Page 25 of Unleashed

It had been an entirely new sort of intimacy for her; she’d shared in a part of Vortok and Balir, a part of their pasts. She could recall every detail of their old appearances, and knew she’d see those faces beneath the changes Kelsharn had wrought when she looked at them.

But what of Aduun?

Nina frowned and looked toward the shelter’s opening.

Where had he been? Why hadn’t he dreamed with them?

He wanted to kill me.

No. No, he didn’twantto. Not now, at least. His thoughts had been projected powerfully in his turmoil. His struggle had been clear to her. He was scared. Scared of making another mistake that would hurt the people he cared for. The next one risked pushing him beyond his limits, risked breaking him.

That understanding didn’t assuage her fear.

Nina shifted, attempting to rise, but the arms around her abdomen tightened and pulled her closer. Balir nuzzled his cheek against hers and released a rattling purr that resonated against her back.

Her breath hitched. The vibrations coursed through her body and along her limbs; she felt it everywhere, but it centered between her legs, where her backside was cradled against his pelvis, and in her nipples, which hardened beneath her clothing.

That same spark of desire she’d felt at the stream reignited. Balir’s purring grew stronger, louder, deeper. Her breath quickened, and liquid heat flooded her core. She squeezed her thighs together, but it did nothing to relieve the sudden throbbing ache of her sex.

Balir’s nose skimmed the side of her neck, and her skin tingled with awareness. He inhaled deeply. Something hard probed her lower back, something hot and slick, and his body tensed.

—scent, her scent, need her, want her, claim her, she is ready—

Balir’s thoughts flooded her mind, melding with hers, heightening her already overwhelming lust. His imaginings flashed through her mind’s eye; where he wanted to touch her, where he wanted to tasteher, how he wanted to mate her.

Vortok released a low, drawn-out groan and rolled onto his side to face Nina. His half-lidded eyes drifted shut, and his nostrils flared as he took in a slow breath.

“Nina,” he growled. When his eyes opened, their rich brown was heated with molten desire. He shifted onto his hands and knees.

Nina’s eyes widened. Vortok’s huge erection swayed between his thighs, thick and tan, extruding from its sheath amidst the dark fur of his groin. His size was intimidating and thrilling all at once. She snapped her gaze up to his.

He reached for her. “You’ve had enough of her, Balir.”

With a guttural snarl, Balir yanked Nina over the top of his body to land on her back on the bed of moss and on his other side. He crouched over her on all fours, tail lashing, teeth bared, the red spots on his neck like glowing embers. She stared up at him with her arms bent, elbows planted firmly on the ground. Her raised hands were the only barrier between her and Balir.

Vortok roared, displaying his tusks, and pushed himself up to his full height — tearing the shelter apart in the process. Sticks and leaves tumbled around him, rustling and snapping. Nina cried out and threw her arms over her face to protect it against the falling debris. Vortok took a step forward, his foot coming down so heavily that Nina felt its impact vibrate through the ground beneath her. His thoughts flitted through her awareness.

—mine, she is mine, he cannot have her, she is my mate my claim—

“Away from her!” Vortok shouted.

“She’s mine!” Balir growled, flexing his claws.

Their fury crashed into Nina, strong enough to be nauseating. Clenching her teeth, she forced up her mental shields and scurried out from beneath Balir. She scrambled to her feet, stumbling over the fallen branches until she reached firm footing and spun to face the valos.

“Enough!” she yelled.

Aduun strode up to the scene a moment later, his amber eyes cold as they swept over the destroyed shelter, the bristling valos, and Nina — who undoubtedly looked tousled and flustered. “What—”

Before another word escaped Aduun’s mouth, Balir and Vortok advanced. They slammed into each other, chest-to-abdomen, and immediately burst into a torrent of swinging limbs, scratching claws, and snarls. Despite their size difference, they seemed evenly matched in ferocity.

Nina clenched her jaw, shifting her gaze to the surrounding ground. She grabbed the largest branch on hand and, heedless of the danger, marched up to the quarreling valos. After seeing the blows they were inflicting upon one another without flinching, she doubted she’d be able to cause them any pain, but she had nothing if not good aim.

“Nina, get back!” Aduun shouted, charging toward her.

Before he reached her, Nina thrust the branch between Vortok and Balir and jerked it once to each side, smacking each valo in his face. “I said that’s enough!”

Vortok blindly swung his arm to the side as though to bat away what he must’ve perceived as an annoyance. Nina braced herself for the impact, but strong arms snaked around her middle and swept her back from the blow. The air displaced by Vortok’s swing swept harmlessly over her skin.

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