He grips my hips, and my arms go instantly around his neck before I wrap my legs around his waist. Tobias pushes me against Theo, and I groan when I feel his cock pressing between my cheeks. I lean my head back on Theo’s shoulder and he kisses my chin softly feeling Tobias move his hips, thrusting inside me. My walls clench around his cock as he stretches me. I feel my skin heat and I shiver against Theo’s cold skin behind me. Theo kisses my neck, and his nails dig into my hips when he thrusts inside of me. It stings a little, but he stops moving while I breathe through the sudden pain. I rarely feel pain like this.
I move my hips against Tobias, relaxing a little, and feel Theo move slowly, one of his hands moving to my nipple as he rolls it between his fingers. Tobias nips at my mark, making my toes curl. The only sounds in the bathroom are our moans and heavy breathing as I get lost in the feeling of them deep inside me. My stomach tightens, and I feel my walls clench tightly around Tobias as my orgasm washes over me. Theo, biting into the soft skin of my neck, makes me moan loudly as he stills inside me. Tobias keeps thrusting a little longer before finding his own release. Theo’s fangs pull out of my neck and I feel a little light-headed as my feet touch the ground. I sway slightly and grab Tobias’s arm to steady myself.
I feel worry through the bond as I step out of the shower. The steam in the bathroom becomes overwhelming with my already flushed skin. Grabbing my towel, I wrap it around myself before flopping down on my back on the bed.
Theo and Tobias walk out of the bathroom. “Are you feeling okay?” Tobias asks, leaning over me.
Theo comes over and places his hand on my cheek. “You look a little flushed,” he says as I lean into the coolness of his hand.
“I’m fine, I just need to eat,” I tell them.
Tobias sits on the bed beside me before pulling me onto his lap. I lean against him heavily, putting my head on his shoulder. Tobias runs his nail across the side of his throat, creating a blood trail. I run my tongue along it, but I find it weird when it doesn’t entice me like it used to.
“Feed, Imogen,” Tobias says, when I don’t bite down on him. My belly rumbles loudly and I realize I want real food, not blood. My eyes go to Theo and he is staring at me weirdly.
“What?” I ask, confused at his expression.
“Don’t you want blood?” He asks. I shake my head, I want food, actual food, and I realize what he means. I’m no longer craving blood, not that Tobias’ blood grosses me out. It still tastes good, but I want food more, for once. Which is a little odd?
Going downstairs, I make some toast. Tobias and Theo watch me, and I can feel their worry through the bond. I keep seeing them glance in my direction every few seconds. When I hear a knock at the door, I run to the door and open it, excited to see my son. Only when I open the door, it is Josiah. I peer outside toward his car.
“Where is Caroline and Thaddeus?” I ask, a little disappointed.
“They will come after we go and see the council. You okay Imogen? You seem different?” He asks.
I move to the side, letting him in. “Yep, everything is fine,” I tell him, getting sick of everyone worrying.
I feel normal, more normal than I have in ages. It’s a good thing, so I don’t understand why everyone is so worried. Walking back into the kitchen, I sit at the counter and continue eating my toast and drinking my coffee. Josiah and Theo are over in the corner, sending me nervous glances and I know they are talking about me. Tobias comes over and places his hands on my shoulders, making me look up at him.
“What are they talking about?” I ask, and he leans down and kisses the side of my mouth.
“Nothing you need to worry about right now.” I let it go, figuring they will tell me when they are ready.
Once everyone is dressed, we head to the car. The drive to the abandoned block takes forever and I drift off to sleep. I wake with my head in Theo’s lap when he shakes my shoulder to wake me. Sitting up, I yawn and stretch, my back aching from the seat belt clicker digging into it.
Walking through the broken gate, I’m sucked into my new surroundings. It isn’t as scary this time since I know what to expect. Percy, a huge grin splitting on to his face, greets us, and Theo tosses him a paper bag which he happily catches before pulling out a stick of red liquorice.
“Do you just carry random paper baggies around with candy?” I ask him.
He smiles and shakes his head. “No, but Percy never leaves the council grounds, so I always make sure I have them when I come here.” He tells me.
On the way to the council chambers, we are stopped multiple times by different people. I can tell just by how many people come over to us that Josiah has a pretty enormous influence on the people that live here, and they respect him.
When an elderly lady stops us just outside, I have a strange feeling rush over me. The old woman shakes Josiah’s hand, before looking at me. She has the palest gray eyes I have ever seen, her white hair is pulled back in a long ponytail that reaches past her bottom.
I can’t help but observe her, and can’t seem to pull my gaze from hers. She too watches me like she is shocked at what she is seeing. When she doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, Josiah calls her attention away, yet I can’t take my eyes off her. Even when Josiah introduces us.
“Imogen, this is Astral,” he tells me, and she puts her hand out for me to shake.
I place my hand in hers and her eyes turn completely white. She doesn’t scare me though; in fact, I feel really relaxed in her presence, like daydreamy. She grips my hand tightly with both of hers and I see Tobias and Theo step closer, worried. But I brush them off and they remain where they stand. I can’t explain it, but I feel a connection to her in some way, like we are sort of the same. I just don’t understand why I feel that way.
When her eyes refocus, she smiles. “Been awhile since I found another spirit user. That bracelet won’t hold your magic for long, dear. Don’t fear it; embrace it. Your mates will keep its darkness away.” She says, like it is a normal conversation and she is asking how I like my tea.
“Spirit?” Theo asks, stepping forward.
“Yes, Theo, she is the same as me. For now, she has trapped her magic, but it can’t stay that way. The longer she leaves it in that bracelet, the worse it will get and the closer she will get to death.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, frightened by her words.
“The magic dear, spirit can drive someone mad. It’s the strongest element of magic there is.”
I shake my head, not understanding.