Page 66 of Captive Hybrid

Chapter Twenty-Two

Zenna

Sunlight drifts through the tent, filtering through the green fabric. For several moments, I lay with my eyes closed, savouring it. It’s been twelve days, thirteen now, since I have felt sunlight dancing on my skin without a window barrier.

I spent twelve days underground, held captive by vampires. The thought still makes my gut twist horribly. I could have died.

A warm tingling slides through me from the bond, reminding me with a start that I am not alone. My eyes open, meeting Mordecai’s. The silver of his eyes in early morning light are paler, softer, like clouds rather than steel.

He’s still naked, I realise, as we don’t exactly have a normal bed. His sits up, leaning on one elbow, staring down at me, his black hair mussed. Blankets are strewn about our little tent. I spot the one with a dab of blood on it, reminding me of the bite.

‘You claimed me.’

His smile is warm. ‘Is that still okay?’

‘Yes.’ I reach out to him, somewhat hesitantly given what we did last night.

He takes my outstretched hand in his and presses it to his chest, over his heart. ‘I meant it, Zenna. Every moment.’ Mordecai leans forward slowly, without the desperation and heat of last night, and presses his lips to mine softly. ‘You’re mine.’ He reaches round and turns me gently onto my stomach, and it takes me a moment to realise he’s not only checking me out. His fingers brush over my left ass cheek, where he bit me.

Does this hurt?His voice is smooth and soft as velvet, concern rippling through him.

I twist to look up at him without changing position. Maybe a bit. But I’m proud to wear your mark.

Mordecai lowers himself to me and pulls me on top of him easily. Mine, he growls possessively. This time, the kiss is deeper, tasting what belongs to him. What belongs to me.

‘Cai.’ His name, or, rather, his nickname slips out of my mouth without my thinking about it.

His lips twist into a smile under mine, and he gently breaks the kiss to look at me.

Laying on top of his impressive body, I blush. ‘Sorry—I—’

He shakes his head. ‘No.’ He brushes my messy, tangled hair out of my eyes. ‘I love that. I loved when you called me that, Zen.’

I nuzzle into him, tracing my finger through the hard dips and recesses between his muscles. ‘I… I never thought that would happen,’ I admit. ‘That… that’s…’ Nothing like I’ve ever experienced with those two male witches. Nothing like anything I’ve read about, I think, without sharing with him.

But he can sense something. ‘What?’ He kisses the top of my head. ‘Tell me.’

‘When there’s emotion, that connection…’ A shudder passes over me. It was perfect.

Mordecai smiles, kissing my cheek. I’m so glad. And yes, it was. ‘Come on, sexy, let’s get you something to eat. You must be hungry.’

He pulls me off him gently.

‘I am, actually.’ I pick up my shredded shirt and bra and offer a playful glare. ‘I have no other clothes, you monster.’

He winks at me and offers me his shirt. I’m really not sorry.

I laugh and pull the grey shirt he was wearing yesterday over my head, feeling a little exposed without a bra, but it’s baggy enough, I hope. I pull on my jeans which, thankfully are not ruined. ‘Mordecai—’

He wiggles over to me, his jeans still undone. ‘Cai,’ he says lightly, a smile dancing on his lips.

I blink at him, then tilt my head. ‘You’re both, you know. Cai, the one I—my mate. And Mordecai, the hard-ass alpha.’

‘Hmm.’ He pulls me closer so that I’m looking down at him between my legs. ‘Well, which do you prefer?’

‘All of you.’ Maybe Cai, when it’s just us? When you’re soft and sweet?

He barks a laugh. ‘How dare you speak to your alpha that way?’ He pulls me into his arms with a growl.

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