I glowered at the angel. The last time I had seen him in public had been in my trial, when he had sat on a high podium with five of his colleagues and sentenced me to death. My nostrils flared. Now the bastard was asking me for favors?Bugger that.Griff sat straighter on the bed, his brows creased. “What did you say about Fenrir?”The Angel King turned to him with a smile. “Franklin, I’m pleased to see you alive and well. Perhaps you can answer a few questions.”“About what?” Griff asked.I folded my arms across my chest. “You’re going to prey on my mate in his hospital bed like a vulture?”He flinched. “Of course not.”“Who told you we were here?” I snapped.The angel narrowed his eyes. “Cathy—”“It’s Miss Aibek to you,” I hissed.He inclined his head. “I apologize for the intrusion, but this is a matter of great importance.”“Oh yes?” I raised my brows.The slippery bastard had avoided my question. Only one person would have told him our location, and that was Hades. The Demon King
“If Hades refuses to reverse his curse, then bring us someone equally as powerful who can break it apart,” I said.He nodded. “The Fae King is available.”My jaw tightened. Another bastard who had sentenced me to death. “Is he capable of doing more than standing around and bullshitting?”The door to Griff’s room opened, and the male nurse poked his head out into the hallway. “Miss Aibek? Healer Sakhet has finished.”I rolled up my sleeves and headed into the room. As I crossed its threshold, I turned to the Angel King and said, “Don’t come inside unless it’s to give me a cure for my mate. There will be no talk about Fenrir or Shifter city until the healer confirms that Franklin Griffith is free of demon, fae, and any other kind of curse.”Without waiting for the angel’s reply, I strode into the hospital room and stopped at Griff’s bedside.He slumped against the pillows, his brow furrowing. His features were slack, and rapid breaths whistled in and out of his parted lips. I’d never se
His lips parted, presumably to lie, but I spoke first. “Franklin Griffith, if you insult my intelligence by saying you’re not planning on fucking the alpha out of me when I become the Shifter Queen, I will punch you so hard you’ll be shitting teeth.”He squared his shoulders. “I didn’t know you could be so violent.”My chest erupted in a bitter laugh. “If only you knew what I was capable of doing to betrayers.”“Cathwulf,” he said with a sigh. “How could you think these things about me?”“I know everything, including your plan to steal my power. I know you find me difficult to love and you’re hanging on because of what I represent—an opportunity to escape your bargain.”His eyes bulged, and his face pinched in a look that said he’d been caught. If I could see thought bubbles, his would say ‘Oh shit.’Griff’s gaze darted around the hospital room and fixed on the door. I balled my fists. If he thought I would allow him to escape, he was about to get body slammed to the floor.“Could you
The two monarchs disappeared, leaving me alone in the hospital room with Griff.Moments later, a man in a white suit bustled in with a pair of large orderlies. “Healer Sakhet has stabilized the curse, so it won’t flare up as long as the memory remains suppressed. Would you like an escort to the Atlantis Central Station?”“Wait a minute.” I walked around the bed, closing the distance between myself and the administrator. “You haven’t finished breaking his curse.”He glanced to the side and sighed. “If two monarch-level supernaturals and a former goddess can’t resolve your issue, I’m afraid there’s nothing more the Atlantis Hospital can do.”I shook my head. “Can’t you call around to the other hospitals?”“We have already sent the invoice for your treatment to Fenrisúlr, care of Shifter City,” he said, sounding firm. “We need to free up the beds for new patients.”“No,” I snapped.“Cathwulf, it’s all right,” Griff said from the other side of the room.I turned around, my eyes flashing.
“Do you have your phone?” I asked.He stepped back and frowned. “Pardon?”I glanced down at the bulge in his pocket, pulled out his mobile, and activated its home screen.“What is that?” he asked.“It’s how supernaturals communicate with each other in the twenty-first century.”“An advanced form of a mirror?” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, tucked me into his side, and sniffed at my hair.Shivers ran across my skin, making me squirm. Trying my best to ignore the affectionate wolf, I continued down the hallway while tapping commands into the phone. According to the Phileas Fogg website, Atlantis had a train station and a direct route to London Central.Beki barked a question.I shook my head. “What’s the point of calling Ophois when Griff can’t return to Shifter City? Even if he’s not at risk of bursting into flames, that thing inside him still wants to erode the walls.”My wolf deflated.“We’ll work something out.” I booked us a ticket to London.Griff and I followed the signs t
The phone rang, and a video played that showed the highlights of Shifter City and invited people to apply for a home, a job, a new life free from humans and corrupt supernaturals.Griff scooted around the table to the seat next to mine and peered over my shoulder. “What’s this?”I clicked away from the recorded video message, brought up Griff’s contacts, hoping to find a number for Randel, Lydia, or the twins. At the top was an entry for Fenrir.“He gave me his personal number?” he asked, his voice breathy with pride.“You’re the alpha of his special pack,” I said with a shrug and tapped the button to call Fenrir.Griff frowned. “You mean us.”“Just you.”“Doesn’t that make you the alpha female?” he asked.Fenrir’s face filled the phone. “Cathwulf, report.”“My Lord.” Griff pushed his way forward.The wolf god’s lips curled into a gentle smile. “It is good to see you looking healthy. Did they treat you well in the hospital?”“Yes,” Griff gushed. “Thank you for paying for my stay.”I t
I sat on the mattress with Griff’s arms around my waist, his soft lips peppering kisses along my jaw and down the column of my neck. Each press of his lips sent sparks of rapture across my skin that gathered around my swelling clit.“Griff.” I placed a hand on his chest, ready to give him a shove, only to feel the frantic pounding of his heart. My stomach twisted. Bloody Hell. No wonder I’d ordered the pack enforcers to drag him to my office. Now, he was acting like I was a sure thing.His hand wandered from my waist, up my arm, and over my breast. He took a handful of flesh and groaned.“What are you doing?” I whispered.“Isn’t it obvious?” Griff murmured into my neck as he continued to massage my breast. “Picking up where we left off.”“Don’t.” I pushed him back, rose from the bed, and walked into the cabin’s living area, not stopping until I could stand behind the dining table.Griff rose from the mattress, his erection tenting his pants. “I don’t understand. You liked me well enou
“Not even her mate?” I asked, my brows raised.“Have you done anything like this before?”Heat rose to my cheeks, and I dropped my gaze to the carpeted floor. Griff and I hadn’t gotten that far, considering we’d only been together for one night. He’d spent the entire time fucking me so hard to ensure that I was submissive enough to give up my alpha power.“I know what to do, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said with a tiny smile.He cupped the side of my face. “Are you sure you want to do this?”I met his gaze, which radiated confusion. Raising a hand to smooth out his furrowed brow, I gave him what I thought would be a confident smile. “I want to try it.”Griff took my hand and led me through the cabin, passing the sofa and dining table until we reached the bed. He grabbed a couple of cushions and placed them on the floor.“What’s this?”“If Cathwulf Aibek wants to suck my cock, I’d better make it comfortable.”“Stop talking about me like I’m some great alpha,” I muttered, my gaze d