They swept out the door before she could respond to the old softy.
Which left her alone in the room with her mates.
Almost.
A jolt of excitement went through her for the first time at the thought of being allowed to claim Caedmon for her own.
She spun to face her mates…and pulled up short when she spotted Thanatos leaning casually against the wall. She narrowed her eyes, then gave him a sharp smile. “Why don’t you take the wolves for a walk?”
Without a command from her, the metal wolves camping around the room leapt to their feet and headed toward the door.
Thanatos lifted an amused brow, and she lifted her chin, refusing to be cowed at ordering about a fucking god. Surprisingly, he didn’t protest and ambled after the wolves.
Which, finally, left her alone with her mates.
Kincade strode toward her with a smile, not stopping until he was right in her space. He lifted her chin, giving her a kiss that sent her head spinning. When he pulled away, she swayed on her feet, every thought gone from her head.
She leaned against his chest and peered up at him. “What was that for?”
“Punishment.” He smirked down at her, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Punishment?” Her brows lifted, and amusement curled through her as she smiled up at him. “I don’t think you understand what the word means.”
The smile on his face vanished, and he leaned down and captured her chin. “You are perfect to us. The next time you doubt it, you will come to one of us and we’ll show you that you’re wrong.”
Her heart melted at his serious expression.
The rest of her mates gathered around her, each touching her in some way.
Ryder grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. “We’ll leave you alone with Caedmon.”
She tightened her hold on him when he went to pull away, and she slowly shook her head. “No, I would like you to stay.”
She glanced to where Caedmon stood to the side, watching them with an indecipherable expression on his face. “This is about more than me gaining another mate. This is about us accepting him into our family.'“
Caedmon couldn’t disguise the yearning that flared in his yellow eyes, the need to belong after being alone for so long. She slipped between her mates and came to stand in front of him. “Last chance to change your mind? My life will never be easy. I’ll never be the girl who will sit back and do nothing.” She gave him a wry smile and fluffed up the skirt of her dress. “Despite the way I look, I’m not the kind of girl who wears dresses. I don’t know how to cook. I suck at cleaning. Don’t even ask me to dust or sweep. Seriously, I’m allergic.”
She stepped closer until only a small space separated them, and her gaze caressed his face. “But if you need someone killed, I’m your girl. I’ll even help you get rid of the body. I’ll patch you up after a fight. With a houseful of people and trouble always around the corner, you’ll never be alone or bored again. While I might not be the most feminine woman, I will do my best to make a place for you in my life.”
She bit her lip in a sudden case of nerves. “Are you sure this is really what you want?”
Before she had a chance to take another breath, he crushed her to his chest, a slight purr rumbling under her ear. His grip was tight, like he never intended to let her go, a slight tremble to his body that made her snuggle closer. His body was surprisingly warm…and hard. Sleek muscles shifted under her fingertips as if seeking her touch, and she gave a hum of appreciation, a tiny spark of lust brushing along her body.
The scent of a wood burning stove on a cold winter morning wrapped around her, and she could taste the hint of plums in the air.
It felt like coming home.
Then he released her much sooner than she was ready. She bit her lip to keep a whimper from escaping and demand that he return.
And she lost her breath when he sat back on the bench, tugging her forward until she stood between his splayed thighs. He glanced up at her with an earnest expression, his hands trembling as he brushed his fingertips lightly against her skirt. “With all my soul. I’m yours in this life and beyond. It’s a privilege to be one of your mates, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Like dorks, the rest of her mates hooted and hollered as they cheered.
A burst of laughter escaped her at their enthusiasm, and Caedmon actually cracked a smile, pure happiness shining from his face, his arms coming to slide around her hips to pull her close.
Then he tilted his head to the side, offering his neck, the long strands of his silky black hair sliding to the side. Something about the strong cords of his neck made her want to lean over and lick him. She nibbled on her bottom lip, then ran her tongue over her very blunt teeth. “Um…how does this work? I don’t exactly have any fangs.”
Caedmon jerked his head toward her, scanning her face, as if trying to judge if she’d changed her mind.
