The world has changed...

From the day the fractals appeared in the skies above, literally out of nowhere, nothing had ever been the same. At eleven fifty-two and seven seconds, Eastern Standard Time, on the twenty-second of October, an explosion above the world, somewhere out in space, lit everywhere around the globe with a blinding light that lasted for a devastating thirty-nine seconds, causing car and plane crashes, electricity white-outs and global devastation.

When the light receded, fifteen different spiral patterns in an array of colors, fractals that followed the Fibonacci sequence, dominated a sky that used to be blue with clouds during the day and dark with stars at night. Twelve hours into the event, men did one of two things: dropped dead, or fell into a death-like coma.

Of course women jumped into action, in no way the weaker sex that men had portrayed them to be for so long. They kept order, worked the problem and figured things out. But they couldn’t be prepared for what would await them when the men in their lives, the men that lived, started to wake up a day later, changed into...other things.

Some were monstrous, others seemingly normal, but all were the horrors of our nightmares made flesh, visible to the naked eye, visceral and tactile and...skewed. The world had been changed, and the apocalypse had begun for all of human kind.

The changes the fractals had wrought weren’t just physical, augmenting the basest natures of all the men touched by their unearthly light. Those that were honorable remained as such, but those that weren’t, those men touched already by darkness, became monstrous creatures, corrupted by their powers and determined to dominate this insane new world they found themselves in.

It was chaos for an entire year, men and women versus monsters, the lines blurring as factions shifted back and forth, territories carved out and then lost again as some new power boiled out of the curving light. But five women figured everything out. Amidst the chaos around them, their brilliant minds learned, adapted and set the world on the road to peace.

A professor of paranormal studies with a focus on mythology, Marian Westberg, was the first to understand what the planet was dealing with. Classifying the men into new races and sub races, she pulled from her studies to best equip the world around them with knowledge. It was easier for people to accept the familiar—fiction brought to life—than face the unknown.

Vampires, shifters, elementals, demons...they weren’t figments of humanity’s collective imagination, they were real and walking the Earth. She found that the myths were not just myths, but records, ones whose origins had been lost to the mists of time.

Because the fractals had been here before.

An astrophysicist by the name of Tenga Shimuroi figured that out, working backwards through celestial events. Three times in the earth’s history had the fractals appeared, changing the course of evolution, and no one had any idea where they came from.

Archaeologist and head lecturer at Oxford before the fall, Bettany Fortuna, found the proof of her colleagues’ findings in the fossil records. The first two fractal events had also affected men, but the third had affected women, and only some but not all. Men all but eradicated the women that had been changed, leaving the untouched females to begin again. And time forgot, as time often does, those civilizations of the past.

An anthropologist understood what we needed to do to survive. Teddy Ravela was the one to understand how the birth rate and therefore the survival of the entire species was affected, and was the first to welcome those that survived the conversion, to help them to better adapt to their new designations.

But it wasn’t without strife. Religion and tradition warred with reality, many men and women unable to accept the idea of polyamory being necessary to provide the genetic diversity required to create life. In the end, after a war that raged for more than four years, resulting in heavy losses on all sides, it was a young politician, Amanda Vicnar, taking office as High Chancellor that brought everyone together under one banner, preaching tolerance for survival, and carved the world up into territories.

In the Light territories, the Five were in charge, the women that had understood the path to freedom and worked to keep peace and harmony.

But not every country lives in the sanity of the Light, and the United States is in a state of flux...evil men attempt to change the flow of time and destiny.

Prologue:

New York City, Fifteen Years after the Fractals Appeared

Sunshine, dappled and pink on this side of the world, bathed everything in a subtle glitter that Sybelle Strange always loved. Apparently, other parts of the world had different colored skies now, due to the fractals that lit up space around them, but for the northern hemisphere and New York, ‘pink’ was the word of the day.

She leaned her face up, the warmth no different from before apparently, and smiled into the sky. Fractals were her reality, the driving force of so much in this brave new world she was growing up in. Fractals moved everything and allowed for so much, so many wonderful things.

Before, a woman was largely choosing one man to love, to be with. The fractals changed that. Now, thanks to these aberrations in space, they were certain that women needed a minimum of three males in their lives, in order to conceive. Since males still outnumbered females, that was a boon. It meant women had their pick...and she had already picked. Only seventeen and already she knew where her heart resided.

“So, Sy,” her friend Fanny said as they walked, munching on street pretzels, through the Ramble of Central Park, “prom. Did you agree to go with Braden?”

Sybelle looked to Fanny as though she’d grown a second head. “Absolutely not.” Braden Billsner had been after her since they turned fifteen and, now seventeen, she was just as interested in him now as she had been back then...namely not at all. “So then what are you going to do?”

“I’m going with the boys,” she said with a smile. Her boys. Atticus, Thorn and Balthazar. Her best friends in the world, the three that helped her through her family issues, kept her safe and protected, and made her laugh.

“All three of them? Really, Sy...” Fanny started.

“And why not?” she asked. She knew Fanny’s family prescribed to the whole ‘marriage is between two people’ kinda thing, but the world was changing and people that didn’t change with it, embrace what opportunities it gave...

Fanny huffed. “Whatever. Where the hell are we going anyway? I thought we were going to Pete Winkle’s party.”

“We are,” Sybelle offered as they made it to Bethesda Terrace. The place was busy as usual for a Saturday afternoon, people scurrying to and fro. You would never know that the world was in flux around them, especially on the farther side of the country, where Monstera and Warlords had taken over. New York was still a bastion of culture, safety and sanity.

Spying their target just at the bottom of the stairs, she bee-lined to them, waving.

Thorn, with his chestnut brown hair, killer smile and warm hazel eyes.

Balthazar, with his clean-cut blond hair, green eyes and boyish charm.

Atticus, with his dark floppy hair, the glints of blue-black as the sun hit it, his dark ocean eyes sparking as his gaze found her.

All three of them turned to greet her and Fanny.

“There she is,” Balthazar said with an easy smile. “I see you stopped off for a pretzel.”

She nodded and offered it to him, laughing when he took a huge bite. “Fanny. Always a pleasure.”

She smiled at him and sighed. “Hi, Balthazar. You were amazing at the game.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

"What about us?" Thorn asked. "We were pretty damn amazing."

"Yeah, Thorn scored a touchdown, too," Atticus pointed out, but his attention was easily switched. "How's the search for a prom dress going, Beauty?"

“All handled.” She grinned at all three of them. “I’m going to shine like the stars used to.”

“And we can’t wait,” Balthazar said.

Fanny groaned. “Ugh. Whatever.” Looking at Balthazar, she sighed again and shook her head. “I need to go.”

“What about the party?”

“Yeah...suddenly I’m not in the mood. Later.”

They watched Fanny walk off and Sybelle shook her head. “I lose so many female friends this way.”

"Her loss." Atticus shrugged it off. "You're a ray of sunshine."

"I don't think it's about her." Thorn was watching Fanny walk away, a frown on his face. "It's us, isn't it?"

She nodded. “Chandra? She wanted Atty to bend her over a desk. Bette? You,” she said to Thorn. “Both Gina and Fanny want Mr. All-American here,” she said to Balthazar. “Apparently I’m hogging up all the choice tail at school.” She looked to them. “When I mention we are friends, that’s akin to blasphemy. I can’t be friends with you and them date you.”

"Look, that's not fair," Atticus grumbled. "I've never been interested in Chandra."

"And I've never been interested in Bette!" protested Thorn. "This is such bullshit! They don't get to ditch you as a friend because we don't return their affections. That's some emotional blackmail, hostage situation crap."

“Throwing in the fact that all three of us are taking Sy to the prom probably has a lot to do with it,” Balthazar said. “Girls don’t think normal at this age.” He looked to her. “Present company excluded.”

He was right, of course. The girls were still holding onto the life their mothers had before. So many didn’t like that there had to be three men to father a child now, at the very least, and they were holding on to the “it takes two” mentality for love and for happiness. Sy wasn’t that girl. She understood it. And, sure, she might be that girl if she didn’t have three boys already doting on her, her best friends in the world since childhood, but Thorn was right; it didn’t make it fair to her.

“Doesn’t matter. I have you guys,” she said brightly. “The keepers of all my secrets.”

"I think you have more of ours than we have yours." Thorn shook his head. This world was still so new to all of them and they’d all talked about how scared they were of what they might turn into on their twenty-sixth birthdays. So much was still unknown. But of course the only person the boys had talked to about it was Belle, their Beauty. She knew their hearts and their fears like no one else, and it helped that she was easy to talk to.

Sy nodded and then hugged them all individually, ending with Atticus, who wrapped his arm around her. “So? Pete’s party? Braden might shoot daggers at you, but...”

Balthazar laughed. “That shit knows better,” he said. He might be the most upstanding of the three of them, but he also could trash talk like a twentieth-century sailor.

"But you know we're just going as your entourage," Atticus laughed. "I'm hiding behind you as long as you'll let me. Those girls can be persistent. It's terrifying."

"Yeah," Thorn shuddered. "I'm all for girl power, but I hate having my ass grabbed."

"Maybe you shouldn't wear such tight trousers then..." Atticus teased.

“He’s got you there. You can bounce a quarter off your ass, Thorny.” She winked. “It’s such a weird amalgam. Girls that believe two is enough, them and the boy they have eyes for, and then there are the girls that are like, lemme build my harem now and hope for the best.”

“And you stuck in the middle,” Balthazar said. It was an old argument. The second puberty struck with all of them, things started to change at school. Girls interested, boys interested and all butthurt when a girl wasn’t...but really women had the power now. They called the shots largely in the relationship department, and while there were still pitfalls and slings and arrows, things seemed better. Her mother called it a sexual revolution on steroids.

“Is it so wrong to just want to hang out with you guys? I mean everyone else has super drama, girls, guys, whatever. It’s all too much.”

"It's not wrong." Atticus slung an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the party. "You know there's no drama with us. We got you and you got us and we all got each other. Everyone else can just back the hell off."

“I know. And it will always be that way,” she said and snuggled into his side. Her guys never asked for anything; they were always ready with a hug, or a cuddle, and they never ever asked for anything else from her. It was simple and it made so much sense to her. With the future coming she knew it couldn’t last; there were things that could happen to rip them apart. College, moving, the change, but that didn’t matter now. What did matter was the present and the three boys that made everything make sense.

“Come on...”

Chapter One.

Thirteen years later.

October Mourning was busy for a Tuesday night. True, business had been ramping up for the past few months, but she wasn’t sure why, not with the state of the world these days. Monstera out west all but taking over. People going missing, even in the city. Nothing was safe anymore, but it seemed people were still down for getting out and getting lit as much as possible.

Sybelle looked out over the crowd, the heavy bass of the music thrumming over her and everyone there, just hiding the subsonic sound that largely kept most Monstera away. The bar was considered a safe zone, which could account for the ramp up in patrons. Seeing as they were one of the only bars in the city that was actively working toward safety that wasn’t in the touristy sections, they did have a certain amount of reputation.

In the past ten years so much had changed, she was not even sure how she had survived. Rumblings of insurrections in her youth turned into out and out coups after high school, the West Coast and much of the Midwest turning into no go zones for any woman. Females fled to the East Coast, where they were supposedly safer from what was rising in the west. And they were. For a time.

Until the Monstera King of the East Coast took control.

Now, it was trying to live, business as usual, while ducking Monstera crews looking to recruit females for their faction...by any means possible. These guys did not take no for an answer and sadly the rest of the civilized world had their hands so full with the wars they were still fighting. The Five, bless those women, were still trying to carve out an existence for the majority that didn’t include sexual slavery and pain. The States all but seemed like a lost cause. It was why she was working at the shitty bar, to get up enough money to get the hell outta dodge, and to make it to one of the Light nations and start over...and maybe luck would be with her when she did.

Of course, this wasn’t how she had seen her life. No, she had fully expected to spend it with the three men of her youth, even after their transition, which had been three years ago. They had left her sitting at her parents’ old place in Queens, getting on a bus to the transition retreat the year they turned twenty-six, with the promise they would be back, and everything would be okay.

And fool that she was, she had waited. And waited. And on the date of Atticus’ birthday, the last of the three, she had waited to hear from one of them, to tell her what happened and when they were coming home.

No letter, or call or anything ever came. She knew what that meant. They hadn’t survived the transition. It was common for that to happen still...many males falling into a coma on their twenty-sixth birthday and never waking up. She knew it was a possibility, but losing all three...

So after a second Christmas alone, she had sold the house, socked money away, moved to Manhattan, and started working at the bar. By her count, and if tips kept up, she would be able to afford passage to England in the New Year.

“Sy...girl, we got trouble coming.”

She looked up to see one of her regulars, an older male named Chester, at the bar in front of her. He was Noctra and a friend of her father’s from back in the day before they passed, clan with one of them.

“How far?” she asked as she hit the button under the bar that turned the blue lights on around the bar, the silent alarm to any unmatched females to make their way to the bathroom and into the hidden room there.

“Six blocks,” he said.

“Six,” she said in the mic and then turned it off.

“Go,” he said and came around the bar. “I got this.”

She nodded, grateful, and slipped past him and into the back room, and then hit the button under the desk there, opening a small door in the wall, hidden by the bookcase. She shimmied inside and closed it and then hit the small button in the crawlspace, which would turn the subsonic sound on, to hide herself and the girls in the bathroom.

Hiding in the fucking dark, trying to not be caught. She knew of another time in human history this happened, had read about it in high school. It was just another way history was repeating itself and she was not excited to be on the receiving end. Her employers, the Davoffs, were focused on keeping as many females safe as possible, and normally they would be in the bar to handle things, but Serena, their wife, was in the hospital birthing their third child. She couldn’t begrudge them the desire to be there and had gladly taken control for the night.

Now she was at the mercy of Chester, whom she knew she could trust, but what else could go wrong? She knew the males in the bar would protect the women there, but many of them were older and were no match for some of the Monstera they had identified. It was as if every super hero villain decided to hang out at the legion of doom and make the most unappealing frat there ever was.

Minutes passed. A quarter of an hour. Then half. Her legs were cramping and she was in dire need of cracking her back when the light in the space went green. They were clear. Sighing, she opened the door and slid out, standing and stretching. She hoped everything was okay and that all their patrons were indeed safe.

Coming back out into the main room, the vibe had changed. Males and females wore hooded expressions and a few of them were being treated with the first aid case. Chester came to her then and frowned.

“Assholes are getting really fucking ballsy.”

“How many?”

“Eight this time. Tried to take Tiff. Her men set them straight, but they did get roughed up.”

“Drinks on the house for them,” she decided and nodded to Tiffany Silverman, a friend from school that had ended up with two Noctra and a Natura. “You guys okay?”

Tiffany nodded back. “Thanks, Sy.”

“Everyone else okay?”

“They didn’t get anyone here. But I fear for any female...”Chester offered.

“As do I. Well, let’s get things back to normal, yeah?” she said and hit the other button and the music started again. “Let’s celebrate.”

Six hours later she was sighing as she wiped down the bar for the last time of the night. Fritz Davoff had called; they’d had a daughter, named her Lily. The bar had celebrated that as well and everyone, including Chester, had left only a scant half hour before. She had told Fritz about the raid and he said he was sending one of his own clansmen, from the Shiftera, to walk her back to her apartment. Glancing at the clock, she sighed. He should be there any moment.

She turned, finishing up the paperwork for the till, when she heard the door open. “Hey, Mike,” she said without turning, “I just gotta get the bank bag handled and...” She turned and stopped, dropping the money bag.

Blue-black hair, eyes like the oceans she had seen pictures of in her youth, slight five o’clock shadow on a lantern jaw that always got her week in the knees.

“Atty...” she said as her eyes spied Atticus, Balthazar and Thorn, or at least who she hoped was Thorn because he was fucking tall and she couldn’t see his face in the darkness.

"Hey, Beauty." His smile hadn't changed, even after all these years. "It's so fucking good to see your face after all this time."

"Yeah," Thorn rumbled. "We missed you, babe."

She looked to Balthazar, who gave her a small smile. The room spun then, and the world tilted on its axis as she went down, blackness engulfing her.

Chapter 2

"Hey, I think she’s waking up," Thorn said softly and Atticus set down his glass and went straight to her.

"Hey there, Beauty," he smiled as her eyes flickered open. "No, don't try to get up. You went down hard. Let me just check you over." He caught her wrist and checked her pulse. It was good: steady, strong and even. Her pupils were responding normally and she had full range of motion in her head and extremities, even if her eyes were full of accusation and hurt. "Okay, you're good. Let me help." They'd laid her out on the bar, so he supported her as she sat up and swung her legs over the edge. "That's good. Any dizziness?"

“Uh...no,” she said and frowned. “How... Why... How...” she said again and shook her head. “Almost five AM and you show up now, at my job? How did you find me?”

Balthazar laughed. “Asked about the old neighborhood,” he said. “We stopped by your parents’ house, scared the shit outta the new owners. Vinny Cormack said you were in the city. So, took some time, but we got here. You look great, Sy. You doing okay?”

She frowned harder. “Where the fuck have you been?”

Balthazar shrugged. “We got here when we could.”

"Things were...rough after the transitions," Thorn told her. "It's not like how they tell you it’s going to be before. And we didn't have any choice with what—"

"We're here now," Atticus interrupted, sending Thorn a warning glance. "It took a little longer than expected. It's not like you left us a forwarding address. Didn't you know we'd come for you? It's always been the four of us against the world."

“Three fucking years, Atty,” she said and shook her head. “Not a goddamn word. You promised one of you would send me a letter or a call when you were all okay.” She hopped off the bar. “I thought...” she shook her head and sighed. They all knew what happened when there was no word. Too many males had not woken from their transition. Balthazar’s brother, only two years older, hadn’t.

"I swear to you that we came as soon as we could," he promised. "I've never lied to you, Beauty, and I'm not about to start now."

"It's the truth," Thorn backed him up. "We came as soon as we could."

Balthazar nodded at her. “Now answer the question...are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she snapped and then gave him a sugary sweet smile that held no warmth. “How are you?”

Balthazar looked to Atticus. Shit. She was pissed. “We are all okay. Missed the hell outta you.”

“Three years is a long time to miss someone, let alone three people,” she said.

“Amen to that,” he replied. “Why did you sell the house?”

“Why? Because there was no reason to be there,” she said honestly. “Not alone.”

"But the city?" Atticus shook his head. "It's dangerous here. There's Monstera groups roaming the streets, snatching up women for the king. Just about stopped my heart when I heard you were here. I was terrified he might have already taken you."

“Oh, you don’t think I know that?” she said and shook her head. “Home is worse. Did you notice when you were there that there weren’t any single women?” she scoffed. “I held on there as long as I could. Manhattan means money, and money means getting the fuck out of this country.”

“You’re leaving?” Balthazar said and looked to Thorn and Atticus. “How? That’s...”

“Expensive? The house money, and my wages and tips here. I’m just up to scratch. Another couple weeks and I can book passage,” she said.

“And that doesn’t change, now that we are back?”

She gave them a bitter laugh. “Should it?”

"Beauty, you know you're it for us." Clearly Atticus was floored. "We came...for you. We're here for you. And not just as friends. I thought you knew that? We all thought you knew that."

She laughed. “Sure. Sure, I knew that then. Being alone...”

Balthazar went to her then and pulled her close, hugging her to him. “Gods, Sy... I’m sorry...we are all sorry,” he said into her hair. “We got here as soon as we could, as soon as we could find you.” He sighed. “Seeing you safe...healthy...” he trailed off and looked at Atticus and Thorn once again as her arms wrapped around him, hugging him close. They could hear the sob and he kissed the top of her head. “Don’t cry, baby, please...”

"Ah, jeez." Atticus clutched his chest as though something in it hurt. "Don't cry, Belle. I hate it when you cry." He went and put his arms around her and Balthazar.

"Well, I guess it's group hug time," Thorn piled in, wrapping his arms around the three of them. "You sure you can breathe in there? Because I can squeeze harder."

Sybelle laughed softly, though they could all feel her body moving with the action. “Assholes,” she said as Balthazar pulled away. “You are all assholes.” There was a smile on her face then, soft but there. “Well, since tonight has been a night of celebrating,” she said and pulled away from all three of them, “let’s have a drink, yeah?”

"I thought you'd never ask," Atticus grinned. "You have any half-decent tequila in this place?"

She nodded and went behind the bar, grabbing a bottle from the side shelf, and then four shot glasses and set them up. Seconds later she was pouring them and sliding one to each of them. “Fritz keeps this for special occasions.”

"You hear that, T? We're a special occasion!" Grinning broadly, Atticus swiped his glass, clinked with the others and downed the shot. "Damn that's good. Keep it coming, Beauty. I don't want to stop celebrating yet."

“Apparently three years away means you go hard at five AM. Most people are leaving for work, or passing out after working the night,” she said, but set them all up again. They watched as she downed hers, then another, and poured a third.

“So you have just been here?” Balthazar asked.

She nodded. “Last year here. The Davoffs are good people. Noctra and Natura,” she said. “Their wife had a little girl tonight, named Lily.” She hoisted a shot. “To Lily,” she toasted and downed it, not waiting for them.

"To Lily," Atticus raised his glass. "Sweet name. I hope they can protect her. Eighteen comes round way too fast these days."

She nodded. “They live in the Noctra community in Washington Heights,” she explained. Plenty of the factions had territories in the city and the boroughs, for both safety and community. “I think she will be fine.”

“Lemme fill that for you,” Balthazar said and took the bottle from her, giving her another shot, and then topping the rest of them off. He looked once more to Thorn, who nodded at him and dropped a small amount of powder into the glass, handing it back to her. “Should we toast to being together again?”

She looked to them. “Are we? Three years and you guys didn’t get hooked up with someone?” she asked softly. “Aren’t you worried I did the same?”

“Drink your shot,” Balthazar said with a grin. “I know for sure you didn’t. Take the shot and I’ll tell you how I know.”

She arched a brow, took the shot, and then looked at him expectantly. “Well?”

Sighing, as the hard part was now done, he walked around the bar and smirked at her as he lifted her up and sat her on the bar. Leaning in, he inhaled deeply, a growl coming from his throat. “Because you don’t smell like anyone but yourself, Sy. Same as you did when we left, all warm and sweet, like watermelon candy...” he groaned. “Always wondered if you tasted the same way.”

"Easy now, Zar," Atticus chuckled. "First time any of us get a taste isn't going to be jacked up on tequila in some dive bar at five-thirty in the morning. Belle deserves better. I suggest we finish these here shots and take her home like gentlemen."

“My place isn’t big enough for three dudes, let alone Thorny there...hardly big enough for me,” she said, her voice slurring.

“Good thing we aren’t taking you there. That place is too hot,” Balthazar said as he pulled her close. “And you won’t be walking anyway...”

“Why, you going to carry me?” she said and giggled, her voice really slurring.

“Always, Sy,” he said as she leaned in and kissed him, their lips against each others’. She was greedy in her need and pulled him closer, then giggled.

“Always wondered if you tasted like sin...I was right,” she said as she passed out in his arms.

“Well...that’s done,” he sighed and looked to Atticus. “I wasn’t supposed to be the seducer in this.” His voice was accusing.

"Doesn't matter," Atticus replied, all business now. "You got the job done and now we need to split before the early risers start filling the streets."

“Thorn, stash the bank bag for her, I don’t want the people she works for to get any ideas that she might be missing,” he said to his friend. “And grab her bag there. No loose ends.”

"I'll get the glasses." Atticus swiped them all from the bar and put them in the glass wash machine, pressing start to erase any fingerprints or traces of the drug they'd slipped their best friend. The bottle of tequila went back on the shelf where she'd taken it from and he looked around. "Okay, that's it. Move."

Thorn picked Sybelle up easily and moved toward the door and they vanished into the dawn without leaving a trace behind.

Chapter 3

––––––––

“Urgh.” The sound came from her own throat as she turned over, eyes opening to brightness she didn’t think she remembered. “What the absolute fuck?” she grumbled and opened her eyes fully, groaning anew. She was not home, not in her bed, but the one she was in smelled...so familiar.

Memories hit her then, the bar, the guys, the kiss, and then blackness.

Those son of a bitches drugged me, she thought as she sat up, her head just this side of ending a hangover. Too much tequila and whatever else caused her to pass out. Her throat was dry and she needed a toothbrush. Fuck.

Turning over again, she realized she was in Atticus’ bed. His scent had always been distinct, but now it had a sharp brininess to it, like he had spent some time in the ocean. Was he Aquea? Deciding it didn’t matter, she hauled herself off the bed and listened, hearing voices from the beyond the door. Atticus, Thorn and Balthazar. All three of them. Well they were going to answer for what they did.

“Just who the fuck drugged me and why?” she demanded as she walked into the room they were standing in. The place was dark, but for a few lights on around them. No windows, which meant they were in a basement apartment, or a basement. “Start talking or I’m going to start punching.”

"We all decided and we did it to protect you." Atticus rose to his feet. "You need to let us tell you what's been going on. Please, Beauty. Sit down and have a glass of water and some aspirin."

Thorn held up a fresh blister pack, so she could see it hadn't been tampered with, and gestured toward the tap in the basin of a small kitchenette behind her. There were glasses drying on the rack next to it, so she took one and filled a glass of water, returning to the table where the three traitorous bastards were sitting, and glared at them as she popped pills.

"The reason we didn't contact you after we shifted is because we're all Monstera." Atticus wasn't pulling any punches or giving it to her sugar-coated. "Things at the turning center are rough for Monstera and it took us a couple of months to escape."

"Or at least we thought we'd escaped," Thorn said bitterly. "We trusted the wrong guy and found ourselves handed over to the king of the East Coast Monstera instead of the freedom we thought we'd arranged."

Before she could comment, Atticus continued.

"It was brutal." Atticus' eyes were haunted in a way she'd never seen before as a kid. "They beat you if you don't engage with their way of life. They threaten your families, your friends...everyone you care about. If it hadn't been for Jenner, we'd all be dead by now. He's a lieutenant in the king's gang, but he's also the head of the resistance and he helped us see that the best way to dismantle the organization is from within."

"So we bided our time, earned trust," Thorn took up the story. "We've been passing intel to the resistance where we can and getting women smuggled out of the area and away from the kidnapping groups, but then we got our new list..." he trailed off, shaking his head.

"Sweetheart, your name was on it," Atticus told her. "Soldiers have been looking for you for weeks. The king is desperate to have you in his harem and the only way we can keep you safe is to take you away somewhere."

“Hold on, back up,” she said and stood. “What the fuck?” She frowned and looked at them. “Lemme get this straight. The Monstera King is looking for me, because he wants...what exactly?”

Balthazar looked her over. “He wants you in his breeding cabinet.”

“What the fuck does that mean?!” she asked, her voice hitching.

“Why do you think females are constantly taken?” he asked bitterly. “That asshole is building his own breeding groups for his inner circle. It’s how they are trying to breed more Monstera loyal to him. I don’t know why your name was on there, but I can hazard a guess.”

“Oh? Well, please tell me...”

“Because you are still a virgin.”

She snorted. “This isn’t Regency era London. Virginity doesn’t matter for shit.”

“It does when you want to make sure the female isn’t tainted with other DNA,” he said and shook his head.

“I know of several women that have gone missing that weren’t virgins.”

“And they weren’t going to the Monstera King,” he offered. “You were going to be.”

"It might also have something to do with your family line," Atticus explained. "For women going to the king, they do their homework."

"He's right," Thorn told her. "We don't know exactly why he wants you and it might take us a while to find out for sure, but for now we can protect you by essentially devaluing you as a target."

"What he's trying to say in a really ass-about-tit way is that if you take the three of us as mates, it might be enough to get you off the list," Atticus told her.

She gave a bitter laugh. “You can all fuck right off,” she said and threw the glass at them. “You show up in my life after three years of me thinking you’re dead, drug me, abscond with me and then tell me you need to jump all up in my ass to keep me safe from a fucking psychopath?” She laughed. “Not the right kinda way to seduce a girl, you fucking idiots!” She threw up her hands. “Did it ever occur to you to fucking ask me to go with you? Fuck, I might have been pissed with you but I fucking trusted you assholes my entire fucking life!”

Raging at them, she went to Balthazar. “You fucking drugged me! Hid shit from me... You ever think I would have just fucking said yes?!”

“Sy...baby, calm down.”

“Calm down?! This is not how a woman wants to be romanced, you fucking pricks!” She picked up another cup and threw it at Atticus. “And you! All matter of fact.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me the shit that you all thought I would just fling off my clothes and we could bone away on the goddamn couch!”

She looked to Thorn. “And you...barely even speaking to me, and then go so far as to say you will be doing me a favor by ‘devaluing me’ as a target,” she made air quotes. “Fuck’s sake, none of you have any fucking respect, or care for my feelings. Did you ever wonder why I’m still a fucking virgin?”

“Cuz Atticus wouldn’t fuck you after prom?” Balthazar replied.

“What? No.” She shook her head. “Well, yes, but...no. It’s because it has always only been the three of you. And now you fucking come back like I’m some sort of chore? Fuck right off to hell with that!” She shook her head and turned, walking back into the bedroom and closing the door.

***

“Ah shit. We fucked up.” Balthazar looked to the two of them. “What are we going to do now?” He wasn’t an idiot. She was right, of course. And the kicker? She was still a virgin, even after all that time. They weren’t. Idiots that they were... Him? Well, he didn’t want their first time together to suck, and he was pretty sure the guys were the exact same way. They never flaunted it at her, hell, for him it was just something he needed to do to be right for her, but now...

He blew out a breath and scrubbed his hand down his face. “Shit.”

"She'll calm down. Let's just give her a few minutes and then I'll go talk to her," Atticus reassured them. "Look at it from her perspective—we did go in a bit hard. We treated her like we would have done any other target and she's not...she's not just any target. She's our best friend and we didn't trust her enough to ask her to come with us."

"Yeah, I'm not speaking to her." Thorn shook his head. "Apparently when it comes to Sy, I'm a total fucking idiot."

“Clearly we all are. You would think three years away from her, with her as our fucking end game, wouldn’t let us fuck up this bad,” Balthazar said and sighed. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck. Foot in mouth on a whole ‘nother level.” He looked to Atticus. “You go in there,” he said softly, “You need to fucking do it right, man.”

"I will," Atticus promised.

"It can't be all sappy bullshit either," Thorn warned. "She won't fall for it."

"I know!" Atticus socked him in the arm. "Fine, I'll go now so you two can stop getting your knickers in a twist." Shaking his head, he went to the bedroom door and knocked once before pushing it open and entering, kicking it closed behind him.

***

Sybelle lay on the middle of his bed, rolled in a ball, holding her knees up, his pillow in her arms. She was quiet a long time, the sound of her breaths soft, with a slight hitch. She had been crying, the hitch a telltale sign of it they all learned long before, when she used to hide in her playhouse in their shared back yard.

"So here's the deal, Beauty," he said quietly. "I'm sorry that we didn't think to ask you to come with us. We treated you like we would any other target and you deserved better. We should have trusted you. But I am not going to apologize for taking you off the streets to keep you safe. None of us are. And I'm sorry that you think we should have romanced you, but romance is a luxury that we can't afford right now. Time is critical.

“I get that you're hurt that we didn't contact you after we changed, but give us a little fucking credit here, Belle. Do you think we didn't try? We have literally been through hell over the last three years and frankly there were times when I think we all would have actually preferred to be dead. The only thing that kept us going, the only thing, was knowing that one day we would get back to you. You were what got us through the darkest hours of our lives...through the horror and the beatings and the fear.

“And I think I speak for all of us when I say that I have loved you with every single fiber of my being since the day we first met, when we were four years old. I've never loved anyone other than you and I know the others feel the same. You're it for us. And I know this isn't how you hoped it would go and no shit, it's not how we dreamed of this moment either, but we don't live in a fucking fairy tale and we don't get to pretend we do just because you're Belle and we're the beasts. All we have done and all we ever do is for your safety, because it's the only thing that matters to us. We love you. I love you. Please give us the chance to keep you safe."

“I’m not mad you came for me,” she said finally, soft as cotton. “I’m hurt you would just think this is the way of it.” She turned to him, eyes red, nose shiny from her tears. “Well, let’s just find her and fuck her and it will keep her safe,” she said, moving her head like a parrot. “You think it’s that fucking easy? Sure, if I was any other girl, and you were any other males. But you were mine, once upon a time, and I lost you all. Not one of you, like I thought was a possibility. All three of you. It was like losing my fucking limbs. I was fucking lost. Everything in my life just gone in moments.

“You went through shit, I get that. But you had each other, and I had no one. And bam, you’re back and emotionless as fuck, not the boys I lost. Not the men that promised me forever. People change. Shit was hard. But you getting all agro with me about it doesn’t help either.” Sighing, she stood. “My boys would have trusted me enough to know that they could have come in guns blazing and I could be delivering a baby and it wouldn’t matter; I would leave with you in a heartbeat.

“I missed the fuck out of the three of you. I go through life like a fucking ghost most days because I’m one part of a whole. And then you show up, with this plan to just fuck me to get it over with? Well no, that’s not going to fucking happen.”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she shook her head. “You wanna keep me safe? Fine, but that’s where this ends. I can’t be an obligation. This won’t happen because of a last resort. You earn it, or you get nothing.”

“I think he fucked it up.” Balthazar’s voice called from the other side of the door, toward the other side of the apartment. She smirked at him.

"Who said this was a fucking obligation?" Atticus demanded. "Stop putting words in my mouth, Princess. We didn't come to just fuck you and let you go, and if you know us at all you would have realized that. What part of 'I love you' did you not understand just then? We're here for life. We're all the way in. We lost you, too, and we're not ready to let you go."

“Not the way a girl wants to hear she’s loved, you fucking lunatic, all angry and pissed off,” she said and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I love you, too, all of you, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not sleeping with any of you. Not like this.” She brushed past him and opened the door to see Balthazar standing there, eyes wide.

“Uh...hey,” he said with an easy smile. “You guys done talking?”

“We are now,” she said and brushed past him. “Where is your bathroom? I’m taking a shower. I smell like a fucking bar floor,” she said and found her bag sitting on a side table. “Lucky I carry a change of underwear in my bag.”

“Why would you do that?” Balthazar asked, frowning.

“For just such occasions as this!” She pointed at him. “And you’d better have clean towels!”

“You get kidnapped often?” he said and Atticus knew he was just fucking with her, like they used to, teasing her.

“The threat is always fucking there!” she said. “Towels?”

“In the bathroom,” he replied. “Enjoy the hot water.” He pointed at the closed door.

“I will!” she growled and walked into the room, slamming the door. Seconds later the water turned on.

"That didn't look like it went very well," Thorn said accusingly and Atticus shrugged.

"She's angry that I didn't ease her through it gently, but we don't have the luxury of time. Eventually she'll realize that. She'll know we did what we thought was best to keep her safe, but she's going to sulk about it first."

Balthazar scrubbed his face with his hand again. “More flies with honey.” He shook his head. “This is hard, and a shock yes, but honestly she is right, it’s feeling like an obligation, not something any of us have been planning and dreaming about since before we left her here to wait for us. Girl needs to feel like we missed her, man...needs to feel what we feel for her.” He sighed and plopped down on the oversized chair.

The apartment was a loan over from Jenner, a place they knew they could be safe when not at the Monstera compound in Brooklyn, which they would be overdue to check in at in less than a day. “There is no way we get her to be cool with this in the next twenty-four, not with the way we are striking out.”

"Look, she's a smart woman. She'll figure it out soon enough," Atticus disagreed. "Especially when she finds out that we have to go back to the Monstera compound tomorrow morning. We don't have time to treat her with kid gloves."

“You really are an asshole, and to consider you were her original choice...” Balthazar said to him and turned to Thorn. “Clearly this is the hill he’s going to die on. Which leaves us to try and patch this up.” He looked to Atticus. “Only action you are going to be getting is Rosie Palm and her five sisters. As per usual.”

"You think so?" Atticus shook his head. "Watch and learn, boys..." With a smirk, he went into the bathroom quietly and rested his ass against the sink cabinet. The sound of her under the spray had him biting back a groan, and the misty silhouette of her had him adjusting his cock in his jeans.

Jesus.

Deciding to himself that their conversation was not over, he pulled his sweater off and tossed it into a corner. Five minutes later he had to kick off his shoes and socks from the heat and palmed himself once again. The guys were right, he needed to do something to fix this.

Chapter 4

The water sluicing down her back as she stood in the shower did nothing to brighten her mood. It should, the water pressure was amazing for a basement apartment, and the water was hot, soothing her sore muscles from being stuck in the crawlspace the night before. But dark thoughts...they were present.

That her men, and they were men now, were so uncaring... Atticus was always the one she was closest to, meeting him first, feeling safest with him when they were little. It was why she wanted him to be her first, something he refused to do, something they all refused to do before their transition.

After high school they had all gone to college, Hunter for her and Thorn, Marist for Balthazar and Atticus, and they had started to plan their lives. When her parents had died, all four in a freak accident on the Palisades the winter she was twenty, they had been with her through it all, and had moved into the house, to stay with her and keep her safe. All their parents had thought that was it, they, the four of them, would be together, and everything would be great.

And it was supposed to be. After Balthazar’s brother didn’t make it, followed by the hardest winter on record the year they turned twenty-two, causing both Balthazar and Atticus to lose their parents in one way or another, they had dug in deeper with her and really made a go of it. But still they wouldn’t touch her.

Oh, there was plenty of hugging and holding, sweet kisses on the cheek and head and hair, even, on occasion, when the pain of losing her family got to be too much, sleepovers where they held her ‘til she stopped shaking and crying.

And then their twenty-fifth year came. Plans were made and she promised she would wait for them. And she did, but when Thorn’s family moved to Maine and they still hadn’t heard from any of them, she had given up hope and resigned herself to be alone, her heart never able to be open to anyone else.

This was not the homecoming she had hoped for.

Then again, it probably wasn’t the one they had hoped for either, and Atticus was right, they didn’t have time. But damn it, she wasn’t going to compromise on getting physical with them. Not when she had waited this long. She deserved better.

A girl wanted a little romance from the men she loved. Something so it didn’t feel like a regret later on. If the first time was important enough for them to wait that long...it was important enough to do right now, regardless of the threat.

Turning in the water, she grabbed the small bottle of soap she carried in her bag and the shampoo cake. She lathered up and then washed her body, hands rolling the soap around on her, cleansing off the grime of her job and the bar. The scent of Atticus, of Thorn and of Balthazar hit her at intervals, as if they were standing in the room, just beyond the curtain.

Her men were not that bold, at least not with her. With other women...who knew? She knew they had had others, though they never said, or made an issue of it. She didn’t blame them; she only wished it had been her. All through school, all through their early twenties, she didn’t have eyes for anyone else, only them, her three amazing guys.

Thorn, with his quick wit and intelligence, whom she could have conversations into the night with. Balthazar, her Batty, who always made her laugh, tried to keep her smiling. And Atticus, her broody, sexy, all too serious and too hot for his own good guy that she constantly drooled over. Oh, she drooled over all of them, but Atticus...he was her first choice on so many things. He was her first kiss, the only of the three to do it up until a few hours before when she kissed Batty. Not that she remembered it all, being hazy because of the drugs, but she wanted a second. A good memory.

And Thorn, her Thorn that was so large, so...gods...powerful.

She swallowed as the thought came unbidden of them with her in the bathroom, in the shower, naked, making her purr. Hands everywhere, lips, whispered words of care.

Yeah, right.

Slipping completely under the spray, her thoughts strayed to a reality she had not wanted to face, didn’t even think possible.

All her guys had come through the change Monstera. How the hell that was possible was anyone’s guess. Thorn’s four fathers were all Shiftera. Atticus’ three had been Demonea, and Batty’s were a mix of Noctra and Spiritus. None of them were Monstera. None of them were close.

Not that it mattered to her. Oh, her heart hurt hearing that they went through anything awful, but the fact that they were Monstera didn’t make her love them, or want them, any less. Whatever it was their hidden selves turned them into, it wasn’t going to be a factor of her not wanting them.

If anything, it was a reason to just let them do what they needed to, to show them it didn’t bother her. Because regardless of what they turned into when in the throes of ecstasy, they were hers, and they might not understand how to care for her heart right now, but her body? They would never see her hurt.

And she believed that with every fiber of her being.

Another fleeting scent of Atticus hit her and she sighed. But then again, she was in their space, with them all around her. Another sigh had her turning the water off, groping for a towel and then opening the curtain to see Atticus standing there in nothing but a pair of low-slung jeans.

She must have really been in her own head to not hear him come in. Looking him over, she swallowed hard at the visual of him there, yards of alabaster skin peppered with small scars and a small line of hair leading from his belly button. Jesus wept, he was stunning.

Trying hard to not let him affect her, she lifted her chin. “What?”

"You look..." His voice strangled as though his throat had gone dry and he had to clear it and start again. "You look amazing." His eyes travelled down her lithe form, shrouded in nothing but a tiny towel and a million glistening water droplets. "Fuck, Belle. How did I ever say no to you?"

She asked herself that all the time. “Funny, it’s the same thing I asked myself back then,” she said and grabbed her bag. She wasn’t looking forward to putting her grimy pants back on, but a fresh pair of underwear and a new t-shirt would be a godsend.

"It’s not because I didn't want you like crazy," he told her. "I did then. I still do now. You're the only woman I've ever really wanted, Beauty. I know I've fucked this up and, for what it's worth, please don't hold it against the others, okay?" He wiped away the steam condensing on his brow.

"We don't have long, we're due to report back in to the Monstera compound tomorrow morning. I just wanted you to know that." Resting his hands on the counter, he shrugged. "Are you okay? Has the headache passed?"

“The headache from the drugs? Yes, thank you, Atticus,” she said and grabbed her bra. “Turn around,” she said and then turned herself and started fiddling with her bra. “So you have to check in. What happens to me when you do? I sit here, waiting for you to come back?”

"It would be the safest option, but we're not trying to keep you a prisoner, sweetheart. This place is a safe house and no one will disturb you here. We've filled the fridge. If you want me to, I can drop by your place and grab some clothes before it's time for us to go."

She looked at him, grateful. “Considering I have one pair of underwear, and no long-sleeve shirts now...” She turned her head to see him not turned around, watching her, his eyes wide, pupils blown, a tick in his jaw as she moved under the towel. She caught his scent again, this time stronger, almost like pheromones, and closed her eyes, her body waking even more than it had been in the shower, in answer. A shudder ran through her, causing the towel to fall completely, leaving her almost naked in the misty space.

"Jesus, Beauty." His voice was hoarse. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Her body clenched at the timbre of his voice, but she didn’t turn, not fully. “You’re the one throwing your scent around like it’s cash,” she whispered and licked her lips. Fuck...why was everything just fucking tingly?

"I can't help what you do to me," he whispered. "Gods, I'm so fucking hard right now it hurts."

Nipples pearling at the sound of his voice, which was like a shot right to her core, she threw caution to the wind and turned fully, giving him a full show, something he had never seen before. She knew what she looked like. Slight, because she largely forgot to eat, but she had good hips and tits, and otherwise she was fit. The look on his face gave her shivers; it was a look she had always wanted to see from him...especially that one night when she all but begged him to take her.

Swallowing her nervousness, she gave him a smirk, knowing he would just take her, and as badly as she wanted that to happen, she taunted him. Atticus could never back down from a challenge. “So do something about it.”

"Are you sure?" He was already rising to his full height and coming toward her. "Tell me you want me and I'll give it to you."

“I have never not wanted you, Atticus,” she said softly and looked up at him through her lashes.

"That's all I needed to hear, Beauty." Without hesitation, he scooped her up by the thighs and pressed her into the nearest wall, crushing his mouth to hers in a kiss that had been too many years coming. His hunger grew to overwhelming proportions as she ground against him, giving as good as she got. He broke away, gasping for breath, his eyes glazed with lust.

There went her resolve to not hook up with any of them. Was she really that easy? Did her word to herself mean nothing?

"Easy, girl, not here. Our first time isn't going to be up against a wall. Hang on." Striding across the room, he kicked open the door and carried her swiftly to the bedroom, ignoring the shocked looks from the other two friends. Shoving the door closed behind him, he grinned. "That's better. Now, where were we?"

Capturing her mouth again, he walked them across to the bed and then let her tumble across the sheets, hair falling everywhere as she laughed. Smiling at her happiness, he kissed a line of fire down her throat and across her collarbone, dragging down the cups of her bra to let him tease and suck her nipples until she cried out.

Then he moved farther south, laughing as his stubble tickled the skin of her belly and the soft, sweet skin on the inside of her thighs, sending her shivering with laughter. Her body bowed when he pressed his mouth to her core.

“This is all you...” she moaned and arched, her hands in his hair. “You started this,” she said, her eyes closed, still trying to figure out how she lost control of this situation so quickly. Not that it wasn’t amazing, the feel of him, his tongue snaking through her folds, fingers pressing into her thighs. She bit her lip, moaning again as he took her to heights she didn’t even know existed.

All but naked, on a bed in a safe house with Atticus...it was all too surreal.

Atticus shuddered, a tremor of power tingling between them as he lost control to his monster, tentacles ripping free from his abdomen as his skin flickered with dozens of shifting colors. All of him reached out to her, hundreds of suckers tasting the sweet salty heat of her skin in an overwhelming rush of sensation that centered on his tongue driving into her, over and over.

“At...” she said as she felt what seemed like hundreds of hands touching her thighs, legs, pinching at her breasts. She looked down to see tentacles, long and thick, emanating from Atticus, though she couldn’t tell from where. They plucked, pinched, latched onto her nipple, the sensation like velvet touching her heated flesh.

Tentacles.

And she wasn’t mad at it. Who knew?

“Oh gods...” she said as she arched again, her body strung tight. “Atticus...” she whimpered, body pulsing as she watched him, his skin changing, pulsing in time with her core.

The bang on the door startled them both.

“At... Not to interrupt what is going to be one fantastic nut, but we got a problem,” Batty said from the other side of the door before it burst open. He stood there, fully dressed with a bag on his shoulder. “Jenner called. He knows. We gotta move. Now.”

"Damn it!" Atticus roared, pulling away from Sybelle, tentacles slithering back under his control until they were nothing but a shadow on his skin. "Babe, we need to move. Now. Zar, grab her stuff from the bathroom."

Dragging a sweater from a drawer, he pulled it on in seconds and went to find his shoes. Thorn was already starting in on the burn protocol, grabbing everything necessary so they could torch the rest. "How the fuck did he find out?" Atticus demanded.

“No idea,” Balthazar replied as he came in and handed her her clothes. “Quick, sweetheart,” he said and turned to Atticus. “Jenner said we have two hours. That’s as much as he can stall.”

She dressed quickly, given the fact that she was seconds away from a monster, and she did mean monster, orgasm, she was pissed and the adrenaline was causing her to shake slightly. Pulling her boots on, she stood, pulling her wet hair back and squeezing it out on the bed. “Where are we going to go?”

“We have protocols, baby,” Batty said to her. “Just gotta get to the car and get outta the city.”

"Should we swing by your place?" Atticus asked Sybelle. "You have a go bag set up?"

She shook her head and Batty looked to him. “They have eyes on her place,” he offered. “We get out of the city, we can stop at one of the stores and grab her shit.”

She nodded. “I have cash.” Credit was a paper trail they could ill afford.

"Okay then. Thorn?"

"Ready." He finished emptying the last can of gasoline and reached for a packet of matches from his pocket. "Time to ghost."

They piled out of the door and down to a car parked at the curb as Thorn tossed a lit match into the basement behind them. The accelerant went up with a whoomph and, before they'd even peeled away from the pavement, flames were licking up the staircase toward the open air.

“Just another building set fire in a bad part of town,” Batty said as he rounded the corner. “Let’s hope it does its job.”

“And what job is that?”

“Keeping the authorities busy long enough to get out of the city.”

Chapter 5

Balthazar looked into the rearview as they made it over the George Washington Bridge, his eyes on Sybelle for a moment, before looking back at the road they were driving on. He took the exit for the Palisades, knowing that it was going to be a little hard for her, but it was the best and quickest way out of the city now, and up to the northern houses that the resistance used when outside of the city.

She was sitting in the back of the black Hummer with Thorn, tucked into his massive side, her eyes on the road as they drove. Atticus was sitting shotgun, grumbling and pissed off to all hell that he didn’t get to finish what he started. It would be a while yet, but the woman in the back was still putting off scents like she wanted it, wanted all of them.

“So, Monstera resistance?” she said, clearly wanting information.

"They might not know it's us," Thorn told her. "The king knows there's a resistance but we've covered our tracks well. With any luck, the fire should have erased our scents and there are safe houses all over the city. We've been trying to set up a proper railroad to get women out, but people are scared."

"With good reason," Atticus said grimly. "The king truly is the stuff of nightmares."

“How the fuck did he take control of the East Coast? I mean who is he?”

"No one really knows how he started," Thorn told her. "Atticus is the only one that's met him."

Atticus shuddered. "There are rumors he's not even Monstera, that he's one of those reality-altering Demonae. I don't know if it's true, but his power?" He shivered again. “Just walking into a room with him feels like an arctic wind is flaying the skin from your bones. I don't know how the fuck Jenner stands it."

“Jenner is your contact?” she said and frowned. “Why has Atticus only met him?”

"Jenner is the head of the resistance. He's in the king's inner circle," Atticus explained. "I met the king because he wanted to put me on the fast track to promotion."

“Why?” she asked with an even deeper frown.

“Yeah...tell her why,” Batty said sadly.

"I'll tell her when I'm ready to," Atticus said, shutting down. "That's my story."

“Fair enough,” she said, “but I will hear it.”

Batty sighed. She wasn’t going to like what she heard but then again, nothing about the past three years was good news for any of them. They all did some shit they wouldn’t normally have done, but in the name of getting back to her? It was all relative. “We should be able to hit one of the stores off the parkway in about an hour,” he offered. “We are going to need to be really quiet about supplies. A woman shopping isn’t something to hit someone’s radar, but three males looking for specific things...” he trailed off and shook his head.

"Maybe Thorn should go in with her," Atticus suggested. “He’s big enough to scare off any idiots and nobody will bat an eyelid at a woman shopping with one guy for protection. We'll wait in the car."

"Sure thing," Thorn agreed.

The way she was cuddled into the man’s side, Batty didn’t think it would be an issue for her either, though she didn’t say anything. The drive grew quiet then. Taking the parkway to the first roundabout and going north, they made it to Route 9w soon after and got off, heading to the first variety store they could. Back in the 20^th they were all different chains offering the same thing. These days they were all called The Outfitter, and they were owned by a conglomerate. While the rest of the world enjoyed goods and services not killing the planet, the States were still clinging to greed and commerce in an unhealthy way. Shit, he wanted to get her out of there, give her her dream, get her to a Light country so she could be safe and healthy in a more focused way. Pulling into the parking lot, he parked midway so as not to draw suspicion.

“We are far enough away from the city but he’s got eyes everywhere,” he said as he turned. “Get in, get out, yeah?”

She nodded and then smiled up at Thorn. “You good to go, big guy?”

"I'm always good to go for you, cupcake," he smirked, making her laugh with the innuendo. "Come on." They peeled out of the car and headed into the store, him looking over her shoulder as she grabbed the things she needed from the shelves.

***

Thanking the fates or whoever watched over her that she had a decent amount of cash on her, she grabbed two pairs of jeans, three long-sleeved thermals, two t-shirts and an over-the-head hoodie. “I’m going to need underwear, another bra and some thick socks,” she said, thankful once more for her pea coat. “And a goddamn toothbrush.” She smiled at him. “We need anything else?”

"No. Our bug out bags are well stocked and most of the safe houses we know of have the basics. We can worry about food later."

She nodded and grabbed his hand as she went to the underwear section, grabbing a package of high-cut bikinis in grey and black modal. “Too sexy?” she teased, shaking the package at him. “Not sexy enough?” she sighed. “You know, I have a drawer back at my place filled with sexy lacy things I always wanted to wear for you guys...” she said softly. “A fortune in lace and silk.”

"Buy it," Thorn said, his eyes dark. "In every color. And don't worry about the rest. When we're safe, we can spoil you with all the sexy lingerie you can imagine."

She laughed. “Yeah. When and if we get safe,” she said softly and grabbed two four-packs of underwear. “Bras next,” she said and moved down a little farther. Picking through several black cotton serviceable options, she grabbed one in her size and then sighed, remembering all the sexy frilly bras she had back at her place that had never been worn. It didn’t do to dwell but she was kicking herself. “And socks...” she said as she turned the corner of the fixture and grabbed several pairs of heavy socks.

Who knew what they were walking into and she wanted to at least know she had warm, dry feet. Grabbing his hand once more, she smiled at him and then pulled him along toward toiletries. It was quick, grabbing a toothbrush, tampons, mouthwash and lotion, because fuck the cold, she was going to have decent skin.

“Anything else?” she said, mostly to herself, and then looked to Thorn. “You really look uncomfortable.” His hulking mass dominated the space in the store and she could see why. He did draw attention to himself. People would think he was one of the Natura giants, which would help keep her safe. People didn’t like the Monstera. She assumed he was one of the Monstera giants, but ultimately, for now at least, she didn’t know what he was.

"I'm good." He was glancing toward the entrance. "I just thought I saw someone I recognized...fuck. We have to go now. Get to the checkout. I'm going to head this guy off. If I'm not there when you've finished paying, go straight back out to the car. Go!"

Nodding, she walked calmly to the checkout that was open and starting running her purchases through. Three minutes and almost two hundred dollars later, she was carrying bags out of the store, not having seen Thorn as she was walking out.

Balthazar was waiting by the back of the Hummer with the hatch open. “Where is Thorn?”

“I don’t know,” she said and handed him the bags. “We were in the toiletries aisle and he said he saw someone he knew and told me to check out and get back to you. So I did.”

“Good. Did good, baby,” he said and pulled her close to kiss her. It was sweet and slow, but on the lips. “Just get in and smile,” he said against them as she pulled away and did as she was told. Once inside she turned, looking out the tinted windows for Thorn, her anxiety starting to cause her stomach to bottom out. Whoever it was, friend or foe, they needed Thorn out of there, and fast.

Seconds later Thorn walked casually out of the store, but the moment his feet hit the parking lot, he sprinted for the Hummer and jumped in the back, barely having the chance to shut the door before Balthazar was peeling out onto the road.

"Of all the fucking shops in this fucking state..." he groaned, bashing his head against the head rest in frustration, "Fucking Gregorio just happened to walk into the one we're shopping in."

"Gregorio?" Atticus swore under his breath. "Did he see Sybelle?"

"No and the good news is that they're clearly not looking for us yet either. We've not been called out as suspects, but we really need to get out of sight and lay low for a while."

“On it. Jenner’s brother suggested a safe house just outside Kingston,” Balthazar said as they hit the parkway once again. “If we can make it in before the storm hits...”

“How long ‘til that happens?” Sybelle asked as she once again snuggled into Thorn.

“About four hours. That storm hits and we should be safe for the night.”

“And after?”

“We start for the border.”

Atticus swore again and Thorn looked across the car at him. "What's wrong, brother?"

"I just...no, never mind. Drive."

"Atticus, tell me." Thorn could be commanding when he wanted to.

"It just doesn't feel right to leave this asshole in charge and run away!" Atticus vented. "I feel like I should have done something. I should have killed him when I had the chance."

“Woulda, coulda, shoulda,” Balthazar said to both his friends. “I know your reservations and regrets, man. We all do. But thinking like that isn’t going to get us anywhere, and we have this woman to focus on.” He winked at her. “Can’t think about this now. Let’s get to Kingston and regroup.”

Chapter 6

––––––––

The house in Kingston was well outside the main drag, in a wooded area just off the mountain trail area. The house was warm, clean and was stocked with food, giving them a slight repast from the travel. Sybelle had walked in, found a couch with a blanket near a space heater Atticus had turned on, and promptly passed out, the fatigue and the excitement finally catching up with her. Balthazar, sitting on the couch with her, her feet in his lap, looked to them. “She’s out,” he said and sighed. “We are going to need to wake her for something to eat, but I say we let her sleep.”

"You do that,” Atticus agreed. “Thorn, see what's available for food. I'm going to scout around and do a perimeter check, spot the exit points." Atticus pushed back out the door into the cold air and took a deep breath. They needed to be ready if they were found again.

“You okay?” Balthazar asked Thorn, who was rummaging in the small kitchen area. “Atticus is hanging by a fucking thread.”

"Can you blame him?" Thorn shook his head, setting out the makings for a risotto. "One second he was up to his tonsils in our girl here and the next we're fleeing across the damn city. And it's Sybelle. She's the most important person in the world to all of us. I'm not surprised he's hanging on by a thread. I'm mostly surprised I'm not there with him."

“You were always more levelheaded,” he offered. “Atticus is always rage and passion and need. Always. It’s probably why she wanted him so badly all this time.” Not that he didn’t think she wanted the two of them. He knew she did; he could smell it on her—subtle differences in her scent when she thought of each of them, her arousal just different enough for him to tell. “You guys talk in the store?”

"Not really." Thorn started chopping onions. "Mostly she was upset about leaving behind her underwear collection. Apparently it was something special."

Balthazar arched a brow. He knew from psych classes in college that, when faced with a situation they couldn’t control, people often latched on to things that seemed insignificant, but to them it was important. “Oh, really?”

"Yeah. I told her we'll buy her all the underwear she could ever want when we're safe, but she did buy something fancy while we were at the store." Thorn grinned. "Guessing we might each get a little show later."

“We can hope,” he said and looked back over to her, cuddled on the couch sawing logs, and adjusted himself. The idea of a show was enough to set him off like a goddamn randy teenager. “What did she buy while in there? Aside from underwear we might never get to see?”

"Just the basics. Clothes...toiletries. You know she's smart and she knows we aren't just playing. She wasn't wasting time on unnecessary stuff."

“I didn’t think she was,” he said thoughtfully. “I just wanted to make sure she has everything she needs. This entire shit show, we have to make do, but...” he sighed again. “I don’t think we should stay here past the morning. Heading to the border means another night stopped farther up, maybe near Oswego.” He thought about the house he and his fathers had up there. “I know of two out-of-the-way safe houses up there I don’t think even Jenner knows about.” And one was his.

"We'll see what Atticus says when he gets back," Thorn replied. "If we're serious about being with Sybelle, then she deserves better than snatched moments on the run. We might make it here a couple of days."

“Agreed, but I think we are still too close to the city. Oswego is a couple hours, and if I’m honest, well away from the king’s reach in most respects,” he said as Atticus walked back in. “Secure?”

"Yeah and we've got several exit points if we need them." Atticus kicked off his shoes and hung his coat up on a peg by the door, looking at Sybelle still fast asleep on the sofa. "Bless her, she must be exhausted," he said with a soft smile. "How is dinner coming along?"

"It'll be twenty-five minutes," Thorn replied. "She's got plenty of time to sleep yet. Especially if you're planning on keeping her up tonight."

"That's up to her," Atticus replied. "I'm not making her do anything she doesn't want to."

It was good to see their de facto leader was learning. Of course, it could have everything to do with the fact that he had already tasted her and knew what was waiting for him willingly. “I don’t think it’s a problem of her wanting to at this point,” Balthazar laughed. “But Thorn is right: she needs more than something quick and I think we are still too close to the city. I suggested Oswego. We can get through tonight, show her we aren’t straight up assholes, and maybe leave early to make it there, that way we get farther away.” He leaned in. “And we can enjoy her...and her us.” He looked to Atticus. “How did she take the tentacles thing?”

"She didn't freak, but she didn't say anything either." Atticus shrugged. "To be fair, they took me a bit by surprise, too. They've never come out like that with any other girl."

That was seriously interesting, but it made sense. “Because no other girl was yours,” Balthazar said softly. “Given how many chicks you have...entertained,” he winced. “Your monster side knows its mate.” Balthazar could feel his own monster gnashing its teeth to rake claws down her sides, making her fully his. “But if she liked it...” Well, if she liked it, there was hope for all three of them.

It wasn’t a secret many women were...apprehensive on Monstera, and largely it wasn’t even the looks when they changed, but more the domination, the violence and the blood when they actually claimed a female. A woman needed to be all in, to know, without a shadow of a doubt, they weren’t going to die in the process.

Even though many did. Some Monstera couldn’t control that side of themselves, the darkness that shone through when presented with a soft, fleshy body and the tang of fear.

But Balthazar couldn't believe they would ever harm their Belle. They'd loved her for too long and the fact that she'd called Atticus’ monster out and survived it said something. She might have some concerns about the way they looked in their monster forms and in that respect poor Balthazar might have a rough ride of it, but he thought she would see that deep down they were the same men she'd grown up with.

"Good call on Oswego," Atticus said. "We'll head out that way as soon as night falls."

“So we are in agreement,” Balthazar confirmed and then looked over at her sleeping form and rubbed his chest just over his heart. Being this close to her again, regardless of the reason... “Fuck, she’s beautiful.”

"She always has been," Thorn agreed affectionately. "Dinner is going to be ready in five if you want to wake her up. She might want to wash her hands or whatever it is women do before eating."

Balthazar chuckled to himself and shook his head. Going to her, he sat at her feet and gripped one, applying pressure to her instep and rubbing softly. “Wake up, baby...”

She stirred but then snuffled and snuggled in more. Gods, she was so cute. He applied pressure again and then grinned. “Baby girl, you need to get up and eat.”

Groaning, she stretched her arms over her head as she looked at him, bleary-eyed from sleep. “Oh, that feels nice...”

“Of course it does. You are on your feet all the damn time.”

“That’s what happens when you work at a bar,” she pointed out with a small smile. “Oh, that’s perfect.”

“Well I can sit here and do this, or we can eat and then I can get back to it.”

Her stomach growled and she giggled, looking around. “Holy shit...”

“Guess it was decided for you.”

“What’s for dinner? Smells...well, it smells good.”

"Risotto," Thorn grinned, setting out plates on the counter so he could dish up. "I'm afraid the parmesan is the powdered stuff, but the rest is legit and I put the rest of the wine in the fridge, if you fancy a glass?"

"Not sure drinking is a good idea, buddy," Atticus frowned. "We need to stay sharp."

"I didn't offer you a glass," Thorn pointed out. "You'll notice there's only one on the table."

"Good." Shaking his head, Atticus grabbed a couple of the plates and put them on the table. "Where do you want to sit, sweetness?"

"If you're talking to me, I'll be at your right hand as usual, Master," Thorn simpered and even Atticus had to laugh.

"You're such an idiot, Thorn."

"That's why you love me." Thorn brought the other two plates over. "Okay, Belle, where are you sitting?"

She arched a brow and then smirked to herself as she slid off the couch. “Anywhere. And wine would be lovely, but I would kill for a glass of water.”

As she stretched once again, Balthazar watched her breasts hitch and bit back a groan. Gods, she didn’t have one clue how sexy she really was.

Stepping around the large chair to the right, she made it over to the dining table, and sat in the seat Atticus held out for her, smiling. Balthazar got up from the couch and procured her a glass of water, winking as he gave it to her. Moments later they were sitting down, her wine poured, waters all around.

“Jesus, Thorny, this is good. I forgot how well you could cook.”

“I take it you don’t eat much good stuff?” Balthazar asked. He knew she was slight, smaller than she had been body wise before they left, but that would change.

She shrugged. “No reason to cook. I eat takeout when I’m awake, or bagels.”

"Well we're here now," Thorn said firmly. "I'm looking forward to seeing you put on some curves while we take care of you."

"You have no idea how much exercise we have to do to keep off the weight with Thorn at the cooker," Atticus laughed. "You know this only tastes so good because it's probably eighty percent butter."

"It's not that bad!" Thorn protested. "Maybe you're just a moment on the lips, lifetime on the hips kinda guy."

Sybelle laughed and shook her head. “The only thing I remember Thorny making with butter were those divine peanut butter cookies...remember them? Chewy and gooey...”

"I still make them," Thorn grinned. "As soon as we get settled somewhere safe I'll whip you up a batch."

“You better.” She nodded and forked some more risotto into her mouth.

“So I heard you bought naughty knickers,” Balthazar said with an arched brow.

She rolled her eyes. “If you consider high-cut cotton briefs in grey and black naughty.”

“Oddly, I do,” he said with a smirk. “Do you, Atticus?”

"Anything she's in is sexy to me," Atticus admitted. "They could be granny knickers and I'd still want to pull them off with my teeth. Or tentacles..."

Sybelle blushed hard at his words and Balthazar chuckled to himself. Their girl had a taste for the wicked...which suited them all just fine.

Before their transformation, one of the main reasons why they didn’t touch her was they didn’t want her to have any preconceived notions about sex, or about them, that they might not be able to live up to. Males that went Noctra were either into blood play or some freaky tantric sex, as they knew from speaking to his fathers, and if they dicked her down well enough that vanilla sex was what she craved, well...it wouldn’t work. Now, as much as he regretted them leaving her as they did, he was glad for it.

“The tentacles bother you, sweet?”

She looked up at him and then at Atticus, and then back to him and shook her head.

“Good to know," Atticus grinned, but it was full of relief. "Seems I can't help but let my beast out to play when it's you involved."

She blushed again but said nothing and forked more risotto into her mouth. After a few bites she looked to them. “So what’s the plan? Stay here?”

Balthazar shook his head. “Still too close to the city. We need to rest, but ultimately we need to get to Canada and the border.”

“Is that going to be a problem for you? Being Monstera, I mean?” she asked, what looked like fear in her eyes.

He shook his head. “Resistance, remember? We have people that work the border that help us. We will be fine.”

"We know things about the ghost crew that will identify us to anyone in the know as resistance," Atticus promised her. "That's what the resistance is called," he explained when she looked confused. "It was Jenner's idea of a joke...a ghost gang acting inside the real one, with different ends. There's even a graffiti tag to make it easier to spot safe houses—a skull."

She cocked her head and then her eyes went wide. “With a dripping mouth? I have seen that...on the subway.”

Balthazar nodded. “Sixth and Seventy-eighth. It’s a hand off station.”

“Wow.” She looked to them. “I’m...well, I’m proud of the three of you.” Looking down at her just finished plate, she sighed. “And I’m glad you found me. I’m glad we are together. For however long that lasts.”

“Forever, Sy, if we can help it,” Balthazar said.

"We just found you after three years," Atticus reminded her. "If you think I'm ever letting you go again, you're tripping."

"Damn straight!" Thorn toasted with his water glass. "You're stuck with us now."

“I have always been stuck with you,” she said with a smile. “Though I never saw it that way. I got lucky, knowing where my heart lived. Even if others didn’t like it.” She looked to Balthazar. “It’s funny, I saw Fanny a month or so ago. Remember her? She’s with four Demonae now, pregnant for the second time. And Chandra?” she turned to Atticus. “Mated to four Shiftera. Thorny, Bette asked after you when I saw her last, asked if you were available. She’s collecting men now...six to be exact, mostly Elementara and Demonae.”

"If she needs six of them, they're not doing it right," Thorn shook his head, laughing. "If she's still adding to that, then they're definitely not doing it right."

She laughed. “Bette always wanted the best, and now she’s collecting men that adore her.” Shoulders shrugging, she continued. “Chandra asked after all of you, where you were, what you ended up as, if we were happy together, and when I told her you never came home...” she sighed. “Seeing that look of sadness and pity was hard,” she admitted.

"Losing all three of us would have been exceptionally bad luck." Atticus shook his head. "It's almost worse that we're Monstera. I know some men that would have preferred death to this."

“How were you all tapped for this? I mean, your parents...none of them were Monstera. Not that I’m complaining. I don’t care what you are, only that you are here.”

“You might care, ultimately.” Balthazar gave her a meaningful look. “It’s not...easy with one of us.”

“Everything is easy with you,” she disagreed.

“I mean physically.”

“Why? Because Atticus has tentacles? So what? That’s kinda hot,” she said with a wink. “I have seen hentai porn. It never turned me off.”

“Well bully for Atticus,” he grumbled, “But myself...and Thorn. You haven’t yet...”

“It won’t change how I feel,” she interrupted his pity party.

“I hope not,” he sighed.

"Yeah, just wait," Thorn sighed. "It's...a lot. We'll see how it goes." Rising to his feet, he cleared away the empty plates and went to wash up.

"I'll go do the rounds," Atticus rose to his feet, too. "Doesn't hurt to be too careful." Grabbing his coat, he slipped out the front door.

“Guess that leaves us to relax?” Balthazar said.

Yawning, she nodded. “I could do with another nap.”

“Well then, let’s get you all comfy on the couch then, yeah?”

Moments later she was on the couch, cuddled in the blanket, with him rubbing her feet once more. “You don’t have to do that. I mean I could just do with your company,” she murmured sleepily.

“Making up for lost time. And I want you relaxed, if nothing else so you can get a few more hours of sleep in. Sweetheart, you look awful.” He brushed hair from her cheek. “You need to take better care of yourself.”

She smiled. “Asshole. But you are right. I just...didn’t see a point. The less attractive I look, the better my chances of being left alone in the city.” She touched her brown hair. “I didn’t have a reason for anything, really.”

“Well, you do now, love. Thorny said something about lingerie you were sad to miss.”

She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. Things didn’t go as any of us planned, and with us fucking up this rescue...” he shook his head. “I wish I would have done this differently. But...”

“Habits die hard,” she finished. “I get it. I’m not happy, but you guys aren’t being obstinate jerks anymore, so...”

“Good. Sleep, love. We will wake you when it’s time to leave.”

“And not moments before? I wanna be able to pee and brush my teeth.”

He laughed. “Promise. Sleep.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes, purring at his ministrations on her instep for long moments before he felt her go slack as sleep took her.

Chapter 7

Opening her eyes to a darkened room, she felt the wrap of an arm around her and realized that she was in a bed. The scent surrounding her was that of Atticus and she smiled to herself. He must have carried her into one of the bedrooms when he got back.

She moved her legs, feeing the soft blankets on her naked skin. He must have stripped her pants off as well because she didn’t feel restricted and as she ran her foot over his leg, she smiled, feeling that he was pants-less too if the hair on his leg was any indication. Shimmying her rump, she smiled to herself as she felt his arm around her waist tighten.

"Keep wiggling like that and you won't be getting any more sleep," he murmured, voice gravelly with sleep. "I'm not a saint, Beauty."

Turning her head at the same time her hand gripped his thigh, she hummed. “Would that be so bad?” She was still pent up from their little liaison in the apartment, her body on edge, and the thoughts about hentai tentacle porn didn’t help squelch it either.

"Bad is not the word I'd use, no," he sounded amused in the darkness. "But I am worried you haven't had enough rest. You were exhausted earlier."

Growing bold, with the feeling in her core starting throb, she rolled her hips again in answer.

"Well okay then," he chuckled. "I guess we should pick up where we left off." Moving back so she could lie flat on her back, he kissed her hungrily, hands running over her, under her shirt, and searing heat over her naked skin. The kiss lasted eons, and her body was wiggling under his, hips rolling, back arching. Kissing alone had her writhing and needy. Then he was moving down her body, dragging her underwear off as he went.

"So, if I recall correctly, I was right about here," he joked, settling himself between her legs, thighs hooked over his shoulders, "and I was in the process of doing this..." he settled his mouth onto her core, plunging his tongue into her center as his beast rippled close to the surface.

Biting her lip, Sybelle whimpered. “Atticus...” The word was soft, her body all but lying docile for him, waiting for the onslaught of sensation. His tongue played, his lips sucked. All the sensation caused her core to pulse, her inner walls to shift and flutter, contracting, searching in vain for what she wished was there.

Atticus was there, loving her lazily, his hands on her thighs, her body arching of its own accord. “Fuck, that’s so good...”

She wanted more, but fuck, she wanted him naked. Reaching down, she started to rip at the clothing he did have on, having lost his sweater earlier, leaving him in a t-shirt and his boxers. “You need to be naked...” and she didn’t care what that meant.

"I'm kinda busy," he chuckled darkly. "It’s your first time, Belle. I know you want me and you're going to take me everywhere I want to give it to you, but trust me, you're going to need to get an orgasm or two on the scoreboard first."

“That has nothing to do with me dying to run my hands over you, Atticus.” She growled as she sat up and pulled her shirt and bra off quickly. The only thing she was left wearing was her fluffy socks. “Naked first, orgasm after.”

"Yes, ma'am!" Chuckling, Atticus stripped off his T-shirt. "I'm keeping the boxers on for now," he told her. "You're not ready for that yet. Now, where was I?" As he applied himself to thoroughly exploring her with his tongue once more, his beast ripped from his skin, tentacles swarming toward her as she writhed in ecstasy.

“Oh fucking hell... You don’t think I haven’t seen a cock before...” she moaned and arched, her body tingling everywhere his tentacles touched her. They crawled up her torso, curled around her breasts, nipples, the suckers creating suction, plucking, the feelings rushing to her core. She could probably come just from their play along her body.

A particularly long tentacle crawled up her, the feel of warm velvet running through her senses as he grabbed her arms and pulled them over her head. She was there, immobile, a mass of wriggling tentacles emanating from the body of her lover, taking her higher, and she’d never felt more sexy.

Core clenching, she felt his fingers dig into her hips and she cried out as the stimulation was enough to send her over the edge, the orgasm crashing around her, like waves, violent and needy. It only made her want more.

“You haven’t seen one like this,” he growled. "That's it, Beauty. Come for me again." One of his tentacles wrapped around her throat, suckers latching on to the soft skin there, sensing the blood rushing just beneath the surface. "You're mine," he growled. "Absolutely and utterly mine."

“Always,” she agreed, her hands grasping at the tentacles holding her, her fingers petting them as she purred. Then she felt something, she wasn’t sure if it was fingers or tentacles or his cock, playing at her entrance, but closing her eyes she licked her bottom lip as she felt an invasion, soft, slippery, thick but not too much. A tentacle played at her entrance, petted her, curled and moved inside her, but only just, her body tingling from the sensation as his tongue played once again on her clit, paving the way for so many better, bigger things. “Atticus...that’s so fucking good...so naughty...” The moan was guttural and she could barely recognize her own voice. “More...”

Smiling, he directed another tentacle to her opening, slipping it in beside the first as a third teased her back entrance, tipping her over the edge a second time, and he couldn't wait any longer. "I'm gonna take you now," he told her, his voice rough as he kicked off his boxers and moved over her.

“Finally,” she said, looking down her body to see the mass of tentacles that were protruding from his abdomen and sides, as if another completely different entity was melded within him. They were pearly white, lavender, the suckers closer to his body black with white rims. Scary? Kinda. The all but floating mass of them were on full display as he kneeled between her thighs. Tentacles played at her, suctioned to her skin, trailing down and around her thighs. She felt the two inside her now, as if they were twined, teasing her. Gods...how would it feel to completely be taken by them?

She watched his hand disappear under the mass of writhing tentacles, and knew he was stroking himself. A whimper escaped her lips. “Please...show me...” she said and the tentacles parted enough to see his hand stroking the shaft of his cock. Thick, long. She knew he was well endowed, but fuck, that was so beautiful. And the tentacles around it, stroking him as well, in time with the ones inside her, oh fuck it was so hot. Would they join in? Her mind went to the idea of them wrapping around his length. Yes. Yes, she wanted that, too.

She moaned and bit her bottom lip again. Fuck, he was so goddamn sexy, a dark god allowing her to look her fill. Tearing her gaze away from the mesmerizing sight of his hand and tentacles stroking his cock, she looked him in the eye. “Fuck, you’re beautiful...”

"That's my line," he chuckled. "Okay, sweetheart, this is going to hurt, but don't fight it, okay? You're as ready as I can make you and you can take it. Do you want it over with fast, or do you want me to work it in slow and gentle?"

“I want you...” she said, not caring either way. Christ, she could feel how wet she was, how wet the tentacles playing inside her were making her. “I want you how you want me, Atticus. Fuck, I’m so turned on right now, I fucking need it...” she said and in one swift motion, wrapped her calves behind his thighs pulling him closer, the action causing the tentacles inside her to go deeper. She moaned, the feel of it too good. “If you don’t get inside me, Atticus...”

"You asked for it." Positioning himself at her entrance, he drove into her in one powerful thrust, all the years of built up need making him lose control, frost flakes gently falling around them as the slick heat of her enveloped him with the barest resistance. The tentacles still around her thighs were slick with blood as he pulled out and worked his way in more slowly the second time. "You okay?" he asked, teeth gritted as he tried to contain himself.

She nodded and arched. “Oh gods...yes...” The tentacles around her breasts squeezed, the ones sucking on her nipples increased pressure and the ones holding her arms and her throat tightened enough that she felt her body respond, a flood of moisture coating him. Apparently she liked it a little rough.

"My girl likes a touch of pain, huh?" The thought almost unmanned him and he picked up the pace, driving into her as his tentacle tightened around her throat, holding her in place, forcing her to take his dick in a punishing rhythm that released the years of pent-up hunger that were driving his beast.

The moan was low, deep from her chest as she closed her eyes and completely surrendered to him, feeling the thick length of his cock taking her higher, causing everything inside her to tense. He was masterful, brutal in a beautiful way, and when she felt it, felt his tentacles twine around his cock as he surged forward, she cried out, the orgasm shattering anything she had left. “Atticus!” she screamed as the tentacles pinched her nipples hard, causing a second crest, her body thrumming, pulsing as he tightened around her everywhere.

Tentacles around her thighs held her as he pounded into her, wrapped around her waist, kissing and fondling her clit as she soared, boneless and free, another wave causing her to scream his name again, panting and purring as she started to come down. “Oh god... Att...” Her voice was hoarse as she realized she must have woken the whole house with her keening.

"You're mine," he gritted out as her third climax took him over the edge, spilling into her.

“Fuck...yes, finally...” she panted as she came back to herself, turning her head and running her tongue over the tentacle that was closest. “Fuck, I feel good.”

"That’s good, because if you don’t feel good, I'm not doing my job." His hips moved mindlessly as he worked through the last of his climax, forehead pressed to hers as he breathed a laugh. "You are fucking spectacular," he told her.

“No, that’s you...” she grinned. Panting, she pulled him down to kiss him, her tongue sparring with his, her body undulating under him. “Perfect...just fucking perfect.”

"I'm hardly perfect," he laughed, falling to the side and dragging her into his arms. "How are you feeling now? Sore? You want me to put the tentacles away?"

Grinning, she shook her head. “Sore? Kinda, but I’m supposed to be, right? I mean, you did it right so...” She leaned on his chest and ran her hand down the length of one of the thicker tentacles. “Other girls have a problem with them?” she asked softly and hummed. Her body was still thrumming and the velvety feel of them was erotic.

"Other girls never see them," he told her. "They're sensitive, you know? I can feel you stroking them. And I can taste everything the suckers touch if I want them to."

Oh, that was hot. “Just had to make it hotter,” she said. “I really like them.”

"I could taste your blood when I pulled out the first time," he admitted. "Is it wrong that it turned me on even more?"

“If you were anyone else...” she said and stroked his side, her fingers tangling with the tentacles there. It was highly erotic thinking about him liking the taste of her blood and she shivered, her nipples pearling from it. “I’m glad we waited...that was so fucking hot,” she said softly. “Never heard of a Monstera with tentacles.”

"There are a few of us out there," he replied, ignoring the fishing expedition. "I'm glad we waited, too. It took me a while to not get completely overwhelmed with sensory overload when they were out. When I first transitioned, even feeling the wind on them spaced me out for ten minutes just trying to parse through all the sensations. But now, if you want my monster, you can have it any time you want it."

Oh, goodie. Because she was going to want it. Constantly. “When you changed,” she said softly. “The first time. What was it like?” Probably not the best pillow talk, but she was sated, he was sated and she was so curious about him, about them all really. “I was so worried for you, for all of you. I would lie awake in bed in the house and think about you three...about you coming home to me.”

"My shift was..." he shuddered and turned away from her. “I guess you're going to find out sometime. In my half form I can pass for an octopus shifter, but the truth is I'm a Nyogtha...an eldritch abomination. In my full Monstera form, anyone that looks at me goes insane." He took a deep, shuddering breath. "I destroyed a lot of good people before I got it under control. That's why the king wants me in his inner circle. I'm almost as powerful as he is...if not more so. If I'm not with him, he'll destroy me. I'm too dangerous."

“Fuck that. He can try,” she said and wrapped herself around him, holding him close. His words sank in, along with the intent behind them, but it didn’t make her love him any less. “I’ll feed him his fucking heart before he does,” she said into his shoulder. “Nobody takes you from me.” Or any of them, but at least now it made sense to her why the king wanted him so badly, how he’d ended up on the fast track. “How did you get out of your little promotion to his court?”

"He doesn't trust me yet," Atticus said. "You have to work your way up the ranks. It takes time. I'm on the fast track, but I still need to make my name. I don't ever go full shift. Ever. And he's never been able to break me enough to do it. Not that he hasn’t tried." There was pain in those words and she squeezed him closer.

“Hmmm...” It made sense. “And with me...would your full shift hurt me?” She felt his tentacles receding a little, his skin coming back in pristine working order. She didn’t think it would hurt her. The monster part of him had seemed too intent on giving her pleasure, touching, feeling, dominating her. And if she was honest with herself, she very much enjoyed it and wanted longer sexy sessions with him and his beastly side.

"I don't know and I'm not willing to risk it," he said flatly. "No discussion on that, Sybelle. It's not happening. Ever. I would never forgive myself if I destroyed you."

“Fair enough.” Pulling him closer, her hand skipped through the mass of tentacles once again, down to his cock, her fingertips soft whispers on his skin. “But you are magnificent,” she whispered.

"Those are...stirring words," he said. "I hope you're ready for round two, because you are asking for trouble."

With a giggle she pushed him on his back and then straddled him, settling with his quickly growing erection nestled between her thighs. One quick movement and he could be inside her again. The tentacles between them, less than before but still there, were writhing again, crawling up her body to pinch and taste and suck. She arched, looking down at him and his hooded gaze. As a tentacle came up to her face, she set out her tongue, playing with it with the tip as she felt him twitch under her. He must like her playing with the appendage. “I’m sore,” she said with a slight twinge. “But I think we can manage. I can ride you, right?”

"With pleasure," he managed hoarsely, groaning as she settled herself on his tip and slowly slid down onto him. It was as agonizing as it was exquisite. The urge to demand that he grip her hips and thrust up into her was overwhelming, but she was sore and he sent one of his smaller tentacles to play with her clit, small suckers massaging it as she began to move. "You taste as good as you feel," he promised her, hands palming her breasts and squeezing them, adding a soft touch of pain to her pleasure.

Closing her eyes, she moved softly, slowly, her hips rolling. “Whenever I would touch myself...” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “I would think about this...about you...taking me like this...and the others...” She moaned and leaned down, her hips moving faster. “All three of you with me. Making me feel so fucking good...”

The tentacles and his hands were sending her back into the stratosphere, his cock pulsing inside her as she squeezed him. “Ah...fuck...Atticus... I’m so fucking close...”

"Take what you need, baby girl, because after that I'm taking what I need and it's going to be hard."

His words, the implication of them, tossed her over the edge. She shattered, her body shaking above him as she whimpered and shivered. “Yes...fuck yes, take it...”

He grabbed her hips and slammed up into her, hard and fast as he held her in place, tentacles spreading her thighs, tangled in her hair and dragging her head back, wrapping around her throat, dominating her everywhere while he speared her, over and over, until his climax took him and he lost control, slamming into her one last time as she slithered boneless onto his chest.

“Holy shit...” she panted and kissed him, just over his heart. “Mmmm...”

"If you're about to ask for round three, you might have to give me a minute," he laughed. "I'm powerful, but even I have my limits."

She kissed him again and sighed. “Oh no, I think you did more than enough.” Yawning, she snuggled in. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” She wiggled on top of him and his still visible tentacles.

"Hurting me?!" he scoffed. "Girl, you weigh about as much as my dick. I could bench press twenty of you. Hurting me..." He shook his head. "I ought to give you round three just for that alone." His words were big, but his arms were soft around her and his tone was teasing. "But you need to sleep or the guys will try and kill me in the morning."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. “Probably. Might kill you for all the screaming I have been doing.” She was quiet for a few moments. “Knowing I’m going to be with them, too... You...your monster...it’s okay with it, right?”

"If it were anyone but those two, I'd eviscerate them in a heartbeat but we've always known it was going to be us four. I made my peace with it a long time ago." He was thoughtful for a moment. "We've been through so much together, the three of us...we're closer than family. And I'm not going to lie; the idea of watching one or both of them take you does something hella dirty to my insides."

She looked up at him. “Oh yeah?” She had the same idea in her head.

"Well, pretty much everything you do turns me on, but yeah...that's a kink I would be happy to explore with you all. Especially if I get to direct."

She bit her lip and shivered. Gods, was he always this dominant? “Yes. Yes to all of it.”

"You're going to be the death of me," he laughed. "But at least I'll die a happy man." Holding her close, with arms and tentacles, he kissed the top of her head. "Sleep, sweet thing. Morning will be here soon enough."

Her sigh was sad. “And then we get back to reality. Atticus, just promise me something...promise me that no matter what happens, you don’t sacrifice yourself for anything. I can’t...” She looked up at him. “I can’t live without any of you anymore.”

"There are very few people on this planet powerful enough to take me down," he assured her, "and I've got all your backs. Even the king would have to try damn hard."

She nodded, snuggling into his warmth and closed her eyes. “I love you, Atticus,” she said before sleep claimed her.

Chapter 8

––––––––

“I’m surprised you are up,” Balthazar said to Atticus as he walked out of the bedroom. “Pretty sure you guys might have broken each other.” Offering his friend a cup of coffee, he smirked. “She still sleeping it off?”

He and Thorn had heard the damn near ecstasy that their girl was in with that tentacled menace, but he supposed it was good to know she was receptive and happy. Not to mention the fact that she clearly didn’t have any issue about what he was, and that really looked favorable for him and Thorn. Lord knew Atticus was the most physically daunting.

"Yeah, she's exhausted so I left her sleeping." He couldn't stop the smile on his face. "Sorry if we woke you guys up."

"You're not sorry at all," Thorn said flatly.

"Okay, I'm not sorry," Atticus laughed. "I mean, I do feel a bit bad because I know transfers between safe houses are dangerous and we need to be on our A game, but I just couldn't turn her down and she was pretty damn determined to go all the way."

“Several times,” Balthazar said to his friend with a smirk. “You tell her what you are?”

"Yeah...she wouldn't stop asking." Atticus frowned. "I mean, I feel like she accepts it academically, but seeing the fallout from a full shift is something else. I don't know how to explain to her how horrifying it is, or what it feels like to know you’ve utterly destroyed people by forcing them into a living hell."

“She has a right to know who lives in her heart,” Balthazar replied. “We all have to deal with this. And let’s be honest, you wouldn’t be this daunted if we ended up as anything else. Sy is a trooper, but more than that, she’s all in, always has been. She might be pissed with us right now, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are hers, and she is ours.” He took a sip of the strong tea in his cup. It wasn’t the one he favored, but he would have to wait ‘til they got somewhere he could buy it once again. “She is curious, and we need to assuage that curiosity with the truth.”

"Well I guess if we get attacked before we can get to the border, she's going to see the fallout first hand," he shrugged. "I'm not taking any risks with her. If they come after us, I'm going nuclear."

"We all will." Thorn squeezed his shoulder. "We won't lose her again."

“Amen to that.” Balthazar nodded. He knew without a doubt that his shifted form would probably give anyone else nightmares, but his Sy? No. She was going to handle it. “Thorn and I both did rounds already and showered. I suggest you do as well. Once she’s up, we can strip the bed and bleach the sheets,” he offered. “Her scent needs to be minimal here.” He scrubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “We also need to start thinking about exit strategies. I mean, I know Jenner has accounts in place for anyone getting out and such, but...” He looked to them both. “We need a solid plan of where we are going to end up. She wants a Light country. I say we give it to her...and not Canada. Someplace we can really give her security.”

"Hey, haven't you got some family connection in Scotland?" Thorn asked Atticus. "That's a Light territory. The king would never find us there."

"Yeah, I have cousins over there but we haven't spoken in forever." Atticus frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure how they would take us being Monstera."

"True. But you should still reach out," Thorn told him. "If they're cool with it, it would be a great option."

"But we'd never get all of us there," Atticus pointed out. "Do you have any idea how much transport for four would cost from here to Scotland? Even if we cleared out all our accounts and robbed a couple of places, we still wouldn't have enough."

“Yes we would.”

They looked over to see Sybelle there, wrapped in a blanket, leaning against the door frame.

“How?”

“Thorn’s parents,” she said softly. “When you didn’t come home and they decided to leave and go to Maine, they sold the house, along with the seventeen acres in Pennsylvania. They made enough on the house to move, but the acreage money? They gave it to me. Said the land had always been set aside for all of us to live there together when you came home and it wasn’t right for them to use it. It’s over two million.”

"You told us you were saving to get to the Light territories on your own," Thorn said slowly, sure he'd misheard her. "Why would you be doing that if you had two million in the bank?"

“Because it wasn’t my money,” she said. “It was ours. In the event I ever found you. We would need capital,” she reasoned and walked forward as she accepted a cup of steaming coffee from Balthazar.

"But we were gone for three years." Atticus was just as stunned as Thorn. "You thought we were dead. Why wouldn't you use it?"

“Hope,” Balthazar said, astonished. “She hoped to find us.”

She nodded. “Fanny told me that several males were sent to other countries after their transition, without word. One of hers was sent here, to help with the threat,” she said, taking a sip. “It gave me hope you might be out there...if I could leave here.”

“And the accounts?”

“Accessible through the Swiss banks. Thorn’s parents weren’t taking chances.”

"That's going to be difficult to access from here," Atticus said thoughtfully. "Especially if we try and take it all out at once."

"Well it's not a question for today," Thorn reminded them. "We need to get to Oswego and dig in there for a few days, get our bearings and make some decisions. We're not safe here."

"He's right." Atticus kissed the top of Sybelle's head. "Take your time here and get some breakfast, sweetness, but afterwards you'll need to take a shower while we clean down the place. I'll go for my shower now."

"I'll strip the sheets." Thorn pushed off from the counter. "I can burn them out back."

Sybelle blushed and ducked her head, but Balthazar gripped her chin and had her look to him. “You had fun, right?” She nodded. “Good. You okay?” She nodded again.

“A little sore...”

“Only a little? Baby girl, I am surprised it’s just a little.” He leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m going to make sure you feel me for days.” A quick kiss on her lips and she was blushing again.

“You aren’t pissed that Atticus...”

“What? Got to you first?” He shook his head. “It was always going to be him. Thorn and I are not worried. We know where we stand with you, Sy, always did. Personally? I’m glad it was him,” He smirked. “Cuz I don’t have to be as gentle.”

Her shiver, scent and blush told him two things. One, that she was totally into it, and two, that she couldn’t wait. Which was good, because he couldn’t either. By the end of it they would have their female craving what only the three of them could do for her...and it would be glorious.

"I'm not an asshole," Atticus threw over his shoulder as he headed for the bathroom. "It was her first time. Next time she'll feel me for a week. For now, I was giving her time to heal."

"Those sucker marks around her neck don't look all that healing to me." Thorn chuckled.

“Sucker marks?” she asked and frowned. “You marked me?”

“Clearly. We all will,” Balthazar said and smirked. “And you will love every minute of it.”

“So sure?”

“You loved that...” he said and ran his fingers along the marks on her throat. He had to give it to Atticus, they were kinda awesome, and anyone that saw her would know she was at least claimed by one male.

“Will they fade?” she asked as she turned and went to the mirror that was on the side wall.

"No idea." Atticus had stopped and turned, mesmerized by the sight of them. "I've never given them to anyone else before."

“The question is, do you want them to fade?” Balthazar asked as he leaned against the table.

“No...no, I don’t. I don’t want anything any of you mark me with to fade.”

“Then we make sure it doesn’t.” He winked.

"Just leave some space for the rest of us." Thorn bumped Atticus on the shoulder. "You don't need to cover every square inch with those tentacles of yours."

"Whatever." Still flushed with lust, Atticus took himself off to the shower, leaving the rest of them to get on with it.

Two hours later they were set, packed and ready to roll. Thorn had changed out trucks, and they were outfitted with a tan pickup crew cab now, with the extra cap to cover their supplies in the back. Sybelle had showered, eaten, and was dressed, looking both extremely beautiful and happy. Balthazar rubbed his hand over his chest, not for the first time, but seeing her smile, laugh, fall back into a routine with them so easily...it did his heart good.

And seeing the closeness she had now with Atticus, how she was eager to lean on him, let him hold her, kiss her...he knew it would be the same with Thorn and himself, and it was only a matter of time. He could wait, because he knew it was coming and his time with her would be sublime.

“So? Oswego?” she said as she hefted her bag, a backpack that they had found in one of the closets. It fit everything of hers and her purse, so she had called it taken and that was that.

“For a few days,” he offered as Thorn smiled at her. “Then north.”

She nodded and gripped his hand. “Who is driving?”

"Me." Thorn held up the keys. "Sit where you want. It's a decent drive so you can get in some more sleep if you need to."

“I think she needs to,” Balthazar said. “Sit with Atticus. I got shottie.”

She laughed and looked to their de facto leader. “You cool with a snuggle?”

"Does the pope shit in the woods?" He shook his head. "Scoot in here, girl. I got you."

“The pope?” she laughed and settled as they all piled into the vehicle.

“Take the parkway ‘til we hit the exit for 80, then take 20...back roads are easier,” Balthazar said as they left their temporary home for yet another. “We can hit 90 again once we get to Herkimer and then bypass Syracuse on 31 to take 48 in. Less highway time.”

He looked back to see Sybelle cuddled into Atticus, who had his arm around her, a blanket over them both. “Comfy?”

She nodded. “As good as can be expected in the back of a truck.”

"We could be having fun back here, but I don't want to distract Thorn from the road," Atticus teased. "So sleep it is. We'll watch the road for you, Beauty."

“Last thing we need is to die from watching that stunning woman having an orgasm,” Balthazar said and turned back around.

“Please...” She shook her head and then hunkered down. “Wake me when we get gas, yeah? I’m gonna have to pee.”

“You got it, baby.”

The drive after that was largely quiet, the three of them scanning the horizon, the road and the cars they passed. Normally the drive would take a little under four hours from where they started but, with the change ups, it was going to be more like six, which was just as fine, as they would make it in around dinner time.

They stopped about an hour in, at a rest stop and gas station just off the road to 80. Sy hurried to the bathroom, while Atticus and Thorn followed behind, one to use the facilities, the other to get some snacks. Balthazar was on gas duty and was setting the pump to fill when he noticed a car pulling in.

Black, an old school Jeep with the back bed exposed, the sight of the vehicle had his senses on high alert. He watched as they pulled into the farthest pump and four men got out, four men that looked more like mercenaries than day workers, which was what was prevalent in this area of the state.

The scent on them told him that they were not friendlies, the aroma of violence and hate stinging his nostrils. Attempting to keep it cool, he finished filling up and then pulled the truck to the entrance and waited, catching Thorn’s eye. He gave him their special signal, two fingers pointing up, then down and then it was a matter of moments before all three of them were in the truck.

“What happened?” Sybelle asked as they got back in, closing the door.

“Trackers,” Balthazar replied, looking at Atticus. “They didn’t go in, but they were gassing up.”

"How are they tracking us?" Atticus cursed and slammed a hand into the car door. "No phones...no GPS in the car..."

"Are you sure it's us they're tracking?" Thorn asked. "There were other names on that list."

"We can't take the risk it's not us," Atticus reminded him. "At the next stop we need to ditch this vehicle and find a new one, just in case."

"Good thinking." Thorn merged onto the main road. "I'll scout us a new one. Be ready to bail on the fly."

“Sy, you know how to use a gun?” Balthazar asked, his tone serious.

She nodded. “I haven’t ever killed anyone before...”

“That’s not what I asked. How’s your aim?”

She looked at him through the rearview. “As good as when our dads took us to the range.”

“And you kept it up?”

She nodded. “Girl alone and all that...”

“You don’t have a pistol, though.”

“Not with me, no, but back at my place.”

“Atticus, hand her the Glock under the back seat,” Balthazar said. “It’s loaded. I want our princess armed from here on out.”

"Last resort," Atticus told her grimly as he passed it across. "We are and always will be your first, second and third line of defense. If it comes to it, you hide when and where we tell you to and only come out shooting if it's not us coming in."

She nodded. “I’m not looking to get capped, Atty.”

They drove another twenty minutes before they made it to a two-lane highway. “Start looking for something soon, Thorny,” Balthazar said. “I don’t know about you, but my Spidey senses are tingling.” Which meant they were being followed. “We need to ditch and do it quick.”

"There." Thorn gestured to a parking lot at the next exit. "We're bound to find something I can hotwire in amongst all that. Keep your eyes peeled." They pulled off the highway at the last second, sending up a torrent of angry horns, and skidded almost sideways into the parking lot.

"There." Atticus pointed to a pick-up truck that was an early model but in good condition.

"Good spot," Thorn said as Balthazar slammed on the brakes. "I'll get us in. You transfer the stuff."

Less than two minutes later, they were coming out of the parking lot, the old vehicle settling nicely into a full-blown blazing fire. "How are your Spidey senses?" Thorn asked Balthazar as they joined the highway again. "We still being followed?"

He nodded. His other half, his beast, had a little bit of echolocation, and his sense of smell was better than both of them. “I can still smell them,” he said as he looked to Thorn. “Drive faster; get us into open country. I think we are about to get attacked.”

Chapter 9

Atticus turned in his seat, scanning the cars behind and around them, looking for the tail. "There," he pointed and Balthazar strained to see. "Black Honda Civic, four cars back. I recognize the driver—I've seen him at court." How the fuck were they tracking them? "We're going to have to take them all down," he said uneasily. "The only way they can be tracking us like this is if they have something capable of really good scent tracking or, more likely, psy tracking. We should have lost them when we changed vehicles."

"We haven't got the horsepower to outrun them," Thorn swore under his breath. "I was going for inconspicuous, not fast."

"That's okay. Zar is right; just get us away from all these people and into the countryside and we'll end this once and for all."

"Okay." Thorn took the next exit off the highway and sped across the junction, trying to put some space between them and the car chasing them while he looked for somewhere open to stage a fight. Unfortunately, instead of countryside the exit had taken them into some sort of warehouse district with broken down empty lots and damaged buildings.

"That'll do." Atticus pointed to a large open space where the chain-link fence had been smashed down and there was a gap big enough to pull a car through.

“Look for an exit point,” Balthazar said. “We get shut in a kill box, we are toast.”

Sybelle’s eyes had gone from wide to hard, the shrewd look in them calculating. “How many can fit in that car? Four? Three?”

Balthazar growled, “She’s right, it’s the first wave. I’ll expect that Jeep to be close behind.”

"We can take them," Atticus assured her, but he was already in kill-to-protect mode and didn't have time for pleasantries. "Two exit lines—one up onto the roof from the dumpster over there, and one in the back left corner."

"Can you keep up if we ditch the car and go over the roof?" Thorn cast a worried glance at Sybelle, even as he shoved open his door and un-holstered two Glocks, checking the magazines.

“I’m no parkour enthusiast...” she said and Balthazar cut her off.

“I can handle it.” He looked to them both. “Might be a big shock, but...”

"Fine," Atticus was going over his own weapons, the same Glocks as Thorn and a lethal Marine Corps issue knife in a holster strapped to his thigh. "The minute I give the order, you go to Balthazar. Until then, you stay in the car and you keep your head down. If I tell you to close your eyes, then you do it. Am I understood?"

“Of course,” she said with a nod.”

“Keep outta sight, love,” Balthazar told her. “If anything happens to you...”

“I know. Please be careful. All of you. I can’t lose any of you.”

Balthazar lifted his head and inhaled. “They are close.”

"I smell them," Thorn was also turned to the wind. "You're right. Two vehicles. Up to ten guys."

Atticus frowned. Ten was going to be close, especially if they were all armed. That was a lot of lead to be flying around. He wasn't worried about their ability to take bullets and survive, but he was worried that, even if he took on four and the others two at a time, it still left two to sneak around them. "We're going to have to take them down quickly. If they come too close, I'll go full form." It was their only option and he hated it, but he would do anything to protect Sybelle.

“Do what you can. I’m not helpless,” she said and checked the 9mm that Balthazar had given them. “If I can take a clean shot, I’m taking it.”

“Promise me you won’t look if I have to shift,” Atticus demanded. “You can’t afford to be curious. I’m not going to destroy your sanity by accident while trying to protect you.” Sybelle nodded, her eyes wide.

“Get ready...” Balthazar said as he jumped outta the truck and rolled his shoulders.

"I was born ready," Thorn joked. "Here they come."

Atticus sighted down his gun and fired two rapid shots that took out the front tires of the Honda Civic as it rounded the building, sending it careening off to one side. It hadn't been travelling fast enough to roll, but it did wind up facing backwards with the occupants falling out of the vehicle dazed. Thorn and Balthazar advanced on them, firing steadily, making sure to double-tap each head as the monstera went down, but Atticus stayed by their truck, waiting for the Jeep, which had swung into reverse as the Civic had gone wild and was sheltering in place behind the warehouse wall.

"First car clear," Thorn reported, returning to his original position as he switched out mags. "Five dead."

"Injuries?" Atticus was scanning the roof lines, trying to figure out which direction the second wave would come from now that they'd lost the element of surprise.

"None on our side," Thorn reported.

"Good. Balthazar, can you hear what the rest of them are doing?"

***

Everything about this scenario was wrong. Balthazar knew Atticus was worried about how they were being tracked, but more, the fact that the mercenaries were able to mobilize so easily. He knew they hadn’t left a trail from Kingston; they’d been too damn careful for that. Unless the Kingston house was being watched.

“Sounds like they are scrambling like pussies!” he screamed. “I can tell you where if I shift,” he said more softly. They all knew if he shifted, the Maangagual would want blood, and Balthazar would give it to him.

"Do it." Atticus didn't hesitate. "I don't want them anywhere near Sy if we can help it."

Balthazar pulled his jacket and shirt off and then gritted his teeth as his body exploded into the fearsome nightmare that was his Monstera in a heartbeat.

His height doubled, skin transforming to a black so dark it was deeper than night, the leathery scoops sliding down his arms to form the wings only slightly more disturbing than the fact that his fingers lengthened to claws, the tips like razors as the tail he sported came into view.

His face became a mass of ruin for moments, then rearranged into massive upturned back eyes, the nose an open hole with two sides, red and livid, and his mouth unnaturally wide, the teeth that protruded dripping with saliva and venom. His ears were last to form, the long points of the tips sharp and coated with poison as well. He knew he was a thing from the deepest of nightmares, he only hoped Sy could handle it. But that was for later. Now, he had to keep his female safe.

“Seven total.” His voice was distorted, gravelly, but they had both heard it enough to understand it. “Four to the left, just beyond the structure. Two coming from the right, over the other roof,” he hissed. “One trying to come from underneath, in the sewer.”

"You take the roof," Atticus commanded swiftly. "Thorn, we'll take out the four to the left. We should be back before the one underneath surfaces. Stay here, Sybelle."

“Not going anywhere...” she said, her voice choked. Balthazar didn’t turn to her, but nodded at Atticus and took off, silent on his feet as he took flight into the air to surprise their guests. His heart hurt hearing it, but he pushed it away. Regret was for later. Right now, the beast wanted blood.

***

"Thorn, take my six." Atticus ran for the left side of the lot, zig-zagging to make them a harder target to hit, with Thorn right behind him. Their attackers boiled around the corner and got caught completely by surprise, expecting them to have stayed with the vehicle. Two went down almost immediately, but then Thorn caught a stray bullet in the shoulder and roared, his monster form bursting free of his skin in a wash of blue rage, tusks and horns.

He tackled the guy that had shot him and they went down in a blur of fists and claws. The Monstera Atticus was fighting had shifted into some sort of wyvern and, despite taking three bullets to his chest, was spewing fire in an effort to keep Atticus back.

A body came flying down, landing in a lump of meat just to their right, the tell-tale rendering of Balthazar in his Maangagual form, the body dead on impact if not before.

Atticus was expecting raining body parts; his opponent wasn't. In the split second the wyvern's attention wavered, he lashed out with a tentacle and a flash of silver and disemboweled the beast. It crumpled in on itself, trying to shift, and Atticus finished it with two bullets to the brain. "Thorn, you got this?"

"Yes, boss." Thorn rose to his feet, rolling the shoulder he'd been shot in, and broke the monster's neck with a swift and well placed kick, following up as Atticus had with a double tap to the brain to be sure. "Last one..." Atticus turned to head back to the car, swearing as he realized they were too late. A manhole cover near the truck was popped off and there were feet just visible on the far side of the vehicle. "Sy!" he yelled. "Watch out!"

***

There was a lot to process.

The carnage that was happening around her was like a movie that was being filmed in front of her. It was both action packed and fantastical. Back in the twentieth, people would pay good money for this. Now, it was fucking reality and fodder for therapy.

If she were less of a woman that couldn’t handle seeing her men turn into the beasts they hid, anyway.

True, Balthazar was daunting, and seeing only the back of Thorn as he got shot and turned into a hulking blue thing had her covering her mouth, though it was more because of the fact that he was shot and less because he turned blue.

Seeing the carnage, the out and out violence they meted on the other males was...well, it was a turn on, considering they were doing it to keep her safe. They had kept their natures so well hidden till then, well except for Atticus, but she understood why. It was a lot to take in.

She would have to revisit seeing Balthazar transform like he did at another juncture. Her adrenaline was pumping too hard to process any feelings except focus and lust. Which was something she was going to have to revisit as well.

She watched as Atticus lashed out with a tentacle that was using a blade and gutted the giant dragon looking male, another nightmare she was going to have to process, when she saw them turn and start running as the manhole just outside of the car flew into the air and a large white worm looking thing with rows of teeth advanced.

“Sy! Watch out!”

Eyes wide, she didn’t think, just leveled the gun at the horror before her and emptied the clip, its maw going from rows of teeth to so much meat and pulp before it fell backward, dead and oozing blood and something green, like pus.

She realized that she was screaming as Atticus reached her.

"Easy now, you're okay." He eased the gun from her trembling hand and flicked the safety, tossing it into the front seat of the car.

"You nailed it!" Thorn was grinning brightly as he kicked the monster aside, the white gelatinous mound rippling grotesquely. "Nice one, Sy!"

"Thorn!" Atticus' voice was whip sharp and displeased. "Go see if Zar needs help."

“I’m good...” they heard in Balthazar’s normal voice as he walked up, half naked and back to his normal color, but covered in blood, his pants a ruin of brown and red. “She okay?”

She nodded. “I...are you guys...” she said, trying to blink back everything she just witnessed. “Thorn, you were...” she looked him over and saw his face, really saw it with the tusks and teeth, and swallowed. Why was his smile kinda sexy? “You were shot.” He shrugged and she watched as he tensed and pushed the bullet out of his body, the hole no longer seeping blood.

“Good. We have to go. Another car is coming. And fast.”

She looked to Atticus, then the other two. All were the worse for wear, covered in viscera and other things. They were all breathing heavily and the adrenaline was riding them, hard.

Goddamn it. It was the hottest thing she had ever seen.

***

"I'll deal with it." Atticus was fed up. "I saw a parking lot up ahead. Find a new car and leave your bloody clothes. I'll catch up in two minutes. And whatever you do, don't look back."

"Got it." Thorn hopped into the driver's seat as Balthazar piled in the passenger side.

"I mean it, Belle. Do not look back," Atticus warned her directly, his eyes serious, and then tapped the side of the car for them to go. He waited for them to exit the vacant lot and then ran to the corner of the road and waited for the car that was incoming. He could hear the scream of the timing belt as the driver crunched the gears and finally they came into sight, three blocks away and accelerating.

Atticus stepped out into the road and let his power loose, ripping open a hole in the fabric of reality that was all tentacle and a single eye that saw all. Power frosted the air around him, drifting snow out of a clear sky and feathering the road with ice in all directions.

The driver took one look at him and lost his mind, screaming soundlessly as he steered the car straight into a wall to escape what he'd seen. It went up in a fireball, killing all the occupants instantly, and Atticus took a deep breath.

Gods...the mantle of power felt good. He could end worlds...destroy time...but no. Belle was waiting for him. That was all that was important.

With some effort, he forced his monster back under control and turned to run the few blocks to the parking lot, praying that she'd followed his instructions and not turned to look.

***

Sybelle heard the scream and then a fireball lit up the sky behind them, causing Thorn and Batty to shield their eyes as they drove into the parking lot. Whatever it was that Atticus was doing, she knew intrinsically to listen to him and kept her eyes forward, even as they squinted with the bright light from behind them.

“Try every truck,” Batty said as they stopped. “We only have moments.”

Jumping outta the truck, she ran to the first one, finding it locked. Bypassing another car and then another, she made it to a larger suburban style truck and tried the handle. “This one is open!” she called and leaned in, seeing it had a full tank of gas. Sliding in, she started digging around, hoping for a set of keys somewhere.

Not in the visor.

Not in the glove box

Not under the seat.

She poked around under the driver’s seat ‘til she felt a scoop and pulled, a drawer coming loose. “Oof,” she said as she peered in and then pulled out a set of keys, what looked like a wad of cash, and a pistol. ‘Thank you to whoever is stupid enough to not lock his car,” she said as Thorn pulled her from the car. She jingled keys at him. “Who do you love?”

"You, baby girl. Forever and always." Helping Balthazar toss their belongings in the back was the work of seconds and he'd just lit the pick-up on fire with their bloody clothes in it when Atticus jogged around the corner, peeling off the tatters of his t-shirt and pants. "Can you get some clean clothes from my bag?" he called across, tossing the shreds into the fire.

“What if I prefer you naked?” she called as she started digging in his bag, pulling out pants and a long-sleeved thermal.

"For you I'd stay this way all day, sweetness, but it's not ideal if we come under attack again," he said with amusement.

"Or if we have to stop for gas," Thorn pointed out. "Or need to switch cars again. A naked dude draws attention."

And Atticus naked would draw tons of attention. The man was a work of fucking art. All that alabaster skin, hard muscle and dark hair. Gods below. She nodded and grinned. “I mean...” she shrugged, grinning, and tossed him sweatpants and the thermal. “Your sexy ass is riding in back with me,” she told him and swung up into the back of the car.

“And what about my sexy ass?” Batty said from shotgun.

“You wanna sit back here, too?”

“Yes...yes I do, but we can switch off later. Let’s go.”

Laughing, Atticus climbed in, sadly clothed, and she went into his arms immediately, needing the closeness, but also something more, like a tether pulling her to him that only stopped pulsing after she was in his lap, enclosed in his arms.

The rest of the drive passed without concern, even though they switched cars twice more. It seemed that the three cars they'd taken out were the only ones trailing them, for now.

Now, idling in front of a house in the woods, all she wanted to do was get inside, get warm and maybe have a shower.

"Thorn, take the car and keep going,” Atticus ordered, watching the road as he pulled his bag out. “Lay trails of ditched and burnt out cars for a couple of hours more. Zar, you stay here and watch over Belle while I clear the house and surroundings."

"You got it." Thorn left the engine idling as the others took out the bags and Atticus disappeared into the house.

“You think they knew we were coming here?” Sybelle asked.

Balthazar shook his head. “No chance. This place isn’t on anyone’s radar. If anything, they might be looking for us in Buffalo, but that’s a few hours from here still. They wouldn’t think of Oswego. There’s nothing here but an old SUNY school, bars and skiing. Not even a ferry to get across Superior.”

She nodded to him and watched lights start to go on in the odd-looking house. Seeming to be made out of corrugated steel and glass, it had a flat roof, large windows and seemed to be built upon itself, creating a geometric paneled façade.

“How did you find it?”

“I have my ways,” he said softly. “Do you like it?”

“It’s different.”

“That it is. Look, I know we have to talk about...”

She held up a hand. “It’s okay, Batty.” Smiling, she chuckled. “So apt that the nickname fits both sides of you.”

“We still need to talk.”

“And we will,” she said softly as Atticus came into view.

“All clear?” Batty asked, seemingly letting their conversation go.

"It's empty," Atticus nodded. "You guys go on in. I'm going to scout the perimeter for exit strategies and sight lines. I'll be in shortly."

They walked in as Thorn took off with the truck and she was not ready for what awaited them inside.

“Holy shit,” she exclaimed as she looked around the semi-circular room, looking up at the spiral staircase. “Where did you find this place?”

Balthazar wrapped himself around her from behind. “Let’s just say I always planned to bring you here, Sy...either with Atticus and Thorn or alone.”

“How...why?”

“Don’t think about it, okay? Let’s just enjoy it while we can,” he said softly. “And let me give you the grand tour.”

She nodded and let him lead her into the house proper.

Chapter 10

To say bringing Sybelle to this house made Balthazar nervous would be an understatement. The property was one of the only things he had kept secret from the other two, having purchased the place with his fathers when he was twenty as a possible getaway for the family going forward. They knew that once he made the transition, their little family would grow, especially with the addition of Atticus and Thorn. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Sybelle would be his, theirs, and they would have to plan for it.

Back in the day, a female’s family gave a dowry. These days it was more about the males making a grand gesture for the woman they planned to make a life with, at least within the confines of the society they had all grown up in. Their parents had all planned for their sons to make a go of it in this new world, and it didn’t surprise him one bit that Thorn’s family had given Sybelle all that money from the land sale. That was to be their gift to her as well.

Atticus? He knew the man had his secrets from early on, and he was sure it had something to do with extended family, which was why he was slightly aloof when they mentioned Scotland. Either way, and regardless of how long they would be at this property, he wanted her to love it, as it had been set up and built with her in mind.

“Everything is in circles?” she said as they walked through the circular entry, past the stairs and into the middle circle, the massive living room dominated by the overlarge lounging couch. “Holy shit. Batty...”

“Cool, right?”

“Yeah, it’s fucking amazing.” She turned in the circle and stopped at the television over the fireplace, a bit out of date, but it was still there. “Wow. That fireplace is boss.”

“Yeah, it will heat this whole place, too,” he offered. Come on.”

He took her to the right. “Kitchen and small dining area, to the left is the sun room. And you can see the pool.

“It’s...wow.”

“And out the back there is a deck with a massive outdoor fireplace.”

“And upstairs?”

“Three bedrooms, bathrooms, closets...and under us is another bedroom, and the garage and some outdoor space. It’s a little outdated...”

“Are you kidding? It’s fantastic,” she said with a smile. “When did you buy it?”

“Long time ago. We bought it and fixed it up. After we left and my parents...” he shrugged. “When I knew we would be looking for you, I made some calls. It’s yours...well, ours.” He smiled. “Say you like it.”

“I love it, Batty.” Walking over to him, she pulled him to her and kissed him, wrapping her body around his. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“We could be happy here. We were supposed to be happy here.”

She nodded as they heard the door open. “Atty? Thorn?”

"Just me," Atticus called out. "Keep doing what you're doing. I still have a couple of things to square away."

“We are in the kitchen,” she called through the house and shook her head. “So, four bedrooms...”

He nodded. “One for each of us,” he offered. “Pool is heated, too, once we get the fireplace going. My dads, they rigged it so the house would run off-grid.”

“Handy,” she said “And you are, we are, safe here?”

He nodded. “I wouldn’t have brought us here if I didn’t think so. Let’s go see your room, yeah?”

“Oh, you know which is mine already?”

He laughed. “Come on.” They traveled back through the enormous living area and then up the stairs, Atticus nowhere to be seen. He was probably on the bottom floor. They made it to the second-floor landing and the circular walkway that led to the rooms. He steered her toward the left and into a massive bedroom, with a huge circular bed in the center.

“This is swank,” she said as she ran over to the bed and jumped on it. “And huge.” Sitting up, she looked to him. “Just what did you think would be going on here, Batty?”

Without missing a beat he grinned. “Fucking...lots and lots of fucking.”

“This bed is orgy-sized.”

He nodded. “Who knew how many males you would ultimately get?” he said softly. “We hoped for all of us, but...”

She shook her head. “It’s only ever been the three of you in my heart, Batty.”

“Good, because sharing with each other? Fine. But none of us would ever share with a non-Monstera.” No, their natures would not allow it. Brothers at arms, sure. Other strong males that can keep their mate safe, totally. But no one was stronger than Monstera, and the only Monstera she would have would be them.

“Good, because I like my Monstera.”

He arched a brow. “Even after you saw me, saw us?”

She crawled to the edge of the bed and nodded. “I’m not going to lie. It was daunting and...crazy, but it’s also kinda hot.” Her voice got low. “Will you change completely when we...?”

He shook his head. “Partial, no facial. I will at least spare you that, though I should warn you. He wants to hurt, to rend, to...slice,” he said. “I won’t be gentle with you, Sy, though I’m going to try like fuck. Not until it marks you, and it’s not as easy as Atticus and his bruises,” he said, running his fingertips along her throat. “It’s going to hurt.”

Coming up to her knees, she fit her lips against his and then licked at him. “I trust you, Balthazar.” Her voice was a whisper just for him. “I know you will make it good...just like Atty did...and it won’t matter. I’m in. All in...”

Growling as his mind ran toward a fantasy of her naked and begging his shifted form for its cock, he reached down, grabbing her by her thighs and flipped her back, his body coming down on top of hers in a flurry of kisses and hands. They kissed, his body fitted between her thighs as she rolled her hips up into him and moaned into his mouth.

Breaking the kiss, he sighed. “Not now. Fuck, if we start right now I’m going to be on you for days,” he hissed and shook his head.

“That doesn’t sound bad.” The words coming out of her kiss-swollen lips almost ended him.

His cock shot hard at the admission. Fuck yes, she wanted it. Wanted what he could give her. “Tonight...” he said softly. “Tonight, my love. That’s a fucking promise.”

“It better be.” She kissed him once more, nipped his lip and then was off the bed, walking into the large bathroom and then back out. “Bathroom is nice. Let’s see the other two rooms.”

***

Outside in the snow, Atticus hacked at the branches covering the exit at the south end of the garden. He wanted at least five exit routes available if they got attacked and he was always going to plan as though they would be. There was never going to be a day he didn't keep his Beauty as safe as he could possibly make her. She was his...his one true love and his responsibility, same as Balthazar and Thorn. They were closer than brothers and it was his job to watch out for them.

He hadn't asked to shift to something so powerful. Most days he still couldn't believe it was happening, it felt so fucking surreal. He was just so damn grateful that Sybelle hadn't turned away from him. He'd been afraid that she would be repulsed by the tentacles or the way his monster needed to dominate her, but she'd taken to it like she was born for it...for him. He couldn't stop the smile on his face at the memory of the way she'd looked as she rode him, head thrown back in ecstasy, her throat marked by him...gods, it was so fucking hot. He couldn't believe how lucky he was, how lucky they all were.

Sy was a fucking blessing and he was so grateful. Clearing the last of the branches, he straightened up and looked back toward the house where the lights were blazing against the snow and smiled. It was time to go back inside to his woman.

Chapter 11

The wind was whipping outside enough to slightly shake the windows on the house and Sybelle watched them warily as she cuddled on the couch with Balthazar. They had gone through the house, seeing the other bedrooms, which were Spartan, containing nothing more than a bed, dresser and side tables. There were two upstairs and then one downstairs, which was much like her own on the second floor. Then Balthazar had set up a fire, the house getting warm quickly, and had brought her some coffee and a blanket to sit on the enormous couch.

“The windows will hold up,” he assured her, noticing her concerned gaze. “My dad designed them so the house itself moves with the strong winds, even an earthquake, but this place won’t fall down. The glass is tempered and, short of a truck being thrown through it, we are good to go. Don’t worry.”

“Just a little daunting. I haven’t seen that before.”

“The city doesn’t get the weather they get up here. I mean the lake is literally only two miles away.”

Okay, that made sense. She knew all about lake effect weather, causing things to be more turbulent than they would be on land. Settling in, her legs across Balthazar’s lap, she sipped her coffee as they watched the fire dance and crackle. It had been almost four hours and they were expecting Thorn back soon, but she had yet to see Atticus and, to tell the truth, she was getting worried.

“So what’s the plan again? Here for a few days and then...”

“Then we move on for a while. I’m glad we are going to get to spend time here, even if it’s just a small while.”

“And we can always come back.”

He nodded and sighed. “I hope so.”

His arm snaked around her and pulled her into his lap, where she snuggled in and closed her eyes. The man smelled amazing, fresh like peppermint or spearmint, with a spicy undertone that had her seeking out the skin on his neck and inhaling. It was, like Atticus, intoxicating. “Why do you smell so good?”

“Pheromones,” he said simply. “When I’m around you, my scent changes a little, the pheromones working to keep you interested.”

“Is it like that with all girls?”

He chuckled. “No. Any other girl I have had the occasion to be with has never changed my scent, or called to me in anyway. They were just a means to an end.”

“How many?”

“Huh?”

“How many means to an end?”

He chuckled. “Jealous?”

“A little.”

“Seven,” he said evenly. “And not one of them meant a thing to me.”

“They must have meant something to you.”

She felt him shake his head. “Means to an end.”

“Explain.”

He sighed and held her closer. “Being where we were, there are certain things expected of you, fighting and fucking being the main two. The Monstera King wants his army compliant, and he’s got group girls, ones that...take care of each regiment. We are required to spend time with them. So we did. I think it’s his way of trying to breed out on females...”

“And the girls? Are they...”

“Largely there by their own will. I have heard tell that they are even allowed to choose their groups, so it’s not all bad for them, but some...” He shook his head. “We were good to ours. We never hurt her, never went further than needed.”

She was quiet a while. “All of you?”

He nodded.

“And the girl?”

“Let’s not talk about her.”

“I need to know...” she said softly. “Were you with her, together?”

He was quiet a few moments. “Not all three of us, no.”

“But two.” Again, he nodded. “Who.”

“Thorn and I.”

“Not Atty?”

“I think the king didn’t want him to possibly beget a child on anyone but a female of his own choosing. Jenner thinks he’s trying to breed specific traits.”

“Surely you guys used...”

He laughed. “Condoms? Sweetheart, unless you’re in at least a triad, it won’t work, and since the fractals came, all STDs have been rendered impotent to the point of eradication.”

That was news to her. “I see.”

“Look, don’t think on it. I don’t, and neither do they. Our end game has always been you. Always. Always trying to get back to you. Don’t think badly of us.”

“I don’t.” And she was telling the truth. Knowing her males were at least good to the girl... She knew Atticus and Thorn would never tell her any of this, but Batty, he was always honest to a fault. She hugged him close and sighed. “Where the hell is Atticus?”

"Right here." He blew through the door in a blast of arctic air. "I was just clearing exit routes in case we get attacked. It was a bit overgrown back there."

The door crashed open again. "Can someone help me get the groceries in?" Thorn staggered in with a couple of bags under each arm.

"You stopped for groceries?" Atticus frowned, even though he headed to the door to help.

"Yeah, there's a hella storm blowing in over Lake Superior," Thorn explained. "It's looking rough. We're probably going to be snowed in for a few days, so I thought we should stock up on supplies since we don't know the lay of the land all that well here."

"Good thinking," Atticus approved. "I'll help you grab the rest."

"Thanks."

Batty was up in a flash to grab the bags they had and she rushed over to help as well. In moments the two of them were in the kitchen, unpacking bags, and she was extremely impressed. Meat galore, vegetables, potatoes, rice, stock and chocolate were in these first few bags and she marveled at the amount. Then again, three healthy males in one house...

“Our metabolisms are a bit higher than most altered males,” Batty said as she eyed the copious amount of steaks and beef.

“And you have to remain fighting fit,” she said with a smile.

The other two walked in then, a cold gust preceding them.

"It's turning mean out there," Atticus shook his head. "Thorn definitely made the right call. Looks like we're going to be snowed in for a few days."

"Can't say I'm broken up about that," Thorn said, grinning at Sybelle. "I plan to spend a long time...catching up with you."

She went to him and hugged him. “Thank you for the forward thinking.” She leaned up and kissed his mouth softly. “You okay? Everything okay?”

"I'm good." He grinned. "I'll be better when I've made some hot food for my girl to keep away those winter blues."

"What about us?" Atticus asked. "Don't we get some hot food, too?"

"Sure thing, brother." Thorn didn't take his eyes off Sybelle. "But you know my girl is where it's at."

"I hear you." Amusement clear on his face, Atticus left them to putting things away and went to batten down the hatches, checking the doors and windows were locked against the falling night and the coming storm.

“Can I help?” she asked as she helped them put away all the perishables in the fridge, as Batty put the canned and boxed stuff in the pantry. Spying a particular box, she all but squealed. “You got my tea,” she said and launched herself into Thorn’s arms, hugging him. “It’s been so long since...”

"I didn't forget," he said quietly. "I'll never forget. You're my girl and I know what's important to you."

Holding him close, she kissed him again. “You are important to me.”

“Well look at that. He got my tea as well,” Batty said with a smirk. “Don’t take all that sugar, Thorn. Leave some for the rest of us.”

"I think she’s got plenty to go around," Atticus teased, a dark note of lust to his voice.

Shivering, she took a step over to Atticus who was leaning against the door frame and pulled him into a hug and kiss as well. “Thank you for your labors outside as well. So? What are we making for dinner?”

"I'm planning to fire up the grill and sear us a few steaks," Thorn smiled. "Hand-cut fries, homemade slaw...sound good to you?"

She beamed. Just like when they were back at her parents’ house in the summer. “Oh, Thorn... But it’s freezing outside.”

“The deck has a small section that is inside-ish,” Batty said as he pointed. “It’s where the grill and the smoker are. Don’t worry. He won’t freeze out there.”

She nodded. “Okay. That sounds amazing.” An awesome welcome home meal, with the only people she really ever wanted to spend time with. “Everything is...” she trailed off and smiled, closed her eyes and inhaled, letting the tension she didn’t even realize she was keeping bleed away. “This place is just freaking amazing. Who is picking what bedrooms?”

Batty smirked. “Planning things?”

“I just like to know where everyone is, in case I catch a fright,” she teased.

"You choose, sweetness," Atticus shook his head. "We go where you want us to."

Batty looked to them. “Two upstairs across from the master,” he offered. “One down on the bottom floor.”

“You guys choose,” she said.

“Right, because it’s not going to matter either way. I foresee the four of us ultimately in that big ass main suite.” Balthazar winked at her.

A shiver ran through her again, and her body thrummed. Batty chuckled. “Oh, she likes that idea.”

"I bet she does." Atticus' eyes heated. "I'll take the ground floor. Down here I can be the first line of defense when the snow lifts. Until I'm invited upstairs, anyway. And I expect an invite, baby girl. You're going to tell me you want me and you're not going to be shy about it. You hear me?"

Biting her bottom lip, she nodded to him. Gods, did she want him? Every fucking second. Her body remembered what it felt like to be under him, held down, loved. Telling him she wanted him wouldn’t be a problem. Ever.

“Then I got the left room,” Batty said. “Thorny, the right has a higher ceiling,” he offered.

"Thanks. I'll take it." Thorn grinned, slicing potatoes like a pro. "I wouldn't mind hearing when you want me, too, cupcake."

She looked at Thorn. Her big, quiet man. He wasn’t like Atticus or Balthazar; he was different on such a visceral level. Oh, sure, he was monstrous and vicious, but his countenance was always one of intelligence and quiet grace. He always intrigued her mind, with his knowledge of things, of his lust for learning. It was sexy to her as a teenager, and it was sexy now. His need to know had made him such a good cook, and she knew that if things had been different he would have come through the transition focusing on things like cooking.

Leaning against the counter next to him, she looked up. “I would take you right now, Thorn,” she said and ran her hand along his arm. “But something tells me,” she leaned in to him, “our first time would do much better in a bed, instead of a counter.”

Batty chuckled and pulled out some of the cider Thorn had come back with.

"Good to know. And agreed." Thorn kissed her forehead. "I'll be ready when you are. Now get out of my kitchen. I've got this covered."

"Yes, sir," Atticus chuckled. "Shout if you need us. I'm going to stock up on firewood before it gets fully dark. I expect we're going to need a lot of it. Zar, you might want to check around and see if there are any candles and matches available. If there are any power cuts, it would help to have them at hand. Flashlights, too, if they're around."

“There should be a decent amount of firewood, just outside of the garage down on the bottom floor,” he offered to Atticus. “And some inside the garage. And I know just where the candles are.” He winked. “Baby, go sit in the living room and relax, yeah? We will join you in a few...”

She shook her head. “Thorn told you two to get outta his kitchen, not me. Go. I’m going to help.”

Batty chuckled. “Thorn, I’m sorry you’re going to have to work with a hard-on,” he said as he walked outta the kitchen proper.

"I think I'll manage," Thorn smiled. "If you want to stay and help, you can peel and grate that radish for me."

Nodding, she rummaged through the closest drawers, found a peeler and set to work. Alone with her Thorn, she smiled, remembering when they were younger, before they left, the time they spent in the kitchen together. She couldn’t cook for shit but she was a wonderful helper. “This place is nice,” she said, working at the radish with the peeler. “Makes me wonder about your plans for the land in Pennsylvania, once upon a time.”

"It was always going to be us," Thorn told her, a soft smile on his face. "You, me and the boys. You know, I know we never expected to be Monstera and the road since we changed has been...horrific...but I'm still glad for the fractals, you know? Because it makes it okay for us to all be together. We've always been four. I don't think I could have dealt with you choosing just one of us. I'm glad you don’t have to."

"I wouldn't have," she said with conviction. "Even before the fractals, I would have kept you three. I have read accounts of poly relationships before the fractals. That would have been us...well, to a point."

"Yeah, but it wouldn't have been easy," Thorn told her. "We would have been judged. You would have been judged. And we wouldn't have been brought up in a world where poly is normal and encouraged. We might not have been as okay with sharing as we are now."

She considered this. “True, but I don’t think the fractals showing up would have changed the fact that I love all three of you, or that you are the only thing that matters to me. It wouldn’t have been easy, but I like to think we would have made it work. I mean, if the fractals weren’t here, and you loved me like you do now, and others loved me, too, would you have denied any of us that?” She knew this was a form of foreplay with him, getting him to use his mind for what could be seen as a moral dilemma.

"I wouldn't have, no, but I'm not the dominant guy here," he shrugged. "Atticus might not have been as willing to accept my kinks as he is now."

She arched a brow. “And what kinks are those?” she asked, sidling up to him again.

"He likes to watch. I like to be watched." He caught her around the waist. "I also like being told what to do. I mean, I will take you on my own and I will dominate every inch of you, cupcake, and I'm going to love every fucking second of it, but I'm not gonna lie...when Atticus tells me to hold you down on my cock until you can feel me tickling your tonsils, it's really gonna get my rocks off."

Her breath hitched on a gasp at his admission and her body arched into his of its own accord. Why were they teasing her so goddamn much? All of them caused things in her body to clench, stir and throb and she was sure that they knew it, too. Atticus and his knowing glances, Batty and his flirting, and Thorn with the out and out admission of largely restrained violence. The idea sent wild thoughts to her brain and she swallowed thickly. Gods, she wanted all of that. Wanted what she should have had already for three years. Her hips rubbed against his again, as her fingers dug into his sides. “Thorn...” she whimpered and inhaled, his scent surrounding her like Batty’s did. Pheromones. It wasn’t like she needed them; she was literally raring to go.

"Yes, baby girl?" His lips hovered over hers, teasing a kiss.

Reaching up, she passed her lips across his and whispered, “I have never done that before.”

"Which part? Give me specifics. I want to hear that dirty mouth of yours."

Licking her lips, her mind in a daze, completely obsessed with this new development with her quiet love, she decided to be honest and push past any embarrassment and try to give him what he wanted. With Atticus it would have been easy; he just expected it and she gave it without thinking. Batty? He wouldn’t even ask, preferring to just do. But Thorn, she felt naughty and a little dirty answering him. “I have never sucked a cock before, Thorn...”

"That's okay, sweetheart. I can tell you how I like to be taken, how I want to push past those sweet strawberry lips of yours while you look up at me. I'm gonna hold your hair and fuck your mouth gently at first, but if you like it a little rough, I can take it right down your throat, baby girl."

His words caused her stomach to bottom out and she clenched her thighs together, trying to hold back a moan. Did she like it rough? Lord knew what Atticus did was not considered sweet. Still, the thought of him taking her, of Atticus there, Batty... She did moan then and shudder, her body alight. “All those things,” she bit out, before she kissed him, her mouth on his in seconds, needing the contact. She arched into him, rubbing against him, anything to get friction.

"Turn around," he ordered, twisting her in his arms and shoving his hand down the front of her pants. Her ass slammed into his cock as his fingers slid across her clit and she shuddered against him. "That's it," he whispered encouragingly, circling his other hand around her throat and squeezing gently. "Come for me, baby girl. Come on my hand like the desperate sweet little thing you are."

Boxed in, she swallowed and let go, her body strung tight in his embrace as she gasped out her pleasure, made so much better by how he held her. Possessive, with a restrained violence she didn’t know she needed, but also tender, her hips rolling into his hand as he played her like a fucking virtuoso.

“Thorn...” she breathed, stringing his name out as her orgasm caused her to shudder, closing her eyes and letting go completely.

She felt her body sparkle from the inside out, heard him groan as his fingers slid between her folds, stroking through what he did to her, what he made her do. Wet, she was so fucking wet it wasn’t even funny.

"That was fucking beautiful," he murmured in her ear. "I can't wait to do it again." Withdrawing his hand, he let her go and deliberately licked his fingers, looking her in the eye as he did so.

Licking her own lips, she watched him and palmed his generous length through his jeans. Thoughts, fantasies swam through her head, all the filthy things she wanted to do, to have done to her...

“What is going on here?” Batty said as he walked in and grinned. “You know...there is this scent coming from the kitchen and it has nothing to do with what you’re cooking.” He looked at Thorn. “Or maybe it does. Shot my cock so hard.” He gave her a meaningful look. “Though you look sated. Did Thorn take care of you?”

She nodded, eyes heavy-lidded. “Such good care.”

"Now if you'll let me get on, I can finish dinner," Thorn grinned. "Not that I mind the interruption at all. You can interrupt me any time, sweetness."

"Pretty sure you just rocked her, Thorn." Batty grinned. "Come on, baby. Come keep me and Atticus company."

"See you in a bit, sugar," Thorn grinned.

She gripped him through his pants and smiled. "Love you."

"Love you, too. Now go play nicely with my boys. I got stuff to do." He kissed her hard and then gently shoved her in Balthazar's direction.

Taking Batty's hand, she followed him into the living room and spied Atticus dropping more wood by the fire. Batty wrapped himself around her. "Candles, matches, wood. Though that fire is nowhere near as hot as what Thorn just did to our girl."

"Oh yeah?" Atticus stopped what he was doing and straightened up. "You want to tell me about it?"

“Yeah, love...you wanna tell Atticus what Thorn did to you to have that delectable scent of yours filling this entire house?”

Shuddering in his embrace, little reminders of Thorn’s hands on her made her squirm, though it was exacerbated by Batty’s hands sliding up her torso, to roll over her nipples and then down.

“Oh...” she said softly, the sensation sliding to her core once more.

"Damn...it must have been good if she's that lost for words," Atticus chuckled. "Maybe after dinner we should ask for a repeat performance so we can watch it firsthand."

“What do you think, baby?” Batty said in her ear as Atticus prowled toward them. “You want to show us what Thorn did?” He chuckled as she nodded her head and then slid his hand down her pants and groaned. “Oh fuck, she is soaking through these panties...”

"Who's my dirty girl?" Atticus said, quietly pleased as he cupped her cheek and gave her a sweet kiss in deliberate counterpoint to his words.

Arching both into Batty’s hand as he played in the slickness, and Atticus’ kiss as his tongue teased her lips, she felt undone, wanton and needy. And then they were both gone, Batty’s fingers in his mouth as he sucked with a groan, and Atticus looking at her like he was going to devour her.

“That’s...that’s not fair,” she said and pouted.

“The hell it’s not.” Batty grinned from the couch. “We keep that up and we won’t eat. I mean, we will, but...” he winked. “You are way better as dessert. Come, sit and relax, love.”

Reaching for Atticus, she took his hand and pulled him with her to the couch. Oh, she could relax. As keyed up as she was, it was the first time she had felt comfortable or safe in two days without the underlying threat of capture. Her men were relaxed and she wouldn’t waste the opportunity.

Chapter 12

The evening was everything she had hoped a homecoming would be. A fabulous meal, great conversation, if a little skewed toward the naughty, and a relaxing time by the fire. Batty and Thorn played chess, like they used to, Batty getting his ass handed to him, while Atticus cuddled with her and they both read. It was sublime and perfect and she knew it was their way of proving regardless, they could be normal and make a go of it.

And she had fallen so much further in love with each of them.

With the wind howling outside, the sheer darkness around them, she knew the storm beyond the walls was raging and they would end up with a completely new landscape to view come morning. Though she could see through the trees the glowing fractals that lit up the sky above, through the cover of the blanket of clouds as they moved.

The guys had insisted she go for a soak, which she did, of course, and she relaxed in the hot water, with her own small fireplace that Balthazar had banked and settled for her. The water was lulling, relaxing, and the almond scented oil, a favorite from back before they were split up, made the bath that much more decadent. It seemed Batty, the Balthazar of before, had really thought of everything when it came to this house, her comfort and the comfort of the four of them in general.

She loved everything about the haven they had created for her, from the massive clawfoot tub that could easily fit two, to the house with all its extras, a place they could all relax. Thoughts on the pool, the one thing they had all kind of kept away from so far, came to mind. The idea of them playing and splashing in there was a childhood idea, like they used to do at Atticus’ parents’ house, in their teen years. Good memories, ones that had her smiling and giggling to herself as she recalled the time they played chicken in it, and how she had trounced Thorn, knocking him into the water. That wouldn’t happen now, of course, but she remembered how triumphant she felt when she did it.

Thoughts of Thorne came to mind then, of the little scene in the kitchen, and she squeezed her thighs together. Gods, but it was just fucking sexy that he was such a surprise. Dominant, and his dirty talk game was on point. She had half-expected it from Atticus, and he had delivered, but nowhere near the level of Thorn. Shivering, her nipples tightening to little pebbles, she sighed and slid her hand down her body, the oily water slicking as she did.

And Balthazar, lord her Batty was dominant, but so restrained it wasn’t even funny. The touch of his hands, the glide of his fingers between her folds... She squeezed her thighs together once again and bit back a moan when she slid her hand between. She could still feel him there, softly probing, and bit her lip as her own fingers blazed the same trail.

Many a night she had laid in bed, her fantasies of them keeping her grounded but only this side of satisfied, as she didn’t know what it would feel like, how they would taste...only the feel of her own skin. Now, now she knew and this pseudo masturbation was not cutting it.

She slipped from the tub, grabbing a towel from the side of the fireplace, where they were warming, and patted herself dry. Then she grabbed the teal blue robe that was hanging on the door. They had shaken out all the linens that they had found and then laundered them, along with their clothing, so it was fresh, clean, and the terrycloth was interesting on her sensitive and oily skin. Not exactly scratchy, but the drag was highly erotic. Being horny was all there was, and she knew exactly how to assuage it.

Feeling naughty, sexy and needy, she padded through the bedroom and out into the hall, then across to Balthazar’s room. They had unfinished business after all.

“Sy,” he said as he sat up in bed, the slight light from the window showing an impressive expanse of chest, naked to her gaze. “You okay?”

Not saying a word, she closed the door and shed the robe, then walked toward him. She heard him growl and then she was in his lap, straddling him on the side of the bed. “Oh fuck, you are so slippery,” he said into her shoulder as he kissed her clavicle. “And hot...your scent... Do you need this, baby?”

Never in her life had she felt so bold, not with Atticus, and not in the kitchen with Thorn. Her body had reacted, yes, called to them and theirs, but right now she wanted, wanted Batty and she was a full on participant in getting this started.

Nodding, she threw her head back and gasped as he mouthed a nipple and groaned into it, his hands sliding down her sides to rest on her hips, then they were seeking, tunneling between her thighs to her core.

“Slippery body, slippery cunt,” he growled into her breast. “ All for me...”

She nodded again and licked her lips, his hands on her like electricity, a pulse as he rolled his fingers over her skin. “I fucking like you this slick, baby girl. Covered in almond oil, smelling like a snack...”

She whimpered as his fingers found purchase, entering her, two, filling her just so. Need shot to her core as he nipped and sucked at her throat, while his fingers pumped in and out of her. “That’s my sweet, sweet girl...” he crooned as he played, his thumb pressing deliciously on her clit. “So fucking wet and creamy, slick with oil...tell me you want this, Sy... My patience is not infinite.”

“I want...” she said and then she was sinking down on his cock, crying out at the invasion. There were no moments to get used to it, just his thrust up as she was wrenched down. Fuck, she felt it in her throat, the burn of her body making room for his, sweet and maddening at the same time.

“Balthazar...” she moaned and sobbed. He filled her to bursting and, as he moved her up and down his length, everything around her strung tight.

“So fucking tight and perfect,” he growled, his voice changing slightly. She knew his beast was close to the surface and held on tight as he picked up the pace of fucking her. She felt his hands change, the sensation of his fingers growing, of the push of talons into her skin. Crying out, not from fear but desire, she arched, giving over completely to his mastery.

“Open your eyes...” His voice had changed even more. “Look at me when you come.”

Wary of what she would see, she did, but saw he had not changed completely. His skin was the dark black she had seen before, but his face was unchanged, except his eyes were red, glowing orbs that seemed too large for his face. His arms, the webbing of his wings, tucked around her as he enveloped her, hissing coming from his mouth.

Razor sharp teeth were peeking out and then she saw his tongue, long and forked, it snaked out and licked down her chest, the end flicking her nipple.

The orgasm raced through her, her eyes on his face as she arched and shook from the force of it. “That’s a good girl...” he hissed through his teeth. “Again.”

His hands found her hips and gripped and she felt the sharp pain of his claws piercing her skin. It was immediate, but then the pain melted and she hummed as she grew slicker, feeling her honey slide down him as he moved her up.

“Oh, she likes that,” he said, his tongue playing on her other breast.

“Yes...” she moaned, mind fuzzy and foggy, her hips rolling as she chased the orgasm that was just out of reach. “So good. Batty...”

“Fuck yeah it’s good,” he growled. “So creamy on my cock...”

She looked down at them, where they were joined, and gasped, seeing his claws dug into her, his thumbs piercing her skin at the junction of her thighs. Blood flowed, more as they moved, and she felt the warmth along her ass, dripping down between her legs. His cruel smirk had her worried for a few moments, but she came to realize she felt nothing bad, no pain, nothing. It was erotic, watching her blood flowing and coating his cock to mingle with her honey as he pulled out of her. Her sheath clenched and he hissed again. “So fucking pretty. All this... You going to let me mark you, baby?”

Fuck yes. She wanted him to do everything so long as the orgasm kept building. “I... How...”

“Trust me not to hurt you, right?”

She nodded. “Fuck... I trust you, Batty...”

His eyes glowed with the admission. “Tell me you want it.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. Fuck, did she want it. “I do... I want it, Batty... I need you...”

“Need what?” his voice was getting rougher.

“I need... Need to be yours,” she said on a sob as she bounced on his dick, the build-up of the pressure reaching its peak. “Fuck, I need it now!” she said as he groaned and then she screamed as she felt his claws rake down her sides, dig in and hold her. Blood flowed as the orgasm set her skyrocketing.

“Batty!” she screamed as he followed her over the edge, her body sparkling with sensation.

Moments later they were both panting and he was laying her down, kissing and licking at the wounds on her sides, his tongue no longer long, thin and forked but wider, almost human, the passes soothing the skin and the ache that was setting in. He licked her everywhere, her sides, her thighs, anywhere he had pierced her skin, and by the time he was settled between her legs, she was arching again, her body in severe need of him once more.

“That’s my girl...already addicted,” he said, licking up their mingled essence, his tongue curling around her clit for a moment. She shuddered and then moaned. “Balthazar...what... Oh gods, that feels so good.” Hands going to his hair, she gripped the strands as he loved her once more, this time with lips, teeth and tongue.

What they had done was so hot. She never thought she would be cool with blood play, but there she was, lying on a bed she was sure was covered in her blood, her lover feasting between her thighs, causing her to hit that next high. The orgasm was quick but meandered through her, causing her to gasp, arch and shake until she had to push his head away.

“That...fuck, that was good.”

Looking down her body, she realized Balthazar was back to his human self, no trace of blood on him, or her. She looked at her sides where light white trails, which would be slight scars, she knew, marred her skin, but...she wasn’t mad at it. “Blood?”

He shrugged. “It’s a thing with me...well, with you.”

“What...what are you?”

“Close as we can figure, they consider me a Maangagual, though I have needs that the legends and stories don’t talk about, blood being one of them. I didn’t hurt you, right?”

She shook her head. “Startled me? Yes, but...it didn’t feel bad. It...fuck, it was so erotic.”

“It’s how I know you are mine. Any other woman, it would hurt. You, however, take the venom my claws produce, and it makes you so fucking wet...” he grinned. “The guys are going to fucking love it.”

“Have you...with another female?”

He nodded. “Unfortunately for that, yes, though only once, before I knew about it and how to control it. It fed on her fear, my other side, and it liked it...but it likes you more.”

She nodded. “Is the girl...?”

“She’s alive,” he said. “It’s nice that you worry about that.”

“Less so for her, more for what it would have done to you, emotionally.”

He crawled up her body and kissed her, giving her a taste of their shared flavor. “Fuck, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said with a smile. “Gods, that was... Oh god, so good,” she said, drawing out the words.

He chuckled. “I know how to please my mate.”

“That you do.” Sitting up, she looked down at the ruin that was the bed clothes. “Shit, it looks like a crime scene in here. We might need to get rubber sheets.”

He laughed. “The sheets are bleachable, though we might have to burn these...really does look like a crime scene. You aren’t lightheaded, are you?”

“What? No. I feel so good. I wanna sleep, though. With you.”

“Well then...” he said and lifted her off the bed, placing her on the chair in the corner while he stripped the mattress, then picked her up and carried her into the main bedroom. “You are getting a bunkmate tonight.”

“Oh, however shall I cope?”

He grinned. “I plan on living between your thighs for the next two hours...think you can handle that?”

“If I pass out from pleasure, Batty...”

He grinned. “Then I know I did my job.”

Chapter 13

Atticus came in from the cold, stamping snow from his boots. It was still coming down hard outside, the sky a steely grey, and he was starting to worry that their escape routes were being snowed in. He'd dug out as much as he could but they were going to have to rely on the snow keeping attackers away as much as it was keeping them in.

In the living room, the fire was roaring and Thorn was sitting on the floor beside it, reading in the warmth. Balthazar and Sybelle were curled up together on the sofa. "Looking cozy," he teased, pleased that things were working out. He'd been worried that whatever form Zar took in the bedroom would scare Sy, but she'd just rolled with it. She had her dark side, their girl. He adored it.

"How's it looking out there?" Thorn asked, marking his page with a finger and looking up.

"It's still coming down and the wind is vicious," Atticus replied, coming to stand by the fire. "We're definitely going to be here a few days. I tried to dig the car out, but the snow is drifting and the roads are a complete white out."

"Fine by me." Thorn flashed Sybelle a smile. "I'm sure we can think up some way to entertain ourselves."

She grinned. “Batty has yet to beat you at chess.”

“I highly doubt that will be happening,” Balthazar said and pulled her into a kiss.

“One day,” she offered. “I’ll be right back.” Sliding off the couch, she padded down the hall and then up the stairs.

Balthazar looked at them. “Well, do your worst.” He grinned.

"I, for one, want to know what the hell you did that was so bad we had to burn the sheets?" Thorn demanded. "Do we need to get her seen by a doctor?"

He shook his head. “Sessions come with aftercare.” He grinned. “Though she’s got some new decoration...”

"You marked her?" Thorn gave a rueful smile. "Poor girl is going to be a mess by the time we're all done with her."

He nodded. “She fucking loved it.” With a grin, he leaned forward. “And a little bit of trivia for you two. My claws? She can take my venom...had her literally gushing around me.”

"So she's definitely your mate!" Atticus congratulated him with a slap to the back. "That's wonderful news!" He couldn't be happier for his brother. There'd never been any doubt in his mind that the four of them belonged together, but it was nice that biology was backing it up.

“I think it’s more than that...” he said thoughtfully. “That side of me always wants to rend, tear, bleed something. With her? It wanted her blood and her submission, but it also wanted to hear her gasp our name in pleasure. That was new. No other girl...” Balthazar looked to him. “How was it with Nyogtha?”

"Same. All the domination was there, the desire to have and control, but the end goal was always her pleasure. She's like a gravity field for my tentacles, dude. I couldn't have stopped them swarming her, even if I hadn't been distracted as fuck."

Balthazar nodded. “My claws, my wings... I partially shifted for her, but it wasn’t about pain. I mean, not really. It wanted its pound of flesh, but not to destroy.” He looked to Thorn. “So now it’s all you.”

"Well, after seeing your ugly face, I'm not too worried anymore," Thorn teased, making Atticus burst out laughing.

“My face didn’t change,” he said softly. “I mean not completely. My eyes did, I could see the heat of her, and my tongue, too, but that fucking ruin that is me when I’m fully shifted wasn’t there.”

"What about the teeth?" Atticus was curious. "Did you have that mouthful of razors you normally get with the tongue?"

“Partial...but it wasn’t a problem. By the time it was going to be an issue they receded, like my beast knew it needed to.” He looked to Atticus. “I do feel like we are all dual-natured for most things. But with her, we are on the same page. Feel me?”

"Absolutely." Atticus sprawled on the sofa and watched the flames. "Feels good to be here, doesn't it?"

Balthazar nodded. “Like home. Like before. She is happy, too. Content.”

"Yeah, it's good to see." He didn't say it, but he thought it was healing for them, too. They'd all been through hell the last three years, Sy included, and this was exactly what they needed—a winter wonderland refuge from all the craziness before they continued running for their lives. There was no doubt in his mind that they would be running for their lives from the Monstera King, but it would be worth it.

"There's going to come a time when every day will be like this," he promised the others softly. "I mean, we're going to have to have jobs and whatever so Zar can't be a lazy ass every morning, but there will come a time when this is our normal."

"Amen to that." Thorn tipped his head. "I can't wait."

“I wasn’t lazy. Fucking that woman takes finesse. Doing it right takes time. We all need some kinda sleep,” he said as Sybelle walked back in, a smile on her face.

“What are we talking about?” she asked with an arched brow before settling on the couch between Atticus and Balthazar.

"The future." Atticus smiled at her. "I was telling the others that someday soon, every day is going to be like this."

"Maybe not the snow and everything," Thorn laughed. "Depends on where we end up."

Atticus shrugged. "We could choose somewhere snowbound, just so we can sit by the fire while we watch you kick Zar's ass at chess. What do you think, Beauty?"

“I don’t care where we end up, so long as I don’t lose the three of you.” She leaned over and snuggled into Atticus. “I love this house, though.”

“It will be here when we choose to come back,” Balthazar said to her.

“I know.” Closing her eyes, she sighed. “I like that we can pretend this is the way it is now, snowbound in a beautiful house without any worries.”

"Things are changing all the time," Atticus pointed out. "The territories are always changing borders. This might end up a safe area someday."

She nodded again. “We can hope so. The States just seem so volatile. I’m sure there are problems elsewhere, even in the Light countries, but...” she sighed. “I don’t wanna think about that now. I just wanna spend time with my guys.”

Balthazar smirked at her. “Any particular way?”

A blush came to her cheeks.

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to have to start cooking dinner in about an hour or so," Thorn joked.

“And what is on the menu tonight?” she asked.

"Fish laksa," Thorn smiled. "I figured we could all do with a little taste of sunshine in the snow and I found fresh lemongrass at the store. I haven't seen it for ages."

"I have no idea what that is, but I'm sure it'll be great," Atticus grinned.

“Agreed,” she said. “But you have never steered me wrong in the past.”

“And I’m sure at least one of us will have Sybelle for dessert,” Balthazar said and took a sip of his drink, all nonchalant. Again, their female blushed.

"And a gentleman would let her choose," Atticus reminded him.

"It's been a long time since anyone called me a gentleman," Thorn teased, lust sparking in his eyes.

“Same here. Same goes for you, you menace,” Balthazar offered. “No, Sy doesn’t have any problem with either side of that coin...choosing, or letting it be chosen for her.”

The woman smiled but said nothing.

"You can be as gobby as you want on her behalf, Zar, but she's going to have to tell me herself, in detail, if she wants me to give her something," Thorn said, his eyes never leaving Sybelle.

That blush crept back up her neck, but she smirked at him. “And do you want me to tell you now, Thorn? Or later?”

"Well, that depends on whether or not you want to eat dinner tonight," Thorn laughed. "If you tell me now, I might have to just go and deal with what you tell me and then you’ll have two hangry monsters on your hands."

“Three,” she said and grinned at him, sliding off the couch. She crawled over to him and sat in front of him, cocking her head.

“Whatever you are going to do to her is going to require more than grilled cheese and chips,” Batty said. “So I would feed her, and us as well.”

Sybelle leaned forward and kissed Thorn, slow and perfect. “Dinner first, then I want anything you are willing to give me.”

"Yes, ma'am," Thorn smiled. "Food and then...well, you will just have to wait and see."

"An hour until dinner, though," Atticus reminded them. "We have any four-player games?"

Balthazar grinned and got up. “Oh, I got a surprise for you guys.” Walking from the room, he was gone only minutes before walking back in with a box. “How does PS8 sound? I got all the hookups and about fifteen games.”

Sybelle jumped up and ran to him, giggling. “Tell me you have that one where we can shoot each other with water balloons. Remember when we used to play that?”

“Goddamn right I do,” Balthazar said as he looked at the other guys. “I might get my ass kicked with chess, but we all know what kinda games I dominate on.”

"Damn, you really thought of everything," Atticus grinned. "Sure, I'm in. Set it up."

“This was supposed to be our vacation place...” Balthazar reminded him.

Sybelle grinned and grabbed a controller. “I get to be the cute girl.”

“You always are the cute girl, baby. Am I right?”

"Right," the others agreed.

"It still can be," Atticus said, referring to the comment about it being their vacation house. "I just have to kill the king."

"Don't joke," Thorn said with reproach. "It's not that easy. It's better to just leave."

She turned to him. “Don’t do anything stupid, Atticus. Thorn is right. It’s better to get out of here, start fresh.”

Balthazar looked at him, giving him that meaningful glare. “Not something to be thinking about right now.” He nodded toward Sybelle, who was working on putting the wires in the console.

"She's precisely why I'm thinking about it," Atticus disagreed. "If we hadn't been here, she'd be in the king's bed by now. There are too many women we haven't saved and if we just run..." he shook his head. "He'll keep taking and ruining women."

“I wouldn’t be in his bed,” she said and turned. “I would have killed myself.” The words were matter of fact. “No one gets to touch me without my consent, and I decided that a long time ago. If I couldn’t have the three of you, it was going to be no one, long before this shit ever happened. Remember high school? Remember prom?” She shook her head. “There is no love in me for anyone but the three of you, and there never has been room for anyone else.” She went to him and scooted onto the couch next to him. “I get it, I do. I need us safe first, Atticus. I need us cemented and safe before we become the fucking darlings of the resistance.”

"You got it," he told her. "If that's what you want, it will be my priority."

Sy climbed into his lap, straddling his waist, and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m not saying no. Just...not now.” Face in his neck, she nibbled there and then nipped his earlobe.

"And that's my cue to start cooking," Thorn laughed, "before I get too distracted."

"You go right ahead," Atticus grinned, sliding his hands up Sybelle's thighs. "Shout if you need something, otherwise I'll be right here having an appetizer."

The woman giggled and then sucked softly on the skin on his neck.

“So, we playing the game or playing with Sy?” Balthazar asked him with a grin.

"That's up to our girl here," Atticus replied.

Biting down on his neck, she pulled back and grinned. “Oh, I think the game is in order.” She turned and brushed her hand on his groin and then winked at him. “Atticus can deal with his hard on.”

"Such a tease." He smacked her ass. "I'll keep it until you can deal with it."

"Until you make me." She winked and slid to the floor, taking the controller Balthazar handed her. "Okay, gentlemen. Let's see who can still kick ass."

"Oh, is that how we're playing it?" Atticus laughed. "You think you can distract me and I won't kick your ass at the game? I got news for you, girl. I will take you down, hard on or not, and when I'm done, I'll expect you to get on your knees and finish what you started."

They both heard her gasp and then saw the slightly dreamy smile she had on for mere moments before she shook it off. Balthazar looked to him with an arched brow and a smirk. Seemed their girl liked that idea as well.

“Fair is fair,” she said and bit her bottom lip. “And when I win? I expect the same.”

"When you win..." Atticus shook his head. "Girl, you trippin'."

"Them’s fighting words," Balthazar laughed. "Ready?"

"How many times do I have to tell you I was born ready?" Atticus demanded laughingly, grabbing a controller from the pile. "You're going down, too, bat-boy."

"On Sy? Spent most of the night like that." She gasped again and shook her head.

"What's wrong?" Atticus asked her, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Something got you a little hot and bothered?"

"Batty's sexy tongue," she said as they started the round. "He’s talented as hell."

"Goddamn right..."

"Better than tentacles?" he asked innocently. "Because you seemed pretty into those..."

"I like Batty’s tongue better than the tentacles on my clit," she said as she rounded the corner, "but I loved when they wrapped around your cock to fuck me."

"Jesus..." Balthazar growled.

"Maybe someday soon we can do tentacles and tongue at the same time," Atticus suggested, bursting out laughing when Sybelle lost her concentration and got hit with one of the balloons coming from Balthazar’s gun.

She growled. "Dirty trick...but I'm totally down for that." Her player jumped up and ran behind a building.

"When have we ever played this game clean?" Atticus asked. "Of course we're going to use all the tools at our advantage. Like tongues and tentacles and...oh yeah, apparently you have a thing for claws, too."

"I do," she agreed and shot Balthazar, sending him flying.

"So you liking the blood wasn't in question?" Balthazar asked and he grinned.

"Oh, I liked you licking it all up..."

"Jesus. You get me any harder I’m going to burst."

"That’s the plan."

"Yeah, until he does it all over your face and you get it in the eye," Atticus said. "I heard that stings like hell.'

"I prefer that elsewhere," she said with amusement.

"What? The stinging like hell or the bursting?"

She smirked. "Both."

"Jesus," Balthazar said. "Fuck this, I’m done."

"Amateur," Atticus smirked. "Looks like it's just you and me, Beauty. Although if you want to pay your forfeit right now and go down on our Belle here, I wouldn't complain, Zar."

"Pretty sure I can drive nails though a railroad tie with my dick right now," he groaned.

"Fairly sure that would be a waste of an erection, right, Beauty?"

She nodded. "Huge waste of a huge erection."

"Goddamn right," Balthazar growled and moved to her, lifting her up to shimmy her pants down. "Wherever we end up, I’m insisting on dresses and anything with easy access to your pussy, baby."

"You buy it, I wear it."

"You're not even going to insist on pockets?" Atticus laughed.

"Pockets became commonplace in the Light territories as soon as women took over, or so I’ve heard, so I'm not worried." She hummed as the other man divested her of her pants and panties and then lifted her by her waist as she giggled and settled her down on his face as he laid down. "Oh! Oh, this is unfair...he’s totally going to win..." she moaned. "Ah fuck, that's good."

"Excuses, excuses," Atticus smirked.

Sy tried to focus on the game, but whatever Balthazar was doing to her was making her close her eyes at every instance and soon she was rolling her hips on his tongue, moaning his name.

"And that's you crushed." Tossing his controller aside with satisfaction at having won, Atticus sat back and watched her ride Balthazar's face. "Gods...you're so fucking sexy when you let go," he murmured. "That's it...take what you need."

"Oh fuck..." she moaned as Balthazar’s arms came up, wrapping around her thighs to keep her where he wanted her, his fingers lengthening into claws, the tips just resting on her naked thighs.

"Tell me what you want," Atticus demanded. "What do you need?"

"More..." Looking over at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, she licked her lips. "You..."

"Greedy girl," he chuckled. "I like it." Rising from the sofa, he came to rest behind her, knees on either side of Balthazar's chest as he pulled his T-shirt off and let his beast rise. Tentacles writhed out of him, curling over her skin and sliding into the soft, dark and wet places, filling her up. His hands cupped her breasts, rolling the stiff nipples between demanding fingers. "Better?" he asked.

Her body arched and she leaned her head back against his shoulder, her eyes closed. "Atty..."

"I'm here, baby girl. I've got you."

Her hips rolled on Balthazar’s face again and she cried out as he groaned and pierced her thighs with his fingers. Her scent filled the air, potent, ripe and sultry, an exotic fruit with that perfect amount of bite to it. Balthazar hissed under her and she was shuddering as she came, quiet, but deep.

“Fuck, she’s so fucking wet.” Balthazar’s voice was rough, muffled but filled with lust.

"I know." His voice husky with lust, Atticus held her as she slumped against him, spent. "Thorn is going to kill you if you let her bleed all over the sofa."

“Not planning on wasting any of her gifts,” he said as he looked up through her thighs. “Lean her down.” Atticus did so and Balthazar’s tongue started swiping along the small pin pricks in her thighs, sealing them up. “Fuck, she’s divine.”

"I know." Tentacles slithering away to wherever the fuck it was they went when he was in his human form, Atticus waited until Balthazar had sealed all the scratches and then lifted Sybelle up, scooping her into his arms as though she were weightless, and settled back onto the sofa as she smiled dreamily up at him. "You are so beautiful," he murmured. "I'm so glad we found you."

“I have always been here,” she said softly and snuggled into him as Balthazar came up on the other side of her and kissed her head. “Same as you guys.”

“It was always going to be us,” Balthazar said as they watched her slide into sleep. “She is convinced that, even without the fractals, we would have all been with her, regardless.” Running his fingers through her hair, he sighed. “And the fates know she’s right. I wouldn’t have been able to give her up.”

"Me either," Atticus admitted. "These last three years without her have hurt like hell."

Balthazar nodded. “I didn’t realize how much ‘til she was with us again. Atticus, we can’t lose her. I know she’s against it and I’m not great with it, but...” he looked at him. “We do what we have to, to keep her safe. Same as always. If that means we kill that motherfucker...”

"Let's see what happens with transport," Atticus advised. He'd calmed down and was viewing the situation more objectively. "If we can get safe passage into the Light territories then we go and we run as far and as fast as we can. We find a good-sized place that we can easily defend and we build a life for all four of us. Together." He dry scrubbed his face. "I know I'm the only one of us that's got a shot at killing him, but it's by no means guaranteed. If I die...it'll break her heart." He brushed strands of hair from her face. "I don't want to risk that unless I absolutely have to."

“It’s not something we can bring her back from. She won’t stand for anything less than all of us,” Balthazar agreed as he smiled down at her. “We lost so much time already.”

"We did. Killing the king is a last resort, but I won't hesitate if I have to. Whatever it takes to keep her safe."

“I don’t think any of us will.” He smiled. “Thorn is probably growling in there. The scent of her is still heavy on the air.” He grinned. “He’s going to fucking attack her tonight.”

"I don't know. He's a cerebral kind of kinkster," Atticus pointed out. "He's waited long enough that I think he'll want to make it perfect. His beast isn't as bloodthirsty as yours."

“Or yours,” he pointed out.

"I'm not that bloodthirsty," Atticus protested. "I certainly didn't draw it deliberately."

“No,” he offered, “But Nyogtha purposefully bruised the shit outta her.”

"Just a couple of love bites," Atticus smirked.

“Not like she has a problem with either method.” He grinned. “Our girl has kinks.”

"And I am going to thank the gods for them every single damn day," Atticus chuckled.

“As do I. It’s a good thing she was still untouched by the time we found her,” he said carefully. “Otherwise, I don’t think she would be okay with what we do to her. It’s a blessing, I think. One of the only ones in this fucking nightmare.”

"Almost enough to make you believe in destiny or fate or whatever." Atticus shook his head. "It's amazing she didn't get touched by anyone, not just the king."

“She said it herself.” Balthazar looked to him. “It was us or no one. Whatever we brought to her doorstep, she was all in. I wondered, especially after the transition, who was going to show up at her house, claiming her. Too many from our own year were with us,” he said and his voice went low. “They knew what we became. But they didn’t say a word to her, didn’t seek her out. Not one of them.” He frowned. “Not even the Farsin brothers, or that chode Braden Billsner, who I was sure would.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense... Unless they knew what you were, and weren’t going to chance it.”

"It's possible. I wouldn't want to piss me off or meet me in a back alley on a dark night," Atticus smirked. "I'm pretty terrifying."

“You are also such an asshole,” Balthazar said. “It bears puzzling out. But that’s for later. Let’s let her sleep and go help Thorn. She’s going to have a night ahead of her.”

"Good idea." Atticus gently set her aside and pulled a blanket over her to keep her warm. "Chuck another log on the fire. Don't want our precious here getting cold."

“You got it, boss.”

Chapter 14

Thorn had finished cleaning down the countertops and slid the last of the leftovers into the fridge. The others were in the living room but he felt like having a shower before pretty boy Atticus used up all the hot water.

Stripping off his T-shirt, he stepped into the bathroom and turned the water on to warm before shucking off his pants and stepping under the spray. It felt damn good. He hoped it was his night tonight, that Sy would come to him, and for that the shower felt necessary somehow, like he was washing off the last three years of hell before taking her into his arms. He would be ready for her.

Toweling off, he walked through to his bedroom and stopped in the doorway. Sybelle was already in his bed, waiting for him. "Well hello there," he smiled, wrapping the towel around his waist. "Fancy meeting you here."

She smiled, letting the sheet fall, putting her body on display, naked from what he could see, her hair loose about her shoulders, her eyes on him, lips glistening as if she had just wetted them. “Did you not expect me to?”

"I don't have any expectations of you," he said mildly. "I know Balthazar has been pretty hard on you physically. If you need a night off, I'd understand."

She moved to her knees and crawled across the bed. “Nothing Batty did last night or today was anything short of exhilarating. I’m more than ready for you, Thorn.” She made the edge of the bed and shifted so she was on her knees before him, naked and waiting.

"I'm glad to hear that," he told her and meant it. "Tell me what you want, cupcake."

Reaching down, she took his hand and brought it up to her mouth. She ran a fingertip across her bottom lip and looked up to him through her lashes. “To be what you need, Thorn,” she said softly. “I want what you need to give me.”

"Are you sure you know what you're asking for?" He slid a hand around her throat and held it firmly. "Because I like to control. I need to know that if I tell you to get on your hands and knees and wait for me, you'll do it like a good girl. I need to know that if I tell you to get on your knees and open your mouth, you will do that." He took his hand from her throat. "Otherwise we don't play by my rules and you take what you need. And, Belle, I will be totally okay with that."

She licked her lips again and gave him a small, sexy smile. “I want what you want to give me, Thorn,” she said again. “ What we did in the kitchen...” She shivered in front of him, her nipples pearling. “I want you like you want me to have you.”

"Then I need you to get on your knees here and open your mouth for me." He stepped back to give her some room and waited expectantly for her to comply.

Sybelle was quick, eager, on her knees in front of him, looking up. She swallowed softly then opened her mouth, her eyes at half-mast.

Thorn nodded. "Good girl." He ruffled her hair and then turned away, finishing drying off and taking the time to hang his towel up on the rail in the bathroom. When he came back, she was still obediently kneeling in place, her mouth still open. "Good girl," he approved. "Now, I'm going to put my cock in your mouth and you are going to suck it until I decide you're done. Do you understand?"

She nodded. “You will teach me?” she said softly.

"It's not rocket science, baby girl." Before she could answer, he cupped the back of her head, tangled his fingers in her hair, and slid the broad head of his cock past her lips.

Closing her eyes, she slackened her jaw more, opening just that bit wider for him, her tongue petting the underside of his cock as he felt her swallow again.

"See, you're a natural," he grinned, pushing in farther. "But this is only the beginning. I'm going to need you to take more and harder." Meeting her eyes, he supported her neck and began to fuck her mouth in earnest, hitting the back of her throat.

She gasped and then moaned, her body fighting it for moments, until she started to relax, her eyes closed as her tongue moved around him, her lips tightening. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly watery, but there was a darkness there, something primal.

"That's my girl." Thorn squeezed her throat. "God, that feels good. You feel so good. If I didn't want to fuck you so much, I'd come down your throat right now. Lucky for you, I have other plans." Dragging out of her heavenly mouth, he stood there, watching her gasp for air. "You look so fucking beautiful right now," he grinned. "Get on the bed. On your back. Legs spread. I want to see that pretty little pussy of yours on display."

Dazed, her body shaking, she nodded, though words would not come. Clearly she wanted to say something, but the need for her to do was riding higher than her want to say. She crawled over and climbed back into the bed, rolling onto her back, bringing her legs up in a bend, then let them fall open, her eyes on him the entire time. Lips swollen, color high on her skin, she lay there, trembling slightly.

"You look like a painting," Thorn said, eyes dark with fiery lust. "I can't wait to taste you. But here are the rules, you lie there and you take what I give you and you don't get to come until I say you can, because my beast is pretty damn close to the surface and if my tusks come out, you could impale yourself."

“I... Oh.” She blinked and nodded. “Okay.” She swallowed again. “Fuck, you taste good.” Her tongue ran over her lips.

"Did I say you could talk?" He slapped her thigh, leaving a bright red hand print on the creamy skin. "Do I need to turn you over my knee?"

Her eyes went wide and she shivered. “If I say yes, do I get the spanking?”

"Damn straight you do. In fact, since you can't seem to stop talking, you're getting it now." He sat on the bed. "Get over my knee. Now."

Nodding with a coy smile, she moved to him and then across his lap, this time keeping her mouth shut.

He smoothed a hand across her ass, admiring the creamy expanse of it, before raising a hand and smacking her. Hard. She jumped and squealed and he smoothed his hand over the red mark, spanking her twice more in quick succession.

"You color up beautifully," he told her, admiring his handiwork. "How are you enjoying it?" Sliding a hand between her thighs, he ran an experimental finger through her folds. "Oh, someone is a bad girl," he chuckled. "I think you're enjoying taking this about as much as I'm enjoying giving it. Maybe when you're good and warmed up, I might spank you here, too...right on your pretty little pussy."

“Thorn...” she whined and wiggled on his lap. Looking over her shoulder at him, she bit her bottom lip. Clearly she wanted it, and more of it.

"You are a bad girl," he approved. "You asked for it." He spanked her until her ass was bright red and she was writhing on his lap. "You take these well and you can come on my tongue," he told her, dragging her thighs apart and cupping her pussy. "I expect you to count all three of them out. Tell me that you understand."

“Yes...yes, I understand...” she moaned and panted, her hands gripping the bed clothes.

"Okay." He didn't give her time to think too much about the first one, slapping her pussy with a full hand.

“Oh god... One...” she gasped and then hummed, her body writhing.

He slapped her again, the hand in the small of her back pressing her down firmly on his knees.

“Two... Please... Please...” she moaned and sobbed.

Thorn smiled to himself, deliberately holding off on the third one as she pleaded and begged for him to do something, anything. When he finally judged she was desperate enough, he took his hand away. She braced for impact but it didn't come. He didn't deliver the slap until she had relaxed and turned to confusion.

“Three! Fuck yes!” she shuddered. “Thorn... Please...”

He tossed her back onto the bed. "Now get back into the position you were supposed to be in and you will come when I tell you to come and not a second before. Do I make myself clear?"

Shaking, her nipples tight peaks, she nodded and lay back down, her thighs open. She was wet, overly so, glistening on her flesh and the inside of her thighs. Her hair was a halo around her, the color around her throat and shoulders high.

He rose to his feet and stood there, watching her as her color rose and she got wetter under his scrutiny. "So fucking beautiful." He shook his head in admiration. "I am going to fuck you so hard, Belle. I promise you that."

“Please.... Fuck, please...” she said, clearly out of her mind with need, hands gripping the bed sheets as her body arched. “Fuck, I can feel your eyes on me...”

"What do you need, sweetness?" he asked, eyes dark as a blue sheen shimmered across his skin. "Give me specifics."

“If I don’t come soon, I’m going to fucking die,” she said as she looked him over. “Fuck, I want you, Thorn. I need you to fill me...to take me... Please...”

"No one ever died from not coming." He shook his head. "That wasn't specific enough, sweet thing."

She whined and then arched again, looking him in the eyes. “If you don’t fuck me, Thorn, I will die. I need your cock... Please?”

"Where do you need it?" he asked. "Because if you don't tell me, it's going back in your mouth or maybe even up your ass." He paused. "When I decide to give it to you, that is. I'm not done playing yet."

“Neither of those things are a deterrent,” she said and bit her lip. Her hands slid down her torso and she watched him as they found purchase, sliding through her wet folds as she inserted a finger, then two into her channel. “I need you here, Thorn...mmm...”

"Did I tell you that you could touch yourself?" he demanded. "Put those hands behind your head. Now."

She nodded and did as he asked, her eyes watching him, excitement and need shining in them.

"You will wait until I am done looking my fill," he ordered, giving her another full sixty seconds before he decided to have mercy on her.

“Yes...Sir,” she said on a sigh. Mindless...she was mindless.

With a low growl, he fell on her, covering her pussy with his mouth and dragging her hips toward him. His beast erupted to the surface, horns sprouting from his head and tusks from his gums, skin turning blue. "Don't you dare move," he warned her, his voice low and rumbling, before devoting himself back to the task at hand...or tongue.

“So...” her voice was low, wondrous, “beautiful...” she said and cried out. “Oh fuck, that’s good.”

Thorn almost lost it when he felt her caressing his horns. He'd never realized before that they were sensitive, but the vibrations they were transmitting to his skull felt like whispering hands down his spine. He could feel her body tightening up in anticipation of release and decided to push her, shoving two fingers into her soft, wet cunt.

“Thorn!” she moaned. “Please...please let me come.” Her fingers ghosted around the tips of the horns as she panted. “Please...”

"No," he growled, hiding his smile in the sweet wetness of her.

She whimpered. “I need...” with a moan of frustration she shuddered, trying like hell to be a good girl, to listen to him.

"You will count aloud to thirty and then, and only then, will you be allowed to come. Am I understood?"

“I... Yes... Yes, my love...” she said softly and began counting. “One... Two...”

To her credit, she made it all the way to twenty-three before the climax overtook her and her thighs clamped tight around Thorn's face as her whole body arched off the bed, his tusks piercing the soft skin on either side.

“Fuck yes!!!!!” she screamed, her hands rending the bed clothing up as she keened, moaning his name over and over. Her hips bucked and her eyes were on him then, lust blazing in them. Body going slack, she purred. “Holy shit... Thorn...”

"You disobeyed me." Thorn moved over her, dominating her with the sheer size of his body. "You were supposed to count to thirty."

“I tried...” she whimpered.

"You could have pierced your femoral arteries, Sybelle. You're a bad, bad girl."

“You wouldn’t ever hurt me,” she said knowingly.

"I am capable of dark and dangerous things. Don't you ever forget that, Sybelle." He shook his head. "As your punishment, you don't get to watch me fuck you." He pulled away and rose to his feet at the end of the bed. “I want you on your hands and knees. Now."

Pouting, she nodded, but then flipped over, quite eager. “You are capable of so much, my love,” she said softly. “But never hurting me...not in a way I won’t like.” Rising on her knees so her ass was in the air, she leaned her shoulders down a moment and shook her ass at him.

He slapped it in response, making her squeal again. "Talking back gets you further restrictions." Reaching into a nearby drawer, he grabbed a short coil of rope. "Face down. Give me your hands."

She did, a smirk on her face as she watched him.

He made quick work of tying her hands behind her back so that she couldn't move and positioned her head so he was certain she could breathe. "Now, you are going to take everything I feel like giving to you," he told her. "As hard as I want. As long as I want."

“Fuck, yes...finally,” she said and licked her lips, and closed her eyes. “Make me yours, Thorn...”

"You just don’t learn, do you?” he tsked, an amused smile on his lips. “Trying to tell me what to do again... For that, you can wait." As though he didn't have a care in the world, Thorn sank into a nearby armchair, propped his chin on his palm and just admired the view.

“Ooh, you are so fucking bad,” she pouted. “Please, my love... Please...” Her begging was soft, and he could see her honey coating her thighs. She liked it, she liked this game, she liked being at his mercy.

He watched the small rivulets of blood running down her thighs from where his tusks had gored her soft skin. Blood didn’t turn him on in the same way that it did Balthazar, but he fucking loved the knowledge that the wounds would scar and his marks would stay there, so close to her core, for the rest of their lives together. The feeling of his teeth, his tusks, piercing her skin had been exquisite, animalistic and primal. His beast wanted to bite her all over, but for now both sides of his nature were content to exert dominance another way. Head games had always been his kink and from the way she was wriggling, Sybelle was very much into it.

"I'll take you when I'm good and ready to," he replied mildly, palming his cock and stroking it, knowing that she could see.

“Oh god, I want that...” she sobbed, her eyes never leaving his cock. “So fucking hot sitting there...”

"You want this?" He stroked the length of it. "Tell me how much and I might consider giving it to you. Might being the operative word. No promises."

Smiling, she closed her eyes. “I have been dreaming about feeling you inside me since you touched me in the kitchen...” she began and then opened her eyes. “I’m fucking dying to feel you slide into me. Look at you. I know it’s going to feel so fucking good, Thorn, so thick it’s going to stretch me and I can’t fucking wait to feel it.” She hummed, her hands behind her back grasping at air. “I don’t want it slow and I know you won’t be. You are going to fuck me so fucking hard and I’m going to come all over you the second you slam into me. Please...”

"Well I guess, since you begged so prettily with that dirty little mouth of yours." Getting to his feet, he came to stand behind her and palmed her ass. "This isn't going to be gentle, but you are going to look so fucking stunning stretched around my cock." Taking himself in hand, he positioned himself at her entrance and, with one sharp thrust, filled her to the hilt.

She screamed for him, her body shaking as she shattered, the orgasm rocketing through her gripping his shaft like a vice. “Thorn, fuck yes!”

He huffed a laugh, even as he was slamming into her, one hand on her hip and one holding the ropes on her arms. "Yeah, you like that, huh? You like being my dirty little kitten? You like taking this big thick cock?"

“Yes...” she moaned. “Yes, yes, yes. So fucking thick... Harder, Thorn. Oh my god.” She slumped and moaned. “So fucking deep. I feel you everywhere...” She pushed back at him as her sheath fluttered around him again, her honey free flowing around him. “So good. I want this forever...”

"And you can have it," Thorn gasped, close to climax himself, lost in her heat. "As long as you want."

“Always... Fuck... Forever...” She screamed as another orgasm tore through her, going rigid, then limp in his hands. Moaning between pants, she whispered his name over and over, and then swallowed. “Oh fuck... Fuck, I love you.”

That was all it took to knock Thorn hurtling over the edge into orgasm and he shuddered, spilling into her. "Fuck...gods, so good..." He released his grip and huffed a quiet laugh. "I love you, too, sweet thing."

Pulling out, he swiftly untied her arms and rolled her over, testing the blood flow in her hands and rolling her shoulders. "You're good," he approved. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Scooping her up into his arms, he carried her to the shower and heated the water, hosing them both down quickly and efficiently. Wrapping her up like a burrito in a large, soft towel, he snagged the medical kit and carried her back to the bedroom. "Let's get you fixed up."

All business now, he sat her on the bed and knelt at her feet, pushed her thighs apart and applied dressings to the wounds his tusks had made. "If Balthazar were here he could fix you right up, but I don't have any venom so it's the old-fashioned way. Aftercare is important."

“I don’t even feel it,” she said, looking down. “It didn’t hurt when you did it and it doesn’t hurt now. Thank you, my love.” Taking his face in her hands, she smiled. “I feel so good.”

"Good." He smiled and scooped her up. "Because next is the cuddling part and don't tell the guys, but this is my favorite part. I'm big on the aftercare."

With a soft giggle she nodded and snuggled into his embrace. “Your secret is safe with me, Thorn.” Her words were soft as she inhaled, her face in his neck. “Gods. You all smell so good to me.” Kissing his throat, she sighed. “You treat me so well. I love what we did...”

"Let me know if or when you want a round two," he said happily. "Otherwise we can just rest up."

“And you would do it even with the bandages?” she asked with a giggle. “You are amazing, Thorn, and you shifted...” she smiled. “Extremely sexy.”

"You thought my monster was sexy?" Thorn shook his head. "Even the tusks?"

She nodded. “Especially the tusks. So sexy.” She grinned at him. “I think if I was careful we could ensure they were used to cradle my ass while you lick me, and I could hold on to your horns while I come...”

"We can try it later," he promised her. "You tell me when you're ready for another orgasm or four and I'll get right on it. I'm happy to just worship at the altar of your pussy for an hour or two."

“You and Batty...” she said with a giggle. “Though I very much want to taste you, love. I didn’t think I would like it, but...” she grinned. “I very much want that.”

"And I will give it to you as often and as much as you want," he promised her. "That is not a problem."

“So accommodating,” she teased and snuggled in closer to him. “I think I need a nap.”

"Your wish is my command," he smiled and pulled her close. "Sleep now. Wake me when you need me."

Her chuckle was sexy and dark. “I’m going to wake you with your cock in my mouth...”

"I am looking forward to that, my love," he told her. "I live to make you happy. If my cock in your mouth makes you happy then I will absolutely give it to you."

“Asshole,” she said softly and slipped into sleep moments later.

With a happy sigh, Thorn settled in and relaxed. Only seconds later he too was asleep.

Chapter 15

Sybelle settled in on the enormous couch with toast, coffee and eggs, and switched on the large television they had completely ignored up until now. Seeing the opportunity to catch up on current events, what with the boys all occupied with other things, she settled in and sipped her coffee as she flipped to the news station. An anemic looking woman was talking about the West Coast.

“Reports are coming in from the Pacific Northwest that several Monstera factions have taken over the larger cities of Portland and Seattle, but we do not have any proof of it yet. With the growing number of Monstera uprisings, the president has issued Martial Law for the Northwestern states, in order to rein in the threat.”

She snorted. That wasn’t going to happen. If it was bad enough that they were getting reports about it, they had already lost those states, those cities, and god help the people that lived there. The West Coast was going to go the way of Texas, which was becoming its own military state already. Any opportunity to ruin people’s lives, it seemed the States were readily indulging.

And the East Coast was no better. Oh, it still stood for rule of law and security but whose rule of law and security was in question. The president and what was remaining of the government had yet to address the Monstera threat on their own coast and, unless shit got handled, New York and the tri-state area would fall and quickly.

“There’s a new study coming out of Geneva on the creation of the Fractal Male Database, or FMD,” the woman reported brightly. “An effort of over fifty countries, the FMD is cataloging fractal male powers and affiliations under their factions, to better help the males that survive their twenty-sixth birthdays with their transitions and placement. Many countries, including our own, have had difficulty in placing some of the more interesting variants that have been popping up...” Sybelle smirked, thinking of Atticus, “And this database will help to discover needs, temperament and genetic possibility.”

She watched the woman on the screen and shook her head. They were still skirting the Monstera possibility of being good, especially in this country. But her males...they had proven to be the very best, both in loving her and keeping her safe. Heroes, all three of them, her men wanted to make things better and they certainly had the chops for it. All three were deadly, but not evil. They used their new gifts, their dual personage, to be good, better men. And apparently there was a whole network of them. She hoped it all caught on, because despite the prevalent belief, clearly Monstera were not all bad.

“The hundred-thousandth birth has been recorded, as of six o’clock this morning Eastern Standard Time. Emily Glomwell, a nurse from Piscataway, New Jersey, has given birth to a male child she is calling Percy. Percy is the hundred-thousandth recorded birth of a male child since the fractals appeared. His five fathers were all there for the delivery,” the picture on screen showed five males, three of them very apparent shifters, “and both mom and son are doing fine.” The woman smiled. “That’s it for your news of the morning. Tony Mauno is here with weather.”

She watched the male, clearly an Elemental as his eyes were sparking, talk about the cold front that was threatening to come in in the next few days, to dump more snow on them. “We will have a five-day lull where temperatures will rise enough to melt some of this white stuff, but get ready for another fall of snow incoming on the heels of the weekend. My advice? Get out as soon as you are able to get supplies...this storm could have us snowed in for another fifteen days.”

So that was good to know. She sipped her coffee once more and then munched on her eggs. She would have to see about being able to go to the store with the guys as soon as they could. She needed things, girlie things, and she was hoping they could hit a mall or something. If they were going to be snowed in longer, she wanted to have some things to play with...namely with them.

She changed channels to the Light Territories Network, where all the information about fractal males that they had compiled was free for public consumption in order to help both females and the males transitioning cope with what they were going through.

It was the same info they had been spitting the past few days about percentages, where most Monstera were being activated and by what age groups. She watched it, dispassionate for long moments, until new information came across, a woman, whom she knew as Teddy Ravela, appearing on the screen.

“Good day to everyone watching. I’m coming to you from Rome and our genetics facility here. We’ve had some information brought to us through several historical accounts and recently unearthed accounts of the most recent fractal immergence, and myself and Bettany Fortuna have confirmed a few things that we would like to share with the world. The first is that it has been corroborated that, while we need three males to have a viable fetus, the female’s genetic condition, her own dormant DNA, is what decides the altered visage of a fractal male.” Sybelle arched a brow.

“So they are saying it’s the woman’s fault?”

“Further, while this is the majority, the male’s input via sperm to ovum does play a key part. Our fossil records show that the first Fractal Emergence produced many of the Natura and the Aquea factions, as females were more tied to the land. The second Emergence created more of the Demonae and Spiritus factions as females became more spiritual and in tune with the supernatural around us.”

She frowned, not liking where this was going.

“This third Emergence has seen more Monstera, Nocta and Shifter factions than ever before. We believe it is a form of wish fulfillment.”

“What?!” Sybelle cried and sat forward, her breakfast and coffee forgotten.

“DNA and RNA are very much record keepers for the body, and what the body experiences in large doses triggers and manipulates DNA. For example, consider the way that pollutants cause genetic mutations that result in cancer.”

“How the fuck is that possible?”

Teddy continued, unfazed by Sybelle’s personal crisis.

“Since the 20^th century, we have seen a surge in females being interested in those beings of the dark and with that comes certain...responsibility. Our own genes are giving us our deepest, darkest fantasies, but the problem with that is that not all of those that are imbued with these gifts take it to the right place. The transition augments the base nature of the male. A man who was already disturbed can reach serial killer levels of pathological behavior overnight.”

“Holy shit.”

“But this is where the males come in. Females call their own males to them. It is their choice whom they love, whom they let love and treasure them. With a majority of males in a harem, when in the possibility of childbearing, their own factor will be a front runner, especially if the female has predilections toward specific factions.

“As seen here,” she turned to a view screen that was highlighted in green, “if a female is with a pod of Nocta and she is more interested in those males, their offspring will be Nocta. But if a female has a harem of many factions, the change is more random. Which brings us to the second thing we have found.

“The idea of mates is real. Females with predilections toward specific factions, we believe are supposed to mate with those males, to propagate their factions and, ultimately, species. Humanity is not divided by color any longer. We are divided by subspecies.”

The LTN correspondent came back on then and started speculating on what the information meant, but Sybelle turned the television off, lost in her own thoughts about it. If they were right, and of course they were, they were the most brilliant women in the world who were working tirelessly to help them all understand the new world they were living in, then she was genetically sweet on monsters...which would ensure that she would like the boys as they are, and she did. She didn’t feel any fear with them, only erotic lust and longing and need. So was it luck that they turned into Monstera, or were they drawn together because they ultimately would be good for each other?

She thought back to their childhood. Atticus had always been there and they had been fast friends, little Atty and her, sharing a back yard and playing together from when they were four. But Batty and Thorn, they had arrived later, not much, but a few years. She remembered a young boy that she hadn’t ever been interested in playing with that had lived in the house Batty’s parents had purchased, next door to her place. The family had moved before they were five, but the boy, she didn’t even consider playing with him. Same with the other boys that were across the street where Thorn’s family lived. There were several boys and girls there, but aside from Atticus, Thorn and Balthazar, she never bothered with them, not when they were little and not when they were older.

And now her boys were monsters and she loved all the dirty sexy things they did.

It kinda made sense.

Looking up, she saw Atticus walk in from outside, snow in his hair, his pants wet. “Hey. Weather report said it’s going to get warmer and melt a bit for a few days before the second storm moves in.”

"We'll have to watch it," he said, shaking off his coat. "If it melts too far, we might be at risk of attack. I'll keep an eye on the snow levels. Anything interesting on the news?"

“Lots,” she said, looking him over. “You look like you need to get out of those wet clothes.”

"Was that a hint?" He smirked, walking toward her. "Because if it was, let me counsel you to patience, young one, because while I was outside, I turned the heater on in the pool and, in about fifteen minutes, it should be warm enough to take a dip.”

With a laugh, she shook her head. “If I wanted you naked, Atticus, I would say take off your pants. I simply meant your clothes are wet.” Emerging from her nest of blankets, she stood in her little shorts and t-shirt and padded to him. She knew he could see the outline of her nipples as they were already tight peaks and kissed him sweetly.

“Ooh, brunch fucking?” Balthazar said as he came up from downstairs. “I’m down.”

“What? No,” she laughed again. “I was just saying good morning to Atty. When I finally got up, you were both outside.” She leaned up and kissed Balthazar as well. “Good morning to you.”

“Good morning,” he said. “Where is Thorn?”

“Kitchen I think...he said something about quiche?”

"Well you have a point," Atticus said, going back to their earlier conversation. "I could do with some dry clothes. It's cold out there." Pulling his sweater over his head, he headed for the stairs.

“You come back naked and I won’t be upset,” she called after him.

Balthazar smirked. “Quiche you say...well then...”

They walked into the kitchen to see Thorn mixing cheese and egg together, with a board of vegetables cut and waiting. She went to him, grabbed his ass and then snagged a piece of mushroom. “News said we are going to get a warm spell before the next big storm.”

"I heard Atticus saying something about the pool," Thorn said, ignoring the news about the weather and tossing a bunch of things in a frying pan. "Let me get this finished up and in the oven and I'll join you guys out there.”

Balthazar smirked. “I guess it’s going to be pool time then, baby girl.”

“I guess so.”

“Go. I’m going to go get towels. I’ll see you in there.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek and then was gone, leaving her to meander toward the pool area. The steam rising from the water was low, but it was there. She made her way to the pool deck and then slipped out of her clothing, putting it on the chair. Then, walking over to the stairs, she stepped in and sighed.

The water was warm, not hot but just over tepid, and she smiled. The morning had Thorn checking the gore marks on her inner thighs, but for all his blustering, they weren’t as bad as they had thought and, by some wonder, were already closed and pink, but tender. Thorn was sure he didn’t have healing abilities, but she had the theory that Batty’s venom was still working through her body, helping with keeping her hale and hearty.

Now in to her neck, she went under and came back up to see Atticus entering the pool deck and came up out of the water to show him she was naked and wet. And he wasn’t.

"You're enough to make me wish I was an Aquea," he chuckled. "Wet is a good look on you."

“Nyogtha isn’t aquatic?” she asked as she came closer.

"It is, but I can't go full form with people around and my half form can't breathe underwater," he sighed.

“Ah, well...” she smiled. “Maybe one day I’ll take the boys out and you can have a wee relax at the bottom of the pool.” Coming out of the water completely, she smiled. “You should be naked and in the pool with me.”

"I don't like being in my full form." Atticus shuddered. "It's too much. He's too powerful."

“Fair enough. As long as he likes me,” she offered. “You getting in with me or what?”

"He doesn't like anyone," Atticus told her flatly. "My half form, on the other hand, fucking adores you. I'll be in as soon as I'm naked."

“Hurry,” she said with a wink and walked back into the water. She watched him there, revealing his perfect body, and sighed. Gods. He was just beautiful. And the tentacles, when they showed up, did nothing to mar that beauty.

Atticus slipped into the water and scythed through it, sleek and deadly, catching Sybelle around the waist and curling around her.

“Oh, I like you wet,” she said and kissed him, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Wait until you feel my tentacles wet," he smirked. "Imagine how they felt in your pussy the other night, but all over your body."

She shuddered and leaned in. “When they wrapped around your shaft,” she whispered. “I came so hard...”

“Ooh, look at them getting started without us,” Balthazar said from the railing on the floor above.

"Not my fault you're a slow coach," Atticus called back. "You're welcome to join us any time."

“I think I will,” he said and then Balthazar was sliding down the slide to his right and into the pool. Seconds later she was sandwiched between them.

“Oh, so that’s how this is going to go?” she said with a laugh. “Thorny...”

"Not done yet, but I'll be right there!" he called through from the kitchen. "Give me five minutes!"

"Poor guy," Atticus chuckled. "Working so hard to feed us while missing out on this." He slid his hand down Sybelle's side.

“Oh, he got his pound of flesh last night,” she said and leaned back into Balthazar who was kissing her neck. “I just wanted tell you guys what I figured out after watching the news.”

"You want to interrupt this with stuff you saw on the news?" Atticus couldn't believe it.

Laughing, she shook her head. “No. I want to tell you what I figured out after watching the news...”

Balthazar’s hands were cradling her breasts as he bit down softly on her shoulder. “If she’s mentioning it, it’s probably important. Our sweet girl likes her pleasures above all else, don’t you?”

"Well then...let's wait for Thorn to join us and you can tell us everything." Atticus released her and floated back in the pool, shifting into his half form to feel the water in his tentacles.

“Oh, that’s not fair,” she said as she watched him, eyes alight. Seeing him as this, she knew she was right, and hopefully it would make things better between them all.

"You're welcome to touch them if you want," he shrugged. "I'm just floating here."

Balthazar chuckled from behind her. “She wants to do more than touch them, don’t you, baby?”

Nodding, she leaned back into his embrace and closed her eyes.

“Here, let me keep you busy while we wait.” His fingers plucked at her nipples. “Keep you ready for all the things we are going to do to you, sweetheart...”

“I don’t need to be made ready,” she said softly. “I’m physically incapable of not being ready for the three of you.”

"Good to know," Atticus smirked. "Not going to stop me from giving you extensive foreplay. It's as much for me as it is for you."

She shook her head. “I mean like physically, emotionally, and everything, I’m ready for you. And it’s by design.” She looked to the hallway. “Thorn, get your ass in here!”

"I'm here!" Thorn skidded out onto the deck, literally on one foot as he peeled his other sock off. "What did I miss? I need a blow by blow." His last word was muffled by his sweatshirt as he dragged it off.

“Nothing. Just Sy here telling us it’s physically not possible for her not to be ready for us.”

Thorn paused. "We do still get to go down on her, right?" He looked directly at Sybelle. "I can still taste that sweet pussy?"

“As if I would ever give that up.” She shook her head and then smiled.

“So if it’s not that, then what?” Balthazar said, his arms around her waist allowing her to float.

“You remember when we were kids?” She looked to Atticus. “Remember before Thorny and Batty moved in? That little boy that lived in Batty’s house before Batty? We weren’t friends...well, I wasn’t friends with him, but he was our age...”

"Yeah, I vaguely remember him," Atticus frowned. "Blond kid?"

She nodded and then looked to Thorny. “The two kids that lived on either side of you. We weren’t friends either...we didn’t talk to them...”

"Snotty little shits," Atticus agreed. "They tried to push me around once. Never made that mistake again."

“We weren’t friends with anyone on the street. We bonded together, never played with other kids. I never hung out with other boys. I had a few girlfriends growing up in high school, but...” She looked to each of them. “So Teddy Ravela was on the LTN, talking about something they figured out. Some females have a predisposition to certain males, and will breed certain males.”

“So you’re saying...”

“I bonded so quickly to the three of you, and the three of you bonded so hard with me, because I was genetically predisposed to Monstera and you were going to be Monstera. I guarantee none of the other kids on the street became Monstera.”

"Wait..." Thorn was dumbfounded. "Does that mean they can start telling what boys are going to be before they shift? We could have been told we were going to be Monstera before we went to the retreat?"

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “They said that a female with that leaning and males of that leaning are almost guaranteed to have male children of that leaning, so if we were to have kids...” She looked to them “They would be a breed of Monstera.”

Balthazar sighed. “If they knew this when we were younger...” He shook his head.

“Your dads were all different. I mean different factions for the most part. None of them were Monstera so they couldn’t have known, or thought it. My dads weren’t Monstera either, but...here we are.”

"Wow." Thorn sat on the edge of the pool, his legs dangling in the water. "I mean, I never thought further than finding you and making you ours. I never stopped to think about kids or what they would be if we had them. I mean...do we want kids? Is that where we're going with this?"

Balthazar shrugged. “Personally, I don’t care. I have the three of you in my life, my family and the woman of my dreams. Everything else is cake.”

She squeezed his arm and looked to Atticus, who was largely quiet. “Atty?”

Atticus floated thoughtfully. "I can't lie," he said eventually, "I used to dream about you having my kids, big round belly, all glowing and shit, but then reality hit. I turned Monstera...fuck, we all did...and the weight of being what I am..." He shook his head. "What if we had a kid that was the same as me? Having a target painted on his back his whole life. Is that fair?"

She swam over to him and pulled him close, letting his tentacles wrap around her. The sadness in his voice...she didn’t want to hear it. “No. You are right; it’s not fair, not to you or any life we brought into the world.” She sighed and smiled. “If we had a boy, it would be trying, but if we had a sweet little girl...” She smiled. “You would all be the best daddies ever.” Kissing him sweetly, she leaned her head against his. “I love you and I want everything with you. All of you.”

Atticus blew out a heavy breath. "Well, whatever we do, we can't make those kinds of choices now. We need to get you somewhere safe and far away from the Monstera king."

“I know. And we will.” She nuzzled his throat. “But right now...”

Balthazar growled from his side of the pool. “Right now she needs us close.”

"I'm here for that." Thorn slipped into the pool and swam over to them. "How are we doing this?"

Balthazar looked to Atticus and her. “Safe to say our woman wants us. Atticus?” he said and she knew they would defer to their de facto leader.

"Why don't I hold our girl up and you can use that tongue of yours on her?" Atticus suggested. "She told me how much she likes it."

Sybelle blushed and rubbed against Atticus and his tentacles. The idea of Balthazar at home between her thighs, she bit back a moan. Gods, it was like she was in heat the second they started talking about pleasing her.

Balthazar smirked and came closer. “Oh, I can very much oblige.”

Atticus turned her around and her lips made purchase on Balthazar’s, his normal, human tongue bullying hers into submission as his hands slid down her sides. She shivered in Atticus’ tentacled embrace and arched as they lifted her out of the water.

“So fucking beautiful. Look at you...” Batty said as the tentacles wrapped around her thighs and pulled them open, slowly. “So pink and wet already.” He leaned down. “Thorn, those tusk marks...” he said and looked up. “Did she like it?”

"Yeah, she did," Thorn grinned like a proud boy. "Although I freaked, thinking I might have hit the femoral arteries. Batty here almost got called to swoop in with his magic venom."

“It’s still in me,” she said softly. “It’s why I’m healing so quickly.”

Batty grinned. “Oh, it could use some help...” He leaned in and swiped his tongue on the marks on her inner thighs and she cried out and arched. “Ah fuck, she tastes like sin...” He groaned and then was face deep in her as she gripped his hair. His hands came up from under the water, long talons on his fingers, the color of his skin darkening.

“Oh gods...that’s it...” she moaned and hummed. The fact that they changed for her, that it was second nature for sex with her, turned her on to no end.

"I'm going to remember this image for the rest of my life," Thorn murmured, drifting in the water. "Jesus...she's fucking magnificent."

“And she tastes...fuck, she tastes so fucking good.” Balthazar growled as she looked to Thorn as he approached. Leaning back, she kissed Atticus and then gripped Thorn’s arm and kissed him as well, as one of Atticus’ tentacles wrapped around her nipple and squeezed.

“Ah!” she cried out as her body spasmed, the orgasm quick and powerful. Panting, she lay there, suspended by water and tentacles. “Holy shit...”

"I don't think one was enough," Atticus told Balthazar. "Give her another one."

“With fucking pleasure,” he hissed and she felt his tongue change and slide into her.

Her hips rolled and she gasped, feeling her body respond, her honey slicking as her sheath contracted.

“Oh fuck... Please, Batty... Please...” She didn’t even know what she was asking for, but Balthazar knew. His talons pierced her softly, just above her mound, and she shattered again. Batty was there, licking and sucking at the wound as she purred. “Oh fuck...so good... More... Please...”

“Fuck, I love hearing her beg,” Batty said. “You want this cock, baby?”

“Oh...fuck...yes, I need...” She looked to Thorn. “Let me suck you, please...”

“Fuck yes,” Balthazar said as they moved closer to the edge, so he was at the perfect height on the step below to drive into her.

"Since you asked so nicely," Thorn grinned and pulled himself up onto the ledge. "It’s right here, sweet thing. Come and get it. I'm ready for you." Knowing how much she loved to watch, he palmed his cock and stroked it with long, deliberate moves.

Her smile was soft and when she reached for him, her tongue swiped out, running along his thick blue shaft. She swallowed him down, just as Batty drove into her, causing her to bite Thorn just enough that he hissed. She moaned at the feel of Batty plunging into her, the tentacles from Atticus constricting, wrapping around her body, her breasts, sucking on her nipples and clit. She shook, sobbed on Thorn’s cock as she bobbed her head on him.

“Fuck, she’s so tight,” Batty hissed. “I’m not going to fucking make it past this one...” He ran his fingers down her side, careful not to score her, but the intent was there. She moaned around Thorn, mindless.

Tangling his hands in her hair, Thorn pushed deeper into her mouth. "Look at me, cupcake," he commanded. "I want you to look me in the eye while I fuck your mouth."

"Fuck, dude," Atticus' eyes were hot as he watched Thorn push her to her limits. Thorn pulled her head up and looked at her seriously. "I'm going to come down your throat, cupcake, and you're going to swallow every drop of it. If you think you can't handle that, tell me now."

Lips swollen and glistening, she nodded, her eyes half-mast. “Fuck... Yes...yes...”

“Jesus. She literally strangled me when you asked her, man,” Balthazar laughed, “Holy shit...”

Thorn didn't look away from Sybelle. "Every fucking drop, sweetness, or I will tan your hide, audience or not. Now open that pretty mouth of yours."

"Damn, Thorn." Atticus hid a smile.

"Watch and learn, boys." Thorn pulled Sybelle's head back down onto his cock and began fucking her throat in earnest.

“Ah, fuck...she’s literally pulsing...fuck, she likes this,” Batty said.

Sybelle was lost in the feel of Thorn, of the driving rhythm of Balthazar, and the knowledge that this was everything she needed right then. To be filled by her monsters, to be taken how they wanted to take her, and knowing Atticus was watching. Oh fuck, she felt herself grow wetter and Balthazar groaned as she swallowed back, Thorn’s dick forcing its way farther down.

“She’s literally gushing here,” Balthazar said and hissed. “And so fucking tight. Ah fuck...”

She felt him come, flooding her with warmth, and she hummed at the perfection, her body taking Thorn that slight bit deeper.

"Yeah, that's my girl," Thorn hissed, seconds before his climax rolled through him and he came hard down her throat. She took it without blinking, eyes watering as she swallowed again and again. "Such a fucking good girl," he crooned, stroking her hair until she came up for air.

“Fuck, that was good,” she moaned as she panted and licked her lips. “So good.”

Balthazar leaned down and kissed her just below her belly button and she ran her hand through his hair, as the tentacles tightened around her body and she gasped. Clearly Atticus was eager for some attention, too.

"My turn," Atticus growled, contracting his tentacles and dragging her through the water. "Are you ready for me, baby girl?"

“Always...” Her body arched as she licked her lips. Atticus’ mastery of her body was so much different than Thorn’s and Balthazar’s, but it was the mastery she craved most. Atticus and his shifted half just took, and she loved being taken by them.

"Good." Atticus didn't waste any time with preliminaries, slamming her down onto his cock and holding her in place while he thrust into her.

Her sobs echoed in the pool room, her eyes shut as she felt him everywhere, his tentacles pinching, wrapping, squeezing. “Fuck... Oh gods... Yes...”

"Yeah, you take my thick cock. You take it so good," he ground out, wrapping a hand around her throat and tangling the other in her hair, dragging her head back.

She screamed as she came, the feel of him just too damn perfect, and shook from the force of it. “Atticus... Oh, fuck yes!”

It didn't take long for him to crash over the edge after her and he braced himself against the edge of the pool as his knees went weak. "New favorite pre-dinner activity of all time," he gasped jokingly and, as if on cue, the timer on the oven started beeping, sending them all into peals of laughter.

"I'll get it." Thorn was already on the edge of the pool and he rose up, snagging his jeans on the way as he strode in the direction of the kitchen. "Clean yourselves up, girls and boys," he told them as he disappeared inside. "Dinner will be on the table in ten."

“Fucking is hungry business,” Batty said and lifted himself out of the pool. Grabbing a towel, he left her alone with Atticus.

“I love you,” she said softly as they kissed, his tentacles receding, so it was just him holding her to him with his own arms. “That was...”

"You'd better get used to it," Atticus smiled tenderly. "We love you, too."

“I know.” Cuddling into him, she sighed. “You all take such good care of me.”

"Did you hear the bit where I said we all love you?" He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "We're going to ride you hard, we can't help that; it's our Monstera side. But you can be sure that, the rest of the time, we're going to dote on you with all the love and affection we've got."

“Good, because I love it.” She grinned. “Ya girl is a deviant...”

"I noticed." He couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up at the admission.

“So it’s good I’m with deviants...” She shuddered and gave a slight little moan. “Fuck, I love what you all do.”

"Down, girl. Thorn will be upset if we're late for dinner. You know how he loves feeding you."

“He does that,” she agreed and sighed. Part of Thorn’s love language was providing for her through food. Not a bad thing considering she cooked for shit. “I guess we will just have to wait for dessert,” she said softly. “Sleep with me tonight?”

"Absolutely, sweet thing. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

It was all she needed to cement it with them...three men, three nights. She smiled. “And maybe a swim in my tub...just me, you and your tentacles.”

"You really like those." He grinned. "I think we can make that happen."

“I feel safe,” she said by way of explanation. “I feel safe with all of you, but...”

"Let me guess...I'm the big bad mofo that makes you feel super safe?"

“No, you love me most,” she said softly, and knew it was true. Batty, Thorn, they loved her, but since her earliest memory it had always been Atticus. Atticus at her back and in her heart.

"I've loved you the longest," he agreed. "And you know how much I love being your first. But the others love you just as fiercely."

“I know. And I feel the same way.” But with Atticus it was just...perfect. And it always would be. “Come on, I need to get some clothes on and that quiche smells heavenly.”

Chapter 16

Two days later, the snow had melted enough to let them out and into the world for a bit. Atticus wasn’t happy about her going with them, but after a long conversation, promises she wouldn’t go anywhere without one of them, and assurances she carried a weapon, they had all relented.

Oswego was a winter wonderland and thankfully shops were open up and down the main drag, along with bars, and the shopping plaza, where she very much wanted to go. These days it couldn’t be called a mall, as at least half of the stores had gone under after the fractals appeared and the chaos that ensued, but there were still merchants to buy from and she was looking for something special, as well as some more warm clothes.

They had all gone to the grocery, picking up more meat, vegetables, stocks, coffee, pasta, cheese and dry goods. Between the four of them, they were in and out in less than fifteen minutes, and that had left them almost an hour for them to shop for other essentials. They all needed some heavier clothing if they were going to make it the rest of the way north.

“Okay, who is coming with me?” she asked as they got out of the truck. “I know, no splitting up, but I need to get under things.”

“Sweetheart, you said the magic word that will have all three of us with you, provided we get a fashion show,” Balthazar grinned.

She laughed at Balthazar. “If we weren’t running for our lives and all, I would be happy to do a Pretty Woman montage, but that’s going to have to wait until we are all safe.”

“Got it. Rain check,” the man said. “So? Thorn? Atticus? Who is going with her?”

"You go," Atticus replied. "I need to hit up the hardware store. I want to make the house a bit more secure in case we get hit while we're there. The snow makes us as vulnerable as it protects us."

"I have to buy some things for the kitchen." Thorn shook his head. "The equipment is severely cramping my style."

“Well shit.” Balthazar frowned “The place does need upgrading,” he conceded. “Though I needed to hit up linens...” he smirked. “Seems we keep burning them.”

She blushed. “Jesus, Batty.”

“What? You know you love it.”

"I'll swing by there, too," Thorn offered. "Five sets going to be enough?"

"Depends on whether you're going to be using those tusks of yours again," Atticus laughed.

"Nah, it was a close call last time," Thorn shook his head. "I'm repositioning next time."

She grinned. “Still think they can hold my ass like a seat.”

Balthazar hissed. “Don’t get me thinking about that,” he growled. “Atticus might be the voyeur in this outfit, but I’m quickly becoming a fan as well.”

"You can both have front row seats next time," Thorn laughed. "Get on with it, guys. It's dangerous out here and we're wasting time."

"He's right," Atticus sobered. "Get to it."

She leaned in and kissed both Thorn and Atticus and then clasped hands with Balthazar as they walked toward the left and the two stores she wanted to go to.

“So,” he said, “what are we looking for?”

“Boots,” she replied. “Thermals, another pair of jeans, a coat and...” she grinned. “Something sexy to wear for you guys.”

“You do know we prefer you naked, right?”

She laughed. “I know, I just...”

“I know you left all those sexy frilly things in the city. Were you really hoarding them for us?”

She nodded. “I started buying pieces every week since the day you left. I have a huge amount...so many pieces I bought with each of you in mind. Though, I’ll be honest, the girl I was didn’t even fathom how dark you all would be...how you would love me.”

“Well we didn’t expect it either. Good thing you like it.”

“Love it, Batty. Love it.”

They made their way into the first store and she was quick and efficient in picking up the essentials, her jeans, and boots taking the longest as she needed to find the right sizes. They paid and then Batty was hauling her bags in one hand, his other arm wrapped around her waist as they left and she steered him toward the underwear store.

She watched as he was both attentive but on alert, watching for threats, though she didn’t think they would find any. Here, women walked around without men, laughing and talking with friends. She felt a modicum of safety and took advantage of it.

The store was lively, women in groups and such, several men with women, their eyes like stars at all the things in their baskets. Sybelle looked to Balthazar, who had the same smile on, and dragged him to the sheers and lace section. She picked up a black baby doll, the cups of the dress a sweeping floral lace, the dress mesh with a frill at the bottom. “Well?”

“I think you need that. In black and grey and purple,” he said and grabbed the colors. “Thorn and Atticus will tear you apart in that.”

“And you?”

“Why do you think I want the purple?” he asked with a grin. “Come on, let’s get you some underwear...”

Their little trip through the store took all of twenty minutes, from choosing some serviceable pieces to some sexy ones to add to the already decided upon lingerie, and then they were walking out, a large pink and yellow polka dot bag in her hands.

“Can we find a restroom?” she asked as they walked. “And maybe a snack?”

“You got it,” he said and they walked through the halls ‘til they found the restroom sign. “Gimme a few, yeah?”

“I’ll be right outside,” he promised.

Nodding, she kissed him and left the bags with him as she walked down the small hallway to the door that led to the bathroom. It was empty inside, so she checked her hair quickly, then went into a stall, getting down to business in moments. As she exited, she looked up to see a man standing in the bathroom and frowned.

Shit.

“You aren’t supposed to be here,” she said, her hand in her pocket, fingers wrapping around the small knife Thorn had given her. It was a switch blade, one that was easily concealed.

“Neither are you, Sybelle.”

Shit. He knew her name.

“Well if you know me, I’m at a loss...”

“I’m not important,” the male said. “Only that you are late for a very important date with the king.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“My ass,” she said and scowled.

“I don’t think you grasp the enormity of the situation there, sweetness.”

The endearment felt like ashes to her ears. Cold and gritty. “I don’t think you grasp the reality of it. I’m not going anywhere with you. And if you try, you are going to be very fucking sorry.”

The male smiled, rows of teeth protruding from his mouth as his words became garbled. “Other way around, pet. Move, or I’ll make sure you hurt for it. They want you alive; the status aside from that is up to you.”

The gleam in the asshole’s eyes let her know he would enjoy hurting her. Well fuck that. She would bide her time. Leaving through the door, she could scream for Batty...

“Fine,” she said. “Let’s go see the king.”

The male grinned, the ruined maw of his mouth disconcerting with the jagged broken teeth on display. “Well then, after you.” She started walking toward the door but he grabbed her and pulled her toward the only other door in the room, the supply closet.

“That’s a closet.”

That’s how I got in here, pet,” he said and she watched as the door opened, and another just beyond, like a fuzzy dream door, cloaked in falling snow. Shit. He was Monstera, and probably a Shadowea...one of the most volatile and special. “After you,” he said again. She looked down, seeing the dust on the floor. Clearly the space hadn’t been used in a while and inspiration struck. She pretended to stumble, quickly drawing an arrow in the dust, and then got up.

“Sorry.”

“Move,” he said, though his voice was less strained now.

Walking toward the portal, she sighed and then fake sneezed, getting her essence on her hand. She touched the fuzzy edge of the doorway, hoping what she had heard about the subfaction and organic materials was right, and then stepped through into the white afternoon, to see the waiting Hummer.

She only hopped Batty and the guys were close behind.

***

Balthazar was worried. Yes, most chicks took a long time in the bathroom, but Sybelle was not one of them. Pulling out his burner phone, he dialed Atticus’ number as he scented the air. Something wasn’t right.

"Zar?" He heard Atticus dropping the tool he was holding. "What's wrong?"

“Maybe nothing, but something feels off. I can sense magic. And she’s not out of the bathroom.”

"Fuck." He heard Atticus start running for the exit. "Get in there and find her. I'm on my way."

Balthazar’s quick steps into the bathroom proper had his senses on high alert. The scent of magic was stale, but darkness was everywhere in there, along with the usual scents of a public restroom. If you weren’t looking for the magic, you would miss it.

“Sy?” he said and looked around, opening the stalls to find no one. “How the fuck?” Turning, he saw a second door in the wall, slightly ajar. Opening it, as his claws lengthened, he noticed a sliver of light toward the back. “What the hell?”

Scenting the room once more, he caught the magic and, faintly under it, as if they were trying to mask her, Sybelle. She was agitated, but calm. Opening the door completely, he searched the ground and found her scent there, heavier in sections, and went to his knees. Someone had pushed her? Had she fallen? He searched and then smiled to himself. An arrow. And it pointed right to that sliver.

He heard the door open and Atticus’ foot falls just behind Thorn and Atticus.

***

Hanging up, Atticus hurdled the check-out barriers and dialed Thorn. When he answered, Atticus didn't give him time to say hello. "Thorn, get to the toilets. Zar smells magic and Sybelle hasn't come out. He's gone in to look for her."

"I'm on my way." Thorn hung up and Atticus picked up speed, praying to every god there was that his precious Belle was safe.

“She was taken through here,” Balthazar said as they busted into the bathroom.

"Fuck." Atticus went cold with rage, his power boiling off him and sending ice frosting across the walls. "Back up. Now." The other two backed up as Atticus ran at the wall, blasting power out in a massive burst that shattered it into pieces. "Out! Now!"

Thorn eyed the roof, which was listing dangerously, and barreled after Atticus, pushing Balthazar ahead of him.

"Where are they?" Atticus roared.

"There!" Thorn spotted Sybelle's hair flying in the wind, halfway across the car park, as she struggled with three men in dark jackets.

"Kill them all." Atticus was already running, snow drifting around him as his monster erupted from within.

"Incoming!" Thorn spotted another four heading toward Sybelle and the men she was struggling with and he dragged his gun from his holster.

***

Balthazar exploded into his shifted form, his claws ready to rend and maim for his mate. He took to the sky then and swooped down on one of the four running toward her, claws sinking into the meat of him. The sublime symphony of separating flesh sang in his ears as the man screamed. Balthazar retracted his fingers and then swiped at the dude’s head, sending it clean off. Another turned to fight him, punching him in the jaw and sending him flying. Shaking it off quickly, he watched as the male started to change.

“Golem!” he screamed and Thorn didn’t hesitate, swinging his gun and emptying the chamber right into the man’s face. If they couldn’t get lead into him before his full shift, they were all in trouble, even Atticus. Two of the others came at him and he saw red, slashing and hacking his way to the Golem, just as Thorn’s bullets knocked him back enough so he couldn’t shift.

“Why are you here?” he demanded, shaking the man he was holding.

The male laughed as blood bubbled from his mouth. “She is his. You think this will ever stop? He’s already after you...”

Swiping his claws once more, Balthazar ripped out the asshole’s throat and then took off for the carnage Atticus was in the center of.

***

Sybelle struggled against the one male that was holding her, waiting for her time to strike with her knife. She didn’t know what this one was. The Shadowea that had taken her had handed her off to this male, who seemed too confident for his own good. Well fuck that. Atticus was going to kill his friends and she was going to make sure the asshole knew death on her terms.

“One chance, fuck-o. I’ma let you bounce...you don’t wanna die by any of their hands.”

The male shook her. “Shut the fuck up, bitch!” he growled and she shrugged. I tried, she thought as she planted her feet, getting ready for whatever was coming at them.

Atticus piled into the men, four times his normal size, tentacles lashing death left and right, beheading two of the men between him and Sybelle.

Thorn was firing and took down a couple of the men Atticus had stunned. "Sybelle, now!" he yelled, lining up his sights on the man holding her.

She watched as the man next to her went down and then she struck, the hilt of the knife he had given her sticking out of the man’s side. “Told you, fucker,” she said and kicked him in the side, before running toward her men.

She heard Balthazar roar and watched as he flew through the air to get to her, before Atticus really unleashed hell. He grabbed her and flew toward Thorn.

“Eyes shut,” he said and she clung to him, hiding her face. “Shit! I can’t believe this happened on my watch,” he muttered. “You were in danger because of me.”

“That asshole paid with his life, same as the rest,” she said into his chest.

“But you...”

“No. Balthazar, no. Stop.”

They made it to Thorn and took cover just as Atticus lost control. An almighty roar unleashed a terrible wave of cold and despair, blanketing everything around them.

***

Atticus’ beast exploded out of him, sending an arctic wave of darkness rolling across the car park, blasting cars out of the way. Screaming his rage, he obliterated the remaining would-be kidnappers, tentacles impaling them and swelling in size until his victims burst into shreds of flesh and bone, and then he obliterated their car, metal screaming as he tore it apart.

When he was done with that, he destroyed the parking space it had been in, tearing up chunks of tarmac and earth in his fury. They did not take his girl and live. He would destroy everything they had ever loved...everything they had ever touched. He would raze their entire lives to the ground.

***

Sybelle heard the carnage, but knew better than to peek to see it, as she wasn’t sure how far gone her lover was at that moment. She was glad for his vengeance, glad for his violence. Huddled between Thorn and Balthazar, she waited close to the building, as close as they could get, until the sounds of destruction died down.

“I think it’s safe,” Balthazar said and she popped up, looking around. Absolute chaos was around her. She wasn’t even sure how the hell they weren’t touched, as well as some of the cars. Thank god they weren’t parked there. Atticus was walking toward them, holding his side, and she ran to him.

“Oh gods...are you hurt?”

"Just a scratch," he dismissed it, despite the blood staining his shirt. "We need to get out of here. Hustle."

"If our car is still in one piece..." Thorn was gaping at the carnage. "Damn, man."

"Thorn! Move!" Atticus shoved him in the direction of their vehicle.

"Sorry." Thorn stumbled under the weight of the shove, but found his feet and raced after the others.

Making it to their car, which was in the next lot over, they found two of the tires had been slashed.

“They were watching us when we got here, probably from the grocery store,” Balthazar said. “We need a new vehicle and a roundabout way back to the house.”

After twenty minutes of trying to source a new vehicle, they were on their way, having traded out the newer truck they’d had to a younger male, early twenties, who had not thought twice about the trade, and even had two tires in his own truck to switch out the ones that had been slashed.

It was amazing to her how people just accepted weird shit now that the fractals were there. She was sure no one would bat an eyelid at the carnage in the back car park, aside from calling security because there was bone and viscera everywhere. The fact that death and destruction was a way of life now was fucking laughable.

She remembered growing up seeing massive Monstera battles on the news. Then it had been daunting and frightening. These days it was the status quo.

“We have to call Jenner,” Balthazar said again. “We need to know...”

"No," Atticus refused bluntly. "If they're searching for us, it might be because Jenner has been compromised. Calling him might give away our location."

"This storm is going to land in less than two hours," Thorn said. "What do we do? I don't think we can get caught on the roads in what's coming. Do you think we can ride it out at the house?"

"I think we're going to have to." Atticus got into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Chances are we just killed the whole team they had in this area. We've been covering our tracks pretty well. I think they just got lucky this afternoon and spotted us coming into the mall."

“At least at the house we can dig in, and we have cover and surprises,” Batty said as he smiled at her. “Now tell us what happened. How did they take you?”

As they pulled out of the parking lot, she told them about the bathroom. “They were looking for me. He knew me by name, my full fucking name, and he told me there was an order to bring me in alive but past that...it was open.”

Balthazar swore. “The asshole I killed told me they would keep coming, that she belonged to the king,” he snorted.

“I belong to the three of you,” she said.

"Damn right you do," Atticus snarled. "I'll destroy anyone that comes after you."

"Cool it, brother," Thorn tried to calm him down. "You're icing up the windshield."

"You can't seriously tell me you're not in a killing rage right now?" Atticus demanded.

"Oh, I'm in a rage," Thorn admitted. "But I'm not powerful like you. I don't ignite the arctic any time I lose my shit."

She leaned forward and set her hand on Atticus’ shoulder. “Please calm down,” she said softly, her hand stroking the skin on his neck. “Please...”

“Take the next right, then two lefts after, then another right. We will go the long way around. See if we are being followed,” Balthazar said from the back, his eyes on the rear windshield.

"Good thinking." Atticus turned the wheel and then pressed his cheek briefly to her hand. "I'm calm."

"The ice is receding," Thorn reported. "You good for ammo, Zar? I got two spare mags."

“If need be, yes. But give Sybelle a gun,” he said. “She didn’t take hers and lost that precious little knife.” He grinned at her. “Bloodthirsty female.”

The rest of the ride back was pretty uneventful, leading them to believe that the crew that found them had probably done so in town. Balthazar had them stash the truck in the underground garage and then they put away the groceries they had grabbed from the other truck.

"Everyone go and decompress," Atticus told them as the last few things were put away. "That was high octane. We need to unwind. I'm going for a walk."

"I need to bake." Thorn grabbed a bag of flour from the cupboard.

“Go...have a bath,” Balthazar told Sybelle. “I’m going down to the gym in the basement.”

She nodded and looked to Atticus. “Find me when you come back,” she said softly.

"You got it, sweetheart." Giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead, he stepped out into the late afternoon darkness. The clouds had rushed in and the air was heavy with the threat of snow. She watched through the window as he pulled his collar up against the wind and started to walk the perimeter one more time before the storm hit, the sight melting her heart. Nothing, not even the impending storm, was going to get in the way of Atticus protecting his girl.

Chapter 17

Three days.

Three days had passed without mention of the kidnapping, or anything having to do with their next moves. Sybelle was almost complacent in the fact that they were out of danger, but the threat was ever there, looming just behind her eyes.

The boys did their best to make things comfortable again, sliding into a routine with her. Breakfast with the four of them, then TV for her while they all did things—Atticus patrolling, Batty running on the treadmill, Thorn concocting something amazing for dinner while setting lunch. Then it was the midday meal, followed by a midday siesta that ended up with the four of them taking a little sexy R&R. Later afternoon was for games and talking, and then evening was for dinner. Then she became dessert, for all three of them, and them for her in turn. It was all followed up with one of them carrying her back to their room, where they would have her gasping and purring and sleeping content ‘til the morning.

Three days of what life would be like once they finally were free of this bullshit.

And it was sublime. They had fallen back into a comfortable space together, one where she felt loved, safe, protected and needed. It was like old times, except now she had that physicality of them, that missing piece she didn’t realize she needed so badly.

They mastered her body, took her to heights of pleasure she hadn’t believed possible, and didn’t hold back one bit. She loved that she could match them with their lusts, knowing she was just as greedy with her own when it came to them.

Now, sitting around the fire, candles lit as the storm still raged outside, she snuggled into Thorn’s side, a glass of sweet wine in her hand. They were all on the floor, pillows propping them up, a bowl of popcorn in the middle, quiet as they watched the flames. She sighed and sipped her drink and then looked to Balthazar, who was massaging her instep, and Atticus, who was sitting to the left of her, holding her hand.

“So, we going to talk about what we are going to do? The news said the storm is going to let up tomorrow, which gives us, what? Two days to plan something? We need to figure out where to go and how to get there.”

“I think that ship has sailed,” Batty said. “We can’t leave. It’s almost guaranteed that they’ll have every port and crossing under surveillance. They might not know where we are holed up, but they know we are here, and that storm ensured it. We need to think bigger,” he sighed and shook his head. “I know we talked about it before, but...I think we need to stop the Monstera King. It’s the only way you are going to be safe.”

"He's right." Atticus had cooled his temper and spent a lot of time thinking over the previous three days. "They're too close. They had a team of eight out here, knowing she was in the area, despite everything we did to cover our tracks. Zar is right...we'll never cross the border without killing the king."

"Do you really think you can kill him?" Thorn asked, his face troubled. "He's crazy powerful."

"So am I," Atticus replied, without any pride or false bragging.

“We have to believe that the outcome is positive for all of us,” she said to them. “If Atticus believes he can murder that rancid fuck, then I’m behind him, one hundred percent.” She squeezed his hand. “But we are going to need a plan, and we are going to need help.”

"Murder is such a dirty word," Atticus muttered. "All I know is that I'm the only one who even stands a chance. There's no one else in the resistance with enough strength. It's just me. And I have to go in alone. I can't unleash my full form with any of you in there."

"They're not going to let you just walk in the front doors, man. We're all tagged for death," Thorn pointed out.

"What do you have in mind?" Atticus asked.

"I don't know; I need to think." Thorn shook his head.

“Whatever we decide, we are going to need help. Thorny is right, being tagged, we need to figure out a way this works,” Balthazar sighed. “I know you were against it, but I think we need to call Jenner, or one of the lieutenants of his that’s up this way.”

She was quiet as they argued about involving anyone else, a plan coming through in her own mind, one that wouldn’t be welcome with the three of them, but really it was the only way she could see. She had been thinking about it, in the small hours, the threat to her happiness too great to not consider the option. “I think I have an idea,” she said softly.

"Are we going to like it?" Atticus asked, reading the look on her face and not liking what he saw.

“No. No you aren’t, but...hear me out.”

“Sy...”

“I said hear me out.” She looked at Balthazar, who sighed and then nodded.

“That asshole wants me, right?”

“Oh no...” Balthazar started again and she held up a hand. Sighing again, he shook his head, not liking where she was going with it.

“He wants two things. Me in his bed and you dead. So, what if we set it up so he ‘gets’ me and thinks you are dead?”

"You are not going anywhere near that monster," Atticus flatly refused.

"Wait..." Thorn got up and started pacing. "Wait..."

"You can't seriously be considering this?" Atticus rounded on him.

"We know we can't just walk in," Thorn reminded him. "Sybelle might be our ticket through the front door."

"We are not risking her!" Atticus roared, frost crawling across the coffee table.

“Atticus...” she said and gripped his hand. “Baby, it’s the only way. If we get some of the resistance to bring me in, they can arm me, and...” she sighed. “There was a breakthrough on the LTN yesterday and that’s what got me thinking.”

“Breakthrough?” Batty said, curious.

She nodded. “About mates. A mated female, which is rare apparently, is covered in mating marks. It’s what you each have done to me...the teeth marks, the tentacle bruises, the claw marks. It’s what tells others that my body is yours, but they don’t last.”

"What are you trying to say?" Thorn demanded. "Don't bother with the science; give us the basics."

“Mated females only stay completely mated, and marked, when they conceive. Until then, if the infusions of...” she looked down at their crotches and smirked, “Well, you know...is not kept up, then the marks fade.”

Batty stroked his chin. “How long?”

“It’s different for all the ones they’ve studied, but it’s almost always between ten days to two weeks.”

He nodded. “I think I get what you are saying...”

“So if I’m picked up with your mating marks, they can’t even consider touching me or trying to breed,” she spat out the word, feeling ultra-dirty, “on me until your claim, the essence of the three of you, is gone.”

"There is no guarantee they won't touch you anyway," Atticus disagreed. "He's a sadistic bastard. It's not all just about the sex. It's too dangerous."

She sighed. “Well unless you got a better idea, Atticus...” she offered. “Is there a way we can ensure the resistance keeps me out of that asshole’s bed?”

"We can't know that without talking to Jenner." Thorn was still pacing. "There are too many variables here. We need more information."

“Well, we aren’t going to get any sitting here alone, without any outside intel,” Balthazar said and looked to Atticus.

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Atticus said. "And I am not letting any of us go forward with it. I do agree that we need to call Jenner and ask for his opinion. He might have a better idea."

Balthazar got up. “Gimme a few.” Walking from the living room, he pulled out his burner phone.

Sitting on the ground still, Sybelle pulled her knees up and hugged them to her body. She didn’t like the idea, didn’t really want to be part of it, but it was their best shot.

"There has to be some other way." Atticus was pacing too now. "We have to figure out some way in that doesn't involve putting Belle in danger."

"Let Zar talk to Jenner," Thorn soothed. "We need to get the picture from the inside and then make our plans."

"You know Jenner will be against us trying to take the king out. He's never been one for big gestures. He thinks we should work quietly on the inside," Atticus reminded him.

"Be that as it may, if he knows this is our only chance, he'll help us," Thorn disagreed.

Balthazar came back moments later. “Cornimer is on his way here,” he said.

“Who is Cornimer?” Sybelle asked. “Can he be trusted?”

Batty nodded to her. “Roger Cornimer. He’s one of our contacts at the border. He and his female will be here shortly.”

“Oh.” She was going to meet another woman that was with a Monstera of her own free will. “Well then I suppose I should get dressed.”

He nodded. “Just in case.”

She got up and left the room, listening to them talk as she did. Whatever was going to be decided, she wanted to be comfortable and ready for anything.

***

Watching her walk out, Balthazar looked to the other two. “I know you guys have concerns over Jenner, but Cornimer has some intel we can use and some information that makes sense. He’s bringing his female with him because apparently there has been a bit of a dust up and he doesn’t feel safe leaving her.”

"Weapon up," Atticus ordered. "Even if this Cornimer can be trusted, there's no guarantee he's not under threat. We need to be prepared for anything. I'll go out and do the rounds."

"Yes, boss," Thorn mock saluted, even though the moment was deadly serious, and went to load up his guns.

Balthazar did the same, grabbing his rig, and checked his bug out bag, bringing it with him into the hallway. As he walked across to where Sybelle’s room was, he stood in the doorway and watched her get dressed. Leggings, scrunchy socks, boots and a long sweater she’d stolen from Thorn. Gods, she looked amazing.

“Hey, your bug out bag set?”

She looked up from where she was tying her laces. “What? Yeah, why? You think...?”

“Can never be too careful. I just don’t want to be caught with my pants down, so to speak.”

“And that?” she said of his shoulder holster. “Necessary?”

“Condom theory,” he said.

With a smirk, she shook her head. “Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”

“Exactly.”

“Batty, I’m worried.”

“I know, baby. We are, too.” He nodded. “But as much as it kills me, you were right. Unless they can come up with something better, this is the best we got.”

She went to answer, but lights came through the darkness then. Going to the window, Balthazar looked down to see a snowmobile coming through the trees. “Cornimer must be close.” He nodded when he saw two people get off the machine and Atticus greet them. One was clearly a woman.

“Well then...let’s go down there and greet them, yeah?”

Chapter 18

Six people in their kitchen was bordering on too many. They were sitting around the island, hot drinks for everyone, candles illuminating the space. Roger Cornimer and his fiancée, a slip of a woman named Vanessa, cuddled together, with her on his lap as they all talked. Sybelle could see how much the man loved her and how much she loved him in return.

“I have the encrypted channel to talk to Jenner,” Cornimer said as he pulled out what looked like a souped-up ham radio. “This way only he gets the message on his cell and then he will call us.”

“You still trust him?” Batty asked.

“With my life and hers,” he said as he kissed Vanessa’s cheek. “Jenner’s in a spot there, but he’s loyal to the movement.”

“How the hell do they know where we are?”

Cornimer shrugged. “Powers of deduction? I have heard they have strike teams everywhere along the border. Your female is priority one, which is saying a lot, as he’s expending so many resources to find her, and you. Though we all know why he’s looking for you three.” He looked to Atticus.

"Yeah, we didn't check in and he knows I'm a threat,” Atticus agreed. “By now he'll know about the unit we took out as well. What we don't know is if he knows that Sybelle and us are together."

“That I don’t know, but it’s a safe bet.” He frowned. “Things in the city, though, are...tense.”

“To say the least,” Vanessa said with a snort. “Roving gangs abducting women...”

“That’s just part of it. There’s a list now, and both of you are on it.”

“Both of us?” Sybelle asked.

Vanessa nodded. “Both of us.”

“What? Why? Surely they know something, then? I mean both of us are with Monstera...”

Vanessa gave her a wan smile. “My name was added four days ago.”

“Do you know why?”

She swallowed, but shook her head. “That is why Roger brought me with him. We are holed up just a few houses over until this blows over. He won’t let me out of his sight.”

“I’m still checking in and going out,” Roger explained. “I mean, this is where Jenner stationed me, but Vanessa and I have been together almost six months. That she’s been put on the list isn’t normal. They don’t usually go after women that are already with someone, especially someone who, on paper, works for the king.”

Sy shook her head. “It’s got to be the affinity thing.” She looked to each of her males. “They have to know that she, like me, is genetically compatible with a Monstera and will produce Monstera babies.”

"That's got to be pissing off all the mated Monstera in the city." Thorn let out a low whistle. "All these years they've served the king and now he's taking their women to put in his breeding program?"

"Do we have any intel on how it's going in the palace proper?" Atticus refused to lose focus. "We haven't taken in any deliveries since Sybelle hit the list. Has it been changed up at all? Are there new procedures in place for already mated females?"

“Those that have already conceived are left alone; their mating marks have settled,” Cornimer said. “The king has no use for them. You remember Jenner’s brother? His female just conceived over the holiday, apparently. Her name was on the list originally but it’s been taken off now.”

“And yours?” Sybelle asked Vanessa.

“I haven’t conceived yet. Roger and I are still searching for my others...my mates. It looks like all of us meant for Monstera have a minimum of three to complete the circuit. If we can find two more...”

Sybelle swallowed. It was very possible that she was meant for someone in the king’s palace since most Monstera worked for him or were ruled by him. If Vanessa could find her others, she would be safe.

“How are they figuring out the females, though? It’s not like they have a fucking neon sign over their heads like, ‘hello, I like monster dick,’” Batty wondered aloud and she slapped his stomach.

"Guthrie cards..." Thorn groaned. "The state archives were hit a few years back and they stole thousands of them. They must have narrowed it down to women in the right age range and started testing people’s genome sequences."

"What the fuck are Guthrie cards?" demanded Atticus.

"Every baby born has their heel pricked at the hospital and a drop of blood is stored on the card with the baby's information,” Thorn explained. “They use the same system in the UK and other western countries. There was big talk back in the 1990s about using them as a DNA database. Everyone wondered at the time of the theft what the point of stealing them was, but I guess now we know."

“You are twenty-nine right?” Sybelle asked. Vanessa nodded and she looked to Roger. “You are, too?”

“I’ll be thirty in three weeks.”

“We are the...what...second? Third generation since the fractals?”

"Something like that," Thorn was shaking his head. "Fucking Guthrie cards, man...they must be testing a specific age range first. That's what the lists are about."

"Can we focus?" Atticus snapped. "What do we know about the new procedures in the palace? What's our ticket in? We are not risking Sybelle unless it's the only way."

“For that, we need to call Jenner,” Cornimer said. “You guys ready?”

"Go for it." Atticus took a seat at the table. "Call him."

“Hope you got your questions ready, because this is going to be a five-minute call. After that he cuts off.”

She sighed. “Do it.”

Cornimer moved Vanessa off his lap and then fiddled with the contraption for a few moments, before setting his phone into it and making the call. Seconds passed and then it hung up.

“He will call back in a moment.”

Seconds passed once more and the contraption was ringing. “Speak,” a gruff voice said. “

"It's Atticus. We're on the run with Sybelle Strange and we're trapped. She's our mate. The only way out of this for us is to kill the king. Do you have a way for us to get into the palace to take him on? We need to roll in two days tops."

“Thought it was probably you that took out that patrol,” Jenner said. “I do, but I don’t advise it.”

“He needs to be dead,” Sybelle said to the voice on the other end.

“That her? She’s fierce.”

“That’s her,” Atticus made a shushing motion at her. “What’s going on at the palace?”

“Weird shit. Females coming in, getting checked out by doctors,” he said. “Fully mated females are released, but the males are brought in for questioning.”

"What's the procedure for mated females that are marked but haven’t yet conceived?" Thorn asked.

"And what's your idea?" Atticus demanded.

“Well, that would depend on that lovely female of yours being pregnant or not.”

“I’m not,” she said.

“But you are marked, right? By all three of them?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation.

“Females that are marked but not pregnant are put in a ten-day holding, ‘til the marks go away,” he said. “Once that happens, it’s like a reset and they go to the mating farm.” He growled. “We haven’t been able to get most of them out beforehand, only a handful...”

"No," Atticus growled. “If we can’t get her out we’re not risking it.”

"Tell us about the holding process," Thorn overrode him. "Can the women move around the palace? Do they have access to the king?"

“The holding area is in the east wing of the palace. Asshole turned it into a spa. They relax, they hang out and they get a battery of tests,” he growled. “They are all together. Once the marks are faded, they are moved overnight to the mating farm. No one has access to anyone in the holding area aside from myself, Marlo and Gorten, though they are seen by a battery of doctors and scientists.”

"So what's the plan?" Thorn asked again. "If she can't move freely about the palace, what's the point of bringing her in?"

“She can move freely about the east wing,” Jenner said.

Batty growled. “The fucking cellars...that lead to the sewers...”

“That’s your way in,” Jenner confirmed.

"How locked down is the holding wing?" Thorn inched closer to the device. "If Sybelle can get us into the east wing, how likely are we to make it out and into the palace proper?"

“Considering it’s myself, Marlo and Gorten on the wing, I would say extremely fucking likely.”

“Two minutes,” Roger said.

"We don't wanna burn you if this doesn't work out, man," Thorn shook his head. "Can you get us in without this blowing back on you?"

"Does anyone touch the girls in holding?" Atticus snarled. "Can you guarantee me her safety?"

She put her hand on his shoulder. The last thing Vanessa needed to see was a writhing mass of tentacles.

“You do this, you have to kill that motherfucker. There will be no second chance. We are all dead if you don’t,” Jenner said and then sighed. “Atticus, I feel you, man. I do. I can’t guarantee my own safety here,” he said. “My cover almost got blown three days ago and now everyone is looking at each other sideways. Ms. Strange? You a badass?”

Batty answered. “Yeah, she is.”

“Then let your female be a badass, Atticus. She has to be to handle Nyogtha.”

“Thirty seconds.”

“Decide. Have Roger relay. We will be in touch.”

The line went dead and Sybelle let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

"We don't have any other option," Thorn said quietly. "I'm sorry, brother. I hate it as much as you do, but she's our ticket in there. Unless we can find some way out of the country, this is our only option. Can you kill him? Yes or no?"

Atticus let out a wordless snarl of frustration. "I'm the only one that has a shot," he replied, trying to get himself under control. "There's no one else even in our league when it comes to power. I have to try. Getting us across the border doesn't guarantee he won't come after us. We'll be running the rest of our lives."

"Or until we can get her pregnant," Thorn reminded him.

"You really think any baby of mine isn't going to hit the king's priority list?" Atticus rounded on him. "It could be more powerful than both of us. He won't take that risk."

“Then it’s decided.” Sybelle looked to Roger.

“Can we talk?” Vanessa said and kissed Roger’s cheek. “I’ll be right back,” she said and took Sybelle’s hand, dragging her into the living room.

“You really are going to do this, right?”

She nodded. “Like Atticus said, we don’t have any choice.”

“Then I have some advice.” She leaned in. “Take them all tonight. Let them mark you over and over. Let them have their fill and then some. Take what you need. The news said that the fresher the marks are, the longer they stay. It might be the only way they will leave you alone.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Vanessa. Are you...are you and Roger going to be okay?”

“As we can be. At this point, I don’t know if I will ever find my others, and I am so envious you have found yours. Keep them close. Trust them and make sure you don’t take no shit.”

She left her standing there and went back to Roger, who was getting their coats. They left moments later, Cornimer nodding to her as he went out into the cold. Once alone, the boys walked into the living room to her.

"I'm not happy about this." Atticus' face was tortured.

"We're going to need a cover story." Thorn squeezed his friend's shoulder. "They're never going to believe Atticus was killed, but they might believe Balthazar and I were. Can we spin that Sybelle turned herself in to stop him hunting Atticus?"

“I think we should have Roger turn me in.” They all looked to her. “He can tell them I was trying to cross the border, shortly after an explosion close by. He can tell them they found the remains of two men in the car, a third’s tracks leading to the waterway.” She looked at them. “What? It makes sense. Not everyone knows what Atticus is, right? If he was wounded, Nyogtha would shift and take him deep, right?”

"Do they know Roger is rogue?" Thorn asked. "Because we can't burn him either, if they know."

“If they do, they are leaving him alone...and if they suspect, well,” she shrugged, “He proves his loyalty and it saves Vanessa and lifts any scrutiny about her,” she said. “With the king knowing what Atticus is and that he went to water...” She sighed. “He wouldn’t know if he was dead, but he might think Atticus is hurt enough to give the king time to get me pregnant before Atticus comes back for me.”

“Fuck,” Balthazar said and scrubbed his hand over his face. “Fuck, we are really doing this...”

"We haven't decided yet," Atticus snapped. "I can't. I just can't."

Wrapping her arms around him, she snuggled close. “Baby, we don’t have a choice,” she said softly, her fingers trailing down his back. “I don’t like this either. I just want to live happy and safe with the three of you. But that’s only going to happen if we take this shot.”

"And what if I fail?" he demanded. "What if I die? He'll go scorched earth. You'll all be dead. Are we prepared to take that risk?"

“No offense, but if I can’t live with the three of you, then what is the fucking point?” She looked to both Batty and Thorn. “If you die, my heart won’t survive. If you can’t win, then you take that bastard with you and we won’t be far behind.”

Batty nodded. “Ride or die, brother...where we go one, we go all.”

"So the choice is run or die?" Atticus asked, disbelief in his voice.

"Or we live free," Thorn reminded him. "You win this and we win everything."

"I don't know, guys..." Atticus shook his head.

“I’m not going to make you do it, Atticus.” She went up on tiptoe and rubbed her nose against his. “But I know you can win, my love. I know, because you have something to fight for. We all have something to fight for.”

He paced back and forth as they all watched him, trying to figure out if there was any other way at all that this could go, but eventually he had to concede. "Fine. I'm in. We do this and we put that bastard down once and for all." He shook his head. "It's madness, but it's the world we live in."

"Okay." Thorn nodded.

She smiled at them, sad but determined. Vanessa’s words came flooding back to her. “Well, we have a lot to do in very little time.”

“Like what?” Batty asked, though he had a knowing smile.

She didn’t speak, just stepped out of her boots, as it seemed the perceived danger was past, and then pulled off the rest of her clothes. Standing there, the firelight illuminating her, she picked up a candle and smiled, then started for the stairs for her bedroom.

"Well that's an invitation I'm not going to refuse," Thorn laughed, getting to his feet and heading for the stairs.

"You go ahead. I need a minute." Atticus was still pacing.

Sybelle turned to him and gave him a very sweet smile. “Don’t be long.”

Chapter 18

Balthazar looked at Atticus as Thorn followed Sybelle up the stairs. “You straight?” he asked his best friend.

"No. No, I'm not. If it was just us, I'd go in there and kill his ass without a second thought, but risking Beauty?" He shook his head, a bitter smile of regret twisting his lips. "I should have killed him two years ago, before she became a target."

“You didn’t know. None of us could have known,” Balthazar said. “Look, I know this is a shit show, but I’m there with you, man. Your second, as always. Thorn can handle Sy, he can make sure she’s safe,” he said. “This is killin’ me, too. But when has anything for us been fucking easy?”

"I should have known," he insisted. "It's always been her for us. There was never going to be anyone else. We always knew that, with what I am, she was going to end up in his orbit. This is on me. I should have killed him before he ever heard her name."

“It’s not on you, man. What you are is...astounding. What we all are. And we have a woman that has embraced our darkness, not learned to live with it, but eagerly wants it. She’s worth everything, because without her we don’t have happiness. And she doesn’t have happiness without us. So it sucks, yeah, but we take this fucker out. And all his minions. We plan with a better future ahead. We have two choices here, Att... We kill for her, or we get her knocked up.”

"I'm not sure even that would stop him coming for us." Atticus shook his head. "He knows I'm too dangerous. There's no other Monstera that could come close to taking us out. And if we got her knocked up, he'd have good reason to fear that the kid could kill us both." He stopped pacing and rested his knuckles on the countertop. "This is the only way. I'm just mad I didn't do it before."

“Honestly, man, get over it. You have a mate up in that bedroom right now, completely naked and waiting on you, waiting on us. You want to color that experience with doubt and regret?”

"That's why I asked for a few minutes," Atticus pointed out. "I'm not taking this shit up to her. I need to cool down, work through it again in my mind."

“Well don’t take too long. She’s going to be vibrating for you up there...and I think we both know what needs to happen tonight.”

"I know. You head up. I'll be there in a few."

***

Atticus watched Balthazar head up the stairs and sighed, pulling a beer from the fridge and cracking it open. He knew this had to happen, but he was afraid right down to the very marrow of his bones that he might get them all killed...get his Beauty killed. He needed to get over that fear. He couldn't go into this with any fear because it would mark his death. His fear would kill all of them. So he needed to kill it.

Walking through to the living room, he stood at the window and watched the snow drifting while he drank his beer. It brought a peace to his soul that he didn't think he'd ever known before. Being here with his brothers and with Sy...it was everything he'd ever dreamed of. This was it. This was what was worth fighting for. This was what he had to build up in his heart, fortify in his soul, cement in his heart. This love would be his armor and his weapon.

That was what he had to focus on. The others were right. He couldn't take this all on his shoulders. It was for them, for all of them. Draining his beer, he tossed the bottle and headed for the stairs. He had a woman to love.

Chapter 19

If there was anything in this world more splendid than seeing Sybelle Strange naked in the half light of candles kneeling on a large bed, Balthazar didn’t know of it. Ethereal, her hair a sweet dark cloud around her, the falling snow, illuminated by the outside lights below them, only added to her mystique. Her eyes were closed, lips glistening as her head cocked slightly, the look on her face peace and love in a pure uncut form.

“He okay?”

The words were a mere whisper from her as she opened her eyes and looked to him.

“He’s going to need a minute, but...” He paused and then looked to the left where Thorn was sitting, shirt off, watching her. “We are here.”

“Yes, you are...and you are both wearing far too many clothes.”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. Pulling his shirt over his head, he went to the small fireplace across from the bed and set it to burning quickly, knowing they would need it chase away the chill later. Not to mention there wasn’t anything wrong with being a sweaty mess with that woman. Thumbing his pants open, he grinned at Thorn. “What do you say we keep her occupied?”

"Well, you know how much Atticus likes to watch," Thorn reminded Balthazar. "Maybe we should set up for a real show."

Sybelle smiled, licked her lips and ran her hands down her sides. Balthazar growled, the fact that she was touching his marks giving him life, and nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.” He gestured to the other man, knowing that, like Atticus, he liked his control of the woman before them.

"On your knees. On the floor." Thorn rose to his feet. "She sucked you off yet, Zar? She's real good at it. You want that, sweet thing?"

Sybelle slid off the bed and went to her knees on the floor, looking up at them. Clearly she liked the idea, her eyes soft and her mouth forming a small smile.

Balthazar shook his head. Lord, how the idea resonated with him. “I haven’t had the pleasure...” he said and walked over to her, standing in front of her, his hand sliding into his pants to grip himself. He watched her eyes go wide and then settle again as he pulled his cock out. “This what you want?”

She licked her lips again and nodded, slow and steady.

"Then do it," Thorn commanded her, his voice quiet with authority. His eyes were dark as he undid his trousers and pushed them from his hips, knowing she would enjoy watching him while she sucked his friend off.

Leaning in, she took Balthazar in hand and slipped her lips around his head, the suction sweet and perfect as she slowly sank him farther into her hot, wet mouth. Bobbing slowly, she took him deeper each time and he could feel as she relaxed her throat to take him in.

“Holy shit...” he hissed, feeling his other side bubble up. The action, watching her bob on his cock as she looked up at him, her ass shaking as she fidgeted, it was fucking beautiful. “She sucks like she’s born to it.”

"Wait till you watch her take a spanking," Thorn said, amused. "She is something special. She likes to watch, too; isn't that right, baby girl?" Sinking back into the chair, he took his cock and started stroking it, slowly, smiling at the way her eyes widened when she turned so she could see him. "She also likes it when you hold her hair and fuck her throat," he told Balthazar, conversationally. "She's a dirty girl."

“That true, love? You like that?”

Nodding, she closed her eyes and hummed.

“Good.” He gripped her hair close to the root and slowly started fucking her face. The drag of tongue, of teeth on his turgid cock made him hiss. She moaned as he picked up the pace, loving how she swallowed him down, the tightness of her throat a wonder. “Jesus wept... Such a good girl... That’s it, Sybelle. She sucks so fucking good...”

"Happy to be the guy that says I told you so." Thorn huffed a small laugh. "Sharing is caring and all that." He watched her for a few more moments and then sighed. "I'm just not sure we're giving her enough to handle, you know? She's such a greedy girl. I think she needs another cock in her." Sliding forward off the chair, he sank to his knees behind her and stroked his fingers through her folds before holding them up to show Balthazar, glistening in the candlelight. "Told you she liked it."

Grabbing her hips, he slowly drove his cock into her, inch by inch, loving the way her body stiffened around the invasion. "Yeah, that's it...good girl...you can take it."

"This looks like a party I want in on." Atticus stood in the doorway, arms folded as he leaned against the door jamb, eyes dark with lust and ridges already writhing under his T-shirt.

"You want to watch or you want to join in?" Thorn asked. "Happy to prep her ass if you want a free for all." He parted the creamy globes of her ass and teased the tight hole there with the fingers that were still wet from her cunt.

She moaned and swallowed hard on Balthazar and he hissed. “Ah fuck, she likes the idea of that...” He pulled out of her mouth and ran his hand down her cheek. “That turn you on, baby? Atticus fucking that virgin ass?”

Sybelle moaned and nodded and then licked his tip. “I want you all...so bad.” She reached back and gripped Thorn’s hip as he seated himself inside her and then rolled her hips. “And I don’t want you to hold back.”

Balthazar looked over at Atticus and grinned. “Blood, tentacles and biting?”

"What my baby wants, my baby gets," Atticus replied, pulling off his sweater. "Do it, Thorn."

"Yes, sir." The finger that had been teasing her ass slipped into it and Thorn groaned. "Fuck, she's tight." He thrust his finger in time with his cock, adding a second finger as she eased open. "That's it, baby girl," he murmured encouragingly. "You need to let me stretch this right out. Atticus' cock is huge and I know you can take it." He added a third finger, feeling her whole body trembling at the invasion. "We're going to need some lube," he told the others. "This is her first time. We're doing it right."

“Wasn’t thinking about fucking that sweet ass,” Balthazar admitted. “Though we do have some of that almond oil.”

Sybelle gasped and went down on her shoulders, her ass up so Thorn could pull her down on his cock. Gods, did she look fucking amazing surrendering to him, her face blissed already. “Look at her, she’s so fucking sexy... You getting fucked like that is too hot.”

She moaned and nodded. “Feels so fucking good...” she said softly. “Come back. I need something to suck on.”

“Oh, I’ll be back in a few... Atticus, wanna take over there?”

"You know, I think I will." Rising to his feet, Atticus stalked toward her until he was in front of her. "You want this?" he demanded, cock in hand, stroking her upturned face with the tip of it.

She caught the tip with her lips and licked, then nodded. “I always want it,” she said and then sank down on him as Balthazar watched from the doorway. Turning quickly, he rushed down the stairs and then back from the pantry with the almond oil to see the woman he loved between his two best friends, writhing and moaning as she was both fucked and stuffed. He gripped his shaft, squeezed and then growled as Sybelle gripped Atticus’ hips and plunged down hard on his shaft, kissing the root of him. She stayed there for long moments, her throat working, then pulled off and panted. “Fuck, you are yum...”

"Thanks, man." Thorn took the bottle of oil from Balthazar and dribbled it on where his fingers were still plunging in and out of her ass. "She's almost ready for you, boss."

"Looking forward to it," Atticus grinned. "I mean this is good, but that ass is going to be perfect."

"I can tell you it's really fucking tight," Thorn told him. "You are going to go to heaven right here, right now."

"Well then, I guess I'm going to have to give Balthazar his spot back. We need to do a little rearranging here. Thorn, on your back on the bed. Beauty, I want you riding him. Zar, get yourself up to the headboard so you can keep fucking her mouth. Now." Thorn pulled out and did as he was told, waiting expectantly for the others to join him.

They watched her literally scramble up on the bed, and then sink down on Thorn and sigh. “Fuck, I love you this deep,” she said and leaned down, kissing his chest, then running her fingers over his skin. Her body moved over him as both Balthazar and Atticus got into position. The headboard was cool on Balthazar’s back and he gripped his cock in his hand and pumped, watching as her eyes went right to the action.

“Sy, baby, you are such a dick hound.”

"Which is a good thing for us," Thorn groaned. "Gods, I love you like this."

They all felt the bed shift as Atticus' large frame settled behind Sybelle and then his hands landed on her hips. "I'm gonna need you to hold real still, Beauty, because this is going to feel like nothing you've ever felt before." He lined up his cock with her tight little hole and started to press into it, almost losing his mind when the tight ring of muscle popped and let him in.

“Ah...” she panted. “Atticus...”

“Relax, Sy,” Balthazar said and guided her head down to him. “Feel it... Let us in...”

She licked and sucked at his tip and then moaned. “Fuck, that’s....”

“Calm...” he said to her. “Atticus is just giving you what you need, baby.”

"You can take it," Atticus murmured. "Just breathe and bear down on it. That's right; you can take all of us at once."

"And you look fucking magnificent doing it," Thorn agreed.

"I'm almost all the way in," Atticus soothed, tentacles wrapping around her, touching her clit and caressing her nipples. "You can take it."

Moaning, she sank down on Balthazar, lips wrapped around his shaft, and he watched her shudder. Her body went slack, giving up any and all control to the three of them. “Ah fuck, she’s literally trying to drink me down,” he said and looked to Thorn who was fighting his change. “Don’t fight it, she wants it...” He planned to change over as well, as soon as he could get inside that sweet pussy. His other side wanted blood, wanted to feel her submit.

"That's it," Atticus growled. "I'm in. I'm going to move now." He pulled out and thrust back in and Thorn moaned.

"Oh gods...that feels fucking amazing." He started moving, too, matching Atticus' rhythm as the change rolled over him.

Sy made a noise that sounded like relief and Balthazar grinned. “Oh, don’t worry, baby...you will get all three of us. But you know what I need.”

She pulled off his cock and nodded. “I need it, too.”

Fuck. Hearing her admission that she needed his violence, his venom...he stroked himself lazily. “Enjoy what they are doing, baby,” he said. Damn it, Atticus’ kink was starting to rub off on him.

"I'm close," Thorn groaned.

"Hold it," Atticus demanded. "Beauty comes first. Always." He snaked a tentacle around her neck, squeezing her airway while another tentacle worked her clit.

“Fuuuuck...” she moaned and arched as her body gave in, shaking around them both. It was beyond clear she liked to be restrained by them, loved the way they needed to love her. She was a godsend.

“Gods, there is nothing sexier than her coming,” Balthazar said, his voice rough with need and his other half rising to the surface. The scent of her, her sweetness, was dizzying. He could see it coating Thorn as they moved. The woman in her passion was fucking addictive.

She panted and pleaded for more and he knew they were in no way done with her tonight. Any other woman wouldn’t be able to handle it, but their woman? She was just as insatiable as they were.

"Fuck..." Thorn let her orgasm milk him over the edge, coming hard into her. "Belle..." He dragged her down to kiss him, his tusks piercing the soft skin under her chin as she responded hungrily.

"Zar, you get on under there and take what you need," Atticus ordered. "I'm going to clean up. We don't go back to front in this house."

“Thank god for that,” Balthazar said and grinned as she kissed Thorn, hungry, her body breaking out in goosebumps. “Thorn...” he said as he lifted her off his friend and then settled her so she was riding the ridge of his still hard cock. He plunged in, the feel of her, wet, slippery and full brought out the need in him for her ultimate submission. “Suck those nipples. Bite her...she needs more...and I need more blood...”

She cried out as he swiveled his hips, feeling her clench him, and then he was changed, in a heartbeat, his beast flowing out of him, his fingers gripping her hips, razors piercing her skin. He petted her, running the razors down her skin, and blood bloomed. He could smell the difference in her immediately; her scent got sweeter, like fruit created only for him.

Tongue rolling out, he ran it over the blood, which was running down her thighs and over Thorn as well, who was indeed biting at her nipples. “Fuck yes!” she screamed as her body rolled into another deep orgasm. “Batty...baby...deeper...”

He growled and gripped her, his fingers digging in deeper as his cock tunneled as far as it could go. She fluttered around him and he hissed, knowing she was going to end him, and soon. Tongue around her hip to her clit, he flicked it and she screamed, her body tightening on him as she surrendered, her blood, her scent, everything for him.

Chapter 20

Atticus came back from the bathroom just in time to see her come and paused to admire the view. She was fucking magnificent and the air in the room was heavy with pheromones and sex. Yeah, this was worth fighting for. His girl was worth everything. "Are you done, Zar? Because I've got somewhere to be and that is inside my girl."

Panting, Balthazar licked at her sides, his tongue changing again, not healing her completely but enough so she wouldn’t get lightheaded from the blood loss. Moments passed and he was still kissing her lower back, clearly reluctant to give her sweet pussy up.

Sybelle was drowning in lust. The scent of her was maddening. Thorn had moved up to the headboard and she was still on her hands and knees, so now her mouth was on his cock, sucking and licking. Balthazar finally pulled out and then reached under her and pinched her clit, causing her to gasp.

“Attend your tentacled lover,” he said and she looked back, her eyes dark, hooded, and she licked her lips.

“Please...”

"You're so pretty when you beg, your mouth all swollen from being fucked..." Atticus stalked slowly toward her, letting his beast roll even closer to the surface, so a small kiss of frost pebbled her skin with goosebumps. "Tell me what you want, Beauty. Specifics."

A shiver and a smile told him she was into it. “You. Your tentacles. I want them to fuck me, to bring me to the edge...to mark me, to make me completely theirs.”

“Fuck right,” Balthazar said from the side of the bed, watching the exchange.

"You got me, sweetheart." Reaching the bed, Atticus grabbed an ankle and dragged her toward him, wasting no time in impaling her on his cock as he braced himself on the bed with his other hand fisted in her hair. "You want it like this, huh?" he demanded, driving into her so hard her whole body shook with each thrust.

Tentacles crawled around her throat, marking her over the pretty necklace he'd already given her, while others slipped in around his cock, writhing inside her. And now that he knew she was into it, other tentacles worked their way into her ass, filling her completely with nothing but him.

“Please...” she begged again and panted as her hands fisted on the bloody bedclothes. “Atticus...”

“Own her,” Balthazar said to him. “Completely...”

"I already do, brother," Atticus replied. "She knows she's mine, right down to her DNA, don't you, Beauty? You're going to come right now on my cock and tentacles like the dirty little girl I know you are. Come for me. Now."

As if waiting for permission, she shattered, calling his name on a sob as she slumped. Her voice was low, but they heard her begging once more, pleading for more.

“Fuck, how did we get so lucky?” Balthazar said as she looked up and then turned her eyes to his. Starry-gazed, she shook with aftershocks, both inside and out.

"Tell me you want me to come inside you," Atticus demanded, pulling her hair. "Tell me."

With a gasp and a purr she nodded. “I need you to come inside me, Atticus... Need...fuck want... Need...” she gasped again as a tentacle wrapped around both nipples.

Her neediness drove him over the edge and he came hard, shuddering as he spilled into her. "Fuck, Beauty, that was insane," he laughed when he could catch his breath again, smoothing the hair he'd been fisting into something less messy as she gazed up at him with adoration. "I think it's fairly safe to say you've been marked. No doubt about it." He couldn't stop the fierce pride in his voice when he said it.

She nodded and closed her eyes. “I’m going to be so sore,” she said softly. “Worth it.”

Balthazar was there then, kissing and licking her hips and thighs, closing the wounds his claws made completely, turning them into small white lines on her natural milk tea colored skin. “There, all better...” He moved up her body, licking at her nipples, causing her to gasp, and then licked the bite marks on her breasts, throat and shoulders that Thorn had given her, closing them as well. “Perfect... Though the look of you satisfied and bleeding because of us was perfect, too.”

"I'll get the sheets," Thorn offered. "Maybe you two can take her to get cleaned up?"

"Sure, we can do that." Atticus scooped her languid body up in his arms. "I kind of want to leave you covered in our seed, but it seems a waste to get blood on clean sheets," he joked, "so into the shower with you!"

She giggled and shook her head. “Does it matter that I don’t want it washed away?”

“Just keep it all in there,” Balthazar said on a growl.

She nodded. “Umm hmmm...branding me from the inside out.”

It was easy to see she was fuck drunk. Balthazar just grinned.

"You'll regret that when you're waking up in sticky sheets for round two in an hour," Atticus laughed. "I'll clean you up, at least take the blood off."

“Just means we will have to take you again...” Balthazar grinned.

“I might be too sore.”

“Nothing this tongue can’t handle.” He winked at her. “Remember our first night?” He turned the shower on. “Two hours is nothing...”

She shuddered. “Deal.”

***

Sybelle arched as she was pulled from sleep, gasping. Hands flew to the head between her thighs and she tugged on the hair, really gripping at the roots. Balthazar grunted and then she heard him chuckle.

“Fuck, waking you up with an orgasm is awesome.”

“Jesus...” she said softly, feeling her body come back to itself, the shaking and the tingles subsiding. It wasn’t deep, but it had been there. Batty was right; waking up to an orgasm was amazing. She looked down at him and smiled. “Just had to do it, didn’t you?”

“If I could do it every morning, I would...make sure you wake with a smile,” he said as he set his chin on her hip. “You feel good?”

She nodded. Any twinges from the activities of the night before were gone, Balthazar’s venom acting like a balm to her nervous system. It was brilliant really, as what he was made sure its mate could constantly take what it was needing to give. Not that she had any issue with that. Batty, as well as Thorn and Atticus, was everything she wanted in her secret musings in the night. Masterful, dominant lovers who took their pleasure while ensuring her own.

And no pain meant she could indulge in her men once more, just once more before their plan went into action.

Thorn had called Cornimer to let him know it was a go and they had about thirty-six hours before the plan went into play. Thirty-six hours before they were all tossed from the frying pan and into the fire. But she wouldn’t think about that. No, now was for memories that would sustain them all once this hellish situation started.

“So, who first?” Balthazar said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. “Personally I think you should pick Atticus. I wanna see you ride him...”

She grinned and turned her head to the sleeping man to her right. He was so beautiful in his repose, the dark lashes she always was in envy of growing up fanning his cheeks. He lay there, on his back, arm thrown over his head, making his torso long, lean and beautiful...more so for the odd markings that were just visible on his skin. She ran fingers over them, surprised to realize they were raised, spirals and waves emanating from his belly button.

“When Nyogtha first appeared, after he woke from the transition, he ripped out of him,” Batty told her. “We thought he was dead. Killed seven people in the transition room. Still think it was stupid to have that many in one room, I mean given so many of us went Monstera and they had no clue what was coming,” he said. “I remember he was worried about coming back to you, that you would hate what he became.” He grinned up at her. “Good thing our girl is as deviant as we are.”

“Good thing,” she parroted and ran her fingertips over him again. She knew they had all had violent transitions, but clearly Atticus’ had been the worst.

“Take him. He’s going to love waking up to you riding him...and I can’t wait to see it. Especially when the tentacles come out to play.”

She nodded and then arched as his fingers feathered through her folds. “And you are good and wet for him...” He winked and then kissed her mound, moving back slightly.

Turning to her side, she slid her thigh over Atticus’ hip, then over his already hard cock, and settled on his lap, his shaft snuggled between her wet folds. She rolled her hips and then pitched forward, feeling his dick jump at the wetness coating it, before she sank down on it, sighing. She reared up and closed her eyes, the pure feel of him inside her, no tentacles, just the man, having her purring. He was a tight fit regardless but she loved it.

Beginning to move, her hips rolled softly, her inner walls pulsing around him. She wanted him to wake slowly, enjoying the wet, warm sensation of her. Hands on her breasts, she picked up the pace a little and threw her head back. It was still slow, and deep, oh so fucking deep, but she had the control, and she knew it wouldn’t last, didn’t actually want it to.

***

Atticus had been awake since the moment she'd touched him. How could he not be? His body was attuned to her every single heartbeat. He was curious, though, to see how far she would go, so he played sleep and let her take what she wanted, trying not to let his instincts take control when she sank down on his cock. He resisted the urge to grab her hips and slam into her and was rewarded with the most magnificent sight he'd ever seen...his Beauty, head thrown back, hands cupping her breasts, bouncing on his cock as she took what she wanted.

"Good morning," he murmured, trying not to smile at how cute she was. "Here, let me help you with that." He wet his thumb and pressed it to her clit, loving the way she gasped and grabbed at her own hair.

“Oh, fuck yes...” she moaned and smiled down at him and then licked her lips, slow and sexy.

“Now that’s fucking hot,” Balthazar said from somewhere at the foot of the bed. “Remind me to video tape her like this...”

"Why bother?" Thorn's voice was gravelly with sleep. "She's a dirty girl. You know she'd wake us up like this every day if we let her."

"I am all for waking up like this every day," Atticus gasped, hand fisting in the sheets as he fought the urge to take over and take control. His skin was rippling as his beast fought to rip free, but he kept it under, determined to let her ride it out. If he died in the palace, he wanted her to have taken him at least once fully human, like the Atticus she had known as her first love.

“So good...” she mused, clearly lost in herself and the feel of them. “Atticus, you are so fucking deep...”

“She’s getting close, you can hear it in her voice,” Balthazar growled. “She’s going to need more soon, aren’t you, baby?”

“Uh huh...” she nodded on a sob. Her hips started rolling faster and a sheen of sweat broke out over her body, the cooler air in the room making her seem to smoke.

“Ah fuck, that’s so fucking hot,” Balthazar’s voice said, deeper, with a slight lisp. Clearly his beast was wanting to play, too.

“Atty...” she moaned again and bounced on him, as hard as she could, reaching down to make him play on her clit more forcefully. Screaming, seconds later, she let the orgasm roll through her, her hips never faltering, never missing a beat.

"That's my girl." Atticus couldn't wait any more and grabbed her hips, holding her firm as he drove up into her, again and again. "Gods, so good. So fucking wet," he gritted out. Moments later his own orgasm rolled over him, sending him jerking into her as he spilled. "Take it. Fucking take it," he snarled, fighting to keep his beast in.

“Yes...” she moaned and cried out, shaking on him, her body tightening as she was triggered again. “Fuck, Atticus!”

"You're so fucking beautiful when you come," he sighed, huffing out a laugh. "Not gonna lie, that's my new favorite way to wake up. Nice to know I can get you off without the tentacles, too."

She smiled and blushed. “I love it both ways...” She leaned down and kissed him sweetly and nipped his earlobe. “But this was always how I pictured it alone in my room growing up,” she said in a soft whisper, just for him.

"Me, too," he murmured.

"You had enough or should I take over?" Thorn asked Sybelle. "I'm happy to volunteer for duty."

A giggle left her mouth and she kissed Atticus once more, then turned to Thorn. “I could never have enough of the three of you,” she said, climbing off Atticus and crawling over to Thorn.

"Well then, I am ready and waiting, milady," Thorn grinned. "And I'm happy to roll with you being in control if that's what you need today."

***

Settling over Thorn, she sank down on his waiting shaft and giggled when she heard the squelch the invasion made. Closing her eyes at the feel of him inside, she hummed and cocked her head. “I just need...don’t need control, just need. Batty woke me up with a monster orgasm and I need to keep that going.” She knew he would understand that it wasn’t about control, but the closeness, the memories, the need between them all.

"Then you take what you need, sweet thing." He rested his hands on her hips but just caressed her sides without putting any pressure on. "Have I told you how much I love how fucking soft you are?" he asked wonderingly.

“Have I told you how much I love how hard you are?” she said and squeezed him with her inner muscles. Lords of darkness, Thorn fit her so well, his cock a work of art created only for her enjoyment. She bounced on him, softly and slowly, biting her bottom lip as she ground down on him, her muscles clamping as she did.

“Sweet hell, she’s beautiful...” she heard Balthazar say and smiled. The fact that her males thought she was everything, it was so heady, the best kind of ego boost.

"He's right. You're perfection," Thorn murmured. "So fucking beautiful."

Eyes closed, Sybelle gave over to the sensation of Thorn inside her, the roll of her hips, the feel of his hands there, and arched, her hands on his thighs to give her leverage as she rode him. “Ah...oh...” she said softly, feeling him hit that spot inside her, and smiled as she picked up the pace. “Thorn...” The whine in her voice was just enough to show she was enjoying it, but needed more.

"You got it, sweetheart." Tightening his grip, he thrust up into her, hitting the sweet spot over and over. "That's right, you want it hard, because you're a bad girl and you need to be taken, isn't that right?"

Nodding, near mindless with need, she sobbed. “Always...fuck...yes...”

He slapped her ass twice in quick succession, knowing the stinging kiss of pain would take her closer to the edge. "That's my handprint on you," he told her. "I've marked you. You're mine. You'll take whatever I want to give you."

“Always...” she moaned and nodded. The quietest of her trio was the one that demanded her submission in ways neither Atticus nor Balthazar did. His dominance thrilled her and gave her every reason to submit. It was never a defiance with him and she knew it never would be. He owned her, in a way the other two could never. It was why it worked. “Always yours, Sir...”

"Damn right, you are." He smacked her again on the other cheek. "You'll do whatever I tell you, when I tell you, because you're mine."

“Yes...” she moaned. Fuck, she loved him just taking control. All she needed to do was feel the heat of his hand as he spanked her, the glide of his cock as he fucked her with long, sure strokes. Her body was strung tight and throbbing, the orgasm curling along her spine, waiting to strike.

"Then come for me. I can feel how tight you are. Let it go. Now."

The coiled snake of her orgasm struck and her back bowed. Sweat ran down her body as she shivered through the deep, intense orgasm, and everything around her went in and out of focus. Whereas Atticus was dominance and violence, and Batty was blood and need, Thorn was the right amount of alpha for her bedroom needs to play her body like an erotic instrument. “Thorn,” she gasped and panted as the echoes of the orgasm shuttled through her.

"Okay, my turn," Thorn rolled her swiftly and held her down with a hand on her throat. "This is going to be hard. You're going to take it."

“Yes...” she moaned and her sheath contracted around him. She couldn’t deny him, didn’t want to. Surrendering to his mastery, she licked her lips and let go.

"That's my girl." He pounded into her, losing himself in her heat and slickness. "Yes, oh fuck...yeah, that's what I need." A second later his climax hit him like a freight train and he shuddered, collapsing onto her with a laugh. "Yeah, I agree with Atticus. New favorite way to wake up."

“Fuck...” she shuddered. “Me, too.” She kissed and licked at his fingers, reveling in the heat of him.

“I wanna be called Sir...” Batty said and she giggled and shook her head.

"You have to earn that right." Thorn grinned. "It takes skill. Perseverance. And a fine spanking hand."

Atticus burst out laughing. "Whatever, man. You just like barking orders."

"That, too. You gotta have a silver tongue, my brother," Thorn laughed, "not a split one."

“Ain’t nothing wrong with my tongue,” Balthazar said and wiggled his eyebrows at her. “It gets her like this, where all she needs is some good dicking down.”

She turned slightly and nodded. She knew that much of Balthazar’s specialty was to keep her primed, wet and horny, but she couldn’t hate it. Being able to just have them and make up for all the lost time they had together...“Best dicking down,” she offered.

"I feel so used," Atticus joked. Thorn gave him a sideways look of incredulity and Atticus burst out laughing again. After a few moments, he sighed happily. "I love this. I love the four of us just laughing in bed on a late morning. This right here is the dream."

“Worth everything we are fighting for,” Batty said. “Now, sweetheart, I believe it’s my turn...”

The look he gave her had her shuddering and she crawled over to him, more than eager.

She reached him and went to straddle him, but Balthazar had other plans and gripped her by the waist, turning her so she was sitting reverse cowgirl on him. She paused, uncertain, and he dragged her down on his shaft.

“Oh...” she said and closed her eyes again. The feeling of fullness, of Balthazar inside her while both Atticus and Thorn’s come still was, gave her a shudder. She loved how they were in tune, one unit, and all focused on her.

“There now...” Balthazar said as he lifted her breasts. “Now, I’m going to need some help with this sexy woman...because if I turn, this room is going to look like a crime scene.”

"On it." Atticus let his beast erupt from his skin, letting his tentacles swarm her body, stroking and sucking at her nipples and clit, overloading her with sensation while holding her in place.

“Oh gods, this isn’t fair,” she said and whimpered.

“Fair my ass,” Batty said to her. “You are still getting that deep dicking you wanted.”

“Not everything I wanted...”

He leaned into her and started to move her, slowly. “Oh, baby girl...if you think I can be inside you and not bleed you, you are so very wrong.”

Sobbing at the undisguised threat in his voice and the feel of Atticus’ tentacles plucking and sucking at her body, she felt herself throb again, her sheath stroking him in a flutter that had him groaning.

“Oh, that’s right...I know how much you love getting pierced by me,” he said in a hiss at her ear.

She looked down and watched his hands change, lengthening, until razor tips sat gently on her hips. He moved them and she hissed as the action broke the skin. The cuts were shallow, but she could feel his venom seep into her. Her core contracted again.

“Fuck, she loves it,” he bit out and moved his hands up her body, leaving shallow little cuts where they made purchase. They stroked the underside of her breasts and she moaned as she felt the venom, the tingle and the warmth, enter her. Her nipples, still being manipulated by Atticus’ tentacles, grew rock hard and she felt the orgasm burst through her body, causing her to scream his name.

“That’s my woman...” Batty crooned in her ear. “Bleeding, getting fucked, being touched by tentacles.” His voice was so rough, she was sure he was just holding back his darker side. “Once you come, I’m going to lick all this off your skin and bite those nipples ‘til all you want is for me to fuck you again.”

“Fuck... Yes...”

"She was born for us," Thorn said quietly. "She was born to love our monsters before we even knew we were going to be Monstera. She made us who we are."

“Batty...” she moaned and threw her head back in his shoulder, her body gripping his so tightly as she came. It wasn’t violent or sweet, but lazy, powerful, making her shudder and submit to him and Atticus.

“Ah fuck...” Balthazar murmured and slammed her down on his dick, once...twice...three times, and she felt him release, the sweet heat of him bathing her inner walls. “Fuck, I love you,” he said as he panted and slowed his movements.

“I love you, too,” she replied and looked to Atticus, her eyes heavy-lidded, her body sated, and then to Thorn and smiled to herself. “I love you all,” she said softly and closed her eyes.

“Shit...I think we just fucked her back to sleep,” Batty said. “Lay her out. I have some clean up to do on her.”

She felt the movement as she was laid on the bed and then smiled as the wet heat of Balthazar’s tongue dragged over her thigh and then higher. Waking up to his tongue and then falling asleep to it...was there anything as perfect?

***

Balthazar finished licking the blood off her body, sating his other half with wonderful sex and blood, and looked down at their sleeping angel. “Is it bad I still want her?” he asked, running his now human fingers down her sides, over his original marks. She had more now, white lines that curved around her pink parts, and he couldn’t be prouder. His mark, on his woman.

Their woman.

"I don't think we'll ever stop." Atticus was already hard again. "That's what cold showers are for, boys."

"You go ahead," Thorn muttered. "No cold shower for me. I'm just going to snuggle right up next to that soft, sweet woman right there and sleep another hour so that I can make us all breakfast well-rested."

“I mean, the man has a point.” Balthazar looked to Atticus. “I think we should make use of the time we all have,” he said and grinned. “You want the right or the wrap her legs around you cuddle?” And he was willing to give that spot, which was normally his now, to Atticus. With everything they would be walking into, Atticus needed her most, needed to be grounded by her to make it through.

"I'll take the right. Maximum body contact." Atticus smiled softly as he looked down at his sleeping Beauty.

"Then get on in here and stop talking about it," Thorn grumbled. "You're wasting valuable sleep time."

"All right, Captain Grumpy Pants," Atticus laughed. He climbed back under the covers and settled in next to Sybelle, curling in close.

Balthazar laughed and tunneled under, coming up between her thighs as he lay his head on her stomach and wrapped her leg around his side and settled in. Being under the blankets, snuggled to her, with both his friends on either side, he felt past content and sighed. Mornings like this would be commonplace going forward; he had to believe that. Atticus was strong and they would win...and nothing would fuck up their world any longer.

Chapter 21

Sybelle looked one last time at the bedroom they had shared for the last thirty-six hours and sighed. They had barely gotten out of bed, choosing to stay close, to do whatever prep needed to happen while snuggled with her. She loved it, loved knowing what it could be with them.

And they had each had some alone time with her, too. Atticus following her to the bath for a soak, his tentacles keeping her in a state of arousal. Thorny as they made lunch, him fucking her on the counter of the island, whispering filthy things to her. Batty, snuggled on the floor in front of the fire in the bedroom, wrapped in each other as they made out like teenagers. It was all perfect, all intimate and purely them both individually and as a group.

“You ready?” she heard from behind her. Balthazar’s arms came around her waist as he set his chin on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, we can always come back.”

“I know, I just...” She sighed. “Are they ready?”

“Yep.”

“And Atty?”

“Getting his head in the game. I think the hardest part is going to be handing you off to Cornimer in an hour.”

“I know he barely trusts him, but Vanessa will be with you guys,” she reminded him. She had made that a requirement of the plan. Atticus was hanging on by a thread and knowing the other male’s female was with them, that he wouldn’t welsh on the deal with them because it would put his mate at risk, gave them all peace of mind.

“You going to be okay with him?”

She nodded. “And Jenner, and the others. I know they are going to do everything they can to keep me safe.”

“Because Atticus scares them.”

“Yes, but they also respect him, and you and Thorn, too.”

“You got your stuff, right?”

She nodded. “My small knife, two changes of clothes, money and the burner Thorn insisted on.”

“Good girl. Come on.”

They went down the spiral stairs for what felt like the last time and met with Atticus and Thorn in the living room. “We leaving soon?”

"Yeah. But you need to eat. It might be a long day and we don't know when you might next get a decent meal." Thorn set a plate on the kitchen counter and looked at her expectantly.

"He's right. You need your strength," Atticus agreed. "You should eat."

“Only if you guys eat with me,” she said softly. Having a last meal was...morbid and morose, but it would always give her more to focus on in the small hours without them.

"Sure. Take a seat, guys." Thorn gestured to the bar stools with his spatula. "I'll serve up."

"I'm not hungry." Atticus went back to pacing.

"I don't care," Thorn replied casually. "Our girl wants you to eat a solid meal, you eat a solid meal."

"Fine." Atticus blew out a breath and sat on a bar stool.

Smiling at him and then looking to Atticus, she sighed. She knew he was a mess, hell, she was too and she was saving it all up for later, for when seeing the tears and the despair would work in their favor. She didn’t need to show them how fucking scared she was, or how much she wanted to rage about this not being fair.

Her mind cut to the memory of her and Atticus in the tub the night before, her curled into him in the steaming water, his tentacles holding her as much as his arms were.

“Just when I find you all, when things settle, bad things happen,” she said and he held her tighter. “I know we have to do this; I know we need to win; I just need you to know that I was a ghost before you found me. A wraith in body and spirit, driven by hope and need to have you three by my side again. We won’t fail in this, Atticus. Because we have a reason not to.”

––––––––

He had kissed her, whispered sweet things, words of love to her, and then taken her slowly, as sweetly as his tentacles would allow, and she felt like silk and happiness. She knew then they would persevere. But the journey was going to be shit.

“If he doesn’t want to eat, fine,” she said and forked some of the breakfast Thorn had made into her mouth. Eggs on toast with avocado, heavy on the protein and fatty acids. Her monster chef was looking out for her and she was going to miss it until they were reunited.

"No, you're right," Thorn told her, sliding a plate across the counter to Atticus. "None of us know when we'll be getting a square meal next and our boy here needs to keep his strength up if he's going to take down that mean motherfu..uh..dger?" He swallowed the word at Sybelle's quirked brow.

“Have I ever had a problem with any of your sailor mouths?” she said with a quirk of her mouth.

“I happen to know you like our sailor mouths,” Balthazar said from across from her.

"I like your sailor mouth better," Thorn smirked. "Especially when you're telling me all the filthy things you want me to do to you."

"Enough, Thorn. We don't have time to play." Atticus stuffed a forkful of food in his mouth. "Eat up and clean up. We leave in thirty minutes."

"Yes, boss." Thorn served Balthazar and then himself, taking a seat at the counter next to Atticus.

They tucked in, eating quietly, each clearly lost in thought. She watched them all, committing them to memory. So fucking beautiful, each one. She wasn’t sure how the hell she got so lucky, but she wasn’t going to waste it.

***

Atticus finished first and took his plate to the sink, washing it in silence and leaving it on the draining board. The separation was hurtling at them like a freight train and he didn't think he was ever going to be ready for it. "We all know the plan?" he checked as he dried his hands and turned to the others. "We'll see you again in a few days, two weeks at the most."

She nodded to him but said nothing.

Balthazar finished, grabbed her plate and his and took it to the sink, where he silently cleaned up. “Explosives are in the truck,” he said finally. “Cornimer is going to bring the bodies.”

“Where is he getting bodies?” she asked.

“Do we really wanna know?” Balthazar countered. “I don’t.”

"It's not our concern," Atticus agreed. "The less we know about how this is going to go down, the less we can betray if one of us gets caught. Keep your heads down and notice the things around you that are going to keep you alive, but everything else is someone else's problem."

"You can't get attached to any of the other girls in the palace," Thorn said quietly. "We can't save them all, Sy, and we can't stop the king from taking them before we're ready to make our move. Don't let yourself get caught up in palace politics.”

Sybelle arched a brow. “I’m not stupid, my love, but I will say this: Atticus kills that motherfucker? You, Cornimer and Jenner had damn well better have a plan for getting the other women out, too, because I’m not leaving anyone there.”

Balthazar came over to her and rubbed her shoulders. “He didn’t mean that, love. He meant that if shit goes south, you are the only priority.”

"I never said you were stupid, my love. I just know how big and fierce your heart is." Thorn took her hand and kissed it. "I'm just begging you to protect yourself so we can get you back safely."

"We'll save who we can," Atticus promised her, "But you are, and always will be, our first priority."

She nodded to them. “I don’t want you to worry about me protecting myself. That I do best.”

“Then let’s get going. We have an hour drive to the drop,” Balthazar said and sighed.

"Do a proper clean-up," Atticus ordered. "Upstairs is wiped but we need to make sure everything down here is clean. We don't want to burn this place if we ever want to be able to come back here. They won't stop looking for us."

"On it," Thorn replied cheerfully. "I already did the living room, but the kitchen needs wiping down."

"Thanks, brother. I'll load up our car," Atticus told them. "Everything in your bag, Beauty?"

She nodded. “And in my pocket, and the knife Thorn gave me is strapped to the inside of my jeans.”

"They'll be expecting that," Atticus told her. "You'll be searched when they take you in. It's going to be ugly and humiliating. I'm so sorry to put you through this, my love."

She nodded. “I can handle it,” she said, thinking of the wonderful marks the three of them had made all over her body. “I’m not going to like it, but...” She knew they would look for the knife, but they wouldn’t look for the razor blade that was wrapped and sewn into the inside arm of her jacket. Thorn had also given her a new switch blade that looked like an actual hand mirror, old, worn and something she might have kept in her possession, from her life before. They weren’t weapons she expected to use, but ones she had if she needed to use them.

She and Atticus walked out and finished filling the car, putting two empty gas cans, a box of empty cans and food boxes, and three guns that they were happy to be rid of, in the vehicle, along with more ammunition to sell the lie. “Sit with me. Let Thorn drive?” she asked him softly.

"Anything you want, sweetheart." Atticus climbed in beside her and rested an arm around her shoulders. "Thorn, catch." He tossed the keys across and Thorn snatched them from the air.

"I'm driving? Nice."

Balthazar was the last into the truck and she watched as they pulled away, the house that had all her best recent memories fading into the distance.

The next hour was quiet again, few words spoken between them, though she cuddled with Atticus in the back seat, her legs across his lap, blanket over them both. Breathing in his scent, mingled with her own, and the guys, she relaxed and sighed, her hands finding the skin of his torso as she pressed against him. Knowing they would be parted, she was already addicted to them, all of them, to the need to have them close, to be with them constantly. She wasn’t sure other females felt like this, wasn’t close enough to any before to ask those intimate details, but all she knew was that the need rode her hard to stay with them and fight like hell through it all.

“We are coming up to the drop,” Balthazar said. “Cornimer, Vanessa and his team will be waiting just up the bend there.”

“Then I guess my cuddle time is over,” she sighed again and then leaned up and kissed her tentacled lover.

"You'll get more real soon," Atticus promised her.

"From all of us," Thorn added. "The minute we get you back, you're never leaving us again. Ever."

"Amen to that," Atticus agreed fervently.

“What they said.” Balthazar grinned at her and her heart clenched.

Thorn made it around the bend to see three cars on the side of the road: Cornimer with his lady boxed in, another male on the other side of her leaning down to her. She arched a brow. “Think they found one of the others?” she asked softly.

“Looks like it.” Batty grinned as they stopped and all three looked at the truck.

“Hey!” Cornimer said as he walked to them, leaving the girl with the other male, who had his arm around her waist. “Expected you later.”

Balthazar shook his head. “Punctuality is key.”

“Eager to get this started?”

“Eager to get this done,” she said as she jumped out. “Who is on the team taking me?”

Cornimer looked over. “Myself, Hicks,” he pointed to the male holding Vanessa. “Berno and Floyd.” The others were getting out of the truck. “All of us have been stationed up here the longest, and Jenner has asked Floyd and Hicks to come back down as your de facto guards.”

“He belong to her?” she asked about the aforementioned Hicks, nodding to Vanessa. Cornimer nodded.

“Which is why he’s taking this seriously.” He looked to Atticus. “Everything is ready here.”

"You take care of our girl." It wasn't exactly a threat, but there was ice in Atticus' voice. "We're coming for her."

"We prepped our car. There's enough stuff in there to identify it as ours." Thorn stepped in before Cornimer could take umbrage at Atticus. "Where do you want us?"

Shrugging, he looked to the third truck. “Van has the keys. She will give you directions to the safe house on Balwick Island,” he said and looked to Atticus. “I’m leaving my reason to breathe in your hands, same as you, man. Know I would never let anything happen to a sister of darkness. They are far too precious.”

"Yes, they are." Atticus sucked in a breath, a physical pain blooming in his chest like a hollow point gunshot as he turned to his Beauty. "Stay safe," he ordered her, hugging her fiercely. "Keep your head down. I'm coming for you. I love you."

"She can't breathe," Thorn pointed out with a sad smile. He took Sybelle from his arms, almost having to wrestle her away from the big guy, and wrapped her in a tight embrace. "Love you," he said simply.

“Love you,” she said and guided him into a kiss.

Balthazar pulled her into a hug. “You keep safe, my love,” he said against her lips and he kissed her. “We aren’t far behind you. Don’t take no shit.” He grinned.

Turning finally back to Atticus, she grabbed his jacket and kissed him hard, nipping his bottom lip. “Be smart, be safe, and know I’m waiting for you,” she said softly and then stepped back as Vanessa and Hicks walked up.

“Sybelle? This is Hicks,” Vanessa said and smiled. It was clear she felt about him the same Sybelle felt about her guys. “Please look after him.” She winked.

“You do the same with my guys. And have Thorn make you pancakes,” she whispered loudly and then giggled.

Cornimer went to Vanessa and took her hand. “As far as the plan goes, myself and the guys will leave with this SUV,” he pointed to the large black one that was standard issue for the Monstera crews. “Ten minutes after that, you set fire to the truck.”

They all turned to see the other dudes finishing setting up their dummy bodies. “We’ve got a sack we can drag from the car to the water, just to the left, so it looks like Atticus went to down deep.” He handed Vanessa a phone. “That’s the contact. If it rings once and then stops, the next ring will be us.”

"Good luck, brother." Atticus bumped fists with him. "We'll see you in a few days. Long live the Ghost Crew."

"You want help torching the joint or dragging the sack?" Thorn asked. "I can shift. My monster is strong."

“Do the sack,” Cornimer said. “Sybelle? I need to run you through a chase in case that asshole sends scenters up here. They will think you ran from the car and got picked up farther down the road.”

She nodded. “Then let’s do this.”

Cornimer nodded and smiled at her.

“Love you,” she said softly to the three of them. “Stay safe.”

"Yes, ma'am," Thorn winked at her, already shifting. "Atticus, you should come, too. We need your scent on this thing."

"Way ahead of you." Atticus had a knife in his hand and was already shifted into his half-form, tentacles slithering beneath his T-shirt. "Just tell me when she can't see us anymore. I don't want her to have to watch this."

Atticus couldn’t watch her leave. The weight in his chest was crushing, making it hard to breathe. If he turned to see her moving away, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself going after her. He still couldn’t quite believe they were letting her go on this insane Hail Mary plan to end the king’s tyranny. He still wasn’t convinced any of them were going to get out of this alive and the idea that he might be responsible for the death of his woman almost broke him in half. Winter had been seething beneath his skin since the moment they’d agreed to this craziness but he couldn’t focus on that. He had to focus on the goal here—getting them all out safe and sound. And that was on him alone.

**

Thorn watched Sybelle as she ran down the road and then nodded to Atticus. "She's gone."

"Then let's do this." Gritting his teeth, Atticus went to stand by the car and, before he could think too hard about it, grabbed a handful of tentacles and sliced them off. The pain was blinding and he staggered to his knees for a second, letting the blood pool by the car.

"They'll grow back," Thorn reassured Vanessa, who had gone white. "He lost a couple of tentacles two years ago in a bar fight. Next time he shifts he'll have them back."

"I'm fine." His face grey with pain, Atticus dropped one of the severed tentacles by the car door and made his way over to Thorn. "You pull; I'll bleed. I'll drop tentacles as we go."

"You got it."

Thorn heaved the sack across the ground as Atticus laid about with his remaining attached tentacles, leaving patterns in the mud, along with blood and severed parts. When they reached the water he stepped in, letting more blood drip into the muddy liquid along the shore.

"That's enough," Thorn said. "If you lose any more blood you'll be down for days. You need to shift back."

"I know." His tentacles were already retracting, leaving a red raw mark on the side of his abdomen. "Give me the sack and I'll drag it into the middle of the lake. Once it's dumped, I can pick you guys up a mile or so down the road where they won't scent me getting out of the water."

"Good thinking." Thorn handed over the sack. "Zar and I will smear some blood over the car before we torch it, too. Might not be as convincing as this trail, but we might get lucky if they're too lazy to check all the details."

"He'll have Sybelle and he'll think I'm injured and gone to ground. He won't care about you two," Atticus replied bluntly. "That'll be his downfall."

"Damn straight. Swim safely, brother. We'll see you in a few minutes." Thorn jumped from the water's edge to a scrubby patch of battered grass and carefully made his way back to the truck without leaving a trail to tell the others what was happening.

Chapter 22

New York City was living under a blanket of snow, the breathing mass thrumming in the darkness. It felt more malevolent than just days before, but then days before Sybelle hadn’t been returning at the behest of a fucking evil lunatic.

“So you got the story, right?” Cornimer said as they crossed over to Governor’s Island, where apparently the Monstera King had set up his residence. The place was cursed before and apparently it was cursed again, playing host to that fucked up monarchy.

She nodded. “And you?”

“Hicks and Floyd are stuck here at the palace ‘til things go off, but I’m going to drop you off and then head back north.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” he murmured. “Keeps prying eyes off me, and her.”

“I know.”

“Don’t take no shit while you are in there. He wants you cowed and cowering. He wants to be able to break you so that you will...” he swallowed and shook his head. “If he’s looking for you, just don’t give in. At all.”

“Fuck that. They don’t get to touch this.”

“I can see why they love you so much. Fierce female.” He winked as they rolled up the drive toward a massive house.

“No guards?”

He laughed. “This is Monstera Island...we don’t need to hide from each other,” he said as they rolled toward three men. “The middle one is Jenner,” he told her and she nodded.

Coming to a stop, he turned to her. “Get out...”

She nodded again as the door was pulled open and she was pulled out of the car.

“I see she’s in one piece. He will be pleased,” said the man on the left, looking Sybelle over like she was a haunch of beef at the market.

“I do my job well,” Cornimer said as he jumped out of the car.

“And those assholes?”

“Fried crispy.” Cornimer grinned.

“Atticus, too?” Jenner asked.

Cornimer nodded. “So far as I know. Unless his ass can withstand a firebomb. It was beautiful, Jen...you should have seen it.”

She knew they were playing for the prying eyes and ears around them and that it had to be convincing, but it was too convincing in her book.

“This her?” Jenner said as he walked up to her. “She doesn’t look like much. Couldn’t take a stiff fucking with those hips.” He sneered at her. “Well, pretty? What do you have to say?”

“Fuck off to hell and back,” she said and spit on the ground.

“Oh, he’s not going to like that mouth on you,” he said, grabbing her arm. It hurt, but nothing close to what she knew he could do. “Let’s go pay him a visit, shall we?”

As she was dragged through the front doors and foyer of the slightly rundown palatial mansion, she was careful to notice everything—exits, doors, lights above them. Jenner kept a hand on her arm, traversing marble, then tile, before stopping in front of two double doors. He made a motion with his head and they opened.

“Here you go, pet. Let’s go see the wizard,” he said as he hauled her through the doors to stand in the middle of the massive room. What had probably started life as a ballroom was now a makeshift throne room, complete with gaudy gold chair and dais. Either side of the room, men with women in their laps sat at tables, watching her with hooded gazes.

“Sir...Sybelle Strange,” Jenner said as he, Floyd and Hicks stopped just behind her.

The huge man sitting on the garishly gold-painted throne stiffened immediately to attention. "Did she come in with the traitors?" he demanded. "Is Atticus here?"

“Dead,” Hicks said. “Sir.” Floyd nodded his agreement.

The king drew in a deep breath, thinking it over. "I want confirmation," he said eventually. "I need to see photographs or body parts. I'm not going to believe that fucker is dead until I've seen it with my own eyes. Jenner, send a team out and get it done."

Jenner nodded. “On it, sir.”

Sybelle regarded the man before her. He was large, but they all were, weren’t they? It spoke to their base natures and their monster DNA. He wasn’t unattractive, but he didn’t hold a candle to her boys. Tall, he had dark hair and hooded eyes, his lips full over a prominent jaw. He could have been a television actor, but for the malevolence that surrounded him.

This asshole wanted her? She would cut or bite his dick off before he could get one ounce of pleasure for himself. Unless that was his kink, in which case he was welcome to try at his fucking leisure.

"So this is Sybelle Strange..." The king rose from his throne and stepped down onto the travertine floor, stalking toward her in a way that seemed somehow feline. "You're not what I expected. I thought you'd be less...fragile looking." He looked a bit closer and rage mottled his face and chest. "What are those?" He stabbed a finger at the marks circling her neck. "Jenner, strip her. Now!"

Jenner set to work quickly and she let him. Before this moment, the idea of being naked in front of anyone but the guys would have rubbed her raw, but she was beyond proud of the marks she was carrying and had no problem showing them to the shit show in front of her.

Gasps erupted from the men around her, as well as murmurs about how extensive, and how she has so many marks on her body. Comments on the savage claw marks down her sides, the livid marks raised, red and clearly just healing. She lifted her chin and smirked at the king, defiant and ready for his wrath.

"How dare they?!" the king roared, spittle flying from his lips. "How dare they touch what is mine?!" He grabbed Sybelle's arm and turned her so he could see her back. "How dare they?!"

He shrieked with inarticulate rage and power started to swarm the throne room, a strange buzzing and blurring at the edges of vision, a nauseating migraine halo that sent a couple of the king's lieutenants to their knees.

"My king," one of his generals tried, wincing. "They will fade. Put her in the decontamination compound and we will bring you proof of the death of all that have dared to touch her."

The king bellowed again, his rage a living and brutal thing, and more lieutenants fell to their knees. "My king!" The general tried again, more forcefully this time, but the king was livid. He grabbed a pot from a nearby pedestal and hurled it across the room, sending shards of ceramic careening across the floor tiles.

"Send for Jasmine." The general turned to one of the guys still standing near the door and the man hurried out, ducking as the king hurled another vase his way.

“Oh, I’m sorry... Did I ruin your day?” Sybelle drawled finally, bored with the display. “Turnabout is fair fucking play.” Jenner hissed and she rolled her eyes. “Look at you having a fucking tantrum because I got fucked forty ways from Sunday,” she said, running a hand down her side and then along her throat, touching all the marks from the three of her men. “You think your bullshit scares me? You stripping me down to panties and blustering like an impotent storm...” she scoffed and laughed at him. “Pathetic. Do your fucking worst, you giant child.”

Hicks stepped up and grabbed her arm, shaking her slightly, and then looked to the king. “General Harbin is right, sir. They will fade.”

"I wanted her first!" the king raged. "She is mine!"

"Your Majesty?" A soft voice cut through the power roiling in the air and a woman walked through the door, her bearing fearless. "You sound upset. Let me soothe you." She swayed across the room to the king, her hips as sinuous as they were sensual. Unafraid of his rage, she wrapped herself around him, the silk of her robe rustling softly as she kissed him and smoothed his forehead as one would soothe a small child. "Calm down, my beloved Majesty," she murmured. "Come and sit down. Let me worship you."

"Take her to the decon pen," the king snarled. "Get her out of my fucking sight! And take those weapons from her!"

Jenner tossed her clothing at her as she pulled her pants up, then steered her back through the doors and down another hall, Hicks’ hand on her arm the entire time. She walked with her head held high, though she heard the comments and murmurs about her body and the marks. Atticus’ name came up several times before they made it to a door that Jenner waved a key card in front of. They pushed her through and, as it closed, he leaned in and growled to her, “That was... You got balls, sweetheart. Get dressed. Quick.”

She nodded and had her sweater on once more in moments, her pants zipped and buttoned. Hicks shook his head as another male walked up. “Gorten,” he greeted him coolly. “This is Sybelle Strange. She is of particular interest to the king.”

The male nodded and then signed to Jenner who nodded, too. “Yes, put her in with Opal and Ember,” Jenner said and then got close to Sybelle. “Now, I’m not taking your weapons, sweets. Keep them hidden ‘til you need them,” he murmured before straightening up again and continuing in a louder voice. “We will tell the doctor he can take your blood tomorrow morning.”

Gorten nodded and motioned for her to join him. Hicks made a motion at her with two fingers at his eyes and then at hers, telling her he was watching out for her. Floyd smiled at her and saluted. She nodded and followed Gorten down the hallway.

The room he finally led her to was more like a suite, richly appointed and comfortable. She walked in and he nodded to her, pulling out a pen and paper.

Your roommates are out. Enjoy.

She nodded and then he was gone and she was alone in the massive space. She supposed it could have been worse. She had survived the king’s ravings, but then again he was acting like a massive fucking child. Oh, so someone else had played with his toy first? She shook her head in disbelief that the king had turned out to be such a baby. The rightful owners of her heart were the only ones that would get the option to play with her long-term. Oh, that son of a bitch could look all he wanted, but touching was a big old no go.

Sliding her hand into her pocket, she pulled out a piece of paper that fit in the palm of her hand and looked down to see two words—‘water closet.’ Arching a brow, she made her way through the suite, looking for the door that would take her there. After four tries, because there were that many closed doors around her, as well as seven more she hadn’t even attempted, she found the toilet and walked in. Closing the door behind her, she looked at the paper again. It had been rolled up small and she had to lay it flat on the counter of the sink before she could read the words.

This is the only room the cameras do not watch you. It’s here you can do anything you need to. Stash one of your weapons behind the toilet. Keep anything else close. Here, you are safe and will be treated well. None but my crew is in here, though the feeds are watched by the others. Stay docile. Wait. I’ll be in touch.

She crumpled the paper and tossed it into the toilet, then used the facilities and flushed, washing away any evidence. Stashing her small knife behind the toilet tank, she walked out and decided to do what Jenner said. Stay docile and wait.

Chapter 23

Three days into this whole debacle and Balthazar stood silent sentinel to both Atticus and Thorn’s slight deterioration. Both of them had grown quiet and seemed to be going through the motions of living, bolstered only by the updates that Jenner had sent. Sybelle was fine and had remained so, even after she had told that faux-royal son of a bitch off after he had ordered her stripped. Jenner had said she’d handled it well, didn’t let him see one ounce of fear, and had even called him a giant child. Atticus had puffed up with pride at the admission and Thorn had declared their mate to be an absolute badass. Balthazar had agreed, of course, though like them, he was still worried for her.

They had all barely been sleeping, though Balthazar and Thorn had had words about Atticus’ state of mind and how they needed him focused and fit for what was to come. It wasn’t that he didn’t think his friend was focused or fit, but seeing him each morning since Sybelle had left with the dark circles under his eyes, and the fact that he was only eating when he was told to, was starting to be a concern.

Thorn’s deterioration, on the other hand, wasn’t as pronounced, but Balthazar knew his friend. The fact that he had been cooking nonstop and cleaning the kitchen constantly told him everything he needed to know. Not that he himself was doing any better, but his composure was more visible.

Cornimer was on his way back in today, having left New York soon after he’d handed Sybelle over to Jenner, with apparently something important in tow. Balthazar hoped that whatever it was would help cement things for them and take them the next step.

“Balthazar,” Vanessa said from the doorway into the study they were using as a command center. “Roger is coming up the drive.”

“Thanks, Vanessa.” The woman looked relieved that her lover was finally back and he didn’t blame her. Not that they had been ugly to her. She was wonderfully sweet, and extremely in love with both Roger and Hicks. He had hopes that she and Sybelle would become friends, seeing that they shared something unique in their love of monsters.

He got up and went looking for Thorn and Atticus, finding them both out back, Atticus chopping wood, clearly letting out some aggression and pent up energy. “Hey. Cornimer is back...”

Atticus nodded, a determined look on his face, and they walked around the side of the house to see the large SUV pull up with two occupants.

“And he’s got a dude with him.”

Exiting the car, Cornimer smiled at them. “Gentlemen? This is Race Furman,” he said by way of introduction, as a massive male climbed out of the truck, not that the name explained much. “Now, if you will excuse me a moment, I will meet you inside.” Cornimer walked into the house, no doubt looking for Vanessa.

“Thorn Stark, Balthazar Tarota, Atticus Avebury,” the man said in a deep rumble. “It is good to meet you. Let’s get inside.”

Balthazar blinked. Few, if any, knew their previous last names, though they were all considering themselves Stranges now. The name of the man was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

"Race Furman as in the High Chancellor’s wingman?" Atticus frowned when the man nodded. "What are you doing this far north? This is the king's territory. The chancellor doesn't have any power here."

"Easy, brother," Thorn cautioned him. "Let's go inside and discuss this."

He was right and Atticus knew it. They were already outlaws. If anyone knew they'd been spotted speaking to a representative of the Light nations, there'd be hell to pay.

"Fine." Setting the axe on the porch, Atticus led the way into the house, taking a seat in the dining room and waiting for the others to arrange themselves comfortably. "What does the chancellor want with us?"

“Nothing,” Race said as he relaxed. “It’s what I want with you. Amanda doesn’t even know I’m here.” He looked to each of them. “Actually, the truth is that I’m here, in part, to talk to you, Atticus. Explain your birthright.”

"My what?" Atticus blinked. "I think maybe you have me confused with someone else. My parents were regular people. I grew up in a small neighborhood. I know exactly who I am."

“A birthright is not what we have been given, but who we are.” Race leaned forward. “And you, Atticus Avebury, are a Legendary.”

“What? Pain in the ass?” Balthazar said with a smirk. “We all knew that.”

“I mean your designation as a Monstera,” Race said, not missing a beat and not looking away from Atticus. “Long ago, titans rose, beings that made the world perk up and take notice, ones that were singular. They’ve been called so many things through mythology and lore, influencing the world though dreams, tales and mythos.” He swallowed. “Of course now we realize that those myths and legends are actually historical records of creatures whose origins were lost to time, but whose powers were so extraordinary that they superseded the myth of their own creation to remain in the collective consciousness. Now, in the modern day, we know that they were titans born of fractals.

“There has been a lot of information released to the public domain about the research we’ve been doing on the historical and fossil records, but what you don’t know is that behind the scenes we’ve been actively working to not only categorize the factions by kind, but also by power. We’ve found that the great powers, what we’ve designated internally as Legendaries, the males that have the ability to call vast amounts of power in their shifted state, are extremely rare.” He shifted in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Your shift places you in the upper echelon, Atticus, a place that is largely vacant, though I’m happy to call you kin.” He smiled. “As Nyogtha, The Thing that Should Not Be, there is only one of you and there are very few, maybe only a handful of males on the planet, that could match your power. We’ve been aware of your immense power for some time now. There was a great deal of concern that the sheer level of it would lead you to darkness, even to a high place in the Monstera King’s ranks, but thankfully it’s become obvious to us that you are a good and decent man. I welcome you, brother.”

"What I am," Atticus said through gritted teeth, "is an abomination. I am not to be welcomed or celebrated. I should not exist."

"If you didn't exist, who else would fight for Sybelle?" Thorn pointed out but Atticus shook his head.

"This kind of power wasn't designed to be wielded by man. Look at what the king has become."

“The king isn’t a Legendary,” Race dismissed the concern. “As far as we can surmise he’s an Underdweller, but he’s not a Legendary. There are seventeen of us, Nyogtha—you,” he said and pulled out a sheet of paper. “The Hydra—myself. Scylla, Charybdis, Atmos, Quetzalcoatl, Typhon, the Sphinx, Cerberus, Gallu, Ugallu, Tiamat, Baphomet, Grootslang, Qalupalik, Xalafu and Sebek. I mean largely these are the names we have settled on, as these entities have been called these the longest, but they do have others. Several have already been dispatched for focusing on their...darker purpose. Those of us that can control it...well, that’s why I’m here.”

"I'm not understanding the point of this," Atticus told him. "What difference does it make what I am? I'm not interested in some superhero league. This isn't a comic."

“You gotta excuse him, Race,” Balthazar said. “Being away from Sybelle is...well, it’s taking its toll on all of us.”

The man nodded. “Right. It’s why I’m here, ultimately. Being part of the resistance here, you are all Ghost Crew already, but what you don’t know is that we are taking this global. And that begins with taking down the Monstera King here on the East Coast. I’m here to lend support, men and intel, to ensure this mission succeeds. Our networks are yours to use.”

“So you’re saying you guys want to take an active role in this?” Balthazar clarified.

Race nodded. “We have wanted to for a while, but with the plan we have, we needed someone that could do the job and be able to put the plan into action.”

“What’s your plan exactly?” Balthazar said and looked at his friends.

“Take out the Monstera King, install one of our own from GC as the new East Coast king, and work toward eliminating the threat worldwide of the darker side of the fractals.”

“So why us? Why Atticus?”

“Atticus is a hero. Completely separate from the madness his shifted shelf induces, he’s a man of scruples and he’s in love. His shifted form loves your woman enough to mark her and not kill her, which is strange, historically. The Thing That Should Not Be, when he’s surfaced during previous fractal events, has been a bad mamma jamma...and frankly we thought it would happen again.” Looking at Atticus, he smirked. “Love of a good woman has tempered him, at least enough to work with you, symbiotically, to keep her safe and marked.”

Atticus had read between the lines and followed Race's words through to their natural conclusion. "You'd want me to stay on as the East Coast king once I've killed the current king." It wasn't a question but Race nodded anyway.

"But..." Thorn stared at him in horror. "We agreed to take Sybelle away, into a Light territory. We can't leave you behind. She'd never forgive us."

"And she can't stay here," Atticus reminded him. "Even as king, my position here will be dangerous. If I agree to take the job."

"You don't have a choice," Thorn made the realization out loud. "Atticus, you don't have a choice. If you kill the king and walk away, it just leaves a power vacuum. Any one of his generals could try and fill it and they're all as bad as each other. Worse than that, none of them are powerful enough to keep the whole Monstera faction in line. There would be civil war...years of it, until someone as utterly fucking terrifying as you comes along. And what if that person isn't a decent human being like you are? You heard Race—there have only been seventeen men with your kind of power since the fractals emerged. The odds have to be miniscule."

"I don't want this." Atticus was agonized.

“Believe me, I didn’t want my life either,” Race said, sounding grumpy. “Though I believe we can work something out.”

“Oh yeah? What? Because right now our mate will have to live without a piece of her heart when this is all done. I don’t think you know our mate. She will burn down the world if he stays here.”

“My second in command, Artem, just had some ideas, which is why I came and am offering the help. With GC’s forces here on this coast and the already installed resistance, I believe we can neutralize all those loyal to that asshole and install a clean monarchy, under your leadership, as a front. You wouldn’t have to be here all the time. Your most trusted lieutenants would be able to handle the day to day business because in truth, this will mostly be handled by GCs internally. Granted you will have to make appearances and deal with those upstart fuckers out west on occasion, but...” he shrugged. “You could have the life you want. Provided we do this cleanly.”

"You're talking about 'GC' and ghost crews like you have a right to that name." Atticus stared at him. "The ghost crew is the resistance, not some presidential militia. Who are you to come flying in here and take our name and start trying to make rules? Why should we follow your plan instead of going our own way? We've been left here, suffering under the thumb of that bastard, stealing innocent women from the streets to feed his insane desires, and what have you done for us in all that time? Nothing! So I'll ask again—why should we work for you now?"

“Who do you think started Ghost Crews, kid?” Race said. “Not Jenner, though he’s been the best spy we have ever had. This isn’t about presidential anything. I told you, Amanda doesn’t know shit. She focuses on the Light countries, on trying to make them better and on the research. Myself and two other males from the Five’s collective of males took it upon ourselves to do this.” He sighed. “Each of us grew up here and we remember when we were all free on the East Coast. This asshole took power during an opportunistic moment, and nothing more, but hatred has a tendency to grow quicker than love...humanity embraces it more hungrily. We have been working since the first rumblings to depose him.”

Balthazar looked up. “You are the reason why we were taken to the Monstera.”

Race nodded once. “After Atticus’ transition, the horrific experience of it, and, more importantly, the aftermath, we knew he was not like the other previous versions of his monster. After everything he went through in that transition camp, he still came out a decent man. Same with you, Balthazar, and you, Thorn. You all had morals and scruples, and you wouldn’t fall into your hatred. Jenner asked for you specifically. He knew you would be an asset in making things right. I agreed.”

“You son of a bitch!” Balthazar said and jumped up. “She was alone for three fucking years because of you! Alone! She thought we fucking died!”

“We didn’t know about her. None of you put next of kin,” he said. “Had we known...” he shook his head. “She would have been picked up immediately and given the rundown.”

"And Jenner couldn't have told us this when we were first brought in?!" Thorn demanded. "This is bullshit! It doesn't add up. Jenner told us himself that he started the resistance and he's never lied to us. I don't know you from Adam."

"Steady," Atticus advised him in a sudden reversal of roles. "What sort of military assistance are you talking about offering? Can we eventually dissolve the monarchy?"

“It’s part of Jenner’s cover, kid. He was with us when we started, came up with the name for the resistance,” Race said and then looked to Atticus. “Full scope. Ground troops, artillery, tanks, whatever you need. Males from all the other factions that have joined up are willing to lend a hand. Literally, if you can dream it, we can do it. As to the monarchy? By our mathematician’s count it will take four years to stabilize the territory,” he said. “If we can execute the long plan, then four years will be needed to fortify this coast against invaders, as well as ensure that a pact with the Light countries will go into play. Essentially, we will be making the East Coast of the States into its own separate territory and ultimately a staging ground to take back more of the space from the Dark territories.”

“We do this...” Balthazar said softly. “We are going to want assurances.” He looked to Atticus. “And a few concessions.”

Ignoring Balthazar for the moment, Atticus met Race's gaze. "What if I don't win?" he asked bluntly. "The king is powerful, maybe more powerful than I am. What happens if I lose?"

Race scoffed. “You are Nyogtha. He’s a fucking Underdweller, if that. They are rare, but there’s enough of them that we have a fucking dossier on them. You? All we have are myths, legends and the ravings of a man from Rhode Island that Nyogtha spoke to in dreams. You will win, because your power is fucking endless. You just have to let yourself.”

“So basically you’re talking a fucking Kaiju battle on Governor’s Island,” Balthazar said dryly.

"You don't know what he is," Atticus said flatly. "Rumor has it he's an unreality demon. How do you expect me to win against a creature that can literally unmake my existence? We all need to go into this with the understanding that I may lose."

“How the fuck would a Demonae rise in the ranks to Monstera King?” Race said. “No, I think our intel is sound, Underdwellers, as I said, are rare but...” he shook his head. “But let’s say you are right and he is an Unreality Demonae. You know what Nyogtha can do.” He looked at him. “Are you prepared to let him?”

"He threatened the life of my mate." Atticus' tone was as bleak as the arctic tundra. "There is nothing I won't do to destroy him."

“Then why are we having this conversation?” He looked to Balthazar. “What are your terms?”

“First, Sybelle gets rescued, no waiting, no nothing. We go in, she gets pulled out.”

Race nodded. “Done. Safe and alive. Next?”

“She gets citizenship in any Light nation she chooses,” Balthazar said. “She is to want for nothing.”

Race nodded again. “Done. What else?”

"If I win, I want full support to run the area as I see fit and not how you guys dictate," Atticus said. "Jenner might be your guy, but intel is just that. Intel. It's not experience. You haven't lived here like I have. I'm open to advice, but I'm not open to a Light territory’s dictatorship."

“Deal. Anything else?” Race said without missing a beat.

"The women in the palace...if they want to go home, we'll have to help them get there and I want full funding for trauma support," Atticus said.

"And medical teams on standby for them," Thorn added. "He doesn't treat them well."

“Already handled. We are going to set up triage across the bay and transports for them as well.” He rolled his shoulders. “Think about where you want Sybelle to be taken to. We can start all the paperwork so she will have her passport as soon as we have her.”

“Scotland,” they all said at once.

Atticus sighed. "She'll be so far away," he murmured. "You two had better keep her safe."

"You know it, brother." Thorn squeezed his shoulder and Atticus nodded, turning back to Race. "We're in. Get Jenner to set it up."

The other man stood and walked out of the room, leaving them there. Balthazar looked at Atticus and shook his head. “She’s not going to stand for being away from you for long, you know that. We will figure out how to make this work, but really it’s the best option in a fucked situation.”

"You know damn well she's going to insist on staying here if you do," Thorn told Atticus and the big guy shook his head.

"It's for her safety. I know she'll be pissed, but at the end of the day, everything we do is done for her. She'll have to learn to live with it. We can manage four years. Hell, we survived three already."

“No one says you can’t visit,” Balthazar said. “Your family in Scotland...I think it’s the safest place.”

"I know." It didn't stop the prospect from being miserable, though. Transport between territories was unreliable at best—too many pirates out there hijacking planes to guarantee making it to safety. His trips to Scotland wouldn't be frequent and they would be expensive. They all knew it, just as they all knew it had to be done that way.

“We make sure GC handles it for us. We are giving up a lot for this,” Balthazar said. “Don’t think I won’t demand they ensure we stay a family.”

"We'll just have to see what happens," Atticus replied. "We hope for the best and plan for the worst. Either I win and we live, or I don't and we die. It's just that simple."

“We got your back, man. Always and forever,” he said and bumped fists with his friends. “So let’s get this fucking planning started.”

Race walked in and looked to them. “Five days. We got work to do.”

Chapter 24

––––––––

Sitting in the living room area of the suite, Sybelle looked over to the other two females that shared the space, still trying to size them up. One, Opal, was younger, probably around twenty-three, with flaxen hair and pale skin. She kept to herself, mostly spending her time reading, and when anyone came asking for her, the only thing she would say was, “That’s not my name,” although she would go with them compliantly. She seemed like she was waiting on something, but wouldn’t talk to either Sybelle or the other girl they were stuck with, a more of a chatty Cathy by the name of Ember.

Ember had embraced her when they met four days prior, given her the skinny on the place, and felt her out with questions about being there. Ember was not happy she had been taken and she was quietly trying to figure a way out, or so she said when she accosted Sybelle in the bathroom. But she was playing along to the public face of it, as was Sybelle.

And really, the place wasn’t bad. The only males they saw were Jenner and his boys, though Hicks was her constant companion, and word had gotten out to the other girls there that she was special, though she didn’t know what that meant to them. All she did know was that she had spent the past four days eating well, swimming with Ember in a large pool that felt more like a roman bath, and reading.

And the aforementioned doctor had yet to visit with her, which was both worrying and comforting. Not that she believed Jenner or Hicks would allow any harm to come to her, not when they needed Atticus to work things out the right way.

“So, Ember, what are we going to do today?” she asked, playing into the calm and docile demeanor that Jenner had suggested she adopt.

"Same old, same old, I guess," Ember replied, her bored affectation making Sybelle smile. "We could—" Whatever it was she had been about to say was cut off as Hicks opened the door and a man in a white coat walked in. "Sybelle," he said cheerfully. "It's been a while."

Turning, she frowned and then arched a brow. Standing there in a lab coat and three-piece suit was Braden Billsner. They had been acquaintances back in high school; he’d had been on the football team with her guys. He had asked her to the prom and she had declined, going with Atticus, Thorn and Balthazar instead. What the hell was he doing here?

“Hi, Braden...” She looked over to Opal, who didn’t look up from her book, and Ember, who was doing her best to look bored and uninterested in this turn of events. “Or is it Doctor Billsner?”

He made a face as though the question hurt. "We're old friends, aren't we? You should call me Braden. I'm the doctor here. I'm surprised you haven't heard of my work, given how you used to be really interested in science and all that."

Still self-important as ever. She gave him a bright smile. “Life’s been...different since college,” she said. “What can I do for ya?” Odds were her guys didn’t even know he was there, and if they did, they would have told her.

"I'm the doctor," he repeated, smiling. "I'm supposed to do your medical and check on the mating marks you had when you came in." His smile faltered slightly as he looked more closely at her. "The ones on your neck certainly haven't faded much. Are you feeling well?" He set his bag down on her bed and gestured for her to take a seat when she said she was fine, pulling a stethoscope from his things. He did a basic check of her heart and breathing, declaring her all clear, but as his hands travelled over and under her top showing glimpses of the marks all over her body, his smile faded until he was frowning. "When did they give you these marks?" he asked, urgently this time.

“A week ago,” she said, “Give or take a day. I have been here a week, right?” She looked to Hicks, who nodded. “About seven days at most. Why? Don’t they fade after like ten or something? They did originally.”

She looked up and Opal was staring at her, shaking her head almost imperceptibly. That was interesting.

"They should be starting to fade already." Braden frowned, straightening up. "Look at the others. Opal has only been here three days longer than you and hers are already almost gone. Yours haven't faded at all from what we saw in the throne room." His face grim, he tossed the stethoscope back into the bag. "Sybelle, I need to you think hard about this, okay? Your life might depend on it. Did you sleep with them all close enough together that you might be pregnant?"

“I just had my period,” she lied and arched a brow. Though she knew she was due...could she be pregnant? “Literally the last day of my period, Braden, was the day you brought me in. Yes, we were fucking on it. My boys can’t get enough of the taste of my blood.” She heard Ember cough. Not that any of that was true, but... She looked up and Hicks just looked bored.

"Please, Sybelle, I'm not the enemy here. You don't need to give me the attitude. I'm trying to help you." Braden leaned in and lowered his voice. "The only reason I've heard of for marks not to fade is pregnancy. It secures a lifelong bond between mated parents. If you're being honest with me and you're not pregnant, there's something else going on here and the king is going to be furious when I have to tell him I don't know what it is. Please be honest with me, Sy. Did you take all three of them together?"

Again, Opal shook her head at her. She looked to Hicks who also shook his head. Something was going on and it only added to the feelings of distrust she’d had about Billsner as a teenager. “The king being furious because he doesn’t understand the finer points of procreation is not my concern,” she said and Ember nodded slowly. “But I do understand it. Science, remember? I get that there’s plenty we don’t know, but considering I literally just had my period...” She shrugged. As far as she was concerned he was welcome to science himself in circles until the king tore his head off.

"I'm going to have to run some tests," he sighed. "You'll have to come through to the medical suite; I don't have the things I need here to take blood samples."

She nodded and saw Hicks tap his piece on his side. Hicks was armed, but if she had to go with the doctor then she was going to be as well. “Can I grab my sweater?” she asked as she stood. “It’s just on the hook in the bathroom.”

"Of course you can." His smile had returned, bright as ever. "I'll go and get myself set up. Hicks will bring you to me when you're ready."

They watched him walk out and she arched a brow at Ember as she walked into the bathroom.

“Be careful,” she heard from behind her, the voice quiet. Opal. “He’s not all sweetness and light.”

“Oh, I know,” she said and nodded. “Don’t think I’m going in there unprepared.”

“The green solution in the needle...” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “Don’t let him stick you.” Her eyes were downcast. “Don’t fucking trust him.”

“I don’t. Opal... Are you...”

“That’s not my name,” she said again. “And I’m fine.” Her tone was dull but her eyes were fierce.

“What is your name then?”

“Hannah,” she said softly. “Ember isn’t her name either.”

She figured as much. “You have males waiting for you?”

She nodded. “I think so. I hope so.” She sighed. “I hope so.”

“Don’t worry about me. Just stay safe, yeah?”

The girl moved back out of the bathroom and Sybelle grabbed her small knife, slipping it into the band of her jeans just on the outer edge of her hip, and then put the sweater she had on to seal the effect.

Hicks was waiting at the door for her and put his hand on her bicep as he walked her out, staying close. “Just hang in there,” he said as they rounded a corner that didn’t have cameras. “Things are in the works. I’ll be with you the entire time.”

She hummed softly in answer and fixed her eyes around her, taking in all the doors. She had never been to this part of the wing and she wasn’t going to let her ignorance be her undoing.

***

The phone rang and Atticus answered it absently, more focused down the sights of his favorite gun. There hadn’t been much to do in the safe house near the palace that Race and Jenner had secreted them in except exercise and clean weapons, and he was going out of his mind with boredom and worry for Sybelle. "It's time." Jenner's gravelly voice snapped him to attention in a heartbeat. "I've had word from Hicks. Sybelle is in danger. It's going down now. You need to be at the sewer door in twenty-five minutes."

"Yes, sir." Atticus stabbed the end call button and roared his fury, bringing Thorn and Balthazar running, guns drawn.

"What's happening?" Thorn skidded to a halt, scanning for danger.

"Jenner called. Sybelle is in trouble. It's going down now. We have twenty-five minutes to get to the door." Atticus shoved the gun in a holster and snatched up another three, along with several magazines, shoving them all into pockets and holsters as the others launched into action without question. Three minutes later they were running for the nearest entrance to the sewers without caring who might see them. If they didn't survive the next hour or two it wouldn't matter who had seen them hiding right under the king's nose.

The sewers were dank and wet, sending up foul-smelling splashes as they raced toward the palace. Rats scurried underfoot, unused to the activity, but the men ignored them. Their mate was in danger and they would be by her side whatever the cost. It took them twenty-three minutes of hard running to get to the door and Atticus bent double, breathing hard despite the fetid air and lack of ventilation.

"Two minutes," wheezed Thorn, also winded, but less so than the big guy.

"Take a breath," Atticus commanded. "This might be the last two minutes of rest we get for a while. Use it wisely."

"Yes, boss." Thorn leaned against the door, the only part of the wall not covered in slime and dripping water.

Balthazar, the only one slightly winded by this, due to what his change was, looked at his watch. “We got the plan, right? I’m going with you, Thorn will find Hicks and Sybelle.”

"But the minute I start shifting, you need to get out," Atticus reminded him. "You get me to the king and then I'm on my own. Jenner is doing his best to clear a path to the throne room and Cornimer is launching an attack at the east gate to distract the guards, but we might still encounter soldiers in the hallways."

"I'll get Sybelle out, but I should come back for you," Thorn insisted one last time, even though it was an old argument and he knew Atticus wouldn't cave.

"You do not leave her unprotected," Atticus growled. "You stay with her and any other women you can get out. We'll meet you at the rendezvous point as soon as we can."

A rumble of an explosion sounded above them and the red light over the door turned green. “Well, gents,” Balthazar grinned, “let’s go get our girl and save a country.”

"You come back safe, you hear?" Thorn embraced Atticus. "Destroy that son of a bitch."

"I'll do my best." Atticus shoved the door open and they burst through into a hallway where a young woman was waiting, her trembling hand letting the key card she'd used fall to the ground. Atticus nodded to her and took off, Balthazar on his heels, toward the throne room, leaving Thorn behind with the girl.

"Where are Sybelle and Hicks?" he asked gently.

"Th...th...this way," she stammered and started running toward the door at the far end of the hallway. Thorn fell in behind her, checking his weapon and sweeping for enemies as she opened the door and pushed through. Several women jumped up from where they'd been sitting around in armchairs and sofas, but none of them moved to stop them. They raced onward, through another green lit door, swinging left and racing past what looked like dormitories.

***

Sybelle entered the exam room with Hicks at her heels, trying to stay composed and relaxed. It wouldn’t do to have old Braden figure out something was up. Still, the fact that the man was there was disconcerting. Was he a prisoner like her and the girls? Or was something else going on?

Hicks nodded to her as she walked farther into the room. “Braden?” she said, noticing that the exam room looked more like a cross between an operating room and a gyno office than a general medical suite, though the chair had manacles for the hands, feet and neck. Nothing good happened in this place.

“I’m here.” He stepped out from behind a privacy screen and gestured toward the door. “If you could please change into the patient gown hanging on the peg there, we’ll get this over and done with as soon as we can. Remove everything, please, underwear included. I'll have to run a gyno panel." Assuming she would do as she was told, he turned to the rolling medical tray and started to check the vacutainers he'd laid out. When there was no movement, he turned around to see Sybelle staring defiantly at him.

"Please, Sybelle," he sighed. "He's the king. I can't just disobey orders. Are you nervous? Is that it? I can give you a sedative if that would help?"

“Oh no...I’m not nervous at all, Braden,” she said and shook her head. “Why the hell are you here? I mean, last I heard, you were on your way to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville...some grant?”

"They wouldn't fund my research," he shrugged. "Really I have you to thank for bringing me here. I never could understand why you were so interested in those three guys, especially Atticus. The guy was a loser at school, although he certainly beefed up after the shift. It got me thinking about genetic predisposition in post-shift mates. The king heard about it and offered to fund my work. I have a state-of-the-art laboratory right here in the palace."

She arched a brow. Atticus was not a loser in high school, the boys were all football stars and Atticus graduated third in their class, right behind Balthazar. Who exactly was he remembering? And he was there of his own accord? Even worse. She frowned.

“Bray, I didn’t take you for an ‘any means necessary’ kinda doctor,” she said. “How was your own transition? I mean I heard from Fanny you made it through and your entire family was proud.” She let what he said about genetic dispositions roll around in her head. True, she could ask the self-assured pig what it was he was talking about, but she needed more info. And she needed to stall.

He waved the question away. "It was fine. I barely shift these days. There's no point. And being here is amazing. I get to see the results of my research in real time. I mean you're right here after I tagged your genes as perfect Monstera mate material! I can't wait to run pheromone tests on you! In theory I could make you want any Monstera male. It's fascinating!"

“Why would you consider tagging me for that, Brayden? I mean...” she shrugged. “I haven’t seen you for years, literally since freshman year of college. And you just thought to look up my genes and send a buncha evil dudes after me?” She shook her head. And if he thought he could make her want other men? He was living in a goddamn dream world.

"Oh no, I didn't go looking for you specifically, but it was providence that sent your name across my desk for testing. And the king isn't evil.” The doctor waved a hand dismissively. “He's just working toward a very specific future and I'm proud to be a part of that."

“And what future is that? ‘Cause I gotta tell you, kidnapping over just recruiting females is kinda evil.”

"They all want to be here in the end," he explained soothingly. "Monstera are just misunderstood. Women hear about the nightmare stories and don't know the real men away from all of that, so they run away and shun Monstera, but really they should be breeding with them. The Monstera are strong. We're only working toward an evolutionary survival of the fittest. It's natural."

She rolled her eyes. “Brayden, all the factions are strong,” she said. “And while I agree with you that Monstera are just misunderstood, it takes a special kinda woman to be cool with all of it. Like I know I could never be with Natura. They just don’t do it for me.” She scuffed her foot. “You know, you never said what faction you belong to after your transition. Surely it’s not Monstera if the king had to find you.”

"But you see, that's where my gene tweaking experiments are really coming into their own! I've successfully treated several females here to want the brutality necessary for the Monstera to mate. Don't look at me like that!" He regarded her reproachfully. "This is cutting edge science! Besides, the women I’m specifically picking for the king are all predisposed genetically toward Monstera. It's always mixed with other genetic predispositions, which is why they have to take some persuading, but that's what makes you so special. You're the only one we've found so far with all Monstera markers. You're almost guaranteed to bear the king a child and imagine the honor of that! Mother of Princes! Monstera Queen!"

“And just who else is donating to the genetic lottery for him?” she said, realizing both that Braden wasn’t answering her questions, and that he was seriously nuts. Mother of Princes and Monstera Queen? She wasn’t a towheaded girl displaced from her kingdom in some fucking fantasy novel.

"Well obviously it's up to the king to choose his generals, but I assure you they will be powerful. It's such a shame Atticus betrayed us. A child from him and the king together would be something quite extraordinary." He shook his head. "Anyway, enough gossiping. I have a job to do. Please put the gown on so we can get on with this. I would rather not sedate you, but I can if necessary." Reaching into the tray for the blood draw, he withdrew a syringe filled with green liquid and waited for her to choose.

“Oh, fuck no, on all of that,” she said and planted her feet. “I’m not going to be anyone’s little brood mare, least of all the king’s, massive petulant child that he is.” She shook her head. “So you can fuck right off with whatever is in that syringe. I’m not getting naked for you now, or ever. Didn’t you figure that out in high school?” She heard booms, faint and in the distance, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was happening. They were coming for her. She had to distract the doctor. “Now, Atticus? Atticus I dropped trow for and rode like a fucking pony while his tentacles branded the hell outta me.” The look on Brayden’s face said it all. He was still jealous.

"I told you that you don't need that attitude with me, Sybelle, and there's no need to be crude.” His lips pursed with disgust. “You don't seem able to comprehend the situation here. You don't actually have a choice. You belong to the king now and you will do as he says, or I will make you."

The booming sounded closer and she laughed. “I belong to Atticus, Balthazar and Thorn. Always have and always will,” she said proudly. “And if your psycho ass is feeling strong, I say you can try to make me, because I’m not going down for anyone but them...” The booms shook the room they were in and she grinned. “And that should be them now...”

Brayden came at her then, but she skirted him and put the large cart between them long enough for her to slip the knife from her jeans. She pushed the cart at him so he didn’t see the weapon. She watched as he caught the cart one-handed, the syringe in his other hand.

"Hicks, help me!" he demanded. "Why are you just standing there?" The soldier made no indication of having heard the doctor, keeping his gaze fixed on the far wall. "Hicks!" Braden shoved the cart aside and went for Sybelle again with the syringe, managing to grab her arm. "Stop fighting!" he snarled. "This is for your own good!"

She tugged, giving her enough motion to pull the knife out of its sheath, and then she lunged, slicing at his hand and causing him to drop the needle. She kicked it over toward Hicks and then smiled as the sounds of insanity got closer. “Stay the fuck away from me, Brayden. Next time I come at you with this, or anything, I’m impaling it in your heart.”

"Bitch!" He clutched his injured hand to his chest. "You'll pay for this!!"

“Yeah, yeah, and your little dog, too, I know...” She rolled her eyes, both unnerved and worried as to why he hadn’t tried to take her by force in his shifted form. Considering he never told her what he was... She side-eyed Hicks, who stood there watching. He wasn’t going to get in the way, but it was clear he wouldn’t let the asshole hurt her. The sounds of a fight were closer now, people screaming and gunfire coming down the hall. She looked to Hicks.

“We need to get going. What is this asshole so I know where to fucking stab him?”

Hicks licked his canine and then drew his gun, as if telling her he was there as her back up, but said nothing.

Blood soaking the front of his lab coat, Brayden spat an oath at her and began to shift, legs sprouting out of a body that was rapidly shortening and pushing out black hair. Multiple eyes stared hatred at her as the massive spider skittered into a corner of the room. "He's a coward," Hicks said finally. "He only rapes the sedated ones and, in his spider form, he almost always hides in a corner."

So he was Insecta, which was a form of the lower-level Monstera. They were few because evolution had all but wiped them out in the last fractal shift. She looked at him and then put the knife down, putting her hand out. “Can I have your gun? He needs a few slugs in him.”

Hicks went to hand her his gun, when the door burst open and Thorn barreled in, massive in his Oni form, and she pointed at the spider. “Brayden Billsner...” she said. “Asshole tried to sedate and rape me. Kill him!”

Thorn grinned at her bloodthirstiness and paused to say, "Gods, I fucking love you," before emptying a mag into the hideous creature before them. "Hicks." He nodded to the soldier before turning his attention back to Sybelle. "Sweetheart, it's time to move. We need to get you out of here."

“Where’s Atticus? Batty?” she asked as she went to him. “We have to get Opal and Ember out.”

“I got it,” Hicks said. “Go.”

“But...”

“I know Opal’s primary male,” he said. “I’ll get her out. Go.”

Grabbing onto Thorn, she pulled him close and leaned up, licking one of his tusks. “Missed you, baby.”

"We missed you, too, my love," he grinned broadly. "And believe me when I say that I'm going to let every inch of you know just how much, just not right now. We have to move. Atticus and Zar have gone for the king, like we planned. My job is to get you to safety." Slamming home a new mag, he stuck his head out of the door and looked in both directions. "Clear," he told Hicks. "The girl outside is the one that brought me here. We're taking her with us." Hicks nodded and stepped out first, gun in hand. Thorn turned back to Sybelle. "You ready, sweet thing?"

She nodded and took the girl’s hand. “You’re Cinders, right?” The girl nodded, looking shell-shocked and flinching at every boom that vibrated the walls. “Come on. Thorn will get us out.”

"Damn right I will," he grinned. "Stay behind me as we go. I can take a bullet or two and shift just fine but you two can't, so you wait and do exactly as I say." Knowing they would understand without having to check, he moved out of the room and swiftly down the hallway, in the direction from which he'd come. The palace was huge and sprawling with very little logical design behind it, but he'd done guard duty here and knew how to get back to the sewers without much trouble.

***

Muck, mire and things better left unmentioned floated past them as they gingerly traversed the sewers that Thorn had led them down. Along the way, they had picked up four other females, young girls that had been brought in recently, and all of them were completely over the rot and fetid smell of where they were walking. Fuck, they were all going to need tetanus shots and about fifteen rounds of antibiotics when this was done, but so long as they were all alive it would be worth it.

“How much farther?” Cinders asked softly. The shell-shocked look in her eye was still there, but she was warming up with each step away from the compound.

“Not much...” Sybelle said to her, though she had no fucking idea. They were following Thorn and her love was being overly cautious around each corner, though they could hear the battle raging above.

“Thorn, what’s going on up there? I thought it was going to be a more simple operation. It sounds like another World War has hit the palace.”

"Atticus is fighting with the king," he replied bleakly. "Race had a bunch of missiles fired at the east wall as a distraction and the military is sweeping the women's wing to get as many out as possible, but I expect they're encountering some resistance. Now hush." He paused at the next corner and peered around, cautiously. "Clear." And they were off again.

Well that was a lot of information in a small amount of sentences. “Who is Race?” she asked, frowning, trying not to circle back to the fact that Atticus was up there fighting an epic battle with what amounted to a man child.

"I'll explain later." Sound carried a long way in the tunnels and he touched his fingers to his lips, begging her to stay silent.

She nodded and pulled the girls closer as she watched Thorn. Shit, she wished she had a gun, something, to help him.

They were close to the exit and the next corner they rounded, Thorn saw Race's men waiting at the foot of the stairs to help them up. "Fromage!" he called around the corner and there was a snigger before one of them called back, "Rainbow!” Passwords checked, Thorn let the girls run on in front of him and brought up the rear, gun facing behind them in case they were being chased.

“Sir,” one of the men said, wearing a white and black beret. “General Furman said all females from the east wing have been accounted for, except for six...but I see you have them here.” He looked to her and nodded. “Ms. Strange. Good to see you hale and hearty. Ladies, we need to get you to triage and quickly.”

“It’s okay, girls, they are here to help,” Sybelle said and the girls, in a flurry of commotion, went with three of the other males. “Now, who did I just send five women with, under the assumption that they were safe with them?” she asked Thorn.

"Representatives of the Light territories," he explained, holstering his gun and striding toward what looked to be the command post. "We met with them after you were taken. Turns out Jenner has been leading the resistance on their behalf for years. Sweetheart, I need to check a few things. Please can you go and get yourself checked out? At least let them put you through triage. I'll feel better when I know for sure that you're okay."

She nodded, knowing she was okay but also that Thorn was right...there was something...

“Ms. Strange? I can escort you.”

She looked to the young male and nodded. “Thank you, Mr...”

“Parker,” he said. “Just Parker.”

She smiled. “Thorn, if I’m not where I’m supposed to be, kill Parker.”

"Roger that." Thorn grinned at the suddenly pale soldier. "Watch her closely, my man. She's the defiant kind." Chuckling, he ducked into the command center and left them to it.

“I’m just kidding, Parker. Now, triage?”

He motioned and they started walking across the small courtyard from where the command tent was to where the large white tents were that she assumed was triage. They heard more explosions in the distance and she looked to him as they hurried along. “Where are we exactly?”

“Across the sound from the Island,” he said. “Closest we could get.”

“And the girls?”

“Last boatload is inbound now.” They entered the tents to chaos.

“Doctor Albright? This is Sybelle...”

“Strange, yes, I know,” the woman said with a smile. “Good to have you back. Private? You can leave her in my care.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded to her. “I will let Thorn know.”

He walked out and the doctor looked at her. “You need to be checked out.”

“You need to run a full panel and tox screen on each one of these women,” Sybelle told her. “Some may be pregnant and not know it.”

“I would have done so as standard. But why are you mentioning it specifically?”

“One of the men there, a doctor, he was giving them some form of sedative and then raping them...and I know it wasn’t just him...”

“And the doctor?”

“My Thorn unloaded a clip into his head.” Sybelle grinned. “He was Insecta.”

“Good looking out. I was told they found a nursery as well, with five children, all ages newborn to three years old.”

“Dear god,” she said. “Also...Opal and Ember?”

“Both are in the far tent, first ones to come in with a Sergeant Hicks,” the doctor read from her clipboard. “Let’s get you cleared so you can go see them.”

She nodded. “I’m going to need a pregnancy test, too.”

She arched a brow. “Why? Word has it you weren’t there long enough for the king to—”

Sybelle pulled her sweater down and showed her both Atticus’ tentacle marks and the bite marks from Thorn. “These are from before I was taken, over a week ago.”

“Was this by your consent?” the doctor asked quietly.

“All three of my men are Monstera,” Sybelle said proudly. “Apparently I’m a female predisposed to being with them.”

The doctor nodded. “Understood. I had to ask. Come on. Let’s get you handled, and then we can see your friends.”

Nodding, she followed the doctor back the way she had originally come.

––––––––

Chapter 25

The throne room door crashed shut behind Atticus and there was a solid thunk as Balthazar blocked it from the outside to prevent any interruptions.

"Atticus." The king's voice was silky with persuasion. "It's not too late for you. I would welcome you back, as my prodigal son."

"You took my mate," Atticus snarled. "There's no coming back from that."

"And I would share her with you," the king promised, rising and stepping down from his throne. "I'm not a selfish man, whatever people may say. I know that every child requires at least three fathers. Imagine the sons we would sire together, Atticus! Imagine the power they could wield! A son from both our loins... We could rule the world. And such beauty it would inherit from its mother. Atticus, won’t you come back to me and share this incredible gift we’ve been given?"

"She is not yours to offer!" Atticus roared, the power of his fury making the columns tremble. "You do not own her! It is for her to choose. She is mine by right!"

"Atticus, my son, be reasonable," the king's voice dripped liquid honey, his palm to his chest as though he had been wounded by Atticus’ words. "I am the king. All things are mine, by right and by might. You do not want to test me, although I can respect and forgive your desire to do so. It is the nature of powerful creatures to attempt to usurp thrones."

"I'm not your son and I'm here to destroy you," Atticus said bleakly. "There's no testing about it. I don't want your throne. I want my woman."

"So be it," the king replied sadly, gathering his power. "This is your last chance, Atticus. Join me or die."

"She will never be yours," Atticus said quietly, his own power gathering until the air around them boiled with nauseating halene frost. "I will defend her until my last breath."

As he sprinted the length of the throne room, Nyogtha ripped out of him, darkness fueled by boundless love, and his rage split the world asunder. Chasms opened in the floor as columns trembled and fell, the roof caving in, piece by piece, as the midnight of the deepest abyss fought the dizzying power of the king, tentacles whipping, ripping flesh and bone as they battled back and forth across the wreckage.

The king had expanded to ten times his size and formed a blade of pure power, lopping off tentacles left and right, his fists landing mighty blows into Nyogtha’s body. Blood sprayed the walls as Nyogtha hurled broken bits of column at the king, giant chunks of masonry battering him. The king dodged as best he could but eventually Nyogtha was able to overwhelm him by sheer virtue of having endless limbs and he ripped the arm holding the blade from its socket. The king roared with agony, the sound piercing, even to Nyogtha. As he fell, the world exploded, caving in on itself as the fabric of reality ripped itself open, bleeding manifold nightmares from the void between them.

The last thought Nyogtha knew before the darkness closed in was of Sybelle and how much he loved her.

***

Pregnant.

Sybelle looked at the chart once more. Pregnant. Only just, but...pregnant. Seed had taken and she was fully mated to Atticus, Balthazar and Thorn.

Holy shit.

She ran her hand over her belly and smiled to herself. Of all things, they had managed to create life together through all this shit. It was set in stone; her body was theirs forever. She would have her happily ever after and nothing would take that away from her.

“Ms. Strange? Everything okay?”

She looked up to see Dr. Albright and nodded. “Against all odds, everything is great.” So far.

“Good. Your friends are waiting for you.” She nodded and left the room toward the back recovery tent, meant for females that had males coming to get them. Sadly there were more there than she had expected. Who knew how many would actually show? It would take a while for word to spread that the palace had fallen...if it actually had fallen.

She spied Opal and Ember in a corner, drinking coffee.

“Hey, guys, you okay?”

Opal nodded. “Are you?”

“As can be expected. Hicks got you out?”

“Yes and thank you,” Opal said and came to hug her. “He said your man emptied a clip in that fucker’s head.”

“He did.” She grinned. “They call your men?”

"Yeah, they're on their way here." Ember breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. "I was going to say you can't imagine how it feels to know they're coming, but I guess you do. Any word on your three yet?"

“Thorn is in command. Balthazar...I don’t know. I was getting checked out.”

“And the other?”

“Last I heard, he was fighting that giant man child,” she said.

“How? That dude is super powerful.”

“Atticus is Nyogtha,” Sybelle said softly, “an eldritch horror, a madness god from way back.”

“Well that will do it. I hope he turns the king’s brains to soup.”

She grinned at Opal.

"He'll win," Ember said reassuringly. "The king was getting fat and lazy. Your guy will win."

Thorn stuck his head into the room. "Hey, sweets, ladies," he tipped an imaginary hat. "Thought you might like to know that Balthazar just got here."

She grinned. “Ember, Opal, I mean Hannah...” she grinned. “We should keep in touch.”

Opal-Hannah nodded. “You got it.” She saw Ember nod and went to the attendant. “Please make sure I get their information.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Turning to Thorn, she hugged him close. “Where is Batty?”

"I made him go to triage." Thorn grinned. "He's so mad at me because apparently it's just a scratch, but he didn't want to shift and scare the ladies."

With a laugh she tugged him back toward the main triage tents. And to Balthazar, who was sitting on a gurney, swinging his feet as a medic sewed up his arm.

“What happened?”

He looked at her with a grin, then looked to his arm and shrugged. “Some asshole got his balls up before I could shift and I got tagged. I see you are hale and hearty, though. Come here.”

She ran to him and wrapped her body around him, hugging him hard. “I’m so glad you are okay,” she said. “Have we heard from Atticus?”

Balthazar sighed. “Ten minutes ago the main section of the mansion partially caved in. It was where I saw him last.”

She pulled back. Oh no. No, she was not going to lose him. “We need to go. Now,” she said and looked to them both. “We need to find him.”

“Baby, the guys are already on it. Search and rescue are looking...”

“For a body, right? Atticus isn’t dead. I would know,” she insisted.

“How? How would you know?” Balthazar asked, not unkindly.

“I just would.”

Balthazar looked over her head at Thorn and she growled. “Don’t even think it. I’m going.”

"Baby, it's not safe," Thorn implored her. "Let the specialists handle it. There are reports coming in that a fire broke out and the building is unstable. We won't know which bits are safe to step on and which aren't. Please don't make me have to explain to him why we got you out and to safety and then let you kill yourself scrambling over rubble."

“What in this entire adventure since you drugged me and kidnapped me has been safe, Thorn?” she said with an arched brow. “I’ll go without you both, I don’t fucking care, and he can take it outta my ass when we find him.” She looked at them. “Agree with me and I’ll tell you something cool.” She grinned.

"Out here is safer than in there," he said stubbornly. "But since I guess we're going to have to tie you down to keep you here..." Thorn trailed off, clearly taken with the idea of tying her down and it took a second for him to snap back to reality. "We are so trying that when we get home. Anyway, you will do exactly as we say and listen to the experts. If they say it's too dangerous to go in, you don't go in. Are we clear?"

Sighing, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever."

Balthazar shrugged. "And if you aren't a good girl then Thorn isn't going to tie you down...are you, Thorny?"

Thorn looked pained, as if he were trying to think of a reasonable answer that still managed to include him getting his fantasy, but in the end he just shrugged. "She's going to be a good girl. She won't like me if she's not."

Sybelle arched a brow. "I like you no matter what."

"So what’s your awesome news?" Balthazar asked and she smiled.

"Don't keep us in suspense," Thorn grumbled. "Did something happen with the girls?"

"No...something happened with you guys..." She smiled and pulled up her shirt, showing them her stomach and the marks there.

"Yes, we know you have marks," Thorn said slowly, confused. "We put them there."

"And they are permanent. Now," she said. Balthazar blinked at her.

"Princess, we've just come from a battle mission," Thorn sighed. "You're going to have to spell this out for us, because I haven't got a fucking clue what you're trying to say."

"She’s pregnant! You are, right?" Batty’s face lit up. "You are!"

"Oh my god," Thorn's jaw dropped. "Are you sure? You took a test?"

She nodded and bit her lip. "It’s a hat-trick." Balthazar grabbed her and swung her around. "You amazing girl!"

"I can't believe it!" Thorn was as stunned as he was joyful. "This is incredible news!" When Balthazar didn't release her fast enough, he just gathered them both up in a hug. "I love you," he told her, unashamed of the tears in his eyes. "You've made me so happy today."

"Just as happy as you’ve made me....so let's go find Atty and tell him."

"Wait, you want to take our unborn child into a structurally unstable building that's on fire?" Thorn shook his head. "Have you lost your ever-loving mind?"

"I'm doing this," she replied stubbornly. Balthazar sighed.

"Over my dead body," Thorn growled. "Never mind that Atticus will kill me for even thinking about it."

"I'll deal with my Atty," she said and slipped out from between them. "Women ride into battle bare-breasted and pregnant all the time."

"Not since the dark ages," Balthazar offered.

"Thorn, Balthazar, team seven is ready to go in."

She looked at the soldier standing in the doorway. "Perfect. Thanks."

"Sybelle, no," Thorn insisted. "You can't go. It's too dangerous. Think of the child. What if you slip and fall and miscarry? None of us will ever forgive ourselves."

She laughed. "It’s not even the size of a grain of rice yet, Thorn. Next you’re going to lose your shit about fucking me during this pregnancy." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I'm going. It’s final. I want my Atty..."

"I'm going to find some rope." Thorn stalked out of the tent.

"That had better be for play time later," she called after him. Looking at Balthazar, she grinned. "I need a gun."

"Not to shoot Thorn, right?"

Chapter 26

Seeing the compound from outside for the second time, it was a huge change. Gone were the columns that had held the front façade up, replaced with rubble and massive pieces of masonry. The doorway was still there, as was most of the main structure. Balthazar had told her as they approached that the main building was like the White House, reinforced with steel beams and girders to help it withstand attack. Clearly that didn’t include opening a hole into darkness and madness like Atticus did when Nyogtha was set free.

They walked in, the team before and after them, Thorn and Batty on either side of her. In the end they had relented, letting her go with them, though she thought it was because they realized that keeping her safe was easier when she was with them. And she was no shrinking violet, or weak. Yes, she was pregnant, and while that had yet to fully sink in, for all of them really, she wasn’t stupid. Had she been there with a massive belly? Yeah, she would have hung back and waited. But Atticus needed her...needed them. The fact that he hadn’t emerged and they had yet to find him filled her with dread.

They picked through the rubble, climbing over larger pieces that the teams already there hadn’t been able to clear out of the way. “Where did you leave him, Batty?”

Balthazar looked at her. “The throne room.”

“That’s apparently where the damage emanated from, sir,” one of the soldiers said.

“I would say so...two powerful Monstera fighting to the death...” Batty shook his head. “Let’s just hope the right side won and it wasn’t a draw.”

“He won. I know he did,” Sybelle said and walked forward with the crew as they made it to the throne room.

“Lotta rubble in there, Miss Strange,” the same soldier said doubtfully.

She waved it away. “Let’s find my mate.”

Two hours later she was stretching, hands on the small of her back as she arched, feeling and hearing bones and ligaments pop along her shoulders and spine. They had moved a ton of masonry and broken furniture, but not found either Atticus or the king. Of course the devastation was severe there and they were trying to skirt crumbling chasms in the floor, surely made by Nyogtha in his fury. The room was still cold, ice and frost still clinging to places they hadn’t been able to reach.

“We need to find him,” she said and sighed. Even if it was just to bury him. No, she couldn’t think like that, not when she had such happy news to convey.

“Sir? I think we found something.”

Rushing over to where the solider was, she held on to Thorn as he pointed. Shoes stuck out from the rubble across the chasm. The pile shifted again and masonry rained into the chasm, partially covering the shoes over again as quickly as it had revealed them.

“Is...is that him?” she said, unsure what Atticus had worn into battle. Her stomach bottomed out. “We need to get to him.”

“Ma’am, we are trying but...” Another soldier came over, this one with a tablet in his hand. “The integrity of the floor there is unstable.” He showed her. “We need to be careful. Need to...”

With a sudden boom they watched as the floor caved in, the boots, body and rocks disappearing into the now massive hole.

“No!” she said as tears started to fall from her eyes. “Atticus!” she screamed as Thorn and Balthazar both held her back from the edge of the chasm.

"It might not have been him," Thorn told her, shielding her from the void with his massive body. "It might have been the king. We need to keep looking until we've confirmed that either or both are dead."

Hearing what sounded like coughing, she cocked her head and frowned. “What’s that?”

“What’s what?” Balthazar said.

“Listen with those ears!” she said, her eyes going wide. “Someone is coughing...”

The entire room went quiet and they all heard it again. “Someone is alive in the rubble!”

She clung to Thorn for a moment before he and Batty started fanning out, listening for the sound again.

"There!" Thorn pointed to an area near the chasm where a massive part of the ceiling had fallen in, but was propped up on broken columns.

Heart seizing, she sat there, stock still, as the soldiers and engineers worked to get the rubble out of the way. Three of them changed over to their shifted forms, almost giants, and Thorn shifted as well, helping them. Balthazar held her and she realized he was holding his breath, too, waiting for what they uncovered.

"I have a foot!" Thorn called, heaving a huge chunk of marble aside. "He's here, guys!"

They all converged on the same spot, four of them working in tandem to lift a massive piece of masonry as Thorn grabbed an ankle and dragged the body clear, a smear of blood on the floor behind it. "It's Atticus!" he called over. "He's badly injured. We need medics in here now!"

Balthazar held her back for moments as the medics rushed over, tears leaking from her eyes. Atticus. Alive. Injured but alive. They didn’t lose him. And they had won.

“Bring the hover gurney,” one of the medics called out. Moments later, they slid the board under Atticus’ dust-coated form and then hoisted him up on the bed. Everything around her started to feel like cotton. Words started to run together, blurring in her ears as she saw him, bleeding, clothing torn, hair matted.

“Batty...” she said, though she could barely hear it over the roar of the blood in her ears. Then he was picking her up and carrying her from the room, following behind the gurney until they got to the front gates. They caught up with Thorn as he stopped just outside the triage they had set up on the island. “Is he...” she said, the roaring in her ears starting to die down. “Is he going to be okay?”

"I don't know." Thorn's face was grim. "He probably needs to shift, but he can't do that until he's conscious and we need to clear out the med bay for that to happen, so right now they just need to stabilize him and wake him up."

“I need to see him,” she said and wrung her hands.

“Baby girl, you were there, you helped find him,” Balthazar soothed. “Give him some time. You know he would freak if you got hurt because he shifted accidentally or something.”

"Zar is right." Thorn held her back. "If you tried to go to him now, you'd just be in the way of the doctors trying to stabilize him. Let them do their jobs."

She nodded, but the need to be with him was strong.

“Come on. They will keep us up to date. They know you are here, know he’s important. Race will give him the best care. Let’s get some coffee...it’s going to be a long day.”

She nodded. “I wanna be there when he wakes up,” she said.

“Once they stabilize him, then we will.” Balthazar kissed her head. “Promise, baby. Come on.”

Chapter 27

Thorn felt the hand beneath his twitch and turned to see Atticus' eyelids flickering open. "Hey, big guy," he said softly, not wanting to startle his friend. "How are you feeling?"

Atticus tried to say something but his throat crackled with parched vocal chords and Thorn leaned forward, taking a cup with a straw from the bedside cabinet and holding it to his lips for him.

"Easy now, small sips," he cautioned. "Sybelle has been beside herself waiting for you to wake up. We don't want you puking all over her."

Atticus huffed a laugh and then winced with pain, reaching subconsciously for the bandages beneath the blankets. "The shift didn't heal me?" he asked and Thorn shook his head.

"No. They said you might need to shift two or three times more to heal all the injuries, but that you're physically too exhausted to do it right now." Thorn let him take a few more sips and then set the cup down. "I'll go and get the others." He returned moments later with Sybelle and Balthazar and stood back to let them say hi.

“Atty!” Sybelle cried and went to him, grasping the hand he held out to her, tears in her eyes. “Atty...” her words were quiet. “I thought you would never wake up.”

Balthazar nodded. “Scared the shit outta her, man, and us. Try not to do that again, yeah?” he said with an easy smile.

Atticus grinned. "No more kings to kill, as far as I'm aware."

She shook her head.

“You did the job, man. Well done,” Balthazar said and sat back on the chair and pulled Sybelle into his lap, letting her still hold Atticus’ hand. “Now, do you think maybe you could get well and then we can get outta here? We have some celebrating to do.”

"I'm doing my best, brother," Atticus said. "I know we should celebrate, but...does she know?"

"Know what?" Thorn asked.

"About the plan from Race...about what would happen after the king is dead?"

Sybelle sighed. “Yes...I know. I’m not happy about it, but it’s going to have to wait a few months anyway,” she said softly.

"You were supposed to go to Scotland straight away, though." Atticus looked confused and Thorn hid a smirk.

"You should probably just tell him straight, sweetheart. He's hopped up on pain meds. His brain might not be working all that well."

Nodding, she stood up from Balthazar’s lap, took Atticus’ hand and placed it on her stomach. “We decided our first child should be born in New York, like we all were.”

"What?" Atticus gasped, delight suffusing his features. "You're pregnant?"

"We're going to be daddies," Thorn declared proudly. "Her mating marks didn't fade."

“And they never ever will.” She grinned. “Though I’m totally down for you all to make new ones. Which is why you need to get well. We need to celebrate.”

"The doctors said he'll need a few more days," Thorn told her. "He's got to shift a couple more times when he has more strength." He looked his friend over. Atticus did look terrible, his skin grey and waxy, his normally bright eyes bloodshot and swollen. It had obviously taken a lot out of him to kill the king.

“Is this incentive to get well?” she asked with a hopeful smile.

“We talked to Race,” Balthazar explained when Atticus looked to him for more of an explanation. “The offer is open for us to go to Scotland once the baby is born. She decided she wanted to be here, with you through the pregnancy, and Race agreed to it. We figured it was the only compromise, as she promised she would go willingly to Scotland after.”

“Provided I get to see you still,” she offered. “That clause is not changing. I just...” she smiled again. “I wanted all of you there for the birth, so you can all hold him, or her, and bond before we have to split up.

"We've been promised a safe house," Thorn told Atticus, "and top of the range medical care. They'll be here with the transition team while you're installed as the new East Coast King."

"The old king had a lot of supporters," Atticus said doubtfully. "How secure is this safe house?"

“Tribeca,” Balthazar said. “Goddamn place is Fort Knox. Went myself with Jenner and Race to check everything out. She’ll be safe as kittens in that place. And it will end up being the long-term home for you, too, as well as us when we come back.”

"Okay." Atticus relaxed back, flinching at his damaged muscles.

"You should get some rest," Thorn told him. "You need to build up some energy."

Sybelle nodded. “I miss you...miss you holding me at night,” she said softly. “I miss your tentacles...”

“Seriously, man, get to shifting because she’s horny as hell and apparently it’s just going to get worse,” Balthazar teased. “We might need to buy stock in an electrolyte company.”

“Asshole.”

“Soon, baby,” Balthazar said and leaned in, nipping her ear.

"Honestly, she's wearing us thin," Thorn joked. "You have to get better soon. It's exhausting to keep her satisfied."

“It’s been three fucking days,” she said with a laugh. “How the hell are you going to make it nine months?”

“By bringing in the ringer,” Balthazar offered. “We will let you rest, Atty. Get them to bring you something to eat that isn’t in an IV bag, yeah?”

Sybelle squeezed his hand. “I love you, Atticus...”

"Love you, too, Beauty." He squeezed her hand. "I'll do my best to come to you soon."

She walked out with Balthazar, although she looked back and waved the whole way to the door, leaving the two of them alone once more.

"I'm just kidding; you take all the time you need," Thorn told Atticus. "We've got her and we'll keep her safe and happy. You just rest up."

"I can't believe she's pregnant," Atticus said, disbelief clear in his tone.

"I know. It's incredible." Thorn still couldn't believe it himself. "None of us thought about it happening back at the safe house, but I guess we should have. It's not like we didn't know that three monsters could make a baby."

"I'm just glad to have more time with you all," Atticus told him. "Nine months is a blessing we never thought we'd have."

"Amen to that, brother." Thorn gripped his wrist. "Amen to that."

Chapter 28

Seven Months Later, New York University Hospital

“It’s a boy!”

Hearing the shrill cry that split the air in the room had Sybelle sagging, panting and just plain done. Eight hours. Not the longest labor ever, but he was early and she had been worried when she went into full on labor.

“Ten fingers, ten toes...he’s perfect!” Balthazar said and then kissed her forehead. She looked down and saw Thorn cutting the cord, tears of joy pouring unashamedly down his face. Their son was carted over to the side of the delivery for moments, then the nurse carried him straight to her.

Laid on her chest, the small body looked up at her, eyes blue, like Atticus’, and she smiled.

“Hello, little one...” she said softly, a tear rolling down her face. It was perfect, the culmination of everything, the proof that love won, lying on her chest. “Aren’t you just perfect?”

“Jesus, that’s one cute kid we got,” Balthazar said. She looked up at him and then over at Atticus, who was staring in awe at her and the baby.

“Look, he’s shell-shocked,” she laughed breathlessly.

“I mean, you did just push a baby...”

“Batty!” she said with reproach. “If I had any strength left, I would hit you.”

"He has my eyes!" Atticus blurted out and Thorn laughed.

"It's going to be awesome watching him grow up and see what he has from all of us in him."

"You'll have to send me pictures every day." Atticus turned to Thorn. "Promise me."

"You have my word, brother." Thorn embraced him.

"Can I hold him?" Atticus asked.

She nodded and smiled. “You all have to.” She passed him across to Atticus and the nurse took the opportunity to adjust the bed so that she was sitting more comfortably. She watched as the light in her lover’s eyes grew, looking down at his son. She smiled as Thorn gripped her hand. Gods, there was nothing sexier than her men.

The little baby lying in his father’s arms lifted a hand, quiet, as he looked up at his father. “Fuck, why is that so beautiful?” she said and sighed.

Atticus let the child grip his finger and couldn't stop the grin that split his features. "He's a strong one," he said wonderingly. "Look at that grip!"

“Of course he is...he’s all of us. Strong like his daddies.”

The past seven months had been...well, as close to perfect as possible. Atticus was released from the hospital after a week inside, three shifts in a windowless and personless room had brought him back to snuff, but he was still haunted by what he’d had to do to keep them all safe.

Once he was home, they had settled into one hell of a life, and while they weren’t there all the time, they made sure to be there for when it mattered. Doctors’ appointments, birthdays, holidays and, of course, nights so they would all sleep well.

And they had spent the time figuring out several important things, including the Ghost Crews going public, and their recruitment, which apparently was going to be endorsed by the Light countries, though it would remain a separate entity run by Race, Jenner, Atticus, Balthazar and Thorn, as well as the regional generals.

As much as she was dreading leaving Atticus, Sybelle was looking forward to Scotland. Their future home, part of a new Monstera collective that had settled in the Highlands just north of Inverness, was waiting for their chancellor, Balthazar, and their new lady, who was to be her, and the first offspring.

They would be leaving in a few weeks, once she and the baby were ready to travel, and Atticus had promised a proper Christmas with him, so they were working out where it was to be held. She was pretty sure that she would get her way and they would have it at the place in Scotland, but she didn’t want to count her chickens.

“He’s going to miss you, baby. We all are,” she said.

"Well, you'll visit," Atticus replied, although it wasn't clear if he was trying to lighten her spirits or his, "and I'll be able to visit you, too. We'll have videophone. And I know Thorn will be back and forth while they're setting up the new GCHQ."

"Exactly," Thorn agreed. "And I know it seems like a long time right now, but Race said they calculated that Atticus would only need to be here for four years before this region is fully integrated into the Ghost Crew structure and he can step down. It'll fly by."

"I'll still miss his first steps and his first words," Atticus said sadly, gazing at the small bundle in his arms.

"You don't know that," Thorn threw an arm around his shoulders. "We'll be seeing you so often, chances are you'll be there for both of those things."

She nodded to them with a small smile. “I’m not going to let you miss anything Atticus. Our family isn’t going to have regrets.”

“Damn right,” Balthazar said as he went to stand with both Thorn and Atticus, to stare at their son. Her eyes closed softly.

“I think I need a nap,” she said with a yawn.

“You know you still have to name him,” Balthazar said.

“Blue...” she yawned again. “His name is Blue.”

***

Two weeks later, LaGuardia Airport, Long Island.

With a sigh, Sybelle handed Blue over to Balthazar, who was cooing at the little bundle. In two weeks the child had become their whole world, and she was feeling the effects of leaving the love of her life. Blue, bless him, was the perfect child, and she knew that having another was going to cause the Chaos gods to roll the dice. But that was for later. If her men wanted more kids, she would give them more kids, because more kids meant more love.

And Blue was such a special child, so quiet, his eyes always watching, like he was detailing the world around him. She didn’t even have to wonder if he would be Monstera, as studies were showing that for children of Monstera, the blood won out. And while she knew she would worry for him, finding a female that would love him and accept him, she also knew that women like that were around, if one wanted to look.

Smiling, she nodded to Hannah and Ember as they strolled past. They were making the crossing with them. Hannah’s man was now plural, both Monstera, and she was searching for at least a third so they could begin their family, while Ember and her four Monstera men were only coming for a stopover before traveling to Cambodia. She would have them with her in Scotland for a while at least, and that would help with the transition. They both just adored Blue and she knew having two aunties around would be great.

Vanessa, Roger and Hicks were also searching for her third, and would be staying on in New York, watching the upper reaches of the state.

So everything was working out.

Except she was leaving Atticus. And that fucking hurt.

"I'll be there soon," he promised, as though reading her mind. "Christmas is only a couple of weeks away and I'll be flying direct to Inverness Airport. I'll be there before you know it." Squeezing her tight, he kissed the top of her head and then bent to kiss Blue. "Take care of my boy."

“Two weeks went by too fast,” she said softly. “I’m not ready to say goodbye. None of us are.” A lone tear fell from her eye. “Video chat...” she said as he pulled her back into his arms. “Like we promised?”

Lord knew she was ready for some fun with her men. Balthazar’s venom had healed her at an astounding rate and she was ready to be with them again, all of them. Balthazar had come up with some pretty interesting and kinky ways they could all be together, and it would have to do. Though she was already planning a straight up two days when she could just be with Atticus with no interruptions. Her marks might not be fading, but she needed the reconnect.

"You have my word, my queen," he said teasingly. "And the next two weeks will go just as fast, I promise. I'm not going to lie, though, I'm looking forward to the 'missed you' sex."

“She’s going to break your dick,” Balthazar said as he walked off with the baby, giving them some privacy.

“He’s right, you know,” she said and went on tip toe, kissing him, running her tongue against his lips.

"I mean that's probably not ideal...if you ever want another one of those little monsters," he laughed, waving goodbye to Blue even though the baby was sleeping and oblivious.

“I need my Atticus daily,” she pouted, realizing that it was more than true. All her men, she needed the closeness, needed the connection, and fuck, she needed his tentacles. It had been far too long.

“Ms. Strange?” the pilot said from the tarmac “We need to get going if we are going to keep our window.”

***

"Go. I'll be there soon. Keep the other two in line." He kissed her fiercely, one last time, and then shoved her gently toward the plane, watching appreciatively as she walked away. She cut a fine figure, even this soon after having a baby. He couldn't wait to get to Scotland to take her and make her his.

It was going to be a long two weeks.

Almost as soon as she was on board and the door had closed, the plane began to taxi out onto the runway and a few short minutes later it was racing heavenward and taking them away. Atticus watched it rise into the sky, a small smile playing about his lips. He was king and it was time for his power to rise...again.

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