Page 26 of Vengeance and Fire

“With the Wolves,” Gale says leaving the room as Torin and I follow behind him.

“Well, they left us a buffet, and it’s all warm, so it’s definitely dinner time.” Adrian gestures to the island that separates the kitchen from the living room, arms spread wide as if he’s presenting it to us.

“But where’s my gorgeous mate? Why isn’t she back here to enjoy this with us?” Gale crosses to the front door when it suddenly springs open.

“Hello, my beautiful men. Did you miss me?” My mouth dries and I swallow at the sight of my beautiful mate. Her face flushed or is that makeup? Her eyes are bright, and her smile is wide. She’s wearing a strapless blue dress and she is fucking barefoot. My dick goes hard from that sight alone. What’s most striking though, is her hair. Long individual braids fall down her back and shoulders as she saunters over to Gale. I don’t know what it is about her, but she looks wild and carefree. It’s a beautiful sight.

“Well, hello, gorgeous. Who are you? And what did you do with my mate?” Gale picks her up around her waist and carries her over to the rest of us.

“Your mate is right here, dimples” She leans in and kisses Gale on the cheek, right over his dimple, and he smiles at her like she is the moon and stars.

A cough breaks the spell she’s cast on us and Adrian and Torin both fold their arms over their chests. Obviously not falling for our mate’s charms.

“Baby, I’m going to need a little more from you. Where have you been? And why didn’t you wake us?” Adrian raises one brow in emphasis. Cordelia slides herself down Gale’s body, her hands grabbing a handful of Gale’s very visible erection. She giggles as she gives him a little squeeze.

“Food first. I got dinner for us. I was just coming back to wake you all, but you panicked I see.” She puts her hands on her hips, and sighs, rolling her eyes when none of us move.

“We sit, we eat, and I will talk,” she says as she walks over to the spread of food, picking up a plate and begins to serve herself. We all watch dumbfounded for a second. This is such a change from the night before that I guess we are all in shock. I’m glad I am not the only one disconcerted by her actions and behavior right now.

“I wanted to do something nice. I don’t know how long we have before it gets crazy, so I took the opportunity to be present and in the moment. If you don’t want to eat, that’s fine. You can watch me. Then I am going to go in that room and have a long shower and make myself cum, alone.” She takes a sausage from the platter and bites it in half, chewing with gusto. I don’t know why, but my hands slide down automatically to protect my manhood.

“I can eat,” Torin says, grabbing a plate and starts to fill it with food. We all follow suit. Cordelia smiles around the food in her mouth, and I fall a little more in love with this crazy woman.

“Good, I thought I was going to have to lasso you with shadows and drag you over here.” She quirks her eyebrow at me.

“Wow, you’ve been practicing,” I say in surprise. I had just started to work with her before she sent me to theBarren Lands. I guess she’s been figuring it out on her own. Her father and mother did tell her that her magic worked with intention.

“You’re damn right, I have.” She winks.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

CORDELIA

They’re watching me carefully. No one has said a word as they slowly devour the dinner I had arranged. This is not the way this evening was supposed to go. I thought I would have been able to surprise them. Of course they woke in a panic thinking something had happened to me. I know they want to protect me, but from the moment they had found me I’ve been struggling to catch up, and despite their efforts, shit happens.

I meant what I said, I refuse to be weak, and I won’t let another person step on me and win. I might be new to all of this, but I am a quick study and a fast learner. I threw myself into learning how to wield a sword. I’m definitely no Samuri warrior. My magic is a part of me, so if I can think it, then damnit, I can manifest it. I know it takes practice, and I know I am nowhere near my mother’s level. But if anyone gets in the way of me and mine again, they will be sorry. That’s a promise, especially now that I know that I am not only protecting myself, my mates, and my people, but for our future, and my babies as well. I’ve tried to hold my nerves at bay, part of this night is about revealing that news to all of them. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us, and I am almost certain that they will react the way the seers said they would. The last thing I need is for one of them to hesitate because of me. I don’t need a hero. It’s time for me to be my own damn hero.

“Delia, you want to tell us about your day?” Adrian tries to keep the bite out of his question. I barely hold back my laugh. Out of all of them, I was expecting him to start yelling. I’ve been sitting here in silence waiting him out, and here he is, with zero patience, yet he didn’t yell. I guess we are all growing and changing.

“Yes.” I smile. All I can do is shake my head as they all let out an audible breath.Did they think I was going to keep it to myself?I go through my day from the moment I’d told a very sleepy Dravyn I was leaving. Adrian and Gale beam as I tell them I went over my sword drills while wandering Wolves watched on. Eventually I ran into Falyn. We discussed what my plans were for the Shifters, and how I didn’t want to rule over anyone, and that their Packs were theirs to govern, I didn’t want to be their queen. I wanted Arcadia to be a Realm for not only Dragons, but everyone needing or seeking refuge. At the mention of spending time alone with him, of course my mates’ growl. I roll my eyes at their possessiveness. Like I need or want another mate.

“There’s only so many holes to be filled,” I tell them. Gale and Dravyn laugh, Adrian smirks, and Torin just face palms himself over how candid I am about sex with multiple partners. Hey, they’ve already seen me at my neediest. They’ve seen every part of me. There’s no room for modesty or vanilla language. I have only been with three of them once, which I plan to remedy tonight.Focus, Cordelia.I don’t need another mate to wrangle.

I recount my tour of the Whitecliff Mountains, graciously given by Riese and the rest of the Betas. They showed me their borders, and I visited the local shops and really got a feel for the place. I felt like I needed to be seen. If I want these people to trust me, then they needed to see me taking an interest in their day to day lives. I did what I would want someone to do for me.

“And the hair?” Gale asks.

“Riese was serious when he said I needed to meet his mate. So, after the tour I went to the Pack house and met CeeCee. I immediately complimented her on her braids and how I wish I could do the same. After that it was like a whirlwind. Three Wolves worked on my hair at once while I told them of my life on Earth and how I had no idea about who I was until you three came barreling into my life. Before I knew it, I had a head full of beautiful braids. I’m obsessed with them.” I touch my hair and do a little happy dance in my seat.

“In conclusion, Falyn suggested we all join the Pack for dinner, but I asked if I could opt out to spend a night with you four. I bought this lovely dress from one of the shops owned by one of the wolves and got help setting up dinner while you all slept. I couldn’t believe you were still all cuddled up together for so long.” I laugh because they were indeed snuggled up together whether they will admit it or not.

“There was no cuddling.” Adrian pouts but I can see he is holding back his own laughter. Oh, the joys of sharing a bed with four other people.

“It’s been a hard couple of weeks. It’s been non-stop, we are all tired. You deserved to rest,” I said, answering the question of why I hadn’t woken them. I suddenly feel a shift in the air around us. All four of them are eyeing me like I would make a perfect dessert.

“Do you think you don’t deserve to rest?” Torin stands, eyes locked on me and heated as he moves around the table towards me. I watch his every move. His slow measured steps, muscles bunching underneath his t-shirt, and the movement of his tongue running along his bottom lip, every little action has my attention.

“I’m fine. I had enough sleep,” I say, swallowing past the lump in my throat as he stands behind me. Gale, Adrian, and Dravyn watch my reaction, their eyes are hungry. Well, there went my panties. This conversation took a quick turn. I still have things to tell them, but I can be persuaded. Who am I kidding? I would rather be distracted by them rather than admit I am pregnant.

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