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“Half… an hour?” I numbly repeat. Every spasm of his knot and gush of cum inside me makes me feel like I’m having a miniature orgasm all over again. A tremble overtakes my body as it happens once more, and my mouth parts on a gasp. “I’m not sure I can survive that.”

You will, Ze’ve’s body says as he drags us up toward the tree. He leans back onto it and hugs me to him, nestling himself while he’s buried inside me.

Strangely comfortable, I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes.

And then I dream.

CHAPTER 34

I’m inside of a wall of darkness.

My world is ice and sorrow.

“Where am I?” I whisper aloud, but my words are muted in the shadows.

Then I realize I’m not alone.

A shiver runs up my spine as whispers skitter cool breaths over my skin.

Terror grips me just as I turn to face…

Shouting makes my eyes fling open.

I’m not in the woods anymore. Furs puff between my fingertips, and a fire crackles and warms Godric’s tent.

The Alpha’s back is to me as he stands at the entrance and holds the flap open, observing whatever is happening outside.

There’s shouting and screams.

“What’s going on?” I whisper as I sit up. The fur blankets fall off my chest, but I’m clothed in a comfortable nightdress.

The Alpha turns to look at me over his shoulder. He’s only wearing loose-fitting pants, leaving the rest of him on display. His braids drape over bunched muscle, and his jaw flexes. “Ze’ev has been taken prisoner.”

My eyes widen as I fling the sheets off and go to stand, but I promptly fall to the floor.

I don’t hit the ground, though, because Godric has somehow crossed the room in an instant to catch me.

“You’ll need time to recover after mating him. Your spirit needs adjustment, as does your body. He knotted you for over forty-five minutes, which was longer than I expected.”

My vision swarms with black spots as I cling to Godric’s muscular arm. He easily lifts me back into the bed and tucks me in.

“It doesn’t feel like an adjustment,” I complain as I squeeze my eyes shut. “It feels empty…”

Like I was supposed to mate all three of them, but something blocked that from happening. My body is sore, yes, but it’s my spirit that aches with a strange sensation of incompletion.

And now Ze’ev is a prisoner.

“Did you imprison him?” I ask with accusation, opening my eyes. “You brought me to the woods. If you had a problem with it, then you shouldn’t have⁠—”

Godric cuts me off with a raised hand. “It wasn’t me. Apparently, the king’s guard was following the revenants. They led them right to you. Their curiosity was piqued when we both took you into the woods. I doubt any of them were expecting us to help you illegally bond to the Outcast. Now you’re one of the highest-interest candidates on the isle.”

I jerk up, ignoring the zing of protest through my abdomen at the rash movement. “What?”

We were followed.

“How did none of us sense them?” I demand.

“You’re not the only one with magic vials,” Godric says, then goes quiet.