by Amy Sumida
Azrael's eyes went diamond again, this time, full of arousal. He loved my weredragon form, but this was a new one for him; one that combined the best of a woman with the best of a dragon. Most of my flesh remained bare and my hair cascaded down my back, its starlight lock mimicking the shine of Azrael's stare. I banished my husband's clothing with a thought and pressed my body against his, cradling his rising shaft with my thighs.
“Care to make love to your wife on a cloud, Angel?” I purred.
A thick cumulus rose up behind me. I draped myself over it and spread my legs invitingly. Azrael made a savage sound and leapt for me, wings spreading wide to slow his fall. The cloud misted up around us as his mouth found mine; hot tongues twirling together anxiously as his hands roamed my body as if for the first time. I stroked my fingers through his thick, dark, hair, sprinkling a little temptation into his mind as I did; temptation for me and my plans.
I wouldn't do that, if I were you, Star murmured.
It's just a little insurance. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like some time alone with my husband.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Azrael jerked against me as his lust magnified, hiding the subtle slide of my will into his. He knew I held lust magic as well as love, and he wouldn't be the least suspicious of his arousal suddenly compounding. I grinned to myself with smug anticipation as my husband surged into me and started a wild pace. I loved it when Azrael let himself go.
Midnight feathers spread above me, the scent of vanilla orchids riding the air and my husband's cock driving shivering pleasure throughout my body. Heaven; my angel always took me to heaven. Even, and especially, when he was playing the part of the Prince of Hell.
I suppose that I had taken us to Heaven first with this lovely illusion. The thick clouds of Shehaquim's sky carried and caressed us with trailing, misty fingers that glowed with trapped moonlight. Azrael looked absolutely angelic; draped in softly shining mist, his body glistening with sweat as it moved with sleek grace. Beautiful, but I wanted more than that.
“Give me all of you,” I whispered in his ear. “Go wild with me, Death Angel.”
Azrael moaned and pulsed inside me as he lifted his head to grin wickedly down at me. “My daredevil wife, always flirting with death.”
“This isn't flirting, Az, we're far past that. Now, show me the stars. I want to see the Universe in your eyes.”
Azrael sped up, his hips pumping faster and faster against me as his wings folded over his head into the shape of a hood. Within the shadow of that hood, Azrael's face went transparent and his skull showed through the flesh like a holographic image. Diamonds burst across a velvet blackness—stars gleaming in the sky of Death's eyes—and acid tears dripped down his invisible cheeks to drip over my chest. But even without my dragon scales covering me fully, I was immune to Azrael's tears. They simply slid off to sizzle through the clouds. Without limitations, I had become immune to everything. The Great Magic of Protection was at my beck and call.
Just as death was.
I smiled up at Az as I ran my hands over the translucent flesh of his cheeks; still there, still solid and warm beneath the Reaper illusion. Even though Azrael was naked, misty darkness cloaked his body—the extension of his wings that had turned into Death's mantle. I gloried in it; the darkness, the grinning skull, the acid tears, and the invisible cock piercing through it all to unite us. Making love to Death in the sky of Heaven; it seemed an appropriate way to commence my campaign. My inauguration.
I screamed out in ecstasy and clutched my husband tighter but as soon as the tremors faded away, Azrael pulled out of my embrace. I looked up at him in shock; he hadn't found his satisfaction yet. Stars spun in the endless space of Azrael's eyes as he lowered himself between my thighs.
“Death has only just begun to love you,” the hollow voice rumbled against my skin just before a warm, wet tongue stroked me.
I sighed and laid back into the cloud, one hand trailing between my thighs to urge my husband's head closer. The skull opened its jaws wider and consumed me. Yes; this was indeed the best way to begin my reign.
Chapter Fifteen
I woke in a real bed, beneath a blanket of feathers, and snuggled happily into my husband's embrace. Azrael sighed awake and angled his head to look at me. Gentle eyes, full of love and wonder. Full of excitement for what our adventure would bring. But in a moment, it shifted. Everything changed. His stare went from soft and warm to diamond-hard and frigid.
“What did you do to me, Vervain?!” Azrael roared as he sat up.
“What do you mean?” I sat up more slowly.
I warned you, Star said. My magic doesn't work as well on Gods, especially not on their free will. You only got as far as you did with Azrael because he loves you so much. He trusted you.
“I felt the magic in my mind.” Azrael climbed off the bed and tucked his wings away. “You tried to manipulate me!”
“I was just giving you a little push.”
“Liar!” Azrael spun around, hands to his head. “I don't know what to do. I thought that if I stood by you, you might remember who you were but instead, you nearly made me forget who I am.”
“Azrael, I wasn't changing you, just showing you another perspective.”
“I can't be around you,” he whispered in horror as he slowly turned to face me again. “You're a threat to me. To me! Holy hellfrost; my wife is trying to hurt me. I can barely believe this is happening.”
“I did not try to hurt you,” I scoffed. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“You made love to me and used it as a chance to slip your magic into my mind, Vervain! What if you had tainted me?”
“And you lied to me,” I shot back. “You agreed to come here and rule the world with me, but you had no intentions of supporting me. You never meant to stand beside me, you only wanted the chance to change me back into the woman you want me to be.”
“The woman you want to be, Vervain,” he growled. “The woman you are. This is not you.”
I got out of bed and strode over to him sensually, running my hands down my body and staring at him with bedroom eyes full of every dark desire I could fulfill. Then I set my hands on Azrael's chest and slid them downward.
“Why don't you come back to bed, and we can work this out together?” I purred.
Azrael closed his eyes on a moan but as soon as my hand wrapped around his hardening shaft, he flinched, opened his eyes, and clutched at my wrist.
“No!” Azrael growled and pushed me away. “I'm leaving, Carus, but I'll come back for you. I promise. As soon as I figure out how to help you, I'll return.”
“Don't bother,” I snarled as I shoved him away.
Then I yanked off my wedding ring and tossed it at him. Az caught it deftly then starred at it in horror. The diamond glittered in his palm.
“Take that mockery of commitment back with you; all it is now is a tracking device.”
“I'll hold onto this for you until you remember what it means to you,” Azrael whispered sadly. As he traced away, he added, “And we don't need the ring to find you; we're all bound to you through blood and magic, Carus. You can't be free of us that easily.”
As soon as Az was gone, I said, “Star, break those bonds.”
Vervain—
“Please, just do it.”
I can't. He's right; blood magic is powerful stuff. Combined with the will of gods, it becomes nearly invincible. You will have to live with your ties.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
Now that, you don't have to do. Just because you're bound to them, it doesn't mean that you have to continue your relationships. I may not be able to sever the blood ties, but I can most certainly prevent them from affecting you. In short; I can keep those motherfuckers away from you.
“Thank you.” I sighed. “That's something, at least.”
Also, you have a guest.
A knock came at the door.
“That was kind of creepy, Star,” I muttered as I shrugged on a rob
e and headed toward the door.
I created a cloud bed for you last night, but you're disturbed by my knowledge of who's at the door?
I chuckled. “Valid. But you didn't tell me who it is.”
I think you can figure that one out for yourself.
“Good morning, Sin,” I said as I opened the door.
Sin stood leaning against the door frame, looking delicious and debonair in tan slacks and a crisp, white, button-down shirt, open at the collar. An Armani belt gleamed at his waist and a Cartier watch at his wrist. He grinned at me, took in my bathrobe and rumpled hair, then lifted his Prada shades and peered into the room behind me.
“Where's the Angel? I expected him to answer the door.”
“The Angel went home.”
“So, it's really over?” He lifted a dark brow at me in challenge.
“For me it is,” I whispered, a tide of heartbreak suddenly threatening to drown me.
I've got you; it's okay. Star sent a blast of calming energy to push back the tide and it all seeped away.
I took a deep breath and let everything go.
“You okay?” Sin straightened and went serious. “I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make light of your situation.”
“No; it's fine.” I stepped back and waved him inside. “Azrael left just before you arrived. You have impeccable timing.”
“So I've been told.” He smirked and stepped past me.
“Help yourself to anything in the kitchen,” I offered as I shut the door. “I need to get dressed.”
“Or you could simply take that off, and I could join you in there,” Sin suggested as he watched me head into the master bedroom.
“We're not having sex, Sin,” I called over my shoulder. “So, if that's all you're here for, you can save yourself the trouble and find another woman to chase.”
“You're a dragon-faerie-goddess-godhunter,” he called back. “Believe me when I say that I'm not only here to have sex with you. It's a priority, but it's not the only reason.”
“I'm glad you have your priorities straight.” I chuckled under my breath as I closed the bedroom door and cast aside my robe. Then I realized that I didn't have any fresh clothes.
What would you like? Wait; don't tell me.
Lacy, cream-colored, silk underwear appeared on my body first and then a flowing, cotton dress in pale pink covered them. Beige sandals with white camellias formed on my feet and a matching Chanel bag popped into existence on the bed; caviar leather and gold hardware. Classic and elegant. Star seemed to have dressed me to coordinate with Sin. A slim Cartier watch appeared on my wrist and confirmed it.
“Nice, but what do I need a purse for if you can make things appear like Aladdin's genie?” I paused and then giggled. “I have a genie, and I'm in the Middle East. How appropriate.”
I'm magic, not a genie, and there's much more to the Middle East than brass lamps and bellydancers. Get some damn culture, you bumpkin. And you need a purse to hold things like your room key, your lipstick, and all of that money that I put in it.
“You put money in my purse?” I went to inspect it. “Why is there another flap beneath the first flap?” I grumbled as I tried to get into my overly complicated designer handbag.
It's to help keep its shape and stop manhandling it; you now better than that. It's a good thing I went with the caviar instead of the lambskin.
“This is why I don't buy Chanel,” I continued to mutter. “You shouldn't have to buy the uglier bag just so it doesn't get scratched up. You pay this much for a bag, it should be invincible.”
You didn't pay anything for the bag; I made it.
“Then why didn't you make it out of invincible lambskin? In fact, why didn't you make me a Hermes? Those bags can outlast a nuclear explosion.”
Fine! You want Hermes? There! You happy?
Just as I pulled out the wallet, the bag and wallet both shifted into Hermes versions. I beamed at the upgrade and my smile stretched even wider when I saw the contents of the wallet. More cash than anyone should carry around and credit cards in my name. There was even an ID.
“Credit cards? Do I really need any of this?”
If you want to purchase anything in front of people—another god for example—you do.
“Good point.” I slid the wallet back into the purse and slipped the handles into the crook of my elbow. Feeling appropriately bougie, headed out to the living room.
Sin stood at the window, in the same spot where Az had been the night before. It shocked me into stillness, and I just stared at him. With his dark hair and his back turned to me, I could almost convince myself that my husband had returned.
They'll come around, Star said gently. After they see how well your plan works, they'll have to admit that you were right. If you still want them back after all of this is over, you'll have them.
Do you think so?
Of course.
I smiled to myself and moved up to stand beside Sin. Star was right; my husbands would come around eventually. I just had to have faith in myself, and they just needed some time to get over their egos. The question was; would I be able to forgive them for the way they'd betrayed me?
“That was fast.” Sin angled his head to look me over. “Very nice. A bit softer than I expected but lovely.”
“Thank you. So, do you have any plans for us?”
“Well, you ruined my first plan with all of your 'We're not having sex' stuff, but I may have a few other suggestions.”
“I'm waiting with bated breath.” I smirked.
“If only,” Sin declared dramatically.
Chapter Sixteen
Sin took me shopping at a souq, where all of that cash came in handy. The Middle Eastern mall exploded with color and intricate patterns as if the people of Bahrain needed all of the stimuli to make up for the dull landscape. Exotic aromas permeated the air; spices, sweets, and cooking meat, along with a barrage of voices haggling over prices in multiple languages. I loved it all.
“Godhunter,” a voice whispered in my ear; low and male.
I straightened from my inspection of a scarf and scanned the crowd around me.
“What is it?” Sin asked as he went alert.
“I heard something.”
“Come to the back of the shop. Leave the Moon God behind,” the same voice urged.
Do it! Star exclaimed excitedly.
“What did you hear?” Sin prompted.
“Nothing.” I smiled at him. “My ears are playing tricks on me.”
“This place can confuse the senses.” Sin grinned. “There's so much going on.”
“I'll be right back; I see something I want to check out.”
“Okay, I'll be here.” Sin went back to perusing a display of knives as I headed deeper into the shop.
I stepped around a display of trinkets and a shape condensed out of the shadows. A man stood swathed in black, only his eyes showing. Those eyes gleamed like a cat's, magic shining like a beacon across their surface before fading away.
“I've seen you rise, Dragon Goddess,” his voice, deep and raspy, filtered through the cloth veiling him.
“Are you talking about the future? That's impossible; I have no destiny anymore.”
“You've indeed broken your ties to Fate, but you still have a future, and my people are very good at seeing the future. It's a gift our goddess gave us when she died.”
“Your goddess?” I asked warily.
“Tiamat.” The name shivered between us. “She who made us.”
“You were in her army?” I stepped forward with wide eyes.
“We were. We are children of the Great Dragon.”
“Are you a dragon?”
“No,” he whispered and held up a gloved hand. “Do not ask me what I am. I cannot tell you. Not yet.”
“The monsters,” I whispered. “You're one of the monsters.”
“That's what they called us, but it's not what we are.”
“What a shame.” I smiled softly. “I love mo
nsters. Some of my favorite people are monsters.”
He chuckled, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yes, we've heard.”
“Will you join my army? Help me, and I'll give you justice for Tiamat.”
“I will help you, but my kind will not fight this war with you,” he said gently. “Not this one.”