Page 111 of Their Fierce Little Monster

“Oh Gods, where the hell are we?” Dawn’s panicked voice streams across the open land.

We all turn to find her in the doorway, her violet eyes wide, her face pale and stricken. Dark hair messily frames her face, and she stumbles outdoors, staring around, appearing as lost as we all feel.

“What’s going on?” She hurries closer, then swings her attention toward the city. “No! He relocated us overnight, and we’re so far away. Shit! These woods aren’t safe?”

I collect her hand and pull her against me, then kiss her brow. “We’re going to find a way out,” I explain, glancing over at Lian and Kazak, who nod. But seeing Dawn tremble and glance around frantically wounds me. She’s mine to protect, to keep. Mine!

I’ve never felt such primal hunger and desire for anyone before, or fallen head over heels so fast. From the start, I knew she’d bury me with that body, that face, and I still lost control.

Her kind of beauty can start wars, and it almost did between the three of us, all vying for her attention. The temptation to take her all for myself lingers, ingrained in me, except I won’t force her, as she made it clear in the maze that she wants all of us. But I shove that thought aside because above everything else, our priority is survival.

“All right, we need a game plan,” I confirm. Those from Grimvale are wired differently; the constant need to battle, to prove ourselves, to protect our homes does that to us. We’re always expecting the worst and ready to go to war. That messes up our brains, and we’re constantly in fight mode.

As if on cue, another howl answers, and Dawn presses herself closer to me. “What do we need to do?” she asks. “I’m ready to leave this place.”

Lian grins. “My sentiments exactly.”

“We must find a game trail. It’ll make traveling faster,” Kazak explains. “There’s a higher chance of us encountering animals, but I’d recommend we leave first thing in the morning. They’ll all be out at night, and I suspect the trek will take us hours. Getting off the mountain is a priority, as the bigger beasts rarely venture all the way into the valley.”

“Good, then we have our first mission. Find a path off this fucking mountain,” I command. “Dawn, you remain in the cabin. Until we know what we’re dealing with here, I want you safe.”

“Agreed,” Kazak says. “I know you’re strong, Dawn, but let us scout the land first.”

“And if anything comes for you,” Lian says, leaning in, sliding a hand through her hair, drawing her closer because he can’t stop touching her, “don’t hesitate to unleash your beautiful dragonfly.”

“I’m not going to fight you on this,” she says. “But please come back, because if I end up stuck on this mountain on my own, I’m going to be furious. And I’ll come for each of you, even if it’s in death.”

I laugh, dragging her back against my side. “That’s what I love to hear.” Then I press my lips to hers. She moves in closer, and I deepen the kiss, pushing my tongue into her mouth, addicted to her honeyed taste. She whimpers against my mouth, her lips closing around my tongue, and sucks on me.

My cock throbs at how voracious I feel. I’m seconds from ripping her clothes off and rutting up against the cabin. This Ice Fire girl has me by the balls, and I keep falling for her over and over.

She breaks away from me, cheeks flushed, as Lian pulls her into his arms. “A good-luck kiss sounds perfect,” he murmurs, and I can’t help but laugh out loud.

He coils an arm around her and tips her backward, holding her like some damn human Casanova. She fists his shirt, kissing him just as passionately, and I should be furious, but watching them is more of a temptation I could get used to.

Evidently, listening to her moaning is all I need to forget we’re in a dangerous forest.

Coming up for air, Lian lifts her back upright and releases her, which surprises me. I half expected him to toss her over his shoulder and rush into the cabin, locking us out.

She glances over at Kazak, batting her eyes, and curls a finger toward him. The fool grins and saunters toward her, his eyes glinting. To see the depth of his devotion makes me wonder if that’s how I look in her presence—utterly detached from reality.

She wraps an arm around his neck, pushing herself up on tiptoes, and their mouths clash.

But I’ve had my share of watching her kiss someone else for one day, so I enter the cabin. I use that moment to search all the drawers and shelves for a weapon. A blade or anything we can leave with Dawn as a defense. Except I come up empty. The place is bare, not even cutlery in the tiny kitchen.

I march outside to where she stumbles out of Kazak’s embrace and glances my way with her cheeks pink, her nipples pushing hard against the fabric of her dress. Anywhere else, and the three of us would be all over her. Let’s just say I wouldn’t even be opposed to all three of us sharing her at the same time.

“You all had better come back,” he says breathlessly.

“You have my word,” I say, and the other two give her their commitment.

Once she’s indoors, I turn to the pair. “All right, I go left, Lian right, and, Kazak, see if there’s anything around ahead. Don’t fall off the cliff, as I don’t think I can explain that to Dawn without her murdering us.” I’m still stunned I’m saying that to an Ash Clan.

He chuckles. “You’re all right for a Gold Ember.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say, cutting him a side look.

Lian makes a gagging sound, and I laugh it off.