The two large bodies slammed together, the force shaking the ground. Braxton let more of the partial shift wash over him, blue flames licking across his skin, and as his body morphed into that huge fusion-shift state, he started to gain traction on Larky. Pushing him back toward the edge of the cliff.
Yes! Great plan. The struggle continued, and my worry increased as more blood poured from my mate’s wounds. The king gave an extra loud roar, his own hands partially shifted, but he wasn’t in a fusion state. Could he not achieve that? Or was he just so arrogant he didn’t think he needed it to beat Braxton?
I was pretty much breathless now as I watched the deadly struggle, both massive males teetering on the edge of this land. There was no way to tell what lay below us, the black ash was all encompassing, so Braxton could very well disappear forever if he fell.
Energy washed along my body and I realized that the quads were adding power to their brother, giving him the advantage he needed to dig both clawed hands into the king’s biceps and launch him off the cliff edge. In the split second before Larky tumbled away his stormy gray eyes found mine, and I really didn’t like the calculating smile he bestowed on me before he disappeared into the abyss.
Chapter 7
Braxton remained at the edge of the cliff, not moving, staring out into the emptiness as he fought for control. He needed me. I knew it, and so did the boys. But they were still holding on, as if they wanted to be sure of their brother’s mood before freeing me.
“Let me go,” I hissed, elbowing out with both arms, trying my best to dislodge the two hulking males. They had pulled their spandex on again, channeling superman. But it was Braxton. He would never hurt me.
His head whipped up then, face still filled with fury, blue eyes lit with fire as he locked the three of us in his gaze. He took a graceful stalking step in our direction. I knew Maximus and Tyson sensed the danger they were suddenly in. Nevertheless, they remained in their protective pose.
Maximus had his calm-the-fucking-psycho voice on. “Brax … brother, are you back with us, or is the dragon in control?”
“I would never hurt my mate.” Braxton’s words vibrated across the clearing, deep like they had been struck from a bass.
Truth.
The pair let me go and I lurched through them, stumbling a couple of times, crossing the distance between us as fast as I could. Something in Braxton’s hard features softened as my teary gaze met his. I didn’t have to go the entire way. He moved in his preternatural way and demolished the last of the distance between us. Our bodies smashed together and I was up off the ground and in his arms before I could even blink. My entire body clenched as need burst to life inside of me, both emotional and sexual in nature. Shifters were hot blooded, and sex was a large part of our society. It was bonding, it was beautiful, and it was damn enjoyable, especially when it came to someone as skilled as Braxton.
Right now was not the time for that. We had an audience, and a job to do. But there was no way I could wait another second to kiss him, and he obviously felt the same. Our lips crashed against each other, soft yet firm, the kiss deep and hypnotic. His tongue swept across mine before sliding deliciously into my mouth. I was drowning in sensations, the taste, the feel, the scent, the warmth. Being wrapped in Braxton’s big body was like being home. It was everything.
The kiss went forever, and yet it was still far too short. With great reluctance, our lips finally parted, and Braxton rested his forehead against mine. We didn’t speak, there were no words needed, but I could feel him in my head and my heart. Our bond was deepening, our connection as hot and rich as anything I’d ever felt before.
We stayed like that for many moments, foreheads pressed together, Braxton’s strong arms wrapped around me as he held me up at his height. Images of the fight crossed my mind, and as I finally lifted my head up, I couldn’t help the smile which spanned my face. Braxton raised an eyebrow at me. “You held your own with the dragon king,” I said. “Weren’t you a little afraid? He’s like the scary boogieman of our world.”
Braxton shrugged, his own smile playing across his lips.
Jacob’s voice was filled with laughter. “Welcome to the new and improved ‘I don’t give a fuck’ Braxton.”
“It’s been both amusing and scary as hell to watch,” Tyson said.
Jonathon and Louis both groaned at the same time. As the shifter alpha and council leader, my father would have to deal with whatever mess Braxton left in his wake. Hopefully, he hadn’t done anything bad enough to end up back in Vanguard. Not that any of us would let that happen again.
“We’ve managed to keep his very effective form of information gathering under wraps,” Louis said, clearly noticing the stress on my face. “The fruit twins didn’t make it, along with a few of the dragon king’s other minions. But since they all deserved what they got, it was my pleasure to dispose of the evidence.”
I let out a relieved sigh. This wasn’t the first time Braxton or the quads had killed for me, and it wouldn’t be the last. It didn’t bother me in the slightest. We didn’t go looking for trouble, but if you messed with our pack, we put you down.
“My information gathering was not that effective,” Braxton said. “His castle location was a secret, even from his daughters.”
I could tell that had eaten away at Braxton, the fact that he didn’t know where I was, or what was happening to me. If the roles had been reversed, I’d have been just as crazy.