ore, the Citadel was one of the few
places on the planet that had access
to the precious metal used to build
and create. Because of that, there was
an influx of males that worked in
various disciplines such as making
building materials or the creation of
highly sought items like swords and
tools.
Due to the growing population,
patrols were essential to ensure the
safety of every unmated female from
rogue attacks. Rogues sought to
kidnap females to be shared amongst
the many males that lived their lives
without honor and treated the
precious females as commodities to
be brokered for goods and services.
It was a horrible reality of their
world, but Savitar and his army of
elite warriors did everything they
could to curb the problems within
their region.
Savitar had tried to stay away from
the Iron Palace while the annual
spring festival had been going on.
Although he was the eldest born of
the trio, he was very different from
his brothers and didn’t enjoy being
around crowds. When his brothers
had contacted him and shown him
what had transpired upon Raven’s
arrival, he had been elated.
The moment he saw her image in
his brothers’ thoughts he knew she
was their mate. But his joy had
quickly turned to anger at his
brothers’ rough treatment of her, even
more so when they had discovered
her brutal past and the abuse she had
faced at the hands of someone who
was supposed to love and cherish
her.
Savitar felt despair at what she had
suffered, but also for the knowledge
that his brothers’ actions had caused
her to fear them as well. As Kings of
the Iron Palace, the Akira brothers
were highly sought after as breeding
partners due to their light-brown hair
and their positions as leaders of their
people. Although many females
sought out the trio as potential mates,
none had captured the brothers’
hearts. No matter what Kadan and
Tristan said, Savitar knew he was
part of the reason they had not yet
found a mate.
Born the largest of the trio, Savitar
had been different from birth. Where
once his size had been a sign that he
had been destined to lead, over time
it became one of the reasons that
females began to fear him.
During the rogue wars Savitar had
taken a blow that had almost killed
him when he had avenged the murder
of his fathers and mother at the hands
of the rogues. By some miracle
Savitar had survived, but it had left
him scarred. As one of the few
Arcadian males with such an
imperfection, he had been deemed
unworthy. Females had made it clear
they would take him in the trio only
because they had to if they wanted his
brothers, and that rejection hurt him
deeper than he ever let anyone know.
Savitar had felt his heart break at
the way Raven had spoken about
being stuck on Arcadia with them.
Rationally he knew that he would
feel the same if he had been taken to
a strange land, but his hope of having
a beautiful mate such as her want him
disappeared like smoke when they
had found her dangling from the
balcony. To his surprise she had
clung to him after he had rescued her.
He had not liked seeing the terror in
her
beautiful
green
eyes
and
promised himself that he would do
whatever he needed to ensure he
never saw that look on her face
again.
He paused as they came to a
seemingly solid rock wall. He shifted
to slide between the rocks, fitting into
a break in the mountain that was
hidden from sight. Sensing her
hesitation he held out a hand to her.
“It is a tight fit, but you will be
fine. Take my hand and I will guide
you through,” he said, holding his
breath until she placed her tiny hand
in his.
Savitar’s heart beat wildly in his
chest at the trust she placed in him by
allowing him to guide her into the
unknown. He had traversed this path
so many times it was easy for him to
maneuver them through the dark path
until they came to a small cavern that
was lit with beams of light that shone
through small cracks in the rock
walls.
He watched her face intently as
they entered the cavern, wanting to
see her first reaction to his secret
haven. It was a sacred place to him
that his brothers didn’t even intrude
upon without his express permission.
The cavern was beautiful, with a
slow, steady waterfall that poured
into a small pool. The pool fed out to
the sea below so there was rarely an
overflow and over time he had
carved out several seats from the
rock walls that allowed him to sit
and ponder whatever was on his
mind. He had placed several light
crystals that, when activated, would
light up the room with a soft blue
glow when the sunlight faded.
Pride swelled inside him at the
look of wonder on her face as she
looked around and his heart nearly
stopped when she gifted him with a
beautiful smile.
“This place is amazing!” Raven
exclaimed.
Savitar couldn’t smile back at her.
Desire flooded his system, making
his cock harden to the point of pain.
He inhaled deeply, his massive chest
expanding as he drew the air into his
lungs. The subtle sweet scent of her
desire for him was intoxicating. He
watched the smile fade from her face,
but could do nothing to reassure her.
His hands tightened into fists to stop
himself from grabbing her to him. Not
wanting to scare her, he struggled for
control.
“You desire me.” He wanted to
wince at the guttural sound of his
own voice. He watched her throat
work as she swallowed.
“W–why
do
you
sound
so
surprised?” Raven asked nervously
as she took a step back.
Savitar wanted to reach out, to pull
her into his arms so he could show
her exactly how much he wanted her
but he held back. He couldn’t bear
the distance she was placing between
them and stalked forward, following
her step for step until she was up
against the stone wall of the cavern.
Not wanting to frighten her anymore
he slowly lowered to kneel in front
of her. Even on his knees he was
almost the same height as her.
“Because females fear my size and
usually
find
my
appearance
unappealing.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “What
do you mean? You must know you’re
a good looking man. You and your
brothers—”
“They are desired, but I am
flawed.” She would never know how
the confusion on her face warmed his
heart. Savitar slowly reached out to
stroke the back of his hand across the
smooth skin of her cheek then trailed
it down across her neck in the same
area where his own scar was.
Understanding brightened her green
eyes. “Do you mean because of your
scar?”
“Aye. It is rare for an Arcadian to
retain a wound such as I have. We
have a natural ability to heal except
from fatal injuries, but my wound
was so grievous it left me scarred.
Most females find me…unattractive.”
“Then your females are morons,”
Raven blurted out.
Savitar couldn’t help but smile at
that. He reached out and gently took
hold of one of her legs, placing her
foot on his knee. Her eyes widened in
bewilderment as he began pulling at
her strange footwear.
“What are you doing?”
“The water on Arcadia has healing
properties and you said you had been
struck by lightning earlier. It should
soothe any aches you may have. I
wish to take you swimming in the
pool.”
She choked out a laugh as she
looked pointedly at his straining
erection tenting his pants. “Umm…I
don’t think that’s all that you want to
do.”
Savitar looked up at her with a
serious expression after removing the
footwear from both of her tiny feet.
He wanted to drag her down to the
cavern floor, tear off the offensive
barrier of clothing between them, and
sink himself into her wet heat until he
poured his essence into her, but he
knew he could not. His mate was too
small to be treated without care and
he would rather die than hurt her.
This was his chance to show Raven
how a mating should be. This was his
opportunity to show her how he and
his brothers wanted to love and care
for her.
The question was, would she let
him?
“I want you, but I will not force you
to do anything you do not want. I
wish to show you how it should be
between mates. How we want to
protect and cherish you as you
deserve.”
Her breath left on a shaky sigh.
“Savitar, all of this still doesn’t feel
real. This…all of this seems like
some sort of crazy dream to me. I
don’t know the first thing about being
a mate or what you guys want from
me.”
Savitar placed his large hands on
her hips and pulled her to him gently.
He wanted to rub his face against her
and simply breathe in her scent but
kept his gaze focused on hers. “I
know that this is all strange to you,
but will you give me the chance to
show you?”
Raven’s thoughts swirled in a mass
of uncertainty. It really wasn’t fair
for
them
to
be
having
this
conversation when he was distracting
her with his bare, muscular, golden
chest.
Earlier Kadan and Tristan had
scared the crap out of her, but she
couldn’t deny that a part of her had
been attracted to them and had
wanted to give into the passion
between them. With Savitar it was
different. Somehow he had become
her gentle giant and she wanted him
with an intensity that frightened her.
Never one to back down from a
challenge, she slowly placed her
hands on the sides of his face.
Watching his glowing eyes burn for
her solidified her decision.
She leaned in and brushed her lips
softly against his. Wanting more, she
stepped into him and wrapped her
arms around his neck, taking the kiss
deeper. When Savitar growled and
hauled her closer, she felt her knees
buckle. Her nipples peaked as they
rubbed against his vibrating chest.
She felt drunk on lust as their tongues
dueled in an erotic dance. It was like
the taste of him mixed with his scent
released pheromones that heated her
blood and made her mad with need.
Raven angled her head, fusing their
mouths together. The taste of him was
addicting and she wanted more. She
could feel him thick and hot against
her thigh as she rubbed her body
against him. She felt her braid come
loose as he gripped her head in his
hands to hold her steady. His large
hands massaged her scalp as they fed
off each other. Her hands gripped at
the corded muscles of his shoulders,
holding her steady as he swept her
away in a storm of passion. Pulling
back they both panted for breath.
She wanted him, no, she needed
him.
There was no going back.
“Show me, Savitar. Show me what
it means to be a mate.”
Raven was fascinated as his golden
eyes seemed to glow brighter as he
reached out to take hold of her shirt.
She raised her arms to help him