by S J Doran
“Will you let me look at you?” His fingertip traced her breasts around her arm. “Let me make you feel better.” Sanity. Hang on to it, don’t give in to the hunger. You’re not defined by your nature.
“I feel fine,” she whispered.
“Fine then. Let me make you feel good.” He moved her arm to the side and took a moment just to look at her. She was all lean muscle and golden skin, her breasts peaked with rosy nipples just begging for his tongue.
Just let me make you feel good, wife
He shook his head.
Her scent… feed. Need it.
“Dark gods you smell good,” he said, his voice barely a rasp as he bent down to circle one of those pretty peaks with his tongue. At her gasp, he sucked it into his mouth, his tongue swiping against it as he suckled.
I’d like to see you in my colors, pledging to me on your knees
She moaned, her hips wiggling against his other hand. She was just meant to torment him. He moved to her other breast, licking the nipple to a peak and blowing on it softly.
He absolutely needed to touch her. It was beyond a craving, he had no choice…
Greedy demon
No. He was forgetting something. Something important.
“Kiss me again,” she moaned softly. “Oh god. Please.”
He would die if he didn’t touch her again.
Hells, he needed.
Take her. It’s your due.
“Yes.” He pressed kisses across her chest, then in a slow line down her belly. Soft, open mouth kisses, sucking gently.
He moved the cloth from between her legs, his movements faltering when he noticed the blood—his mind flashing back—
He growled and tossed it over the side of the bed. He heard her gasp, ignored it and kept moving down. He was not his father. He hadn’t meant to hurt her like that. Hang on to it.
He swiped his thumb across her opening—blood still trickling—and pressed his mouth there. He was going to make her feel better. Show her. She was going to come. He was fucking determined now.
“Oh!” She cried out. “Don’t. I’m bleeding.”
He growled against her flesh. “No. Relax. Just relax. I’ll be gentle,” he spoke low and soothing, his hands running up and down her inner thighs. So soft. Slippery like satin. He turned his head and brushed his cheek against her skin. She was drawing him in. There was something… he couldn’t stop touching her.
“You taste divine.” He licked her lightly, making her squeal. Right, she was probably not used to her clit being touched. She’d be sensitive there — “Honey and dreams,” he mumbled as he closed her mouth over her flesh.
Our covenant will be indisputable
Need this.
She damned well melted against his tongue. His cock throbbed angrily. He was in physical pain from his need for release. Easy. Had to go easy. He plunged his tongue inside of her and she let out a husky moan, her back arching off the bed as her hips dug deeper into it. Trying to get away from his ministrations.
He replaced his tongue with a finger, circling it slowly, easing it in deeper as he traced his tongue around her clit. He could feel her twitching against him now. He pulled back his finger so he could press in another, spreading them gently as he pulled back. She clenched around them, wetness pooling.
He suckled her clit into his mouth, rubbing against it with the flat of his tongue, her cries growing more insistent, and he didn’t want this to end. He could drown in her scent… her taste.
She moved up on her elbows, pulling at his shoulders. He stopped just long enough to push her back to the bed, gently. Easy. Nice and easy.
He kept up the same smooth rhythm with his fingers, his mouth sucking, tongue lapping… until he felt it…
She screamed when she climaxed. He nearly spilled against his bedsheets. He pulled out his fingers and climbed over her, pressing his erection in slowly, letting her get used to his size. When he was buried as deep as he could go without making her uncomfortable, he stopped.
“You have to relax, love,” he whispered, his cheek pressed against hers, his breath brushing against her ear. “Just relax. I won’t hurt you again. I promise.”
I won’t leave you again. I promise.
She’s yours. Your tribute as King.
... the man I love
Mara? No, that wasn’t right.
He was sin; he was lust… he didn’t love… corruption incarnate...
He pulled back and thrust slowly, finding an easy rhythm. Slow, deep… not as fucking deep as his body was urging — not yet.
She sighed, a smile of pure bliss crossing her face, her hands coming up to hold his chest.
And he fucking lost it. Again.
His breath caught, the intensity of the climax exploding inside of him stealing it away; he slammed in deep and came so fucking hard he swore he saw stars.
He collapsed on her. His muscles just gave out completely. He wasn’t sure if he blacked out or completely blissed out, but when he came to his senses, she was giggling against his hair, and shifting her hips…
“Shit. Fuck.” He propped himself up, one more shuddering rock of his hips. “Did I hurt you again?”
Her breath hitched as she rocked her hips again, he was still buried deep, still partially hard—every clench of her sheath sent a jolt up his spine.
She was going to come again.
He watched her eyes darken, then drift closed completely.
“Look at me, love.” He ground his hips against her in slow circles, his shaft growing harder by the moment.
She blinked open her eyes, her expression dazed, licking her lips.
He pressed his mouth to hers, twining their tongues together, urgency in both of their movements. Her hands dug into his shoulders, the jerky movement of her hips letting him know…
She broke off their kiss and buried her face against his neck, screaming against him.
And... he was rock fucking hard and close to exploding again. Already. Buried deep in her clenching sheath, as she shuddered against him, wetness running down to his thighs…
She was panting, her sparkling eyes looking into his again—just something—something inside of her that was like the fucking siren’s song luring him into depths over his head…
Need it all…
“Too much,” she whispered, her tongue running across her lips, then again, as though she were savoring his taste.
“Take it. Please,” he groaned, his entire body shaking. “Just relax.”
He slid his hand under her ass and lifted her slightly, changing her angle, by all the hells he was buried right to his fucking balls.
“Umpf,” she grunted softly, reaching for his head to pull his mouth back to hers.
He was careful, mindful... until he wasn’t. Her thighs slid up his sides, legs wrapping around his back. He thrust hard once, then again—his climax ripping through him before he even realized he was close.
His breaths were heaving, he still wanted more. He pulled out of her, propping himself over her body, her eyes heavy-lidded, a soft smile on her lips. Breathing her in was the equivalent of easing a battered up body into a tub of hot water. Complete relaxation washed through him.
‘you will address Cassius by his rightful title, that of Sarrum sa, your King’
He blinked as his mind regained some sense, the gaps in his memory beginning to fill in. He’d realigned his realm, the effort enough to drain him dry. Mara. His wife. The Rod had saved him...
No.
The angel wiggled beneath him, her body, slick with sweat rubbing against his, and rational thought evaporated, replaced with a craving so strong he nearly collapsed.
What the fuck was happening to him?
He blinked. “Where’s Mara?”
Why wasn’t she here? They’d said she was here...
“I think that’s who Jez ran off to find when you came through and wouldn’t wake up.”
He swallowed hard, pulling her closer. “Jez is gone?” He would
n’t know, then. He could take more.
“You’re not weaving out of consciousness now?” She seemed to surface from a cloud of confusion, comprehension making her body stiff, clearing away the lingering lust she’d been wallowing in—feeding to him.
“I, ah… fed off your lust. And corruption.” His hunger was already rebuilding. Corrupt. Consume. “And… I think I might want more.”
She gave him a watery smile and half-hearted giggle. “I don’t know if I like that I was your dinner.”
He licked his lips, the taste of her still lingering. “Eat you for dinner anytime. Your taste…” Purity, and more. Something more. It was still there, driving his hunger to a frenzy.
“Stop.” Her face was burning bright again.
He laughed lightly, pulling her over his lap, fixing her legs so she straddled him properly. Then kissed her. Couldn’t get enough of the taste of her. He held the back of her head and kissed her harder as she pressed her body tighter to his.
“Can’t fucking get enough of you,” he murmured against her mouth. “Why can’t I get enough of you.”
She raised herself up on her knees, as though by instinct knowing exactly what needed to be done, he grabbed his erection, guiding it into her as she sank down with a hissed in breath.
“Please… I’m sore,” she said with a wince.
“Just easy,” he said, kissing down her neck, a new frenzy of need building, “we’ll go easy.”
He slid his hand under her ass and helped her into a slow rhythm, her hands on his shoulders, nails digging in.
“Can’t fucking get enough,” he growled low, gripping her hips and driving home deep.
Done deal
Her rooms weren’t quiet, as she’d expected. Jez’s raised voice was distinct, the answering one was not — could have been Lucifer or Aza… she opened her door and walked in, her indignation fizzling at the looks on all their faces.
And the one that was missing.
“Where’s Cass?” All of them turned from her question except Jez, who moved forward and grasped her hand.
“He needs you. He’s collapsed… won’t wake up…” Jez’s eyes clouded. “I can’t feel him Mara, I don’t know what that means.”
Happiness, light-heartedness, and freedom all vanished with one terrifying thought. “Take me to him.”
She walked through the portal in front of Jez, blinked, looked over her shoulder to ensure she’d not slipped through into some alternate reality. Jez’s bellow of rage confirmed her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. That was her demon—her husband—with that hussy of an angel straddling his lap.
His hands on her hips, fingers digging in… her head thrown back in ecstasy… of course she was. The sin-eater knew what he was about.
Jez threw Cass to the ground, blood was everywhere.
Ziva’s shrieks brought all the attention back to the bed, which was being consumed by greedy green flames. She called up the hexafire? She looked down at her palms, outlined in faint traceries of the cast.
Cass’s confused expression on his bloodied face broke what little self-control that remained. She couldn’t be here. Couldn’t let them see her falling apart. They wouldn’t win.
Awareness was slow to return, the cogs inside her mind which seemed frozen into complete standstill sluggishly resuming their turning. A few rapid blinks revealed her surroundings, not the Nessus, nor her temple, instead, she sat surrounded by blooming flora of her garden. She’d made it to Gaia.
Can’t fucking get enough of you.
With no recollection of getting here. Had she opened a portal here from the Hells? Careless.
No. She’d cared too much. Look what that had got her.
Let me take care of you, wife.
Instinct screamed at her to get off the ground and go... where? Do what? Hells she wasn’t even sure she could get her legs to cooperate. Her whole body was like an empty, foreign entity. Cold and unfeeling.
Instead, she lifted her head up towards the open sky, staring at the brushstrokes of vibrant orange cast by the setting sun. Summer was dwindling down, and with winter’s approach, her garden would soon again fall into slumber. She envied the flowers their respite, their simple and short lives.
“He betrayed you.”
The imprint of her power was faint, the ley lines weakening even the gods born from the minds of Gaia’s own children. But she recognized the heavy accent of Kali’s call, the cut-glass tone of that phantom voice. And strangely, discovered herself unsurprised by her summons. The cogs in her sluggish mind were picking up speed.
“You knew he would.” It wasn’t a question.
Again the pawns were being moved across the game board, she wasn’t obtuse enough to not recognize the patterns. She simply failed to recognize them in time.
“When will the game end, Kali-Ma? I am tired of being afraid. Of hurting so much.”
“End? This will never end for you, child. Your wings were clipped long before the thought of flying out of your cage ever occurred to you. And now that corruption rules the Hells once more, you will never soar to the heights you were meant to.”
“Cassius is King, he rules the hells.”
“The Ruby knows but one master, the one who bound corruption to his will. The young king does not control it.”
“He will, he must…”
“You’ve blinded yourself to the truth Amara of Asurim, already you’ve seen the mark of corruption shine within the gazes of your Dominae. It is spreading, and your Sarrum cannot stop it.”
She’d known. Part of her had known the moment she’d caught the glint of madness within Berith’s gaze. But to concede to this truth meant to accept the loss of her Dominus, admit his soul corrupted and consumed, Berith had fallen. One of her fiercest warlocks and most loyal of advisors was taken from her by an enemy she could not hope to banish. If corruption spread, her warlocks would fall. Greed and pride sealing their volatile fate.
“Why have you called for me, Kali-ma?”
“I have come to collect on my debt.”
“Your timing stinks.”
“My timing is impeccable, you insolent child. The moon shines full on Gaia tonight. You will challenge the Huntsman, run the wild hunt, and present me its prize in offering.”
Her shoulders shook, not from fear or shock but with laughter. “Wait, you’re expecting me to run the Wild Hunt? And win? May I remind you it was inadequacy in running which facilitated this debt you now claim. Besides, I have no intention of betraying Gwynn’s trust.”
Kali’s incorporeal voice grew louder, reverberating through her skull like the deafening toll of a cathedral bell.
“He too betrayed you.”
He hadn’t, not truly. Gwynn had never made her any promises. At best, it had been a mutual understanding they would turn their backs towards their cursed fates, and help each other move through the darkness together. But she had needed her vengeance, and he had craved peace. She wasn’t his first choice, and he had never led her to believe she was. Still, his engagement to the infant fae princess had stung.
Your wings were clipped long before the thought of flying out of your cage even occurred to you
“Wings…”
“Excuse me?” Kali must have genuinely been surprised for once, for she’d never heard that stentorian voice ringing through her skull pitch quite that high before.
She let the tips of her fingers run along the blades of grass, trying to memorize the feel of it. There were so many things she’d not yet experienced, simple things, like the feel of grass beneath a naked body, the flow of cool air along heated skin. She’d never danced or sung. But should she survive the goddess, she would learn to fly, and dammit, she would soar.
“In the history of Gaia, none have managed to outrun The Huntsman. Should I somehow succeed, and offer you the wild energy of Gaia for a prize, would you use it to stop corruption from spreading?”
“I can’t control corruption, child. There is only one who can.”
“Then give me my wings, and I will do as you ask.”
“We are not negotiating priestess, you owe me a debt.”
“Breaking a vow will make me a target of the Wild Hunt, keeping my vow achieves the same. You wish me to run, I wish for wings of my own, more beautiful than those of either celestials or demons.”
“Your pride gets the better of you, priestess. But, we have an agreement. Run the Wild Hunt this night, and I will give you your wings.”
With more force than she’d intended she hoisted her cold and uncooperative form off the ground, sighing a breath in relief when the goddesses' imprint unlatched from her mind. Already the sun was setting in the East, which meant it was time to prepare, get ready to run as if her very life depended on it. She knew Gwynn, knew the madness that possessed him once the Huntsman took over. She couldn’t count on his sanity to save her, survival depended on victory.
Entering the cottage her eyes searched the face of the antique long case clock proudly occupying the foyer, less than an hour left before the final ray of sunlight faded tonight. One hour to unearth some shorts, a pair of sneakers, and get belligerently drunk in the hopes of temporarily forgetting her demon.
“Challenge accepted…”
Fallout
“Mara!” He yelled even as Jez threw him against the wall. “Mara wait. It’s not…”
Another blast of pain hit as Jez’s fist plowed him right in the nose, his eyes tearing up as he felt the bone snap.
“Of all the females?” Another hit, this one splitting his lip. “My sister?” Jez slammed him against the wall again, his head bouncing.
“No.” He hadn’t meant… “Only Mara.” He put his arms up over his face and slid down the wall.
He’d destroyed her, cut out his own heart.
‘The power is yours to command now. Even trade.’ More insidious whispers, as though his thoughts weren’t his own.
“Please. I don’t want it.” He shook his head, trying to clear the whispers out.
“Just her. I don’t need it.”