I was greedy and understood Calder’s desire to keep her for himself. But our first encounter with her had shaken me to my core. I’d discovered a deep satisfaction and pleasure at directing the others to touch her, to make her come. Watching her body pulse, her eyes glaze with desire, listening to her soft whimpering and cries of release had nearly driven me crazy with need. With lust.
I’d loved it. Loved watching her squirm and beg and come all over Calder’s cock. And mine. I’d been hard as a rock when Axon laid her down and made her come with his mouth. The way he filled her mouth with his seed and she’d swallowed it all down. I loved the way her back arched when my cock was buried deep and Calder played with her ass. Everything. Oddly, I hadn’t felt possessive of just her, but of all three of them.
As if they were mine as well.
My family.
Mine to protect.
The sensation was uncomfortable. I was not and never had fallen in love with a man. Never desired to touch or kiss one. But this was different. We weren’t fucking each other, we were fucking Violet. This wasn’t about us…it was about her.
Our mate was a passionate lover. Generous. Open.
Our mate.
I realized I’d begun thinking of her that way since we’d shared her today. Ours.
The idea of having two strong warriors helping me to ensure her happiness and pleasure, her safety? Suddenly, I could imagine that scenario. For the first time in my life, I understood the lack of jealousy I’d witnessed time and again among the three kings and the other sets of Vikens who shared their own mates.
Up north at the IQC, a friend from Sector Two, Evon, shared his mate with two other warriors, Liam and Rager. And like Violet, their mate, Bella, was also from Earth.
I’d watched them for months now. Watched and envied them the look I saw in Bella’s eyes any time her mates entered the room.
Trust. Love. Acceptance. Desire. There was no question she was well satisfied. Loved. Cherished. And it was because she had three mates to care for her.
No woman had ever looked at me like that, until today.
Until Violet.
And if refusing to share meant letting her go? Well, Calder was going to be in for a rude awakening. If I had to make a pact with Axon, I would.
I would not give her up. Nor would I allow him to continue his argument with the warden. “What are you doing, Calder?”
The warrior turned to me and held out his hand, refusing to answer. Instead, he walked to Violet and knelt at her feet. “Violet, mate, I understand the importance of family. I know how deep the ache of loss can be. Let me help ease your mind.”
Violet’s hand in mine squeezed tight and I held my silence, waiting to see where this would go. “What do you mean? I can talk to Mindy? Here? Now?”
From his place before her, Calder twisted so he could address the warden. “On my mate’s behalf, I formally request to make contact with Trion and the bride, Mindy Nichols, to ensure her safety and well-being before we transport to Viken.”
The warden looked from Calder to Violet. “Is this what you want, Miss Nichols? As her family member, only you can make the request.”
Violet pulled away from both of us, stepped down from the raised platform and walked to stand before the warden as Calder climbed to his feet. Seeing how excited Violet was at Calder’s request, Axon slapped him on the back in thanks. I remained silent, but nodded my head in acknowledgement that Calder had done well to make our mate happy. This would give her what she wanted now, even before we left for Viken. She would have no doubt that our intentions were honorable, that we would always put her first. Whatever happened on Viken was between the four of us, no ulterior motive.
And I wondered why I had not thought to ensure her happiness in this regard?
Was I too cold? Too removed from what it meant to love and be loved? Had I been too long without family? Without hope? Had I become as frozen within as the icy mountains that surrounded the IQC?
“Yes, of course I want that. I want to talk with Mindy.”
“Very well.” Warden Egara looked at the three of us in turn, then at Violet. “Come, Miss Nichols. We will make contact with Trion and await news. It may take a few minutes, or even hours, to reach her. She could be traveling or far from a comm.”
“I’ll wait,” Violet insisted, rubbing her hands together. “As long as it takes.”
“Very well.” The warden turned to the comm screen and entered a set of data into the controls that I could not see. When I cleared my throat, she lifted her head to address all three of us. “She can speak with her now, but I will send Mindy’s exact coordinates to the queen of Viken. Once your mate has chosen from among you, the queen will provide the coordinates on Trion for a visit.”
“Understood. Thank you.” Axon bowed slightly at the waist in thanks, but I couldn’t move, suddenly frozen with fear at the idea that with this maneuver, Calder may have won our mate’s heart. There was no question she was well pleased and hopeful, based on the look on her face.
We did not wait hours, in fact only seconds, as the screen cleared to reveal the image of a woman who looked almost exactly like Violet, yet…not. I could see the slightest of differences—the way she held herself, the length of her hair, a small scar on her forehead.