Aequitas Betrayal

by Mason, a. c.

“So you can satisfy me. Enter my mind if you don’t believe me?”

  Cocking his head he stared into her eyes. “No, I want you to tell me.”

  “I need a good fuck.”

  His mouth covered hers and she parted her lips, granting his tongue access.

  “You like to fuck, don’t you?” His hot lips hovered above her own, then his large hand traveled down her side to her inner thighs.

  A slanted upward curve tweaked his smile. Jackpot.

  The tips of his fingers made contact with her wet folds, slid over her nub, making her moan, and fingers coiled around his shaft, she stroked him, loving the sleekness of the skin covering the taut muscle.

  Soft kisses lit a path to her neck. His silky touch felt so good. More. She wanted and needed all of him. Hadn’t he forced her to suffer long enough?

  He pressed upward. “You want more?”

  “Yes.”

  A knock came at the door. She glanced up into eyes drowning in lust. The sound came again.

  “I’ll get it.” She ran her hand through her hair.

  He rolled off her. Wrapped in a sheet, she hustled to the door and opened it.

  Usha stood in the hall, grinning. “The council has summoned you and your husband to a meeting in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you.” She closed the door and tossed the sheet on the bed.

  The council never called on someone so hastily. Something had to be wrong.

  She opened a drawer and began dressing. “We must hurry.”

  “I can see that. I didn’t get so much as a look upon your return.” He lifted off the bed.

  “I’m sorry.” Turned, she gazed up into his sad eyes. The smell of him called to her too. “I’m really good at being empty.” She slipped her hand into his. The minimal contact had her body buzzing.

  He pulled away. “Why do you think they have asked for us both?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Chapter 10As the hallway came to an end, Etienne saw the two monstrosities that had carried off Deimos standing guard at the door.

  The stone tablet doors moved forward and revealed Asmodai, his face in fallen angel form.

  Black weathered wings arched behind him.

  “Say nothing of his change in appearance. He dislikes this form,” came from Auria.

  “The council will see you both now.” Asmodai gestured for them to follow.

  A large U-shaped table had demons, angels and aequitas seated around it. Following her to the center, he knelt beside her.

  “Rise, General and Etienne,” came an unfamiliar voice from the center of the table.

  Auria rose as did he.

  A long limbed aequitas stood before them, one who came from the same world as Taj, by the look of him. “There has been a surge of higher beings breaking. We would not normally ask you to hunt given you have not joined with your mate yet, but all the warriors are out hunting.”

  “You’ve sent the warriors without notifying me?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Indeed we have.”

  “And may I ask the council why I was given the post of General?”

  “You know why.”

  “Yes, but I believe you’ve all forgotten, so please quote the text.”

  A young female, smooth ivory skin lit by the orange glow of the torches, hurried to a table with scrolls at the back. Her footsteps echoed as she ran to the being, scroll in hand.

  He cleared his throat. “Auria is hereby made General for her superior strategic abilities in battle and her innate understanding of the hunters, their strengths and weaknesses.”

  The room fell silent.

  “What does this mean, Tur?” Her hand rose to her forehead and she massaged her brow.

  “That you are best qualified to decide which warrior is sent on which mission. But you were on your honeymoon.”

  Auria shook her head. “State your reason for this summons.”

  “Jehoel has broken and has kidnapped a young woman with the gifts. We want you to hunt him down and take Etienne with you.”

  “Agreed.”

  Pivoting on her heel, she marched out of the room. Catching up, he grabbed hold of her arm.

  “Wait up. What does this mean?”

  Halting, she stared at him. “It means the council has put the lives of the warriors in great danger and we must stop Jehoel.”

  “Okay, how do we do that?”

  “You need to quiet your mind and concentrate on Jehoel. You and I both have his blood in us.”

  Gabriel and Asmodai had spoken of Jehoel during his ascension.

  “I’m to train you to hunt, as well.”

  “I thought you said they never put partners in the same roles.”

  “They don’t. Maybe they want me to train my replacement.”

  No regret or malice appeared present in her face at this thought. He took a cleansing breath as he locked his fingers with hers.

  “Find the part of us that is linked to him and use it to trace him.”

  Within, he searched the small part of soul hidden beneath the layers of his being. A thread moved outward from the cloud-like mass. He followed the string through time and space.

  “That’s it.”

  The speed at which he traveled increased. As he came upon the creature they sought standing in a vast cave, Jehoel sensed his telepathic touch.

  Vibrations surrounded Auria and himself. The energy resonated as she folded time and space around them.

  “Don’t hesitate.” She smiled. “When we arrive, head for the far northern corner.”

  Before the mist around them faded, he headed for the northern corner, where a young woman lay.

  ****

  His wings were now black. He’d been ‘dejected’ from heaven—tossed from the grace of God and stripped of his divine powers. An odd elixir of relief and fear built in her chest. Once, the sight of the magnificent seraphic had sprung tears to her hardened eyes.

  “So kind of you to come, little one.” Jehoel’s lips spread as they curved up, revealing his sharp teeth, and a spark flickered in his glistening lava eyes.

  “I can’t say the same. I’d hoped you’d decided to walk in light.”

  “Oh.” He wagged his index finger. “But how was I to recover when the taste of you has never faded from my lips. Haunting me each time I close my eyes. And God never looked at me the same. He favors you.”

  Etienne lifted the victim and vanished with her. “I’ll be back.”

  Auria readied herself for the battle ahead, glad to face him alone.

  “I always knew it had to end this way.” Jehoel circled her.

  “Let’s get on with it.” A cleansing breath, then she closed her eyes, centered herself and waited for him to strike. The smell of decaying blood saturated his skin. The room reeked, soiled with urine and feces. Long ago she’d lay in a pool of her own blood, near death and afraid. He’d brutalized her for days.

  “Fond memories, little one.” He leapt at her.

  Leaning away from the swinging fist, she took hold of his wrist in both hands, forced it down, behind his back. “No, nightmares.”

  The crunch of cartilage twisting echoed as his elbow snapped. A deafening cry followed, and he stumbled to his knees. “I made you.”

  A kick in his back forced him to the floor, face down. “Sad truth.” She used her shin to roll him onto his back, and clutching his arm, he whimpered. “Now I free us both from our shared past.”

  No satisfaction for her in giving him an honorable death. He hadn’t really wanted to fight her. No, he wanted death, freedom.

  Kneeling by his head as tears streamed down his cheeks, she wiped his face with tender strokes. “Shhh.”

  She lifted his head over her knee, exposing his neck.

  ****

  The faint sound of Jehoel’s flesh tearing beneath Auria’s teeth rattled the demon within Etienne. Her face lifted and blood soiled her chin as she dipped down on the other side.

  An iron smel
l permeated the room, an odd stillness lurked.

  A quick rub of her chin on the back of her forearm smeared the red on her face. She didn’t appear human, and the creature stared at up at her with awe, gurgling.

  Anger swirled inside him. The room went cold as Jehoel took his last breath and his eyes went vacant.

  A single tear slid down Auria’s cheek as she rose from the ground. “It is done.”

  An ache pained his heart from her words. She walked toward him, and with every step her body hardened. “All the hunters are back but Meka.”

  She let out a slow breath. “Understood.”

  Something in her manner made him want to take hold of her. “What just happened?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Why are you lying to me?” He placed two fingers on her chin and tilted her face up. “Talk to me?”

  “I have nothing to say.”

  “I’ve seen him in your thoughts and know he did something needing atonement. Tell me why you haven’t a scratch on you?”

  “I don’t want to talk about this. Why do you always push?”

  “Because I’m flawed.” He pulled his hand back and ran his fingers through his hair. “And I don’t want to feel alone anymore.”

  “We aren’t.” Auria wrapped her arms around him. “Take us home.”

  Etienne wanted to press her for an answer but the thin veneer holding her together seemed as plain as the pain she held beneath. He hadn’t the heart to force her to break down, so he held her tight.

  ****

  Once in their room Auria pulled away from his arms and turned her back to him. His internal hunger created an uneasiness inside her. “You should at least feed from me.” She glanced over her shoulder at him.

  “Every time you’re near, I’m fighting a beast inside me waiting to be unleashed.”

  “I wish it would.” Withdrawing her gaze from him, she stared at the dresser. Didn’t he get that she needed him too?

  He marched over to her, placed a hand on each of her shoulders and leaned close, lips to her ear. “Why must you say such things?”

  “Don’t you get it? I’m suffering too. Once a female has been paired, she becomes a slave to the needs of her partner. This is why I never allowed Deimos to drink my blood. I’d link my soul’s desires to his.”

  The warmth of his arms coiled around her torso.

  ****

  Etienne slipped into her mind. A stabbing hunger pained her body. Her insides ached as his own. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You weren’t supposed reject me.”

  He shook his head. “I thought I was protecting you.” From herself and the monster inside him.

  Auria spun and pressed her lips to his.

  He tore his lips from hers. No matter how much he wanted her, he needed to do this right.

  “Let me lead.”

  His words sent a sting of hurt inside her. Regret filled him.

  “I don’t know how to follow.”

  “Allow me to teach you.” He took her into his arms, reached beneath her legs and lifted her up, then carried her over to the bed. Mouth lowered to hers, he hovered inches away. The taste of her just below stirred the demon inside. Launching an assault, he crushed her lips beneath his. A soft breath escaped her as he explored her mouth.

  Silken and warm, her arms wrapping around his neck felt exquisite and brought him back in the moment. He parted her thighs as he knelt on the bed and spread her legs for him to slip between them.

  A swift retreat as he laid her out on the bed, and the sight of her awaiting his body’s command filled him with a sense of happiness. “I can’t wait to taste you.” At her shiver, pleasure heightened his excitement. “Tell me you want me to relieve you.”

  Stiff with need, his cock twitched, and he found the top of her pants with his fingers.

  “Etienne, I...want you to...”

  He peeled down the leather, exposing her hips and legs.

  “You want me to what?”

  “Pleasure me.”

  Stubborn. He shook his head as he took hold of her tank top, pulled it off, and she lifted slightly.

  The smile on her face warmed him. The rich honey skin caused his lips to tingle with want.

  Full breasts made his hands itch to hold. A narrowing waist led to firm defined legs spread awaiting his entrance. Precum coated the head of his cock, his hand trembled. This moment would change them both and he could not yet say what the aftermath would be. A luster in her eyes spoke the words she couldn’t. She needed him as he did her.

  Her hand reached up and tenderly stroked his cheek. “I do.”

  “Oh no.” The tightening of his chest hurt.

  “Be calm. We will get through this together.” She closed her eyes. “Take a long slow breath.”

  He did as she instructed and then exhaled, which helped release the tension in his chest.

  The soft feel of her fingers at the waist of his pants distracted him. She released the button, brought the zipper down, then her hands slid beneath his shirt and pushed it up.

  He grinned as he helped her remove the material. “We’ve both failed lesson number one, but at least we did it together.”

  “Hey, that’s not right. You can’t have the lesson be the exam.”

  “I’m the teacher. I make the rules.”

  “Is that what you think?” A cock of her eyebrow told him she didn’t agree.

  “No, but I sounded pretty convincing, didn’t I?”

  She nodded and wrapped her hand around the shaft of his cock. “Enough lessons for today.”

  Sliding her hand down to the base and back up, she smiled.

  “Agreed.” He grabbed the heavy fabric from the bedpost in one hand, took hold of her wrist and lifted it over her head. Then he twisted the material to her wrist. “Give me your other hand.”

  She released his cock and he looped the cloth around her other wrist, then tied the two together.

  The fear in her eyes made him uneasy. “I’ll stop if you ask me to.”

  “I can’t do this.” Her breaths grew faster. “Please, Etienne.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Untie me. I don’t like this.” A swell of tears came to her eyes as her chest moved up and down rapidly. “Please.”

  Reaching up, he loosened the material and freed her.

  She turned from him, gasping, and tears poured from her eyes. The sight of her undone and frightened stabbed at his heart.

  “Auria, I’m sorry.” He lifted her onto his lap. “I hadn’t wanted to upset you.” As he cradled her face against his chest, her tremors diminished. “If you need to lead to feel safe, I’m yours to command.”

  Her face rose. “Kiss me.”

  Sweeping the hair from her face, he moved in slow and skimmed her mouth with his lips.

  “Do you understand how much I want you?”

  She shook her head.

  “I want you despite the way you keep me at arm’s length, are unable to trust me and feel nothing.”

  “Through you I do feel your hunger fueling my own. I sense your pain for scaring me.” She stroked his cheek. “I’m consumed by your desire to please me. Without you I’m empty.”

  As he pressed his lips to hers, a rush of heat traveled through his body.

  ****

  Auria turned her body, placing one leg to each side of him. “I want you inside me.”

  Warmth engulfed him, sending a shiver through her core.

  She deepened the kiss, slipping her tongue into his mouth. The heat of his hands as they gripped her thighs burned her flesh. As she rocked her body into his and brought his hand to her nipples, he rose and covered her areola with his mouth. A whimper passed her lips. The warmth between her legs called for him to enter.

  A hard gulp allowed her to speak. “Roll me beneath you.”

  Without hesitation, he swooped her under his body.

  His tongue twirled her hard nipple and moved to the next as he rocked his stif
fness against her inner thigh.

  ****

  Every movement amplified through his connection to her mind.

  “Lift my hands over my head.”

  “Auria.”

  “Do it.”

  He stared into her eyes as he collected both wrists, held them in one hand. Stretched out beneath him, she lay. Vulnerability shone in her eyes.

  She wiggled her body over and pressed her wet lips to his cock.

  With her giving of herself in such a way, he couldn’t hold back, and clutching her hip, adjusted her body, pressed the head of his cock to her wet opening.

  “Yes.” She thrust forward.

  His mouth covered hers as he pushed into her and his hand kept her hip in place. A primal moan escaped her. He repeated the motion, causing an even sweeter cry. Auria rocked her hips to match his motions, and he worked on her breast, forcing his tongue back and forth over her nipple.

  “Etienne.” The hungry way she called out his name egged him on. “Feed from me.”

  He thrust into her while the sweet plea lingered in between gasping breaths. “Auria.”

  “More.”

  At that very moment he felt wanted. Needed. The sensation moved from within, out, making his lips curve into a smile. He pumped deep into her, releasing her wrist. Auria wanted him. The openness shining in her eyes was more than he’d hoped for.

  Her index fingernail sank into the skin of her neck.

  “I offer myself to you freely.” Blood pooled behind where her nail had passed.

  The scent grabbed him and made his mouth open. His teeth sank into her. She cried out, scaring him.

  “No.” A black film covered his eyes as he felt the hunger take hold and his objection was carried off. Only a faint reminiscence of it remained. Lunging forward, he forced his tongue onto her cut. The demon inside him relished her taste, wanted to feast on her. He wanted to pull back to protect her from his famished fiend. Hard sharp movements came from him as he plunged deep inside her. Her cries satisfied his darkness.

  “Drink,” she said, seductive and low.

  What right did he have to refuse her? Had she not met him more than halfway? The evil inside him wanted him to feed from her, the beast needed more. Driving into her harder with shorter strokes, he widened his mouth, unable to stop himself. An odd elation surged as his lips collided with her soft skin, thumping. His jaw forced his teeth to break her skin beneath them, tear through her flesh. No cry came from her. The only sound came from the rapid pumping of her blood.