I sit on the edge of Dax’s bed, the familiar creak of the old springs beneath me a reminder of countless moments shared in this space. “Now, lay down for me.”
As he complies, I shift my gaze at the wound that marred his skin, a stark contrast against the tan canvas. My eyes linger on the jagged edges of the injury. With a gentle wave of my hand, I summon the energy that swirls within me—an ancient force that has ebbed and flowed through countless lifetimes. I can feel it building, a warm current that rises like a tide, eager to spill forth. The magic flows out of my fingertips with ease from years of practice; each healing touch is a testament to the thousand times I have restored Dax’s vitality over the centuries. It requires almost no energy from me, a wellspring of power drawn from the depths of my being as I channel it into mending both flesh and spirit.
In an instant, the wound begins to close, the skin knitting itself together like a tapestry mending its frayed edges. Though we can heal ourselves, it takes time and effort, adance of concentration that is often much more straightforward when applied to others. It can be quite a challenge to summon that same power within oneself, and efficiency, in those moments, seems just out of reach.
“It’s okay, Adonis. I’m fine,” Dani says again, assuring him. Her face is stained with a mixture of hers and the shadowmires blood, and I can smell Dax’s faintly on her too.
I get up from the bed and make my way toward her. As I approach, I gently place my hand on her shoulder, feeling the warmth radiating from her. Her enchanting green eyes meet mine, shimmering like emeralds in the soft light of Dax’s room. She lifts her delicate hand and gently captures mine, pulling it closer. With a tender smile, she presses her soft, velvety lips to my palm, a sweet and intimate gesture that speaks volumes—an unspoken reassurance that she is truly okay.
“I was on a run, and then the mist started coming in. I knew bad shit was about to happen and tried to outrun it, but the mist played mind tricks with me.”
I grab a towel from Dax’s bathroom and hand it to Dani. “Thank you,” she replies as she stands up, wraps it around her waist, and then kicks off her shoes. Dani sits beside Dax on his bed while Adonis and I stand, listening to her.
Gods, she is fucking covered in blood… The only reason I know she is okay is because I can smell Dax all over her.
“I saw my dad… but it wasn’t him, obviously. And I started running and found a tree that I hid in. But the shadowmire found me, thanks to my self-inflicted stab wounds.” My eyes go wide, and she catches me. “I was running with a knife and fell, cutting myself. I didn’t actually do it on purpose…”
Dani shares the rest of the story with us. She tells us about Suzanna, not just this time, but also the time she saw her at work. Dani mentions that Suzanna has eyes similar to hers, and Adonis speculates that she might be a relative of Dani’s. I’ll definitely look into it.
I’ll do anything for her.
“I would like to shower,” she says.
“That sounds like a nice idea,” Dax interjects, a wickedly beautiful smile spreading across his face, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Good call. You two look like shit,” Adonis quips with a playful smirk. He reaches out, gently cupping Dani’s face in his large hands, his thumb brushes softly against her cheek. Leaning down, he presses his lips against hers, a tender moment charged with unspoken feelings that have Dax and me feeling like we are intruding.
As he straightens up, he meets her gaze, and for a brief instant, their eyes speak volumes—words unuttered yet profoundly understood. Adonis finally turns and steps out of the room with a reluctant nod, leaving behind a whirlwind of emotions.
“Alright… well, I’ll leave you to shower.” I turn to walk away, but Dani grabs my hand. “Stay. Please.” She bites her lower lip—gods, when she does that, she doesn’t know what it does to me.
“Gladly,” I say.
“I’ll get the shower ready,” Dax says. He walks down his hall, leaving Dani and me alone for just a moment. I grab her and pull her into my arms.
“I was so worried about you, sunshine. I knew Dax found you, but I still wanted to come to you too.”
She leans her head back so she can look at me. “Because of our bond?”
“Yes, because you are my mate, and our bond is complete. I will always be able to find you, even if it’s not in this lifetime. You will always be my mate, Dani.” I lean down and kiss her lips.
Her tongue slips into my mouth unexpectedly, so I deepen our kiss by grabbing her jaw and catch her bottom lip in my teeth. She moans in response, dropping the towel to the ground. She pushes me back up against the wall.
“I need you, Killian,” she pants.
“And I need you.” I smile at her, standing still, captivated by her. She is breathtaking, a stunning presence that makes the world around us fade into insignificance whenever we’re together. It’s as if time pauses, allowing me to savor her beauty and the depth of our connection. Nothing else holds any weight—neither my wings nor the full extent of my powers can compare to the importance of her. She is my sole focus, my heart’s desire, my mate, and nothing else matters but her.
“And I need you both to get your fine asses in my steaming hot shower,” Dax steps out from the hallway completely naked.
Dani now faces Dax. I grab her waist, pull her body against mine, and press my hard cock against her back. She throws her head back and makes the sweetest little sound.
I bend down and trail my tongue along her ear while my other hand slides slowly down her body. My hand reaches her warm pussy, and I circle her clit.
“You are soaked,” I say as my lips trace her ear.
“Always for you,” she whispers back.
I keep circling her clit as she faces Dax. “While I’m touching you, Dani, I want you to say Dax’s name as you moan.” I slip two fingers inside of her and start pumping in and out.
