I bit down hard on my lip, trying to muffle my moan when I felt his eyes brighten and those canines suddenly look longer. A sharp tingle hit my neck, and I pulled away fast. My left hand pressed firmly against his chest, pushing him back into the soft bed. He lay there, gazing up at me, panting heavily....flushed and clearly confused, but filled with raw lust. His breaths came hot and shaky while I sat on top of him, my thighs squeezing his sides.

"Mas-ter," he choked out halfway, and fuck, my whole body trembled, my legs shaking from the sound alone.

"What are you sweating so much for?" I asked, reaching for the dry towel nearby, but he moaned again, "Gnh—" his lips parted, hot air rushing out as his breathing stayed uneven and ragged.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, panicking a little, but his ears turned deep red. He looked away, flushed even more. Then I spotted his canines, so sharp now—like a vampire’s. Since when did mermen have fangs? I cursed inside my head.

Ding.

[Fangs are normal in the beast world. When a male’s fangs elongate for his master, it means a sense of security and a deep desire to fulfill pleasure... it’s also used to mark their Master!] I got most of it, but the mark part hit differently.

Fangs? Mark!

[It’s a sign the female is theirs!] I sighed, a hand on my head, feeling dizzy from all the info dumping.

[Warning: First marking creates an irreversible bond. Host may experience emotional backlash AND; Beast-men is already unstable.]

"Are you okay?" Thyrian’s soft voice broke through as he held my waist possessively. But really, I should be asking him that!

The room felt warmer now, the wooden bed frame creaking softly under our weight. Rain tapped against the window outside, steady and rhythmic, mixing with his heavy breaths and the distant crackle of a low fire in the corner hearth. His skin burned hot under my palm, slick with sweat that smelled musky and sweet, like sea salt and desire.

Something evil crept into my mind. I wanted to tease him badly. I stared down at his bare chest, muscles glistening with sweat under the warm firelight, and gently licked my lips. Since he was such a virgin...

"Why are you feeling so weird?" I asked, my voice coming out breathy as I stayed on top of him. Thyrian’s eyes glowed, his chest rising and falling fast under my hand.

"I need to breed with you, Master," he growled low, no shame in it at all. His hands tightened on my waist like he was barely holding back.

I didn’t feel shocked. Instead, my mind went straight to touching his chest, feeling how hot his skin was, imagining those strong hands all over me. Damn, the thought made heat pool between my legs.

I smirked and leaned down closer, teasing him. "Breed me? Is that what my merman wants so bad?"

Thyrian blushed hard, his ears turning red, but he pinched my waist softly, sending a spark straight down my spine. "Master... don’t tease."

But I wanted to. I slid my hands over his bare chest, feeling every hard muscle twitch under my fingers. Slowly, I rocked my hips just a little against him, then leaned in and bit his ear gently, tugging with my teeth.

I froze as the veins in his neck shimmered instantly to silver. I could only stare in shock. They were beautiful, pulsing like liquid moonlight under his skin. He was glowing, and the soft silver light spread across his chest and shoulders, making every muscle stand out in the dim firelight.

The room felt even hotter, and—

He groaned loudly, his body jerking up. In one fast move, Thyrian flipped me over, pinning me down on the bed. His weight felt so good, heavy and grounding.

He crouched down, gently nuzzling his nose against my neck, taking shaky, sharp inhales like he was drunk on my scent. "So sweet," he mumbled, then his sharp fangs hovered right over my neck, his eyes wild with lust.

His hands slowly trailed downward, landing on my thighs, caressing with slow, burning touches. I trembled hard, my body was already so sensitive from everything. Then he slid his hands higher, squeezing the soft flesh, and an unplanned moan escaped my lips, loud and needy.

I closed my eyes shut, waiting for his canines to sink in, but....

I really wondered why I wasn’t feeling that heavy throbbing in my head anymore. The dizzy feeling from the warnings had completely faded. Or was his touch suddenly making me sober? Everything felt clearer now, sharper, even as heat rushed through my body.

Before his canines could sink in, the door burst open. My other beast-men stood there, their eyes locked on us. They didn’t look happy, especially not seeing Thyrian’s fangs out, ready to mark me as his.

I blushed hard, trying to push myself up, but Thyrian still trapped me beneath him, his glowing chest pressed close, his hands still gently holding my thighs. I really wished I could just shrink right now. Why did their gazes feel so heavy and intense? All four of them staring down at me like that made my face burn hot.

"Um—" I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My throat felt dry.

"Raven, shouldn’t you be asleep?" Veyra’s voice came out confused and slightly flat.

I cleared my throat, ready to say something, but Ryker beat me to it.

"Are you being served? You should have called us to join in the fun!" Ryker said with a wicked grin. Thyrian smiled softly, his silver veins still shimmering as he nuzzled closer to my neck, not moving away at all. His hot breath and those sharp fangs still hovered there, making my skin tingle.

"It’s not th—" I started, but before I could finish, they moved fast. All three crawled onto the bed, baring their own sharp canines, surrounding us with heat and hunger.

I wasn’t scared though, they looked dangerously cute.

"Raven," Azrael said, his cold demon voice sending shivers through me, "since you are aching to be marked, let’s all four do it for you."