Thane sat at the island, his elbows propped on the granite and his chin planted on a fist, looking downward. “Yeah, until Lexi had to forfeit because I couldn’t hold it together.”

Boman rooted through the fridge, and Jerry sat in the corner on a stool, leaning against the wall with his head back and eyes closed. The rest of them were out of sight.

“She could’ve just sent you away, but she didn’t,” Donovan said. “She was tired. We were all tired. At least we had a good excuse and didn’t have to go home bloody.” He looked Kieran’s way. “Hey, sir.” He shrugged. “We gave it the ol’ college try. There’s always tomorrow.”

Kieran felt Lexi in their room, starting to head his way. He summoned the rest of his people through the blood link and texted Bria, Red, and the kids. One by one they trickled in, weary, with their spines bowed and their lids drooping. Alexis’s eyes lit up when she saw him.

“Hey, babe. How’d it go?” She slipped her hand in his.

He looked down at her beautiful face as everyone waited for him to speak. “I had a damn good day. My status, right now, is at a level that doesn’t even make sense, it’s so high. Zander walked me outside and congratulated me on my win. Your win. You all turned heads and broke the mold. Even you, Daisy.” He turned to give her his full attention. “Especially you, a non-magical teenager with no blood link protection. You showed courage beyond your years.” He looked at the others, taking in their surprise. “You didn’t just do well for beginners, you did well for experienced magical workers who have been together for lifetimes stacked on top of each other.

“Thane, keep your head high. You’ve turned heads with your superior control. Forfeiting usually isn’t allowed, but they let you do it because they didn’t want you bashing their heads in.”

Boman grinned and clapped Thane on the back.

“No violence yet, please,” Thane said calmly, rage not far from the surface. Kieran could feel it boiling. Even now he was working on his control.

“Excellent work, all of you. You did me proud. Sleep in tomorrow—you earned it.” Kieran swooped Lexi up into his arms. She squealed and wrapped her hands around his neck. “I need to speak with you. Alone. For a while.”

“Ew,” Daisy said, and turned away.

He rushed Lexi to their room, needing to explore this feeling of victory.

Door closed behind them, he ripped into her clothes. Her shirt dropped to the floor as he tore at the button on her pants. Her shaking hands were just as hurried as she reached into his undone belt and captured his hard length.

“Hmm, Lexi,” he said, his breathing fractured. He bent to capture a taut nipple between his teeth, pinching softly and then sucking. She pushed his jacket off his shoulders.

He straightened up, lifted her again, and unceremoniously dumped her on the bed. She giggled in delight, but her eyes didn’t lose the glimmer of hunger. He stripped out of his clothes, standing naked before her, staring down at the woman who held his heart in an iron fist. A woman he would claim, over and over, for the rest of their lives.

“Amber called you priceless,” he said, crawling onto the bed slowly, like a predator. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she scooted back, squeezing her thighs together to tamp down on the desire he felt pumping through the soul link. “She said they wanted to button up your situation because everyone in this whole place would love to add you to their team.”

“Amber has a tendency to be dramatic.” Her voice was a purr and her words were a deflection of a topic that clearly made her uncomfortable.

He allowed himself a loose smile, running his palm up her ankle, and then pushed her knees wide. She gripped the sheets in tight fists, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her back bumped against the headboard. She watched him advance, and he felt her anticipation building.

“I will have the belle of the ball as my wife. Only the ball will be a battlefield, and you will lead an army instead of a dance.” He grabbed her by the knees and dragged her closer. Her hair fanned out above her and her face flushed. “Nearly running you over with my car was the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me.”

He bent and ran his tongue up her wetness, her arousal tightening her body while her kaleidoscope of emotions—lust, love, desire, passion, a thread of anticipatory fear—soaked through him. She was responding to the ruthless side of him, the Demigod that controlled and protected his territory with everything he had. The side that would break the world to come to her aid if she were ever in harm’s way.

He sucked in her nub before swirling it in his mouth.

“Oh God, Kieran. Hmm.” She arched back, falling into his ministrations.

He kept up the suction and worked her with his fingers, plunging and retreating. She gyrated her hips and grabbed his hair, moaning. Calling his name. His cock pounded with need; he was desperate to feel her warm depths.

He worked her faster, reaching up and teasing her nipples. His Selkie magic coated her skin and wound through her body, spreading sensual desire to heighten her pleasure.

“Oh! Oh gaw—” She pulsed beneath him, her orgasm making her body shudder.

He was on her in a flash, pushing her into the plush mattress. He lined up and thrust in one fast movement, plunging to the hilt. She cried out, probably still sensitive from her orgasm with no time to come down.