Page 11 of Celestial Alphas

I grab his chin and dig my nails in. “Don’t ever betray me again.”

His smile is feral. “I’d rather fucking die.”

“Doesn’t mean we’re even, Finny boy.” I lean my head to the side. “But I am interested in what you want to do now. This doesn’t mean I can accept you as my mate yet, and I’m not yours.”

“You’re mine.” He wraps his hand around my neck. “But making you fall in love with me is going to be a challenge. It’ll be the best fucking thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I’m never giving up. We have time to learn to trust each other, for you to tell me all the things that haunt those eyes of yours and to learn what haunts me too. I know you want to understand us, because you rejected us. You tried to save us from the beginning, andfuck, I wish I was as smart as Rhodes and figured it out. He always trusted you.”

I suspect he means it, too. “Rhodes deserves so much better than me.”

Something flashes in his eyes, and he hesitates. “We can talk later, and for the record, you deserve far better than a bastard like me, but fuck, I’m selfish and you’re mine.”

He wastes no time kissing me into madness before he slides his hand underneath my leggings, under my panties. He runs a finger down my sex, and I gasp. Touching myself has never felt this good. This is so much more intense. “You’re so wet for me, Sun. I’m going to enjoy every second I get with you. Every fucking second,” he whispers in my ear before kissing my jaw, cheek, neck, everywhere he can until he devours my lips, swallowing up each of my moans as he rubs his finger around my clit. I cling to his thick shoulders, pleasure blinding everything until it’s just Finn. It’s just him touching me.

Finn’s fingers work like he was trained to get me there. To send me screaming his name to the Gods. My body shakes, and I can’t keep the noises from coming out of my mouth. Can’t keep the pure pleasure and heat from crashing into a blinding orgasm from just his fingers. He finally breaks a kiss when I’m a shaky mess, and I realise that he kissed me so that the moans were for him only, and no one else heard them. So possessive, and he is mine.

He brings his hand up to his mouth, and he slowly licks each finger he used on me. My cheeks brighten as I watch, and my Nexus curls up in my mind, more content than I’ve ever felt her to be before. Finn holds me at his side, staring at me, and I wonder what he sees. “Finn, you don’t think I’m a monster, do you?”

“You were never a monster, and I want to kill anybody that ever thought that of you.” He runs his hand down my cheek. “Iwant to know everything about you. All the dark things you hide because you don’t think I’ll accept them. But first, I know you haven’t slept or eaten. Get some sleep, and the ranger is bringing us burgers and coffee in a few hours. Your favourite from the academy.”

I’ve not slept in a bed with someone before, but the moment I close my eyes, I’m out. Not even my dreams remind me that Severi will be back, and if Finn is here…he might hate me for having a Vian mate.

Chapter

Six

My Nexus is practically purring. It can only mean one thing; I’m cuddled up with Finnegan and she is happy. Content. It’s weird to have her feeling that way when she’s usually like the Hulk: smash everything all day long—except, for her, it’s murder. It’s been a few days now since she killed anyone, and she would usually be itching to hunt, pushing at me to let her out or to go to sleep so she can play. I groan. Of course she is happy with Finn. He’s her favourite.

This all feels like a dream. Finnegan knows what I am, and he doesn’t hate me. He didn’t willingly put me in here, and he fought to get to me, breaking all kinds of laws to make a point. For once in my life, I almost feel like my life is worth fighting for. Is this hope? It feels unbelievable, but real. Earth-shatteringly real. I open my eyes and watch Finn. He’s asleep, his head resting on his one bent arm. His other arm is wrapped tightly around my waist at his side. I can hear his heart beating, see his chest rising and falling so calmly even as he lies in bed with me. A literal monster.

He is sleeping and I let out a long breath as I let myself admire him for a second. He’s ridiculously good looking. His massive six-foot-nine body always seems to overpower everyoneand everything in the room until he gathers all of the attention for himself. His dark brown hair is messy and short, but the darkness of his hair brings out the sky blue of his eyes. His eyes are diamonds on his pretty and chiselled face that could make angels cry with how perfectly pretty he is. It’s hard to imagine him as anything but an angel of death assassin. I could stare at him all night, all day, or whatever time it is. He still smells like other people’s blood, but underneath it is his scent that is addictive. Pine, gun powder, and something like sandalwood.

Could I tell him everything? All the horrors in my past, everything that shaped who I am right now. Could I tell him the truth and see whether he still doesn’t go running out the door? I’ve run from my mates for so long, and now that they are in my life…I’m not sure what to do anymore. My parents told me to run. To always run, to never let anyone close, but I failed at that. I loved them, I loved Harry and his family, and I’m hopelessly shit at fighting how I feel for my mates. I never wanted to be alone, even if I was to be.

I open my mouth to wake him up, to begin a long conversation about everything, when the door opens. My eyes widen as I watch Severi walk in. No. No. No. I shoot up in the bed, putting my hand out like a shield. He might not be able to drain me, but Finn? In here, where Finn’s powers don’t work, he might as well be human and defenceless. Severi cocks his head to the side, looking between us, and he frowns. I swear there is burning jealousy spreading across his face as Finn wakes. Finn moves swiftly, pulling me behind him and standing off the bed. Defenceless, with no powers or weapons, he is defending me?

The last people to do that, to stand between me and Severi, were my parents, and they are dead. I can’t lose him. “Vian.” Finn’s snarl echoes with a low, bear-like growl. The walls crack and splinter, the magic breaking, and it’s not me. It’s Finnegan.“Get behind me, Sun. I don’t have my powers, but like fuck is he getting near you!”

Severi rests a shoulder against the doorframe. I can smell fresh blood, and the corridor outside is too silent. “Nexus. You’re standing between me and my mate. Move or we are going to have a real big fucking problem.”

Finnegan tenses. He doesn’t take his eyes off Severi, but his question is aimed at me. “Mate?”

“It’s true,” I whisper. “I found out at seventeen, and I don’t know how it’s possible, but he isn’t lying.”

Finn laughs. He actually laughs at Severi. “I think you’ll find the only kind she belongs to is the Nexus, and I don’t give a fuck what bond you have with her. It won’t matter when you’re dead.” He takes a step forward, and I grab his arm to try to stop him. “And you’ll be dead if you come near her.”

Severi winks at Finn. “Okay, Fish-boy. One touch and you’ll be dead. Your powers don’t work in here.”

Finn tenses and the nickname isn’t cool. “How the fuck did you get in here?”

I step to Finnegan’s side and link my fingers with his. “He has an agreement with Onyx’s father.” Finn goes icy still and drags his eyes to me. “He is behind it all. You can’t trust him. Okay?”

“I was happy with you staying in here, Gwenieve,” Severi interrupts, “but it looks like that plan isn’t working out now that you have a roommate. It’s time to take you home.” His eyes flicker to the walls, which are slightly shaking.

“No!” Finnegan growls as fear courses down my spine. His home, that place, the house of horrors that plays a special part in nearly all of my nightmares. I’m not going back there. I promised myself I’d not go back there. I promised my Nexus we would not end up back there. Finn senses my fear, and he pushes me right behind him. He can’t fight for me. Not here. He is outgunned and I can’t lose him. Fuck. Fuck.

“Yes. Gwenieve, make your choice. I’ll drain him, leave him here dead, and still take you. Your choice if you lose a mate today, Tulip.” He smirks at us both. Finn growls low. “You can come willingly, and I vow to leave him alone.”

“You’re not taking her from me!” Finn’s shout makes the walls splinter and crack further. He might get his powers back any moment, but Severi would get there first. Dammit.

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