Page 109 of First Ritual

My breath was coming fast. “Second gift.”

Wild’s focus on Bedwyr snapped. He turned to me and inhaled, then blinked twice. “Varden will know what to do. I’ll portal there.”

“Should I come?” Bedwyr hovered.

“Missions will be announced soon,” Wild half growled at him. “Go there.” Without further discussion, he opened a portal and picked me up before striding through.

No sooner had the portal closed, than I dropped to my knees. I didn’t know where we were or who was here. “The rune. It’s so bad, Wild.”

He dropped to his knees. “What do you need? Tell me.”

I pulled the dress overhead and discarded it.

Wild went absolutely still.

“Touch me,” I begged. “Please hurry.”

He blurred forward to kiss the new rune, a small circle. I cried out, then just about cried for real when the anticipated end to the agony didn’t hit me like last time. “More.”

I was overcome by whatever this was, and I was never more grateful as Wild seemed to be too. He moved to my breasts, taking one of my nipples into his mouth. He licked and sucked, then moved to the other breast. I clutched the back of his head and screamed as he bit down.

It hit me like an explosion.

The orgasm went on and on.

And fucking on.

Me? I was lost to it. Robbed of everything. On my back, I gazed up at Wild in a daze as he used battle magic to carve under his ribs. A circle. In the top middle of his X rune. A match for mine.

As suddenly as the heat had come, it was gone. I was once again in full possession of myself. He hovered over me to drip his blood into my mouth. Two drops before what was happening hit me and I turned my head.

Wild sat on his haunches and watched.

I exhaled. “Thank you for coming back. That was crazy. So strong.”

“I felt another male encroaching on what’s mine.”

Ah, the creature was still here. “I asked him to help, so don’t eat him.”

Wild rushed forward and wrapped a hand around my throat as he pinned me to the floor. I held my battle affinity at the ready, but his hold didn’t hurt.

“My queen does not wander to other men for fulfillment of her needs,” he snarled.

“I won’t do it again.” And I wouldn’t. Not because he’d made the demand, but because I was reasonably sure—now—that Bedwyr couldn’t have done a thing to help me. If I got another rune, I’d stick to Wild like glue.

“You have strayed once,” the dark creature mused. “I must take measures to ensure there will never be another lapse in your judgment.”

The creature released me, and I didn’t move until he shuddered.

I hugged my knees up. “Are you back?”

Wild’s jaw clenched. “I am.”

“I’m sorry. I tried to handle the heat myself, but whatever this mating ritual is, it doesn’t allow for masturbation.”

“You’re fucking sorry?” Wild burst out. “I bit you and drank your blood and then made you drink my blood. I pinned you to the ground and threatened you, and you’re fucking sorry?”

I released another shaking exhale.