Pearl caught her breath as pounding footfall neared, wishing to close her eyes like a kid. The monster couldn't see her if she couldn't see it. Her heart pounded so loudly in her throat and ears that her movements slowed and she went utterly motionless. Low-key chat ensued. The footsteps moved rapidly down the alley, passed her. She crept forward and peered out from underneath the garbage can after many minutes of silence. Her pursuers appeared to have fled. She disentangled herself from beneath the container as quietly as she could and made her way out into the alley. Everything was quiet. What should I do now? She couldn’t stay here, since it was only a matter of time before her pursuers realized she hadn’t left the alley and came back to search for her. Yet leaving the alley seemed too risky. Magick was also an issue. What if they could use it to track her? She looked skyward, wishing she could fly. That’s when she noticed something interesting. Periodically a set of a pull dow

Timothy met his gaze and motioned discreetly to a group of chairs in one of the corners of the room. Vergel made his way there and sat. Better. Now his height wasn’t so noticeable. Around him, warriors roamed, filing papers, obtaining licenses, visiting inmates, and going about their business. After a few minutes, Timothy sat down near him. "Where’s Finn?" Vergel met his eyes and gave his head a subtle shake. "We separated." Timothy made a low grunt. He was worried too. "What’s your plan?" He stared out one of the huge windows at the blue sky, the shuffling, shifting sounds of all those around him filling his thoughtful silence. "I intend to inquire if she's being held here. We need to know that first." "They won’t let her see visitors. It doesn’t matter how good a story you tell." "Yes, I know." He went silent for a moment. "If she’s being held, we’ll need to sneak into the prison area. We know how it’s laid out." "You and Finn do it. I’ll create a diversion." "A diversion? T

“You can’t go back for him. If you’re killed, his sacrifice will mean nothing.”She cupped his face in her hands. “I understand how you both felt when I was taken. Now I feel that same way. Don’t you get it, Finn? I will die if Vergel doesn’t come back, just like I would die if you hadn’t come back. Nothing matters but for him to return to us.” Finn bowed his head. “He may not still be alive.” She gave her head a sharp shake. “I refuse to believe that. Chances are they took him prisoner. They wouldn’t kill a healthy Lycaon unless they were forced, would they? They could get valuable information out of him.” “You don’t know the way Verg

“It is just the head that will hurt, love,” Vergel murmured. “Once we get past the crown, it will be all pleasure.” He gradually pushed the rest of the way in. She moaned as the men started to thrust into her slowly…so very, very slowly, both attuned to the other’s pace. Her fingers curled into the carpet on either side of Finn’s head as they all moved together. It was though they’d fused into the same being. Vergel brushed his lips across the nape of her neck, then dropped his mouth to her bare shoulder and laid a kiss. “Are you all right?”   She shivered with pleasure. The gentle, mind-blowing simultaneous movement of the two men she loved nearly blew her mind. She nodded, bereft of words. “So sweet,” groaned Finn. “You are perfection, Pearl.”

But Vergel hadn’t stopped there. Mixed in among her old tools and equipment was top-of-the-line machinery she’d only dreamed of, knowing it would take years of work to afford a single piece. A couple of days before, she’d expressed her frustration about not being able to finish, or even start, most of the orders piling up, because the equipment she needed was still at her house.Finn assured her she didn't need to work, that he had more than enough money to cover any costs and then some, but she wanted to work, loved it. Besides, she was used to taking care of herself, and not pulling her weight just wasn't her style. He hadn’t said anything else, so when she discovered what he’d done for her, she&rs