Elements of Desire

by C. M. Stunich

  Nevada didn't look nearly as happy to see Gem as Gem did to see her.

  "Hey Mommy," she said softly, standing too close and making me sick with the way her eyes shimmered. My twin looked like she was about two seconds away from crying. "I've missed you. Everything you've taught me … I've put to good use."

  "Leave me the fuck alone," Nevada growled out. "Unless you're here to free me or offer yourself up to be drained, I have no interest in you."

  "Nevada is the one that carried us," Gem continued, glancing over her shoulder and narrowing her eyes on me. "She birthed us."

  "How … nice," I said, standing there with my arms crossed, just waiting for Gemma to betray us and set Bio Mom free. But she didn't. Instead, she kissed the woman on the forehead, got spit on for the effort, and then put Nevada's gag back in place.

  She moved away and headed up the stairs, Dustin, Billy and me following after.

  When we got back to the living room, Aldrich and Ragnor were still waiting.

  "Are you done dicking us around?" Ragnor snarled. "We need a backup plan in case ASS fails."

  "They won't," Dustin said, and while his confidence was admirable, I was nervous. Even if they did succeed and got my friends out of CUM, we still had a war to fight, a bond to fix, and a bio mom in our basement.

  "If they do," Aldrich continued, "then we want COCS' help to free them."

  "It'll never happen," Reg said, coming in the door at that exact moment with a chocolate cake on one palm. I could kiss him for that. So … well, I did, pressing my lips to his cheek, and then doing the same for the other three guys behind him. "COCS knows there's a war brewing, but they're not going to set it off by dropping the first bomb to rescue two people. A lot more could die in the process."

  "So I heard when I petitioned Charlie and Joan directly," Aldrich said, his voice eerily calm. "But this is where we're going to put an end to this stupid idea of a war. The final showdown, so to speak. We crush this idea, and we use this hostage of yours to help do it. Daniel is the driving force behind it all. We bring his wife and say we want to make an exchange."

  "Won't work," Gemma said with a sigh, her eyes trailing over my guys. Just having her in my house made me feel crazy. But she knew the bio parents better than anyone else, so why not get her advice? Besides, if she was here, then she wasn't out there plotting against me. “They don’t love each other enough to take risks like that. Their relationship is more of a … business agreement than anything else? Why do you think they’ve left Nevada with you this whole time? They know you’re bleeding hearts who won’t kill her, and she’s just not worth the risk to them.”

  "Great, now we're predictable," I muttered, folding my arms over my chest in anger. "Maybe we should just kill her and be done with it? If she's no use as a bargaining chip then …"

  "Wait," Gemma gasped, and I rolled my eyes.

  "Oh my God, don't tell me you're sentimental because that woman pushed us both out of her vagina? I mean, props to her, ‘cause that shit looks painful as hell, but it doesn't excuse the fact that she wants to kill us for our magic!" I ended up yelling this last part in Gemma's stupid face, and she curled her lip at me in a snarl.

  "I just meant," she huffed with indignation, "that by keeping her separated from Daddy then he’ll be weaker. Surely that's worth something?"

  “True,” I said as Gemma smirked, but I wasn’t done. “But if she were dead, that’d serve the same purpose, wouldn’t it?” My twin’s face fell, but I ignored her. I wasn’t going to kill my biological mother in cold blood. Slut I might be, but monster?

  Nodding slowly, I turned back to my guys. "She's sort of right. Keeping Nevada locked up will weaken Daniel and the other bio moms. But we need more help if this whole thing is going to turn into a legit war. Not just like an over exaggerated war that some melodramatic writer slapped on a situation that is little more than a family scuffle."

  "That was … oddly specific," Aldrich commented, frowning at me before shaking his head. "No, this is a real war. And you're right, we need more help if we're to rub out some CUM."

  "Guys," George interjected, folding his bronze arms over his smooth, hairless chest. He still wasn't wearing a shirt, but that was just the way I liked him. "Am I the only one who hasn't forgotten about the petrified elementals in the sewer?"

  The room fell silent for a second before I spoke. "I don't follow. They're stone, what use are they to us?"

  "They're stone now, sure. But if we can un-stone them then that’s a whole truck load of completed quints, sexts, and septs who will come to our aid in the final showdown." George shrugged. "I don't know, it's just an idea. But the fate of those girls they snatched has been really worrying me and I'd like to make sure we don't forget to save them."

  "That's really sweet, George," I cooed, wrinkling my nose at him like he was a puppy or something equally adorable, "and I think your plan is good! Surely if we save those girls from being drained and the guys from living out their days as paperweights, they'll be grateful enough to help us."

  "I wouldn't bank on it," Gemma snorted. "Elementals are fickle, selfish creatures."

  "Takes one to know one," I muttered under my breath. Then louder, "well it's the right thing to do anyway. Who else can we count on for our side?" This question was directed at Aldrich and Ragnor who seemed to be down with the politics of the supernatural community.

  Aldrich and Ragnor, by the way, were total Viking names. I wondered how old they were, and whether they were genuine Vikings back in the day. How cool would that be? Except for the fact that Britt would be fucking two dudes old enough to be dead … like twenty times over.

  Fuck it, she'd probably love it.

  Ugh, just thinking about my bestie was making me tear up. Was she doing okay, all covered in CUM? Hopefully ASS would do their job and I'd have her and Siobhan both home safe by morning. Hopefully ASS wasn't full of shit.

  "The angels have always typically sided with COCS over CUM." Aldrich nodded then shrugged. "Actually, with anyone against CUM. They hate those succubi bitches for having wings. Angels are an elitist bunch and think they're the only ones who should be allowed wings."

  "That's a weird thing to believe in, especially when elementals have wings?" I frowned, and Billy morphed into his dragon form, stretching his wings to demonstrate. Or maybe just because he knew his big, smoldering bestial form was hot? Get it? Smoldering, hot, fire elemental? Fuck, I was almost as addicted to puns as I was to wine and sex.

  "Well, yes, we all know that. But it's sort of an unspoken rule for elementals to never shift with wings in front of an angel. They just think it’s an old wives tale now," Warden explained, and nodded to Billy, who retracted his wings until they were gone altogether.

  "Makes sense," I agreed thoughtfully. "So, COCS, wolves, and angels. And possibly a little militia of elemental septs and sexts. Anyone else?"

  "It might be a good idea to strike a bargain with the faeries," Dustin suggested quietly, back at the window and smiling his charming smile out to Alberta. "Not Francesca's Seelie Court. The Unseelie. Seems only fair if the Seelie have chosen sides already, no?"

  "That's a great idea, Dusty!" I beamed at him, and a small smile touched his lips in response. "Do we know anyone at the Unseelie court? Or even how to get there?"

  "I do." Dustin nodded again. "Alberta told me. We'll need to petition their queen in person though, so if you want to give it a go then we should be leaving now."

  “Like, now-now?” I asked, flicking my attention over to Gem. “Don’t we need an appointment or something?”

  “The Unseelie are like, gross,” Gemma snorted and I raised both brows. She even sounded like me when she talked. Frankly, it was annoying as fuck. “They don’t do appointments like civilized people.”

  “Right. Like civilized people who steal other people’s soulmates?!” I got up in her face for that one and she narrowed her baby puke eyes at me. Hell, they were worse than baby puke. They were baby shit eyes, smeared all ove
r the diaper that was her fucking face. Hah! Now how’s that for a metaphor. Pretty poetic, I dare say.

  “You mean like how you stole Dustin from Siobhan? She was heartbroken.”

  I gaped at Gemma because … she almost, sort of was … right?

  “She tried to kill me!” I snapped back and Gemma just scowled. “She tried to steal him back, and she purposely rolled him with succubus magic. She even attempted to play it off like Dusty was addicted. And why the hell did she lie to me about being in Barbados?!” All of this burst out of me in a rush, and I realized I’d been carting it around ever since the incident in the Seelie Court. I desperately needed to talk to Siobhan and yet, I couldn’t. And knowing she might die, and that I’d never be able to speak to her again … it was killing me. No matter what her motivations were, I needed one last chat. One last fucking chat, dear God, please.

  “She saved his life in there,” Gemma said, crossing her arms over her chest. “They were going to kill him for disrespecting the faerie queen. And they were going to kill her for siding with you. She did what she had to do, and you should be fucking grateful for it.”

  “And yet, apparently, she asked you to steal Dustin back for her?” I asked, but Gemma just turned away and headed for the front door. Good. She could walk her ass out of here until … well, ASS got back to us. Then I’d figure out what to do next.

  “Are we going to stand around all day and chat? Or are we going to actually do something about our problem?” Gemma flicked her eyes over me and opened the front door. “I, for one, prefer to take action.”

  “You’re not going with us,” I growled out, and the smirk she tossed back at me … it was worthy of a serious bitch-slap.

  “What if we need some serious firepower? I can channel the guys’ magic, remember?” Gemma flipped her hair over her shoulder and sauntered out the front door while I stood there, shaking and fuming.

  “Hey, Smokey,” Warden said, putting his hand on my lower back. “Don’t let her get to you. Remember, we chose you over her. Even without being magically bonded. We’re with you, okay?” He leaned down to press a scalding kiss to my lips, hazel eyes shimmering. I could sense a but in his words, so I just kept my arms crossed under my tits and waited. “But for now, she does have a point.”

  I groaned and turned back to Britt’s new boyfriends instead.

  “You’ll take care of the angels then, and we’ll deal with the fucking fae?” The two men looked at each other and then glanced back at me, like they thought I couldn’t handle it. Please. Glittery winged fae with thrones of dildos? Easy-peasy. I could deal with a hundred fae queens in a day and not even break a sweat. “And also, maybe guard my biological mother who’s tied up in the basement while we’re gone?” That was up there on my ‘Top Five Weirdest Requests Ever’ list for sure.

  “We’re willing to do that, but are you sure that’s what you want?” Aldrich asked, cringing slightly.

  “She’s got a tough feckin’ constitution, this one,” Dustin said with a shrug, moving over to stand next to me and Warden. A tough constitution? What exactly was different about the Unseelie versus the Seelie? Were they talking about all the fucking and the hideous eighties style outfits? Because, while terrifying, those were easy nightmares to overcome. “And much as I hate Gem-Gem, the ugly twat, Warden is right. Let’s take her with us, and if worst comes to worst, we’ll use her as a human shield.”

  That gave me pause.

  “Yeah, yeah, okay, that works,” I said, suddenly not so disturbed by the idea of taking my twin along for the ride. Wouldn’t that be convenient, if she were to meet her untimely end at the hands of sparkling faeries. How pathetic. “You two’ll be alright here while we’re gone?” I asked the wolves. And honestly, I doubted they were at risk anyway. Now that the wine was gone, there was nothing left of value here to steal. Nevada didn’t seem to rank high on Daniel’s list of priorities.

  “Brittany gave me your number,” Aldrich murmured, narrowing his eyes on me. “I’ll text you so you have mine.”

  Oh. Whoops. The simple basics of communication hadn’t occurred to me. I guessed it just felt weird knowing that an alpha werewolf could text like a normal person. Seemed more appropriate for him to, I don’t know, stop by the way he just had, all dramatic and unannounced and shit.

  “Gotcha. We’ll keep in touch.” I nodded to the alpha because that just seemed like the right move to make, and then grabbed Warden and Dustin by the hands before leading them outside. I just wanted Gemma to see me touching them. Oh, and I was so totally going to sit on one of their laps while we drove. Maybe grind a little? I dunno. I was still trying to balance the whole it’s-creepy-to-do-sexy-things-in-front-of-one’s-sister versus I-really-need-to-make-the-bitch-jealous aspect. Quite the conundrum.

  “Let’s take the Bugatti,” Dustin said, pulling me away from the hearse and the plumbing van and over to a car with the net worth of three small countries.

  The look on Gemma’s face when I climbed into it … priceless.

  The Unseelie “Court” was really just a shady looking club downtown, the kind that you walk by and wonder how the hell they stay in business because nobody ever goes in or comes out, and there’s definitely never a line. Even the two dollar Mai Tai Tuesdays sign didn’t excite me, and I was a borderline alcoholic.

  “This isn’t very magical or exciting,” I said as Dustin parked half on the curb and half off. Maybe when you were as rich as he was, the thought of an expensive parking ticket didn’t shoot your anxiety levels through the roof. Also, pretty sure his car was registered and had insurance. Mine … had neither of those things. What a luxury to be able to afford intangible bureaucracies.

  "This is the Unseelie court, little one," he chuckled, arching a brow at me as I clambered off Warden's lap. "There ain't much magical or exciting about the Unseelie."

  "What?" I scoffed. "No colorful thrones made out of rainbow dildos? Oh gosh, what a shame."

  Dustin and Warden both gave me an odd look, but then said nothing as they led the way around the corner of the club to the fire exit door, and knocked heavily. A small peephole slid open, and a pair of decidedly inhuman eyes peered out at us.

  "Closed!" the creature snapped, and slammed the peephole shut again.

  Dustin sighed and pounded on the door, causing the gatekeeper to open the damn thing back up and glare daggers at us. Its eyes were yellow with square pupils like a goat’s. It was creepy as fuck.

  "What do you want? I said closed!" Its voice was like rough gravel being grated on a cheese grater and it actually hurt my ears to listen to it. For this thing to pass as human, it’d need one hell of a glamour. Shit, it’d probably take at least three or four orgies to get enough magic to cover up the weird eyes, rough voice, and … that smell. It was like dirty cat litter box mixed with rotten meat. I had to swallow several times to keep from throwing up.

  "Not for us, yer not," Dustin replied with all the arrogance of … well, a rich, handsome, entitled asshole. "We request an audience with yer queen."

  A hacking cough came from the other side of the door, and it took me a moment to realize the thing was laughing at us. Rude, much?

  "An audience with my queen, eh?" There was a pause, and the sound of metal clinking before the door opened, swinging outwards. "Very formal. Ain't no place for formal around here, mate. Can't deny anyone access to the queen though, so come on."

  Dustin nodded and entered the dark room, followed by Warden. I, however, paused in the threshold while squinting into the darkness to try and see what the creature with the awful fucking voice looked like.

  "Move it, girly!" It barked, popping out of the shadows right in front of my face and causing me to scream and stumble backwards. "You're letting the cold in!"

  Before me stood the ugliest fucking thing I'd ever seen in my life. It couldn’t have been more than three feet tall, and was standing on a stool to reach the peephole … but holy fuck me. My stomach turned over a couple of times just looking at it. Cr
oss a Bichon Frise (that’s a ridiculous little fluffy white dog) with a Brian Froud painting and voilà, that lovechild might look like the much more beautiful grandparent of this … thing. It blinked two sets of clear eyelids at me and I shuddered.

  "Come on, wee gobshite," Dustin called back to me. "We're on the clock. The others can catch us up when that lunker of a hearse finally gets here."

  "Hey." I frowned, taking a moment to retrieve my courage from the ground and slide past the hideous thing guarding the door. "My hearse is not a lunker, whatever the fuck that means."

  "Sure it is," Warden grinned, then turned to the … thing. "We have five more joining us shortly if you can let them in, too?"

  The gatekeeper just grunted and slammed the door shut behind me once more, plunging us into darkness. Thankfully, Warden gripped my hand in his, twining our fingers together and making me feel safe as we made our way through the darkness, down a flight of stairs, and through a door.

  When we finally emerged into an underground club, my jaw dropped. They hadn't been kidding when they said the Unseelie were nothing like the Seelie. For one, they were all ugly as fuck, and for another, they stank.

  Now, I have smelled a whole lot of rank smells in my lifetime. I think most people have. But this was just next level stankiness. It was like a foul, diabolical mix of dirty gym socks, old fart, fresh fart, vomit and curdled milk. Suddenly I understood the wolves’ confusion at my willingness to visit the Unseelie court.

  Holy shit.

  "You okay, Smokey?" Warden murmured from behind clenched teeth. "Whatever you do, you cannot throw up. It is a huge sign of disrespect."

  At just the mention of throwing up, my stomach clenched and rolled, threatening to up-end itself all over the black and white tiled floor.