As I come down from my climax, he kisses along my neck, tracing his tongue over the small puncture marks left behind by his fangs. I reach up and feel as they close beneath my fingers. I twist my head to look at him. “How did you do that?”
He nuzzles my cheek as a deep rumbling growl vibrates through his chest. “It is part of the marking of our mates,” he whispers. “We can close the mating wound. Don’t worry. The mark will only be visible to any shifter’s eyes and not your kind.”
He carefully lays us down on our sides, skimming his fingers along my body and down my thigh before moving back up to cup my breast.
He kisses a lazy trail along my neck as he brushes his thumb over the already stiff peak. I reach back and run my fingers through his hair as I moan his name.
His hand moves down my body to cup my mons possessively. “I want you again, Ella. I need you.” He runs his delicious tongue over my ear before lightly nipping at my neck.
When he takes me again, I marvel at his complete mastery over my body. His touch is almost too much for me to take, and just when I think I will break from such intense pleasure, he pulls back just enough to keep me right where he wants me: on the razor-sharp edge of my desire.
His intense gaze holds mine as he pumps into me. He drops down low, wrapping his arms around my back as he clamps his mouth down on my neck. I love the sensation of being pinned beneath him like this as he holds me in place. My fingers dig into his back, feeling the muscles flex and extend beneath my fingers as he thrusts hard and deep.
When I come, it’s with a keening cry. It triggers his release. His cock pulses in my channel, flooding me with delicious warmth as he comes deep inside me.
He takes me so many times I lose count. And when I’m falling asleep, I’m completely enveloped in his warmth as he curls himself protectively around me. He brushes the hair back from my face and whispers into my ear. “I love you, my beautiful Ella.”
“I love you too, Devon,” I reply as I drift off to sleep.
Chapter 34
Devon
I stare down at my beautiful mate as she sleeps in my arms. I shift slightly, and she instinctively nestles closer against me. Ella is perfect, and I love her more than anything in this world. That is why what I do now is so hard.
I must leave her. I do not trust the wolf shifter from the store, and I do not trust Ella to stay behind when we are supposed to go in the morning. She is determined to come with us. Kai is too weak and vulnerable to her charms to refuse her anything, even something as dangerous as this.
I suspect he would take her with us to the edge of the forest then leave one or two of us behind with her, but I do not even want her that close to the estate and the trap I know is set to spring the moment we enter.
Nor do I want her to lose more than one of us. So, if anyone is going to risk their life, it should be me. I have always been more of an outsider than any of the others. It is in my nature to be this way and not because I dislike my bond brothers. In truth, I love them all—more than the family I was born into. They are as much my brothers as my flesh and blood, and I refuse to let any of them risk their lives on this foolish mission.
The wolf shifter’s eyes appeared as if he were speaking the truth, but I will not wager anyone’s life but my own that this is correct. I will go to the estate and save the prince—or die trying.
I refuse to allow anyone else to get hurt or risk their life, especially in a situation forced upon us.
Carefully, I untangle myself from my mate and stand from the bed. I lean down and press a tender kiss to Ella’s temple. “I will always love you, my beautiful Ella,” I whisper in her ear.
I quietly make my way down the stairs and find four pairs of eyes staring up at me. Kai gives me a questioning look. “Where are you going?”
I meet his gaze evenly. “I’m going to the estate to free the prince.”
“We will go with you,” Cash says, stepping forward.
“No,” I growl. “You will all stay behind with Ella. You must protect her.”
“We agreed to all go together,” Finn says. “The plan is to go to the edge of the forest at dawn.”
I shake my head. “It is a trap, and you know it. All of you.” I look at them. “Can you not feel it in your heart that something isn’t right?”
Finn nods. “I sense something, but I am... uncertain what it is.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “But you should not go alone. I will go with you.”
“No. I don’t want anyone else to risk their lives on this mission. If I do not return, you will know it was a trap. You must do whatever you can to keep Ella safe.”
Cash’s eyes are full of sadness. “What would you have us tell her? You have only just sealed yourself to her and now you leave?”
I clench my jaw. “Tell Ella that I love her and ask for forgiveness.”
“You stupid cat,” Nyx hisses. “Reckless as always.”
My head snaps toward him, and I narrow my eyes as I growl low. “What did you say, rabbit?”
“I said”—Nyx steps forward, tipping his chin up haughtily—“you are stupid if you think you are going alone.”
“He’s right,” Kai says. “At least one of us should go
