Page 1 of Realm of Flames (Reborn 3)
Maya
“Bella, no more.”I scolded her lightly, unable to stop myself from smiling because I wasn’tactuallymad at her. Although she was being a bit rude. Adorable, but a bit disruptive. Freaking perfect but causing problems.Yeah, I was clearly terrible at staying mad at her, because I was already reaching out to run my fingers under her chin as she let out a soft, happy purr. But could you blame me?!
The kitten in question blinked her large blue eyes up at me, her little paws curled up underneath herself like a mini loaf of bread. The sunlight that burst through the open balcony doors of our hotel living room suite highlighted her black and white fur, along with the diamond collar I’d purchased for her while in France. I hadn’t been positive she would like the purchase, but ever since putting it on her, she had yet to scratch at it, and it didn’t seem to be bothering her. Rather the opposite. It had turned into somewhat of a toy, because when the sunlight hit it and it cast little rays of light across the couch, she would spend her time chasing after it.
I frowned slightly, wishing I’d purchased something for my mates as well. It had been a thought that had been roaming through my head lately, and I hadn’t been able to shake the concept. Although they didn’t strike me as the diamond type. Then again, Anani did like to take my earrings, so maybe he did want something sparkly… either way, I needed to figure out something to get them. They had given me so much, and I had the urge to return the favor.
What did you get men that have everything, though?
While I absolutely loved the gifts that Sai and the others had purchased for me, it wasn’t really about the pieces of material themselves, but what they meant. Both to me and them. I didn’t think I would ever be able to fully express to them how special it felt to be taken care of and considered. After how I had been raised, to have someone want to spend time with me, let alone provide something fundamental like clothes for me? It was both an odd and really special feeling. That didn’t include that I was nearly positive that they enjoyed it more than I even did. Especially Marco and Sai.
Although even I could admit that the pink diamond infinity rings on my fingers and the bracelet around my golden wrist held my attention purely because they were so freakin’ sparkly. I wasn’t positive if they even went with the rest of my outfit this morning. I had chosen it purely based on what I’d noticed my mates liked, and so far, I had yet to be disappointed by their reactions to both the jewelry and clothing.
Atlas, who continued to look at me from where he sat on the couch nearby, kept letting his gaze linger along my bare legs and the curve of my waist, making me glad I’d worn such a sheer, light sundress. It was actually rather comfortable as well. The piece itself had a deeper v-neckline in front that showed off a bit of cleavage and the small gold pendant I’d chosen to wear. It was open in the back, keeping me cool in the warm California air. The straps were thin, and the triangles of the top connected with a pale pink smooth center that then flared out into a skirt that came to mid-thigh. It was a pale pink covered in a silver outer eyelet lace that featured flowers. It was less than I would normally wear, but with silver heeled sandals and my hair brushed out around my shoulders, I found myself proud of how I looked. I felt… well, I felt sexy. Which wasn’t something I was used to feeling, if we were being honest. But my mates were amazing at that, making me feel beautiful.
It wasn’t just Atlas that had reacted well to it, either.
Sai, who was now back asleep, had stumbled out of the bedroom to grab some water before seeing me. The groan that broke from his throat before he walked back towards the bedroom, almost hitting into the wall by accident, had me both almost giggling at his reaction and also concerned about him. We didn’t need him running into walls. Seriously, if the man was going to be clumsy, I would have to make sure I was always holding his hand or something…I know, that wasn’t sounding horrible to me either.
I was eager for the others' reactions despite knowing most of them would be sleeping in today. I was finding that I affected my mates a lot, and call me curious, but I was interested in understanding the extent that it went to. It would have to wait though. The only reason I was up right now to begin with had to do with the serious nature of what we needed to do this morning. Something that I was in no way looking forward to. I was nervous about going to the Dreki realm, but it was tinted with excitement. This other obligation, though? There was no excitement associated with it, and I would be thrilled if Marco told me it was cancelled right now. Looking back up at Atlas, I found his gaze on me, his eyes filled with a not so subtle amount of heat that I was now recognizing as desire.
See? This outfit not only made me feel good, but it was going to serve my plan… the one that would get me far more kisses from my mates. Or possibly, preferably, more than that. Now, I didn’t think that it would be that easy because Atlas seemed to have a lot of willpower, but lately I had been considering all the different ways I could try to seduce my mates. Whether they would be successful attempts or not was completely up in the air, but after what I experienced with Marco? I wanted… no,neededthat, with the others. Both the mating and making love aspect.
My cheeks stained at the concept of making love with Marco, not purely because of the physical aspect, but more in reaction to the confirmed fact that Marco loved me. Me! He lovedme. The concept seemed nearly unreal. How someone like Marco—or any of my mates, actually—could love me was still somewhat mind-blowing.
I hadn’t known what to expect for my future besides pain for so long, but to not only escape that but then to find a group of mates that cared for me? It was a blessing I could have never expected. Sometimes I offered a small prayer of thanks up to whoever was listening, that despite all the pain I’d gone through, I’d ended up here. Nothing could have ever prepared me for the contentment, affection, and love I felt for these men. I just needed to get better at communicating that to them.
I needed to find a way to show them how much I loved them.
Unfortunately, my plans would have to wait because Marco and Henry were insisting that we go to brunch before we left for the Dreki realm. Something that sounded amazing in theory… if it wasn’t for the fact that it happened to be with the dragon council members. Honestly, I wasn’t positive why they wanted to meet with us, considering I knew that three out of the four of them didn’t agree with my choice in mates, but it was obviously important enough to warrant a sit-down meal, so I wasn’t going to question it. I didn’t want to be rude towards them, despite their own behavior, but I needed to find a way to explain to them that it was a bit too late for them to try to interfere with who I mated with. Not that they would have had a say to begin with.
Not only had I marked three of my mates, but I had been with Marco fully, and that wasn’t even including the mark on my arm. The stunning design was like a tattoo that had me smiling as I ran my painted fingernail along it. A shiver broke across my skin as Atlas’s chest produced a low rumble, my eyes flashing up to see that his hand had tightened around the phone that was pressed against his ear, making me wonder what had him so worked up.
Was it the conversation? I arched a brow as he answered the person on the other end, his words making no sense without context but seeming to relate to security.
Was it wrong that I wanted his full attention? I knew he was doing something important, but I had the urge to crawl on top of his lap and kiss him until he decided his phone call wasn’t important at all. I wasn’t the only one, either—Bella very much wanted his attention. She was being a complete little stinker and continued to try to attack Atlas’s large, rough hands while he attempted to type on his laptop.
It wasn’t like either of us had anything else to do right now. Marco and Henry were both busy getting ready, and outside of drinking my stolen coffee that had once been Atlas’s, I was pretty bored. Although listening to him talk to someone while typing one-handed on his laptop was entertaining to an extent, but not nearly as much as, let’s say… kissing him? My smile grew because there was another reason why watching him type was entertaining, but that had to do with Bella. Every time his fingers began to slide quickly across the keyboard, a predatory light filled her eyes. When she began to wiggle her little butt a bit, ducking her head down, I justknewthat she was going to attempt another attack.
“No,” I warned Bella, but it was far too late, because Atlas’s fingers started to move faster as she surged forward suddenly, jumping on top of his hand completely. I sighed, shaking my head as my mate paused, his phone tucked between his large shoulder and his ear while he flashed me a smile at her antics. I couldn’t help but smile back, because not only was she adorable, but it was hard to not smile back at Atlas. From the moment I had first met him I had been completely enamored with him and how beautiful he was. I wasn’t joking when I said he looked like an angel, and his smile was even more gorgeous.
It was extremely distracting.
“You should be glad your dad is so sweet,” I cooed while picking Bella up and off Atlas’s hand before pulling her back against my chest, kissing the top of her head.
My eyes flicked back up towards Atlas’s as a dark, low rumble escaped his chest, his eyes darkening on me with more heat than I knew what to do with. An electric shock of lust ran over my skin as I flushed, my lips popping open to say something but unable to do so. His gaze burned into mine for a moment longer before he seemed to control it and responded back to whoever was on the other end, his voice a bit rougher and lower than normal. How did he do that? I had never been able to, nor did I plan on trying to control my reactions to my mates, but I couldn’t lie—it was impressive.
Although I swear I could feel his dragon right underneath the surface. I wanted to know whatthatlook had been about, because call me crazy, but it felt different than the normal heated looks he gave me. Almost more possessive and hotter? It was both hypnotizing and magnetic, the energy that seemed to radiate off him moments before he managed to seal it off and return back to his phone call. But that didn’t stop the effect it had on me. Despite his eyes not being on me, a flush took over my entire body as I buried my nose in Bella’s fur, attempting to hide how pink my cheeks were turning.
This wasn’t anything new, though. I usually felt this flushed when I looked at Atlas—it was nearly unavoidable. I didn’t think I would ever get used to his effect on me. He was absolutely gorgeous. Not only was he massive, like ‘how did he fit into the clothes he wore’massive, but his entire frame spoke to how dangerous I was realizing he could be. I had only seen flashes of it, mostly when dealing with threats or someone being mean to me, but I knew it existed. To me, though, he was an absolute sweetheart, and I loved that.Well, sometimes he wasn’t sweet, exactly, but I always trusted him to take care of me.
My mating mark pulsed and my center tightened as a reminder of that other side. Almost as if knowing, his golden eyes, streaked currently with black, flashed towards me. I squirmed slightly as he flashed me a dangerous, bright white smile, his hand brushing over my thigh in a torturing movement. Even sitting next to him, or on his lap, the man’s shadow seemed to wrap around me completely. Not that it surprised me. As a shadow dragon, I was finding that he was not only silent, but there were elements to his magic that always existed, whether or not he was shifted. The shadows made me feel safe, the way they brushed against my skin reminding me that they were constantly there.
The more attention I paid them, the more solid they seemed to become. Only this morning had I woken to a shadowy-like magic trailing up my arm from where the man laid behind me, his arm wrapped securely around my center. Although, I’m honestly not sure how much sleep he’d gotten or when I had gotten in there since I knew I’d slept on the couch on Marco’s lap for most of it.
I would have questioned why he was currently up, but it was clear he had something important to handle, and I would never say no to spending time with him. This morning, the muscular man was wearing a navy t-shirt and jeans, his posture relaxed as I leaned in closer to him, absolutely loving the scent of sea salt that I could smell coming off his skin. My fingers twitched to run across his structured jaw and his trimmed beard that matched the dark long hair that he currently sported, pulled back. His rich skin tone and the gold rings that looped through his ear and lip had him looking like some avenging angel that I’d seen in so many of the books I’d been forced to read growing up. Except I washisangel, something that he constantly informed me of.
That sentiment had me setting Bella down and crawling towards him on the couch. Atlas let out a low rumble and put his laptop to the side as I straddled his lap. I scowled at the phone as he smirked and answered back. The magic inside of me, something that I was now easily identifying as my phoenix, was jealous that we didn’t have his full attention.
