Chapter 2

The aftershocks were too intense. I couldn't think straight.

By the time I came back to myself, Elandil was still inside me. Still moving. His breathing grew ragged, his rhythm erratic.

"Fuck... I'm gonna—" He slammed deep and froze, his whole body going rigid. Then I felt it—heat exploding inside me.

He collapsed on top of me, both of us gasping for air.

It took a while before he finally pulled out and rolled onto his back beside me.

I lay there like roadkill, legs still trembling. The mess between my thighs was obscene—our combined fluids trickling down my inner thigh.

"You didn't use a condom." I finally found my voice, turning to look at him.

Elandil lay on his side, head propped on his elbow, those emerald eyes glowing strangely in the darkness. "You didn't stop me."

"I was too busy coming my brains out." I sat up, feeling more liquid seep out. "You better be clean."

"I am." His fingers traced my spine from neck to tailbone. "So are you."

"How the hell do you—" The words died in my throat.

Because I saw it.

The way he was lying made his silver hair fall to one side, exposing the outline of his ear.

Not a human ear.

Pointed. Elongated. The tip curving slightly backward.

"What are you staring at?" Elandil's voice held amusement.

My heart pounded. "Your ears..."

"Oh." He sat up, casually brushing his hair back. "Forgot to hide them."

Elf ears.

Actual fucking elf ears.

"So that app..." I swallowed hard. "It's not just some hookup app?"

"MythosMatch?" Elandil smiled. "It matches non-humans with humans who have... potential." He leaned closer, fingertip pressing against my sternum. "And you, Rachel, have exceptional potential."

"Potential for what?"

"For handling us." His palm covered my lower abdomen, pressing exactly where he'd finished. "Most human women can't handle an elven marking. Their bodies reject it—fever, convulsions, sometimes shock."

I felt warmth spreading from that spot, like something burrowing deeper.

"But you're different." Elandil lowered his head, breath hot against my ear. "Your body isn't just accepting it. It's absorbing it."

"What does that mean?" I tried pushing him away, but my body was pathetically weak.

"It means," he kissed my neck, "from now on, you'll be more sensitive, more hungry, easier for them to find."

"Them?"

"Other races." Elandil straightened, pulling on his white shirt. "You think elves are the only ones out there?"

My mind reeled. "So you turned me into some kind of... beacon?"

"Essentially." He buttoned his shirt with infuriating elegance. "But don't worry. There are benefits."

"Benefits?" I almost laughed. "You just said I'd attract other non-humans like a goddamn magnet!"

"Exactly." Elandil turned to face me, his eyes gleaming with dangerous excitement. "Imagine it, Rachel. Dragon stamina, werewolf intensity, demonic skill..." He paused, lips curving into a knowing smile. "Didn't you complain about how boring human men are?"

I opened my mouth to curse him out, but the words stuck.

Because I felt it.

Heat spreading from my core, not pain but craving. Stronger and more desperate than before.

"It's already starting." Elandil smiled. "The marking amplifies your sex drive three to fivefold. For the next few days, you're going to be very... hungry."

He moved toward the door. "Enjoy yourself, Rachel."

"Wait!" I tried to stand but my legs buckled.

He was already gone.

I was alone.

I collapsed back onto the bed, sticky and filthy, still leaking. The emptiness wasn't fading—it was getting worse, like some bottomless pit inside me devouring everything.

"Fuck..." I squeezed my thighs together, fingers sliding to that wet heat.

The moment I touched myself, electricity shot up my spine. I bit my lip, fingers moving faster, but it only made the emptiness worse. Nothing could replicate that fullness.

"Fuck... fuck..." I gasped, my other hand kneading my breast, nipple hardening under my touch.

But it wasn't enough. Nowhere near enough.

I needed more. Needed to be split open, possessed, utterly filled.

My fingers moved frantically, but the void only grew. I bit my lip harder, my other hand squeezing my breast, nails digging into soft flesh.

"Fuck..."

Pleasure spiraled inside me but never crested.

My eyelids grew heavy.

The need had drained every ounce of strength. My hand slowed, then fell limply to my side.

Exhaustion and desire tangled together, dragging me into half-consciousness.

In the dream, someone pressed me down again.

A burning body covered mine, strong hands exploring my skin.

"Mmm..." I moaned hazily, body instinctively arching into those touches.

Warm lips trailed down my neck, over my collarbone, across my chest, then closed around my nipple.

"Ah..." I arched up, fingers threading through soft hair.

The suction was perfect, tongue circling, making that sensitive peak harden impossibly more in that wet heat.

Meanwhile, another hand kneaded my other breast, thumb teasing the nipple.

Wait. Another hand?

I tried to open my eyes, but they were too heavy.

Whatever. Just a dream...

Then I felt someone spreading my thighs, hot breath washing over my center.

"Fuck... so wet..." A deep male voice, thick with satisfaction.

Then a scalding, slick tongue dragged across my most sensitive place.

"Ah—" I bucked violently.

The tongue didn't stop. It licked every fold, sucked my swollen clit, then thrust inside without warning.

"Fuck!" I screamed, hands instinctively grabbing something.

Hair.

Soft, thick hair.

But...

Why were there two places at once...

The mouth on my nipple sucked hard and my thoughts dissolved into pleasure again.

The tongue below pushed deeper, twisting and exploring, hitting every spot that made me shake. The mouth above switched to my other nipple, tongue circling, suction making my scalp tingle.

"No... wait..." I panted. This felt too real.

"Don't move." The one at my breast lifted his head.

I forced my eyes open.

Golden eyes.

Bestial, glowing like molten lava.

And that face—sharp angles, wild beauty, short black hair, black scale patterns flickering beneath the skin.

I froze.

This wasn't a dream.

My gaze slowly traveled down. I saw the other one.

Kneeling between my legs, head tilted up, lips and chin glistening with clear fluid—my fluid.

The exact same face.

The exact same golden eyes.

The exact same black scale patterns.

"You're..." My voice shook, but then—