Page 56 of Ruthless Monsters

My centaur mate nods. “Now that we’re in possession of Celzar’s ring, I can create a portal to the surface whenever I wish.”

Relief trickles through me. “Good,” I say, and I grab a large piece of the apricot pie that’s sitting in front of me. It doesn’t quite have the same flavor as the apricots from outside Dante’s clan house, but it’s still delicious, and I finish it within seconds. I’m busy licking my fingers when I notice my mates are allstaring at me. Ignoring them, I eye the pie, wondering whether I can fit in another piece. After the whole ordeal with King Clezar, it was like I hadn’t eaten in days, but the food I’ve already consumed tonight is starting to settle in my stomach.

“Apricots?” Dante questions, a slow sensual smile pulling across his face.

“What can I say? They’re my favorite fruit.” Grinning, I lick the jam off my bottom lip, and Dante’s eyes heat as he watches me. “That is, they’re my favorite, for now,” I add.

Now that I know there’s no chance of me accidentally killing my mates, I have no reason to hold back. No reason not to take what’s mine, and I enjoy the attention as all of my mates fixate on me.

Mason’s hand slides up my thigh, and Dante leans closer, reaching over to turn my head toward him. “For now, or for always?”

I hesitate, my breathing becoming shallow, and Shade makes a whistling sound in my head.

“Whoa, that must be one good apricot pie. I need to get me some of that,”she comments.

“What?”I manage.

“Don’t worry, girl, I get the hint. I’ll meet you back in our room when you’re done.”Without waiting for me to respond, she launches into the air, swooping down to snatch up a small section of pie. Then she flies from the room, squeezing through the gap in the door.

I think about Dante’s question as I watch her go.For now, or for always?Opening my mouth, I’m about to tell Dante that as my mate, he’ll always be at leastoneof my favorites, but whenI turn back to him, I find his chair is empty.

Right. Because he can turn invisible again.My gaze sweeps across the room, trying to find him though I know it’s impossible, and I let out a surprised noise when my chair tipsback, and I’m dragged a few paces away from Mason and the table. When all four chair legs are back on the ground, I feel Dante’s warm breath by my ear as his tail wraps around my right leg, tying me to the chair.

“How long do you think it’ll be before one of your other mates intervenes?” Dante whispers, his lips pressing to my neck. His invisible hand slides up my left thigh, and I guess that he must be kneeling beside my chair. Going by the way the other four are all staring at me, their food forgotten, I’m guessing they’ve heard what he said. My body heats as my demon moves his hand, my skin prickling with awareness as he slides his fingers up under my dress.

“What are you—” I start, but my words die off as he pulls my panties to the side, stroking a single finger along my center. I suck in a sharp breath, desire ripping through me as he slides his finger up and down my wetness slowly, teasing my clit and then moving down again.

“I think we should make up for lost time, don’t you, princess?” Dante drawls against my neck as he touches me, his movements painfully slow, and I shudder as his breath puffs on my skin. “There’s nothing to hold you back now.”

His words aren’t entirely true. Neither Alaric nor Prince Callan have said anything about changing their minds and being willing to bond, but when it comes to simply enjoying my mates without killing them…well, my demon is right. Nate’s slitted gaze fixes on my flush face, his grip on his fork tightening to the point the steel utensil bends.

But it’s Mason who comes over to kneel on my other side first. We’d all explained our powers earlier, including Dante’s gift of invisibility, and the male doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by it.

“I, for one, have no reason to wait, my mate,” Mason murmurs, turning my head to him and claiming my mouth. Hislips are soft and warm, and when his tongue explores into my mouth, I respond, enjoying the taste of him.

“That’s two,” Dante whispers, and like he’s rewarding me, he pushes a single finger inside me before pulling it back out.

I whimper, wanting more, and across the table, Nate’s fingers morph into claws as his expression turns predatory. “Like fuck if they’re the only ones who get to have you,” my shifter complains, his voice deepening like he’s struggling to keep from changing into his jaguar form. Climbing over the table, he stalks toward me and drops to his knees in front of my chair. The moment Mason releases my lips, Nate turns my face to him, demanding his own kiss. I still have this feeling that Nate is hiding something from me, but that doesn’t stop me now. Even if he’s only after some fun, I’m more than willing.

“Three,” Dante rasps, and this time he forces two fingers inside me, sliding them in deep. He pumps his fingers a few times before pulling them back out, teasing my entrance. I moan into Nate’s mouth, and he growls, his chest rumbling.

My eyes are shut, so I don’t see Prince Callan move. Not until a rush of air fans my body, the cool air pleasant against my hot skin. He pulls my chair back a little, and the prince’s finger slides down the edge of my right wing. “F-fuck, what are you doing?”I gasp, pulling my lips from Nate’s as I writhe at the sensation of him touching me like that. Because I hadno ideamy wings could feel that good. It’s almost like there’s a direct connection from my wings to between my legs, and merciful fates I can’t tell if the sensation is torture or pure pleasure. Prince Callan chuckles darkly from behind me as his fingers slide through my feathers, pressing on the sensitive membrane of my wings, and my body coils at the rich sound of his laugh. There’s no ice or reluctance, but only pleasure now as the archangel touches me.

“Four,” Dante says, sounding almost as tortured as I feel, as he pushes three fingers inside me and slowly fucks me withthem. Mason slides his hand under my dress, massaging my clit, and it’s all too much. Too much sensation. Too much ofthem,and yet, I writhe, wanting more. Squirming, I pant in my chair, and all five of us stare at where Alaric is standing on the other side of the table. His face is tight, his brows pulled low, and the male almost looks like he's in pain. “I can’t, Enchantress,” he mutters, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

Dante doesn’t stop, continuing to move his fingers in and out of me. Nate kisses along my neck while Mason teases my clit, and Prince Callan continues to play with my wings, torturing me. But I don’t tear my eyes from Alaric. My other mate.

“We should bond,” I tell him through gasping breaths. “If we bond, we’ll all be stronger.”

Indecision flickers on the assassin’s face, but his hands remain clenched at his sides. And when he doesn’t come for me, the disappointment stings. I can still picture his face as he held me, telling me to fight and stay alive, and yet here we are. Still apart.

“There will be time to convince him when we’re back in Seral,” Dante murmurs reassuringly, his tail tightening around my leg.

“Fuck him,” Nate says. Using his claws, he cuts down the front of my dress, and Dante and Mason move their hands away as the fabric falls from me, exposing me to the cool air. Nate tears his own clothes off next, and I’m distracted as my gaze slides over the perfect specimen before me, and the extremelylargecock between his legs.Holy Lady.I’d forgotten how big it is, and I would be terrified if I wasn’t already so sensitive, aching for more.

Mason squeezes my right breast, his mouth teasing my nipple as Prince Callan keeps playing with my wings, stroking and touching. Dante is the one playing with my clit now, and I moan as his fingers roll over the sensitive nub, teasing andtorturing me. For a moment, Nate stays where he is, his eyes hooded as he drinks me in, enjoying the sight of me. Reaching down, he fists the base of his cock and begins stroking himself as he watches me, and as Dante’s fingers push inside me again, I shatter, gasping as I fall over the edge. My mates don’t take their hands off me, and the orgasm is barely over when Nate prowls forward.

“Fuck me, shifter,” I tell him, wanting more. I’m still so sensitive from all the teasing, and I’m relieved when he gives me a feral grin, desire swirling in his eyes. Dante’s tail loosens on my leg as Nate slides my ass to the edge of the chair, and then my shifter leans back, sitting on his heels, and pulls me from the chair onto him.

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