“All of it’s connected,” Chaos said, leaving no room for doubt. “Regardless of who’s puppetmastering all of this, the horsewomen wanted their children so they could drain them and supercharge themselves.”
“Much like Hel drained us to free Lucifer,” Grim said bitterly.
“So it’s like their MO,” Merri murmured.
“Certainly seems to be,” I agreed.
“Then we can’t let them. If there’s a way for us to get Pan and Sunday back, we have to do it. Which means I’ll try the dreamwalk, so long as it’s okay with you.”
Was it okay? I hadn’t gotten past the part where he was missing. “You won’t have to feed on him just because you’re in a dreamwalk?”
“Oh, God, no. I would never feed on your son.”
It was obvious from her expression that the idea had never even crossed her mind. I wasn’t sure what it said about me that it was practically the first one in mine, but either way, I was glad to know it was off the table. I’d do just about anything for my son, but when it came to my mate, I wasn’t nearly as selfless.
“Then, yes. If there’s a chance you can reach him and help him escape, please...” I trailed off, unsure how to end that sentence.
“Of course. Consider it done.”
“Wait,” Chaos said, drawing our attention back to him. “Before Merri attempts anything, she needs to feed. She exhausted her reserves on Lucifer, so she needs to top up and ensure she’s back to full strength.”
A shockwave of lust radiated through the room, its epicenter Merri. She was hungry, but conflict was etched onto her features.
“What is it, hellcat?” I asked.
“I will need to feed at some point, but we’ve been apart for so long, and I want to be with you all. Not as a means to an end, though.”
“Does this mean you’re not in the mood for a hamburger?” I teased, my lip curling up in a soft smile. What had once stung now felt like a private joke.
Merri let out a slight laugh. “Exactly. I’ll need one later. But right now, can we all be together because you love me and I love you? Not for any other reason?”
That sounded about as close to perfection as I’d ever get.
“It was never just about feeding you, Merri. Even when we told ourselves it was.” I tugged her hand until she settled in my lap. My lips pressed to the side of her neck, just a soft kiss, but I hoped it conveyed how special she was. “Every moment we are with you is another affirmation of our bond.”
“Malice is right,” Chaos said, coming to kneel in front of her. He rested a large palm on the top of her thigh, his fingers tightening as if to emphasize my words. “It’s always been more for me. Taking care of you is just a bonus.”
“Me too. I’ve been in love with you since our first time together, kitten.” Sin dropped a kiss to her shoulder, and she sighed in pleasure.
I felt Grim’s presence behind me, his dark energy intense and heavy. It was enough to have me shifting to make space for him, space he immediately took advantage of. Instead of using his shadows as he had in the past, he reached forward and trailed his bare thumb across her lower lip. “I was a fool to ever make you doubt me.”
Merri shuddered, her eyes fluttering closed as all four of us touched her. There was something poignant about the moment, as if it was the culmination we’d all been unknowingly working toward.
Leaving a trail of kisses down her neck, I murmured against her skin, “Let us love you, Merri.”
Chapter
Four
MERRI
Malice’s whispered words were the catalyst that set us all in motion. Chaos got to his feet without a word and began clearing a space in the living area. The chair where Mal had been sitting slid across the room, a few pillows were tossed onto the plush rug, and before I knew it, the lights were dimmed and Chaos was stripping down.
“So, I guess we’re doing this here,” Sin said.
“The beds aren’t big enough for all of us,” Chaos answered, his eyes finding mine as his fingers moved to the waistband of his pants.
My mouth went dry, and I wasn’t paying attention to what the others were doing until Sin grabbed me by the belt and started to take it off.