Reckoning: A Reverse Harem Tale (Mountain Magic Book 3)

problem for us," Allan replied.
"How's that?" Victoria's voice sounded a little more normal.
"Well, he's powerful, and I imagine he's more than a little pissed off at them," Allan answered.
"Gottcha."
"Dinner's ready," Ed interrupted.
The increasingly delicious scent of hamburgers was making my stomach grumble and I was grateful for the change in topic, too. We all climbed off the bed and dug in.
∞ ∞ ∞
"So, Doc," Victoria asked once we were alone back in our dorm room. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"He drinks blood?"
"Yeah." I tried really hard to say that last casually. I really didn't feel like sharing those details of my personal life. "He usually gets by on a combination of protein drinks, tea, and occasionally blood. Though, I think he just likes tea. I don't think it actually does anything for him."
She was quiet for a minute and I looked at her. She stared at the ground. "I mean, I guess I never suspected that. It really does explain a lot though. Okay, so what's up with him and Nik?"
I smiled. "Nikolai is into him, he's into Nikolai." I didn't need to share Allan's interest unless she asked. He wasn't as obvious in his affection with anyone, though I had caught quite a bit more casual touching than I'd noticed previously. It made me glad.
"And you're okay with that?"
"I mean, I'm dating like, four guys. If they're also into each other, that's completely fine with me."
"How into each other are they?" She waggled her eyebrows.
"I, uh, guess I never asked. They'll tell me if they want me to know."
"It is kind of hot to see guys that comfortable with each other."
"It's really hot," I agreed, cheeks warming.
She laughed and threw a pillow at me.

Chapter 7
Sofia
I followed Ed as he broke a trail through the snow on their property. Allan trailed behind a short distance. I kept alert for anything that might be magic and the guys kept their noses alert for any strange scents. Even in human form, their sense of smell was nearly as good as when they were wolves.
Nikolai had sent me and the guys on a mission to ring the property in more wards. Though snow still covered the ground, the sun shone, and it was comfortable in a light jacket with our level of exertion. The crisp, pine scented air melted away some of my tension.
It was one of our shorter class days so we had a couple of hours until the sun set, though days were very short and I wasn't sure we would finish before it got dark. Still, Ed and Allan wouldn't get cold easily at all and I had magic.
We were about halfway done when I found a rock on the upper edge of the property with a fantastic view of the valley. The snow had melted off the rock, and the sun had warmed it enough that it was dry. I pressed a bit of magic into it, warming it further before I hopped up onto the rock and sat cross legged, staring out over the snow-covered valley. According to the guys, we should have snow on the ground until spring.
It really was beautiful, especially with all of the pine trees lending green to the winter scene.
Ed sat on one side of me and Allan the other. They sat close so our shoulders were touching and I sighed, content.
"Sofia?" Ed took my hand.
"Yeah?" I rested my head on his shoulder.
"You still really want all of us?" He sounded uncertain.
I could guess that his real question was, 'you really still want me?' and I sighed. I hated hearing that uncertainty in his voice.
"Of course." I put as much conviction in my voice as I could, but I knew he really needed more. "I get different things from each of you." I flipped the hand he held over revealing his wrist and the pack tattoo we had magically formed. With my free hand I lightly traced the pawprints, one for each of my guys and one for me. Our pack bond was probably what had saved me from being completely lost and destroyed when the Andersons had forced the demon to possess me.
He sucked in a breath when I ran my fingers along his skin.
"Nikolai and Doc, well, we got lucky we found Nikolai."
Allan chuckled and Ed nodded.
"Doc holds everything together. Allan," I glanced over at him and took his hand with my free one. "Allan makes sure we all stay grounded and on track, and you are like my sunshine on a rainy day. Always cheering me up. We all have our parts to play in this pack. It's why we work. Besides, without you two, I would have slipped away while Doc and Nikolai were trying to release the demon."
Ed looked in my eyes. I met his sky-blue ones and let my love for him shine through.
"You know I love you, right?" I hadn't told him yet and guilt weight on me. I should have found time to talk to him sooner. He was the least secure in our relationship.
His expression lightened. "I love you, too, Sofia." He breathed the words, as if not quite sure he was actually saying them out loud.
Happy butterflies danced through my stomach at his words. I grinned, letting him see how pleased that made me.
"Besides, I think if it was just me with Nikolai and Doc I'd be way too intimidated." I winked. "You two are pretty badass, but your experiences are still closer to my own. That's important to me."
Ed leaned forward and I met his lips with mine. He pulled me onto his lap and I wrapped my legs around his waist so I was facing him, pressed against his firm chest and drinking in his warmth as the air cooled around us.
I buried my hands in his blond hair and held him tight as we kissed. He gripped my back and held me close, making me feel safe, making me feel like we belonged to each other. For a minute the rest