Forged in Blood: A Dark Paranormal/ Fantasy romance (Broken Bloodlines Book 1)

I sit up, pulling the quilt up over myself, which I realize is futile as soon as I do it because Xavier simply tugs it down again. “What have I told you about covering up this beautiful body, Cupcake,” he says with a warning growl.

But it’s not beautiful, I answer in my head, wincing as I do.

He arches an eyebrow at me. You’re about to be spanked for that.

Before I can protest, he flips me over and smacks my ass. “Ouch,” I cry, even as warmth spreads across my skin and a familiar ache pulses between my thighs.

Malachi jumps onto the bed, landing beside me, his skin damp from his shower. He cups my chin in his hand. “Naughty girl,” he says with a grin.

“I didn’t do anything,” I whisper.

He makes a tutting sound. “I just fucking heard you.”

Xavier spanks me again, and I bite down on my lip to stifle a groan. “I thought you couldn’t hurt me.”

“Am I hurting you, Cupcake?” He brings the palm of his hand cracking down on my ass once more.

I groan out loud this time.

“Thought not,” he says with a wicked laugh and gives me one more sharp slap. Then he flips me back over and climbs between my thighs.

“So this reading minds thing? Are you guys going to be in my head all the time?”

Malachi props himself up on one elbow. “Are you in ours all the time?”

I scrunch my eyes closed and concentrate. I can’t hear them. “I don’t know.”

Xavier trails kisses over my neck and collarbone, distracting me. “It isn’t really mind reading. More like talking without talking.”

“Talking without talking?”

Malachi nods as Xavier trails his sinful lips lower. “Yeah, like if we want to talk to you or each other, then we can hear what the other is saying, but we can’t just read your mind. The professor can read minds, but that’s like some ancient freaky vampire shit that only he can do. As far as we know, anyway.”

I’m going to need to know so much more about that. It’s a pity the professor is such a closed book.

Xavier trails his teeth down my abdomen, nipping at my flesh as he moves south. Tell him to shut the fuck up. I’m about to eat here.

Malachi laughs. “You see, I heard that.” He bends his head and sucks one of my hard nipples into his mouth, then bites down gently, making me moan louder.

Xavier swirls his tongue over my clit. You taste so sweet, Cupcake.

Malachi hums. Delicious.

You see how helpful it can be? Xavier asks as he dips his tongue inside me. I can still talk to you with my mouth full of your pussy.

I press my lips together and close my eyes. You have a dirty mouth.

Are you being fucked again, princess? Axl joins our mental conversation.

Not yet, but she’s about to be, Malachi answers.

Sitting in the woods babysitting these pledges while they practice for the Hunt is boring as fuck, so if you could make our girl come real hard for me, I’d really appreciate it.

We always make her come hard, don’t we, Cupcake? He flicks his expert tongue over my flesh, and Malachi’s hand slides down to join Xavier’s mouth before he starts gently massaging my clit.

Y-yes.

You’re such a good girl, princess. I’ll be home in a few hours, and I want you waiting in that bed, naked and fucking dripping for me, Axl commands.

I c-can’t. I have class.

No classes today, baby. Malachi sucks on my neck. I’m gonna need you to stay right here all day.

And all night, Xavier adds, pressing my thighs flat to the mattress and spreading me wider so he can get better access. My body ignites with pleasure.

I do have to go to class though. My protest sounds weak, even to me. Please, I can’t fall behind.

Aw, are you begging, Cupcake? Xavier slides one thick finger inside me, and all the muscles in my body quiver.

You know how feral it makes us to hear you beg. Malachi sinks his fangs into my skin, and my orgasm tears through my body like a wildfire. The three of them talk me through it, telling me how good I taste, how sweet I sound when I lose control for them, how I belong to them. And I close my eyes and bask in their adoration, knowing that every single bad thing that happened before now must have been for a reason, because right here with them is the place where I was always meant to be.

Despite Axl’s warning that I’m going to be severely punished for disobeying them, I did go to classes today. I had to. If those boys had their way, I would never leave the house—or more specifically, one of the many beds in the house. And while what we do in there is a whole lot of fun, I need some space too. It’s been three weeks since Axl bit me and we had sex, and I’ve only been back to my dorm once for half an hour to grab a few of my things since. It’s all gotten very intense, very quickly. So fast that it makes my head spin simply thinking about it.

“Hey, girl. Why are you just standing there?” Cadence’s now-familiar voice shakes me from musing about my personal life, and I realize I’ve been staring into space in front of the Silver Vale Society house for a solid minute.

“Nervous about meeting everyone, I guess,” I say, surprised at my ability to lie so easily. I mean, I am nervous, but that’s not why I was standing here like an idiot.

“I’m so glad you came.” She links her arm through mine, and we walk up the porch steps together.

I hope you’re ready for a spanking, princess, Axl growls in my head, causing my legs to tremble and wet heat to pool in my core.

Stop. I’m with Cadence at the Silver Vale house.

You’d better be home in a few hours or I’m coming to get you, he warns.

I’ll be home by eight, okay?

I’ll be waiting.

“Hey, Meg, this is Ophelia,” Cadence says to the familiar-looking blond girl who opens the door to us.

Meg bounds forward and grabs my hand in a firm shake. “Hey, Ophelia. I think we met at the activity fair before the semester started. At our table?”

Memories of that day come racing back to me, and I immediately feel ashamed of the way I judged her. I don’t know what it is, but I can see things more clearly now, and the way she’s looking at me is genuine and friendly, not bitchy the way I thought when we met.

Meg smiles. “Cadence has told us so much about you.”

How many people have I pushed away because of my assumption that they were going to treat me the same way Penelope did? I swallow down the thick knot of regret and promise myself that it all changes today. “All good, I hope,” I say awkwardly, and both Cadence and Meg laugh.

An elegantly dressed woman with silver-blond hair and sparkling gray eyes comes to stand beside Meg, and Cadence introduces her as Professor Green, the faculty head of Silver Vale.

“Call me Enora, dear,” she says, taking my hand in hers and curling her warm fingers around my palm as she stares into my eyes like she’s trying to see deep inside my soul. Does she sense any latent powers, like the kind Alexandros talked about?

With a final narrowing of her eyes, she lets me go and smiles again, directing us into the house. I walk inside and am immediately struck by how different Silver Vale is from Ruby Dragon. It smells of freshly baked cookies and flowers instead of cologne, pizza, and coffee, not to mention the paperbacks, textbooks, and leather-bound books that are stacked and arranged on every surface. The only books at Ruby Dragon are in Malachi’s bedroom—and I suspect the professor’s study, but I haven’t dared enter that room.

But it’s more than the smells and the books. It feels warm and homey and … happy. I bet it’s amazing to live here. Two girls with dark hair walk hand in hand down the stairs, smiling at me as they pass. “How many pledges do you have this year?” I ask Cadence.

“Thirty-one so far.”

“So far? I thought pledges had to commit during the first two weeks of the semester?”

Cadence leads me down a hallway decorated with flowery wallpaper and ornate gilded mirrors. “That’s for the Dragon and Moon societies. Their pledges are usually signed up before school even begins. But the Vales sometimes find pledges weeks after school starts. Some students might not know they belong here until they’ve been at Montridge a while.” She wrinkles her button nose. “I guess it’s hard to explain.”

What she’s saying makes sense. Wolves already know they’re wolves. Vampire pledges have already been recruited or identified by organizations who want them for some reason, so they’d come here with plans to pledge one of the vamp societies. But witches, well, I really don’t know much about witches at all.

Cadence gives me a nudge. “Maybe you’ll pledge. You know, if you like it here?”

I do like it. And I am a witch—so the professor says, anyway. She leads me into a huge room that smells of incense and candles and contains yet more books and several oversized armchairs. Professor Green is already sitting in a plush purple one next to the roaring fire. Weird.

Hey, can witches do that super-fast running thing too? I ask in my head, hoping one of the boys will hear me and respond.

Not like we do, but they can do all kinds of magic, Malachi replies. Some can teleport, and a few can even time travel.

“No way!” The matching expression on Enora’s and Cadence’s faces make it obvious that I accidentally spoke aloud. By way of explaining my outburst, I smile and say, “This place is incredible.”

Enora smiles and indicates for me to take a seat across from her.

Don’t let those witches try any mumbo jumbo on you, Cupcake, Xavier says.

Don’t be ridiculous, I reply. Enora is looking at me strangely again, and I squirm in my seat.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Ophelia.” Her laugh is lovely, musical almost. “But there is something very intriguing about you.”

I shrug. “Nothing exciting about me. I’m as boring as they come.”

“You have been spending a lot of time with the commanders of the Ruby Dragon Society lately. Perhaps they sense a similar …” She purses her lips and pauses for a moment. “Something.”

My cheeks flush with heat, and I flounder for something to say but come up empty.

She laughs again. “There’s no need to be embarrassed, sweet child. We are all of us physical creatures. And their kind is very alluring.”

I frown. “Th-their kind?”

Enora dismisses the question with a wave of her hand and calls one of the other girls in to bring us some tea and refreshments.

By the time I leave almost three hours later, I’m filled with the impression that Silver Vale Society is a lovely, refined place where the members and pledges regularly partake in English breakfast tea and delicious homemade cookies. All while sharing pleasant conversation. No mumbo jumbo at all.

If Axl weren’t growling in my head, threatening to throw me over his shoulder if I didn’t leave of my own accord, I probably would have stayed longer.

You’re incredibly possessive for someone who’s known me for a matter of months, Axl Thorne, I snap as I step onto the sidewalk outside the Silver Vale house.

You haven’t seen possessive, princess. You are mine, and you will get your sexy ass home before I walk in there and spank it in front of all your new witch friends.

I roll my eyes. I’m already on my way.

In that case …

Frowning, I wait for him to finish that thought. Not even ten seconds later, he’s standing a hundred yards ahead of me, leaning against one of the trees surrounding the Temple and looking so ludicrously hot that my knees turn to Jell-O just staring at him.

“Are you stalking me?”

He flashes me a wicked grin. “Yes.”

I shake my head and feign indignation, but when I reach him, he slings his arm around my shoulder, and I can’t even fake being annoyed at him.

He presses his lips against my ear. “Did I or did I not warn you to stay in bed all day and wait for me, princess?”

I shiver. “Yes, but I had to go to class. And I’m here now.”

His eyes rake unashamedly up and down my body, and he growls, making me giggle. Without any further warning, he hoists me over his shoulder and carries me the rest of the way home, with me giggling and making halfhearted protests that he should put me down the whole time.

We reach his bedroom and he tosses me onto the bed, then stands over me with a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Are you really going to punish me?” I ask, my voice raspy.

His eyes narrow and he unbuckles his belt. I swallow. “Naw.” Relief runs through me, but then he adds, “We all are.”

Oh, sweet hellfire. Nervous energy sizzles through my body. “All of you?”

“Such a naughty fucking cupcake.” Xavier’s sinful voice fills the room, and he steps up beside Axl, licking his lips, and nudges him in the ribs. “She not naked yet?”

Axl bites on his lip. “She’s about to be.”

Malachi walks into the room next and closes the door behind him. “I can help with that.” He stands beside his brothers with his hands on his hips and a grin on his face.

My pulse races, but only from excitement now. My breathing comes faster and heavier.

Xavier arches an eyebrow. “I can already see a wet spot on your adorable unicorn panties, Cupcake.”

I slam my thighs together. “You can … not,” I protest, although I’m aware that’s entirely possible because being around these three always has me feeling a certain kind of way.

Xavier chuckles, but Axl hands his belt to Malachi and nods toward the head of the bed.

My eyes widen. What are you doing?

Malachi climbs onto the bed and wraps the belt around my wrists before securing it to the metal bed frame. “Making sure you can’t go anywhere, sweet girl.”

“W-why would I want to go anywhere?”

Xavier produces a switchblade from his pocket and runs his tongue the length of the blade. Blood pours from his mouth, and Axl grabs him by the hair and tips his head back. Then he devours him, growling hungrily as he takes Xavier’s mouth in a dominant, bruising kiss. It’s so hot I almost combust. Half of me expects Xavier to plunge that knife into Axl’s neck given how the two of them bicker sometimes, but he only moans and fists his free hand in Axl’s hair.

“They’re so fucking hot together,” Malachi murmurs.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

I pant my agreement. “Uh-huh.”

When they pull away from each other, Axl licks his blood-smeared lips clean. Xavier’s cut has already healed, and he crawls onto the bed holding the knife.

“What are you doing?” I ask, warm waves of pleasure already rolling through my body.

He flashes me a grin. “Getting you naked, Cupcake.” He methodically slices off all my clothes, and I don’t have the desire to argue that he could have simply taken them off and not ruined them. Xavier with a knife is all kinds of sexy, which I did not expect at all.

When he’s done, he sits back on his heels and groans. “So much fucking better.”

Within moments, there are three naked and absurdly hot demigod-esque vampires looking down at where I lie tied to their bed like I’m their favorite snack. Which I guess I am.

“Don’t forget I need my blood to live,” I remind them with a giggle.

“Did our naughty cupcake just fucking sass us while she’s tied up?” Xavier asks.

Malachi tilts his head and stares at me. “I think she did.”

Axl grunts. “So fucking feisty.”

“About to be so fucking fucked.” Xavier winks at me.

I press my lips together and squirm under the heat of their gazes. My skin feels like it’s sizzling with kinetic energy, and they haven’t even touched me yet.

“You smell so fucking good, Cupcake.”

Malachi tips his face to the ceiling and groans. “She’s soaked.”

“And she’s all mine first,” Axl growls. “You two had plenty of fun this morning while I was working.”

Xavier rolls his eyes. “Like we don’t work just as hard, golden boy.”

“We sure worked hard this morning, huh, sweet girl?” Malachi says.

My cheeks get so hot I’m surprised my face isn’t on fire.

“My turn, princess.” Axl crawls between my thighs, nudging them wider apart with his knees. Dipping his head, he inhales, and the most animalistic growl I have ever heard in my life rolls out of him. “Sweet mother of fuck, Ophelia.”

Please tell me that sound he made wasn’t because of what I think it is. I do some quick math in my head. “W-what is it?”

He ignores me and glances back at his buddies. “How long have we been fucking our sweet Ophelia?”

Xavier frowns. “Three weeks. Why?”

Oh no! I whimper inside my head.

“Oh fucking yes, princess,” Axl growls.

Xavier grunts. “Has she? Is she bleeding?”

Axl licks his lips, his pupils so wide that I can barely see the brown of his irises. He growls again, his fangs bared.

I don’t feel like I got my period, but I guess a vampire’s sense of smell wouldn’t be wrong about this kind of thing. “Please let me go to the bathroom. I must be a day or two early.” Mortification burns through me.

Axl responds by burying his tongue inside me. His teeth graze my sensitive flesh, and I moan, my hips bucking off the bed so hard that he has to hold me down. And then Malachi and Xavier are beside me, wicked grins on their faces as their hands roam my body.

Xavier cups my face in his hand. “How many days, Cupcake?”

“What?”

He runs his nose along my cheekbone. “How many days does your period usually last?”

“Four,” I croak. Oh my god.

Xavier chuckles. “This is like Christmas every month for us.”

I shake my head. “It’s …” I can’t think of the word, but disgusting comes pretty close.

“It’s blood, sweet girl. Whether we drink it from your veins or your pussy, it’s the same thing.”

Axl lifts his head. “It tastes a hundred percent better from her pussy.”

If my hands weren’t tied, I would put them over my face and quietly die of shame. I can see my tombstone. Here lies Ophelia Hart. Died of mortification.

Groaning, Xavier burrows his face into my neck and sucks on my skin. Malachi does the same to my other side while their rough hands explore every inch of my body that they can reach. Axl’s tongue works inside me, licking and sucking until wet heat runs down my thighs and my head spins with the euphoria racing around my body. Right when I’m ready to fall over the edge, he strums my clit with his thumb, and my climax rips through me with the force of a hurricane.

As I’m catching my breath, I look down at his smiling face, his lips smeared with the faintest hint of blood. “Fuck, that was incredible, princess.”

He scoots up on the bed and trades places with Xavier, who settles between my thighs. I have no desire to kiss Axl right now, but thankfully Malachi does. He grabs his jaw, and their lips crash together. Their groans mingle with my own as Xavier feasts on my pussy like a starving man. Axl and Malachi kiss each other, then me.

After I come for a second time, Malachi’s hungry mouth is on me before I can even catch my breath. They talk me through another orgasm, their mouths and hands everywhere. I have no idea where one of them ends and the other begins, and I swear I lose all sense of time and space and reason. Their filthy words of how delicious I taste, how I belong to them, and how they’re going to fuck me until sunrise are all that anchor me to reality.