Without the worry of random weapons attacking us, we move quicker through the cave. A rush of water hits my ears just before we come to a thin stream. It runs right down the left side of the rocky cavern.
As we move further in, the pathway opens up into a larger cavern with high ceilings and multiple passageways. The stream now a large river that takes up half of the wide room.
Soren frowns. “This is new.”
“Which way?” Axel asks him, glancing around at the multiple routes. Soren shrugs. “Beats me.”
Axel’s eye twitches as he grinds his jaw, glaring at Soren. Soren smirks, the glint in his eyes reminding me so much of Jax and his mischief, before he heads off into one of the passageways.
“Then why—” Axel starts his eyes brimming with anger, but Kai cuts him off, dragging him toward one of the openings.
“Let’s just check them out.” Kai glances over at me, worry threading his brow, but before I can ask him what’s wrong, Rion speaks up.
“We’ll stay here. There’s no point in everyone going off in different directions. Find the right path and come back.”
Kai relaxes, nodding to him. “Good. We’ll be quick.” He turns to Axel, Jax and Luka, telling them to divide up, check out the other passageways and not to go too far. They’re gone before I so much as open my mouth.
Just as the rest of the guys completely disappear from view, Soren appears through the nearest exit to our left. “Well, that was a dead end.”
He glances around. “I’m guessing your mates have the other passageways covered?”
Rion nods before glancing at me. I give him a smile before checking out the large cavern we’re in.
Moving close to the river, I get a better look at the dark, murky water. Small waves move along it like a dark storm, heading out into several cracks and dips along the wall.
Something bubbles up and ripples on the surface, drawing me closer. I’m so focused on finding whatever caught my eye that I don’t notice Soren slip up beside me, making me jump.
“Once the water is dark, it’s safe. It’s when it starts turning bright and shimmers, should you worry.”
“Why?” My eyes turn back to the dark water.
“It’s the River Oblivion. A place where souls go to forget before they move on.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Soren gets a faraway look in his eyes, one filled with sadness. “Not all souls are good, and many don’t want to move on, let alone forget about the lives they lived, the people they grew up with… Many would rather try claw their way out than move on.”
Soren looks down at me, a small smile that turns into something twisted as it grows. He takes a step back. “Try not to accidentally fall in. The souls will be quicker to drown you with them than help you escape.”
Another small ripple catches the corner of my eye, as if answering him. An icy shiver runs down my back as I glance back at the spot now unnaturally still, as if there’s something beneath, watching me.
I take a step back, keeping my eye on the spot. “Good to know.”
Turning around, I take another step when I find Rion right in front of me, his eyes focused on Soren’s retreating back. “I don’t trust him, but I can’t find anything malicious about his energy, either.”
“Maybe you just can’t get a read on him? His energy feels old,” I tell him, looking back at Soren as he inspects the wall on the other side of the cave.
“Maybe.” Rion frowns before looking down at me, his eyes softening.
“Come on. Let’s get away from the water. I don’t want you accidentally falling in.” Rion takes my hand as we make a move toward the passageways.
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m not that clumsy.”
“No, but the universe likes to fuck with us, and I’m not taking any chances when it comes to you.”
“What would happen, if someone were to fall in?”
“You might manage to escape the souls, but it’s river oblivion. You’ll also forget everything and everyone else, too.” Rion’s grip on my hand tightens. “So, stay close.”
Kai walks into the cave, followed by Axel. “The passage just loops around. It was a dead end.”
Luka appears with Jax right beside him. “We had a quick look. It goes on for a bit but there might be a way out through ours.”
Soren moves from his stationary spot of inspecting the wall and heads toward the passage Luka and Jax had just come from. “Good, let’s move—”
The ground beneath us begins to shake, gaining momentum quickly. Dust falls from the cave ceiling before pieces of rock follow.
Rion’s grip is like a vice on my hand as he pulls me closer to him and out of the way of a large chunk of rock. We make a move toward the guys, only getting a couple of steps before the ground beneath us splits apart.
Seconds drag in slow motion as I lift my head to look over at them. Kai’s eyes widen as he tries rushing toward us, but it’s too late as the ground beneath me and Rion completely collapses, pulling us down with it.
Rock slides and collides around us as we plummet down an endless descent. A rock hits the side of my head, making me dizzy just as Rion pulls me tighter into his hard body.
“Don’t let go,” Rion grunts. I hold on tighter as the rocks continue to strike us from every angle, leaving every part of my body feeling broken and bruised.
Just as my healing ability kicks in, another rock hits the spot, starting the process all over again.
The longest minutes pass before the tunnel- like structure we’re falling through opens up, and the rocks fall more sparsely around us.
A sliver of relief slides through me thinking we made it through the worst of it. But then I hear a grunt just as Rion’s arms loosen and fall away from me.
I reach out to grab him, but it’s too late, as I get yanked in a different direction. Something hits me hard, making my head spin.
Splashes of water hit my ears just before I drop into icy cold water. I’m dragged down by the force of the fall, but instincts soon kick in and I push through the pain and start swimming upward as if on autopilot.
It’s so dark and murky I can barely see anything around me, everything slightly blurring in and out of focus as my healing ability takes its time kicking in.
I ignore my surroundings and keep swimming upward, hoping to break through the surface soon. My lungs starting to burn already from holding my breath.
The dark murky water clears a little, giving way to light that makes my sensitive eyes squint, but I know I must be near the surface, so I push my legs harder. The burning in my lungs grows as my chest turns tight, but I keep pushing hoping I’m getting close.
My fingers are a couple of inches to the top when something yanks my leg back, pulling me further away from the surface. Air bubbles escape from my mouth as I feel long, claw-like fingers wrap around my ankle and yank me deeper down into the darkness.
My eyes widen, my hands flailing as I try to pull back against whatever is dragging me further into the depths.
My mouth opens on a scream, forcing gulps of water down my throat. Every gasp of burning like thousands of sharp needles. My healing ability works overtime trying to stop my body from passing out, but without air, it can’t do much more than slow the process.
My body starts to spasm and twitch on its own as the cold water fills my lungs. Shadowy spots enter my vision, blending in with my murky surroundings as my body grows weaker.
I try to push upward again when a mass of shadowy forms enters my vision, surrounding me. They grow closer and closer until I make out their dark bodies just as they reach out to me.
Icy claws slash through my skin, the sharp sting draining me quicker. I’m seconds away from passing out from the pain and tightness in my chest when my powers spark inside me, reminding me I’m not weak or defenseless anymore.
The flicker of power soon becomes a flare, growing until my entire body is brimming with energy, ready to explode.
My energy lets out a small pulse-like warning, forcing the dark beings back.
For a moment, my body floats aimlessly in the water as my energy builds and builds, my tendrils of shadows floating out around me like dark ribbons.
As if sensing their incoming demise, the dark beings surrounding me quickly scatter back, keeping a far distance.
I’m about to release the built-up energy and finally be rid of these beings when a body collides with mine, quickly pulling me upward.
Seconds pass before I reach the surface and take a large gulp of air, my healing ability kicks in forcing most of the water out. I continue to cough and spew up the water as I’m pulled out onto a rocky ground.
“Kiarra?” A familiar voice sounds distant as I’m laid down on a hard rocky surface. My head spins, making everything around me tilt and sway.
Blinking the dark spots from my vision, I glance up to find Rion’s worried gaze down on me. There’s a small gash healing on the side of his head with streaks of dry blood down his face.
“Kiarra… I can’t lose you… Not again.” Rion mumbles things that make no sense.
Why would he lose me? I’m right here.
I frown, trying to shake the spots from my vision, and wonder if the concussion is making me misunderstand what Rion is saying.
I open my mouth to ask him if he’s okay but instead turn to the side to spew up more water, my lungs still on fire as they heal.
Glancing down at my hands and legs, I see black marks in the shape of hands and teeth. Some are already slowly disappearing as they heal. But with my ability focusing on that, my head and throat seem to take longer to heal.
I try to focus on Rion, or one of them, as two now appear in my vision.
Must be a bad concussion. I squint, trying to reassure him that I’m here and everything will be fine, but the look in his double pair of eyes tells me he’s panicking.
He knows I’ll heal so why he’s this worried doesn’t make any sense.
Maybe I look worse than how I feel?
The calm and reassured Rion I know is gone, leaving behind a completely different person. One who looks lost.
But why? I try to ask him, but my throat is still raw, my ability still focusing on whatever those dark beings did.
My vision slowly starts to clear as I glance around, squinting at our new surroundings. Another cavern by the looks of it with higher ceiling walls and a larger underwater river running alongside it.
Annoyed at myself that my healing ability isn’t fixing what I want it to fix first, I quickly glance around before focusing back on Rion.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I know you don’t understand any of this, but you’ll heal, and we’ll figure the rest out as we go.”
Understand what?
“Where…” I start, but have to stop to swallow, the raw burn choking me. The dark spots finally leave my vision and the dizziness eases enough to only see one of him.
I go to try again, swallowing hard, as I look at Rion.
“I know you’re confused right now, but I’ll explain everything once we get out of here.” Rion glances around, looking lost. His expression is full of heartbreak and sorrow as he glances back at me.
“Kiarra…”
A dark shadow catches the corner of my eye, distracting me. I glance over at the water, finding the dark being watching us, its shadowy head inches from the surface.
“Who… is…”
“Damn it!” My eyes jump to Rion and the look of complete and utter distraught etched across his face, just as his body starts to tremble.
“I can’t lose you. Not again. Not like this.” Rion squeezes his eyes shut, moving his hands up to his head. He grips it tight as the rise and fall of his shoulders grows sharp.
What the hell?
“Why?” I start coughing, cutting off my question.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should’ve held on tighter to you. It’s my fault you’ve…” Rion swallows hard, his hands moving to the ground as he stumbles back.
He grabs a fist of hair, his eyes wide as they glance from me to the ground. “Maybe we can start over…”
“But how…” He squeezes his eyes tight, shaking his head.
I glance around wondering if he’s seeing some sort of illusions. Maybe his head injury is affecting him… But then, shouldn’t he have healed by now?
I quickly push up on my shaky hands, needing to comfort him. To help him move past whatever he’s going through right now.
“Rion…” My voice is barely a whisper, but it doesn’t stop Rion from hearing it as he whips his head to me, his eyes widening. I lean forward and place my hand on the side of his face.
“Kiarra? Do you… Do you remember…me?” His tone is filled with bewilderment.
I frown, not understanding why he’s asking. Maybe this place messes with your head and it’s already got to Rion.
I cough a bit, but my ability has finally worked its way through my body. My throat is nearly fully healed now. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Rion slowly leans closer to me, his eyes wide as he stares at me, unblinking.
“Rion?”
“You really remember?” Rion’s whole body is tense, his face in a frozen state of heartache and hope.
“I could never forget you. Any of you?” I tell him, but still, he doesn’t move an inch. I rummage through my brain for something, my mind trying to understand why he would think I would forget them.
“You’re one of my best friends and a part of my soul. I would never forget you.”
Rion’s tense body shutters before he moves quickly, pulling me into a tight hug. “I thought you forgot us… forgot me…”
“Never.”
I pull back slightly, Rion’s grip not letting me get far. “Why would you think that?”
Rion’s hands move to my face, his eyes searching every inch of it. “You were in the River Oblivion, Kiarra. Souls don’t just go there to move on. Their memories are wiped, too. I thought…”
My eyes quickly glance over to the dark river, widening when I realize what he means. I shudder. “That’s something that could have happened?”
Rion leans forward, pulling me tighter against his body. “I was only in it long enough to pull you out. I don’t know how you still have your memories, being in it as long as you were.”
I glance back at the water; the dark being is now gone, but the strange stillness in it makes me shiver.
Rion pulls back, sliding a hand up to my cheek. “How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?”
I check my injuries, but most are already fully healed. Once I take note of my body, the cold numbness from the river drifts away. Warmth begins to seep into every nerve just before my heartbeat kicks up a notch.
I flinch back as a bolt of energy shoots through me. Glancing down at my body, I frown as energy floods it all at once.
Rion frowns. “What’s wrong?”
The energy thrums underneath my skin, pulsing back and forth. I try to pull it back, but it’s no use.
“I think it’s my powers. They were building just before you pulled me out. I’m having a hard time pushing them back down.” I glance around the cave, looking for an outlet. For something that I can push it toward, but unless I want another cave-in, it is out of the question. And the water is not an option with those shadow things in there.
I glance down at my hands as they start to shake. Rion grabs them, squeezing them gently. “I have an idea, but we’ll have to be quick.”
I look up at Rion and watch a wicked smirk light up his entire face.
“What—” He pulls me to him, crushing his body to me as his lips hungrily meet mine. I’m momentarily confused and it takes me a moment for my brain to figure out what’s happening.
As soon as I do, I wrap my arms around Rion’s neck and deepen the kiss. He moans, sliding his hands up my back.
It only takes a couple of seconds before I’m lost in the taste of him. Each brush of his lips and swirl of his tongue is addictive, making me crave more. More of him, more of his scent and touch.
My hands move, trailing across his shoulders and down his wet shirt. His muscles tense under my fingertips as he moans against my lips.
“Siren…” He kisses me deeper pulling me in, like he doesn’t want this to end anytime soon.
I pull at the hem of his shirt as he drags his lips away from me. His gaze hooded as he stares at me.
Another spike of energy shoots across my body reminding me why we started this. “Shouldn’t we be quick?”
He chuckles, and the low husky tone of it sends warm shivers down my spine. “Forgive me but when it comes to you, I want to savor every moment.” He places a kiss on my lips. “Every taste.” He slides a hand up my back. “Every touch.”
He leans in and brushes his lips to mine once more before getting up and undressing, his eyes never leaving mine.
My mind and body heat up as I get lost in every muscle and curve of Rion’s body, his entire build looks as if it were carved from stone. My gaze trails down to his Adonis belt and lower to the large erection before moving back up to his face, where a wicked smirk is in place.
“It’s lucky this needs to be quick, because I’m not going to last long with you looking at me like that.”
I smile, shaking myself out of my daze and standing up to whip off my clothes, throwing them beside Rion’s.
Rion’s eyes darken as he pulls me into his body, his lips meeting mine once more. I moan as his hands trail down my back to under my thighs. I wrap my arms around his neck as his grip tightens. He lifts me up, gripping him tight as he lays us both down.
I barely feel the ground beneath me, my entire focus on Rion, as his warm, hard body leans into me.
Sliding my fingers up to his hair, I trail the tips of them along his scalp. It pulls a low groan from his lips as he pulls back, his eyes hooded as he gazes down at me. Placing a hand on each side of my face, he hovers over me, staring down at me like I’m his entire world.
“I love you, Kiarra. I’ve loved you since the day we met and will love you until I take my last breath.”
I reach up and cup his cheek. “I love you too, Rion. Always.”
His smile is soft as he leans down to kiss my lips, brushing his tongue along the seam before melting into me.
Our heated bodies grow more urgent as his kisses turn hot and hungry, moving down my neck and across my chest. I arch into his mouth as his lips close around my nipple, sucking and nipping it until I’m gasping for more.
“Rion…”
His lips trail down my stomach to my core. The first swipe of his tongue and my mind turns to mush, my body heating, at each teasing swipe.
He groans once more and the vibration from it shoots up through me making me gasp. I moan gripping his hair tighter as his tongue drags along my slick folds, each stroke bringing me closer and closer to coming apart.
“Rion…” My fingers dig into his hair and along his scalp as he keeps his punishing pace, pushing me to the brink of pleasure.
“Rion, you said we need to be quick. I want to feel you inside me… please.” But he doesn’t listen. Instead, his tongue changes, growing, thickening as it thrusts into me.
Fuck. My eyes roll back as his tongue, now the length and girth of a cock, thrusts into me over and over.
I’m panting, gasping and so close to coming when he moans and the vibration shoots up through me, pushing me over the edge.
I cry out as an orgasm rips through me, my body spasming around his thick tongue as I fall apart, some of the energy slowly seeping out around us as I do.
Before I get a chance to come down from my high, Rion slides up and over my body, pushing his hips against mine before he surges into me in one swift thrust.
I arch into him as he stretches and fills me.
He moves his hips in long, undulating strokes, teasing me, making the heat build once more. His slow punishing pace continues, burning me up from the inside until my legs shake from the slow- building heat.
Smoldering eyes draw me in with each surge becoming more possessive and reckless until I’m shuddering with desire.
Ripples of pleasure rush up and down my spine.
He leans down to kiss me, his tongue swirling around mine once, twice, before it changes, growing once more in length and width. I moan around his thick tongue, sucking and licking it like a cock.
I twirl my tongue around it before pulling back and sucking the tip. Opening my mouth wider, I take as much of his tongue into my mouth before moaning.
His body shakes as he tries to maintain his agonizingly slow pace, but I was so close to that edge, and I knew from the tremor in his tense body, he was too.
One push, that’s all it would take to make us both fall over.
I add pressure, sliding my mouth up and down his tongue as I arch up into him. It’s all it takes to make his relentless control snap as he begins to really move. My legs wrap around him as he surges into me, harder and faster.
His tongue starts fucking my mouth, just as ruthless as he drives into me.
And I fucking love it. This new, wild and reckless side of him is something I will definitely be exploring more of.
But right now, I can’t think past anything but the feel of him as I slowly start to come apart.
So close…
I’m panting, my legs gripping Rion like a vice as he drives into me over and over. I push up into him again, this time tightening my muscles around him, and the sound that escapes his throat undoes me. I do it again, and his tongue quickly changes back as he moans, cursing under his breath.
Small tremors start as I moan into the rising pleasure. “Don’t stop.” I stare into his eyes, arching up, meeting each of his thrusts.
“Not even if I wanted to.” He grunts and growls and the sound of it pushes me over the edge, my muscles clamping around him as I come apart. This time the orgasm is much stronger as it ripples across my entire body, down my legs, and into my toes.
With a couple deeper thrusts, he groans spilling into me before falling forward. Before he drops onto me, he slips out of me and rolls us to the side. The only sound around us is our ragged breaths and the water behind us.
Rion gazes at me, his eyes soft. “So damn beautiful.”
My eyes trace every inch of his face, the glint in his eyes and the tilt on his lips. “You are.”
Rion’s golden eyes sparkle with humor. He chuckles and the low rasp slides down my back like silk. “I’m glad you don’t find me hideous.”
Just as quick, his smile drops, along with the glint in his eyes.
“Hey. There is nothing hideous about you.”
Rion looks up at me, a small smile on his lips that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Not even on the inside?”
“Definitely not. Why would you think that?”
He sighs. “I’ve killed people. I’ve ripped them apart with my bare hands and not once felt guilt for it.” He reaches a hand up and traces the tips of his fingers along my jaw, his eyes following it.
“Does killing without conscience make me a monster?”
I take his hand and hold it close while looking straight at him. “You don’t kill innocent people, Rion. You fight for what you believe in and take care of your family. Each one of us would do the same without thinking twice. We all choose to fight for something none of us are willing to lose. That choice doesn’t make you a monster and it never will.”
Warmth floods his eyes as he smiles. “Thank you.” He pulls me closer, placing a kiss on the side of my head. “How do you feel?”
“Much better.” I chuckle, curling into the side of his body, my body now boneless and utterly relaxed.
“Good.” He nuzzles my neck, pulling me closer. I bask in his warmth, happy and content when water splashes from somewhere in the distance, popping our little serene bubble.
We both tense up before glancing over at the water.
“We should get going.”
Rion nods, placing a kiss on my forehead. Finding his clothes, he brings mine over before throwing on his trousers.
I have my top on when he bends down and cleans me using his vest. His smirk grows wicked as he slowly swipes the soft material along my core.
He adds a bit of pressure to the next swipe, making me gasp. I narrow my eyes on him and his growing smirk. “If you keep that up, we won’t ever get out of here.”
He chuckles, before throwing the vest to the side and helping me up. Bending down, he places a kiss on my thigh before helping me into my jeans.
It takes a bit of wiggling with them still wet, but eventually I get them on. I glance over at him as he picks up his shirt and throws it on, his eyes never leaving mine as he buttons it.
Rion smiles, giving me a knowing look before dipping his head, and placing a soft kiss on my lips. He pulls back looking at me like I’m everything.
His everything. And I feel the exact same, with all of them.
“Come on. Let’s go find the others before I reconsider staying here and having my way with you.”
He turns to go, but I stop him, an idea coming to mind. “Let me see if I can sense them.” With my abilities still bubbling inside me, just not as intense anymore, I focus and reach out to the rest of my mates, quickly sensing them nearby.
“They’re close.” Opening my eyes, I focus on the spot and see a long passageway leading in their direction. “Let’s go this way.”
With a tight grip on Rion’s hand, we follow the long entrance out. After a couple of minutes, we finally spot a light, moving toward it until the cave opens out to a whole other world.
One that is desolate and barren of any living thing.
