Covet Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: Her Monstrous Mates, #1)

by Kel Carpenter

“A beautiful woman who is my mate press her breasts against me while she slept?” He snorted in amusement like I was crazy. Yeah, I guess he was only doing what any mate would. Feeling my cheeks heat, I blew out a breath. “Yeah. That.” “I pushed you off twice, because I’m a gentleman, and if I moved any further away, we’d have fallen to the floor because not only do you not abide by the same boundaries you set for me, you also latched onto me like an octopus and told me to stop moving because I ‘felt good.’” He lifted a dark brow, equally devilish and delicious. I was such a goner. “What else was I supposed to do?” “I . . . I didn’t.” I said that? “Indeed you did.”

“I'm sorry I put you in that position,” I began, trying not to watch him get dressed—and failing. “I’m all for trying other positions we’d both enjoy, preferably while awake,” he said, winking at me. “Unless that’s a kink of yours. It would be a first for me, but I’m not opposed.” “Uh, that's not what I meant . . .” “I know.” He chuckled, flashing me a warm smile. “But I thought it would be easier to break the ice with humor than watch you stumble through it.”

“I do that too. Make jokes when something's awkward or uncomfortable.” “Look at that. Something we have in common.” Huffing a small laugh, I nodded. “Thanks for not making it weirder.” “I kept my word, and as agreed, you have had a good night's sleep.”

“You . . . lied to my family . . .” I paused, taking a deep breath. “And sold them a bad product?” “That’s oversimplified, but yes. I don't like what the syndicates do either, Nikki. Like you, I was born into one, but I’ve found ways to undermine them along the way.”

“Have you heard of the Movement?” Adrian narrowed his eyes. “No . . .” “It’s a militia group that works against the syndicates,” I said quickly, blurting it out without stringing the words together thoughtfully. “I’m one of the members.”

“So . . . what? You're a syndicate criminal with a good heart?” I asked, curling my lips into a smile. “Something like that.” “Unexpected,” I said, nodding. “But certainly welcomed.” “So . . . you’re a vigilante like Batman, but without the cool gadgets?” “Vigilante like Robin Hood, asshole,”

“Batman is too dark and angsty. And what’s with the cape? It’s totally impractical. A real badass doesn’t need one.” “Of course,” he chuckled, caressing his thumb over my cheek. “They much prefer explosive arrows.”

Adrian’s body tensed against mine, and I felt him pull back just a fraction. I didn’t like that. My phoenix really didn’t like that. Distance was bad. People put distance because that made it easier for them to handle it when they hurt someone.

“I don’t have to know you. You’re my mate. I trust the fates.” “We haven’t completed the bond,” I countered. “You haven’t rejected it either,” he said, though the inflection in his voice made it sound almost like a question. “Unless . . .” “No, I’m not going to. I want this. Us,” I murmured, feeling heat rush through my body at the thought of being with him. Of having a person that was completely and wholly mine, and would never leave or abandon me. Who would fight for and with me.

“Malachi and I have a history. He hurt me beyond measure the day he walked away. . . but my heart has always belonged to him. I loved him before the mate bond. I can’t just turn that off. I don’t want to turn that off. I just need to, I don’t know . . . talk to him without visualizing myself strangling him. Love is weird sometimes.”

“Like I said, I’m still coming to terms with all of this, but fate wouldn’t give me more than one mate if it wasn’t meant to be, right?” Images of being sandwiched between Adrian and Malachi flitted through my mind. Both of them adoring me. Coveting me. Filling me . . . Shaking my head before I got too attached to an impossibility, I knew I had to ask what he thought of it. “Um”—I cleared my throat— “Does that bother you?” “Not in the slightest,” he answered without hesitation. “If the fates chose more than one mate for you, who am I to argue whether you have one or three?” “Three?” I coughed as I said it. Was three a crowd? Not that it mattered, but wow. “One, two, three, ten. Just making my point.” He lifted a shoulder casually.

“Have you told Niall that I'm your mate?” He nodded in confirmation. “Then why is he still going through with the trials? Trials get us to the election. Election means he could win. You’re okay with Malachi because he’s also my mate, but I can’t imagine you getting on board with me becoming a free for all. I wouldn’t be if the roles were reversed. Why hasn't he conceded?” Adrian pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, biting it, and wincing as he said, “That's a longer story, and honestly, I think he needs to be the one to tell it.”

“If he wins, are you going to reject me?” “No.” “Are you sure?” I asked, taking a step back. “Because you’re being really cagey about this and ringing all kinds of alarm bells right now.”

If he wanted to drink black coffee and feel like a manly man for it, more power to him. My ego wasn’t fragile.

Phaon warned me that if I even touched his daughter, he’d kill me—regardless of the fact that it would destroy her emotionally. He didn’t care that the physical destruction of losing a mate would take its toll, maybe even driving her to madness. He swore I’d disappear, and she’d never know what happened, or that he had a hand in it.

“Yeah, but does she have to be asleep? In his room? This late. . .” Amusements filled me, even though I was also feeling more than a little jealous of Adrian at the moment.

“He's alive and sleeping in the same room as her. Clearly I’m okay with it. That doesn’t mean that I’m happy about it. When she still isn't acknowledging my existence—” He cut himself off, not wanting to elaborate further or acknowledge the vulnerability he’d just let seep through his stony exterior.

“She doesn't remember me.” Niall said defensively. “Oh?” I questioned. “How does she not remember you? If you're her mate . . .” If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the floor, torn apart limb by limb. He’d probably beat my bleeding corpse with the bloody stump of my arm.

The way he aggressively knocked twice wasn’t as soft as one would suggest when trying to politely wake a person up. Rather, it was more akin to the way someone pounded before barging in.

Which meant she'd been awake, probably for a while. Interesting, the thought ran through my mind and a prickle of the same jealousy that Niall was feeling touched me. Now I wondered what they'd been doing in there.

She took a long look at the plate Niall had made for her. Awkwardness colored her features, and a slight blush started to stain her cheeks. “That's . . . really nice of you”, she said, then cringed. I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing out loud. “I’m not very hungry right now, though.” Her stomach grumbled loudly, calling her out like the liar she was. I lost it. My drink swished, the ice clinking as I doubled over in laughter. Nikki shot me a sharp glare from the doorway.

When Adrian and Niall entered the kitchen, they both tilted their heads and gave her a questioning look. If only they knew. Adrian walked around the bar and helped himself to a large portion of the food, much to Niall’s annoyance. Given how little Nikki had eaten, it wasn't really cutting into what he’d made for himself.

she set down her spoon. I wasn’t sure if she’d realized that she’d chosen the wrong utensil for a meal that traditionally would require a fork, but that was Nikki for you. A little bit odd and out there on occasion.

Nikki took another painful bite. She tried really hard not to scrunch her nose in disgust. I'll give that to her. She really did try. She also failed miserably. I started laughing, and she swallowed down her second bit. All three of them turned to me with various glares.

“You brought Reaper chips? Oh my god.” She took a bite and closed her eyes while groaning in pleasure. Adrian and Niall no longer looked annoyed with me, but they certainly had questions. “Should you tell them, or should I?” I asked her. She paused halfway through chewing and swallowed, licking her lips for every last trace. Nikki sighed.

“Nikki thinks normal food tastes like dirt,” I interjected. “What’s good to you or me; what we consider well-seasoned? She hates it. The only stuff she'll eat that she actually enjoys is so heavily spiced that it's inedible to pretty much anyone else.” A corner of Nikki's mouth curled up. “I wouldn't say it’s inedible,” she started. “No, really, Nikki. It's pretty terrible,”

“And she is a rotten cook because of it. Truly. Don’t ever let her cook for you.” “It’s not that bad!” “You almost killed me with popcorn when you were fourteen. Popcorn, Nikki. All you need is butter and salt. Marissa had to give me the Heimlich after I started choking on the ground dragon’s breath pepper you’d sprinkled all over it.”

“Is it because of your phoenix?” Niall asked. I blinked, taken aback. Phoenix. She'd found her animal . . . and she was a fucking phoenix. A beast so rare now, it was nothing more than a myth.

“Yes, I brought more. And I brought ground dragon’s breath as well. I was worried you’d starve without it. Just keep it away from my food.” Her face lit up, and I melted. I’d eat that horrible shit every day of my life if it meant she’d look at me like that again.

“Guess what? Malachi brought Reaper chips and dragon’s breath!” Her best friend stood there, forcing a tight smile. “Is that all he told you?” My gut twisted, and I shot a look at Tylea. She mouthed “sorry” and squeezed her eyes shut. Oh fuck . . .

“It means, not only are Malachi and Adrian your mates, but it seems that Niall here has been keeping a secret.” She looked from person to person in the room as she spoke, landing on him last. “He’s your mate too.”

“Et tu, Tylea?” Malachi said. “I told you that in confidence. I thought you knew better than to run your mouth.” The look he gave her was nothing short of pointed and pissed. “Sorry, boss. In my defense, Sam is really crafty when getting information out of people. I didn’t realize until it was too late.”

“Eat shit, Malachi. I don't owe you anything. I'm loyal to Nikki and no one else.” She crossed her arms, cocking an eyebrow. “You’ve known me since we were kids. We were friends too.” “I was also there when you broke her heart,” she spat. “I got to pick up the pieces when you walked away. Don’t talk to me about ‘friends’.” Somehow, I’d been left out of the conversation, and it was starting to piss me off.

“What in Satan’s knickers is going on right now? What do you mean ALL three of them are my mates?” “You want to answer her, or should I?” Sam hooked a thumb over her shoulder toward the statuesque redhead with one wing. “Someone had better answer me before I set this godsdamned place on fire.”

“I don’t . . . I don’t feel that with you. I'm not saying that to be hurtful, it's just . . . the truth. Until the night of the winter solstice, I’d never seen you before. If you were my mate, I would have felt it then. I’d feel it now.” “Unless someone interfered,” Sam mumbled, looking everywhere but at me. I shot her a questioning look. “What’s that supposed to mean? Whose side are you even on?” “Yours, Nikki. I'm always on your side. That's why I came here and told you as soon as I found out. You have a right to know, and not whenever these three douchebags got around to telling you.”

“Does anybody else have any secrets that they want to share? Maybe children I need to know about?” Silence spanned the room, but all three guys shook their heads no. “Am I the lucky recipient of a homewrecker award? Are any of you already married and plan to tell your spouse that you're leaving because you've now found a mate? Which for the record, is shitty of you and fate. I’m starting to think those bitches got drunk when pairing us up.” “You know we're not,” Malachi answered.

“One pain in the ass boyfriend at a time.” Malachi smirked. “Not a boyfriend, but I’ll take it as long as there is a time.” He stepped out of the kitchen.

“No,” Niall said instantly. I didn’t care for him answering for me. Adrian looked pained and cleared his throat. “I was asking Nikki.” So he does learn. Smart mate. “What the fuck for?” “Because she's uncomfortable.”

“Nothing. I'm just asking her”—he paused, considering his choice of words. On an exhale, he added—“as her mate.” “I'm her fucking mate too.” “You know that's not what I meant.” Niall glowered, his jaw tensing as Adrian stood his ground. It was like two animals about to fight on a nature show, and I was so over it.

“Oh my god, the testosterone in this room is going to kill me. I just want some fucking answers.” When Niall looked away from Adrian and his eyes met mine, they softened a bit, as though he had realized that he was practically banging on his chest. All he was missing was the club.

“Would you be more comfortable if Adrian stayed?” Hm. Maybe he could learn too. “That depends. Are you going to keep acting like a cavema...

“That right there,” I motioned to him. “That needs to stop.” “What?” “The dirty looks. The posturing. Jealousy won’t work in this dynamic.” “I can't help it, Nikki.” “Well, you better start helping it. Malachi and Adrian are both my mates. Granted, I need to work out some shit with Malachi and he has some serious groveling to do—but he's still mine and I’m keeping him. Don't tell him I said that. Regardless, I feel those bonds. It was instant with both of them. I know it’s real, and neither one of them act like stupid gorillas in front of me, even if they want to. So if you're going to claim you're my mate, start acting like it.”

“Stop being so damn cryptic. If I wanted you to speak in riddles I would have said “hey do you think you could be a complicated asshole and answer questions without actually answering any of my questions?”

“Why does everybody keep telling me that? You all act like I can't handle it? Like I'm too fragile and might break apart if I hear something I don’t like. Do you have any idea what I've been through? I know what difficult is. I know. And this?” I motioned between me and him. “It’s not all that difficult. Neither is my relationship with Adrian, if I’m really honest. These trials? Barely a blip on the radar—with the exception of the air duct. Difficult is being kidnapped and having no idea if you’d ever get out. It’s the anger and resentment or not remembering the most important week of your life. It’s grief so overwhelming that you can’t get out of bed, you can’t go on, because the other half of you wasn’t just taken—but murdered. That is difficult.”

You have five seconds to start talking, or I’m done.” “Done?” “If you don't start speaking words that make sense, I'm going to fix this entire situation.”

“I don't understand.” “Join the fucking club. We have name tags and T-shirts.”

“It means I am done. If you don’t start talking, I'm going to reject you and any bond we may have. It hurts like a bitch. Maybe I’ll feel it. Maybe I won’t, but if you’re really my mate—it’s one of the worst pain...

“Wait a minute, did you say egg? What kind of shifter are you?” With anyone else I would have lied or told them to piss off. Oddly enough, my greatest secret was the easiest one to share with her. “A dragon.” She blinked. “Dragons are extinct.” “Apparently not, since I’m sitting before you.”

“I heard dragons were unstable.” My beast retreated before I replied. “I don’t know. I haven’t met any others. You’ll have to tell me if you do.” “Okay, smartass.”

“Keep going,” she said quietly. “But I would like to know more about your dragon later.” I nodded; my dragon was all about that.