resemblance to Orianna, but it was Patty’s eyes that reminded him of Orianna. “She’ll sleep for a little while, I think. Are you the one who was holding out on accepting her as a mate?” she asked Ryker. His other two mates glanced at him. He shifted on the bed and looked at Orianna’s sleeping form. “I was, but I had my reasons.” “Do you feel that way now?”

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The weight of their stares settled on his heart and made him feel guilty. He hadn’t realized that Orianna had told anyone about them. “No. I don’t feel that way now. My cat was ready to welcome her with open arms, but I wasn’t so sure. Orianna being a vampire was something that I had to get past. Last night was the turning point when she helped me and my other two mates reconcile. I saw something else inside of her and wanted to do everything in my world to protect her. If I didn’t, these two would have my head. How do you know about me?” Patty smiled. “There are such things as cell phones.” “I realize that. What has she told you about us?” Patty pointed at Dallas and smiled. “Dallas, you’re the hot and heavy one. Big hands and full lips. She told me all about you.” Dallas blushed, and Ryker knew it took a lot for him to do that. He ran his fingers over her hand. “I can’t help it. Always been that way with beautiful women.” “What did she say about me?” Pierce asked. “She said that you were her pussycat. She loves both of you very much. That isn’t something she assumed she could do after Mason. I always thought he was a prick. I never thought he ever loved her. She just talked herself into loving him because she hadn’t found anyone. I think she was waiting for you three, or else she wouldn’t have shifted. It was your love that made her heart beat. My mother had mentioned this might happen to her. It’s why she wanted Orianna to stay on and be pride leader before the elders banished her with Mason’s help.” “How is that possible if she is a vampire?” Ryker asked. Patty’s eyebrows knitted together. “Our mother was a bit of a prophet in some sense, and she was connected to her daughters. Leadership has been in the female line of this pride for the past ten generations. My mother said to Orianna when she was married that even if she had died, she still had a connection to her cat. All she had to do was believe that it was there. My mother told me once that she saw my sister being death’s bride, but she remained among the pride. I didn’t understand then. She’s a vampire with a heartbeat, who has three men who love her and that imparted to her the 100

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courage to get past the block in her mind. What I really think is, when she turned, a mental cage was erected around her cat. Legends have told us that vampires can’t shift and they are our enemies. So she locked the cat off even more. By releasing the lioness inside of her, her heart started to beat. Shifters have to feel the life coursing through us to connect with our inner animal. You gave her the boost she needed to be alive again.” She stopped and touched her sister’s cheek. “I’ll let you be with her and with one another. I am sure the elders will be deciding what to do with my brother and the others. I’ll let you know if they make a decision in regards to what to do with Orianna.” Patty left the room so they could be with Orianna. Ryker’s two mates looked at him. A long silence spread between them as Pierce took Orianna’s hand and brought it to his lips. A moment of jealousy struck Ryker in the chest, but this time it was because he wanted to be doing that to her. I don’t have to be envious of Pierce, because he wouldn’t hurt Orianna. Neither will Dallas. “I didn’t think I’d ever see her shift. Do you think it’s true what her sister said about Orianna being able to shift all the time now?” Pierce asked. Dallas shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe now she’s some kind of a hybrid. Whatever she is, she’s magnificent—and she’s ours. Don’t you agree, Ryker?” He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hand over hers. Her skin was still warm. Her heart hadn’t stopped its steady rhythm. The musk of her cat clung to her flesh. Ryker watched her chest rise and fall every few minutes. Whatever was alive inside of her was making sure that she was healing. What would happen when she woke up? He stretched out his mind and felt along the connections he shared with his two mates and found there was another bond there with Orianna. Through that link he sensed the alien presence of the vampire and the cat. The two sides of her nature were merging into a single entity. “Yes. She is beautiful. And I’m sorry for not seeing that before, when you first brought her into the house. I was an asshole, and I apologize. Seeing her in action was magnificent. But now I’m not sure if she’ll accept me as a 101

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mate because I was such a bastard to her.” He shook his head, and sorrow squeezed his heart. “We can work on it.” Ryker sucked in a breath and looked at Orianna. The brightness to her eyes reflected that she was alive, but there was also some emotion that he couldn’t read. Pierce’s excitement nearly overwhelmed him. Her injuries were still apparent. Pierce tried to lift her up, but she let out small cry of pain. “What did I do?” His mate pulled away. “Mason crushed some of my ribs when he had me in his death grip. Shifting back didn’t help heal the injuries. I think something is hurt inside. His blood barely gave me enough to start healing.” “Then you can feed from me.” Pierce offered his throat to her. Orianna shook her head. “I can’t rely on you alone.” “Let the three of us feed you,” Ryker said, surprised to hear the words slip from his lips. If the three of them could feed her, then she would never have to worry about going hungry. Her eyebrows lifted, and her mouth formed a small O. “Are you sure about that?” He nodded. For the first time in his life, he was sure about one thing. Ryker yearned to keep her safe and close to him for the rest of her life. He knew that he and his two mates could keep her happy forever.

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Chapter Fifteen Orianna looked at the three men surrounding her. Her hunger raged through her. The vampire and the cat were coming together. She was aware and yet not aware when she had shifted and pounced on Mason. The power of the union had rushed through her, which gave her the strength she needed to beat her hunger. The integration had left her heart beating at a slow pace. Her body was warm once more. Knowing that the men had wanted to feed her so she could heal made her care for them even more. She wanted to keep them with her forever. While she was lying on the bed, she had overheard some of their conversation. She was surprised to hear that Ryker thought of her as a mate and wanted to be with her. After everything he had said and the way he had treated her, now he had come to the realization that he desired her. That warmed her. There was a link between them now. The more she exerted herself, the more her hunger raged inside of her. She licked her lips at the thought of the warm blood. “Yes, I want to feed you,” Ryker confessed. He knelt down and offered his neck. She touched his throat, feeling the pulse underneath his skin. Orianna took his wrist and dragged her nail across his flesh. The crimson liquid rose to the surface and trailed down his wrist. She pulled it to her mouth and watched Ryker to see how he would react. He didn’t wince. After a moment, he groaned and his eyes rolled back in ecstasy. His heartbeat increased, and his passion ignited inside of her. His blood was strong and flowed to the other injuries inside of her. Her ribs began to heal, as did whatever internal injuries she sustained. She took a couple of more mouthfuls and then released him. “You can take more,” he panted. “No. I could drain you dry, and I wouldn’t want that.” Pierce offered himself up next. She did the same with him until she had taken her fill. With Dallas she didn’t have to agonize about the venom of her fangs hurting him. He moaned and held her close. His hard body and 103

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warmth made her want to fuck him there on the bed with the other two joining them. It would bring them all closer together. Dallas placed a hand on her chest. His gentle touch helped her to stay anchored in her flesh. Orianna stopped and felt her body healing from all of the wounds. I’m never going near holy water again. “How are you feeling now?” Pierce asked. “Wonderful. Thank you all for your donations. I appreciate you coming to my aid. I wasn’t sure that you would.” “Of course we would. We weren’t going to leave you with your ex-mate. He was going to kill you,” Pierce said. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hard hug. He wound his fingers through hers. Pierce’s lips found hers and he kissed her with a passion of a man who thought he had lost his wife. She tried to return it with as much fervor, but she heard her sister cough in the doorway. Orianna pressed the sheet to her chest and savored Pierce’s lips one last time and then broke away. “Can I talk to my sister, please?” The three men glanced at her, but remained where they were. They looked at one another. Dallas had his arms crossed over his chest. Ryker’s jaw was set, and Pierce hadn’t let go of her hand. “It’s fine. Go on, you three.” The others exited the room, and Patty came in carrying some clothes. “You left these here. I confiscated them before Mason could burn them. I was worried. No one is sure what’s going to happen with the elders of the clan. Right now you’re the leader.” Orianna shook her head and looked at the outfits that her sister laid on the bed. She hadn’t killed Mason to take over the pride. Now that Mason was dead, she was free of him. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Patty was still on her side. It was nice to have someone in the family to talk to. “I don’t want to rule the pride. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to shift again. I was lucky this time.” “Mom said that you had a great destiny ahead of you. I bet you’ll keep shifting. Something has changed, and it’s still consolidating in you. Your scent has even been altered. Your men are wonderful, by the way.” 104

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A smile played over her lips. “Pierce and Dallas are great. Pierce was the one who tracked me down at the motel and got Ryker to suggest bringing me back to the house. He was too shy to do it himself. Ryker is coming around, too.” “Sweetie, he worships the ground you walk on. Ryker pushed Mason through the window to get him off you. He’d do anything for you. I wish you the best life from here on out.” Orianna hissed when she sensed someone at the door. When she recognized the scent, she relaxed. “Elma, is everything okay?” The older woman smiled. “It is good to see you well, Orianna.” “Thank you. Have the elders come to a decision over the pride?” “Yes. Although your mother left you all of the pride’s property and you defeated Mason, the pride needs a leader who can still have children. We all saw you transform into the cat, but you’re still a vampire and therefore can’t reproduce. Patty, the leadership now passes to you.” Her sister’s mouth dropped. “I’m not ready to lead the pride. I wasn’t supposed to lead.” “Orianna, do you have any objections to this?” She shook her head. “No, Elma. I will cede everything over to the pride as long as you grant me and mine safe passage through pride land and a portion of the assets so that we can be financially supported for as long as me and my mates are alive.” Elma stroked her chin. “What percentage are you talking about?” “Just what I would’ve been entitled to if my mother was still alive. Five percent. I think that’s fair after everything that has happened to me.” “I would agree to it,” Patty said. “I’ll talk it over with the elders. I am sure we can come to some decision.” “Thank you,” Orianna said. Elma left the room. Orianna took the clothes her sister had brought her and stretched to feel the muscles in her body moving. Her body was still warm. She had never thought that her heart would beat again. It was thudding once a minute. She wasn’t as hot as she had been before, but she 105

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wasn’t room temperature either. Her mates had allowed her to reconnect with her inner lioness and had given her the ability to shift again. Yet she was bound by the vampire nature and would never have children. Maybe over time she could go in the sun. Maybe the holy water would no longer have an effect on her. A small fear lingered in the back of her mind that her mates might disown her the same way that Mason had done. I talked myself into loving Mason. He admitted that he married me because he wanted to be pride leader. Maybe I convinced myself that Pierce, Dallas, and Ryker cared for me. How can they love me after what I am? “What are you going to do now?” Patty asked. “I have to go back with Dallas, Pierce, and Ryker. They made a home for me. They came here and went through hell for me. I don’t belong here anymore. If mom was alive, she’d try and make me stay, but the others won’t be welcoming me back with open arms.” “But we’re still going to talk, right?” “Of course,” she hugged the other woman. “You’re my baby sister. I’m always going to be available to you when you need to talk. I want to be here when you have your first litter.” “God, don’t talk like that.” Her sister blushed. “I don’t even have a mate yet.” “You’ll do fine as leader, and you’ll have them rubbing at your feet to get your attention. Just tell me when you find a good man, and please have the wedding at night so I can come. Don’t want me to burst into flames.” “No, I wouldn’t want that. I don’t want you to go right now. Other than the funeral, I haven’t seen you in five years, and now you have to run off again.” She put her hands on her sister’s arms and looked at her. Patty resembled their mother more than she did. It was a good decision for her to lead the pride. Patrick deserved what he got. He had been the one who had pulled down the drapes in her bedroom and exposed her to the sunlight. She shivered when she thought of all the pain she had experienced in the last twelve hours. She hoped she would never have to go through it again. All she

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wanted to do was settle down into a life where she didn’t have to worry about having anyone hunt her down. “I don’t have a choice. I’m only a phone call away, and the elders will want to work out the monetary decisions between us. Thanks for the clothes.” Orianna walked out of the bedroom and into the living room where her three mates were mingling and talking to Elma. All three looked over at her when she entered. Ryker broke from the group. He stood a little way from her, but close enough that if he wanted to touch her, he could. “Are you ready to go?” She nodded. “You sure you want me to come back with you?” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I want you with us. I need to make up for all of the things I said to you before.” He nipped at her flesh and then released her hand. Orianna saw the lust in his eyes and felt his attraction for her whirl through her mind until it inflamed her skin. She felt her cheeks burn, and that hadn’t happened in a long time. “Oh. Well, good. I’d really like to get out of here for now. Do you mind us going?” He led her out of the house. The car had been pulled up. Dallas slipped into the driver’s seat. Ryker sat in the front, and Pierce settled next to her. Her sister waved good-bye. She lifted her hand and watched her past slip behind her. Her future was before her. Orianna laid her head on Pierce’s shoulder and relaxed. During the drive home, not much was said among the four of them. It was strange to think that she had a home again. She was still trying to process the events of the night. Feeling her cat content in her mind was another thing she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Pierce ran his fingers through her hair while they drove home. It was nice to know that she had three mates who wanted to keep her safe. The tension within the silence wasn’t something she knew how to address. What are we going to do next? How are we going to keep our relationship fresh? Will they want me after five years? Ten? How am I going to please them all? “Whatever you’re worried about, you don’t have to. We’re always going to be there for you.” Pierce kissed her cheek. 107

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His smile helped soothe her worry. It seemed they were all trying to settle into the rhythm of what to do next. When she stretched out her mind, she could feel the three bonds that connected with the three men. Their emotions were guarded. Pierce ran his fingers across her neck and began to massage her. He kneaded out the knots that had settled in her shoulders. He knew just where to push to break the tension that kept her tense. “What can I do for you?” Pierce asked her. His soft breath brushed against her throat. Her lioness growled as it turned inside of her mind. It wanted to cement the bond between all three of them. But getting Ryker into the mix might be the challenge. Orianna wasn’t sure how deep his feelings ran. Was he feeling them because of the others, or was he feeling the combined love of her other two mates? When she first met him, she assumed he was the one who was going to entice her into bed, but it was Pierce who had pined for her. “Nothing. I’m happy with the way that everything is.” She sat up and saw his concerned gaze. The small lines that formed between his eyes gave him a pinched look. Orianna wove her hand through Pierce’s hair. A spark of lust ignited inside of her. The lioness purred, and that slid through her lips. Pierce’s eyes widened. She rubbed her cheek along his and then tugged on his ear with her teeth. She ran her other hand over his flat chest and cupped his straining cock. “I want you. I want to show you how much I appreciate you coming to my rescue.” A warm hand glided across her knee. Orianna saw Ryker’s hand on her leg. “I hope you wouldn’t mind if I joined the both of you.” She saw the truthfulness in his eyes and heard it in his voice. This was such a different man from the one she had first met and who had opposed her being with Pierce. A slight burn peppered her. She touched her cheek, still in shock her body could do this. Everything about her new existence was taking her by surprise. Pierce placed his hand on his mate’s and glanced back at her. The need in his eyes was apparent. He wanted her to accept Ryker’s offer, too. After a moment, she placed her hand over both of theirs. “I’d like that.”

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“You do know that I’m not going to let them handle you all by themselves, right?” Dallas chimed in. She saw his smile in the reflection of the rearview mirror. His grin was infectious, and it lifted her spirits even more. She licked her lips and thought about his blood sliding over her tongue. It aroused both of her natures. Soon she wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two anymore. “If all three of you think you can handle me, then so be it. It might have to be tomorrow night. The sun will be rising soon, and I don’t want to collapse in the middle of our tryst.” Ryker leaned farther back in the seat. He rested his fingers underneath her chin and pulled her toward him. She almost resisted, but then leaned closer until their lips touched. The sweet taste of him ignited her hunger even more. He swiped his tongue across her mouth. She opened her mouth a little wider and drew his tongue deeper into hers. Her teeth shifted and grew. Orianna pulled away and covered her mouth. He grabbed her hand so that she would look at him. “You have no need to hide what you are from me.” She shook her head. Orianna slowly uncovered her mouth. He really does want me the way I am. “It’s a habit. No one has desired me until you. Mason never loved me. I was eager to have a mate, and he was eager to get into bed with the pride leader’s daughter. Then no one wanted me. I was a freak in both communities.” He ran his finger down her cheek. “You don’t have to worry about that ever again. We want you with us. I want you with us.” Ryker slipped his index finger along her lips and then pushed it into her mouth. He pressed the tip into her fang until she tasted his blood. She moaned and sucked his finger farther into her mouth. His blood had a spice that made her want to drink him dry. But she fought that urge and pulled his digit from her mouth. “I’m glad to hear that. I think that you need to focus on the road. If you don’t, then I might just pull you into the backseat with us, and that would make Dallas very jealous.” Ryker sighed and turned back around in his seat. Dallas squeezed his knee. “She’s right. I would be a resentful prick if you were to start fucking 109

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her right now. We have all the time in the world to get home, and then we can play around.” Orianna snuggled into Pierce’s arms and closed her eyes. She could feel the oncoming day pushing the night away. The warmth didn’t seem as bad as it normally was during the time of night. “Shit. I just thought of something. We didn’t fix up the guesthouse after Mason and the others tore it apart. You’re going to have to sleep in the house,” Dallas commented. “I think we can manage a place for you in the house. And I don’t mean just for tonight. We do have another room in the house that we aren’t using. Why don’t we use that?” Pierce asked. “Of course, Dallas, you’d have to give up your closet space, and Ryker, you’d have to move a couple of your pieces.” “You don’t have to go to any trouble. I can sleep in a closet. Trust me. I’ve slept in worse places. Cellars, ditches, graves, crypts, and bug-infested . . . ” She stopped and shivered as she thought about the awful places she had gone to ground. “You don’t need to worry about that again,” Ryker said. “I should’ve had you in the house before, but I was being an ass. It won’t happen again. Well, it might, but I promise to get better at it.” Orianna smiled, feeling that her life was finally coming together. “I’d like that. Being inside sounds wonderful because I’d be so much closer to you three.” She stifled a yawn. Pierce nuzzled her neck. “Then it’s settled. No more sleeping in the guesthouse. We’ll be back before the sun rises. You have nothing to fear. We’ll always watch over you.”

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Chapter Sixteen Ryker watched Orianna as she slept peacefully now that the sun was up. He had been keeping vigil over her for the last hour. Pierce and Dallas had made a makeshift bed for her, and he had made sure that the windows were blocked so no light could get in. He wasn’t sure with her changed nature if she would have some tolerance to it, but they didn’t want to take a chance. Every few minutes she drew in a breath. Her skin was warmer than it had been before. He ran his hand down her cheek and felt the satin of her flesh like the velvet of an antler on a deer, but she wasn’t prey. She was his mate. Rolling that around in his mind, he was surprised to feel such an intense emotion for her. It was the same for the other two men who inhabited the house. Dallas and Pierce were in the guesthouse cleaning up the mess that Mason had made. Having her close was something he was looking forward to. “It nearly took losing you to make me see how closed-minded I am. You make me want to be a better man.” “Wow, it takes a woman for you to admit that. I am shocked. I told you for years that you were too closed-minded, and you finally listen to her.” Ryker glanced back and saw Dallas leaning in the doorway watching him with Orianna. A pang of guilt washed over him as he thought about what his mate had said. It was true. He had been an ass to Pierce when he first came into their lives, and he had been one again when Orianna was involved. It was still hard for him to open up and trust people. “Yeah. I guess it does, but that doesn’t mean that I never listened to what you had to say.” Ryker took one last look at the sleeping woman and then turned back to his mate. He stood and walked over to Dallas. He walked his fingers along the six-pack of his stomach and pressed his form against the other man’s. It was good to smell the musky scent of his panther so close to the surface. Dallas cupped Ryker’s chin and held it firmly. “Seeing you rescue her was a brave thing to do. It made me fear for you and want to fuck you all at the

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same time. But if you ever hurt her the way that Mason did, then I will take it upon myself to hurt you. Is that clear?” Ryker chuckled. “You don’t have to warn me. And I promise that I’ll hold my tongue and think before I speak, but you know how feisty I can be.” He trailed his hand down and squeezed Dallas’s balls. A sly grin grew on his face. “Don’t you want to wait for Orianna to wake? It’d be unfair not to include her in the welcome-home festivities.” He shrugged. “I figure that we can welcome her into our little pride when she wakes up. Right now, I want to make sure that you’re both okay; is that such a bad thing?” Dallas released his chin and then wound his hand through his hair. He pulled Ryker to his lips and gave him a fierce and hungry kiss. “I want you to suck my dick. Think you can handle that?” “Whatever you want.” He licked his lips when Dallas pushed his head so he went down to his knees. Ryker trailed his tongue over Dallas’s bellybutton until he came to the button of his jeans. He undid the button and then pulled open the zipper. From there he gripped the waistband of the jeans and pulled them down with his teeth, working one leg and then the other. Dallas’s cock pressed against the material. Ryker ran his tongue over the engorged shaft until his mate groaned. He bit down through the cloth and then continued to pull down the briefs until his dick sprang free. He touched the smooth shaft and loved the girth. Dallas’s sensitive head was the first thing he sucked into his mouth. Ryker ran his tongue along the length of the rod until he had pulled the whole shaft into his mouth. He stopped when it hit the back of his throat. He savored the salty taste of Dallas’s skin and sucked him in slowly, wrapping his tongue around the dick until he was drawing it in and out of his mouth at a fast pace. Dallas gripped the sides of his head and held Ryker to him. Dallas shoved his cock deeper not his mouth. Ryker grasped his mate’s hips with one hand, and with the other he squeezed his balls to keep him steady. Dallas drew in a haggard breath. His mate was close to coming. Ryker wanted to prolong the moment between them because the thought of 112

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swallowing his seed down made him hard. It tightened his balls, and the cat purred with anticipation. “Having fun without me?” Pierce asked behind him. “You were busy, and he offered,” Dallas gasped. Ryker didn’t stop, but kept on sucking in his mate’s cock until he thrust his hips into his face. Those short pants told him Dallas was ready. Pierce’s body heat blasted against his back as his other mate leaned closer and claimed Dallas’s lips in a kiss. Ryker wasn’t used to being wedged between the two men. He found that giving up some of his control was something he could get used to: anything for the men he loved. He took Dallas’s cock between his lips one last time, drawing out the sensation of feeling the thick vein play over his lips and the silky skin of his length. A warm burst spilled over his lips and down his tongue as he swallowed down his mate’s seed. Pierce didn’t let Dallas go, even when he groaned. Ryker clutched his balls one last time, rolling them in his hand before he released Dallas, and then licked the remnants of his seed from his cock, making sure he was completely clean. He glanced up at Pierce. “Am I to service you next, love?” The surprise that lit up his eyes warmed Ryker’s heart. It was very rare that he was able to catch Pierce off guard. “I hadn’t planned on it. Although it was wonderful to watch you with Dallas. I’m going to take a shower and then get some sleep. I want to be up when she wakes.” Ryker stood up and looked between Dallas and Pierce. Sleep was a good idea since they hadn’t slept in almost twenty-four hours. The weariness of the day settled on him as well. “You go ahead. There are some things I want to do first.” Dallas tucked himself back into his jeans and then smiled at Pierce. “Mind if I join you in that shower?” “Not at all.” Dallas kissed Ryker quickly on the mouth and then went after Pierce. Ryker stood and went back into the room with Orianna. He wanted to do something special for her that was just from him. She was sleeping peacefully, and as he looked at her, an idea entered his mind. The shower was 113

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going, and music echoed from the room. He closed the door behind him and went into the garage where he had a block of stone that he had been staring at for a long time. The lump had stared at him, a cold bit of stone that he had brought back from the quarry. It was dark with reflections of red in it, depending on how the light caught the crystals in the stone. There was even a hint of tan in it that reminded him of the color of Orianna’s fur when he had seen her transform. Her lioness was the biggest he had seen. He thought about how she circled Mason, and the image of her stuck in his mind. Feral and beautiful. He focused on that vision and picked up a chisel. Ryker began by shaping the stone into a rough shape of the cat. When Ryker had the exact shape he wanted, he picked up one of his finer chisels and worked on the more delicate details. He figured that if she was never able to transform again, then at least she would have something to remind her that she was a beautiful creature no matter what anyone said. She would always be that way to him, in his heart. It was his way of showing her that he was sorry and that he wanted her with them forever. Time ticked away. Stone dust stuck to his skin from sweating. He had only stopped to get some water. Daylight was against him. Every time he thought he got to the end, there was something else he had to add. More detail in the way her lips were pulled back from her fangs, the redness he hoped to capture in her eyes. And the beauty of the bunched muscles underneath her fur. She was the epitome of a female cat that was all he would ever want. When he was finally finished with the sculpture, the sun was near setting. He stood back and admired his handiwork. It was her forever formed into the stone. Proud of what he had done, he wiped the perspiration from his brow and was about to go into the house when he sensed someone behind him. He turned and saw Orianna bathing in the last rays of the light. The way the gold bounced off her pale skin, he wasn’t sure if he was seeing a ghost or not. “How are you standing in the light?”

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She shrugged. “I think it’s because of my two natures merging. But it still hurts. Although I’m not bursting into flame at the moment, so that’s a good sign.” “Well, come in so you don’t turn to ash. Then the others will really be pissed at me.” Orianna stepped inside, and it seemed she was relieved to be out of the light. “Thank you. Dallas and Pierce were busy getting something to eat. I hope you don’t mind that I came in here. I know it’s your work space.” “Not at all. I was just going in to take a shower and then see how you were doing. I wanted to show you something.” He stepped aside so that she could see the sculpture. An uncomfortable silence fell between them as she stepped toward it. She ran her hand over the smooth surface of the stone and then gasped. “You made this?” “Yes.” “It’s beautiful. The very image of the beast inside of us.” He looked at the floor and then back at her. “Actually, it’s you. Well, how I saw you when you transformed and fought against your old mate.” Her eyes widened. Her fingers went over the rest of the lioness. For a moment her brow furrowed, and he thought that she would hate it. “I hope you’re not offended. I can trash it if you don’t like it. Or put it in the gallery to sell so you don’t have to look at it again.” “What? No. It’s amazing. I was just thinking about how this looks and how I see my cat inside my mind. It’s hard to see now because my natures have meshed so much. She’s still there of course, but after melding with the vampire, it’s difficult for me to see her clearly now. Don’t get rid of it.” “It’s to show you how much I love you. So powerful and so beautiful.” For a moment, his heart stopped. He let out his breath, relieved that she loved the statue. She came to him and touched his face. The caress was so soft he wasn’t sure that it was even from her fingers or that he deserved it. “Thank you. It’s wonderful. We’ll have to find a place for it in the house when we all get settled. Right now I was hoping you could come inside.” She kissed him 115

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lightly on the lips and sucked in the bottom one. He rested his hand on her hip and returned the kiss before pulling away. “I can do that, but I need to take a shower first.” “Mind if I join you?” Ryker smiled until the corners of his cheeks hurt. “Not at all.” Orianna took his hand and wound her fingers through his. She flashed him an amazing smile that bolstered his spirits and made him feel as if he was the only man in the world.

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Chapter Seventeen Orianna didn’t pay any attention to the two men who watched her and Ryker stroll by. She sensed their surprise as it radiated through her mind. They wondered what she and Ryker were going to do. Before they left the room, Orianna glanced back at them and then winked. Ryker went before her and led her into the bathroom. He grabbed a towel from the closet and then went back in for another one. She glanced around and saw that it was definitely a man’s bathroom. The toilet seat was up. Nothing was in an orderly place. Three different kinds of shaving creams and razors were scattered on the counter. She hadn’t had a need to come into the main house to use this bathroom because the guesthouse had a shower. This had to be the communal bathroom, but she hadn’t been privy to a full tour of the house. But that didn’t matter because once Ryker took his shirt off, his sculpted chest had her mesmerized. He had created the beautiful rendition of her cat, and it was more magnificent than anything she had ever seen. No one had ever done something like that for her. No one had ever cared for her that much. He dropped his shirt on the floor, adding to a heap of other towels that had to be washed. He followed her gaze and flashed her a small smile. “Sorry about the mess. I guess we weren’t thinking about bathroom space when we cleaned out the room.” “Don’t worry about it. I can always make a few changes, but don’t expect me to be your maid.” He chuckled. “I would never think that. Having a woman in the house is going to take some getting used to.” She plucked her shirt off, too, and dropped it near his. He drew in an expectant breath through his teeth when she began to undo her bra as well. He caught her hand, and she stopped before she could undo the first hook. His fingers slid over her skin. The warmth of his flesh forced a gasp from her lips. It still took some getting used to the warmth of the others on her cool flesh. When her natures merged, it had also given her a chance to stand in the sunlight like she had done when she had woken up a half hour before the 117

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sun set. The light still pained her, but she hadn’t burst into flames. It was a miracle. The same way it was that she had found three men who cared for her. Ryker moved closer until his hot breath blasted across her skin. She turned toward him so that her cheek rubbed along his. His skin was soft with a little bit of stubble on it. He undid her bra and slipped the straps from her shoulders and dropped the garment to the floor until they were both topless. Ryker cupped her breasts and rolled his thumbs over her nipples. The grit of the stone dust scraped against her skin from his hands. “I guess we should get in the shower,” he said. She nodded, and he pulled away, leaving the space between them. Orianna already wanted to be near him again. His smell was intoxicating, and the hot water was already steaming up the bathroom and pressing against her skin. Ryker unzipped his pants, took them off along with his briefs, and then stood before her naked. She bit her lip seeing his already erect cock. She undid her pants and stood before him. He didn’t do anything while she strutted by him and stepped into the shower. The hot water blasted on her skin. She relaxed as she wetted her hair, then felt an explosion of cool air and Ryker’s arms wrapped around her waist. He pressed his cock into her ass and stirred the pleasure inside of her like a fire brewing in the base of a volcano. He kissed the side of her neck and nipped at her skin. “I desire you, Orianna. I want you for my mate. I want you to claim me as your own. Along with the others. What do you say?” She took his hand, brought it to her breast, and squeezed it. The water splayed over them, and she was already wet. Her fangs grew. The passion ignited within her and was amped up by the man behind her, the man who hadn’t wanted her at all. How much he had changed showed her that he was truly a mate to her and that he meant what he said. She slipped around in his arms and went closer to him so that even the water had a hard time sliding down their flesh. Orianna grasped his cock and moved her hand along his shaft.

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“I say we can work it out with the others. Come up with a schedule, but you do know that I’m basing everyone on their performances. So, if you don’t please me, then you’ll be the last one of my mates that I will come to.” His expression fell. “I didn’t realize . . . ” She pumped his shaft a few times until he squirmed. “I’m just yanking your chain. I’d never do that to you and the others. I want you all.” Relief brightened his eyes. “So, how about you wash my back and then I’ll make sure that I do you, too.” Orianna turned around and lifted the hair from her neck. It took a moment, but Ryker soon pulled his hands down her back with the roughness of a cloth over her skin. He pressed against her flesh and stopped at her lower back before running his hands over the mounds of her ass. The plop of the cloth hitting the bottom of the tub sounded around her. His hand ran over the back of her thighs, and he separated her legs. Finally, she felt his fingers slip into her depths. Ryker teased a moan from her lips, and she backed into him. Orianna splayed her fingers against the tile and glanced behind her, seeing him through the spray of the water. His reached around with his other hand and found her hard clit. Ryker rubbed her throbbing bud until small tremors ran along her nerves. Her teeth ached with the hunger of wanting to be fucked. Ryker growled next to her ear and bit along the line of her jugular, which enticed her even more. She arched her neck so that he could have better access. For a moment, it almost made her think back to when she was attacked, but this was different. This was a more pleasurable event. He pumped his fingers into her pussy faster while keeping a gentle pressure on her buried clit. Orianna’s heart beat a little faster and left her light-headed from the surge of blood that rushed through her. Her nerve endings came alive. The cat moved through her body and gave her the boost she needed to reach out with her mind and feel the other two men below in the kitchen. Once she touched upon their minds, they started to experience her bliss as well. “What are you doing?” Ryker asked. She heard the pain in his voice and figured he was also feeling the small trembles that ran through her and then the pleasure in which her mind was floating.

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“Letting the others know what you do to me. Mason and I always shared our passions. It made the experience more enjoyable. I can pull back if you want.” “Don’t. It just makes me want to fuck you more.” “What are you waiting for? I’m ready for you,” Orianna moaned. Ryker didn’t waste any time. He spread her legs wider, pulled her toward him a little, and then plunged his cock deep inside of her cunt. Once he was inside of her, he grabbed ahold of her hips and pulled her into him, controlling their rhythm. She curled her fingers against the tile and let Ryker take her over the edge and into an orgasm. Orianna backed into him and felt his teeth pierce her flesh, but the pain didn’t register. It was all about the joy of the experience. Her cat yowled. Her heart slammed into her chest and it was something that hadn’t happened since she was human. “Yes, Ryker. Fuck me.” “Here it comes. God, Orianna.” His nails dug into her hips. He pushed into her one last time so she came at the same time as him. His head rested against her shoulder, and hers hung down with the water flowing over her back. The water was still warm while she tried to catch her breath. Ryker’s arm was wrapped around her waist. He hugged her closer and kissed her nape. “I think we should get washed up. “ She chuckled. “Yeah.” He separated from her while she reached down and grabbed the washcloth. Orianna focused on washing her hair and getting the grime off from the day before. When she was done, she handed the cloth to Ryker and brushed his chest with her fingers before stepping out of the shower. She took one of the towels and wrapped it around her body. It was soft, and her body still hummed where Ryker had touched her. Her mind remained connected to the others. They were anticipating what was going to happen. She opened the door to the bathroom and found both Dallas and Pierce waiting for her. “Listening in?” “You were the one being naughty and called us,” Dallas chimed in. 120

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Before she could respond, Pierce gathered her into his arms and planted his lips on hers in a ravenous kiss. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and wrapped it around her fangs. He scraped his nails down her back. They had grown into claws. His dick was hard against the seam of his jeans. He was ready for her. Orianna pulled away from him so that she could catch her breath. His pupils were slitted and amber. She ran her fingers down his face, feeling the altered shape of his cheekbones and teeth. “Calm yourself. I’m not going anywhere.” She looked at the both of them and playfully ran her finger over the line of her towel. Hunger burned in both of the men’s eyes. She slipped a finger down over her breast and then undid a small portion of the towel to show them a little bit more skin. Dallas licked his lips. She could smell the lust coming off of him. Orianna pressed herself against him and stood on tiptoe so that her breasts pushed against his chest. Her head came to right under his chin. He stood rigid, didn’t move until she took his hand, and brought it to her chest. She placed it over her heart to see what his reaction would be. “You’re tempting fate by doing that, you know. I only have slightly more control than Pierce does. If you’re not careful, I’ll snatch you up and whisk you away so that I’ll be the only one taking advantage of you.” “I guess it’s a good thing that I’m up for the both of you taking advantage of me. How does that sound? That is, if you don’t mind sharing,” “We share practically everything. Why would I mind sharing you?” Dallas responded. He lifted her up in his arms and swung her around. “Good thing my room is the cleanest because I have a king bed.” “Then let’s go.” Orianna clung to him as he walked down the hall and into his room. In the center of the room sat a king-size bed. As he had said, everything was neatly put away. He set her down on the soft bed. The colors of the room were dark green and brown, something she found soothing. A large window that overlooked the forest took up almost one side of the wall. Dallas stood next to her by the bed. Pierce was on the other side. The expressions on their faces were that they were hunting their prey. All of their instincts were trained on her. Orianna smiled and batted her eyes as she 121

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slowly rose to her knees on the bed. She gripped the towel and glanced at the both of them. “It doesn’t seem right that I’m practically naked and you guys are dressed. You both don’t mind getting undressed for me, do you?” Dallas grinned from ear to ear and proceeded to take off his shirt so she could see his golden skin. Pierce exposed his scars. He started on his pants. When he undid them, he wasn’t wearing anything underneath. “That isn’t fair—showing her the goods before I do.” Dallas unzipped his pants, took them and his briefs off, and then knelt on the bed next to her. “No need to worry. I’ve had both of you before, so it’s not like I’m going to be sizing you up. I like my cocks in all shapes and sizes. So does my kitty. I’ve been waiting to show you how much I appreciate you coming to my rescue.” She pulled the towel from her body. Dallas stared into her eyes and then pushed a tendril of wet hair from her face. “We would have done it anyway. It’d be horrible to let you suffer. Even if you weren’t our mate, but because you are, there was no fucking way we are going to let Mason get his hands on you. No one will ever hurt you. Besides, you’re one bad-ass cat. I love calling you my mate.” Dallas took the towel and pushed it onto the floor, leaving only naked skin between them. Pierce’s weight was added to the bed. His body warmed her back as he ran his fingers along the curve of her spine to make her shiver. His hands were softer than Dallas’s, but he was also gentler. In the month she had known him, Pierce had grown from a cub into a more assertive male. His lips pressed against her shoulder. His tongue dragged along the line of her collarbone while his hands wandered lower until they slid around her chest and cupped her breasts. “He’s not the only one who enjoys having you in our life. I know I’ve said this before, but I love you. You’ve showed me how to be a better cat and man. I accept who I am now. I love you, Orianna. Sharing you is not a problem. Although there are times you might have to choose who you want to be with.” She laughed and turned her head to face him. She pressed her lips to his and pulled away. “I intend on letting you be with another. I would be a 122

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stupid woman if I thought you were going to sleep with only me. There are many things we will have to get used to, but right now I want all of us to be together. I want you both to fuck me.” “Your wish is our command.” Pierce slipped his arms through her elbows and pulled her back into his chest and held her. Orianna started to protest, but Dallas slid his hands along her inner thighs and spread her legs. He ran his tongue along her inner calf. Then he laved to the bend on her knee. She began to scream from the sheer bliss but couldn’t escape the prison of Pierce’s arms. Dallas must have noticed that he had discovered a ticklish spot because he hovered there, flicking his tongue over the spot until she was squirming on the bed and a cry escaped her lips. He stopped and continued his trail along her inner thigh, then he stopped at her folds. Orianna took in a breath and held it, wondering what he was going to do now. Pierce took the opportunity to start kissing her neck and sucking on her skin. He nipped here and there. Dallas resumed his onslaught of the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. He bit there before extending his tongue along her wet slit. She jumped when he plunged his tongue into her pussy such that she let out a moan. Once his mouth enclosed her clit, she arched her back only to meet Pierce’s burning gaze. He flashed her a small smile, but then his lips descended onto hers and she was engulfed with the pleasure of Dallas’s attentions. She moaned into Pierce’s mouth. His tongue wound around one of her canines and jabbed the point until she tasted his blood. Pierce continued to hold her arms while his hands meandered to her breasts. He twirled her nipples until she cried out. Her nerve endings came alive as Dallas continued to suck on her clit. His fingers delved inside of her pussy, pressing upon her inner walls until she was writhing on the bed. The passion Ryker had awoken inside of her spread like lava along her veins until she wasn’t sure if her reason had left her and this was all some marvelous dream that she was going to wake from soon. Pierce squeezed her nipples again, and she broke the kiss as she felt the oncoming tension of the orgasm clutch her. Her inner lioness kneaded its claws into her muscles. It was preparing for the intense ecstasy that would clutch her. She squeezed her eyes shut and planted her fingers on the top of Pierce’s thighs. Dallas plunged his fingers inside of 123

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her and drew her throbbing nub between his teeth. At that moment, she pushed her hips into his face. “Don’t stop,” she cried out. Pierce slid his fingers down her stomach and threaded through Dallas’s hair for a moment. Dallas glanced up quickly and then redoubled his efforts. Pierce’s cock poked into her ass. The points of his fingers pierced the top of her thighs. Orianna’s heart picked up a few beats. Pierce pulled her back against his chest and anchored her. When the moment hit and she was pushed over the edge into the white light of bliss, he was there to keep her inside of her body. Dallas flicked his tongue over her swollen nub one last time, until she felt the electric charge of the orgasm race along her nerves. She squeezed her eyes shut and let everything wash over her, including the knowledge that her two mates experienced her pleasure, too. When she stopped quaking and opened her eyes, she saw Dallas stared at her with a shit-eating grin on his lips. “You taste wonderful.” He walked his fingers along her stomach and then trailed them over one of her breasts. “We’re not done with you yet.” “I’d hope not, because you started without me.” Ryker was leaning against the door. “You already had your fun with her. Now she’s ours,” Pierce growled. Orianna freed herself from his grip and studied all three of them. The hunger in their eyes hadn’t died. She scooted back on the bed until her back hit the headboard. From there, she motioned the others to come closer. “Ryker might have had me earlier, but there’s plenty of me to go around. But first, I want Pierce to come here.” Pierce crawled to her on the bed. Orianna put her hand out and stopped him. He gave her a questioning look. “Lay down.” She stroked his erect cock before straddling him. She took his face between her hands, feeling the stubble along his jaw push into her palm. “What are you going to do with me?” She smiled. “Fuck you of course. The others are going to join in, too. But I’m on top.” “As you wish.” Pierce guided his cock inside of her cunt. 124

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“Where do you want me?” Dallas whispered into her left ear. “What about me?” Ryker asked from her right. He ran his hand along the curve of her breast. Their rising lust pumped through her. Pierce was barely holding onto his control as it was. Underneath her, she could feel his muscles rolling. His eyes had taken on a darker green hue from the cat being in his nature. They had to do this before any of them were overcome by their urges. “Dallas, take my ass.” “I want to be inside of you, too.” Ryker kissed her cheek. She met his lips and trailed her fingers down his chest until she twisted one of Ryker’s nipples. “You already have. Give the others a chance. Besides, we’ve only just begun.” Dallas ran his hands over the mounds of her ass. “So soft. You sure? This could hurt you.” “Fuck me. I can deal with pain.” “If you take her ass, then I take yours, D.” Ryker grabbed his cock and stroked it before he went behind Dallas. “This is going to be fun,” Orianna purred. She closed her eyes and focused on the links between them. Their emotions were open to her. Pierce was holding on for dear life so that he wouldn’t shift and ruin the whole experience. Dallas and Ryker were both anticipating this. Then there was also the consciousness of their cats welcoming the union so they would be brought closer together once and for all. She threw her head back and let her semiwet hair swing across her back. Pierce gripped her arms and held on while she rode him. In the middle of pulling him inside of her, Dallas caught her around the waist and stopped her. Her fangs pushed all the way through her gums, and she growled from being stopped. Dallas spread her ass cheeks. He slipped his cock between her mounds and slowly claimed her asshole. The sudden stretching and pain she experienced was nothing like being tied up with ropes soaked in holy water. It was a pleasurable pain that radiated through her. When she moved with Dallas, their minds were both overcome with the bliss of their union. They began to move together, Dallas impaling her a little more until he was 125

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completely inside her. Pierce pushed into her and strained to pleasure her. Dallas clutched her breasts while she held onto Pierce’s shoulders to stay steady. And then Dallas groaned, and she felt the added weight of Ryker. They had to begin again with their dance, but with each individual push, their combined passion was building. Orianna felt herself slipping away as their individual consciousnesses were merging. Stars formed behind her eyes. Each of her mates was breathing heavy. The scent of each of their sweat permeated the air. Pierce’s heart thundered in her ears. Dallas’s vibrated against her skin, and she could feel each of them throbbing in her fangs. Together they were building to the pinnacle of bliss that she had never reached before. The muscles quivered in her stomach like butterflies trying to escape from her skin. “Harder, Ryker,” Dallas cried out. His nails dug into her flesh. “That’s it, Orianna,” Pierce drove into her again. They were all right there at the top of a fleshy roller coaster. She let herself go over the edge and didn’t hold back. A loud cry came forth from her throat. Dallas followed a moment later, then Pierce and Ryker. She collapsed on top of Pierce and tried to catch her breath. All she could see were stars and bright white light. If this was any kind of heaven, then she was in it. After a few moments, when her mates had come back to themselves, they rolled off her and she was able to snuggle up against Pierce. Dallas settled himself between her legs so that her leg was over his chest. Ryker made sure her head was on his chest, making them into a human puzzle. It didn’t matter where any of them ended or began. The most important thing was that they were together. She wasn’t alone anymore. It made everything that had happened to her seem all right in retrospect. She had suffered and come through her trials with men who loved her for who she was and not because of her status. “I love you guys,” she said to them. Ryker kissed her lips in a sweet kiss. “And we love you. No matter what happens or what you turn into, we’re never going to let you go.”

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Wetness lined her eyes. A streak of amazement clutched her as she wiped her eyes and saw clear tears. Within them and her new mates, her future looked bright. Her men would be at her side, and with them she could face anything that came her way.

The End

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TuÉâà à{x Tâà{ÉÜ Crymsyn Hart is the author of over thirty books. Each world is filled with luscious vampires, gorgeous gods, quirky witches, and everything else that goes bump in the night. Crymsyn worked as a psychic for many years in Boston while attending Emerson College. She graduated with a BFA in Writing, Literature, & Publishing. Crymsyn shares her life with a small zoo, two playful puppies, and her hubby Mark. If you come after dark, you’re more than likely to find her snuggled up with a gory horror movie, or a bloody vampire movie. Crymsyn has a collection of Living Dead Dolls and five bookshelves overflowing with books. Of course there’s always room for more.