Page 63 of Midnight of Ashes
“She’s right,” Knox croaked. “You could’ve killed the whole horde. But you held your dragon back. You only ended those who hurt you.”
Cáel’s eyes bled to silver. “You guys saved me.”
I looked up at him in question.
“I was a lone dragon, couldn’t stand being with other people, even shifters. But I got into a jam with some vampires. Cillian saved my ass.” Cáel looked at Knox. “And the rest of them. They made me feel like I belonged, like I had a family again.”
Knox reached out slowly, making it clear he was going to touch Cáel and giving him all the time in the world to pull away. But Cáel didn’t, and Knox’s hand came down on Cáel’s shoulder. “You’re our family. And you make us so much better.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes as my gaze moved between the two of them. A certainty flew through me. “Make me yours. Fully yours. And everything that comes with it. I want to be your mate.”
Knox sucked in a breath. “Hayden…”
“I’m sure,” I cut him off.
Cáel let out a low growl.
My hands lifted to both their faces. “Please. I need you. Both of you.”
32
HAYDEN
Knox’s hand tangled in my hair. “This isn’t something you can undo, Hayden. This is forever, and we live a hell of a long time.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Hearing Cáel’s story, what he went through, I realized something.”
Cáel’s light blue eyes were still swirling silver as he gazed down at me.
“We were meant for each other. All the pain, all the scars, we were meant to help each other heal. To keep each other safe. To love each other. And I love you. Both of you. Nothing is ever going to change that. I want to feel what it’s like to be connected with you in every way.”
Cáel’s breaths came faster and faster. “Little One, my dragon is damaged. He is going to be insanely possessive of you once we’re mated.”
My lips twitched. “Like he isn’t already?”
Knox choked on a laugh. “She has a point there.”
Cáel’s hand ghosted over my cheek. “I want to know you’re sure.”
I leaned into him, brushing my lips against his. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Knox’s hands moved to my pajama top, ripping it open in one swift movement. Buttons flew across the room.
Cáel growled as he took in my bare breasts. His tattooed hands lifted to palm them. “So soft. So perfect.”
“Just like all of you,” Knox murmured against my neck. He licked and sucked, nipping occasionally.
I pressed my thighs together, need already pulsing there.
Knox’s hands traced down my sides, and then claws lengthened from his fingertips. The feel of them against me made me shiver. Then they were slicing down the legs of my pajamas.
“Those were my favorite,” I grumbled. But that grumble quickly turned into a moan as Cáel’s lips closed around my nipple.
I straddled his lap, giving him better access. “Cáel,” I breathed.
His teeth grazed the peak, and I shuddered against him, feeling his cock harden against me.
Then Knox was there, pressing in behind me. His arm circled me, hand dipping between my legs.
