Consumed (Blood Ties Book 9)

“Looks like it’s our turn.” Riven eased closer, pulling my focus toward him.

I hesitated, searching for the flicker of pain or horror in Thomas’ stare. But it didn’t come, instead he smiled and eased back. “I think I’m going to enjoy this.”

“You’re not the only one.” Riven murmured as he grabbed my side and pulled.

I flipped over. One minute I was staring up at him, the next, my face was buried in the bedding.

“On your knees, Trouble.”

Jesus…when he said my name like that, I knew I was in for it. His arm slid around my waist and lifted, easing my lower half upwards. I clenched my fist in the sheets and glanced over my shoulder. All of them watched as Riven ran his hand over the curve of my ass.

Slap.

I bucked with the sound. But there was no pain, just the slow caress of his hand over the burn until his lips met my flesh. “I don’t think we’ve shared with the others how good you’ve been lately, have we?”

My pulse raced as he lifted those dark eyes to mine.

“Hunter might be the one pushing you to run up the damn mountain, but I’ve been the one pushing you in other ways. Want to share with them, precious?”

My body reacted without my mind. My head nodded, knees slid against the sheets, already desperate to feel him.

“Oh fuck.” Hunter growled.

“Yes, oh fuck.” Riven slid his hand between my thighs, his fingers pushing into the slick his brother left behind.

I couldn’t get pregnant, not by them. Safe. Secure. Protected. They gave me everything and took nothing. Warm, wet trails came from his touch as he moved higher, sliding over my ass before he stopped, then slowly pushed in.

“That’s it. That’s the girl.”

The pressure grew and grew and grew. As exhausted as my body was, it wanted this, craved this, coming alive as he pushed his finger in deeper before sliding it out.

“Two now, baby.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, the pressure building until there was the burn.

“If you don’t get in there, brother, then I sure as hell will.” Hunter’s deep growl was predatory, which only made me push back against the thrust.

“You’ll need to wait your turn.” Riven pushed against me, forcing me to turn back.

I knew what was coming. My body opened and my breaths raced. I forced myself to focus on my fists, on the feel of the sheets between my fingers and the slide of his hard cock between my thighs as he coated himself, then pushed the head of his cock in.

The hard ring of muscle clamped tight, forcing him back out. With a low growl, he eased back in, the tip pushing in and out, gaining ground with every thrust.

I unleashed a moan, lifting my head as the bed dipped hard.

“Let me underneath her.” Hunter slid closer, grasping me around the waist lifting me in the air. I hit his hard chest, his powerful thighs forced my legs wider until the tendons between my legs felt the stretch.

“Oh, Jesus.” Hunter groaned as the head of his cock brushed my core, gently pushing in as he shifted.

I looked down at him then gently gripped his jaw, forcing his gaze to mine. The connection ignited as he eased the thick head of his cock all the way inside me. My pussy stretched, taking in his massive length, and at the same time, Riven pushed back inside my ass, then slowly retreated.

I dropped my head, my body consumed by the feel of them.

“That’s it.” Riven grunted. “Open your body for us.”

Hunter slowly thrust, the invasion matched by Riven as the head slipped inside. I panted and dropped my head, my whole focus on the slight burn of my ass as he pushed in deeper, rubbing against his brother inside me.

Hunter thrust, which made Riven moan, then ease out, only to drive in harder, pushing my body to its limit. They were all I could feel, stretching, aching, making me rock my hips with the lunges, desperate for more.

“Kane.” I turned my head, finding him watching. “Please.”

He gave a smile and skirted the bottom of the bed, climbing up onto his knees. We’d never been all together before, not like this…Jesus, not like this.

Kane cupped my cheek, then lowered his head, staring directly into my eyes. “If you could only see yourself right now.”

I shivered with the sensation of them, overwhelmed and at the same time craving more. Slick sounds came between us. I lowered my head, grunting as Hunter picked up pace. I wasn’t going to last like this…not long at all. I slid my hand down Kane’s chest to the firm ridges of his stomach, then lower until I cupped him.

“Oh fuck,” He moaned.

My spine curled as I lowered my head. My lips met the slick skin of his rigid cock as I opened my mouth and forced him all the way inside.

“Sweet Jesus,” He groaned and grasped the back of my head, following the movement as I eased away and then drove my head down harder with the thrust.

I closed my eyes, pinching them tight as my body clenched and quivered.

“Hold on, baby.” Riven grunted, thrusting all the way deep inside. “Just…hold…the…fuck…on.”

But I couldn’t, one last thrust of Hunter’s cock sent me over the edge. I opened my mouth, driving down on Kane as my body took over, quivering and clenching. White sparks ignited. I held on, driven upwards by Hunter and slammed forward by Riven.

“Fuck.” Riven grunted before he stilled.

Warmth filled me, a delicious wave of ecstasy slamming into me. Kane’s hold on my head grew stronger as he kept thrusting. Hunter gave a growl, slamming into me as Riven slipped free, and ran his hand along my back. “That’s it, Trouble. Fuck, you look like trouble right now. Take him all in.”

I drove down as Hunter gave a grunt, his cock kicking inside me. Kane’s balls tightened. “That’s it…that’s fucking ittt.”

Their warmth filled me, spurting down my throat and inside my pussy. I swallowed, brushing my thumb across the mess as he eased free.

“Take it all in, precious,” Kane murmured.

I licked my thumb, meeting his intense stare as he leaned down. His hold was softer, caressing my cheek as he kissed me. “Such a good girl.”

My pulse was booming, thundering in my head a little louder with the praise. I’d do anything for them…be anything…just for one more smile and whisper of pride.

“Baby.” Hunter gripped my hips, his heavy breath a blast as he rose and kissed my breasts. “You are fucking incredible.”

My core pulsed, like a ticking engine as it cooled. Kane released his hold, leaving me to look down at his brother.

“If I wasn’t starving before, I’m goddamn famished now.”

“Me too,” Thomas added.

“And me.” Riven pulled away, bending to grab his pants from the floor before he stopped and looked my way. “Baby?”

I willed my body to move, easing from straddling Hunter’s massive thighs and slipped from the bed. “Food sounds delicious,” I answered, unable to remember the last time we all ate.

We all went downstairs, cooked and laughed, even if the sound was a little strained. When our bellies were full, we climbed the stairs once more. Hunter went to his room, Thomas and Kane to theirs. I followed Riven into his bathroom where he waited, bare chested.

I stopped in front of him, staring into his eyes as he pulled the clothes from my body and then his own. We showered, taking the small moments together to love and touch each other in silence. When we were done, he switched the shower off, then grabbed a towel.

We needed no words, just each other’s presence, until I couldn’t hold back any longer. “You know what I need to do, right?”

“I know.”

He might. But that didn’t mean he liked it. In fact, as he tied a towel around his waist and walked into the bedroom, picking up the pillows we dislodged from us earlier, he grew colder.

“If it was you who could use and exploit someone, you’d have no problem doing that.”

“That’s right.” He turned, threw the pillow high against the headboard, and met my gaze. “If you think you’ll come out of this unscathed, then think again. This is going to torture you. This is going to⁠—”

I crossed the room, naked, and brushed my fingers along his cheek. “I’m already tainted, already tortured. We all are and if this can get us closer to the end, then I’ll use whatever connection to him I have.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I know you don’t.”

“If he tries anything.” The warning was loud and clear.

He wasn’t worried about the Son hurting me. He knew he wouldn’t. No, there was only jealousy burning in his stare.

“He won’t. Because I won’t let him.”

“He’s a dead man either way.” Riven’s dark eyes glinted.

I knew that. Still, it weighed on me.

“HE’S SAID NOTHING.” Finley glanced at the door. “My men worked on him all night. Hell, even Tobias stayed back to have a go.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I glance at Tobias, standing next to Ryth. They both still looked like hell, and he held his bloodied fist carefully by his side. I knew exactly what kind of ‘conversation’ he’d had with the Son.

“You’re not going to get anything out of him,” Finley added, drawing my focus back. “Not anymore.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

He didn’t answer. I guessed that was reply enough. “Shit,” I muttered as I turned away.

“Don’t even bother,” Finley called.

But I would, because we had a lot riding on this. I scanned the massive room we’d taken over in the Salvatore mansion and saw way too many suits for my liking. They all milled around London, some of them on their cells as they called in favors or sent money. But they were here to fight, and that meant something.

Vivienne caught my eye. Her weak smile looked sad as she stood next to London. This was taking a toll on all of us, but especially her. I lowered my gaze to her belly. God, she must be in pain. But she said nothing as she glanced London’s way when he spoke to her.

His guarded stare met mine before he gave a slow nod. I greeted him with one of my own before I turned around and slowly headed for the door. It was time to see what kind of damage I was dealing with.

“Trouble.” Riven waited for me outside the room, leaning back against the wall. “You’re still going through with this?”

If there was a way I could get through to the cold, calculating killer and get information on how to get to Hale, then I’d do almost anything.

“Don’t try to change my mind.” I said and walked past.

He shoved off the wall and followed as I turned along the hallway and headed for the smaller, secure room. A guard stood outside, scowling at the sight through the open door. I stopped, glanced over my shoulder to Riven, and shook my head.

But he didn’t leave, not right away, until I stepped up to the guard and said, “Thank you, I’ll take it from here.”

What was it with these men? The guard turned his scowl toward me, but I ignored it as I walked through the door and into the room.

The Son sat on the floor in almost the same spot I’d left him last night. But then he lifted his busted face and found me through the slit of one swollen eye.

“Daughter,” He croaked. “Told you you’d come back.”

“Jesus Christ.” I jerked forward and sank to my knees beside him.

I didn’t even think about how dangerous he was at that moment, nor did I care how close I was. I grasped his jaw carefully and turned his head. His cheek was split open, by the gaping wound it looked like from a ring of some kind. But Tobias didn’t wear a ring, not that I remembered at least.

“Why do you care, I’ll be dead soon anyway.”

The way he said it hit me hard. My chest tightened and my fingers trembled. I swallowed hard. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not? It’s true, isn’t it?” He glanced at the open door. “It’s only a matter of time. Doesn’t matter anyway. I’m good to go now…now I’ve seen you.”

Surprise hit me. I froze, my fingers still curled against his bloody cheek. It wasn’t love that I felt…but it was something. “What is it that connects us?”

He gave a soft shrug.

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? You feel this, right?”

He didn’t answer, but that piercing stare never wavered. He felt it.

“We were created in a lab, then handed over to those who ran the orphanages. They kept us together for a while, did you know that? Sons and Daughters, in the same place. Just long enough for us to understand we were connected somehow. Maybe it was what they did to us when the eggs were fertilized, maybe it was that soul-sucking place. All I know is that when they broke us apart, it was the most brutal day of my entire life. Far worse than today…however it plays out.”

He was talking about his expected death.

And still, the day he was ripped away from the Daughters had hurt more.

“Why?” The word slipped free.

“Because they kept us alive after. When I die, I’m free, free of this world and their control.”

That ache moved higher, thickening my throat until it was painful.

“You’ll never get in, you know that, don’t you?”

The words were so quiet I barely heard them.

“Get in?”

“The warehouse where Hale is…or he was, at least.”

I shook my head, hating how my voice was choking. A tear slipped down my cheek and I turned my head, swiping it away.

“Unless I tell you how.”

I swung my gaze back to his. To that slither of darkness between his bloodied swollen lids. Panic rose instantly, making me shake my head and look toward the door. “Don’t then.”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t tell us. I know it’s crazy. It’s all we want, all everyone wants. To get inside and put a bullet in Hale’s head and every other bastard who stands with him. But you and I know what will happen if you do.”

His focus never wavered. “They’ll kill me.”

The tears came again, warm and slick, only this time I didn’t brush them. I left them and nodded slowly.

“Still it’d be better than you leaving. Better than never seeing you again. Better than never feeling this right now, this connection.”

“I do feel it.”

The smile was more of a wince as his split lip widened. “Yeah, I feel it too.”

He lifted his hands, now cuffed in front of him, and his rough thumb brushed my cheek. “There’s a door,” he said. “On the northeast side of the warehouse that’s not far from the private airfield. The door is small, you’d miss it really, trying to break down the main doors. It has a keypad, the code is sixteen-oh-one. You get in that door and it’ll take you straight down a hallway to where Hale’s private quarters are. He’s running, I know that. But he wants his daughter first, the one he fathered with the woman whose husband did this to me.”

“Lazarus.”

He nodded slowly.

“He’s going to come for the child and he’s going to unleash all the Sons to do it. There’s no stopping it…unless you get to him first.”

Get to him first.

Get to him first.

It’s all that filled my mind.

“You’re going to have to hurry, Daughter. If you want to catch him.”

I pulled my hand away and shoved up from the floor. Hurry…hurry…hurry. We now had a code and a way in. All we needed was a location.

“Run, run, run,” He murmured.

I spun around and lunged for the door. All I could think about was Kat and that precious dark-haired little girl. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t…

I slammed through the doorway, sidestepped the guard lingering outside and raced down the hallway.

“Anna!” I roared. “Anna! I have a code and a⁠—”

Bang!

I stopped and spun around, staring at the open door of that room…with my heart breaking in two.

He’d killed him.

He’d…KILLED HIM.

“No…no…no…no.” Anguish tore through my chest. “We have a way in,” I croaked. “We have a way to Hale.”