Page 124 of Kingdom of Aramis

“We have a lot to get through before we can even consider kids,” I warn him. “And remember, shifters are notoriously bad breeders. It might take a while.”

He scoffs. “Please, you have eight mates. All that baby batter will make the process quicker.”

I wrinkle my nose again, and the two of them laugh, breaking the tension.

Gem tosses the cloth to one side, and Gryffin climbs up the bed again, and the two of them surround me. Gryff licks over his bite mark as Gem snuggles into my breasts and sighs with contentment. I thread my hands into their hair and enjoy this small break in the chaos.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

Colbie

Igrumble when Liam bangs on the door and tells us we need to get moving. All I want to do is lie in front of the fire and enjoy snuggling with my two new mates, but that isn’t going to happen.

“Come on, we’re losing daylight. Let’s go,” he shouts, but he doesn’t come in. Brodie would have just let himself inside, so I appreciate Liam’s restraint. I groan and stretch and untangle myself from our pile. Gem mutters something and snuggles closer to Gryffin who just lifts his arm and pulls him closer. I giggle at the sight. Both of them are lightly dozing and don’t look like they have any intention to move.

“Fucking cockblock,” Gryffin grumbles as Liam bangs on the door again, but he kisses Gem. “Come on, we need to move. Colbie is in danger until we cross the plain and get to the village.”

Gem grumbles again and pushes a rogue curl back off his face. “Fine, but I vote we spend a couple of days doing nothing but fucking and snuggling when we get back.”

“Sure,” Gryffin agrees, stretching before getting to his feet. “After she’s crowned and challenge day is over.”

Gem grimaces and does the same thing, and the three of us get dressed. My clothes are in the bathroom where I left them, and when I return, the guys have covered up all their delicious, mouthwatering flesh, and I pout.

Gem winks. “Don’t worry, mate. You get all this for the rest of your life now,” he tells me, brushing a finger over the living flame beneath my skin on my chest, which is exposed by the small V-neck of my shirt. I shiver at the touch, and he grins.

“Right, let’s go. It’s still a bit of a distance, and Liam is right, we want to get to the village by dusk.” He waves a hand, and the fire in the hearth extinguishes with a puff of smoke. I blink in surprise.

“That’s handy,” I remark as we walk out the door.

“I’m not just a pretty face and a sexy body,” he retorts.

“No, but they help,” Gryffin teases as he follows us out. Gem scowls at him, but I know they are being playful. Before I can say anything, Brodie tackles me, sweeping me into his arms and swinging me around while planting little kisses all over my face.

“I missed you,” he says breathlessly when he finally puts me back on my feet. He rests his forehead on mine and sighs. “So much. My wolf has been howling, insisting we join the three of you in front of the fire, but I told him he had to wait. There is plenty of time for group activities.” My eyes widen at his suggestion, and his lips turn up in a grin.

“Group activities?”

“Yes, baby. When all your mates worship you together. Imagine eight cocks and tongues seeing to your every want and desire.”

My sated creature perks up and cracks open an eye, tempted by the suggestion, but then she closes it again. She knows wehave two more mate bonds to seal soon, and she’s resting in preparation.

“No time for that now,” Liam growls, snatching me out of Brodie’s arms and giving me a quick kiss. “Did they take care of you properly, mate?” he asks, his black eyes serious.

“Yes, they definitely did,” I promise him, and he releases me, looking pleased.

“Good, then let’s go. Hunter and Micah will be getting antsy, and I want to know if they found the equines.”

He shifts, as does Brodie and Gem. Gem takes off into the air, a loud screech echoing through the small clearing. I see him fly through the trees, his flames contained against his body so he doesn’t set them on fire, but he circles around before he is out of sight, waiting for us. I guess we’re not taking any chances again.

Gryffin shifts, but I hold up the backpack. “Are we taking this with us?”

He shakes his big tiger head, but I hear Liam’s voice in my head.

No, Brodie and I polished off the jerky and water, and we won’t need it once we get to the village. I don’t want you getting tangled in it. We need to run fast if we are going to get to the village before dark.

I toss the bag back inside the cabin and pull the door closed before stepping down into the snow and shifting into tiger form. It’s a little smoother now, but there’s still a bite of pain. As soon as I stretch, Liam and Brodie move out, and Gryffin flanks me again. We move fast, almost in a full-on sprint, Gem keeping pace above. There is cloud cover now, and the forest seems darker and even quieter than before. All of us are on high alert, but nothing jumps out at us again, and we finally breach the edge of the forest. I pause, staring in awe at the mountainous Aramis Rift that seems to stretch forever, looming above the plain we need to cross. My tiger eyesight can see the village inthe distance, and there’s nothing between us and it that I can spot.