“Luca,” I gasp, my heart beating too fast.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you,” I blurt. His rhythm stutters, and I rush ahead. “And I’m not saying it because your dick is amazing or because I might die soon, or because you said it to me first and I feel guilty for not saying it back. I’m saying it because I don’t ever want to spend another day without you, and I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“Yes!” He groans against my ear; his chest pressed to my back. “Say it again while you strangle my cock.”
“I love you, Luca,” I repeat, sobbing the words against the wall.
His hand comes down on my ass cheek. The crack echoes through the tunnel as he thrusts into me one final time and stiffens, groaning in my ear. “I love you too, baby.”
Another orgasm rolls through me. This one is smaller, but it’s more than my exhausted body can take. My muscles turn to jelly, and if it weren’t for Luca fixing my clothes and helping me get moving, I would still be lying here in a pile of limbs when Lyss comes back.
“If the fight doesn’t end soon, they’ll call it,” Luca says. His raspy voice sends another convulsion through me. On cue, the bell rings, motivating me to move faster.
We step into the brightly lit locker room hand in hand. It’s not as crowded as it was earlier. A lot of the fightersleft to watch the earlier bouts from the private balcony Resker gave us a code to access. Thorn is nowhere in sight.
Not crowded doesn’t mean empty, and I see every sly smirk tossed my way. One guy winks at me and opens his mouth, only to close it again after glancing over my shoulder.
I narrow my eyes, annoyed that Luca is the one he’s scared of.
He should be scared of me.
I’m the one who won a brutal fight, and I’m no less deadly to him because he finds me hot. For fuck’s sake, I lit someone on fire.
Tits turn men into fools.
“You can beat him up next time, baby,” Luca says, his breath tickling my neck.
“Fingers crossed.” I return the idiot’s wink. He blanches and goes back to wrapping his hands. “How did you get in here?” I ask Luca as I tug the heavy metal door open.
“Threats.” He shrugs, ignoring my sharp look.
The door swings shut behind us with another horrific whine, and I find myself face-to-face with the oddest standoff I’ve ever seen.
Alistair leans against the wall, ankles crossed, in a pose that’s too deliberate to be casual, and Malach stands rigidly across from him, his beefy arms crossed. The tension between them crackles, and I slump, exhaustion getting the better of me.
“Are you hurt?” Malach asks. His green eyes scan me for injuries.
I shake my head and force a small smile. Alistair says nothing, but his gaze is hot and thorough as it sweeps me from head to toe.
“Do you want to watch the rest of the fights?” Luca asks me, running his thumb over the top of my hand.
“No.” I squeeze his fingers and shift my weight, wincing as I feel the coating of sweat, magical residue, and cum on my skin. “I’ve had enough of the cage for one night.” All I want is to get home and scrub myself clean.
Without a word, they fall in around me: Luca on my right, Alistair on my left, and Malach behind me. I shake my head. I fought a powerful fae and won, but they think I need bodyguards to make it through a crowd?
My lips twitch. It’s ridiculous. Absurd. Why do I love it so much?
THIRTEEN
Enclave Edict #2408:
Since our previous edicts continue to be overlooked, let this one serve as a reminder: you’re still forbidden from using magic in front of humans.
CIPRIAN
She is a force. Unstoppable.
