Page 57 of Magic Hunted
I nodded, and taking a shaky breath, moved from Savvas’ lap. “Okay.”
“If you don’t want to lose your clothing, it would be best to remove them first,” Dias said.
My body tingled as sudden awareness flowed through me. I gasped as Ashir shucked his shirt and threw it on to the embankment, “If you’re Changing, so am I. My panther can’t wait to run with you.”
His fingers unlaced his pants. The sides fell open to reveal the cut V of muscle that led to his manhood.
“Looks like we’re all going for a run because I’m not missing out.” Savvas reached behind him, grabbed the collar of his shirt and wrenched it off.
I threw off my vest as Dias also removed his shirt with a quick grin. I didn’t want to be surrounded by three naked alphas while I dithered to undress no matter how hard my nipples beaded and my core clenched. My panther wouldn’t be ignored. Hers was the more pressing urgent need. I kissed her forehead and whispered, “It’s okay. It’s your turn now.”
I slipped my pants from my hips, and she nudged me with her nose and leapt. Her power moved like a silken river through me. I let it flow, not fighting her for once, feeling my body Change to suit her form. My hand became paws with lethal claws, my arms powerful forelegs. My back reshaped, my hips unhinged, and my thighs became muscular. Power and strength ran through me in this form, as much my body now as my human side. This form though, was more lethal.
Objects sharpened, and my rounded ears flicked with noises on the far side of the cavern. A breeze swept over my fur infusing senses I didn’t have as a human with more. I was completely aware of my surroundings. The strength in my limbs was potent. I was powerful. A predator.
My magic flowed through me with no resistance in my panther form, as though my animal side was more capable of recognizing it. I could dip into it if I wished and without human doubts and concern clouding my mind, it waited for me to harness and use as I wished.
Ozone scented the air and my mates surrounded me. Their large forms prowled around me, slinging their fur against mine. My panther stood still, letting her mates smother her in their scents. I stepped aside and let her. As panthers, their scents were crisp and clear. My panther stuck her nose to their throats and sucked in their scent, infusing it into her blood. It centered her. Centered me. The darkness inside me cracked into the dusky colors of dawn.
Ashir nudged me with his nose and sprang into the trees. My heart accelerated as pure joy shot through me. I leapt off my hind legs, clearing the embankment and followed Ashir’s panther through the underbrush.
Savvas and Dias followed. Their paws beat a steady rhythm on the ground. Savvas stayed behind me while Dias disappeared into a bush only to come out on the other side and jump over my form. This was a game my panther liked.
She darted to the side, nose diving under a large leaf. She thundered down a line of leafy vegetables and, spotting her mate looking for her, gathered speed, stretching her body and galloping across the damp earth. She dug her claws into the ground, muscles coiled tight and launched above the foliage. She landed on her mate’s back, triumphant when he let out a surprised hiss.
She playfully dug her teeth into the back of his neck before bounding beneath the shrubs as her other two mates dashed after her. She ran through the trees, through the orchards, sometimes caught by her mates, and other times delighting in pouncing on them.
Golden lines sparked underfoot, sending tingles up her legs when she stepped on them. Power surged through her body when she did, and she used that to her advantage, chuckling to herself and running faster than her mates could.
My being was light and the constant companion of worry was nothing but white noise in the back of my mind. There was only the now, in this body and this mind. Both complex and simple at the same time. Nothing to drag me down. Or have me looking over my shoulder. No life or death choices. No worry of the grimoire. Only her mates and the fun of the game.
Eventually she padded to a spot beneath a large leaf, hiding underneath. She wheezed when her mates came to find her, trotting past her secret hiding spot only to return to try and find her by scent when they couldn’t find her with sight. It didn’t matter when they did. She would wait as long as it took.
Savvas huffed when he tracked her down, sending a wash of warm air across her face as he nuzzled her. Settling next to her and pressing the full weight of his body against her, he lay his head on his massive paws, watching to see how long it would take Ashir and Dias to find them.
It wasn’t long. Ashir’s nose poked beneath the leaf, lifting it upwards and off her face. She lifted her head as he licked her maw with hot, wet strokes of his tongue. He moved over her, settling on her other side while Dias pushed past.
He settled next to Ashir, unleashing a purr loud enough to shake the closest leaves. Ashir began to purr and so did Savvas. The vibrations sank into her skin, lulling her to sleep like a lullaby.
I woke an indeterminate time later, back in my human body, surrounded by my mates who were waiting for me to wake. Heat washed over me when I realized I was naked while they were dressed.
Ashir handed me a bundle of clothing. “We didn’t want to disturb you sleeping so soundly. Our panthers often do that to us, and while I prefer you naked, you’ll feel better dressed.”
“That isn’t to say if you prefer to stay naked, I won’t object.” Savvas peaked over Ashir’s shoulder.
“Give her some privacy.” Dias gently cuffed Savvas’ ear.
Ashir smirked at his bond brothers before looking back to me. “I’ll take care of them. Come out when you’re ready.”
With a firm hand on their shoulders, he dragged them both from the leafy space. I dressed, doing up the laces on my pants and hooking the straps on my vest before I pushed a leaf out of the way and stepped from where we’d slept.
A smudge of dirt streaked Dias’ cheek. It took me a moment to realize he’d pushed a fruit into my hands. “Here you go, magic. Changing always makes us hungry.”
“Thank you.” I was ravenous and polished off the fruit in record time. As soon as I’d finished, Savvas found another, picked it from the tree and gave it to me. I’d just finished that before Ashir passed me his selection.
“Aren’t you eating?” None of them had taken any fruit for themselves. They’d simply watched out for me. Their attention locked solely on me.
“Are you looking out for us, my heart?” Savvas said.
