Fiero’s tongue licked against his hole, ringing it, and pushing inside. A deep, rumbling growl vibrated Echo’s chest, a sound he’d never heard himself make, and he arched his back and rocked his aching cock against Eyce’s as he pushed back into Fiero’s mouth.

  His thirst sated for the moment, another kind of need swept through him, tightening his muscles, and burning his body. “More,” he demanded. A thick finger pushed in beside Fiero’s tongue, sawing in and out of Echo’s clenching hole. It wasn’t enough. “More!”

  “Demanding little shit,” Eyce mumbled with a feral grin.

  Echo’s loosely held control snapped, and he launched himself off the bed faster than he’d ever moved before. In the next blink, he had Fiero on his back, crawling up his body, and devouring his mouth. He growled and snarled, thrusting his hips against his lover’s naked body, writhing on top of him as his cock pulsed, swelling to the point of pain. “Give. Me. More!”

  He felt movement, heard rustling in the background, but his hazy brain couldn’t register who or what made the noise. His throat began to burn again, his fangs lengthening and throbbing as he sucked at Fiero’s neck. “Want you. Want to bury my cock in your tight ass and make you scream my name. Would you like that? Would you like me pounding into you until you come so hard you pass out?”

  “Holy fuck.” Fiero groaned, craning his head to the side and arching his back.

  That was enough of an answer for Echo. Before he could move to retrieve the lube, though, two slick fingers pushed into his fluttering entrance, and he hissed against Fiero’s throat. Fiero growled, his muscles tightening then relaxing as he fisted his hands in Echo’s hair and attacked his mouth.

  The digits sawed in and out of his hole, pumping hard and fast several times before a third joined them and started the process all over again. Echo’s body thrummed with pleasure, his muscles quivering with anticipation.

  When Eyce extracted his fingers, Echo shimmied down Fiero’s body, dropping his feet to the floor and hooking the demon’s knees over his arms. With ease, he jerked the warrior to him, dipping two fingers into Fiero’s clenching opening to make sure he was stretched, then swiftly replacing them with the head of his cock. “I can’t go slow,” he warned seconds before he shoved in to the root.

  Fiero roared, his inner walls clamping down around Echo’s cock, stroking and massaging him until he thought he’d lose his mind. Leaning over his mate, Echo stretched Fiero’s legs wider, opening him up so he could drive in deeper. Two hard snaps of his hips, and Echo stilled, waiting for Eyce to join them as he swirled his tongue around one of Fiero’s copper-colored nipples.

  Eyce parted Echo’s cheeks and rubbed the weeping tip of his cock over Echo’s puckered hole, then rocked forward until the flared crown popped through the guarding ring of muscles. Echo groaned, his eyes rolling back in his head, and pushed back, pulling his dick from Fiero’s ass as he impaled himself on Eyce’s huge length.

  Eyce echoed his groan as his fingers dug into Echo’s hips, and he began a slow, deliberate pace. Push and pull, give and take, they found their rhythm and moved as one. Over and over Echo dragged his flexing cock over the straining muscles of Fiero’s hole. Eyce filled him, retreated, and filled him again, stretching his inner walls and brushing over his sweet spot.

  His throat felt raw and scratchy, his balls churned and ached, his heart kicked against his sternum, and Echo couldn’t hold back any longer. With a roar loud enough to shake the windows, he jerked his hips, driving into Fiero’s yielding body and demanding Eyce keep pace with him.

  “Mine!” he snarled just before sinking his fangs into the sweat-slicked flesh just over Fiero’s heart.

  “Mine,” Eyce whispered into his ear and bit into the sensitive skin on Echo’s shoulder.

  Echo felt the bond snap into place, so intense that it stole his breath and robbed him of speech. With a muffled whimper, he sucked hard on Fiero’s chest, grinding against his lover’s ass as his balls unloaded, and his cock erupted to spill his release into his mate’s waiting channel.

  Eyce extracted his own fangs, crying out Echo’s name as he pounded into him, pumping through his orgasm. The hot splash of his release against Echo’s inner walls sent him into overdrive, and he released his hold on Fiero to scream out to the ceiling when another blinding orgasm ripped through him, and he filled Fiero’s passage to overflowing.

  A second later, Eyce pulled from Echo’s hole, tugging him back with him so that his still-hard dick slid out of Fiero’s entrance as well. Echo shuddered against Eyce’s chest, his body strung tight and in need of more. Gods, he’d never felt so out of control before.

  Before knew what was happening, Fiero’s arms locked around his waist and flipped Echo beneath him on the mattress. “Let’s see who screams now.” Then he drove into Echo’s stretched hole in one mighty plunge.

  He didn’t waste time but slammed into Echo over and over with such force that it pushed them up the mattress. “Scream for me, baby. Scream my name,” Fiero demanded. His fingers fisted in Echo’s hair, jerking his head back as his other arm slid under Echo’s back and lifted him so that their chests pressed together. “Human, vampire, or dodo bird, you will always be mine.”

  His pointed canines pierced Echo’s neck, pushing in deep, and the rhythm of his hips faltered. For the third time, an unbreakable connection snapped into place, slamming into Echo like a freight train, and he screamed until his voice gave out while his cock shot spurt after spurt of cream between them.

  When he came down to earth, he found himself cleaned and snuggled in bed between his lovers, both of them kissing and stroking him. “Thank you. Love you,” they both chanted between kisses.

  “Sleep,” Fiero whispered.

  Too exhausted to argue, Echo took Eyce’s hand and wrapped it around him as he turned to snuggle into Fiero’s chest. The instant his cheek touched Fiero’s skin, he slipped happily into the void.

  Chapter Six

  Onyx paced the kitchen, each pass taking him by the door to the basement. He glanced out the window every few seconds, watching impatiently as the sun sank lower in the sky. His hands clenched and relaxed at his sides. His strides were long, his movements stilted, and his anxiety built with every ticking minute.

  “Dude, would you sit down?” Myst called from the kitchen table. “You’re making me twitchy as hell.”

  “How long until sundown?” He’d yet to sleep since they’d found Echo tied to that tree. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw their mate’s limp, broken body swaying from that rope. He just needed to talk to Echo, hold him, touch him for just a minute and assure himself his lover was safe and alive.

  “Another twenty minutes or so, man. You’re going to wear a hole in the damn floor if you don’t sit your ass down.”

  His lips peeled back from his teeth, and Onyx snarled as he stalked past his lover again. He knew he was being a dick, but he couldn’t stop himself. Every time he’d tried to get closer to Echo the night before, it seemed like he’d been pushed aside while Eyce and Fiero took over. And if it wasn’t those two, then Vapre and Syx were right there.

  “Doesn’t it ever piss you off? Don’t you ever just want to scream and beat something?”

  Myst looked up at him for a long time before he nodded slowly. “Sure, it pisses me off sometimes. I mean, he is my mate just as much as he belongs to them. I don’t think anyone means to push us to the side, though. We just don’t ever say anything.”

  Onyx admitted the truth in the warrior’s words. Just because he didn’t say much didn’t mean he didn’t feel, though. He just needed to know Echo was safe, and then he would drift back into the shadows and stay out of everyone’s way.

  “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, but I guess Echo’s plan kind of worked.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think getting kidnapped, beaten, drained, and turned into a fucking bloodsucker was part of that plan.”

  Myst rolled his eyes. “You know what I meant. You need to calm down, Onyx. Echo is going to rip you a new one if you keep acting like this.”

  “What if something happened?” Onyx voiced his greatest fear. “What if he didn’t survive the change?”

  “You read too much.” Myst snorted. “If something had happened, you can bet your ass Eyce and Fiero would be ripping that door down to get him to Hex. You really think they’d just sit there and watch him die without even telling us?”

  Onyx sighed and resumed his pacing. Okay, so he was being irrational. He’d never survive it if something happened to his men, though. Echo had swept in, wormed his way into Onyx’s heart, and changed everything. While he still hadn’t found the courage to voice his desires, he no longer tried to deny them. There was just no way to deny the things Echo made him feel—not only for his little mate, but for the other warriors as well.

  He wanted vengeance for what had happened to Echo. His lover deserved nothing less from his mates. They’d sworn to protect him against all the evils of the world, and they’d let him down in the worst way.

  How could Onyx claim to love the man if he didn’t do everything in his power to see Echo’s tormentor pay for his crimes? How could he call himself a warrior if he sat by and did nothing? No, Echo deserved more from him.

  Spinning on his heels, he marched to the back door and wrenched it open. Ignoring Myst’s calls, he stepped out into the waning light and sprinted across the field and into the trees. He didn’t care how long it took him, how much he suffered, or even if he raced toward his own death. He would not return until he’d made things right.

  * * * *

  “Where is he going?” Hex asked as he watched Onyx storm out of the kitchen and slam the back door behind him.

  “I don’t know. He’s been acting strange all day. I don’t think he slept at all.”

  “He feels guilty.” Hex scrubbed his hands over his face. Hell, they all did. They’d failed their mate. He wouldn’t have blamed the man if he never forgave them, but of course, that just wasn’t Echo’s style.

  “The sun’s almost down. Do you think it’s safe to—” Myst stopped abruptly as he looked up at Hex. “Motherfucker!”

  Hex jerked a little and looked around him. There was nothing there. “What? What the hell, Myst?”

  Myst sprang out of his seat, grabbed Hex’s face, and stared into his eyes. “I am really starting to feel left out, and it is so not fair for you to look even sexier now.”

  Oh! “My eyes,” he said with a soft chuckle. He wound his arms around Myst and dragged him closer. “You like?”

  “Mmm, I think I do,” Myst purred before licking at Hex’s lips. “Burgundy is definitely your color.” He placed a quick but searing kiss on Hex’s lips then slipped away. “Can we wake Echo up now? I really need to see him.”

  As though he’d been waiting for the summons, the basement door creaked open, and Echo stepped into the kitchen with a bright smile.

  Hex completely freaked. Though the sun had mostly set, the sky was still more of a dusky gray than black. He wouldn’t take any chances with his mate. Rushing over, he positioned himself between Echo and the kitchen, ushering his mate back into the basement. “It’s not fully dark yet. We don’t know what will happen. A few more minutes, please, baby.”

  Echo rolled his eyes and dipped under Hex’s arm. He walked right across the kitchen, flung open the back door and turned around with his arms crossed over his chest. “See? I’m not going to shrivel up like greasy bacon. Now, will you please relax?”

  Hex sighed in relief. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to redden Echo’s cute little ass later for scaring the shit out of him, though. He looked over his shoulder when Eyce and Fiero thundered up the stairs.

  “Where is he?” Fiero snarled.

  Hex grunted and waved a hand toward their mate. “I thought you were supposed to keep an eye on him.”

  “He’s a lot fucking stronger now,” Eyce grumped. “You try holding the little punk still.”

  “There’s two of you,” Hex argued.

  “He’s faster, too.”

  “Oh, everyone just shut up. I’m fine, and I’m tired of being locked up in the basement.” Echo sauntered over to the table and crawled up in Myst’s lap. “Hey, handsome. Missed you.”

  Happiness swelled Hex’s chest as he watched Myst clutch Echo close and bury his face in the man’s neck. “Missed you, too, baby. You’re okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Echo laughed and kissed Myst’s temple. “I’m hungry, though.” His lips roamed down Myst’s face until he could claim the man’s mouth. “Feed me,” he murmured silkily.

  Hex bit his tongue to keep from laughing, when Myst started bobbing his head eagerly. “What do you want? I’ll make you anything you want.”

  “Anything?” Echo purred.

  “Absolutely. Just tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”

  “Then, sit still and look pretty.” Echo laved his tongue up the smooth column of Myst’s throat. His fangs dropped down, and he scraped them over the warrior’s neck. “Say yes,” he whispered.

  Hex groaned, reaching down to readjust his hardening cock inside his jeans. Just the memory of those canines sinking into his neck made him hard enough to pound nails. He heard Eyce and Fiero make similar sounds beside him, and knew the demons understood exactly how he felt.

  Myst gulped audibly. “Will it hurt?”

  “No,” Hex, Eyce, and Fiero answered together.

  “I’ll make you love it,” Echo answered seductively. His hand slithered down Myst’s chest, and he rose up slightly to push his hand between them and cup Myst’s groin. “I’d never hurt you, love. You mean too much to me.”

  “Yes,” Myst breathed and tilted his head to the side to bare his neck. He closed his eyes, his body trembling. Hex watched silently, his breathing becoming unsteady and his cock pounding against his zipper.

  Echo was so gentle, smoothing his free hand over Myst’s face as he bit into his neck. His other hand continued to massage Myst’s cock through his jeans, and Hex could almost feel that strong grip on his own dick.

  “I feel…” Eyce panted.

  “Me, too.” Fiero’s rubbed the heel of his hand over the bulge in his pants. “Oh, gods.” He moaned loudly, his eyes rolling back in his head.

  A heartbeat later, Myst cried out, his hips jerked upward, and Hex almost fell to his knees as his orgasm ripped through him. Leaning heavily against the basement door, he struggled for breath, all the while wondering what the fuck had just happened.

  Echo licked over the mark then trailed his lips up Myst’s neck, over his jaw, and finally captured his parted lips. He dipped his tongue inside, stroking Myst’s a few times before easing away and smiling. “Did that hurt?”

  Myst shook his head dazedly.

  “Good. Your turn,” Echo murmured. He palmed the back of Myst’s head and urged him toward his neck. “Claim me, big guy.”

  Just as gently as Echo had, Myst pierced the supple flesh, growling and whimpering as he sucked at the wound. Echo gasped, his fingers dug into Myst’s shoulders, and his entire body gave a visible shudder.

  Hex roared and slid to the floor when another mind-numbing orgasm ripped through him. It was one of the most intense things he’d ever felt, and no one had even touched him. Hell, he hadn’t even touched himself. “What the fuck is going on?”

  “I don’t know, but I want more.” Eyce dropped to the floor and slumped against Hex. “Sweet hell, the runt is going to kill me.”

  “I am totally sleeping in Echo’s room tonight,” Myst said loudly. “So, you can all just kiss my ass.”

  Echo laughed breathlessly and kissed the side of Myst’s neck. “I’d love for you to sleep with me tonight.”

  “Yeah, so there.” Myst actually stuck his tongue out, and Hex couldn’t stop his laughter if he’d wanted.

  “Okay, okay. We’ll figure out sleeping arrangements later. Right now, we need to round everyone up and have a little talk about Echo’s…condition.”

  “Man, I do not have cancer.” Echo snorted and climbed down from Myst’s lap. He moved gingerly, grimacing as he pulled his sodden sleep pants away from his groin. “I really hope that doesn’t happen every time I bite one of you.”

  “I do.”

  Echo glared at Fiero. “Fine, then you can do the laundry from now on.”

  “Happily.” Fiero smirked as he gave Echo a quick wink.

  “Oh, you guys are incorrigible.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Okay, let’s get cleaned up because I do have questions. I’m still not sure how I feel about this whole vampire gig, yet.”

  Syx and Vapre stepped into the kitchen at that moment, took in the scene around them with wide eyes, and burst into laughter. “No one called us for kitchen sex?”

  Hex looked up at Syx and grinned goofily. “As you can see, everyone still has their clothes on.”

  Syx looked like he would say something else, but Echo interrupted him. “Where’s Onyx?”

  “He stormed out the back door a few minutes before you came in here,” Myst answered. “He looked pissed off.”

  “He’s not back yet?” Echo worried his bottom lip between his teeth as his eyebrows drew together. “Did he say anything before he left?”

  “No.” Myst sat up straighter in his chair. “He was pacing in front of the door. He said a few things about being worried about you and…” Myst trailed off, looking uncomfortable. “Uh, well, then he just left.”

  “What are you hiding?” Hex pushed to his feet and took up a no-nonsense stance with his feet wide and his arms crossed over his chest.

  “It’s nothing.” Myst stood as well and pushed a hand through his dark, shaggy hair. “I think he’s feeling a little left out, is all. He said some things about being pushed out of the way last night when he really needed to touch Echo and make sure he was okay.”

  “Oh, you didn’t.” Echo looked around the room, meeting each of their eyes, disappointment etched into the lines of his face. “Why?”

  “Baby, we didn’t mean it like that.” Hex closed the distance between them and cupped Echo’s cheek. “We were all worried about you. It’s not like we purposely tried to keep him away.”