Nate

The moment I laid eyes on her I felt complete. I needed to touch her, to feel her skin against mine, her blood in my throat. I couldn't take my eyes off of her until Kota said she was dead. My beast raged, wanting to rip out the throats of any who dared to harm her - dared to touch what was mine.

Gray giggled, "I think the sex is to blame." My shoulders dropped as the realization that she was already claimed sank in. "Silas, North, and I were, um...and then I woke up here."

Kota kept talking, but all I could do was sit down on the bed and watch her. She was beautiful. Her silver hair and dark eyes made her look ethereal as she held the blanket around her. I found myself proud to see her eyes on me as well. Her mouth moved as she answered Kota's questions, but I didn't hear a word.

She had edged closer to us, only a few steps from the bed now. I fought the urge to reach out and grab her until her hand reached out, her fingertips grazed along my cheek. I let out a low groan and watched like a predator as her pupils dilated. Even in death, I could smell her arousal and I gave in, pulling her to me. The blanket fell to the floor as I flipped her onto the bed, letting my eyes feast on her beauty. Her lips parted and she let out a low whine as our lips met. She tugged at my shirt while I quickly slid my jeans off. Pushing her up further onto the bed, I began nipping at the soft skin on her thighs. I could smell Silas and North all over her, but it didn't stop me from wanting to add my scent. I felt my beast surging forward as my fangs elongated. "So beautiful," I breathed. I caged her beneath me and she looked up, her expression so filled with trust as my body shifted.

"You're beautiful," she gasped, her hands running over my skin. I practically purred at her acceptance. "Please," she begged, her body writhing beneath me, the bond clearly affecting her as well. She pulled my head down and nuzzled my neck, then I roared as she bit down, breaking the skin. The feeling was completely euphoric.

When she let go, I marveled at this small creature beneath me. My blood dripped from her mouth and down her chin, a stark contrast to her pale skin. I knew my eyes had shifted as well as I leaned closer, lifting her slightly. "My eternal," I growled then sank my fangs into her shoulder, making her scream as I slammed upwards impaling her on my length. Her body arched, submitting to me completely as our bond formed.

It was as if time stopped just for us. I felt her body tighten as she cried out, "Nate!" A wave of magic slammed into me and I heard a deep growl as the room darkened. Gray clung to me burying her face in my chest. We weren't in the trailer anymore.

"She is not of your kind," the voice hissed.

I growled, pulling her into my lap and shielding her body with mine. "She is my eternal," I said, my voice booming.

"She is dead," the voice spoke, "and the dead belong to me."

I cupped her face, "I need you to go back now, love. Focus on Silas and North, they will lead you back. We will be there soon." I kissed her softly then felt the coldness of the sheets beneath me as I opened my eyes finding myself back in the trailer. I threw on my pants and ran out. "Kota!"

"What happened?" he took one look at me and asked.

"He's after her. We were...and he pulled us. Call Silas or North now! Make sure she got back to them, please," I begged him.

"Silas? Yeah, is she okay?" He listened for a moment, then said, "Nate said he pulled them during sex. From what she said, I think he's pulled her before. She's a deathwalker. I don't know, maybe one of her parents?" He tapped the table nervously as Luke and I watched him. "Yeah, we'll push and be there in about two hours. Be vigilant." He hung up the phone and turned back to me. "Are you okay?" He reached up to my neck and then gasped, "She marked you?"

I gave a shit-eating grin, "Fuck yeah she did."

"Damn, I can't wait to meet this girl," Luke muttered.

I sat down at the small table as Kota went up to send the message to the others. "She's fucking amazing, Luke. I knew the moment I saw her. It was like I couldn't stop staring at her and all I wanted was to touch her. She told me I was beautiful when I shifted."

"Damn, that's love," he chuckled. I swatted at his shoulder playfully. "But seriously, I'm happy for you. You deserve some happiness, Nate."

I grinned, "I'm telling you, man, she's worth it. You'll see." He got a dreamy look on his face and grinned back.

Silas

I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience when North and I came inside of her. Then all hell broke loose. She cried out and slumped against North's chest. "She's not breathing!" he roared and we quickly placed her on the bed, giving her mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions. Just as I reached for the phone, Kota's message popped up. We both grabbed our phones and read.

Kota: Hey Silas and North, your girl is rather beautiful. Keep her warm and dry, she'll return soon.

Silas: What the fuck! She's dead, but how?

Kota: Not sure, but based on the conversation, this isn't the first time. I'm trying to figure it out, but don't worry, her soul isn't going anywhere.

North: Local lady said she'd had near-death experiences several times. He showed up and she saw him, Kota.

Kota: Well fuck, that complicates things. I'll let you know when she's on her way.

Silas: Thanks man

North: Yeah, thanks

Kota: No worries - the view is flawless 🙂

Looking down at her I felt my shoulders begin to shake. I was terrified we had lost her. North held me as I pulled myself together, and then we cleaned her up, changing the sheets and putting her into a t-shirt. We wrapped her up between us and lay watching her unmoving form, just waiting.

Almost an hour later she bolted upright in the bed screaming out for Nate. "Gray?" North asked, pulling her shaking form against him. The phone rang and I answered.

"Kota? What happened?

"Silas? Yeah, is she okay?"

"She woke up screaming for Nate and is shaking like a leaf, man," I told him.

"Nate said he pulled them during sex. From what she said, I think he's pulled her before. She's a deathwalker. I don't know, maybe one of her parents?" Kota suggested.

"I can ask when she calms down, but she might not know," I replied. "How much longer till you get here? I'm worried. This is twice in one day that he's come after her."

Kota grumbled, "Yeah, we'll push and be there in about two hours. Be vigilant."

"Always." I hung up and stroked her hair. "Nate's okay, love. They'll be here in a couple of hours."

She nodded her head. "Are...are you mad at me?" she whispered.

North nuzzled his mark, "Not at all, baby. If we're right, you'll be drawn to all of us and that's okay."

"I just don't understand any of this. I mean I'm not a fool and goodness knows being raised in the Appalachian mountains you see stuff, but this is beyond even my knowledge. Why me? What makes me so special that people like you would want me?" Her chin wobbled as she spoke.

"Oh, Gray, you have no idea how amazing you really are, do you?" I said, pulling her into my lap. "Your soul is so bright and pure that it has called to us. Sylphs don't have souls, my love. We are elemental creatures and as you saw with Nate, some of us are hybrids, but the one thing we lack is a soul. When the gods gift us with a bond, we share that person's soul for eternity. To us you are the most precious gift in the world, Gray. We will spend our lives honoring, protecting, and loving you."

Her hand pressed against my chest. "Why don't sylphs have souls?"

I shook my head, "That is a question for the gods. Some say it is because we live so long and to live without a bond would darken our souls. Others say it is because we see so much suffering in our long lifespans."

Her eyes widened, "Oh no...we, um, I'm not...oh shoot."

North chuckled, "You want to try that again in English, baby?"

"We didn't use protection. I'm not on anything?" she blushed.

North and I exchanged a look. "Gray we can't...we can't have children." Her expression fell and she made a soft oh shape with her mouth.

"I'm going to take a shower," she said quietly and slipped out of the bed.

I felt like such an idiot. We let ourselves get carried away and didn't tell her everything upfront. "Fuck, we should have waited until we told her everything," North groaned, his head in his hands.

"I know. Gods we made a mess of this. I can't blame her if she wants to reject us," I said.

"Take that back," she said harshly from the doorway. "You take that back right now, Silas!" My mouth gaped. "Yes, I'm disappointed about the not having kids part, but I wouldn't give you up for anything, not any of you. Hell, I don't even understand what is going on, but I know I can't breathe without you near. I can't think straight when I'm away from either of you. I couldn't even handle taking a damn shower alone. I came back in to ask you to join me and I heard you talking about rejecting you. Good grief, get that damn thought out of your mind right now, understood?" Her hand was on her hip, eyes blazing in all her naked glory.

"Yes, ma'am," I gulped. I slid to my knees, "I'm sorry, Gray. I'm just so damn scared. I've never felt like this before and I keep thinking I'm messing it up."

She walked toward me, pulling my head against her stomach as she ran her hands through my short hair. "Lucky for you, I enjoy apologies," she giggled.

I circled my arms around her and began planting kisses on her stomach as she giggled more. "I'm an expert at apologizing. Let me show you my love." I scooped her up and carried her to the shower with North following behind.