Chapter 3

MADELINE

I haven’t ventured far, but I’ve found myself in a part of the forest so lush and green that it’s hard to find a path that continues forward. Moss-covered stone ruins block my way, making it difficult to navigate further.

Steps lead up to a small bowl of water, where glow bugs stop by for a drink. I pause for a moment to look at my reflection. Dark circles under my eyes tell the tale of endless tears and sleepless nights.

I gave up fighting Hael and Nessy’s enslavement months ago. Now, I am battling myself. I find a soft bed of green moss and sit down.

Looking up, I see the leaves part to reveal the night sky. I lie down and just stare at the moon and the stars. I am essentially a prized concubine.

My mates rule the sky, the land, and all the peasants. I know Hael and Lochness have the power to bring thousands of mortals to heel, to incinerate armies of enemies, thwart Blood Ravens, mages, and rival Hordes. They are fierce and feared everywhere.

But with me, they are tightly controlled, dealing with a red-haired Dragon Slayer who is mated to their Sky spirits. If I die, they will die. If they die, I’ll die.

It is a bond of trust and loyalty. But my Slayer instincts make me want to resist them. My mate instincts? I am barely in touch with that part of me.

I am usually on the losing end. Overpowered and pleasured with torturous devices. Dark fun and dark pleasures.

Constant fire from them onto me. But I am tough to break.

“Madeline?” Hael calls my name, his footsteps crunching on the forest floor as he approaches.

My eyes are heavy. I’m worn out after being in fight mode for so long. The moment they isolated me from my friends and the Horde with no escape, I went wild.

They tried to soothe me with chains, sex, food, flying, and now a breath of fresh air with them as my escorts. The truth is, I have barely slept. But now, in the forest, with Hael approaching, I feel peaceful enough to let my guard down and fall asleep.

One hand rests on my pregnant belly, the other stretched above my head. They want me to give up the fight. To be vulnerable.

To be a mother.

***

A short nap turns into a few hours of deep, desperately needed sleep. I wake up back on the furs, alone I think—but when I open my eyes and look around, I see my mates are close by, just elsewhere.

Hael is in the grass, transformed into his enormous Dragon, his snout facing me, green-emerald eyes watching me. Lochness is in the pond, submerged as a man, his emerald eyes on the moon in the sky.

They’re both waiting patiently. ~Nessy~. I reach out through our mind connection as I slowly sit up. ~Why are you in the pond?~

~Bored~, Lochness drawls back his answer, his eyes flickering to mine, ~waiting for you, rat.~

~Ahuh. Hael~. I turn to his dragon, watching his green tail swish over the grass. ~I want to thank you for keeping peace in the Requiem Horde while I’m pregnant. I’m grateful to you, Hael. My number one.~

~You’re very welcome, mouse,~ Hael immediately responds in good faith.

I twist to look back at the pond and Lochness has sunk deeper, his eyes at the waterline as he just watches me, hiding any smile or smirk as he waits for a compliment.

~You’re a far better mate than you think you are, Lochness,~ I compliment him, ~and you’re very handsome… especially when you smile.~

Lochness doesn’t move or say anything, but I know he heard me. His eyes narrow slightly.

“I know you expect me to ‘be good’ without asking or demanding.” I speak out loud now for both of them. “So I’m going to try it ~right now~, so listen up you two!” I feel the intense silence as Lochness moves out of the water and wades closer to the edge, resting his arms on a rock and staring at me, waiting for my big moment.

Hael huffs out a hot breath and growls out a short noise of encouragement. They both say nothing.

“Okay, um…” I try to think of the right things to say, to please the hearts of Sky Gods, even if I have to force out each word, I’ll surely manage something, “I… am… very… happy… to… serve… you.” I get out each word, even though I grimace uncontrollably. “I am… um… going to… um…”

I squish my eyes shut as I feel tears of frustration rise. I’m trying so hard. Being this flame-headed, it’s like torture trying to sound docile.

I only try because I’m trying to show them that I ~am~ ~trying~. I suck in a big breath of air and exhale shakily, my throat clogging up. ~It’s too hard~, I whimper between them both. Suddenly, I smell a strong floral perfume, pulling me out of my tormented mind.

A flower—shoved up against my nose. I snap open my eyes and see a white flower just below my nose, held in a slender hand.

“That was downright pathetic… little one… and you almost fainted with your exertion… it hurt to listen to, truly… You developed a new form of torture…”

Lochness is behind me. He leans down and quickly kisses my cheek after showing me the white flower he picked from the pond. I take it from his hand and cradle it between my palms. I hear footsteps approach from my left.

Hael comes in, shifted and naked, looking down at me with a flare from his nostrils as he slowly shakes his head. Lochness disappears, leaving me with the flower.

“A-plus for effort. Sky Gods, you’re adorably useless sometimes, Maddie,” Hael murmurs as he drops to his knee and leans in to kiss me spontaneously.

I hold the flower in my hands as his cruel lips press to mine and he pulls back to look out behind me.

“…What are you doing, brother?” Hael growls to his twin. “~Are you hunting?~”

I look over my shoulder and see Lochness has shifted into his dragon, his tail slicing through the grass as he looks into the forest, gritting his teeth and looking both annoyed and hungry.

~Entertain the brat,~ Lochness snarls at Hael.

Hael’s laughter rings out as I watch Lochness retreat into the forest, his path marked by the destruction of trees and the occasional burst of flame. His actions are so violent.

Hael’s hand wraps around my bicep, pulling me closer as he settles down on the furs. I snuggle into him, pressing my cheek against his chest and tracing the contours of his abs with my fingers. His arm wraps around me in response.

“Nessy embarrassed himself,” I realize. “Such an impulsive rogue.”

Hael’s hand reaches out, capturing my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. “Look at what you’ve done,” he says. “With just a single, weak attempt, mouse…the power you possess…a power you’ve yet to fully understand.”

“Am I an empowered ~slave~ then?” I retort. “How amusing, Master.”

“Watch your tone, mouse,” Hael warns, his face twisting into a sneer at my sarcasm. “Do you want me to make love to you… ~or do you want to be bound, at my mercy?~”

His hand holds my face in place as I stare back at him. “I’ll let you decide,” I say.

Hael’s expression shifts from anger to amusement in an instant, a smirk barely concealed.

“Please don’t mock me for trying to improve, Hael,” I plead. “I’m doing my best, I promise.”

Hael’s hand ventures under my skirt, slipping between my legs as he turns toward me. Now hovering above me, he maintains eye contact while his fingers explore my pussy. One finger slips inside, instantly soaked, and he leaves it there, savoring the warmth.

“You’ll have to get used to it. I can tease you as much as I want,” Hael says, a satisfied drawl in his voice. “You’re mine to play with, Maddie. I miss whipping you…hearing your squeals and complaints while you take it.”

I squeeze my thighs around his hand, keeping his fingers close. I lower my eyes and nod, trying not to talk back. I hope he’ll add another finger soon.

Hael leans in closer, his breath warm against my cheek. He looks up, catching my downcast gaze, disbelief in his eyes…until he realizes, “Sky Gods, you’re actually trying, aren’t you.”

~He just has to rub it in, doesn’t he!~ I turn away from him in a mix of anger and embarrassment, presenting him with my backside. His hand leaves my pussy and my legs.

I cross my arms and stare out at the forest.

“Maddie?” Hael growls, his voice echoing my defiance.

“Why do you always have to make me feel so stupid?” I snap. “I love you! I’m trying and you just make me feel like an incompetent mate! I’m just a slow learner, okay?”

“You’re a sweet mate, a good mate.” Hael’s hand finds my waist, rubbing protectively over my belly as he pulls me back against his chest, wrapping me in his arms. “You’re just a terrible slave…” and he sounds genuinely upset about that.

“So ~why~ do you keep trying to make me a better one?” I ask, frustration causing fresh tears to trickle down my cheeks.

“Because, my little slave.” Hael grabs my chin again, but this time he brings up his other hand, the one that was inside me, and guides it to my mouth, making me suck on his finger. He leans in, whispering in my ear, “The truth is…I think you’d be the best slave I’ve ever had…if you’d only submit to your own desires first, mouse. See how well you’re sucking my finger? You’re not even thinking about it…and now you are.”

I stop when he points it out, and he pulls his finger from my mouth to hold me still so he can turn into me and capture my mouth with his—kissing me deeper into the moment before I think too much.

I forget what I’m thinking as Hael holds me so still, and I let pure feelings flood through me.

I turn further into him, my body relaxed, open and needy as I hook a leg over his side.

I’m craving this kind of deep and soft kiss, but as I open my mouth more, Hael pulls back with a smile.

“Good girl…,” he praises me. “Surrender.” He kisses my nose, still looking into my eyes. “Lose yourself…give in… I’ll set your soul on fire…trust me, you beautiful brat.” Hael kisses me again.

He’s perfectly timed his kisses—calculating with menacing accuracy how to claim me in the moment.

Hael’s tongue slides into my parting mouth, sliding across mine, breathing fire into my throat.

Erasing my thoughts.

Burning me hotter.

My brand burns too.

I’m reaching a different state of mind.

Walking into the fire.

~Willingly~.