Page 28 of Unlikely Alphas

“He looked,” Kiaran mutters, heaving himself to his feet, brows drawn together. “At my cock. He wanted.”

“I didn’t— I never!” Finnen splutters, and it’s my turn to start laughing. “What’s so goddamn funny! Briareus’s dick!”

That only makes me laugh more and I turn away, trying to compose myself, even as more heat spreads through me, making my belly cramp.

Finnen was looking at Kiaran’s crotch. He was interested. Knowing Finnen, his violent denial is all the more proof of it.

And Kiaran decided to help out.

At least it looks like my boys do find each other attractive. That’s good. Let’s hope that once we explain the situation to Kiaran, he won’t run away as fast and far as his feet can carry him.

“I need to go back for my horse,” Taj says, frowning. “I hope the jaguars haven’t eaten him.”

“Tomorrow morning.” I’m sandwiched between him and Finnen, grateful for their warmth, and Finnen is already out. He dozed off the moment we settled down for the night, his face drawn and pale.

Kiaran is sitting a few feet away, ostensibly keeping watch. He hasn’t said so, and maybe he’s just annoyed with all of us and doesn’t care about lying down in one big sandwich of bodies. Is it wrong that I worry he might be cold?

I turn toward Taj, place a hand on his cheek, feeling the rough stubble underneath. “Let me check your wound.”

“It’s fine, kora. I’d tell you if I was dying. I’m not as pigheaded as Finn.”

“Not sure about that,” I mutter, then sigh when he lifts and presses his much bigger hand to my face. “For all it’s worth, Taj, I’m sorry you got caught in this mess of a situation.”

“Don’t be. I’m not sorry.”

“How can you not be?”

“Listen… my life in the army was many things. It was pretty good, comfortable, safe. I was tolerated. I was even admired by some. My position was coveted. My looks were envied. I could have continued like that, advanced higher in the ranks, found a permanent lover, eventually retired if I survived. But…”

“But?”

“I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t accepted for who I am. Nobody cared for me, not really, and I never cared about anyone else. There was an emptiness in me, a hole I couldn’t fill. Not to mention that our latest orders were to hunt down and capture people like you and me, take them to either the Central or the Summer Capital to throw into jail or execute. That sooner or later they would have come for me, too. And even so…”

“Taj…”

“Even so, I would have stayed. Understand this, I’ve never had any other home than the army, but you… You make me feel like I’m home.”

“I’m not sure,” I whisper, closing my eyes as his callused fingers stroke over my temple, my neck, making me shiver. “I don’t know if I’m the better choice. Home means safety. I’m probably leading you to your death.”

“Or to freedom,” he says, just as softly. “To a world where we don’t have to hide. Finnen mentioned that in the south, in the Rising Moon Lands, things are different.”

“It’s a hope more than a fact, I think. His family… his parents died trying to help people like us.”

“We have to ask him about it when he’s awake and not freaking out over your Wildman touching him inappropriately.”

I grin, and Taj grins back. “Kiaran has to learn some boundaries, and as for Finn… Do you think he can learn to relax and accept his desires?”

“We’ll teach him all about sex.”

I gasp a laugh. “I wish I could help, but I hardly know anything beyond the basics and that’s only in theory.”

“I’ll teach you, too.”

“Will you?” Familiar fire pools in my belly. “I feel so… frigging strange about wanting you three all the time. Like, I should be ashamed. Like, I should feel guilty for wanting it.”

“You should never feel ashamed or guilty,” he says fiercely. “Every woman has the right to satisfy her desires, pleasure her body, and you are a Fae-blooded omega. Your desires are stronger than the average woman’s, or even the average omega’s. Once you go into full heat, it will be magnificent.”

“Magnificently bad, you mean,” I grumble, my face burning along with my body. “I’ll be a sex maniac.”

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