This. I needed this. The bubble bath. The wine. The peaceful silence.
The memory of my father telling me the humans topside didn’t allow anyone under the age of twenty-one to drink alcohol popped into my head. I was eighteen and thought it was an absurd rule. If you made something illegal, it only made kids want to do it more. We were, of course, taught to drink responsibly, but I firmly believed that not being off-limits made it less appealing to a lot of people.
Glancing at Drayven, I saw he was still passed out in the chair, so I returned to the bathroom, thrilled when I saw the tub was more than half full. Closing the door with a soft click behind me, I set the wine on the small table by the tub and lit the candles in the room before I began to undress, neatly folding my clothes and setting them on the edge of the sink as I went.
Turning the lights off, I melted at how serene this bathroom was with just the candles illuminating it. Grabbing my wine once more, I took a sip and climbed into the obsidian tub, hissing lightly at the first bite of heat on my skin. While I loved the water to be scalding, it was still always a slight adjustment at first.
Reaching for the knob, I turned the water off and sank down fully into the tub, my body immediately relaxing as the heat worked its way into my muscles. Tilting my head back, I fit my neck into the rounded edge and rested my arm against the side, wine glass in hand.
Closing my eyes, I ran through all that Otto had told me about the houses in preparation for introductions tomorrow. I wasn't sure what was expected of us outside of the formal introductions and then the meal together, but I definitely wanted to explore the capital a bit since it was my first time here.
I put my wine glass to my lips as I mulled everything over, then almost dropped the damn thing in the tub when all my candles blew out and I was left in the dark. Fuck. My heart raced in my chest as I glanced around in the darkness, desperately trying to identify possible threats. Sitting there naked in the tub, I felt vulnerable and exposed, and I mentally cursed myself for being lulled into a false sense of security and thinking I was safe just because I was in our house’s chambers.
Stupid Ama, never expecting the worst out of a situation. I was so out of my league here.
Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth. A muffled scream would have no doubt escaped my lips if it hadn’t been for the familiar scent that wrapped around me, instantly stopping the noise from working its way out.
A familiar voice whispered into my ear, “I needed to talk to you without Drayven around. I didn’t mean to scare you, but this couldn’t wait.”
Finias.
His voice was raspy as he continued, “I couldn't stop thinking about the way we parted earlier, and it's been eating at me, Ama. Did he convince you to stay away from me?"
My chest heaved as I sucked in air to calm my racing heart when his hand lifted from my mouth. "Fucking hell, Fin. You couldn't have just asked to meet with me in private like a sane person would have?" I asked, still partially in shock.
With the darkness blindfolding me, my other senses felt heightened. So, when I felt a deep laugh rumble through him and his breath tickled my throat as he said, "I never promised I was sane," a shiver raced through my body.
Oh man, it could not be healthy how attracted I was to the darkness in Fin.
Despite the precariousness of the situation, not even an ounce of me felt like I was in danger with him. Maybe that was stupid, but I couldn't deny that he had an easy way of making me feel safe and relaxed...and, dare I say it? Happy.
I fought the urge to fall back into the easy-going manner I had with him and quipped back, "What do you want, Finias?" Then I chugged a few mouthfuls of wine to stop myself from saying something cheesy.
His response had me nearly choking on said wine. “You.”
Coughing a bit to clear my throat, I wheezed out, "Come again?"
I jolted slightly as his fingers started to trace circles on my exposed neck, and he slyly retorted, "Can't make you come again if I didn't make you come to begin with, but I am eager to change that right now."
My body betrayed me, and I felt myself tilting my head back to give him further access. His hand dipped lower, skimming the top of my breasts, and the whimper that came out of me was shocking. I had never made that noise before. Holy hell. My legs rubbed together as the desire built within me at just his light touches.
"Tell me you don't want my touch and I'll stop." He whispered the promise, but I felt the pain in his words, as if it would kill him if I told him to do so. I was nearly positive it would kill me as well.
Despite my being immersed in hot water, chills spread across my neck where he breathed against it and trailed kisses over the sensitive skin. He began to speak as his hand firmly cupped my breasts and kneaded them, "Why did you pull away from me, Ama? Do you not feel this electricity between us?" He emphasized his words as he rolled my nipple between his fingers, making me moan.
He tutted, "Be quiet, or the Reaper will come and ruin everything."
Fin was right. If Drayven heard me, he would come in here, and it would likely turn my relaxing bubble bath into a bloodbath if the two men fought. I was in no rush to end this encounter before my body was satisfied, despite my mind screaming at me for going back on my decision to keep my distance.
He was breaking down any walls I’d tried to put up between us.
I needed to ask my own questions, though, to make sense of all of everything—and so my brain would shut the hell up and let me enjoy this. Breathlessly, I inquired, "How do I know I can trust you and that this isn't just a ruse to win my vote and screw my house over?"
His hand immediately left my skin, and I found myself reaching for his wrist. Somehow, even in the dark, I found it and brought it back to my skin. He fought me and ground out in a hurt tone, "Don't, Ama. I won't touch you if you think that is what I am here for."
The emotion that filled his words made me want to apologize for even insinuating dishonorable intentions on his part, but he kept talking before I could. "To be brutally honest, Ama...Yes, my parents sent me to your house to try to retrieve information about your house's plans, but there was no malicious intent on my part. I do their bidding to keep them from punishing me, as they so enjoy doing."
"Fin..." I started, my heart splintering with his admission and my hand sliding down his wrist to his fingers, gripping them on my own. He grabbed the glass of wine from my occupied hand and set it aside.
His hand returned, twining our fingers together, and his head rested on top of mine as he said, "I didn’t tell you that so you’d feel sorry for me. I told you so you’d understand that I will always be honest with you and that my intentions and feelings for you are true and my own. I have never felt so enraptured by anyone before you..." He trailed off momentarily, and I felt like I needed to interject.
"I feel it too," I admitted, scared out of my mind to say it out loud. It was easier in the dark. It was easier when I felt like nothing existed outside of us and this steam-filled bathroom. But saying it out loud made it real, and damn...I didn't know how to handle this situation anymore. I knew I needed to guard myself, but my heart was screaming at me to let Finias in.
There was a shift in his energy when I admitted my feelings, and a low growl escaped him as his body shifted. His hand stroked my breast once more, simultaneously stroking the flame of desire within me. He tweaked, pinched, and rolled my nipple until I was panting.
His hand trailed lower to cup my pussy as he demanded, "Do not distance yourself from me again, Ama. I don't think I can bear it."
I nodded back, completely forgetting we were in a pitch-black room. One of his fingers trailed across my slit then circled my clit as he commanded my answer in a hard, almost intimidating voice. "Ama. Tell me you won't do that again."
"Yes. Yes, I promise," I answered hurriedly, my back arching when he responded by slowly sinking a finger into my core. I bit down on my lip to hold back the moan that threatened to escape as he curled it inside of me, his other
hand dipping into the water to rub my clit at the perfect pace and pressure.
"I'll hold you to that. The night after tomorrow, you are accompanying me to the ball. I want everyone to know that you chose to be with me. To be on my arm. To be mine.”
Shit. Why did I feel like I’d just thrown myself into the deep end with that promise? This would complicate everything with the other houses if I showed favoritism, and it would definitely ruffle Drayven’s feathers.
I couldn't even formulate words to respond to him, and he began to play me like an instrument he was well acquainted with. I had absolutely no idea how he knew my body this well, but it was beyond intoxicating. Finias increased his pace until I was right at the edge of my release, then he demanded, "Come all over my hand, Ama. Come for me."
And I did. I unraveled and clamped my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming my release. Finias worked his magic through it, prolonging my orgasm for as long as possible. I was nearly shaking as his whispered words, which I only faintly heard, echoed against my ear. My eyes felt heavy with relief from the pleasure coursing through me. A faint whisper of my succubus powers reached out, feeding off of the pleasure he gave me, replenishing my energy storage. I hadn’t realized how drained I’d felt until I felt that part of myself settle inside of me with a contented sigh.
I dropped my hand from my mouth, still feeling dazed, as his hands retracted from me. I felt a kiss on the top of my head as he whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow, Ama. Don't forget your promise."
Then he was gone, and I was left lying in the tub wondering what else was going to come my way at this Summit. My world had already drastically changed and it was only day one. I had a feeling my life wouldn't be the same by the end of this.
Chapter Thirteen
Damien
Holden would never have been this nervous. No, my fearless older brother wouldn’t have felt any of the emotions I was currently experiencing. The jolting sense of anxiety surging through me as I walked the ground of the Summit estate. The claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in this stupid outfit and wanting to shift into my Hellhound form. The tension that had plagued my body from the time I’d found out I’d be going to this damned event.
No, Holden would have been far more prepared and calm. The prodigal son would have led our house flawlessly through the Summit, next to my parents, probably somehow managing to secure the vote for us to be Supreme.
I would be lucky if I didn’t shift in the middle of one of these stuck up, stuffy events. I didn’t have the best control over my Hellhound. Well, that was putting it mildly. Strong emotions could make me shift in a split second, and finding my way to a rational headspace to come back from it was even harder.
A part of me wanted to stay shifted and run away from it all.
Holden should be the future king of the House of Hellfire, not me. I knew it. My parents knew it. Hell, Holden knew it, and the only reason he wasn’t was because he had chosen a different path. One that wasn’t nearly as prestigious but somehow made him even more special in the eyes of everyone.
He had chosen to become a teacher at the military school our territory of Infernum featured. It was one of the best in the realm and, as he put it, ‘taught the next generation to be proud of their heritage.’ Which translated to the unspoken ‘willing to die for it’ clause that they subconsciously taught each and every one of the students.
I was no different, in that my loyalty was steadfast, but I also wasn’t blind, and I knew the true purpose of institutions like that was a bit of brainwashing.
But because he had chosen that path, I had to be king one day. Fun shit. Not.
Of course, my parents had acted like it wasn’t a big deal, and I knew in some ways my father was pleased the crown would be passed on to me. After all, I was the far more reactive, temperamental, and dangerous member of the family, which would have people easily falling in line. But unlike my brother, I would never be a leader. I would rule, not lead. The position I was put in very clearly showcased my flaws, and I had accepted them already, not willing to waste time on self-loathing because I wasn’t as perfect as Holden.
It didn’t stop me from being nervous, though. I knew my parents were watching and waiting to see how I would do and, of course, I wanted to exceed their expectations. What nineteen-year-old didn’t want to make their parents proud? I just had to find a way to break out of the shadow my older brother constantly cast over me. Something that would be a bit difficult, considering I wasn’t very good at having my shit together on the best of days. I had good intentions but, you know, that whole self-control thing...
Running a hand through my messy dark hair, I glared at the princely outfit I’d been forced to wear. I was most comfortable in jeans, barefoot, with no shirt on. But a hoodie or t-shirt would also work perfectly fine most days. Just not whatever the hell this was.
A droplet of rain landed on my face as I looked up at the slightly cloudy skies, hoping for my sake it didn’t decide to storm this morning. I would desperately need to shift after this, and I knew shifting inside of the Summit grounds wasn’t exactly considered a ‘good move’ when it came to politics.
After all, while they might not admit it, most people were terrified of Hellhounds—and for good reason. In that form, it was all too easy to massacre an entire room of people in seconds flat, regardless of their powers.
Muttering under my breath, I was pulled from my thoughts by the sound of wings in the air. My head snapped up and my chest seized momentarily, my heart nearly stopping, as a dark, stunning, almost angelic figure landed a few feet away.
Gorgeous black wings shifted against the wind as their elegant owner folded them in, making them all but disappear. Holy hell. I had seen Succubus wings before, but none like that. My eyes ran over every inch of the woman in front of me as my mouth nearly dropped, my cock hardening uncomfortably.
What the fuck was going on with me? I clenched my fists to avoid shifting, but a low growl must have escaped because the woman’s head snapped up and she met my gaze head on. I expected her to look away as most people did, but instead, she tilted her head and offered me a smile.
“You look like you don’t want to be here anymore than I do.” Her voice had chills running up my skin, and my body tensed as she drew closer. At the same time, my brain seemed to slow, my thoughts turning hazy, as I examined every inch of her gorgeous face. The predator inside of me curled up like a pup as I fought the urge to tug this woman close and run my nose along her neck. I wanted to memorize her scent and then cover her in my own.
Fuck. This could not be normal.
“Who are you?” My voice was raspy and curious.
Her smile grew as she thrust out a hand, “Ama, heir to the House of Death. Lover of all food and hater of all stuffy political engagements, such as the one we are about to attend.”
I chuckled, unable to help smiling at the quirky woman, whose cheeks were now stained by a blush. She seemed almost embarrassed, as if she hadn’t meant to introduce herself that way, but I absolutely loved it. I found myself almost desperately wanting her to be comfortable with me—while I was painfully attracted to the woman, I would also take any ally I could get when it came to surviving this bullshit.
“Well, Ama, I’m Damien,” I grasped her soft and delicate outstretched hand, holding it longer than necessary, “heir to the House of Hellfire.”
“I figured as much, what with the crown and the growling.” She flashed a dangerous smile that had my own growing. Damn it. Why was this woman so appealing?
“Growling?” I mused. I knew I did it, but usually it was when I was angry—or, in this case, turned on. Hopefully, she couldn’t tell that, although she was a Succubus...I arched my brow, suddenly realizing what it was about this woman that was so unique. I tried to keep my jaw from unhinging and hitting the floor with my shock.
Holy hell...she was a hybrid. Reaper and Succubus. It was something I should have found unappealing, but instead, it only made her that much
more attractive. My parents’ advisors would have said her hybrid nature made her “lesser” and that she wasn’t as dominant or powerful as we were.
I could tell you that was about as far from the truth as possible. Her magic felt radical and dangerous against my skin, but instead of working me up like the magic of those outside my own house usually did, I felt calmer than I had in ages. The contrast was absolutely intoxicating.
“Oh, totally.” She nodded earnestly before offering a sweet smile, “I liked it though.”
And oddly, that made me preen like a damn peacock. She liked my growls.
“Ama!” The deep voice calling her name in a frustrated tone instantly had me on edge. A rumble started in my chest as I tugged her behind me, watching the entrance to the courtyard with apprehension.
My action elicited a surprised sound from the woman, but she pressed a hand to my back, leaning into me and almost causing me to turn around. That wouldn’t be good though. No, I needed to avoid physical touch with this woman as much as possible. She made my skin feel like it was on fire—in a completely different way than I was used to.
“Dray,” she chided, seemingly amused at the Reaper who rounded the corner. “Stop using that tone. You make people think you’re mad at me or going to hurt me.”
The Reaper’s eyes narrowed on me briefly before jumping to hers, a frown on his face, “I am mad at you, though. You can’t take off like that. Especially when there are members of houses around here who aren’t nearly as friendly to ours as Hellfire.”
He wasn’t wrong. My parents wouldn’t want me to be aggressive toward the girl. The same, however, couldn’t be said for the other houses.
“Drayven.” He introduced himself, and I shook his hand, not bothering to give him my name since he’d already surmised I was from Hellfire. I had a feeling he was well aware of who I was. In fact, I had a feeling that this man knew everything and everyone at the Summit. He had a calculating and slightly cold demeanor that gave off a “don’t fuck with me unless you want me to expose your weakness and kill you” vibe.
Insurrection (Monarchs of Hell Book 1) Page 11
