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A chill races over my naked body, leaving goosebumps in its wake, despite the warm air outside. There’s no one out here to see us, but being out here butt ass naked for the world to see, turns my stomach nervously. I look up at him to voice my concerns—even though I’m not entirely sure what they are—but he cuts off my worries with a kiss.
He immediately brings his hands around to grab my ass, squeezing and lifting me until I’m standing on my tiptoes. It’s so unexpected, so unlike him, that I can’t help but swoon. If his intention was to completely distract me, he’s done so flawlessly.
He lifts me onto the banister, his hands firmly secured on my ass, and presses against me. His closeness, coupled with the fact that I’m sitting on a ledge three stories up, makes my heart race and my thoughts spin out of control.
“What if someone sees us?” I breathe, as he lines the tip of his cock up with my slick folds and presses inside, making me gasp.
He growls, bending to bite the side of my neck as he buries himself deeper, and I whimper against the pain.
“Let them.”
After breaking his previous record and fucking me over the banister outside until I scream so loud everyone in the house can hear exactly what we’re up to, Rafe drags me back into bed with him and lets me lay my head on his chest. It still isn’t tender the way I want it to be—the way I feel it should be—but I’m so thoroughly fucked and exhausted that I don’t dwell on it for long. I just lay contently in silence with him until he breaks it.
“I’ll be leaving this evening on business,” he says out of nowhere, and I look up to find him staring up at the ceiling. Expressionless, serious. The way he always is.
“Oh?” I ask, knowing that his trips can last anywhere from a day to a week or longer. “When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure.”
I should have known better than to expect an in-depth explanation.
“Well, be safe.” I’m not sure what else to say. I can’t tell him I’ll miss him, even if it’s true—I doubt he’d care anyway. It’s not like he’s ever told me he missed me after a long trip.
“I’m not worried about me,” he says, finally lolling his head in my direction. His eyes lock with mine and flutters return to my stomach. “I need you to promise you’ll be cautious while I’m gone. The Malevs are getting bolder, more brazen. I’m afraid it won’t be much longer before they attack again, and I can’t protect you if I’m not here.”
The flutters turn to ice at his words and worry prickles over my skin. I’d suggest he take me with him if he’s that concerned about my safety, but the thought is laughable. Despite the hint of magic in my blood, my human descent still puts me in danger in this realm. It’s best to keep me safe and hidden. Traveling and meeting with other monsters, especially the powerful ones Rafe is in cahoots with, is completely out of the question.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” he continues. “I trust Azarius and Elio to protect you, but if they ask you to do something, do it, even if you don’t understand why.”
I’m tempted to ask him what he’s getting at, but it dawns on me after a moment what he means. I don’t have the best track record of acting rational—I followed two random strangers down a dark alley and found myself in another realm. He’s worried I’ll do something equally stupid to put myself in harm’s way.
It’s a difficult thing to promise without knowing what kind of situations we could be faced with, but I decide to give it my best shot to put his mind at ease.
“I promise.”
“Good,” he says and leans forward to plant his lips to the top of my head.
I don’t say anything, but I consider what Rafe isn’t saying—he wants me to be safe because he cares, even if he has a fucked up way of showing it. At least, that’s what I hope he’s saying. There’s also the chance he just wants to be able to fuck me again later, and he can’t do that if I get killed.
I hope that isn’t the case.
Maybe, he cares about me the way I care about him, and maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll convince him to admit it one day.
ChapterTwo
DEVYN
At some point between our post-romp snuggle and dinner, Rafe leaves for his business trip. I always find it amusing when my men refer to their ventures away from the mansion as ‘business trips’, even though it’s mostly true. Rafe is always negotiating and working with a slew of vicious monster leaders, preparing for the war that will soon be at our door. Informing them, mobilizing them. And when he can’t be there to discuss things directly, he sends Azarius and Elio in his stead.
So much time has been invested in this plan that started long before I met any of them. Months, if not years, of planning and prepping and slowly gaining favor amongst the other creatures of this realm. At the end of all this, Rafe plans to come out on top. He plans to lead the monsters to victory, exterminating the Malevs that plague this realm once and for all, and he wants to rule the winning side.
Power.
That’s what all of this is about. And if there’s anyone determined and capable enough to claim it, it’s Rafe.
When I make my way down to the dining room, Azarius and Elio are sitting at the table, hunched over their plates, deep in thought. As usual, a third plate is made and waiting for me, and my lips curl at the gesture. The guys may have lost their kitchen staff after the Malev attacks got closer to these woods, but they do their best to get by. Elio has even turned out to be a decent cook.
“Hello, Darling,” Azarius’ eyes brighten when they land on me, furthering my smile. His blond hair is damp and freshly-washed, clinging to his chalky white forehead.
