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I expect Tanner to object again but instead, he nods. “Alright.”

Turning to me, Mack says, “We also need to talk about what happened with the truck. Your power is growing, Nova. But we’re running out of time to harness it.”

Is he trying to tell me we should be focused on magick lessons instead of worrying about whether or not Sam is alive? I study his features. While Kole is stoic, Luther is grumpy, and Tanner wears his heart on his sleeve, Mack is… honest. Straight with me. There is never a double meaning to what he says or a hidden truth.

“Tomorrow,” I promise him.

He smiles at me and turns his gaze back to the fire. “Tomorrow.”

* * *

I close my eyes and wriggle down into my sleeping bag, but images of the hellhounds’ jaws flash through my brain. I push them away and inch closer to Mack. He is in front of me, Tanner is behind. Luther is by the cave entrance, ready to switch with Kole when it reaches midnight.

As Tanner loops his arms around my waist, I shuffle a little. My ass is against his crotch, and I’m wishing our sleeping bags weren’t separating us. Nuzzling into Mack’s strong shoulder, I slide my hands down his body. I’m fiddling with the zip on his sleeping bag when he turns around and cups my face in his hands. “Little Star, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I need to ask you to try again in the morning. I’m exhausted.”

I can’t help frowning. Mack has refused me before, but never because he’s too tired. Noticing the look on my face, his eyebrows twitch. His gaze flickers to my chest, then he says, “But not too exhausted to watch.”

Behind me, Tanner’s body has stiffened.

“Perhaps, not too exhausted to give orders?” I ask, biting my lower lip.

Mack’s eyes flash amber as he realizes what I’m saying. “Just you? Or do you want company?”

I like the idea of Mack watching me touch myself, but Tanner squeezes my hip and nibbles my ear; there is no way he’s going to be left out.

“Company,” I reply. “Definitely company.”

Instantly, looking over my head at Tanner, Mack barks, “Remove her sleeping bag then undress her.”

Tanner grins. “Whatever you say, Professor.” Scrambling out of his own sleeping bag, he kneels over me, legs straddling either side of my thighs, and unzips my warm fabric cocoon. As he peels it off me, and cool air meets my hands and feet, I’m not sure I’m warm enough to be stripped completely.

“By the fire,” Mack says, as if he’s reading my mind. “I want to see her glow.”

Obeying Mack’s command, Tanner stands, offers me his hand, and pulls me to my feet. Then he positions me as close to the flames as we can get. He’s lifting my shirt over my head when I notice Luther moving toward us in the shadows.

“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” he asks darkly as he stares at me from the other side of the fire. Through the flames, he looks deliciously dangerous; flickering shadows decorating his deep, ochre skin.

Tanner and I both look at Mack. He has climbed out of his sleeping bag and is sitting with his back against the cold cave wall, knees drawn up but wide enough apart for me to see the outline of the large bulge in his pants. There’s a pause while he stares at the three of us, then he mutters, “Did you pack any rope, Luther?” His tone is so gravely it scrapes my skin on impact. Just the word rope sends a flutter of nervous excitement to settle between my legs.

Without hesitating, as Tanner continues obeying Mack’s instruction to undress me, Luther strides to his pack and pulls out a large bundle of blue rope. I have no idea why he brought it, but the very sight of him carrying it toward me makes my mouth instantly dry.

When I’m naked, Tanner nods approvingly and adjusts himself. He’s in dark gray boxers, his top half illuminated by the fire, shadows emphasizing the dips and grooves in his muscular physique. “May I touch her?” he asks Mack politely, his fingers twitching at his sides.

“Only her arms,” Mack replies.

“Arms only,” Tanner whispers, running his hands over my skin, leaving a shiver in their wake.

“Enough,” Mack barks just as Tanner’s about to lean down and kiss the inside of my wrist.

For a moment, no one moves. Luther is on one side of me, holding his large cord of rope. Tanner is on the other, arms at his sides. I realize they’re waiting for Mack to tell them what to do.

“Tie her up,” Mack says. “Breasts, wrists, crotch.”

My eyes widen. I turn to Luther and he meets my gaze, inching a little closer. I take in the rope, and how good Luther’s strong fingers look curled around it, then I nod—almost imperceptibly—because I know he needs me to tell him it’s okay.

As soon as I give him a signal that I’m willing to surrender myself, Luther spins me to face Tanner and begins winding the dark blue rope around my body. I have no idea how he knows how to do this. Is he making it up? It doesn’t seem like he’s making it up.

“Loop this under her breasts,” he tells Tanner.