Page 9 of Midnight Conviction

Connecting the dots, Atlas makes a noise of understanding. “That’s why she needs one of us with her all the time.” He sighs, and I feel as he reaches up, most likely to ruffle his hair—something I’ve noticed he does when he’s stressed. “Her power is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. She’s more powerful than the queen, but she just doesn’t know it, nor does she know how to wield it.”

It’s Nicolai’s turn to tense up, his body stiff against mine. “Wait,” he starts, concern making his voice tight as he realises the same thing I do. “That makes her a big threat to your queen.”

Atlas hums in agreement, the tension in the room increasing as they contemplate this new danger.

“That’s why neither of them can ever know.” Atlas’s voice has dropped even lower, trying to make sure I don’t hear and question what he’s talking about.

Except, I’ve already heard. I’m stronger than the queen. There have been little clues that I’ve picked up from those around me while I’ve been trying to learn control over my magic that have hinted at this. Knowing it for sure, though, is something entirely different. It also explains why the queen is trying to have such an iron grip on her control over me. Atlas says that she doesn’t know, but I’m sure she suspects. I need to learn to master it quickly.

Their continued quiet conversation goes over my head, as I’m too far into my own thoughts on the queen and my magic.We are more powerful than you think, the dark presence whispers in my mind, and I shudder at the fear and excitement that the prospect gives me. My mates feel the movement, and their voices cut off.

“Mate?” Atlas asks quietly, the word sending a thrill through me.

I shuffle and stretch, a sleepy noise escaping me as I arch my back. Slowly blinking my eyes open, I glance first at Nicolai, who’s directly in front of me, then tilt my head up to find Atlas looking down at me. Being pressed between the two of them like this is certainly a good way to wake up. My libido seems to think so too, and arousal begins to burn low in my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I push it away. I have much more important things to be thinking about than fucking my mates.

A gentle finger brushes my cheek, and I know it’s Nicolai before I even turn my attention to him. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his touch soft.

The way these two males touch me is completely different, just as they are. You could blindfold me, and I’d still be able to identify who was touching me simply from how they do it. Nicolai’s touches are gentler, more reverent, whereas Atlas’s are more forceful. My witch mate knows what he wants and exactly how he’s going to get it.

Focusing on the question, I give him a wry smile. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” Remembering how all of this happened, I jolt upright, causing Nicolai to move back with a frown and Atlas to release me with an unhappy grumble. I pay no heed, my mind on one thing only.

“Syn. Where is he? Is he okay?” Guilt floods me. I can’t believe I allowed myself to forget. He needs me, and I’m not there for him. After all he went through to get to me, and I was sleeping in a comfortable bed surrounded by two of my mates.

Nicolai takes my hand, threading our fingers together in an attempt to calm me. “We’ll take you to see him soon. The queen ordered that no one bother him for a few hours.”

Not pausing to question how he knows this, I shake my head and pull my hand away. Later, I’ll figure out that Ivar probably told him, but this seems like insignificant information right now compared to what I really need to know.

“I don’t care.” Pushing up onto my knees, I attempt to climb past Nicolai and over Atlas’s legs, but my vision goes fuzzy, and the world seems to tilt. Falling back onto my butt, I screw my eyes shut as I wait for the dizziness to pass. “I need to see him,” I mumble, dropping my head into my hands and taking deep breaths as I fight the nausea. The urge in my chest to go to my mate is so strong, it’s a physical ache in my chest.

“The guards won’t let you leave the room,” Atlas tells me bluntly, not trying to soften the blow. “Don’t test the queen on this. Just rest for a few hours, and then you can visit him.”

He’s right. Pushing the queen when she just threatened Syn’s life would be a stupid, impulsive thing to do. I have to play by her rules, at least for now. Making the decision to leave Syn down there, not knowing what they are doing to him or where he is, is one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do. I reach for my bond with Syn, and I’m slightly reassured by the fact that I can feel him now that he’s in Haven, even if all I can sense is numbness. I assume that means he’s still in Luna’s magically induced sleep. She won’t let anything happen to him while she’s there, so I should make the most of this time like Atlas suggested.

My whole body hurts, and I feel so exhausted, yet I feel restless, and I have no idea how to expend that energy while locked away in my room. It feels like I’ve got electricity zipping through my veins, my skin prickling and sensitive. I open my eyes, and I’m glad to see the room has stopped spinning. “I can’t rest.”

Atlas suddenly pulls me back against him, his arms wrapping around me and holding me tight. Leaning down, he nips my earlobe between his teeth. “Then let us look after you.”

I know exactly what he’s suggesting. A thrill shoots through me, and my body becomes hyperaware of his touch, not to mention my brain picks up on the fact that he used the word “us.” Atlas and I weren’t going to bond yet, and my mind hasn’t changed, even though my body seems to have other ideas. Arousal makes my cheeks flush as dirty images of the three of us flash through my mind.

“Atlas, I’m not—”

He knows what I’m going to say next and presses his finger against my lips, stopping me.

“I’m not going to fuck you,” he whispers in my ear, and I don’t know why I find that such a turn-on, but I bite down on my lip to stop myself from moaning. “When we do have sex for the first time, I want your full attention on me.” The dirty words keep coming, and my eyes lock onto Nicolai, who’s watching the two of us together with an intense expression.

“Luckily there’s plenty I can do with my hands and mouth,” Atlas continues, “and you happen to have another mate here who looks like he needs you as much as you need us.”

My eyes scan Nicolai, and just like Atlas said, the telltale signs of his arousal are clear to see. Even though Nicolai’s not said anything nor made a move, I can see the strain on his face and hear the excited, frantic beat of his heart. With his pupils blown wide, he looks at me with a hunger I’m starting to recognise in him. He may be the sweetest of my four mates, but bonding with me has changed something inside him and brought a more dominant side forward.

He closes the distance between us until he’s kneeling before me, so close our chests are almost brushing as his hands land on my waist. Although he looks confident and in control, I can feel his true feelings through the bond. He’s still in awe, not believing that this is really happening. He knows in his heart that he’s my mate, but his mind is playing tricks on him. A tiny smile pulls at my lips, and this seems to encourage him. With speedy hands, he undoes my dress and helps me remove it. Syn’s blood has soaked down to my skin, but he doesn’t seem to care as he looks down at me like I’m the most beautiful female he’s ever seen. Our lips meet, and we kiss like lovers. The taste of him on my tongue makes me groan. I could easily become addicted to this.

Atlas is still behind me, his chest pressed to my back. One hand slides up my shoulder and comes to rest on the side of my neck. He applies the slightest bit of pressure—not enough to cut off my air, but enough for my heart to pound in my chest and a bolt of arousal to shoot straight down to my clit. His free hand isn’t idle for long, skimming up my side and cupping my right breast. Kneading the soft flesh with his large hand, he tweaks my nipple, dragging a gasp from me. Chuckling, he kisses my neck and sucks my flesh into his mouth, biting gently and continuing to play with my nipple.

I can already feel the wetness between my legs. Having them together like this turns me on. This is a combination I never thought I’d experience, but I say nothing in case I jinx it and they stop.

Nicolai seems to sense this, and his fingers probe at the waistband of my leggings, pushing them down with my underwear. Atlas steadies me as I kneel, allowing Nicolai to remove them until I’m naked before them. With deft hands, Atlas repositions me in front of him, his hands returning to my neck and breast.

Nicolai kisses me as his fingers slip between my legs, finding the evidence of my arousal. Moaning against my lips, he slips his tongue into my mouth, our kiss becoming deeper and more passionate. He circles my clit, and I almost jump out of bed from the intense sensation. Every touch, kiss, and nip seems to be so much stronger than usual, my body hyperalert.

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