Page 35 of Inheritance
"I know that now, Ama. I promise," he said before pulling back and allowing Adrien to take my attention.
Reaching up with his fingers on my chin, he pulled my gaze to his icy blue eyes, placing a kiss on my forehead and murmuring, "You showed me there is a purpose in life. You gave me a passion and thirst for life I didn't have before. I felt lost and stuck in my own head, wondering what I was supposed to do—who I was supposed to become."
Adrien always had such a way with words that had lit my soul on fire from our very first interaction. He was deeply emotional and intense, and I just felt so emotionally protected by him. Like he'd never let me break.
"I don't even think ‘I love you’ properly encapsulates how I feel for you, beauty. It's so much deeper than that," he breathed out as he kissed me with a deep hunger that made me want to climb into his lap.
"Damn, he showed us all up with that proclamation," Colt joked, but I knew there was no malice behind his words.
I giggled as I gave Adrien a final peck, then yelped as my Hellhound transformed into his naked human state, his head still in my lap as he stared up at me from beneath hooded eyes full of lust, as if he was thinking of our time earlier.
My cheeks flamed with heat as the memory flowed through me.
"I've already marked you as my mate, little flame. You know that we are one and that this commitment is for life," he growled possessively. "No one will ever take you from us again."
"Never again," I swore, but inside, my heart ached at the thought of never seeing Luce again.
While I absolutely never wanted to be ripped away from my mates again, I couldn't help the kernel of hope in me that wanted to unfurl at the idea of Luce joining us one day. But the odds of that were worse than slim to none, so I banished that hope from my mind.
"Do you always have to be naked, Hellhound?" Dray grumbled with his arms crossed against his chest, making everyone chuckle good naturedly.
"It's natural, brother. One day, you won't even blink an eye at it," Damien responded cheekily.
But it wasn't lost to me that he’d called him brother, which sent a new wave of emotion crashing through me at the sight of the men I loved forming their own bonds.
"It's true," Jace tacked on. "In Impurus, no one blinks twice when people shift and are naked. Maybe we just need to desensitize you. I guess I need to start walking around with my bare ass and cock out to do my part in helping."
"Don't you dare," my large Reaper grumbled, only making our laughter louder as Jace grinned and approached me.
"I thought Impurus was better in every way compared to Pura..." he started, making the mood somber a bit, but smiles were still tugging at our lips as he continued, "But I was wrong. We've let our hatred of the past fuel us into the exact same pattern of thinking that Pura was guilty of. That one kingdom was more important than the other. But you—no, all of you—," he clarified, "have opened my eyes, and for once in my life, I was at peace in my heart at the knowledge that we are working towards a goal that is so much larger than all of us."
Chills broke out on my skin as he continued, "We are working towards a future where no one feels less than. A future for all of the children, and maybe even some of our own one day," he saucily tossed in with a wink in my direction, "to live in. And they will know they matter and are valued no matter what."
His talk of children had me thinking about Mel, and I wondered if she would ever be allowed to visit one day if the future we were fighting for came to fruition.
I was yanked from my thoughts as Jace smacked Damien on the head lightly, making him grumble but roll to sit up anyways. Jace offered me his hand, which I took and allowed him to pull me to my feet, the large jacket falling halfway down my thigh. A cool breeze flowed up, reminding me I really needed to find pants. His arms quickly encircled my waist, and his hands rested on my lower back as he held me.
"You are the reason this is all happening. Your strength to stand up for what is right, despite being wronged by so many. You fight for justice and equality for everyone. You're paving the way for this future we all desperately want. Those are just a few of the reasons I love you," he ended and kissed the tip of my nose.
Rising up on my tippy toes, I pressed my lips to his full ones, enjoying this moment.
"I think he showed me up," Adrien admitted, making me laugh and break our kiss as I dropped down onto flat feet.
I felt a warm tug on my hand and turned to see Colt pulling on me. "Walk with me?"
My stomach flopped over, a dose of fear spiking in me. Why didn't he want to talk in front of the group? Had he changed his mind already about sharing me?
I nodded and let him lead me from the tent as Finias yelled, "You’d better not take her far, and have her back here in ten minutes or I'm going to slit your throat!"
Was he my parent or my mate? Either way, I fucking adored him and his scare tactics.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Colt
Somehow, not a single jealous bone in my body flared as I watched all the others pour their love out to Ama and sweep her into passionate and gentle kisses. If anything, I felt a spark of acceptance in knowing she would never lack for love between all of us. That was what she deserved.
To always feel cherished, protected, and loved.
