Later, gathered together with all her friends and allies in Kaede’s hut, Kagome filled everyone in on the events of her journey over dinner. Even Sesshoumaru was in attendance, technically. Leaning against the open doorway, he was about as far from the rest of the group as he could possibly be, his face turned away

Clothed once more, Kagome and Sesshoumaru left the relative privacy of her room and entered the main chamber of the den. All across the vast space, drunken wolves lay scattered—some snoozing from stone ledges, others sprawled on top of pelts or one another. Even shy young Akito had passed out spectacularly. Half his dangling leg

Warm. Rough. Wet. Kagome twitched awake at the slick, scraping sensation–her sleep-fogged eyes blinking slowly to clear. She lay on her side on the soft bed of stacked pelts, Sesshoumaru’s fluffy tail coiled about her like a boa. It was a moment before she realized she was totally nude beneath it–a few moments more before

Sesshoumaru skimmed his claws over the naked swell of her hip. Faintly, she stirred at the caress, but remained sleeping still. Every inch of her skin bore his mark. Every place within her he had claimed with his flesh and his presence. She was his, and he felt the surety of his ownership of her

Night had fallen by the time Kagome made her way outside with the alpha couple. Newly raised, the replacement gates stood wide open in welcome, a huge bonfire blazing merrily just beyond them on the glittering plateau. With one last cheery wink, Ayame steered Kouga away, leaving Kagome to fend for herself. Breath misting before