I scoop her limp body into my arms, my chest humming with pride at the sight of the flush coloring her cheeks and the glazed look in her silver-ringed eyes. I place a gentle kiss to her forehead and move toward the furs, my muscles quivering with effort as I carefully lower her to the blankets.

I take my place at her side while the other demons crawl over to the bedspread, carefully positioning themselves so they all have equal access to their mate. Our hands trail over her body, healing her tired muscles and soothing her heated skin—but mostly just reveling in the feel of her, the knowledge that she belongs to us fully. Now, and forever.

“How do you feel?” Lir asks, nuzzling the side of her jaw with his face as a satisfied purr hums in his chest. “Are you hurting?”

“Not at all,” she whispers, her eyes fluttering closed as a wave of contentment thrums through the bond. “I feel… whole. Complete.”

“Then you feel just as we do,” Malice murmurs, sliding his fingers between the gentle peaks of her breasts. “Nothing compares to the knowledge that you are finally, truly, and completely ours. No sweeter sound or taste or feeling. No better high than this, than you.”

Her lips tip into a small smile as she cups Malice’s cheek in her palm, her eyes dancing with a tender emotion. “I’m so happy to be yours. To belong to all of you.”

“Just as we are to belong to you,” Roark says, tightening his grip on her thigh. “There’s nothing we would trade for this, for you.”

Dagny’s eyes glaze over with a faraway look as she stares up at the ceiling, a thought flashing in her silver-ringed gaze. “I only worry…”

“What of?” Cyprien asks, the corners of his eyes creasing with concern as he presses up to get a better look at her expression. “You have all of us now. Nothing will harm you.”

Dagny cuts me a look, worrying her lip between her teeth. “Now that we’re all bonded… isn’t there a chance I’ll be absorbed in place of the heart? What if Slaine finds us before I’m ready, and⁠—”

“Don’t worry about that, wildfire,” Malice whispers, drawing gentle circles on her stomach in an attempt to soothe her growing anxiety. “He won’t. We have time.”

“But what if⁠—”

“Even if the worst happens, we will not allow you to be harmed.” He stares unblinking, his expression set in stone. “No matter what, you will live. I will see to that personally.” Malice kisses her sternum, allowing his lips to linger for several long moments. “We shouldn’t be thinking about this right now. We can talk about what this means later, but for now, you need to rest.”