45: Phoenix's POV

Ada was still sleeping when the sun rose. She was naked and on top of my bedroll, her breathing even and her expression one of simple content. My heart seemed to stutter through the night anytime she would move or make a noise as I anticipated spending more time with her. Nik had claimed one of us needed to patrol through the night and had volunteered himself shortly after Ada fell asleep. I didn't argue with him, as this was typical behavior for him. He, Darius and I had shared several partners amongst the three of us over the years-- some indepedently passed amongst the three of us while the others watched, some completely separately and some fully together. Nik and I had shared even more partners amongst the two of us, primarily together. He almost always found a reason to leave for several hours after, as if something about being vulnerable like that was too much for him to endure.

Given the things my older brother had to carry out over the years, it wasn't a shock that intimacy was something he struggled with-- if not lacked altogether. While we enjoyed the times Darius joined with us, he always felt so *deeply* and his passion had a way of overtaking things. The bruises that had been present on Ada after their several unions was indicative of this. Our oldest brother always entered into these unions with the best of intentions but he had a jealous streak and it was vicious. We would have to ease into shared unions between the three of us and Ada.

Though, with the way she became pliable last night and how she responded, she may be into whatever each of us decided to bring to the table that day. Thinking about the noises she made while Nik was eating her pussy-- the little breathy gasps-- and the way she writhed with every stroke of my cock in her... it had kept me up most of the night. My cock had hardened with need again and again, flashes of her body and the pleasure leaking from her dancing before my eyes in the dying firelight. I'd considered waking her to relieve myself, but she would need rest. Perhaps Nik and I would ravish her once more tonight. Maybe this time neither of us would hold back.

Nik returned to camp when the bottom of the sun was just peaking up over the horizon beyond the woods. He kicked dirt over the remaining embers of the fire and nodded at Ada, "Did she sleep alright?"

I worked to keep the surprise I felt in my bones from reaching my face. His question was so sensitive for who Nik usually was with women, particularly after we'd shared them. I managed a nod, pulling my hair back into a bun on the back of my head, "She did. How was *your* night?"

"Good," his answer was gruff as he pulled on his untouched pack, "We're not far from the farm she was on. I counted 75 individual armed guards there and well over 200 workers," he shook his head, his dark hair falling out of place and into his face, "No, fuck that. Prisoners. 200 prisoners are there."

My eyebrow arched as Ada stirred, her eyes fluttering open, "Prisoners? Working them is illegal."

"Indeed," Nik sighed as Ada stood, her body completely naked, "I've already sent the report to father for this particular farm. I want to move further east today, into the mountains," his eyes raked over Ada's body as she stretched fully, back arching and pushing her breasts forward, "Good morning, Ada."

Her smile was small, sensual, "Good morning, my princes."

My breath hitched. Nik stilled and glanced at me. She, obviously oblivious, walked over to her pack and pulled out some fresh clothes. We watched her every move as she gathered her items and piled them on my bedroll. She then turned toward us and put her hands on her bare hips. Her eyes roamed around the camp, grazing over the covered firepit and the uneaten cans of food from last night. Her unbound hair moved with the breeze, billowing behind her in an almost ethereal fashion. When her eyes passed over me, they slowed. My pants tightened as my cock hardened as she looked me up and down, biting her bottom lip.

A pang of disappointment echoed in my mind as she took her attention from me and moved it to Nik. I watched as her eyes ate into him, her body going still as she looked at his lips. His shadows were seeping from his body, traveling toward her. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she was being mindlinked. A shiver ran up her spine, her nipples hardening as Nik's shadows gently swept over her body. They dipped into every curve of her body, caressing her. She moaned, her eyes closing as she tossed her head back.

I cocked my head to the side as Nik's shadows pulled back and he spoke, "There's a stream not to far from here. You can bathe there," he sucked in a deep breath just as the warm smell of hot cocoa met my nose, "Phoenix can take you," his voice was tight, "I'll make breakfast."

She straightened her posture, grinning at me, "Will Phoenix be joining me?"

My grin was fast, "If that's what you want." With a curt nod, she reached down and grabbed her stack of clothes and started in the direction Nik had indicated. When she was just out of earshot, I grabbed Nik's arm, "Do you have a specific link with her? Just the two of you?"

He yanked his arm free, fire gleaming in his eyes, "I'm sure we all do. You and Darius just don't know how to find it."

"What makes you sure of that?" I snapped, fingertips extending to claws as my wolf paced in the back of my mind.

"Because I'm fairly certain we are all her mates."