Page 30 of Cruel Devotion

He’s squeezing his knot.

He’d remembered that I was sore, and didn’t make me take it. He held himself off of me, and when he pulled out of me, I turned on my back to face him, when my jaw dropped.

“Oh,” I gasped.

There was a beautiful white wolf above me. Where Darius was a midnight black, Ryder was white as snow. I was crying and I didn’t even know when it started. He was ethereal. His hair thick and unruly, with strands so long I wondered how I didn’t feel it when I wrapped my arms around him. His broad, muscular shoulders spoke of raw power, and his eyes were even more beautiful than in his glamoured form. They’d been beautiful, but muted. And the charcoal gray nose connected to his powerful maw was adorable.

Behind me, Darius had stopped purring. His body frozen beneath mine as if he were afraid the glamour would snap back in place. Ryder’s ears were pointed upward as if on edge about what I’d think. He was baring himself to me, and it was probably the first time he’d dropped the illusion since their escape.

There were no words. Slowly, I reached up, and touched his chest. He tensed, his chest expanding with each breath. Sliding up, I felt the raised cuts his fur hid, and my jaw trembled as I caressed his neck. His eyes closed briefly before the brilliant light refocused on me.

“You’re beautiful, Ryder,” I murmured in awe. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him down. He sighed against me, accepting my embrace.

“You’re late, but thank you,” I whispered. He growled and I looked up to see Darius licking his maw. The giant rolled over onto his side, taking me and Ryder with him so I was sandwiched between my mates. Everything felt right. All worries melted from my mind.

“Which face do you prefer?” Ryder asked with his head still buried in my neck.

“The real one.”

“Will you stay?” Darius growled.

“I’ve been here, Darebear,” Ryder whispered.

“Didn’t see.” My heart broke for my mates.

It isn’t the same, but it’s like when you have to take a sabbatical for a month, and have to explain to your dog that you’ll be gone, but he’ll be able to hear you over the camera?

“At least in this room?” I pleaded before he could turn Darius down.

“Okay. In this room only,” Ryder promised.

I laughed as Darius’ tail slapped excitedly against the bed. Looking behind me, I met glowing eyes. Stretching toward him, I kissed his furry chin before returning to Ryder. I held both of his ears, scratching as I kissed the top of his furry head.

“A girl could get used to this,” I hummed.

“What? Snuggling? Darius is a big cuddler,” he teased, as if he wasn’t doing it right now. His brother growled in response, as if to warn him from spilling his secrets.

“No, to feeling safe,” I whispered. The room was silent before Ryder took a breath and exhaled. Peering up at me with eerie puppy dog eyes, I swooned. Claws gently caressed my arm.

“I’m sorry you’re so perfect for us. I can’t promise a happily ever after, but I can swear you’ll always be safe with us,” he whispered back like we were sharing secrets in the protection of this room.

“Even though your brother wants to eat me?” I asked lightly.

“He doesn’t want to eat you…” Ryder trailed off as Darius coughed. I snorted. “Well, okay, he does, but he won’t. We’re keeping you.”

How fucked was I that I found his words reassuring?

Those three words should scare me. Hell, they should make me want to run for the hills. Instead, it felt like I’d finally founda place where I belonged. Where I could be myself and trash the mask I’d been forced to wear. I wanted this, I wanted them too.

Queen

When Ryder said they needed to feed me, I’ll admit I had a panic attack. From what I’ve heard, I don’t eat what they eat. While they’re my mates, I draw the line at cannibalism. In my defense, one had dragged me here, and the other was the first I saw while chained in a cell. As soon as we stepped out of our room, Ryder’s glamour dropped into place. On my right, stood my dark monster, and on my left, a man. I tugged the red silk robe tighter around my waist, ensuring it was tied tightly with a firm knot.

The walls were made out of real stone, and every arch way we walked under was framed with deep violet drapes. The castle looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale, but oddly modern. The top floor was empty, but as we descended the stairs, the staff lined the walls. Men, of different species, most were wolves, but they were nowhere near as large as my mates. They were around my height with brown coats. I couldn’t name what the others were, but their gaze remained on the ground as we passed.

Massive sleek windows filtered in light. Running to the nearest one, I looked out and almost screamed when I realized we were multiple stories up. Outside, a bridge stretched on for miles over water. Red, orange, and purple hues dances across the sky as the sun set. Looking back, Ryder watched me while Darius panted.

“Where are we?” I asked in wonder.

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