The figures lunged like nightmares given form—translucent echoes of us, their faces twisted in eternal agony, hands clawing through the air as if to pull us back into the Veil's hungry maw. Kai shoved me behind him, his body still slick with rain and sweat from what we'd just done, his chest heaving. The mark on my wrist burned like fire, syncing with the frantic beat of my heart. I could feel the remnants' desperation pouring into me: lifetimes of forbidden touches, stolen kisses, and brutal endings. It made my skin crawl—and worse, it made me ache all over again, as if their unfulfilled lust was bleeding into mine.
"Kai!" I gasped, my voice raw from screaming his name moments ago. My thighs were still trembling, slick with our release, my core throbbing from how roughly he'd claimed me against the stone. God, even now, with danger closing in, I craved him—wanted him to pin me down again, thrust deep and hard until the world blurred. But the shadows were too close. One grazed Kai's arm, and he snarled, swatting at it like smoke. The contact sent a jolt through the bond; I felt it in my gut, a twisted mix of pain and pleasure that made me clench involuntarily.
"We have to seal it," he growled, eyes darting to the cracked bell above us. "The bond—it's feeding them. We need to give more. Completely."
"More?" My breath hitched. We'd just fucked like animals, his cock stretching me to the brink, his hands bruising my hips as he pounded into me with a rhythm that had me coming so hard I saw stars. And he wanted more? But the mark pulsed in agreement, heat pooling low in my belly despite the fear. The figures circled, their silent screams vibrating through the tower. One—a version of me in tattered lace—reached for my throat, her touch like icy fingers trailing down my spine.
Kai grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the bell's base. "Trust me, Mia. This isn't just sex. It's surrender." His voice was rough, laced with the same dark hunger I felt. He pushed me against the bronze, the cold metal shocking against my bare back where my hoodie had ridden up. Rain drummed on the roof like a heartbeat, and lightning flashed, illuminating his face—sharp jaw clenched, eyes black with need. He yanked my jeans down again, not gentle, his fingers digging into my thighs as he spread them wide.
I gasped as the cool air hit my exposed skin, still sensitive and swollen from before. "Kai, they're—"
"Let them watch," he whispered, dropping to his knees. His breath ghosted over my core, hot and teasing. "Let them see what they lost." Then his mouth was on me—tongue flat and insistent, lapping at my folds like he was starving. I bucked against him, fingers tangling in his wet hair, pulling him closer. He sucked my clit between his lips, grazing it with his teeth just enough to make me cry out. The sensation was electric, building fast, my hips grinding against his face as he devoured me. One hand held my thigh open; the other slid two fingers inside, curling deep, stroking that spot that made my toes curl.
"Oh god—Kai—don't stop—" I moaned, loud and shameless, the sound echoing up the tower. The figures hovered closer, their ethereal forms flickering with what looked like envy. One touched Kai's shoulder, and he shuddered, but it only made him more aggressive—tongue flicking faster, fingers pumping harder, until I shattered. The orgasm ripped through me like a storm, waves of pleasure so intense my vision blurred, my body convulsing as I came on his mouth, slick and messy. He licked me through it, groaning like my taste was his drug.
He rose, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes locked on mine. "Your turn." He shoved his pants down, his cock springing free—thick, veined, still hard and glistening from before. I dropped to my knees without hesitation, the stone biting into my skin, but I didn't care. I took him in my hand, stroking the length—hot, heavy, pulsing under my fingers. He hissed, hips jerking forward. I leaned in, tongue tracing the tip, tasting us mixed together—salty, forbidden, intoxicating. Then I took him deep, lips stretching around him, hollowing my cheeks as I sucked.
"Fuck, Mia—yes, just like that." His hand fisted my hair, guiding me, not rough but commanding. I bobbed faster, tongue swirling, hand twisting at the base. He thrust shallowly, hitting the back of my throat, and I gagged but didn't stop—wanted him to lose control like I had. The bond thrummed, amplifying everything: his pleasure flooding into me, making my core ache empty and needy again. The figures pressed in, their cold aura brushing my skin, but it only heightened the heat, turning fear into fuel.
Kai pulled me up suddenly, spinning me to face the bell. "Bend over." His voice was gravel. I braced my hands on the bronze, ass out, legs spread. He positioned himself behind me, rubbing his cock along my slick entrance—teasing, slow—until I whimpered. "Beg for it."
"Please—Kai—fuck me. Hard. Make me yours." The words spilled out, desperate and true. He slammed in—all the way, bottoming out in one thrust that made me scream. He didn't hold back—pounding deep, relentless, each stroke hitting that perfect angle. His hand snaked around, fingers rubbing my clit in time with his hips. Skin slapped skin, wet and obscene, echoing louder than the rain. I pushed back, meeting him thrust for thrust, the pleasure building to unbearable. "I'm—close—don't stop—"
"Come with me," he growled, biting my shoulder. We shattered together—me clenching around him, milking every drop as he filled me again, hot and deep. The release was cataclysmic, waves crashing until I sobbed, body limp against the bell.
But the tower didn't stop shaking. The figures solidified, no longer translucent—one grabbed Kai's arm for real this time, nails digging in. Blood welled.
"Run!" he yelled, yanking me toward the stairs. We stumbled down, clothes half-on, the remnants chasing. We burst out into the quad, rain soaking us anew. The figures faded at the door, trapped for now, but the mark throbbed—a warning.
Panting, we ducked into the shadows near the dorms. That's when I heard voices—laughing, slurred. My friends. Or what passed for them in this chaotic first week.
Lena, my roommate—the good one, bubbly and reliable—waved from under an umbrella. "Mia! Where've you been? We were about to send a search party!" Beside her was Jax, the bad influence: tattooed, smirking, always pushing shots and bad ideas. "Yeah, newbie. You look wrecked. Fun night?" His eyes raked over me, lingering too long.
Then there was Mily—horny Mily, as everyone called her. She was a sophomore, worked nights as a sex worker downtown, unapologetic about it. "Damn, girl, you smell like sex. Spill—who's the lucky guy?" She grinned, licking her lips, her own outfit screaming availability: short skirt, fishnets, even in the rain. She was dangerous in her own way—always dragging us to parties where lines blurred.
Trailing them was Brock, the drunkard—already slurring, bottle in hand. "Heyyy, pretty thing. Join us for a drink?" His eyes were glassy, predatory. And lurking in the shadows behind, Vance—the one everyone whispered about. Dangerous. Rumors said he was a rapist, expelled from his last school but somehow back here. He watched me with a hunger that made my skin crawl, nothing like Kai's.
Kai tensed beside me, hand on my back. "Not tonight," he said, voice low and threatening. The group paused, sensing the edge. Mily's eyes flicked to him, widening with interest. "Well, hello. Bring your friend next time, Mia. We could have fun."
We slipped past them into the dorm, but Vance's stare followed. Up in my room, Kai locked the door, pressing me against it. "They're not safe. Especially him."
I nodded, still buzzing from the tower. But the mark glowed brighter, thorns appearing in the design. The Veil wasn't done. And neither were we.
As Kai's lips found mine again—soft, promising more—the whispers started in my head: More. Give more. Or lose everything.