by Ivy Asher
Time slows as I watch drops of blood deny gravity and move in the wrong direction, flowin’ up my arm instead of down it. It’s as though somethin’ in me is pullin’ her essence in. Things get even weirder when the droplets of blood one by one get absorbed by my skin.
What the heck?
I’m suddenly like a parched plant, and Delta’s blood is the water I’ve been beggin’ for. Her gray eyes widen just like mine at what’s happenin’. And then, from one breath to another, power explodes out of me.
I don’t know exactly what happens, but my back arches, my mouth opens wide in a soundless scream, and somethin’ breaks in me, some sort of barrier that was trappin’ parts of me inside, shatterin’ completely.
Time speeds back up as the pulse of power slams out of me. Whatever this is doesn’t faze Delta other than to make her gasp, but the remainin’ demons all around us are thrown back, cut in half by the force that shoots out, a white ring of somethin’ rippin’ through everythin’ around us.
A tinglin’ sensation starts in my back but quickly morphs into a tearin’ pain. I whimper at the sensations sparkin’ through my body, and I cry out just as Delta grabs my shoulder and a familiar weightlessness comes over me. In the blink of an eye, she shifts us away, this time without bein’ blocked. In an instant, the terrifyin’ battle in her backyard dissolves, and we’re transported back to the driveway of Perdition Estate.
Gravel crunches under my feet as we land, but I’m suddenly top heavy and fall to my knees, my center of gravity off. Delta collapses next to me, worried gray eyes searchin’ my face as she presses her shirt to the wounds on her chest.
“Are you okay?” she asks me, her voice frantic. “I’m so sorry. I thought we were safe there, and then with the sound of the storm...” she trails off, her gaze and tone horrified at what just happened.
I push light purple hair out of my line of sight so I can see her more clearly, and then freeze.
Light purple hair? I don’t have light purple hair.
“What the hell?” I ask, flippin’ the foreign colored strands of hair over my shoulder and tracin’ them to their roots, which, sure enough, are attached to my head. I look at Delta, wide-eyed.
“I don’t know how, but I think the wards you had on you just broke,” she tells me. “Look.” She points to my back, and I look over my shoulder and balk when I see lilac-colored wings sprouted out of my back, in the same shade as my hair.
Well, damn. No wonder I felt off-balance.
I look around, needin’ to be sure we’re safe, and confirm that we’re back on the long driveway of their mansion. My eyes drop to her chest. “Shit, are you okay?” I ask Delta, worry coursin’ through me at everythin’ that just happened. My shirt is in tatters, and I rip the bottom of it off and help to press it against Delta’s wounds.
We both just sit on the gravel drive and breathe through the adrenaline that’s pumpin’ through both of us, our exhales ragged.
“What happened back there?” I ask, but her answer is interrupted by shoutin’ and the sound of runnin’ steps as our demons spill out of the front door and sprint toward us.
Delta only has time to give my hand a quick squeeze before she’s descended upon by her demons, while Alder and Flint flank me. And the look on their faces...pure terror.
Flint’s skin immediately darkens and hardens, like he’s goin’ full marble. Alder’s eyes flash with worried fury. I’m so relieved at seein’ them that a sob escapes my throat. I can see their gazes runnin’ over my new wings and hair, and I wonder what I must look like to them.
Delta and I are pulled apart as our demons wrap us up, and questions come flyin’ at us, which makes us both whimper.
“What happened?”
“Who did this?”
“Get her in the house, she’s hurt!”
Words and concern surround us as Alder lifts me up, his hands shakin’ slightly as he holds me. My wings are pressed tightly against the inside of his arms as he starts to inspect me for injuries. It’s uncomfortable, and I wiggle a little to give the new appendages room.
“What the fuck happened?” he growls, worry coatin’ his tone and bleedin’ out of his eyes.
Flint pushes my hair back, and I see confusion in his gaze as he fingers a lock of the new lilac strands I’m sportin’. “What is this? Are you hurt?” he demands, and all I can do is shake my head to reassure him.
Alder carries me across the yard, holdin’ me tightly against his chest. We’re movin’ in step with Delta’s demons back toward the house, and I feel as though I’m floatin’ in a cloud of adrenaline and fear, but now cocooned in the safety and comfort of Alder’s arms and Flint’s presence.
“What happened?” Alder tries again.
I swallow hard and clear my throat in an attempt to make my voice steady. “We were sittin’ and talkin’. Everythin’ was fine, but then there was this boom. It was like thunder, only louder, like we were dead in the middle of the cloud. The house started gettin’ pelted, and Delta…”
I trail off for a moment as I press my face against Alder’s chest. I can see Delta bein’ rushed into the mansion ahead of us, and all of the events are flashin’ through my mind, tryin’ to be processed. The adrenaline seems to be wearin’ off too, and my body shakes slightly, which only causes Alder’s hold to tighten around me.
“Somethin’ happened to Delta. I don’t know what, but she couldn’t react at first. When I looked outside to see what was goin’ on, there were demons there. We tried to run, but they were everywhere, so we fought. Delta tried to shift us back, but we were blocked. Then, somethin’ happened when I touched her blood. I exploded, I guess, and she was finally able to shift us out. And now...I look like this,” I finish, and Alder’s lips press in a thin line.
He scales the steps that lead up to the front entrance of the mansion, while Rafferty calls for Strut and starts barkin’ out orders as we all move up the stairs.
As soon as we’re all inside, Flint turns on them. “You said she would be safe!” he bellows, and I flinch from the ferociousness in his tone.
Rafferty spins around to face him. “We thought they were,” he insists, his icy eyes takin’ Flint in cautiously.
“It’s one thing if you want to be so cavalier with your mate’s safety, but you won’t do the same to our mate,” Flint snarls. “First, you leave us hanging out to dry, and now, your carelessness almost costs us again. Since when did the Guardians of this Gate become so derelict in their duty? Y’all are fucking unfit!” he shouts, steppin’ toward Rafferty, his skin goin’ even darker, indicatin’ that he’s activatin’ his abilities.
His anger wraps around me like an impenetrable shield, and I’m shocked by the level of emotion he’s displayin’.
Mate. He called me his mate.
My heart pounds in my chest a mile a minute.
Mate, mate, mate. The word filters through my mind in a steady trickle, but I can’t quite process it properly. I’m overwhelmed, especially with all these other foreign sensations I’m experiencin’ because of my wards breakin’.
It’s like I can see everythin’ properly for the first time, even more so than I could when I was havin’ a tribulation. My body feels sensitive, and I can’t quite decide if I want to revel in it or crawl out of my skin, because it’s all just so weird.
“Fuck off, Flint,” Jerif snaps, steppin’ up to him on the stairs. “We’re all pissed and freaked out right now, but put the blame where it belongs. On the Ophidian.”
Flint’s eyes go hard. “I am putting the blame where it belongs. Our mate left here against our better judgment because we trusted you. Now she comes back hurt and changed, and we have your sloppiness to thank for it. The Ophidian almost got them.”
“We don’t know if it was Morax,” Delta cuts in, held securely in Crux’s arms. “He wasn’t there.”
“Thank fuck for that,” Jerif growls.
“It could’ve been minions that he sent,” Echo supplies from beside Delta. His shad
ows are billowin’ around him, writhin’ around like an anxious storm. Tendrils keep flickin’ out to pet Delta’s skin, like they need to reassure themselves that she’s safe.
“Or it could have nothing to do with the Ophidian,” Rafferty supplies. “It could simply be demons that felt their power and traced them.”
“No way. Not with the wards we placed there,” Crux says, shakin’ his head. He looks down at Delta. “You shifted directly into the house, right?”
Delta squirms. “Uh, no. I shifted us outside in the backyard, and then we walked in.”
Four groans escape their mouths, and Delta bristles. “We were outside for maybe thirty seconds! And I did it that way so that Maria wouldn’t call the cops when there were suddenly lights on and noises coming from the house. I wanted to be seen going inside.”
“It’s okay,” I tell her, feelin’ only slightly silly that we’re both bein’ cradled in the arms of our males while we all discuss this.
“It’s not okay. You could have been hurt or taken or killed,” Flint says, his temper still ragin’. His eyes land hard on Delta’s mates. “We never should’ve trusted you.”
Jerif takes a threatenin’ step closer to him, so Flint matches the move until the two of them are starin’ each other down hard. I can see that this ain’t gonna end well. Delta tries to intervene, but Crux and Echo carry her away to deal with her bleedin’ wounds while Rafferty unsuccessfully tries to pull Jerif back.
I try to push out of Alder’s arms, but he doesn’t let me go. I look up at him and press a reassurin’ palm to his chest. “Alder…” I hold my hand there for a beat, my eyes pleadin’ until he sighs and reluctantly puts me on my feet.
I have to steady myself, not used to the heavy wings at my back, but as soon as I do, I immediately step between Flint and Jerif. They’ve graduated from death glares to slingin’ insults at each other, doin’ their best to escalate this situation to dangerous levels.
As soon as I slide between them, my wings push out from my back, forcin’ Jerif to move away or get wing-jabbed in the face like they’re sayin’, back off, son. Flint’s dark gray eyes are fixed on Jerif, outrage and promises of pain clear in his granite stare. Steppin’ closer, I reach up and place my palms on each side of his rock hard cheeks. His skin is cool and unmovable beneath my touch, and it takes a moment for his eyes to drop down to mine.
The hard depths are filled with anger, but I hold his gaze. We stare at each other for a beat, and I give him a moment to see me and feel me right here in front of him so that the fear and anger drivin’ his reactions can settle.
My fingers draw slow, gentle circles along the sharp lines of his jaw, and I relish in the smoothness of him. In the feel of him. This male who I’ve been attracted to from the very start, who has done nothin’ but try to help me figure out who I really am. This male who just announced that I’m his damn mate. My heart melts at the intensity of his emotion because I know it doesn’t stem from a bad temper, but from the fact that my life was in danger.
“I need you,” I murmur, and finally his eyes soften. “Will you help me get cleaned up?”
I feel his body relax a fraction as my quiet words filter in. I can tell he’s still terribly angry, but it warms me that he’s willin’ to put that behind him for the time bein’ to help me. I drop my hands from his cheeks and thread my fingers through his, givin’ his hand a squeeze. “Come on, Countertop,” I urge, tryin’ to bring out my teasin’ demon again.
My wings stay flexed behind me, like they’re tryin’ to block Jerif’s presence from Flint. It’s as though they have a mind of their own, and they know showin’ Flint Jerif’s face right now is like flashin’ red to a bull.
I look over at the big blue demon, Rafferty. “Would you please show us where we can clean up?” I ask, my tone calm and appreciative.
“Of course,” he tells me with a small smile.
With a wordless hard stare, Rafferty warns Jerif to back off, and the fire demon turns and stalks away. Rafferty sighs and then turns and leads us further into the house, windin’ us through hallways and open spaces and more hallways before he opens a door and directs us into a large warmly-decorated room.
I turn expectantly to Alder, but he stops before comin’ in. “I’ll be right there. I’m going to make a tonic for Delta to help with her injuries and then I’ll come do the same for you,” he tells me.
“Okay,” I tell him with a nod before steppin’ up and pressin’ my lips against his cheek. He’s handlin’ his fury better, but I know he’s just as upset, and I want to reassure him that I’m okay. “Thank you,” I say quietly. He runs a knuckle down my cheek, his honeyed eyes rovin’ over my face before he looks over my shoulder. “Take care of her. I’ll be back soon.”
Flint nods tersely, and then Alder turns and walks away, leavin’ Rafferty standin’ there. “If you need anything else, just let me know.”
I nod, but the blue demon’s attention is on the marbleized male at my back. “Flint.”
Instead of answerin’ him, Flint grabs the door and slams it in his face.
My eyebrows rise in surprise as I turn to look at him. “That was a damn good door slam.”
His angry gaze shifts from the closed door to my face, and he lets out a long sigh, his face softening as he looks me over. “Let’s get you cleaned up, Peaches.”
25
Flint doesn’t wait for me to answer before he’s pullin’ me in the direction I assume the bathroom is. I stay quiet, givin’ him time to wind down. If the situation had been reversed, I’d feel the same way. Scared and concerned that he’d gotten hurt, and so pissed at the situation that I’d wanna cream someone’s corn.
I like Delta, but I can’t disagree with Flint and Alder’s assessment that her demons should have returned their calls and done a better job to keep them in the loop.
If I hadn’t chanced upon Alder and Flint at their bar, I’d be who knows where right now. It probably was only a matter of time before the Ophidian found me. And from what I’ve experienced and heard so far, that would be a very, very bad thing. Add that frustratin’ situation to the fact that we were just attacked...yeah, no wonder my marble demon snapped.
Flint walks into a shower that’s the size of my bedroom back home and turns it on. The entire bathroom is crisp, white, and clean, givin’ off a sense of serenity. Flint moves around in it like a dark cloud ready to storm on anythin’ and everythin’ in his path. He strips off his shirt, droppin’ it on the ground as he closes the distance between us and looks me over.
His dark eyes focus on my hand, the one with blood all over it that I used to press part of my T-shirt to Delta’s chest.
“It’s not mine,” I reassure him, my voice suddenly loud in the pristine space. It bounces off the tiled walls as though the words are doin’ their best to comfort me too, and I release a slow breath. “I think I have some glass in my back, but other than that, I’m okay.”
Flint nods, his jaw grindin’, like he still can’t trust himself to talk. He looks at the pieces of my shirt that are bein’ held together by threads. He examines it for a moment, his gaze makin’ my skin heat in every place it roves. He stares at my wings and apparently comes to the conclusion that there’s no hope for gettin’ this shirt off around them, so he brings his hands up to the fabric and then rips it clean off.
I swear, I feel the action right in my clit. I know he’s not tryin’ to get me all hot and bothered, because the way he’s lookin’ me over is very clinical and filled with concern, but that was hot. There’s just somethin’ about a male rippin’ your clothes right off your body.
I do my best to keep my thoughts and reactions to his close proximity and manhandlin’ to myself. Otherwise, I’m sure he’ll just say I’m havin’ an itch again, and next thing I know, I’ll wake up droolin’ on the pillow all alone and embarrassed for a second time. No, thank you.
As the remnants of my shirt flutter to the floor, Flint reaches down and pops open the button of my shorts wit
h sure, steady hands. My breath hitches in my throat, and I instinctively grab his forearms, my fingers diggin’ into his hard form.
He pauses, like he’s startin’ to come out of his haze and just now realized how intimate this is. His dark eyes flick up to me as he slowly pulls down the zipper. I don’t breathe as he drags it down. I can feel the metal teeth part as he drops his hand lower and lower, and it sends all kinds of needy signals to all the places I want him to touch.
I swallow a moan and curse my hardenin’ nipples as he pushes my shorts down my hips and takes my underwear with them as he goes. I step out of them when they land on the floor, and then Flint moves to unhook my bra.
If Flint notices my diamond hard nipples and barely muffled whimper, he doesn’t let on. Just as soon as I’m naked, he clasps my wrist and pulls me into the now steamy shower. Oddly, he keeps his jeans on as we step under the warm, steadily flowin’ stream of water, and I’m not sure what to think about that.
The water feels good, and I can’t bite back the moan fast enough as it hits my wings and body, the temperature stealin’ away my tension.
Damn, these feathered things are sensitive.
My wings flex a little as though they’re agreein’ with that thought, and then suddenly, Flint’s hands come up to feel one of them. I gasp at the sensation that strikes through me at his touch. I feel like he’s squeezin’ my heavy breasts, clit, and ass cheeks all at the same time, but he’s nowhere near any of those danger zones. No, instead, he’s slowly extendin’ my wing and runnin’ a slow, careful hand over the skin of my back as he checks for glass.
Plink.
The familiar sound reaches my ears, and I spot a piece of glass bounce to the far corner of the shower.
“We have to stop meetin’ like this,” I joke in an effort to lighten the mood.