Heaven's Fury (Pandorax Academy #3)

by Ember Hollis

  “All right,” he grins, then reaches beneath the skirt to hook his forefinger in my panties. He pulls it out, slowly, enjoying the look on my face when I feel cool air brushing against my nether regions.

  Then, he pulls my hips to the edge of the piano and kneels, burying his face between my legs.

  For a short moment, I’m anxious, worried that he’ll still get a glimpse of my tail. But the moment his lips and tongue touch my heated skin, all fears and thoughts fly out the window.

  I already knew Christian is good at this. But I’d forgotten just how good.

  He starts out slow, with teasing licks and barely there dips of his tongue, that make me strain my hips upwards against his mouth. Then, when I’m wet and panting, he pushes a single finger into me, chuckling against my sweet spot when my walls tighten around it.

  “So… wanton,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my flesh. “So… needy.”

  I toss my head, not bothering to answer as I spread my legs wider and try to press his head further down with one hand. I don’t want to be tantalized. I want to be filled.

  But Christian won’t be hurried.

  With agonizing control, he teases me, lapping at my sweet spot and curling his fingers within me as he slowly but surely drives me crazy. His touch is never hard enough to send me over the edge, never fast enough to bring me satisfaction. But it is enough to make me groan and curse him as I grab his hair and twist my fingers in it.

  “More?” he mumbles against my swollen lips.

  “Yes!” I cry out. “Just get to it.”

  His purring laugh sends vibrations through me that go straight to my core.

  I raise myself on my arms and look down at where he’s pillowed his head on my thigh. He’s got two fingers still buried deep in me, and his lips glisten with moisture. When he sees me looking, he scissors them wide, then blows on my sweet spot, making me clench around him.

  “Fuck me, Christian. That’s an order.” I grind out.

  “From strong requests, to orders,” he smirks. “I’m making progress, I think. Maybe I’ll just—”

  I lean forward and grab his chin with my hand, then crash my lips against his as I pull him forward between my legs.

  Obligingly, Christian pushes himself forward, not into me, but against my lips, sliding his length against the outer folds. “Sure you won’t beg?”

  “Stop teasing,” I moan, almost ready to cry. I want him SO much. “Please!”

  “Well,” he says, his voice a deep rumble that’s as breathless as mind. “At least you said please.”

  Then, with an expert move, he draws his hips back and plunges into me, penetrating me to the hilt with a single thrust.

  “Ah!” I cry out, letting my head drop back. It feels. So. Good.

  “Yes,” I gasp as he starts thrusting hard, lifting my hips to meet him. “Yes, harder… harder!”

  He fucks me so hard, the piano starts to groan in protest, strings juddering with sound from the force, and wheels shifting across the floor. I wallow in the feeling of him, in me and around me, giving myself over to pleasure as Christian bends his head and traces hot kisses across my jaw and down my neck, until he reaches the spot behind my ear that sends tingles running down my spine.

  “Look,” he says, whispering into my ear. “Look how beautiful you are.” I open my eyes as he turns my head so I’m looking into the mirror.

  The two of us are reflected in it.

  Him, with his strong back and ass flexing as he pounds into me. Me, with my legs spread, my breasts bouncing, and my red hair, spread like fire across the shining black surface of the piano.

  When Christian sees me looking, he moves, spreading my legs wider so everything between my legs is completely visible. I blush at the sight, hardly daring to watch as he thrusts in and out of me. And yet, it looks so wonderful that I can’t tear my eyes away.

  The sights, the sounds, the sensations… it’s all so arousing that before I know it, I feel myself losing control.

  Pink mist rises in the air around me, just as blue-green light starts to shimmer on Christian’s skin. I start to feel a strange pull between us, one that feeds from Christian to me, and then back again, centered at the juncture where we’re connected. A warm sensation that reminds me of sunlight shining on my skin starts to blossom within me, spreading under my skin and pooling in the base of my stomach.

  Above us, the crystal chandelier starts to flicker, then to glow, it’s crystals chiming against each other. I hardly notice it, so consumed am I in the sensations that seems to stream from Christian to me to Christian and then back again to me. They grows stronger and stronger with each thrust Christian makes, with each moan of pleasure that escapes my lips. And as the sensations builds, so does the pleasure, until both of us are trysting like wild animals, heedless to the groans of the piano or how loud our cries are.

  Then, when it feels like I can’t bear it anymore without going mad, Christian starts to thrust even faster and harder, his arms tightening around me, and his fingers digging into my hips. His groan of pleasure and the feel of his warmth spilling into me sends me over the edge too, and I shudder around him, letting loose a keening cry that echoes off the walls.

  I lie, panting, slowly spiraling down from the heights of ecstasy. I’ve had good sex before with the other Horsemen, but never like this, and it’s a struggle to come back to reality after such a mind-blowing experience.

  “That…” Christian pants, as he looks at me, his eyes heavy-lidded and narrow. “Was very interesting.”

  “Mmmhmm,” I sigh, gazing back at him. His face is bathed in the fading glow of our power, and the dancing pink and blue makes him look mystical and ethereal. I wonder how it looks on me.

  “I felt your power, and I’m sure you felt mine,” he says, tracing the line of my lips.

  I nod again.

  “It’s as if they were feeding off each other,” he pauses, then raises himself up onto his elbow, “Which isn’t possible… unless there’s something about you that’s…”

  My eyes widen as I realize that I can feel the cold of the piano surface under my butt. I start to pull my skirt down at the exact same time Christian dives for me, shoving me onto my stomach as he yanks it up.

  Between the two of us, the fabric tears clean through, and my tail drops down, slim and sinuous, and so black it almost blends in completely with the surface of the piano.

  “Impossible,” Christian gasps, his jaw dropping as his eyes lift to meet mine. “And yet, I knew it.”

  Chapter 20: Heaven

  “Let go!” I cry out, squirming back onto my back and trying to push him off. When he doesn’t move, I try to kick him. “Get off!”

  “Heaven, don’t,” Christian says, catching my wrists. “It’s okay. It’s okay!”

  “It’s not,” I hiss, tears start to prick at my eyes. He’s seen my tail. He knows… I’m a freak.

  “I told you, I knew it,” he says, shaking me slightly. “I already knew you weren’t all angel. That you were part demon. I just wasn’t sure which sort of demon.”

  “How could you! I didn’t even know myself!” I stop trying to push him away. He’s too strong for me, and it’s too late anyway. Instead, I curl up in a ball on the piano. The tail curls up with me too, and this time I don’t push it away. It feels better to have it looped around my thigh, cuddled close so no one else can see it.

  “You forget my powers,” Christian tells me. “I knew you weren’t a normal angel almost as soon as we met. But I never would have guessed you were half-succubus. Maybe that’s why I was rougher on you than any of the other girls. You’re a temptress, Heaven, even when you’re not trying. Innocence on one hand and pure temptation on the other. I wanted to ravish you every time I saw you.”

  “Don’t tell me, that’s why you hated me on sight and wanted me to leave,” I spit out. “Just like Malek. All you Horsemen and your excuses.”

  “Malek?” Christian frowns. “What does he have to do with this?
Does he know?”

  “No,” I shake my head, “He doesn’t, I didn’t have my tail yet when I slept with him.”

  Christian raises his eyes to the ceiling as if praying for patience, “Then why did you mention him?”

  “Because he said he wanted me from the first moment he saw me, that’s why he harassed me to leave! It’s the same as you!”

  “Actually, it’s not,” Christian sighs. “I only knew you weren’t a normal angel when I smelled your blood in the cafeteria, after Malek wounded you. That’s why I said you should stay. I wasn’t sure then, but I knew something was off. I wanted to find out more about you, figure out exactly what you are… I suspected you were something special… but now I know.”

  “And,” I ask. “What are you going to do now? Are you going to tell everyone? Try to make me leave again? Send me packing straight back to hell?”

  Christian gives me a pitying smile, as if I’d just said something really stupid. “I thought you knew that we Horsemen don’t take sides,” he says. “If there’s anyone who might understand what it’s like to straddle both the infernal and eternal worlds, it’s us.”

  He leans in close, so close I can see myself reflected in his eyes. “Rest assured,” he tells me, “None of us will judge you for this.”

  I don’t know if I can believe him. But I find I really want to. I don’t move as he presses his lips to mine, allowing him to kiss me so softly, so sweetly, I can scarcely believe it’s Christian I’m kissing and not somebody else. There isn’t any less passion in his kiss, yet there’s something else there too that sets me at ease, as he gathers me into his arms, and pulls me close so our bodies are touching once more and—

  I look into the mirror and glimpse Alya’s reflection. She’s at the door, holding it open as she stands still as a statue, her face pale with horror as she stares straight at my forked tail.

  I gasp, and her eyes lift to meet mine.

  “The hellspawn,” she whispers, her voice soft yet clear in the silence of the dance studio. “You’re the reason they came.”

  Christian whips around and swears when he catches sight of her too. “Alya,” he begins, but she shakes her head.

  “I have to tell them,” she turns and slips out the door.

  “No, wait,” I scramble to get off of Christian, Mom’s words of caution rising to the front of my mind.

  ‘They’ve been hunting you since before you were born… if they realize who you really are… it will all be over.’

  I don’t know if Mom is paranoid or if there’s something to what she said, but I’m not ready to have my secret told either way.

  “We have to stop her!” I gasp, catching up my shirt and rushing to the door. But by the time I reach it, Alya’s already halfway down the hall.

  Christian who’s right behind me, yells at her, his voice coming out in a compelling tone that I can tell is laced with his power.

  “Alya, stop!”

  At the sound of his voice, Alya freezes, then slowly turns to face us.

  “Don’t try to stop me, Christian!” she says, her voice shaky but determined. “She said it herself! She came from hell! It was her who opened the portal to the underworld… how can you not turn her in?”

  “I didn’t, it’s a misunderstanding,” I shake my head. “Just let me explain!”

  “So you can twist the truth?” she shakes her head. “Christian, I know you like her. But we have to do the right thing, always, no matter how hard it is. I thought you understood that!” she grimaces and takes a step backwards, away from us. “She’s too dangerous to be kept a secret.”

  “Don’t, Alya,” Christian warns her. “Just wait!”

  But the valkyrie shakes her head and spreads her wings, launching into the air. “I’m sorry, Christian, but I remember my duty, even if you don’t.”

  Christian shouts at her again, but Alya beats her wings hard, whipping up the carpet and upsetting the pots lining the hallway so they tip over and break, drowning out his voice.

  She’s about to disappear around the corner, when another winged figure crashes into her, bringing her to the ground.

  Christian and I run up to the two struggling figures as they thrash around on the ground. I catch a glimpse of blue and realize that it’s Briley that’s tackled Alya, ripping at her wings with her claws and pulling at her hair. The vicious harpy is nowhere near as dexterous or strong as the valkyrie, but she’s slowed her down enough for Christian and I to catch up.

  As soon as there’s an opening, Christian darts in and places his hand on Alya’s shoulder.

  “Sleep!” He commands, causing her to slump over immediately.

  “Oh my God,” I pant at Briley, who’s grinning up at me despite a huge gash across her face, where Alya’s strong nails had scored her forehead. “Thank you!”

  I never thought I’d feel grateful to the harpy for anything, but after what she’s done to help us, I do.

  “I didn’t do it for you,” Briley scoffs, though she does accept my hand when I pull her to her feet. “I did it because I hate her.”

  Christian sighs as he gently hauls the comatose valkyrie into his arms. “You’re going to have to let go of this grudge of yours some day, Briley,” he tells the harpy. “Wasn’t it your father who decided to adopt her into his flock after all?”

  Briley looks at Christian as if he’s spouted gibberish. “So? It doesn’t mean she’s one of us. She’s just a hunting dog that he uses to advance our social standing. You can’t understand, so don’t bother trying.”

  Christian rolls his eyes and shrugs, which only makes Briley more inflamed. “Zeus, I wish Vivette would wake up already! She’s so lucky she didn’t have to see this bitch! I can’t wait till they all leave!”

  I stare with sudden realization as the harpy throws Alya a look of raw envy and hate. Briley had looked down on me when I’d first arrived. But how much more did she look down on herself whenever she saw the valkyries and found she couldn’t compare to them? I feel a twinge of pity as I watch her fume, suddenly understanding her for the first time since I’d met her.

  She’s been one of my worst tormentors since I started attending this academy. But the way she treats me probably doesn’t even compare to how mean and horrible she is to herself in her head.

  No matter what she does to hurt me from now on, I’ll know it’s all just because she’s so insecure, deep inside. And though knowing that doesn’t make up for what she did or might do in the future, it does set me free of the fear and hate I’ve often felt for her.

  “What are you staring at?” Briley says suddenly, turning to me. Her eyes track up and down my body, as she notices my state of undress, and I hastily curl my tail up my back under my shirt.

  “Were you two…” her eyes widen as she looks from me to Christian, who’s got his pants on but is still bare-chested. “Don’t tell me you were fucking!?” she screams shrilly. “I can’t believe you touched the thrash!”

  I shake my head and button my shirt all the way to the top as she starts hurling insults at me. All her angry words can’t affect me anymore, now that I know what she’s truly like inside. It’s so stupid, it’s actually kind of pathetic.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know that Christian sleeps with everyone, Briley,” I say calmly. “You’re over-reacting. And besides, now that he’s finally ‘conquered’ me,” I say, using air quotes, “You can rest assured that it’s all over between us now.”

  I’m only saying it to set her at ease and get her to back off. It does work in a fashion, since she cools off after a few more angry insults. But the surprised and injured look Christian gives me after the words leave my mouth makes me want to bite my tongue. It makes me wonder if I should have just put up with her ranting and not bothered to say anything.

  But didn’t he say he might drop me anyway?

  I raise a brow at him, daring him to say something, but all Christian does is heft Alya higher in his arms.

  “Come on,” he says, his e
yes glittering with suppressed anger that I know I’ll have to deal with later. “I’m not leaving her here. We need to drop her at the hospital wing, and you’re coming with me, Heaven.”

  Chapter 21: Heaven

  The hospital wing is a lot less crowded compared to the last time I was here. I’m glad to see that most of the cocooned students are up on their feet, and as we set Alya down onto a bed, I crane my head to check if Noah and Sybil are among them.

  “Keep an eye out for Madam Kahili,” Christian tells me and Briley. I thought she’s followed us down just because she was nosy, but when I look over at Briley, I see she’s wandered over to look for Vivette too.

  “She’s not here,” I reassure him. Christian nods and puts a hand on Alya, muttering a spell under his breath. The deep yellow of the cocoon glows as it creeps over her. Before it covers her completely, I bend down and flip her hair over her face, so she won’t be so easily identified.

  “Good thinking,” he says quietly to me. “But it won’t be long till Madam Kahili finds out she’s here. You should go to Pandora and explain what you are. Alya just overreacted, plenty of students here have ancestry that can be traced back to the underworld. Pandora won’t hold yours against you especially since you had no idea until you helped with the Sacrifice. And it’s way better if you tell her everything that’s happened before anyone else does.”

  I nod, though I wonder at the wisdom of his advice. Mom might be on to something. After all someone did open the portal that allowed us to be attacked. Or else she might just be being her usual paranoid self. Either way, having her around when she’s ready to start murdering students to ‘protect’ me doesn’t seem like such a good idea. But would going to Pandora be any better? It occurs to me that I don’t really know what people do to criminals in the supernatural world, and if I go to Pandora and try to stay, I’m sure Mom will cause more trouble soon. There’s so much I have to figure out, and yet so little time to make important decisions.

  “Let me just check on Sybil and Noah first,” I tell Christian. Even if they’re not yet awake, I need time to think before I do anything else.