On his knees in the middle of the ceremonial circle, Xander blanked his thoughts. Or tried to. The hours he’d spent meditating had done little to soothe his troubled mind. Nothing would. Owen’s obscure vision of Gwen’s death haunted Xander. He didn’t want his true mate to suffer an ounce of pain, let alone face death alone. Again.
Xander flexed his hands before fisting them tightly. He wanted to believe he’d never allow Gwen to be placed in any situation where she might be hurt. As alpha, though, the threat of challenges was real.
If Gwen thought she could save Xander from losing his head, she’d risk her life in a heartbeat. He didn’t doubt that, but without a soul-bond to him, the fate Owen painted would become a reality.
A cold sweat broke out, chilling Xander’s body and leaving his heart racing. Seeing Gwen in a boneless heap with blood coating her skin once was enough. He refused to face that horror again. If he couldn’t save her again as he’d done when she’d been shot…
No! No… He took a deep breath and shoved the debilitating fear back. It wouldn’t happen. Neither would he worry her or Vlad with Owen’s vision. Xander wouldn’t fail Gwen. He’d promised to be the mate she needed in this lifetime. Whatever it took. He knew what that would be. He’d always known. It was time to see it through.
Xander pushed to his feet and faced the house. Gwen was inside, sharing a meal with Vlad. They’d spent the day together. Loving each other.
Mating each other.
Vlad had called him, confessing what he had done and why. Vlad had been overwhelmed by the need to possess Gwen. Forever.
Xander had ended the call without responding.
What was he supposed to have said? That he was okay with Vlad mating Gwen. They’d already agreed that’d be the path they’d take. Giving Gwen a piece of their souls was the easy part, anyway. Taking pieces of hers to fill the holes in their souls, then joining their wolves to her would be the challenge. Each time a piece of her soul was ripped from her, her heart would stop and she’d suffer immeasurable pain.
Their three-way soul-bonding had to be completed, however. They’d committed to this path.
First, though, he had to look his precious mate in the eye and tell her why he’d married Elizabeth instead of mating her. The shame of his past actions weighed heavily on him. His shoulders slumped. How could he have treated his true mate so coldly?
He swallowed hard and went through the list of excuses he’d come up with over the years. None of those reasons erased the regret. Only Gwen’s absolution would, and he wouldn’t get it standing outside, wallowing over past mistakes.
With determination fueling his steps, Xander strode for the house. The second he stepped inside, he zeroed in on the couch. Eyes closed, Gwen reclined against a stack of pillows while Vlad massaged her feet.
Xander slammed the door. On a gasp, she jerked into a sitting position, pulling her feet from Vlad’s grasp.
Vlad eased from the couch and stood in front of her. “I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”
The protective stance Vlad took irritated Xander. After everything he and Vlad had gone through, even with the strain Elizabeth and Tabitha had put on their friendship, Vlad should know he’d never punish Gwen for anything she’d done with Vlad.
Xander glanced from Gwen’s anxious gaze to Vlad’s neutral one. “Have you?”
“Yes.” The carefully blank look Vlad wore didn’t waver.
Vlad should know Xander’s silence after Vlad admitted to taking a piece of Gwen’s soul didn’t equate to anger. If it had, Xander would’ve returned home immediately to confront Vlad.
Opening the pathway between their minds, Xander asked, “Why?”
The equivalent of a mental chuckle answered him. Vlad turned his attention to Gwen, trailing his fingers along Gwen’s arm, then kissing her. Gwen moved her hand to his rear while Vlad dominated her mouth. Her fingers flexed over his jeans-covered backside, and the muscles in her forearms strained as she tried to pull him on top of her.
Her immediate response to Vlad’s mouth on hers showed her acceptance of her other mate’s touch. It also hinted at how they’d spent the day together.
Jealousy gripped Xander. Not for the time alone she and Vlad had shared. Xander wanted the same, if only for a few hours. Confessing his sin to their mate should be done in private. Vlad didn’t need to suffer Gwen’s wrath if she decided to lash out at Xander for what he had done.
Gwen moved to her knees and slid her hands up Vlad’s back, but Vlad broke the kiss, ending the sensual moment.
He looked over his shoulder. “Because I need to arrange transportation for our trip tomorrow, and Dante isn’t here. He’s gone ahead of us to make sure our destination is secured.”
Apparently, Vlad had no interest in keeping this conversation private. “Our trip? Where are we going?”
Vlad scooped the keys from the end table. “To see Molly. I told Gwen about the Council’s demands and their threats to punish us. Our mate thinks she can get through to Molly and convince her to shift. I’m inclined to give her the chance.”
Xander stormed forward and got up in Vlad’s face. “And you didn’t think to talk to me before you told Gwen any of this?”
“Why does Vlad need your permission to tell me things I should have already been informed of?”
Gwen’s softly spoken question yanked Xander’s focus to her. She sat on bent knees with her hands folded over her thighs and watched him with a curious expression on her face.
“Because I should have been here.”
She tipped her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“If the news of Molly’s situation or the ridiculousness of the Council’s demands upset you, I want to be here to comfort you. I am your mate.”
“And I am yours.” Gwen pushed from the couch. Dressed in gray yoga pants and a black long-sleeved shirt, an outfit she must have purchased while out with Dante, she appeared relaxed and comfortable. More than that, though. Confidence radiated from her.
Whether the properly fitting clothes had strengthened her or her time with Vlad had, Xander couldn’t guess, but the change in her demeanor was clear. The woman before him knew exactly what she wanted, and she planned on claiming it.
Gwen took the few steps separating them and rested her hand against his arm. Xander faced her, drawn by the boldness in her gaze. “I’m your equal. Your partner. Right? That’s what being your mate means. I’m your other half.”
Ah…Xander understood now. His mate’s focused mood stemmed from anger. She wanted to punish him for not telling her about the threats facing them by reminding him of her importance. He could do the same.
He captured her hand in his and raised it to his mouth, kissing her knuckles before locking his fingers around her wrist. “You are my gift from the goddess. My perfect complement. The only female who can soothe my wildness and bring me peace. The only female I will treasure, from now until the end of time. I will do so as I see fit.”
One corner of her mouth twitched. “So you plan on putting me on a pedestal and worshipping me?”
“Do you have a problem with being worshipped?”
The front door opened. Cool air swept in, stirring Gwen’s hair. Wisps of the brown strands obscured her face, but she didn’t break their intent stare to brush them aside. He did so for her, tucking the wayward locks behind her ears.
“I’ll be back before sunrise. Save room for me in our bed,” Vlad called out before shutting the door and leaving them alone.
Gwen didn’t even look at the door. Her entire focus centered on Xander, and the force of her determination hit him. She would own him as fully as he did her. Once she did, she’d demand to be treated as his equal, in all things.
Nothing would stop her.
His body stirred. His breathing deepened. Lust built. All it took was her attention on him. The instantaneous reaction to her didn’t surprise him any more than seeing her response to Vlad. They were mates. The three of them, together or apart.
Gwen pressed her palms firmly against Xander’s chest and leaned into him. “I do enjoy being worshipped, but I’d say it depends on how high this pedestal you’re placing me on is. The fall to the ground might shatter me in too many pieces to put back together.”
Xander smirked. Even annoyed with him, his mate lightened his soul. “Then I should cocoon you in bubble wrap before I place you on this pedestal.”
Amusement sparked in her eyes. She grinned. “So I can suffocate in your protective bubble?”
He dragged his thumb over her plump lower lip, tugging on the soft flesh. Her shaky exhale warmed his skin. Still cool from the time he’d spent kneeling in the ceremonial field, his body hadn’t adjusted to being inside. He didn’t bother raising his internal temperature either. Gwen could heat his blood tonight.
Moving his hands to her shoulders, he held her in place and bent his mouth to her ear. “No worries, my mate. I will breathe for you.”
“Hmm…and what will I be doing?”
“Enjoying yourself.” He chuckled. “Begging me to let you come. Moaning my name.”
“And that’ll get you off, right? The power over me.”
“Yes.” He saw no reason to lie about something he’d already explained.
She pushed from his embrace and stepped back. “What if I need more than that? What if I want to climb down from that pedestal and kneel at your feet?”
“You put yourself in that position, and I will take my pleasure from you.” He traced her lips.
Lust hazed her eyes. “Is that a promise or a threat?”
He settled his hands on her hips. The thin material of her pants molded to her curves. He slid his hands lower, enjoying the softness of her body. She felt good in his arms…pressed against his hardness.
He slid his gaze from her lush thighs to her flushed cheeks. Desire heated her skin and hazed her eyes. The scene he described excited him. He wanted his equal, his perfect match. If they played this right, they could both have the control they craved.
“Both.”
“Yeah?” She licked her lips, leaving a tempting sheen of wetness. “How so?
“If you give me a taste of just how wicked you can be, I won’t settle for less, even when I have you on that pedestal. I’ll put you on display, naked with dirt on your knees and the evidence of my possession on your body, for everyone to see.”
Her eyelids lowered on a shaky exhale. “Oh God.”
He tipped her chin up. “Do you want that, Gwendolyn Annabelle Winchester? To be not just my mate, but the dirty little whore I share with my best friend?”
“You already shared me with Vlad last night.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, an attempt to hide her smile. She failed miserably at it. Her amusement showed in her eyes instead. “Unless there’s some other guy who’ll be using me to get off.”
No other male would ever touch her. Threaten her. Hurt her. He’d make sure of it.
Xander wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. “Decide what kind of mate you want to be, Gwen. No matter what you choose, I’ll treasure you until the end of time, but if you’re telling me you need more than my eternal worship, then prove it.”
The lust darkening her eyes intensified. The thumping of her pulse against his palm quickened. The scent of her need thickened in the air around them. Oh yes, this woman was his perfect match, more than he’d ever suspected.
She swallowed hard. “How?”
A carnal hunger he’d never experienced before expanded within him with the single word. She’d chosen not just to tame his wickedness but to match it.
His chest rose and fell on rough pants. He wanted to shove her to her knees. Her agreement had to come first. She’d hinted at it, but he had to be sure. Once he unleashed the inner beast she’d awakened, there’d be no going back. If this wasn’t the mate she needed, he’d find a way to kill this dark part of him. She had to decide, though. Now. He’d reached his breaking point.
He uncurled his fingers from around her tender throat and moved them to the hem of her shirt. With a rough tug, he yanked it over her head. She gasped but made no move to stop him.
A sports bra covered her chest. It had to go. He wanted her naked. On her knees. Either in the dirt or on their bed.
He unleashed a sharpened nail and slit the cotton bra, then reached around her and fisted the material, bunching it so Gwen’s arms were pulled slightly back.
Holding his naked mate in his arms, at his mercy, appeased that dark part of him that wanted to possess. No longer did he want to simply tame it, using his mate’s sweetness as a balm. The compulsion to embrace the wickedness—feed it—grew into an undeniable desire.
No. Not yet. He’d given her the choice. She had to make it. Officially. He’d be satisfied with either path she chose. He would be the mate she needed if it killed him.
He set her away from him and stepped back. “Run, Gwen.”
She swayed but reached back, using the arm of the couch to steady herself before he had to intervene. “Where?”
“If you want dirt on your knees, you won’t find it in our house.”
A slow and naughty grin spread over her cherub face. She flicked her tongue out to wet the corner of her mouth. “Then meet me in the circle.”
She shoved against his chest, catching him off guard, and knocked him backward. He landed on his backside while she ran out the door.
Chuckling, he stood and undid the button on his kilt, letting the heavy wool fall to the floor with Gwen’s scattered clothes, then opened his mind to Vlad’s. The distance between them made their connection fuzzy, but Vlad would hear him.
“Come home, my friend. It’s time we proved to the world that Gwen belongs to us.”
Once they did, the Council wouldn’t dare hurt Gwen. Or Vlad.