Violet Purple had assumed Roman was in the shower and would step out any second.
But even after her orgasm—yes, those screams, and thank you very much, her mates had done a damn good job cleaning her plate—she knew something was very, very wrong.
Roman would never miss an opportunity like this. Never.
This was Roman Draven they were talking about, for moon’s sake—the same guy who could sense her hunger from miles away and show up grinning.
So where the hell was he?
Violet sat up at once, still panting as she asked, "Have you guys seen Roman this morning? Wasn’t he in the bathroom with you?"
Asher’s brows furrowed immediately. "Isn’t he usually taking solace in your bosom?"
Instinctively, Violet looked down. Her breasts were already bare from the entire situation, but there was no sign of Roman anywhere.
Just to be sure, she stood up and stripped completely, scanning herself.
"He’s not here, is he?" Violet said, spinning around slowly so they could confirm she wasn’t hiding a certain sneaky reptile anywhere.
Alaric coughed, his face bright red. "No, he’s not."
He wasn’t the only one affected. There was also the dark, smoldering look in Asher and Griffin’s eyes. For a second, no one breathed.
Then, as if realizing they were all thinking the same sinful thought, their gazes collided, and each of them instantly looked away, pretending to be unbothered while subtly adjusting their trousers.
This was so not the time. Roman, that little fucker seems to be missing, they needed to focus on that.
Violet reached for Roman through the bond and there he was, alive yet silent. Not to mention, content.
What did that even mean? How could he be content in God knows where he was?
Asher turned to Alaric. "You kept watch last night. What happened?"
Alaric ran a hand through his hair, "I have no idea. I think I fell asleep at one point. But as far as I know, no one came into this room."
Asher gave him a sharp look. "How can you be sure of that when you fell asleep?"
"That’s if someone came in," Griffin interjected, "We all know Roman has a habit of exploring." He made air quotes for emphasis.
Violet sighed. "He’s not wrong. And Lila mentioned that the house is sentient and responds to the needs of its occupants. It probably let him out."
"Said the same faeries who built this house in the first place," Asher muttered. His tone made it clear what he thought the house might be responsive to other visitors too. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"So let’s assume they came in then," Alaric said. "Why take Roman? I mean, no offense, he’s not the brightest of us nor the biggest threat. You are." He pointed at Asher.
Violet’s voice darkened. "Threat or not, my mate went missing under my mother’s roof on my first day here. Someone better have answers for me." Her eyes flashed dangerously.
Just like that, Violet strode ahead and not even the door wanted to incur her wrath, swinging open the moment she approached.
Her mates followed her, silent and tense, knowing someone was about to get it from their mate.
Asher argued, "Even if Roman has a habit of ’exploring’..." He mimicked Griffin’s air quotes, "he should be back by now. There’s no way that guy would miss the chance to get under your pants this early. How’s the matebond?"
"When did this happen?" Rhara asked quickly.
"Probably last night," Asher replied before Violet could. His tone was all business, his gray eyes locked on Rhara, assessing her. "Any chance the Fae realm has something like... I don’t know, cameras we can use to track him?"
Lila frowned. "We don’t have such damaging technology here. But the Watchers might have seen something."
"The what?" Violet echoed.
Before anyone could answer, a loud crack split the silence.
The marble statue of a winged stag beside them fractured down the middle, and Alaric who was the closest to it practically jumped out of his skin, stumbling back in alarm.
Before their stunned eyes, the once-lifeless sculpture began to move, the stone melting away into something impossibly alive.
Violet’s eyes widened. She had never seen such a creature before — majestic, ethereal, and far too real to exist outside of myth. For a fleeting second, she doubted what she was seeing.
But that was only the beginning.
In a shimmer of light, the winged stag vanished, replaced by a tall Fae standing in its place. Antlers curved proudly from his head, and then, with a soft rustle, long, dark wings unfurled from his back.
He was completely naked.
For a moment, no one breathed.
Then Asher, Alaric, and Griffin simultaneously growled, fangs bared in a synchronized show of aggression.

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