Scarlet couldn't catch a fucking break. The yearning I saw on her face...it reminded me of my own right after I'd lost my parents. That whole-body desire to be with someone again. To be known by that other person and to know that other person to the soles of your feet. "Gentlemen," I said as I stood. I put my own hands in the air. Everyone else joined me in submission. "What are a Prime Direct, seven shifters, a Valkyrie, and a null doing on Earth? Why weren't we alerted to your visit?" the bigger of the two men said as he stepped back from Taryk. Giving himself room to maneuver, I imagine. Ransom stepped forward. "How do you know what we are?"The bigger man who had given himself more space was bald, had tattoos running up his neck and under his shirt. His face was symmetrical and he had tri-color irises that melded into deep blue eyes. "Because it's our job to know. Why weren't we alerted to your visit?"Kiema stepped forward this time. Her mates snarled low.The
"I just promised not to leave our floor until tomorrow at noon?" Ransom said, although it sounded more like a question than a statement of fact. Nix's face dropped as she blew out a breath. "Never make a solemn vow with the Fae unless you have every single possible outcome accounted for. They are sticklers for the letter of a promise and will try to find a way to make whatever vow it is work in their favor." She shuddered. "Never do that again."Ransom nodded as he gave her a weird look. I didn't understand her reaction either, but we had bigger things to discuss than her emphatic demand. I turned to Scarlet, raised my eyebrows. She gave me a nod as she settled in Taryk's lap this time. Since Nix was still watching Ransom, I quickly pointed to my chest, tipped my head to the side. Scarlet nodded again, mouthed, please.I gave her a smile and a wink. Nodded. "Nix. We have other things to talk about. Please have a seat over here." I patted the open section of the
"So let's talk about this Reckoning, shall we?" Atlas said as we moved into the other room. "I'm still looking for that food," Kiema said as she rubbed a hand over her belly. "But sure, let's talk about how we're all going to ascend into the new gods and goddesses. That won't bring about indigestion at all."Atlas chuckled as he took a seat next to Lukas on the smaller couch. "I'll keep an ear out for the food delivery. Does that work for you, Kiema?"She nodded as she settled down on the couch next to me. Saint was on her other side as Ransom plopped into a chair sitting at a right angle. "Okay, so the Reckoning," I began, rubbing my hands up and down my legs. I tried to remember Asher's words on being cool. That man should teach classes on charm. I wonder if I could get him to do that? Our walk through the Gateway had been more than enlightening. In a number of ways. You're a nerdy guy, Kord. Own it. But keep it chill, let others come to you for knowledge. Don't jack the
"She's not allowed to suggest games anymore," I whispered to the room in general. Even that small sound felt like someone threw bloody cymbals down a wooden staircase in my head. "I don't know what you're whispering about, Lukas. I feel fine. Actually, I feel like I have more energy than ever before," Kiema said as she jumped up onto the couch with a single leap. "I'm going to kill her," someone said from the other side of the couch. I couldn't be sure who it was, but I was game to help smother her if it would mean she was quieter."Oh, don't be such a Grumpy Gaston, Saint. The day is beautiful. We get to go shopping."Atlas popped up from behind the couch I was laying on. "Shopping?" he said, not even a trace of hangover pulling at his eyes. I wanted to punch him too.He looked over at me, a smoky, sexy smile on his face. "I'll get you some water." Within moments, a glass full of water was pushed into my hands. Saint, Ransom, and Kord all managed to lift their heads
"Where is everyone else, Graysten?" I asked. We'd been standing at the central fountain for at least half an hour. The captain of the elite guard chuckled. "I imagine some of my men convinced some of your men to do some shopping for themselves as well."I turned back to him. "Wardens like Earth luxuries?"One of the female Wardens who'd accompanied us laughed, the sound bright and happy. "Undoubtedly. Some of the fabrics and materials they use on Earth are not available in Faery. And we might be war hardened warriors, but we still like to feel like gods and goddesses.""Was there any shopping you wanted to do, Juniper?" I asked the tall Warden. She shook her head. "No. I was able to stock up on my last trip to Earth."I turned to the shorter Warden. I almost snorted. Short. She was still taller than me by at least a handful of inches. "Dahlia?"The quiet Warden shook her head, her gaze still focused outward, looking for bad guys or someone who didn't belong. She was the
Gaia's balls! I looked around some more, sure my mouth was hanging open as some new visually stunning piece of Faery was revealed to me. We trudged across a rolling meadow. Not unlike the Spirit Realm, Faery's coloring reminded me of a verdant forest. Up ahead was a monumentally huge crystal palace. It sparkled in the bright light from some source I couldn't see. A vast forest separated us from her walls though.Flashing lights on the ground drew my eyes to the path we walked. Each time one of the Warden's feet touched the earth, a light appeared under his or her foot. The same was not true for any of my family. I looked down at my own feet. Nope. No special lights announcing my presence. Juniper chuckled as she walked beside me. "Faery recognizes us and welcomes us home. She will cease her light show shortly.""Your world is sentient?" I asked as I brought my head back up to take in more of my surroundings. "Yes. As are all worlds." She pushed a branch out of my way as we be
One Week Later"This is the last thing Arasne asked of us. We're going to the party. I know you brought clothes for it," I said as Kiema huddled under the mountain of blankets in our room at the castle. After leaving the Queen's forest house, she'd moved her home and staff to the castle while we were trying to find the people who hired Alok and his gang of idiotic killers. "And I said I don't want to go. I'm pretty sure I'm getting my period."My heart clenched before settling back into its regular rhythm. I hadn't known I'd been wanting Kiema to get pregnant, but now with the surety of her not carrying a child this month, the knowledge sliced me in two. "Did you not bring tampons or anything?" I asked. She groaned. "Of course, I did. I just don't want to put on a slinky dress, high heels, and do my hair up. I want to veg in your bed at home, watch a movie, and eat chocolate like a normal girl.""Well, once we're done with the party, we can leave. You'll be home and in m
No way were we stopping before we all came. Reaching for my magic, I pushed small seeking fingers out into all of my men. Immediately, a surge of lust and love swamped through our group. Kord began pounding inside me like a battering ram. I tried to inhale Saint's cock.Ransom was a devil with his tongue against my clit. And out of the edge of my vision, I saw Saint's rhythm pick up around Ransom's cock.Saint groaned as I let him feel the sharp edge of my teeth. "Hon-honey, teeth."I smiled, pushed another wave of lust over all of us. My body felt like I'd been hit with a bolt of electrical lust. From clit to tit, my body tightened and shook as I raced to orgasm. "Oh fuck. Do that again," Kord demanded from behind me. After a brief moment, his hand slapped against my already sensitized ass cheek. I lost the plot as I pushed my magic out at the exact same moment the orgasm rushed over me. All three of my men groaned, long and loud, as Saint shot his load d
Three months later"And I'm telling you right now, dad, that if you want to ever see these babies, you'll stop sending my mates to the Underworld for a cooling off' period. That shit is getting old," I said as I waddled into the hospital built for gods and demi-gods. He chuckled beside me. "But, bubbles, they deserved it. Crowing like they built Olympus bare handed. They were getting on your Circle's nerves. I could tell." He said as he lifted me into the bed. "Bring them back, dad. Now." I glared at him. Even though, on the inside, I was smiling like a loon. This was the type of relationship I'd always dreamed of having with a father. He sighed, a smirk still pulling at his mouth. With a snap, my three mates stumbled into the room."Damn it, Apollo," Saint said as he flicked his shirt. "Cerberus almost got me that time."My dad's head tipped back as he laughed and laughed. The babies inside me loved that sound. They kicked at my belly. I rubbed at the spot. "Easy
Six months later"Last time, I'll ask. I swear." Kiema swallowed heavily as she moved around behind me. "You promise you're okay not getting your deer back?" Kiema asked me as flicked the fabric of my dress this way and that to get it to lay perfectly.I waited until she looked up at me. That look of slight hesitation on her face tugged at my heart. "I promise. I was never meant to be a deer. A shifter of any kind."She nodded, sniffled quietly. "You ready for the rest of this then?" Kiema asked me as she adjusted the crown of flowers in my hair. "So much more than ready. I've been waiting for this my entire life." I bit back the tears that wanted to flood my throat. Not today. I wouldn't ruin this day with tears.She smiled as she stepped back. "You look beautiful, little sister." Tears gathered in her eyes. I held up a hand, looked at the ceiling. "Don't do that. I told you I wasn't crying today. You start crying, then I'll start crying. Then we'll have to postpone e
The next night"Wake up, Saint," I said softly in our shared consciousness. I could barely contain myself. I had felt the swell of magic. Had felt it when it took root."Saint," I said again. The man slept like a rock at the bottom of a spring. "Mgmgs," he mumbled.Forcing our arm to move, I slapped our face. He shot up, his teeth bared. "Who's there?" he called out. "It's me, you buffoon," I said.Our head cocked to the side. "Ten? Why are you waking me up? Can't whatever it is wait until morning?" He snuggled back down into the comfortable bed in our new home. "No." I shook our head so he would fully wake up. "Wake up!"He sat up, pulling the blankets with him. "I'm awake. What can't wait until the morning, Ten?""Kiema is pregnant.""WHAT THE FUCK!?"I snickered as everyone in the room burst from the bed, fists and knives raised in defense. "What is it?" Ransom's head turned back and forth quickly, visually sweeping the room. With a grunt at its emp
Two weeks later"Are we finally going to try this? We've been prepping for what feels like forever." I licked my way up Saint's neck. He shivered as his fingers curled into the flesh of my ass. "Maybe we should wait one more day. I don't want to hurt you."I rolled my eyes under the cover of my closed lids. This man. So dominant. So caring. So sure I wasn't ready to take one of them in my ass. I guess I'll just have to show him that I was more than ready.I slid down his body. A wave of magic and all of us were naked as the day we were born. As I sucked his cock into my mouth, Kord came up behind me.Curling around my back, he pinched my nipples with one hand. With his other, he slid a hand down my belly and straight over my clit. With a sharp movement, his fingers were deep inside me. I groaned around Saint's dick as waves of pleasure washed over me. Sprinkled with the counterpoints of pain from Kord getting my nipples ready for the clover clamps. I felt my core cream at
The next day"Torture and then straight back to bed. I don't care that your father is the god of healing. This is ridiculous, Kiema," Atlas said as we stood in the elevator on our way to the basement level."Don't get trapped in the dungeons," Apollo had said as he laid his palm against the electronic plate on the wall of the elevator.Right. Dungeons in a god hospital. Gods were freaking weird.I patted his cheek. "I've got my main medical provider right next to me. I'll be fine. Besides I feel like a million bucks."He huffed a laugh as Mason and Lukas came up beside him. I wiggled my eyebrows at Atlas, looked over his shoulder, back to his face.He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Yes, little sister. We've decided to try being a thruple."I wrinkled my nose. "What kind of word is thruple?""A three-person couple, luv," Lukas answered. I snorted. "And you guys won't let me make up words? That's a heaping load of Berserker shit right there."We were all laughi
I pushed the other two through the doors. I wasn't waiting another minute to see my girl. I'd felt her die. Felt my spirit try to follow her down that long tunnel. My heart had stopped beating when I saw Heppni literally rip her heart from her chest and crush it. But here we were. Alive. Healing. She was pale against the bright white sheets of the hospital bed. Although it was unlike any hospital I'd ever been in. Apollo said something about it being a place for gods and goddesses. I shook my head. It didn't matter to me what it was as long as it made her better. She looked over as we rushed in. Her eyes searched each one of us before returning to me. Tears flooded her eyes as I pulled her into my arms. We all sat on the bed, curled and huddled together while she got it all out. The guys and I had had some truly brutal boxing matches to deal with our own emotions. I was still achy and sore from a couple of well-placed hits from Kord. The man might be a nerdy librarian, b
My chest hurt. I tried to rub it, but my arms were restrained. "Easy there, bubbles. You'll pull your stitches if you do that," a man said. His voice was soft and melodious. Like listening to angels sing. Angels. Something about that word tickled my brain.Angel. Almost. Almost.Ransom. As soon as I thought his name, his face popped into my brain. I tried to sit up. Made it a couple inches before I was pushed back to the bed beneath me. I opened my eyes. Ignoring the stabbing pain that slid into my eyeballs, I blinked to clear my vision. A bright white room greeted me. The only color in it was the man who had a hand against my chest. I looked down at his hand. Looked up at his face. Raised an eyebrow. "Get the fuck off, perv. My mates will rip you to shreds."He huffed a laugh and removed his hand. "I doubt your mates will be doing much more than breathing for a couple more hours, but I'm glad to see that you're back, bubbles. Have a nice nap?" I leaned ba
Everyone Hellion had made me vow to keep alive fell to the ground as if they were puppets and their strings had been cut. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I hurried to the closest one's side. Pushed two fingers to his neck. Gone. I was so fucking dead. I blasted an oncoming human with a burst of magic. He withered where he stood. I sank to my knees next to the small woman with bright white hair. She was gone as well. The woman with the long brown hair threw her blade into an approaching Direct. It sliced through him like he was air. With wild eyes, she didn't even try to gather the particles of his passing. She pushed me aside as she cradled the smaller woman to her chest. "No no no not my baby no no no please no no," she wailed. Her agonized scream was muffled against the smaller woman's head.The rest of the humans who had interrupted our plans were either dead or falling back the way they'd come. Movement drew my eye. I squinted as I tracked it across the street. It wa
I sent another stream of fiery magic at the Direct who thought to protect my mother. Some pansy-assed gifted asshole wasn't going to stop me from hunting my mother down and killing her. With a wave of my hand, a path cleared. With a curl of my fist, humans fell to the ground, their spines crumbled into dust. "I'm coming for you, Herpes," I screamed at the top of my lungs. She scurried away, down the side street towards the fighting arena I'd created for us to use for practice. I picked up my pace and followed her. "You better be fucking careful, honey," Saint said through my head. He was working with Arasne and Felix at the opening of the street where the humans were still grouped. The Faeries had set up a blockade of sorts, forcing the humans into a bottleneck situation. They were taken down one by one as Ransom had his horde of beasts funneled them through the line of magical warriors. "Always, Saint baby. See you in a bit." I rushed down the street Herpes had