Page 68 of Bonded By Savages

Damian reaches down, grabbing his battle-brother’s arm and pulling him to shaking feet. “He’s real. And so is our mate.”

He turns to me. He’s a huge beast of a man, with broad shoulders, a square jaw, and a hard set face. His eyes are slate-grey, and I smile at him, imagining what color they might change to. After whatever horror he just endured, I need him to see hope in me.

Obsidian blocks us. “Tell me what you saw.” His voice is a rasp.

“I feel like I’ve woken up from a dream…it was all so clear, and now it’s gone,” says Raython. “My God.” He goes to kneel, but Obsidian grabs his arm, keeping him on his feet.

“You endured much. Be with your Mate. I present you, loyal warrior, Athena.” Obsidian steps aside, and the powerful warrior breaks down.

Tears stream down from his slate-grey eyes. I didn’t know Aurelians cried. His battle-brothers hug him, and I swear I can feel Raython reflected through his battle-brothers. He’s a powerful beast, and I can’t wait to feel his aura in my being.

I was already complete with my two warriors.

Now I’m overjoyed.

“Hi,” I say, smiling at him. I need his first moments to be positive. It’s like he’s been reborn. “I’m Athena, your Mate.”

He strides to me, staring at me if I am the most fragile, precious thing in the world. Then he wraps his huge, powerful biceps around me and hugs me to his body, tears streaming down his cheeks, unashamed to show emotion to his Mate.

He pulls backs, staring down at me, and Obsidian turns away. His pain is too much. Seeing us together reminds him of his Fated Mate, Fay, taken from him.

“Thank you, Obsidian,” I say, and he walks away without answering, disappearing in the tunnel.

We’re alone, under the stars and the moon, when I feel it. Raython growls, his cock rearing up.

“Are you strong enough?” I say to him, and he lifts me, kissing me hard, hungry.

“Is that a challenge?” He grins, then breathes in, tasting my growing need to be joined by the final member of my triad.

I know I’m going to like him already. I remember being almost scared of him when I first felt his beastly aura in my mind during my vision.

Now I ache to have that power belonging to me.

I gasp as he rips my pleasure dress from me, baring me to the world, as Damian and Tarak stand behind me, lifting me and spreading my legs for the third. He slides his dick into me in one, powerful thrust, as if we’ve been apart for centuries and are finally together.

His aura blossoms in my mind, and his eyes change in front of me, turning green and verdant, like a deep jungle where primal cats lurk.

He throws his head back, yelling in triumph as he joins me, and finally, my triad is whole.

27

Epilogue: Athena

The jet-black Reaver pierces the atmosphere as we rush upwards. Raython has his arms around my neck as he stands. He hasn’t let go of me in the week since we were Bonded. He pulls me against his chest, kissing the top of his head.

We’re on our way up to safety. I offered a place in our new home for Laura and Matil, but they both refused politely, choosing instead to go work for Jola and Lelita’s new triad. They prefer the open skies and green grass of Obsidious to a space station high above.

“That tickles,” I say, as Raython’s long braid touches against my neck. He grabs it, and torments me with it, tickling it against my sensitive skin as I try to fight, but I know he’s far too strong to ever let me escape. I bite my lip as I see the big space station ahead of us, an orbital defense post with guns bristling. It is grey and unwelcoming, and I’m nervous at what we’ll find. Black Reavers circle it diligently, but they pass aside as Damian pilots us closer to a landing bay. Big doors open, but no Reaver is inside.

“The bay is empty. They don’t allow a single Aurelian on this station. Except us,” says Tarak. He was the one who brokered the deal. He told me he had fought alongside a triad long ago, a triad he’d seen winning their Mate on holo-vid.

“And it’s safe?”

“Safer than anywhere else. And we don’t have to be around the Priests or Fanatics anymore.”

I smile. I always feel safe with my triad, but I’ll never stop being creeped out by the Aurelians down on the planet below who wear brands on their foreheads.

It’s not that reason I asked my triad to find us another place.

---