Her Retribution

by Rory Miles

  “I’ll keep the vampire company,” Beelzebub offers.

  My vampire bestie waggles his eyebrows at me. “I’ll give him a test ride.”

  The prince scowls at him. “There will be no test rides.”

  Jasper pouts. “He’s no fun. You should have chosen better.”

  Laughing, I say, “Would you have preferred Lucifer?”

  A shudder passes through him. “No, absolutely not.”

  “You’re welcome.” Turning back to the others, I say, “Well, let’s get this party started. Who’s buying the plane tickets?”

  Draven clears his throat, and suddenly I remember my newfound power. He fights off a laugh when I look at him, body trembling with excitement.

  “Really?”

  He nods. “Really.”

  “Oh my fae, let’s do this. Show me how!” I bounce on the balls of my feet.

  “Now I’m lost,” Anakin whispers to Micah. “Shouldn’t she know how to buy plane tickets? She’s been on Earth far longer than we have.”

  Micah murmurs something back, but I stop listening when Draven disappears in a puff of shadows.

  “Holy fae,” Jasper whispers. “Did he just disappear?”

  “Yes!” I squeal.

  “Why are you so excited?”

  “Because,” Draven rumbles next to my ear when he appears behind me, “she can do it too.”

  “Shut the motherfucking front door.”

  I laugh at Jasper. “That’s not at all how that saying goes.”

  “Shut it all out, focus on the shadows within the room.”

  Scrunching my brow together, I try to do what he asks, but the light is on and I’m not sure I understand.

  Noticing my struggle, he points to the end table. “There,” and then to the coffee table, “and there. It’s not much, but it’s enough. Pull them to you, focus on where you want to go, and let them carry you.”

  Trying again, I feel the shadows respond to my call. I don’t open my eyes for fear of losing control, but I hear Jasper gasp. I must be doing something to get that sort of response.

  When I feel like I’ve got them positioned around me, I imagine my bedroom down the hall. A weird sensation washes over me, and I open my eyes. I’ve only moved a foot in the general direction I’d intended, but it’s progress.

  “Try a few more times,” Draven encourages me when I look over my shoulder.

  The others’ eyes are on me, but I’m focused on getting this right. On my fourth try, I end up right outside the door to the bedroom and my legs give out. Strong arms catch me before I fall and Draven leans his face on my head.

  “It takes time. You’ll need to practice every day to hone the skill and work on longer distances.”

  “How will we get to Vegas?”

  I feel him smile against my hair. “I can take us.”

  “Anakin and Micah too?”

  “I could move this entire city if I wanted,” he says with such certainty I know it isn’t a brag, more a statement of fact.

  We reenter the living room. Anakin and Micah are watching me but I can’t get a read on what they’re thinking. I used to understand their looks; we’ve been separated for so long I’ve lost my touch.

  Draven follows me as I make my way over to them. “Ready?” I ask, raising my brows at the jinni.

  “The things we do for love,” Micah says, punctuating his remark with a long dreamy sigh.

  My lips tilt to match the playful smile he wears. Anakin doesn’t smile, but his eyes are alight with laughter, so at least I know he isn’t upset by the turn of events.

  Turning back to Draven, I ask, “How do we do this?”

  Grabbing my hand, he says, “I hope everyone likes group hugs.”

  Anakin and Micah join hands. I grab Anakin’s free hand while Draven grabs Micah’s and he tugs us into a tight circle.

  “Whatever you do, don’t let go.”

  Anakin, for the first time, looks mildly concerned. Or perhaps he’s just curious. “What happens if we let—”

  The shadows overtake the space around and between us, cutting off the rest of his question and wrapping us in a dark bear hug as they listen to Draven’s directions.

  We land behind a grand hotel, our sudden appearance hidden from the general public. Anakin and Micah both gasp and bend over, desperately trying to regain their balance and connect the method of travel with reality.

  “The meeting isn’t until tomorrow night. I don’t know about you demons, but even the fae need rest.”

  “I can sleep.” For days, and days and days. Devil below, I love being wrapped in a warm blanket on a soft bed. Nothing but my dreams and nightmares to keep me company. Unfortunately for me, I won’t have the luxury of sleeping the days away in a soft, white hotel bed. Those beds are the absolute best.

  Once the jinni recover, we leave the alleyway and enter the lobby of the fancy hotel. The Bel something or another. I’m not paying attention to the name when we enter. The hotel is crawling with all sorts of beings. Humans, demons, and fae, oh my! Even the mages have come out to play.

  How do the humans not see that this place is basically the hell their holy books talk about? Prostitutes—or sex workers if you’re feeling the girl power talk—gangsters, human trafficking, drugs, gambling, excess everything. Need I list the other so-called sins?

  “Shera?” Micah interrupts my random spiral of thoughts, gesturing toward the elevators where Anakin and Draven wait. “Draven got us a room.”

  Anakin holds open the elevator while we scurry to get in. The silence that fills the space is strange and amusing. If Draven wasn’t with us, the boys wouldn’t have shut up. With him, they’re more tempered. At least for now.

  I sense them paying careful attention to the fae, even as they pretend to stare at the mirrored doors. Anakin’s head is slightly tilted, allowing him to observe Draven from his peripheral vision, and Micah is watching his reflection.

  Draven, Mother Faerie bless him, is wearing a smug smirk, like he just won big at the slot machines downstairs. His hand brushes mine and I see Anakin and Micah both zero in on the contact. He turns his head so they can’t see his growing smile.

  When the doors swish open, I exhale in relief and make my escape, taking the electronic key from Draven and hustling down the hall. They can deal with their awkward shit alone; I’m ready to sleep. Swiping the card through the slot, the light turns green and I push the handle down and let myself in. I twist the metal lock so the door won’t close on them and go to find a bed.

  I kick off my shoes at the foot of the extra-large king-size bed, sighing at Draven’s choice of accommodations.

  The door opens and in walks the fae, followed closely by Anakin and Micah. They see the bed, share a look I can’t understand between themselves, and give Draven a curious once-over.

  “Really?” I ask.

  Draven chuckles, knowing exactly what I mean. “It was the best price.”

  Rolling my eyes, I strip out of my clothes and climb onto the bed and nestle under the covers. “I very much doubt you’re that hard up for cash.”

  Micah snickers, as predicted, and says, “He’s hard up for something, that’s for sure.”

  The sound of flesh hitting flesh reaches my ears and I don’t have to open my eyes to know Anakin socked him in the arm.

  “Settle down, boys. I’m all full and exhausted. We can play later.”

  Micah makes a disappointed aw and I smile into my pillow. He’s teasing me; I could kiss Draven for inadvertently making this less awkward with his choice of rooms, but I’m too tired. The bed shifts drastically as the three of them find their places: Micah at my front, Anakin behind him and Draven at my back. I peek at Anakin and am relieved to see he isn’t upset by the new arrangement. Normally he’d sleep behind me.

  They’re all being very understanding. Which can only mean it’s a matter of time before all hell breaks loose. Micah’s breathing evens out, and I close my eyes again and settle in. This bed is way too
comfortable; I’m not going to waste my precious time in it worrying about fights that may or may not happen.

  Waking up cocooned in a man sandwich is not as sexy as it sounds. I’m sweating, pieces of my hair are stuck to my forehead, and two very hard cocks press against me. So, I guess maybe it could be considered sexy, except I’ve gotten no pleasure and I’m all hot and bothered. Literally. If Draven doesn’t move his hand off of my stomach, I might punch him. Or kiss him. I can’t decide. I’m so ungodly hot I can’t think straight.

  One of them shifts slightly. A moan is drawn from the back of my throat when my core pulses with desire. Another flash of unbearable heat washes over me and I kick the blanket off, or at least, I try to. Draven and Micah’s bodies are wrapped around the fluffy comforter and it doesn’t budge. I growl at it, sounding like a caged-in animal, and kick again.

  Anakin is the first to wake, and the moment he sees me, his face goes pale and his nostrils flare as he scents the air. “Shit.”

  “What?” I hiss the question. “Your bodies are making me hot, it isn’t my fault I stink.”

  Micah’s eyes open, and they flare with power. “Shera.” There is a warning in his voice I don’t understand, at least not until Draven moves closer, the hand on my stomach pressing me hard against his length.

  “Why does she smell like sugar today?”

  “Fuck.” I smack at Draven’s arms, fighting to get free as Anakin and Micah stumble from the bed. “Bad fae. Down boy.”

  Draven’s voice is husky when he says, “I’m going to fuck you while they watch.”

  Shit, shit, shit. This is why Rosie wanted me. For my fucking fertile month. Just my fucking luck, getting my demon period when we’re scheduled to take down Carnivea and Levia. Unlike humans, demon females don’t bleed on their period. Instead, we just fuck like the animals that we are.

  “No!” I shout when his fingers work between my underwear and skin. “We can’t.” My words are pained because I really, really want to have sex. Lots and lots of sex. Babies. I want fucking babies. Demon babies, fae babies, mage babies.

  Human babies? My nose wrinkles, no. Maybe not all the babies. Human babies are cute but they don’t even have powers. How are they supposed to protect themselves when someone like Voldemort attacks?

  Draven isn’t listening and when he reaches his goal, I sigh and decide resisting is futile. His chest rumbles in appreciation when I wiggle under his working fingers, helping him and myself toward an orgasm.

  Anakin rips me from Draven’s arms, his eyes full jinni, and holds me to his bare chest. “You can’t.”

  I kick and stomp on his foot but his grip is firm. “Let me go.”

  “Draven, you need to get out of the bed and put your clothes on,” Micah instructs, tossing clothes at the fae.

  “No,” I plead, redoubling my efforts to escape. Now that I’ve decided to give in, I don’t want to stop. “I want him.” My glamour drops and I blast them all with a wave of power.

  My lust magic brings all the boys to the yard.

  Except, Anakin and Micah don’t fall prey to my power.

  Draven, on the other hand, is down on his hands and knees as he crawls to me.

  “Fuck, it’s stronger than I remembered.”

  Micah glares at Anakin. “You said the charms were strong enough.”

  Anakin says, “They are, obviously. It’s just I can feel her magic beating against it, trying to tear through the protective barrier.”

  “Where is the extra one?”

  “In my pocket.” Anakin turns his body toward Micah, letting him pull out a leather bracelet. The wooden circle in the middle of the thread has a rune symbol I recognize branded on it. Erma? They went to fucking Erma the mage for protection against me?

  Draven grabs my ankle, kissing his way up my leg. When Micah slaps the bracelet on his wrist, he blinks, glances around, and shakes his head.

  “Damn it,” I huff and pull up my glamour.

  Draven stands, eyeing me with obvious want.

  “Thank you,” Anakin says before he releases me. “You understand why we can’t allow you to indulge, right?”

  I wave my hand. “Yeah, yeah. Babies.”

  Micah laughs. “No, actually, not babies. We have a lot to take care of before you take any chances on getting pregnant.”

  Anakin rolls his eyes. “That, and the whole Lucifer will kill whoever gets what he considers his pregnant thing.”

  “I’m not his.”

  They both give me identical looks and say, “We know.”

  “So, why not indulge in a little,” I mime giving a blowjob. That makes all three of them groan. A wicked idea sparks, and I slowly drop to my knees, pouting a lip.

  “Please,” I beg in a breathy voice, pinching my fingers together, “just a little bit?”

  Draven, Anakin and Micah all stand before me. Their cocks simultaneously strain against their pants and I lick my lips, ready to do a damn good job.

  “Damn,” my fae says, throat bobbing. “She’s gorgeous.”

  “Isn’t she?” Micah sighs and rubs a hand over his face.

  “The answer is still no.” The regret in Anakin’s voice is unmistakable but I admire his strength.

  “Damn it!” I almost had Draven and Micah. Glaring at Anakin, I say, “You’re a buzzkill.”

  Anakin smirks. “Don’t worry, sweet succubus. I’ll let you suck my cock as much as you want when this is over. But, no sex for the month.”

  “A whole month?” Draven yells, kicking the chair next to the bed. “Fuck me.”

  My lips twitch. “When and where?”

  Micah chuckles and I wink at him.

  “You know, if you all deny me for a month, I could die.” So, maybe that’s a tad dramatic, but I would die eventually, if I didn’t feed. So what if I exaggerated the truth just a little bit to get what I wanted?

  Micah smirks and snakes his arm around my waist, dropping a kiss on my neck before whispering in my ear, “I can give you plenty of fuel without getting you pregnant. First, I’ll tie you to the bed, then I’ll have my way with you. I’ll make you scream my name.”

  Heat floods my core and I grow slick with his promise. Draven groans, shaking his wrist like the rune isn’t working well enough and he’s hoping he can jumpstart the batteries on it.

  Anakin, the responsible one, says, “Enough. It’s two o’clock. The meeting starts in four hours. We need to eat, check the venue, and find where Levia is keeping Naomi.” He ties back his long hair and pulls on a Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt.

  Saving Naomi, the only other succubus in the four worlds, is priority, I know that, but being surrounded by three hot, muscled men is testing my patience and morality. When Micah pulls on his day-old slacks, I bite my lip. How did he manage to look so lethal in those? The fine material does nothing to hide his powerful thighs, ones I know are fully capable of holding me up while I—No, bad Shera.

  “I need a cold shower.”

  Draven laughs at me, running his hands through his inky black hair and watching me pull on my clothes.

  “Let’s go do some recon.” Micah takes the lead and we’re all happy to let him. Hopefully four hours is enough time to prepare.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Four and a half hours later, I wait with Draven at the hotel bar. Anakin and Micah have left, going to the hotel across the street. Duchess Carnivea’s meeting will start with a show, and in order for them to get in position, they had to head in early. We won’t be heading over until just before the after show which consists of special acts put on by Carnivea and her minions.

  The bartender sets a dirty gin martini in front of me and a glass of moscato in front of Draven. I wrinkle my nose at his choice of wine, but don’t give him any shit. He’s allowed to like that nasty-ass wine if he wants too.

  The dimly lit lounge is filled with humans and a few lower demons. None of the demons recognize me, thank the devil, and the humans don’t pay us any mind—unless you count the women break
ing their necks when they see Draven. I slip a possessive hand around his arm, smirking when their faces fall. I don’t think Draven even realizes the attention he draws on his own.

  “So you see, moscato is really one of the better wines.”

  I raise a brow, giving him a doubtful look. He laughs, and swallows his entire glass in one gulp.

  “What other wine can you drink like that?”

  “It’s basically grape juice.” My eyes stray to the strange-looking fae at the end of the bar. His essence isn’t very strong, but something about him seems familiar. Zeroing in on him, I let a bit of my glamour down so I can better read his energy.

  Holy half-breed babies.

  This guy is half fae, half demon. His demon energy sings with Levia’s power. Did she birth a child I don’t know about? Or did she let one of her fledglings do it? Is this part of Rosie’s plot or just a strange coincidence?

  “Half-breed,” Draven says with disgust.

  I shoot him a pointed look, because he’s sneering at the fae’s demon half. “I’ll remind you a few hours ago you were more than happy siring a few half-breeds.”

  “A few?”

  I shrug and cross my legs, and the silky material of my navy blue babydoll dress rides up my thighs. “I’ve always wanted twins.”

  He clears his throat and looks apologetic. “I meant no insult to you. Half-breeds, regardless of what their mixed blood is, are not well liked in our world.”

  “So, you’re against inter-breeding? What about me?”

  Shaking his head, he says, “No, that’s not what I meant. I just reacted and didn’t think. I’ve been conditioned for so long to look down upon half-breeds.”

  Wrinkling my nose, I sip my martini and give him a scrutinizing look. “I didn’t take you for a follower.”

  I’ve basically spent my entire life fighting the status quo. Him not even taking a second to question why he didn’t like half-breeds speaks of ignorance; but it’s never too late for someone to challenge his beliefs.