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  Tienna growled and sank her teeth into Roth’s shoulder. All sense of time and purpose slipped away. All that existed was need and fulfillment. She raced with them, like predators on a hunt. Their breaths and sweat mingled as they ground against each other selfishly. Each stroke of Roth’s cock in her pussy had Tienna’s lining contracting. Every plunge of Aiden’s savage thrusting had her ass burning with fever. She yelled her delight as they rammed into her welcoming body in unison. “Oh, God, yes!” As a violent climax overtook her, she marveled at the power of having two lovers, dual cocks serving her pleasure. Aiden’s growl was muted as he bit down on her back. His cock pulsed as he flooded her ass with his juices. Roth roared and slammed into her mercilessly. Her muscles milked him as he suddenly pulsated, feeding her greedy pussy more.

  She drifted on the waves they provided, complete, replete. She was greedy. Because even as she felt their flaccid erections slip out of her heat and sleep nip at the edges of her consciousness, she knew she would want this every night. She curled in Roth’s strong embrace as he first cuddled her in a large coat and then carried her home. His strong male scent surrounded her, and together with Aiden’s husky whisper, they soothed her into the land of dreams. “Good night, Tienna, my love.”

  Chapter 8:

  The Reckoning

  With footsteps quickening, Tienna fairly breezed past the few peddlers who hoped to make a last sale of the day before the sun departed. She shook her head emphatically but distractedly as yet another plea was called her way. Flowers. That was the last thing she needed.

  Like the first glorious night she had spent with her lovers, she had woken with the setting of the sun instead of its rising. Hope and dreams had strummed through her veins until a blast of anger had exploded within her, so hot and furious it had threatened to rupture her spleen. Her heart. Hell no. She had no intention of ever getting that delicate organ involved again. Of course, the source of the rage had been easy enough to pinpoint. She had known immediately that the heat that had churned in her belly had stemmed from Roth. His rage had a unique darkness to it, a void that had a catastrophic, engulfing effect on her senses. But it had taken a short trip down the hallway to find the reason for his lashing out. Roth was blustering against Aiden’s presence in her life.

  Her appetite and future aspirations had fled as she had stood outside his study and listened. They were so submerged in pitting their aggrieved cocks against each other they had not even noticed her awakening. Threats had followed neatly at the heels of insults, and before she knew it she was racing for sanctuary. It was only a short while later that reality dawned on her with all the subtlety of a raging flash flood. She no longer had a place of sanctuary. She was a lone ship cast adrift in a storm, devoid of sails and now a crew.

  If she felt torn apart before then, she was really stripped to bits now. Every new beginning came with a price, demanding an ending of something valuable in her life. The cost was tallying up to be far more than she could afford, than she could endure. Her family was lost to her. She had made the fateful choice between them and her mates. And as if that was not bad enough, she was now being forced into further choices. A part of her had already been cut away the day she’d fled her father’s side and decree, a traitor. But now she had to choose between her mates. She had been a fool believing they would come to an amicable understanding. Damn fools. That was what they were. Selfish ingrates.

  How many pieces of herself would she be called to sacrifice before this ordeal came to an end? Would she even be able to live with the leftover scraps that remained by the time she had finished hacking away chunks of herself? And to what end? By the time she had killed the part of herself that belonged to her family and bloodline pack and the part that belonged to a mate who she would surely lose, what would she be left with? Assuredly she would eventually resent the mate who proved to be the strongest, the fittest survivor. For the price tag he extracted for his conquering could never be redeemed. She was no fool. Roth and Aiden would come to blows again and perhaps the next time she would not be so fortunate. One of them would die.

  Choices. Huh! These had ceased to be choices a long time ago. Now they were all ultimatums with fatal consequences and life-altering and even life-ending results. Her father wished one mate dead, and each mate wished the other dead. Good Lord! How had her life taken this horrendous turn? Did anyone care what she wanted? Of course not. She was simply the prize, and inanimate souvenirs and polished trophies did not come with feelings or voices.

  She cursed aloud, once again bringing undue attention to herself. Not caring about her slippers or even unladylike stomping, she kicked at a pebble, sending it scuttling along the cobblestone. The echo that it emitted made her pause suddenly. Emptiness surrounded her. More alarming, so did darkness. She stopped and peered back. How long had she been wandering, and just how far had she drifted? The dark alleyways stirred ominously as the night crawlers came out to ply their nefarious trade. It would not take long for the only signs of life to be cutthroats and drunken riffraff. Trepidation became a vile, consuming disease as it spread and infected her entire body. She moved with jerky, unsure anxiety. Would it be wiser to go back? She pondered shape-shifting. But while the streets were now emptier, they were not altogether deserted. The last thing she needed was to stir a panic and cause a nationwide wolf hunt should anyone spy her transformation.

  She decided to remain in the streets, where the lamps had already been lit. As hard as she strained her eyes and ears, she detected no squealing wheels of hackneys. Her skirt crinkled beneath the crush of her fingers as a cold sweat dampened the cloth at her palms and spine. Damn Roth and Aiden. This was all their fault. And her father’s, as well, for placing undue stress on her shoulders. Her canines lengthened as she passed a darkened alleyway. While she was reluctant to change her shape, she had no qualms about tearing the throat out of anyone who attacked her. A female, be she lady or beast, had to protect herself.

  Suddenly, like sweet music to her ears, she heard the soft clip clop of horse shoes against stone. She turned quickly to face the oncoming carriage. But as she spotted the black carriage, her eyes widened. That was no soft canter. In fact, billows of mist bellowed to the sides as the horses charged. And they raced straight at her. Tienna leapt to the side. Instinct took over her numbed limbs and panicked brain. She turned and sped into the safety of the dark alley.

  Distractedly, she heard the carriage stop and lively footsteps replace the sound of hooves. Whoever that was, they were now pursuing her on foot. Suddenly even that sound changed. It became scratches and scrapes against cobble. Claws. No choice. She had to shift. But as she prepared to transform, between one leap and the next, a crushing weight fell onto her. And unlike the time when Roth had cornered her so, here there was no mercy. The breath left her as her head hit the unmerciful ground and pain roared through her skull.

  Shaking her head slightly against the dull throb and threatening gray haziness, she vaguely made out two shapes shift into men. They pulled her up like a limp rag doll and dragged her out the alley. But just as the darkness of the night evaporated with the approach of the lit street, the darkness from within cloaked her mind. She barely recognized the crest engraved on the carriage into which she was being forced. No more than a breath left her lips, but her scream lashed out with the last consciousness of her mind. “Roth. Aiden.” And even as blackness claimed her, she knew she had just made a terrible mistake. That cry would bait the trap set for her lovers.

  * * * *

  Aiden jerked as though slapped. “Did you feel that?” his voice tore out of him.

  Roth narrowed his eyes. “I’ll kill the bastard, whoever he is, for daring such a trespass.”

  “Where are you going?” Aiden raced after Roth as he flew from the room.

  “Tienna was asleep last I checked.”

  It did not take long to scour the house. Aiden silently thanked the small confines as they returned to Roth’s study. His eyes widened as he watched his bro
ther pocket a pistol. “For heaven’s sake, Roth, this isn’t some pirates’ mission or bandits’ plot we are on. Will you settle down before you get one of us shot?”

  Roth bristled visibly. “Stay out of my way, and you should be safe.”

  Shaking his head in annoyance, Aiden placed himself strategically at the doorway. With his shoulders squared off there was nowhere for Roth to go unless he chose to squeeze through that tiny porthole that served as a window. “Well, will you tell me where you plan on going? We have no idea who has her.”

  Some of the bluster seemed to leave Roth as he slumped. “Right.” He began to pace the floor.

  One, two, three. And turn. Aiden raised his eyebrows. How did this wolf ever survive in this den that was the size of a mouse hole? “Who has a bone to pick with her?”

  Between step two and three, Roth’s steps faltered. “Matthew.”

  “Who?”

  “The man who interceded while we battled. The one who you should have killed for his audacity. Viscount Matthew Willington, Tienna called him.”

  Aiden frowned. “Did she deal with him further than the blow I dealt him?”

  “Indeed. She had him cast out of the pack.”

  “Oh.” Aiden effectively blocked the side from which Roth tried to escape. “Do you know his residence?”

  “No, but I’m going to find out.”

  “You do know I will be better able to, seeing as he is a titled nobleman.”

  “We shall suss him out.” Roth finally pushed past.

  Aiden charged after him. “I am not taking you anywhere with me. For the love of God, with that look in your eyes, my peers will believe I now keep company with the devil.”

  “Damn them. Maybe it is time to let the cat out of the bag and declare our brotherhood.”

  That was all the motivation Aiden needed. As they settled against the plush cushions of his immodest carriage, he inquired, “You will not really tell everyone, will you?”

  Roth shrugged, not committing.

  “Brimstone and balderdash, Roth. Do you know that information will see me serving the rest of my life as a guest in Newgate prison?” He tried to gauge Roth’s true intent. “Will you stoop to such depths to have Tienna? Deuce it all, you are really the devil incarnate.”

  “And don’t you forget it.”

  Aiden managed to convince Roth to remain in the carriage as he sieved out Willington’s residence. But the wheels had barely stopped spinning once they’d reached Cameron Street, once again in Mayfair, when Roth burst through the doors.

  His violence got them nothing but speculative stares, however. Viscount Willington was abed, nursing a drunken stupor. Aiden had waited in the foyer while Roth had verified that fact by charging into the man’s private rooms.

  He tugged his coat down as he tried to avoid the eyes of the stunned onlookers on the pavement. “Get in the bloody carriage, man.” Once in, it took all of his willpower not to drive his fist into Roth’s face.

  He was also panicked by Tienna’s disappearance. No, he quickly amended, her abduction. Her loss was just as great a loss to him as it must be to Roth. The moment he’d felt the hand of another man on Tienna he’d been overcome with a violent rage. He, however, unlike Roth, possessed the finer arts of gentlemanly manners stemming from a trained, moderated brain. He needed to think rationally. Roth was like a lion let loose from a cage, and with a thorn in his paw, no less. He was no help.

  Who else had a grudge against Tienna? Who had one against him? Roth? Half of London probably hated Roth, but none knew of his involvement with Tienna. He had detected no further harm, so he could only equate that to one thing. She was being held to bait either him or Roth. Perhaps both of them. That brought him to a focal point in his mental exploration. Who knew about their relationship? There was only one person. But that answer was rather far-fetched.

  Curious, he turned to Roth. “Have you tried to communicate with her?”

  “Of course. Don’t be a coxcomb. I’ve been calling out to her ever since she’s been snatched.”

  “And she is not responding. I know because I have tried as well.”

  Roth suddenly leaned forward. “What is it?”

  Aiden shrugged. “I may be wrong, but why isn’t she communicating if she is in trouble?”

  “She could be unconscious.”

  “That’s the thing. I felt the distinct cut when her mind had shut down. But did you not feel a stirring not too long after? Followed by another, less instantaneous blank?”

  With an incredulous look, Roth growled. “You think she is intentionally steeling her mind against us? Whatever could her reasoning be?”

  Aiden inhaled slowly. He did not like what he was about to reveal. And he had a nasty suspicion Roth was not going to relish the idea either. “Protection.”

  “To protect us?”

  “And possibly her captor.”

  Roth reared back, stunned. “What?”

  “Think about it. Who could steal her from us that she feels a need to protect? She would likewise feel the need to keep us out of his reach.” Aiden nodded unenthusiastically as Roth slumped back in understanding. This was going to be another long night. Unfortunately, it would not be nearly as enjoyable as last night had been.

  “Call on your pack. Let’s hope their predatory skills outweigh their pompous indignation in a matter of survival.”

  Aiden ignored the jibe as he made the silent call and rapped the roof loudly with his walking cane. In order to see this to its end, they needed to make a start.

  * * * *

  Tienna scowled fiercely, doing her best impersonation of a disgruntled bear at the stubborn man pacing before her. But in all honesty she was forced to admit she probably looked more like a slighted cub with an ice pack tossed over her head and a bag of vinaigrette strategically placed on her chest. “Father, this is entirely unnecessary.”

  Christian made another turn in his pacing. “I will not leave what is mine in the hands of two unpredictable oafs. Look at the state I found you in. Wandering the streets like a lost waif. ”

  Tienna’s lips curled in affront. “The bump on my head was compliments of your own men. And I don’t need to be coddled like a child. I am well able to handle myself.”

  “Oh, and you’ve done a splendid job thus far. Batting your eyelashes at wolves will not get you anything worth your while. And neither will spreading your legs.”

  Inhaling sharply at her father’s crude words and harsh tone, she offered stiffly, “I am still the heir to this pack. You cannot take decisions out my hands at every juncture.”

  “I can, and I will.” He turned his back on her as he mumbled beneath his breath. “Females should never be left to their own devices. What would the world come to when they see the solution to their problems in simply bedding the damn enemy?”

  “Mother.” Tienna could not help the whine.

  On cue, Lady Cynthia leapt to the defense of not only her daughter but women at large. “That is totally uncalled for, husband. I am sure in time Tienna planned on picking one of the two. Does she not have the right to try on a pair of shoes before deciding whether she wishes it or not?”

  “Those”—Christian stabbed a large finger at the window—“are not damn shoes.”

  “They are indeed, metaphorically speaking of course. Tienna has the right to sample that which she wishes to remain by her side.”

  Tienna interrupted quietly, “Actually I wish both.”

  Her mother threw her hands in the air, exasperated.

  Her father chortled. “You see. No sense I tell you.”

  Tienna huffed. So much for honesty. “Will you not consider my wishes?”

  “Of course we will.” Her father turned with a sly smile. “As soon as one kills the other off or I do.”

  Tienna would have slumped, but she was already lying on her back on the large chaise. “They will not come.” She sounded confident, but inside she was tremulous. Had she blocked them out completely? She knew
her mates would be ruthless in trying to find her. But she did not wish this confrontation. As she eyed her father continuing to wear a patch into the carpet, she wondered if she would come to resent him for this someday. “Father, I beg you to reconsider. I just need a little more time.”

  “Time. That is all I have been giving you. You want to see this at its end? Simple. Just choose a name.”

  Simple. Tienna’s lips pressed into a tight, thin line. “I cannot.”

  She turned her eyes to the window. Outside, everything was black. She sensed the prowling of her pack members. They would patrol the area until their lured prey made an appearance. Tienna shivered. There was the stench of doom already in the air. If this was supposed to be the calm before the storm, it was anything but tranquil. Her insides trembled so fiercely she was positively sick.

  She prayed they would not come. But before she could finish the silent plea to God, she felt the slightest shift in the air. The fine hair on her nape stood on ends. The entire pack seemed to be holding a collected breath. The atmosphere was alive, crackling with energy and she knew. They had come.

  Roth entered the study first. It was like watching a devil wind enter the room. His dark presence engulfed everything light and good. Rage and death cloaked him like a living being as his great coat swirled to a stop at his ankles. His black hair was tousled and fell haphazardly across his forehead. His eyes glowed as they settled on her, possessive and demanding. Danger. The man was like the grim reaper come to deliver death.

  Aiden followed closely on his heels. But he entered with all the pomp and grace of a gentleman gracing a royal banquet. He took the time to bow elegantly when he spotted her. Thankfully he had more sense than to kiss her hand in greeting. His blond hair curled neatly around his ears. His blue eyes remained alert and cautious as he eyed her down the length of his straight, narrow nose even as his whole appearance screamed nonchalant. His thumbs hooked into his waistband as he puffed his chest out. Tienna found it incredible that the man was not a born and bred nobleman. Instead, that honor belonged to the devil next to him.