Page 128 of Vengeful Mates

“Baby, for what you did today.” Zethan brushed the back of her hair. “You’ve earned our lasting gratitude, a lifetime supply of foot massages, and endless sexual favors.”

She snorted into his neck. “I’m holding you to that. Especially the endless massages and sexual favors.”

“Watch out, boys. Our baby’s greedy pussy will suck our balls dry!” He nipped her ear and cast open a portal that slurped as we crossed through it back to our home.

“She can suck my balls dry any day,” I teased.

She hit me and snorted so loud, she got the hiccups. “Nice double entendre!”

“You know I love my double meanings.” I flashed her my sexy, demonic grin that she loved.

Zethan reluctantly lifted her into my waiting arms and gave her a goodbye kiss. “I’ll be back soon with Alaric, Mia, and the bikes.”

“Thank you. Miss you already.” Her bond tightened with impatience for him to return and make her family complete.

Castor led our pack down the hall to the bathroom, drawing her a bubble bath in the six-seater whirlpool tub. I set her on the marble basin counter and stripped us both off, then flicked the shower on. Hot water warmed her skin as I rinsed the blood off her. I shut off the faucets and transferred her to the bath.

Murmurs outside in the hall indicated Zethan’s return with Alaric and Mia.

Alaric burst into the bathroom, shrugging off his cut, dropping it to the floor.

“Fuck, angel, I thought I lost you.” He leaped into the tub clothed without concern he was getting drenched. All he cared about was getting his mate back. He kissed every inch of her face, his pulse thumping with solace and regret. “I let you down—”

She stopped him in his tracks, cutting off his pity party with a hand to his jaw and a finger to his lips. “You can’t get rid of me that easy.”

The French doors clicked shut as Zethan entered the bathroom. “Mia’s still asleep. Want me to wake her?”

Aaliyah snuggled into Alaric’s arms. “In a little bit.”

CHAPTER42

Aaliyah

“Perfect day for a wedding.”Alaric squeezed my hand, gaze panning the powder-blue sky, the rugged peaks of Mount Parnassus.

I squeezed him back, enjoying his nearness, his sweet, spicy aftershave, and the clarity in his gray and golden eyes. “Perfect.”

Silent and peaceful, we stood admiring the peaks and troughs of the mountain ranges in the Gulf of Corinth in Greece.

Scars from the charity ride still haunted my protective, vigilant mate, and he became a permanent fixture at my or Mia’s side. At first, our daughter loved all the extra attention, then got snippy at Alaric’s smothering her. I didn’t mind his reassuring presence when I knew how much my company gave him peace.

No one emerged from the conflict with Colton Raine the same. My mates never left me alone in the house, dragged me to the club with them, and accompanied me on pick-up and drop-off runs to Mia’s school.

Abdomen twinging with pain, I touched the spot where Colton removed my kidney. Nightmares woke me most nights and flashbacks haunted me. My men were there to hold me, whisper to me and remind me that I was safe, Alaric most of all. Going through the ordeal helped me understand the depth and darkness of his pain and trauma. The shock and horror of what happened. How close we skirted death.

Zethan hounded me to extract the memories of that day. Dignity held me back. I wanted to remember. Everything. How close I came to losing all that I held dear. What the vengeful goddess within me would do to protect her family and loved ones.

I didn’t regret taking Colton’s life, just like I didn’t think twice about rubbing out Danny’s. One less wicked soul to make lives hell.

Gratitude flooded my system that my mates interrupted Colton’s plans to harm our babies. They were never his real target. He threatened them to get a reaction from me. Boy did he get it. One of the most horrendous and painful deaths. Although, by the way he talked about me being a catalyst for what no avatar before him achieved, I had the horrid, persistent sensation we’d see him again. Dread clamped on my shoulder, my constant companion.

No more thinking about that. This was an important day, and I wasn’t letting my dark memories ruin it.

I crushed the bouquet of pink Anemones to my dress. Alaric stole a flower from the bouquet, sniffed it and twisted it. The darker and lighter shades of pink contrasted with the bridesmaid dress. He stroked my cheek with the soft, silky petals, tracing it down my neck and over my ever-swelling bust.

“As beautiful as you.” His sweet murmur made butterflies take flight in my belly. “They have no scent though. So, you win in that department.”

I snorted and bumped shoulders with him. “Why thank you, my hawk.”

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