I lead Jair to Dume’s cell and slip back inside. He’s waiting for me and covers the distance in two strides, pulling me into his arms and kissing me so hard I swoon. He releases me and looks at Jair. “Dume, this is Jair.”
Dume smiles. “So you like the name?”
“I do.” Jair nods and then bows with an old-style flourish that has lust shooting through me. I can imagine him back then, at a court in a fancy outfit with music playing as he bows before we dance.
Dume bows awkwardly in return and grins at the man. “Nice to meet you, I am Dume of the Labyrinth, another of Dawn’s mates.”
“How many do you have?” Jair questions, not angry but curious.
“A few.” I shrug, not wanting to stir anyone’s jealousies. “Are you okay?” I ask Dume, aware I’ve been gone a while.
“Of course, Draya, you?” he rumbles and I sigh, snuggling closer to him, having to crane my neck back to meet his gaze.
“I am now,” I answer.
“Do you want me to wait outside?” Jair queries, again not appearing to be jealous—it seems my vamp can share.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell him, and hold my hand out to him from Dume’s embrace. He hesitates before taking it and pressing me between them, making me sigh in happiness. “We are doing it tomorrow morning,” I inform Dume. “Tonight we will free all the monsters down here. Let’s show them exactly what they have been keeping imprisoned. You can’t break or tame a monster.”
“I am with you always, Draya.” Dume nods. “Tomorrow we will head to battle.”
“Battle...yeah, I guess we will,” I agree, and then it seems to hit me. We will be taking on the council, some of the most powerful members of the supernatural community. Even with my powers and my mates, we might get hurt.
We might die.
But I have to, what they are doing is wrong. I have to stop it because no one else seems to be stepping up to do it, and I have people depending on me. BB, all the girls we rescued. Jair. Griffin. Nos. Kelly. All of them and many, many more.
I feel a sudden rush of panic, of utter need to keep them close. To feel them against me, to know they are okay. I can’t lose them, they are my life. All of them. I need them now more than ever.
“Shh, my love, we aren’t going anywhere,” Jair murmurs, kissing my head.
“Draya,” Dume rasps, and I look up at him.
“What does that mean?” I finally inquire, trying to distract myself.
“It means goddess, that is what you are.” My heart bursts as he cups my cheek and I lean into his touch. “I have lived on my knees for a queen once, Dawn, and I promised myself never again. You don’t ask for that, but I would fall to them gladly right now for you, my goddess.”
I gasp and he leans down, pressing his lips to mine. “I would live on them, I would die on them if that is what you wanted, just to be close to you. To keep you. Draya, my goddess.”
“We are here, we are not leaving your side. I have faced death on many occasions, my love, and I will face it again—this time, for you. What more of a noble cause is there?” Jair asks, and I swear if they weren’t holding me up, I’d be at their feet. The love, the passion from them wraps around me until I feel so safe and cared for.
Even in the most unlikely of places, who knew you could find such love in darkness?
“Prove it,” I demand, my voice strong. “On your knees,” I order, and he grins against my lips and falls to them instantly, his head still level with my shoulders as he peers up at me, giving me all the control.
But when faced with death, I find myself wanting to try everything, to be together for once. Fully. Wholly.
Grabbing Jair’s hands, I drag them up my body until he covers my breasts. I let go and he groans, his fingers rolling my nipples as I watch Dume. His eyes flash red as he watches the other man’s hands on my breasts.
“Let me taste you,” he rumbles, my bull asking.
“Open your thighs,” Jair murmurs, kissing along my neck before dragging his fangs back along the column of my throat, making me moan as my head drops back to