"Too fucking right, pet," I said as I hit the release for the guardrail on his table. I climbed up on the platform as the obstacle dropped to the side. "Anything off limits?" I asked, barely able to enunciate the words."No tickling," he said as he dropped my flesh. With both hands, he grabbed the hem of my shirt and ripped it from my body. "And leave my feet alone." He jackknifed up on the table, pulling me towards him. "Other than that, no." He ran his tongue from my belly to my neck, nibbled on my collar bone.My head tipped back as I fought to keep the fog of lust at bay long enough to listen. "Shit, luv.""Your list?" he asked as his fingers slid through my hair.The feel of his fingers in my hair and his mouth against my body had the words evaporating before I could get them off my lips.His hands tightened in my hair, angling my head back. He leaned up as he pulled my head down. "Luk, pay attention. Anything off limits for you?"I blinked the haze of lust clear. I sw
I shut the connection before they could yell at me. Ransom's chin dipped ever so slightly. He looked at me. I thought I knew every expression that could possibly wash over my brother's face. I had been wrong. I just hoped my own ferocious agony wasn't written as clearly on my own features. "We've got to hold off long enough for the others to get here," I said mentally.Kiema's hair swished as Heppni moved their shared head. Heppni glared at the room. "What is this infernal buzzing? Do you have insects in your home? Are all humans so filthy?"Almost crying in relief that Heppni couldn't hear our mental thoughts, Ransom and I hatched a hasty plan to keep the entity occupied. I swallowed the bile that crept up my throat at what we both had to do. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Heppni. I do know that Kiema, our Mate, says that she feels phantom sensations in her scalp at times. They've been medically examined. She's fine. There is probably something wrong with h
We all padded up the stairs in our animal forms. Lukas and Aeron were in front, opening doors for us as needed. I had no idea what the situation was, but I could feel the swarm of sick magic sweeping through the warehouse. My panther batted at it, unhappy with the way it felt against his pelt. "We're here, Saint," I said through the mental network. We waited just outside his fifth-level door. Nothing but groans and moans slithered from beyond the door. "C-c-come in," the voice said over our network. I didn't recognize it."Saint?" I asked again. "Th..." It sounded like static was washing out the signal. But that couldn't fucking be. I turned to look at Xander. His spirit tiger was restless, his teeth bared as he pulled magical scents in through his mouth. "I don't know what's blocking the signal, T. Everything should be fine," Xander said through the mental network. His physical body was still on his level.The screeching wail of a signal tuner blared through my h
Hate and rage burned in my soul. If I thought I would be unable to hate anyone as much as I hated my fake parents, I was sadly mistaken. The deity who'd taken refuge in my body was making the men in my life do things they would never have done before. She was hurting them. Through me. Calling on all of the magic I'd linked and bound us together with, I fought like a demon to wrest control from her deranged hands. She fought back, her laughter a taunt that I accepted. I breathed it in, pulled it into my lungs, let it burn in my heart. "You can't beat me, human. You are helpless in the face of my power.""You won't win. They are mine. You have no right to them," I bit back. "Your power comes from me. The power you assume is yours originates from me.""Then I guess you better get used to living without it, bitch, because I own it now." I dug in that sticky place where my magic lived. All of the pieces of my magic were there and whole once again. Then, out of the c
"What the fuck is happening to her, Atlas?" Ransom barked.Xander finally joined us. We were all in human form again. Standing around naked as the day we were born, huddled over the bed where Kiema was laying. Saint and Ransom had already removed the cuffs and restraints from her body.Cuts and bruises bloomed on her cheeks and face. "I don't know, Ransom. I have no idea what's going on," Dr. Atlas sounded pissed. "What the fuck was happening in here, anyway? Why did you call us?" Xander asked as he glared at Taryk. "We're going to have words, you and me."Taryk nodded, looking unmoved by the threat. "Some new goddess...deity...thing was inside Kiema. Said her name was Heppni. She's equal to a Prime. Also said that Azica has a lot more power than Earth when Ten questioned her. I'll fill you in later. I need Kiema back. Now." Ransom ran his hands through his hair. "We all need her back, Ransom," Saint said, a growl in his voice. "She belongs to all of us. Not just you.
I rocked back on my heels. "No freaking way. That crazy bitch is not my mother. I'd rather claim Ferria and Juan."Hellion winced, shrugged. "Sorry, squeaks, she's your momma."I clenched my teeth. "If she's my mother, and you're her brother, that makes you my uncle. Where the hell have you been my entire life? Why show up, blow golden spheres into my magic, give me a magic knife that can kill deities? Why didn't you sav - " I cut off the flow of words, bit my lip.Hellion's eyes widened. "You didn't kill her. You just made her leave your body." He swallowed. The corners of his eyes tightened. "And I didn't know about you or your life until I met you in that helicopter. I've been searching the worlds trying to find you."I could feel the tears building behind my eyes, gathering on my lids. I turned away from him, handing the knife to Taryk. Saint and Ransom were there immediately, pulling me between them. "Why have you been searching for her?" Taryk asked behind me. "S
I laid a hand on Kiema's shoulder. She was stiff and cold under my touch. Usually she snuggled into either my or Saint's heat. Something was bothering my angel, and I was fucking pissed. Again. "Everyone out," I called. The joking and ribbing stopped in its tracks. All eyes turned to me. I glared at them all. I shot my eyes down to Kiema, back up to everyone else. "Out.""Thank you for coming in to help. I really appreciate it. All of you," Kiema said, laying a hand over mine on her shoulder. "But I need some time with just my mates."The guys all nodded, their faces somber. "We need to drop Juan off at Iron Serpent HQ," Taryk said."We can help with that," Xander said. "I'll be along after I've talked with Saint and Kiema," I answered. Taryk nodded. He walked over, pulled Kiema into his arms. "Good job, sis." He kissed her forehead. I felt her back jerk against my chest. She's barely holding it together. I didn't stop the others from saying their goodbyes
"I'm still fucking pissed at you, T. You had no right to keep me out of that room. Out of danger. I can fucking take care of myself. I'm not that stupid teenager anymore," I said. Arms crossed over my chest, breath sawing in and out of my chest like I'd run a freaking marathon. I could feel the heat rushing through my body. "You're right. I shouldn't have told you to stay here." He shook his head, rubbed his hands over his bald, brown head. "I needed one of you alive." He looked back up at me, his eyes sharp and burning. I swallowed back my rage. "We're not them, T. We can take care of ourselves. You aren't responsible for us."He snorted, turned away. "That's a fucking joke. I'm head of security, Xan. It is my literal job to make sure nothing happens to any of you." He spun, drilled a finger in my direction. "I own that. And I don't take unnecessary risks. I do a damn fucking good job of it, too.""Yeah, you do. But if something happens to one of us, it's not your fault. We'
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