Page 130 of Gift from the Stone

“Yes,” me and Caspian answer as one.

My smile takes over my face in its entirety the moment I step out of my transport, and my bond thrums in my chest. Willow’s sound asleep laid out on Corentin’s couch. Soft snores are purring from her lips with a blanket pulled around her. So fucking gorgeous, peaceful.

There’s nothing in this realm that can compare to bonding with her. To be able to feel someone so deeply. A connection on a soul level is heady, addicting. I already knew I loved her for her and thought she was fucking perfection before we bonded, but the way that greedy little pussy accepted all of me, strangling my cock for more, has left me a man more than in love. I’m fucking obsessed. I’m addicted to her mind, body, and soul.

I wish more than anything we weren’t in the middle of a war so we could’ve stayed in our treehouse for weeks, just bathing in the bliss of each other. I know she feels it too, she wants that too, with all of us.

The constant go, go, go has been so hard for her. The surprises at every turn are taking their toll. Knowing the thoughts that plague her, I want to protect her from it all, keep her out of it as much as possible.

“You guys are early,” Corentin whispers from his desk, smirking at us.

“Has she been sleeping since I left?” Caspian asks with his own fucking satisfied smile.

“She was out before you made it back to the castle,” he says cockily.

“You two are assholes. I’m tired of everyone leaving me out of the fun stuff. My little wanderer would have no problem being spread out between the four of us, so I don’t understand why none of you invite me to join,” Draken whines, like legitimately pouts.

I can’t help but snort at his ass because he’s being serious. I hear the thoughts running through his head. He’s truly offended and would have no problem with any of us joining him when he pleasures her because he knows she’d love it.

“It was spontaneous, Draken. You don’t think my first time being intimate with her, I’d have liked it to be alone? It just happened. It wasn’t planned,” Corentin says, seemingly pissed that Draken is insinuating we all need to be together every time Willow’s being pleasured.

“Draken, this has only occurred two other times, both of those times with me. You don’t think the rest of us want it to be a little special, have her to ourselves? You do, don’t you?” I ask him more reasonably than Corentin just did, knowing that right now he’s just worked up from missing her.

“Yeah. My bad. I’m really fucking off today. Almost dying is doing a number on me, guys,” he admits quietly, not looking at any of us, just staring at Will with an extremely protective gaze.

The smirks melt off mine and Caspian’s face and the anger bleeds out of Corentin’s. The words that filtered through my mind from him while we lost our shit as they both lay motionless in the arena haunt me. Although they were one hundred percent said in Draken style, it was his goodbye. He thought he was dying, and he was trying to tell us bye. And to think of a life without him in it is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life as I was in those few moments. The way both of them laid so unnaturally still, so lifeless, was petrifying. I swore to myself as I looked down at the two of them, if they didn’t make it, I was going to tear this fucking realm apart looking for the Mastery, then I was joining them.

“I’m sorry, Draken. I didn’t realize how hard this was hitting you. I’ve been so focused on Willow and everything else.” I apologize genuinely.

Caspian and Corentin both join me where I’m standing by him, squeezing his shoulder in solidarity.

“I know, I know, and I’m being selfish right now. I’m sorry. Life’s been fucking hectic, and she’s my number one priority, all of ours, but my dragon’s restless, adding to my own. We were trapped in nothing but a dark void, his wings pinned to his body, I’m assuming an imitation of what her dragon was feeling, and ever since then, he’s got an obsessive need to be near everyone, like a sated fear that you’re all gonna be ripped away from us at any moment if we aren’t together,” he confesses. Rage, anxiety, fear, determination, all filter over his expression in a matter of seconds. I understand what he’s saying, though. I’ve felt it too.

“We’ll work it out to where we’re separated minimally for however long we need to get both of you feeling better. I promise, Draken, we’ll be here for you both. She’s struggling too, and we won’t let either of you down.” Corentin swears, pulling him into a hug, and I see some light enter back into Draken’s eyes.

We’ve got to be better about talking things out. With how much shit has been piling on top of us, we can’t let feelings like this fester.

“So, on a more serious note, what did you do to deserve that little gift from my sweetness?” Draken asks, causing us to laugh.

“I didn’t do anything. She surprised me early from Oakly’s and Crissy was here picking up paperwork, and like fucking always was hitting on me. Willow caught her about to touch me and threatened to rip her throat out,” Corentin says with a smile, making Draken groan.

“Fuck, her possessive side is so sexy. So she had to claim what’s hers?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“That she fucking did.” Corentin preens like a damn peacock.

Bastard.

“You know you’re gonna have to fire her or move her from your assistant position. Will’s not going to tolerate her being around you,” I tell him seriously. With the way she beat the hell out of Gima, she’s not going to put up with any female touching what’s hers.

“Yeah, I know, already got that covered,” he answers knowingly.

A soft little moan permeates the air and all of us go silent, turning toward the noise. We each have a different reaction when we see Willow’s rolled over, pulling the covers down, exposing her flawless, fucking naked body.

The groan that slips my lips is drenched in lust and I want so badly to go suck her perk little nipples into my mouth, waking her up with a sweet surprise. I have no doubt the guys are all thinking the same by how they all tensed. Caspian, somehow, is the only one able to keep his shit about him as he slowly, silently approaches her and covers her body back up.

“Why the fuck didn’t you put her clothes back on?” he asks Corentin as he comes to stand back beside us.

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