“Oh, yes,” I said appreciatively.

  “Good,” he said, and he kissed me once more.

  I pulled him with me as I moved backwards to my bed. When my knees bumped against it, I sat down, and brought him down with me. I twisted, so that I let my head fall back on the pillow.

  Silas was lying on top of me, and his weight, the feel of him, made all my nerve endings stand up on alert. We hadn’t had a chance to be alone since he and Matty had come to their understanding. But now, I knew what I wanted. I hoped he wanted the same thing.

  Silas kissed my neck and rested his head in between my neck and shoulder. “I’ve been wanting to get some time alone with you for weeks and weeks,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I knew you were going to be mine when I met you, Mystery Girl,” he nuzzled my neck.

  His teeth nipped at my collarbone, and I felt my nipples get hard.

  “How did you know?” I asked.

  “You didn’t think there was something between us?”

  “I did, but I wasn’t sure what, if anything, would happen,” I said.

  “I knew,” Silas said. “I’ve been sure since the first time I kissed you.”

  “Well, you knew more than me. This wasn’t where I saw things heading. But I’m glad this is happening,” I said, running my hand along his face.

  “The more I know about you, the more I know you’re the one for me.” He nibbled at my lip and then kissed me. His tongue darted in my mouth, teasing, playful. His hand moved up my shirt.

  “Wait,” I whispered. I pushed myself up on my elbows as Silas rolled to the side. Getting up, I watched him as I pulled up my shirt, taking it over my head and tossing it to the floor. Then my bra followed the shirt.

  Silas didn’t move. His eyes were glued to mine, hot and hungry and focused.

  I bent over and slid down my pants, taking my underwear off at the same time. I wanted him, and I didn’t want to give off any mixed signals.

  I saw his chest rise as he took a deep breath. He held out a hand to me.

  Without a word, I took it and let him draw me back to the bed, back to him. I kneeled in front of him, and he sat up, putting an arm around me as his mouth descended to my nipple.

  Silas suckled it hard, making me arch toward him. The hand on my waist dropped to my ass, cupping it. His hands were not completely smooth, and I liked the way they felt when he touched me.

  Then he brought his hand back to my breasts, cupping them as he kissed them, one at a time, sucking at my nipples.

  I felt a rush of wetness between my legs.

  Silas moved, turning me until I was sitting back on the bed, my knees up. His hand went down between my legs, and there was an answering jolt of wetness in response to his touch.

  He smiled, looking feral and wild when he did so. “You’re driving me crazy, Olivia.”

  “Show me,” I said.

  His eyes blazed. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded. I wanted all of him. It was a little scary to expose myself like this to him, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. I did think things might get rough, and the thought excited me.

  He pushed me back gently and lowered his head between my legs. He didn’t hesitate, but took my clit into his mouth and sucked on it hard.

  I cried out.

  I could feel his lips move into a smile next to my core. His tongue entered me, moving in and out as he gave me his passion, and demanded the same.

  My hands moved down toward his head, tangling themselves in the waves of his hair.

  Silas eased a finger inside of me as he sucked at my clit once more. He pushed inside of me, first with one, and then two fingers. He kept up an intense rhythm, bringing me closer to the edge. I could feel the tension building, and the muscles in my legs tightened. He didn’t slow down and when I looked down at him, his eyes were on me.

  Watching him watching me as he touched and kissed me sent an electric shock scorching through my body. I arched against him, crying out for release.

  Silas sat up.

  “What are you doing?” I gasped.

  “Giving you what you want,” he said, his voice a growl. “We need to make sure you’re safe.”

  “I am,” I said. Once I’d realized that I had not just one completely hot man in my life, but two, I cast the strongest contraceptive spells I could manage. Those were something my mom taught me from an early age.

  He grinned and moved his body over mine. He was so big. I loved it. He wasted no time and pushed his hips between my legs. His cock slid into me, and I gasped at how warm he felt, how he filled me.

  Silas sank in to the hilt, and for a moment, he was still, his eyes closed. Then he opened them and bent his head to kiss me. His hips moved, and he pulled out from me, and then thrust in hard.

  I gasped into his mouth.

  Twining my legs around his calves, I moved him up along me, closer. His hips jerked, and I brought my legs up to his ass, touching my ankles together.

  This time, it was Silas’ turn to gasp.

  As I used my legs to bring him close to me when he thrust, I arched my pelvis up toward him.

  His cock rubbed against my clit. The increased friction from the shift in position was making me crazy.

  Silas slid his arms around me, bringing me up closer to him, my nipples rubbing against his chest. He surrounded me. He was everywhere. I let myself get lost in him.

  His face was next to mine, and he thrust in and out of me. I used my feet to deepen each thrust, and every time his cock moved against all my sensitive parts, I could feel myself teeter on the edge of release.

  But like before, he kept the pace, steady and slow. He’d already brought me to the edge once, and that made every movement he made even more intense.

  “Oh, god, Olivia,” he breathed in my ear. The timbre of his voice was like warm honey all over me.

  My hands raked down his back, scoring his flesh.

  Silas ground himself against me, finally, finally moving faster than he had been. If he stopped this time I would kill him, I decided. And then I couldn’t think anymore because I was at the edge of the cliff, and he was pounding into me, and I let myself go, let myself fall.

  Silas fell with me.

  Our breath mingled as we came together in long, surrendering moans. I looked into his eyes, and I couldn’t look away. It was as though stars had burst into flame in front of me, and I was flying. With him.

  Silas stilled and rested his forehead on mine.

  I kissed him, loving the feel of his full lips, of his tired satiation. I could feel it all over him, all around me. I felt it when his body relaxed.

  After a moment, or an eternity, he moved off of me. I made to get up, to clean up, and he stopped me. “I got it,” he said.

  He waved a hand. I felt a cool breeze and then he smiled. “No fuss, no muss,” he said.

  “Thank you,” I said. I hadn’t thought about it until that moment.

  “Here, get under the blankets,” Silas said, lifting up the bed coverings.

  I scooted underneath, and he slid in next to me. He was still warm.

  I had to ask. “Why do you feel hotter than anyone else around?”

  “I’m a shifter. We run warmer than non-shifters.”

  “Oh. I like it,” I said, snuggling under his arm.

  We laid in bed talking. He told me about his four brothers, and I told him about being an only kid. I told him I was adopted, and that I’d recently met my birth mom. I also told him the same thing I’d told Matty—that women in my family had a history of more than one mate.

  “I told you from the get go. I like packs,” he said.

  “Even though I’m not a shifter?”

  “I’m not the oldest. I don’t have to be the alpha, and I’m not responsible for the next generation unless I want to start my own pack. I can be as alpha as I want as long as I listen to my dad and my older brother,” he said. “Life is a lot easier when you’re not the heir.”

  No shit, I thought, remembering Iliana’s words.

  I don’t know how long he stayed. I was getting sleepy when he eased himself out of bed. “I want to stay, but it’s not a good idea,” he said.

  “Oh, boo,” I said, not totally sure what I was saying, because I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

  “Plus, I hear you have a podmate who might beat my ass with a shoe or something, so I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He kissed me tenderly, and then he was gone.

  When I woke, the clock read just before seven. I felt amazing. I’d slept like the dead, and I hadn’t dreamed once.

  Good sex will do that, apparently.

  I took a shower and was ready for the day before anyone else in the pod was moving. That was fine. I went down to breakfast, a smile on my face and practically skipping and humming. I felt like an animated princess from a fairy tale.

  I sat at the table, smiling into my tea. Eggs and bacon appeared, and I dug in. I was starving. I was on my second cup of tea when Jade and Thalia joined me, and both of them gave me what could only be described as the hairy eyeball.

  “You are entirely too fucking cheerful this morning,” Jade grumbled.

  “Get coffee,” I said. “Then talk.”

  She poured herself a cup out of the carafe, and we sat together silently.

  “So why is it you’re singing with the birds?” Thalia asked.

  I opened my mouth to tell them what happened when I heard a shriek off to my right.

  “There she is! That’s her, right there!”

  “Holy shit,” I said, putting my hands over my ears.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Jade said.

  “What does she want?” Thalia asked at the same time.

  Wendi-of-the-worst-hair was striding toward me, and she had a crowd of people behind her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “What in the fresh hell is this?” I said as Wendi bore down on me.

  “You stole from me, you half-breed freak,” Wendi said.

  “Wendi, please,” the woman next to her said.

  Wendi shut her mouth, but it was obviously difficult for her. The anger radiating from her was almost physical.

  “Miss Washington?” the woman asked.

  “Yes. And you are?”

  “I am Councilor Tennyson, one of the investigative team for the Concilium. May we speak?”

  I looked beyond her. There were two men I didn’t know, and the amazingly smarmy and smug Sokolov. Next to him was Madame Karathos. Her expression was decidedly neutral.

  “Right here?” I asked.

  “Well, I would like to see your room,” Councilor Tennyson smiled. The smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Okay,” I said. “Will this take long?” My voice was calm even as I was freaking out inside. I would not let these people, led by Wendi fucking bad hair, get to me. I didn’t even have to ask. Her mom was here, and there was a delegation that showed up to take me away?

  I glared at Wendi. Her eyes widened. Some of my thoughts must have been plain on my face. Good.

  “Not if everything is in order,” Councilor Tennyson replied. “Shall we?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  As I walked out of the dining hall, with all eyes on me, I saw Silas coming in front the other end. He stopped and stared. I shook my head. Hopefully, he’d go and talk to my friends and get an update.

  No one spoke as we walked to my room. I stepped into the pod and unlocked my door. Then I walked in and opened the door wide. “Come in. Can I ask what it is you’re looking for?”

  “No. But can you confirm that you have a small shell box with a blood lock?” Councilor Tennyson asked.

  “I do,” I said. “It was a gift from my parents. How did you know about it?”

  “Where is it?” she asked, not answering my question.

  I took a few steps to where it was sitting on my bedside table and picked it up. “It’s right here.” I held it out to her.

  Councilor Tennyson took it. I noticed that her eyes darted toward Wendi, and Wendi nodded.

  How did that fucking girl know about my shell box?

  A thought hit me. Unless she’d been in my room, she wouldn’t know about it. Only my friends knew about it, and they wouldn’t tell her. I glared at her.

  “And you open this how?” Councilor Tennyson asked.

  “I need to put a drop of blood on it,” I said.

  “Will you open it now?” she handed me the box.

  “Sure,” I said. I walked to my desk, pushing past Sokolov, who had a sneer plastered on his face. What was his deal? And who were the two creepy guys who were trailing along without saying anything? This was all the shit I’d worried about when I found out about… I felt the nudge of another consciousness up against mine and I carefully put up a door as I’d practiced last week with Madame Karathos. I didn’t need anyone digging around in my head.

  Pulling a tack out of my cork board, I poked at my finger. A drop of blood welled up, and after putting the tack back, I pressed my finger against the lock on the shell box.

  The lock came open with a click. It was so quiet in my room that the click was audible.

  “May I see that?” Councilor Tennyson held out her hand.

  I gave the box to her.

  Next to her, Wendi’s face was getting red. She peered into the box and looked at me. “Where is it?” she hissed.

  “What the hell are you talking about? And how did you even know about this? I’ve only shown it to two of my friends. Neither of whom are you.”

  “What?” Wendi was surprised.

  “How did you know about my shell box? I got it from my mom a couple of weeks ago. No one else has seen it outside this pod.”

  “People talk,” she replied.

  “Not about this,” I said. “Recently, I lost some jewelry. I haven’t been able to find it for over a week. It’s not in my room, or anywhere in my pod. None of my professors have found it.”

  “You mean the ring you stole from me?” Wendi demanded.

  Her mom nudged at her, not very discreetly. Wendi didn’t seem to notice.

  “What? I’m the one who had a ring stolen,” I said. “And I think it was you, Wendi. Because the only way you’d know about my shell box was if you were in my room. Since I would never and have never invited you, you must have come in uninvited. Where is my ring?”

  “My daughter is a seer, and she alerted me—” Councilor Tennyson began.

  “You stole it back, you freak!” Wendi shouted, cutting off whatever excuse her mom was trying to give. As she realized what she’d just admitted, she clapped her hands over her mouth. It was like watching a bad movie where you could see the big screw up coming a mile away.

  “You stole my ring and then you lost it?” I demanded. “And now you’re here with a committee to what? Accuse me of taking back something you stole?” I was about to launch into a tirade when I saw Madame Karathos look down, shaking her head.

  Now maybe that was for me, or maybe it was for Wendi. But I took it as a warning.

  “Councilor Tennyson, I don’t know what your daughter told you, but if she had my ring, which was gold with a dark coral colored bead, she stole it. It’s that simple. My podmates can tell you that they helped me go through my whole room looking for it.”

  The councilor was glaring at Wendi. “It seems we have been misinformed.”

  Wendi shrank a foot or more under her mother’s glare.

  “My apologies, Miss Washington,” Madame Karathos stepped forward. “Councilors, as this has come to a conclusion, let me invite you to leave.” She walked to the door.

  The two creepy guys, who still hadn’t said a thing, turned and walked from the room without a word. Councilor Tennyson followed, gripping her daughter by the arm. Madame Karathos followed them.

  Which left me with Mykhel Sokolov, who had lost his smug look. He glared at me like I was something he stepped in. “The stupid girl went about this poorly, but she’s not wrong. There is something off about you. You don’t belong here. And as long as I’m part of the Concilium, you will never work with us. ”

  “What is wrong with you?” I asked. “I didn’t do anything wrong, nor have I. I worked hard to get here, and I am still working hard. Check with my professors.”

  “I have, Miss Washington,” he sneered. “That doesn’t change facts. You are hiding something. I will discover your secret.” With a final glare, he marched out.

  How could this guy be any part of an angel? He was an asshole.

  I stood in the middle of my room, trying to process what had happened. As it began to hit me, I sat down on my bed.

  Within a few minutes, Jade, Thalia, Matty, and Silas burst in.

  “Are you all right?” Matty asked.

  “What did they want?” Silas growled.

  “I saw the Concilium woman dragging Wendi away. What the fuck?” asked Jade.

  Thalia sat down next to me. She didn’t say anything, just sat with me.

  “Okay, everyone be quiet. That way I only have to say it once,” I said. I told them what happened, finishing with, “She had to have taken my ring. She’d seen me wearing it, but I’ve never taken the shell box out of my room.”

  “When would she have come in here?”

  “My door is usually locked,” I said. I was trying to remember when I might have walked off and left it open, or unlocked. I couldn’t think of any time in particular. “I don’t know,” I said. “I wish I did. It’s really gross to think of her in here, touching my stuff.”

  “Makes you want to burn the whole place down,” said Thalia.

  We all laughed.

  Everyone had class—it was hard to believe that it was still early morning—and I walked to Spells with Matty. Silas insisted on walking with us, even though his first class wasn’t anywhere near Professor Talbot’s room.

  “Why would she steal your ring?” Silas asked.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “She’s convinced she knows something about me.”

  “I wonder if Jake knew about this,” Matty said. “He didn’t mention anything to me.”

  “Well, it would have been nice to have a heads-up.” I said. “Who were all those people?”

  “Enforcers,” Silas said grimly. “She must have told her mom one hell of story to get her mom to come out here with enforcers.”