Deviant Games (The Controllers #8) - L.V. Lane Page 0,60

he had raised a few notches in my judgment.

With Ethan at our side, I clung to Ryker as he carried me out, letting his purr soothe me. The clashing roar of sirens greeted us outside where flashing lights, troops, ground vehicles packed between the soaring towers of downtown Chimera.

“Lilly!”

Hearing my father’s voice, my head swung around, and I wriggled for Ryker to put me down. I’d been so upset with my father for sending Ethan away, but these terrible events had reminded me of what was important.

“Careful, babe,” Ryker said as he gently lowered me.

I swapped one purr for another, older, and familiar. One that had comforted me as a child after a tumble.

“Your mother is going to stab me,” he muttered, stirring a chuckle from me despite the tears falling down my cheeks.

A healer was called over to check me, confirming that both the baby and me were well. And after I’d had a chance to hug Verity and be sure that she was well, too, we returned home.

Stripped and taken straight to my nest, where I was held between my purring mates, I finally felt safe.

Epilogue I

Lilly

“WHAT DO YOU think about this one?” Ryker waved his information tablet in Ethan’s direction. They lounged side by side on the couch, relaxed and at ease. They were dressed casually, having returned from a training session—sweatpants and a T-shirt that clung lovingly to their hard, built bodies. Ethan, dark of hair and eyes, was my warrior fallen angel. Ryker, despite his nightmarish tattoos, was oh so pretty. It wasn’t fair to give an Alpha such lush, long eyelashes.

An Omega could be forgiven for being overwhelmed by one of them. Two of them were more than I could handle, but they were mine and I would die a sinful death gladly to keep them in my life.

Not so very long ago, the two of them barely tolerated each other. Well, Ethan had tolerated—Ryker was always a little pushy. Something had happened since my pregnancy, or more, since Ethan’s return from that fateful operation. Where once Ryker had been playful and baiting, and Ethan simmering irritation, now they were companionable, and dare I suggest, love as might be found between two close brothers?

I sat opposite—alone because I was supposed to be working on a communication for the program. Recent events had highlighted facts that could not be swept over. I felt regretful in some ways; the program was my life, and I understood its importance better than anyone could. But I also had other priorities. The tiny life growing inside me had changed my perspective.

The communication, right! I’d showered and dressed in some decadently lacy underwear and one of Ethan’s T-shirts that he’d left lying on the bed. While it reached all the way to my knees and smothered most of me, the scent of one of them surrounding me like this made me feel a little naughty and needy.

Now that I thought about it, Ethan or Ryker always left a shirt in a convenient place for me to find it after my shower.

I forced my attention back to my data tablet, although I only lingered on it for a moment.

I’d found a new respect for Ethan after hearing about the operation. As much as I bristled with vexation every time I thought about his hands on another Omega, anger could not be held when the bond was tightly entwined between us, revealing his innermost desires. His love and devotion were never in question, although I’d struggled with it at the time.

And Ryker? His burgeoning emotional awakening was a source of constant wonder. His love was so pure and innocent—it was new to him, and I was blessed to be the first and only person to receive its focus.

Love did not seem adequate to describe the breadth of my feeling, the tsunami of wondrous, rapturous connection that bound the three of us together with the fourth beating heart we would soon meet.

Ethan rubbed his jaw and frowned, then took the tablet from Ryker. He pinched and swiped the screen. “Not sure…. what’s that part for?”

Ryker grinned and leaned over to tap the screen.

Their heads were close together, shoulders touching, big, capable hands holding the data tablet—I swallowed. I wanted to crawl over and insinuate myself between them.

I blinked a couple of times. This moment had a disturbing level of déjà vu.

Ethan puffed out a breath and shook his head, passing the tablet back. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

What the hell were