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“Oh.” I looked at the little bottle with newfound respect. I’d rather it was a damn cheeseburger and fries, but if it could take the edge of the gnawing hunger in my belly, that would do just as well.
“Yeah.” Then Trace grimaced. “The unfortunate thing is, it’s not actually food. So even though it’ll give us a boost of energy and keep us going, that effect is sort of an illusion. If we go too long without eating, we’ll still die, even if the potion keeps us feeling okay. So we’ll have to find food eventually.”
“Hey, anything that keeps me from having to hunt godly realm bunnies right now?” I chuckled. “I’m all for it.”
“Thought you might be.”
He leaned forward, clinking his little bottle against mine. Then we both drank half before handing the bottles off to the other two.
I didn’t exactly feel like my belly was full, but the hunger faded from my awareness, and the exhaustion eating away at me lessened. The sun was almost fully down by now, and although I wished we could light a fire, I knew it was a bad idea. A glow on the mountainside would be like a beacon to the gods and other students who were hunting us.
As night fell, the four of us settled into our makeshift shelter, talking and joking amongst ourselves. It was strange, how these little moments of calm found their way into the chaos of our lives, giving us flashes of peace and normality even in what was inarguably an insane situation.
I was grateful for it, and I couldn’t help the little smile that quirked my lips as I gazed around at the three men who had become my lovers and my best friends.
Even in the dark, Trace caught me looking. His shadowed blue eyes softened as his gaze met mine, as if he could read each of my thoughts clearly in that moment.
“We’re better with you, Snow,” he said softly. Merrick and Lach, who had been bantering about which one of them was more likely to be a better hunter, broke off, turning to gaze at me too as Trace spoke.
“What do you mean?” Warmth spread through my belly at the way they were all looking at me.
“We were friends before we met you, but we’re so much more than that now. These guys are my fuckin’ brothers, and the thing that brought us together like this is you. We’d die for each other,” Trace said, not a hint of humor or irony in his voice. “And we’d die for you.”
His words didn’t exactly shock me. After all, I had thought similar things about all of them, about what I would be willing to do to protect them. But still, hearing it out loud? Seeing the sincerity in his face by the light of the stars and moon above us, and seeing that same sincerity in the other two men as well?
It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, but in the best way. As if I’d finally hit the ground after the long plunge of falling in love with these three men. But instead of killing me, the landing somehow made me feel more alive.
These men were mine. I was theirs.
I hated to thank the gods for anything, but if I did, it would be for this.
Chapter Thirteen
When I woke, the sky above was a purplish blue, bruised by the coming dawn. I shifted a little against the warm bodies that encased me, feeling Lachlan’s arm tighten around me as he pulled me closer to him.
Memories of the first night we spent together in that cave came rushing back. Gods, so much had changed since then. That morning, I’d been embarrassed as fuck when I came fully awake and realized I’d been grinding against Lachlan’s morning wood like a stripper giving a first-class lap dance.
This morning?
There wasn’t an ounce of shame in me as I pressed back against his hard on, rubbing my ass against him as my pussy throbbed.
Godsdammit. I don’t want to find any stupid gem. I want to stay in this little shelter and fuck these men until none of us can walk.
Maybe he sensed my thoughts, because Lach’s deep chuckle rumbled against my back. His lips found the back of my neck, and for a moment, we just gave in to the desire the swirled between us, our bodies moving together as we each pushed each other higher.
But before I could reach behind me and push his pants out of the way to free his cock, he sighed, his warm breath ghosting over my cheek.
“We should wake the others,” he murmured roughly. “We need to get started searching for that fuckin’ gem. The sooner we find it and get the hell out of here, the better the chances of everyone makin’ it back to school alive.”
Frustration barreled through me, but I knew he was right.
“Dammit,” I muttered. “Why did I have to go and fall in love with such good fucking guys? All selfless and shit.”
“Ha. Takes one to know one, Snow.” He rolled me over onto my back and leaned over me, his green eyes shining as he gazed down at me. “Ye’re the best woman I know.”
Reaching up, I brushed my fingers over his broad chest. “You need to get out more.”
He laughed again, making Merrick stir beside us. “I get out plenty, thanks. And I mean it. Life with my club taught me a lot, but one of the biggest things it did was teach me what true leadership means. My club president—that man is a fuckin’ leader. The boys and I would’ve followed him anywhere.” His gaze grew serious, his fingertips trailing down the side of my face. “And that’s the whole point. We would’ve followed him. Because he never led from behind, never gave orders and then sat back or hid away and let us take on the hard work. He was always right there with us. Just like ye.”
