Page 8 of The Lost Nation

I pushed Benedict down onto a nearby rock that jutted out from the edge of the pool, creating a shallow bench with only a few inches of water. My hands tangled in his hair, and his eyesglowedwith arousal. He reached out for me.

I pushed his arm away.“No.”

He froze, his brows furrowing in worry. Instead I straddled him as I unleashed my full draken form, my wings and claws on full display.His pupils dilated as he admired the flashing tones of red, gold, and purple on my wings.

I pushed him back against the rock, smirking.“Sit down, and be agood boy.”

Benedicthardened under me in record time, his hands sneaking along my waist. I tutted, and swatted them away. “You aren’t allowed to touch. Put them away.”

He leaned back on his hands as I grinded against him, groaning. “Siren, that’s not fair—"

I leaned down and bit into on his neck, his blood coating my mouth and tongue. Benedict bucked against me, his hips straining to push his body against mine. I resisted the urge to move with him. This would be done onmyterms.It was then I was struck with a sudden epiphany.

I didn’t need a mateship with Thad as validation that I was beautiful, strong, or loved. It didn’t matter if I had one mate, three, or forty—none of it would matter if I didn’t love and acceptmyself.

The realization almost felt like a physical blow, with everything in my mind suddenly clicking into place. I saw who I had been, who I was now, and who Icouldbe.

Benedict's eyes went wide, his jaw dropping in shock.“Wren! Your wings!”

His tone yanked back to the present,hushed and in awe. I glanced at my wings, watching in amazement as the nagging strip of white disappeared, swallowed up equally by gold, red, and purple. Benedict's eyes were pinned to the sight, his heavy breathing signaling to me that he was fighting his instincts.

I glanced back at him.“What does that mean?”I asked.

Benedict grinned like a naughty school boy, even as he eyed me like I was a snack. “I can’t tell you.”

My mouth dropped open in outrage.

Benedict laughed, and the sound echoed off the stone walls.“No, don’t even try. This is draken law at the most basic level. Domik will back me up on this. You have to realize it for yourself—female draken stuff. You're already half of the way there.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, realizing there was no way I could get him to tell me.Or...could I?

I grinded my hips into his relentlessly, giving him a generous eyeful of my breasts as well.“Tell me.”

His eyes went feral as his draken took over, his voice gravelly and rough. “Unless you want bent over the edge of this pool—”

“Such a tease,” I shot back.

He hissed at me, his hips still moving against me.“The wing thing—it’s instinctual. My draken isscreamingat me to take you and—”

I picked myself out of his lap, and turned around and bent over the pool. My ass hung in the air at him, an offering I knew he couldn't refuse. Benedict snarled and lunged at me, grabbing my hips so tightly that his claws pinched at my skin. I grinned and wiggled against his dick, and moments later his teeth were at the back of my neck.

“Yes or no?” He growled at me, still sensitive to my healing mind and body even as he fought his instincts. Whatever was going on with my wings, it had him clinging to his control by a small thread. I wondered how far I could push him.

“Tell me first.” I countered.

Benedictbit down into my neck and I moaned, but the joke was on him—Iwantedhim to bite me. Pain and pleasure meshed, adding to the growing ache in my core. He pressed himself harder against my backside, and it took a moment for me to remember what I was trying to do.

I unfurled my wings, forcing him to slightly withdraw. As expected, his eyes were glued to them. He couldn't hold out for much longer. He'd—

Benedict growled.“Myqueen.Are you ready to bless me with a prince or princess?” His voice caught, then he flushed in embarassment. My head tilted, momentarily confused. He continued, lost in draken instincts. “Together we’ll build a new family.” He whispered, stroking my backside reverently.

I knew he'd let something important slip, but I couldn't think with him poisedright thereover me. Another bolt of pleasure drove through me as his tongue licked me from his bitemarks to my ear, and I was done trying to maintain control.

I slumped over the rock. "Yes...please." I still didn't understand what he was talking about, but I didn't care at the moment. I cried out in pleasure as Benedict sank into me, and I surrendered utterly to him.

Chapter 4

Kali