Every thought flies out of my head after that plunge. My hips move on their own as her body meets mine. As if on a turbulent sea, we let the waves of our desire carry us to the top.

“I’m coming, Laia, I’m coming!” I bury my face in her neck.

“Come with me, Kael. Yes, give it to me!” Her nails rake on my back, drawing blood despite my hard muscles and coarse fur.

I bury myself to the hilt one last time, coming in waves. I want to pull out, but Laia’s leg forces me to stay still as she orgasms.

She grins at me, whispering, “I want you buried so deep inside me, Kael, that I will never forget the feeling.”

That sent me on edge again, driving me to a mini-orgasm and my body quake so good, I collapse on top of her. Suddenly, itdawns on me that it doesn’t seem to be just desire; it’s also about trust and connection.

I roll beside her, gasping for air. She rolls toward me, slinging her leg on mine and putting her head on my chest. I smile.

Just wow.

But then a lingering question appears in my head: What happens after this? Will Laia take me as hers?

My brothers’ faces flash before me. Thalos, always so calculating, so cold. Irix is wild and impulsive. And then there’s me—caught somewhere between wanting to protect her and needing to keep our world from crumbling.

Will she be able to accept the three of us?

18

THALOS

Istand at the entrance to the cave, my arms crossed, watching Irix and Kael move about the camp. Laia is with them, a soft smile on her face as she helps prepare the meal. It’s been days since our last encounter, and yet, I can’t stop thinking about her.

Kael hands her a bowl, their fingers brushing. His touch lingers a second too long. Her laughter fills the air, light and free—a stark contrast to the constant tension of our world. I clench my jaw, my thoughts racing.

Laia should be nothing more than a tool, an asset to be used. I’ve always kept my distance from her and reminded myself of this fact. But now, watching my brothers grow closer to her, I feel something gnawing at me. Something dangerous.

Kael’s laughter echoes across the camp, pulling my attention back. My eyes narrow as I watch him. Kael has always been the soft one, the thoughtful one. But now, with Laia, I see a different side of him—a side that makes me uneasy. He’s acting like they’re lovers.

She turns to Irix next, offering him a piece of fruit. He grins at her in that predatory way of his, but there’s a warmth theretoo—something almost tender. It’s not like him to be gentle. Not like any of us.

My grip tightens on my forearms as I fight the urge to intervene. What am I doing? What are my brothers doing? Forming an emotional bond with her would make us vulnerable—a weakness we can’t afford in our world.

She’s here as a tool. Someone that we’re using. And definitely one that they paid a high price for so she can stay.

But it’s more than that. Watching Laia with my brothers stirs something deep within me—a possessiveness I can’t ignore. She’s changing us, breaking down walls we’ve built over years of blood and battle.

I force myself to look away, trying to quell the storm inside me. Laia is nothing but trouble—a distraction we don’t need. Yet, despite all my efforts to keep my distance, I find myself drawn to her more and more each day.

And that... that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could.

I force myself to turn away, to focus on anything else. But even as I try to push those thoughts aside, they creep back in like shadows in the night.

Laia glances up and catches my eye. For a moment, our gazes lock. There’s something in her eyes—a challenge? A plea? I don’t know.

I’ve always kept my distance from her for a reason. But now... now it feels like I’m losing control.

I take a deep breath and step back into the cave’s shadows, forcing myself to break eye contact with Laia. I need to stay focused. We have enemies out there—dark elves who would love nothing more than to find us vulnerable.

And yet, as Kael's laughter fills the air once more and Laia’s smile brightens our dark world just a bit, I can't help but wonder if this vulnerability might be worth it.

But that thought... It's best left buried deep within where no one can see it—least of all me.

I walk away, but hers and Irix’s loud laughter grabs my attention.