Chapter 4

LOCHNESS

What has she turned into?

I retreat into the forest’s shadows, keeping an eye on my usually fiery mate. Hael is taming her, and she is complying. This is stirring up a rage in me, a kind I’ve never experienced before.

No, I’m not angry at her. I’m furious with my own twin. He has taken her to the birthing chamber to teach her true submission, without any distractions, and he is being gentle.

I have put her in the birthing chamber because I want to see her spirit soar. I love her fiery retorts, the passion in her soul. To hell with taming her.

I want her to fight, to show me the captivating way she can be a perfect seductress. Hael and I are polar opposites—he craves order, while I thrive in chaos. The Horde is unbearable to be around. I despise almost everything about it.

My thoughts are consumed by my desire for the kind of freedom that comes with fifty large fangs, hooked wings, and the ability to read any mind I encounter. Now, I stare at the ring Madeline has given me—a ring she hasn’t given Hael. She knows I’m harder to pin down.

Our relationships with her are entirely different. While she is aware of this, I wonder if she realizes that she is the one thing that brought us back together. Otherwise, I would be completely alone, with my delightful and terrifying plans of inflicting mortal terror.

For the sole ~purpose~ of finding… Well, there is no one else. I found her.

My perfect obsession. She is the spirit I have been searching for. Every breath she takes, every moan paired with a glare, her unexpected laughter…Maddie…Madeline.

Little brat. Perfect brat. Damn Hael.

Damn my brother. I shouldn’t be watching this. I should be a part of it—but my instinct right now is to steal.

Even though she is ours. I want her all to myself, especially now, seeing her lose herself. I close my eyes, visualizing what I’m about to do.

I’m going to kidnap her. Hael, you may be my beloved twin, but I need her more than you do. I’m done. I’m not sharing anymore.

The jealousy burning inside me toward my own brother is something I’ve never felt before.

“Am I a good girl?” Maddie’s voice floats from the furs, her sultry plea echoing as she moves against him like she is dancing on his cock. Partly pretending. I smirk.

Hael—you think you can break a slave. You have no idea how. Maddie is mine. My little slave.

I’ll handle her just fine. My way. This scene before me?

It is going to end right now. I’ll show him how.

MADELINE

I run my hands over Hael’s chest as he lifts me onto his naked thighs. I look at his cock and move up to sit down on it, riding him while his hands guide me by holding onto my ass.

Even though I am on top, he controls the pace. Hael’s kisses are his weapon against me. I melt, and now I am doing this.

And right now, I close my eyes, throw my head back, and surrender to the lust for the dragon who wants me to be his perfect fucktoy. I might not be that…but his belief in me, his love for me, helps me understand him a bit better. Especially since I decide in this moment, I am going to enjoy this lesson.

Maybe I am going to pretend, too? Maybe I’ll learn as I pretend. How else to know what it’s like?

To meet his expectations. I think of a naughty question. “Am I a good girl?” I ask on a moan, grinding my hips a little slower and moving left and right, running my hands over my breasts.

I watch Hael become speechless. He can’t even answer me at first. Hael starts to smirk at my question, even as he lets go of my ass to hold my waist, feeling up and down my body and admiring me…the hairs on the back of my neck stand up unexpectedly.

I wriggle down Hael’s dick, stretching me to the limit as I sit at the base of his balls, no longer riding, but thinking… Why am I suddenly alert?

“Perfect,” Hael drawls his approval. “You are a—” ~good girl,~ he says. I think. But it isn’t as loud as the possessive drawl flooding my mind, answering within, ~you will never be a good girl.~

Lochness’s whole energy is feudal. “Calm down,” I whisper out loud, feeling my brand spike with heat. I whimper with it.

Hael notices a change so he sits up and holds me close to his beautiful and large torso, as his hand rubs over the brand. “Brother…” Hael growls over my shoulder, because Nessy is fast approaching.

“What—?”

I peek over my shoulder and see Nessy locking eyes with Hael—as some kind of mental struggle ensues. I try to connect with them but I immediately shy away at the fire being thrown between their spirits.

Lochness is trying to overwhelm Hael. Soul to soul. “Hey, stop! What the hell are you doing?” I hiss at Lochness as he finishes the battle with a sharp tilt of his head—and Hael falls back, losing consciousness. “Hael!”

I follow him down, pressing my hands to his neck and his cheek. He is knocked out cold, and our bond feels uneven, but his heart is beating steadily. Something in my gut tells me our bond is facing some kind of new imbalance.

Or, maybe… I don’t know. Before I can figure it out, a strong hand grips my arm and lifts me off Hael’s cock, dragging me out of the nest of furs and around the pond. Nessy guides me into the forest, holding my arm in a vice grip as we walk away.

“What’s wrong, Nessy?” I ask him, completely baffled.

“Absolutely nothing,” Lochness gives me a charming smile. “Everything is darling. Unlike you…but we can work on that together.”

“But, what?” I blurt out. “Y-you, but—you said—I will never be a—and now—uh—oh, I’m confused.”

“Shh now, Madeline,” Lochness hisses between his teeth as he glares out over the landscape, looking for a trail I can’t see. “Be quiet.”

I can’t believe this.

I’m being ~abducted~ by one of my Twin Dragons!

“But, Lochness, where are we headed?” I murmur, deciding to play along for the time being.

“We’re off to have some fun, brat”—Lochness shoots me a quick glance—“without Hael.” His voice drops to a chillingly low pitch. “You’re going to play with me now.”

I can hear the sadistic undertone in his voice, so I dig my heels in, forcing him to halt. Lochness swivels around to face me, blocking my path and raising an impatient eyebrow as he questions, “What?”

“You just want to hurt me, don’t you,” I accuse him. “You’re fucking insane… no… you’re jealous.”

A smirk tugs at the corner of Lochness’s mouth. “I? Want to hurt you?” He leans in close to my face, holding my chin just like Hael did earlier, meeting my gaze. “Just a tad. Not too much. You’re naughty, mouse. You need pain. You need me.”

“I’m aware of your dark heart, but Lochness, I’m pregnant, okay?”

His hand leaves my chin and he gently cups my face, his palm caressing my cheek.

Lochness grins, moving a lot closer to my face, his eyes darting between mine, searching for something. “I’m not a fool… have your tears dried up already? Where’s my sad little one?” His voice is filled with satisfaction at my vulnerability. It’s a twisted kind of sweetness. I just blink.

“I’m in shock, you’re dragging me away— and you knocked him out!” I shout at him, forcing him to back away from my personal space. “I’m done crying. I should kick your ass! I’m just starting to behave! For the first time. And you—” I abruptly stop mid-sentence.

I understand what he’s up to.

He wants me to remain a brat so he can continue to torment me into submission. He doesn’t want our cat-and-mouse game to end.

Lochness seems to read my thoughts and replies, “On the contrary, sweetheart, we both want to break you. I just want to do it my way… and, there’ll be no pretending with me,” Lochness assures me, standing tall and looking down at me with half-closed eyes.

“I know you, Madeline… and your heart, it’s mine to cage.” His voice is almost a purr, filled with ominous intentions lurking just beneath his “light” words as he flaunts the ring I gave him, lifting his finger to let it sparkle in the moonlight.

He’s damn proud of that ring. And he believes I favor him because I gave it to him. It’s gone to his head.

I just want to get Hael something different.

My lip trembles.

Oh, no.

What have I done?

Lochness is jealous.

And now he’s becoming incredibly possessive, to the point of abducting me.

Even if he takes me far away, I trust him to keep me safe… however… what exactly is going to happen when Hael wakes up?!

I’m in a whole new world of trouble if they start fighting over me.

My rogue mate is about to give me a unique experience, all while reducing everything he’s built with Hael to ashes.