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I felt as if I was dream-walking as I took his damp, but warm hand and let him lead me into their room just as Nikkos was emerging from the big wooden tub, water droplets clinging to every gloriously hard angle of his wide chest and flat stomach. And then my gaze dipped lower. I couldn’t help myself, but Nikkos had wrapped his wings around himself, covering that most intimate part with the tips of his feathers. My gaze shot back up to his face, and I wanted to die from embarrassment at the knowing gleam in his eyes and his oh-so-wicked grin.
“I can open my wings if you want,” he teased.
I bit my lip, turning my back to him while sitting on the edge of the bed.
Blaze held out a goblet, and I eagerly took it, mainly to hide my smile behind the rim. He then poured a drink for his brother and one for himself before holding up his goblet.
“A toast,” he said, his eyes shimmering with desire. “To our beautiful mate, and to the Elements for leading us to her.”
“And to my brave fire mages,” I blurted, forcing out the words before I lost my nerve. “For finding me when I needed you most.” Those last words came out on a rasp, my throat constricting with so many emotions that I dared not think on overly long. But they had found us just in time. I didn’t know what would’ve happened to the girls and me if they hadn’t saved us.
But now was not the time to dwell on the negative. Now was the time to celebrate and maybe steal a few moments of pleasure among the chaos. I gulped down several sips of spiced wine, the mild fruity taste a welcome distraction to the two virile males whose very essence filled every corner of the room and lit every dark chasm in my soul.
Elements, I wanted them.
I drank down the last of the wine and thrust the goblet into Blaze’s hands. “More, please.”
“Careful, Shirina.” Blaze’s eyes darkened to two inky pools of lust, strong, musky pheromones clinging to him like a second skin as he grabbed a jug off the table by the bed and poured more wine into my goblet. “If you drink too much, it will be easy to take advantage of you.”
Emboldened by the fire swirling in my veins, I took the wine from him, eyeing him over the rim. “I know.”
He chuckled, sitting beside me, his damp feathers tickling my neck and sending more trills of lust skipping across my spine.
Nikkos stalked up to me like a dragon cornering a lamb, a threadbare towel hanging low across his hips. Elements, his body was glorious, every hard angle sculpted to perfection. He had flame tattoos similar to Blaze’s. My gaze was drawn to that line of dark hair extending from his naval, then disappearing beneath the towel. Oh, how I wished I could rip away that towel and follow the trail to that growing bulge beneath the fabric.
Nikkos leaned over me, his hair dripping water onto my chest, his fanged smile the devil incarnate. “Have you come for that kiss?”
“Maybe.” I finished off the last of the wine and handed the empty goblet back to Blaze. “I wanted to talk first.”
“Of course.”
A zing shot through my veins when Nikkos sat on my other side, gently grasping my knee. I cleared my throat, trying not to be distracted by my mates’ musky smell and the way their warmth enveloped me like a sensual hug.
“About the other night,” I said, knowing we couldn’t go any further until I knew they didn’t suspect the worst of me. “I did lie about my nieces’ fathers.” Casting my gaze to my lap, I twisted the hem of my gown around my finger. “The truth is I don’t know if they are dead or alive, and I didn’t want to give the girls false hope. All this time I’ve believed them to be dead, just like I’ve believed Tari to be dead.” I heaved a weary sigh. “Then I overheard my parents saying Tari is alive and her mates might be alive, too. Until I know for certain, I’m going to assume they’re dead.”
“We understand.” Blaze leaned into me, his wingtips tickling my arm and causing my gooseflesh to rise. “We knew you had good reason.”
Relief swept through me, but also sadness and despair. How were these two so easily accepting and trusting of me when their brother accused me of being a liar and treated me with scorn?
I swallowed, looking into Blaze’s eyes. “Should I tell Adrean?”
He took my hand in his. “How do you know he doesn’t already know?”
“You saw him.” I shook my head. “That’s the face of a father who’s lost everything.”
Nikkos squeezed my knee. “I wouldn’t give him false hope just yet.”
“Shirina.” Blaze visibly swallowed. “When we saw your sister, she was flying with Prince Helian on his dragon toward Fallax. Those islands are infested with wyverns.”
“I know.” My voice constricted with fear. “Perhaps she can control them like Maiadra did.”
“For your sake,” Nikkos said, “I hope so, but...” He trailed off.
“But what?” I asked.
“If the prophecy is true, she will kill our queen.” His wings drooped behind him. “I don’t want that, either.”
Ugh. I was so sick of this damn prophecy from some nameless seer. Why did everyone accept it as truth? “This prophecy isn’t true.” Ire flooded my veins, and I had to work hard to unclench my teeth. “My sister will never join forces with Fachnan after what he did to shifter-kind.”
