A Token's Worth (Spawn of Darkness Book 1)

by S. A. Parker

Day bristles and I almost wet my panties, because he’s a big, scary god with obvious anger issues.

  Wow. Seems like I’ve walked right into the middle of a family dispute. I’m not sure if I’m expected to mediate, but I don’t think I’m up to the challenge right now.

  “And we’ll continue to lose it, especially if you scare away our first wish in almost two hundred and fifty years,” Dawn states, which starts an all-out bickering contest from the other two.

  I get the feeling Dawn’s the only one amongst them with any sense. So much for ancient wisdom. Talking about sense, I have enough of it to know not to get further involved with these so-called gods.

  “Actually, I made a mistake,” I yell over their ramble. They look blankly towards me, as if they’d entirely forgotten I was here. Bastards. “You can all kindly fuck off. Sorry for the inconvenience.” I give them a ‘shooing’ motion with my hands. I’ll probably get skinned alive for that, but the alternative predatory god gang-bang isn’t that appealing, either.

  Shut your labia, vagina, you’re supposed to be sleeping off your trauma.

  These men are big and scary, and from my knowledge, centuries old and powerful. I’ve got enough men with egos in my life, and if these guys are closely associated with King Sterling, as is rumoured, no fucking thank you.

  Well, fuck me, now I well and truly have their attention. Three pairs of eyes look my way—powder blue, molten amber, and deep navy. It’s making my insides quiver in fear, and maybe a little arousal, though I choose to ignore that. Fucking vagina’s a menace. I lift my chin, just to be sure I look strong, confident, and unaroused.

  Dawn laughs. “No, mortal, that’s not actually how this works. You see, your words just created a binding contract between us.”

  Ahh …

  “Fuck that, unbind it.” That’s the obvious solution to this scenario. I don’t want to be bound to them, and I’m sure they don’t want to be bound to a Lesser Fae female.

  “Impossible,” Day says, taking over the reins in his booming voice that makes me feel about as small as my underappreciated nipples. “You can’t unbind from us, not unless you’re prepared to die in the process. We will not die because we’re immortal Fae, but you will wither into nothing but a small pile of worthless dust.”

  Wow, so Day’s an arsehole. Duly noted.

  “That’s a bit harsh, what about buyer’s remorse?” A valid question, considering I unwillingly and unknowingly entered into this godforsaken contract.

  “Nobody ever has buyer’s remorse—look at us.” Night sweeps his hands from the top of his black, sculptured god wear, gesturing all the way down to his shit kicking boots. He looks as badass as I wish I felt right now. But I don’t feel badass. Mainly because I’m stuck in the presence of three gods who have bound themselves to my soul, and I’m almost certain I don’t get this supposed wish for free, because these guys aren’t exactly pure. Not from what I’ve heard.

  “I have buyer’s remorse,” I state, taking a step back, which brings me extremely close to the cliff’s edge.

  “Well suck it up, little mortal. You’re stuck with us,” growls Day, and I almost wet my prostitute-panties.

  They take a step forward.

  There’s a sudden flash of white. The three of them curse colourfully as I’m hit with another wave of warmth. “Oomph.”

  I’m curled over, gulping air, when I see a new set of feet standing before me. No … “Why the fuck is there another one?” I gasp, recovering.

  Dusk, the fourth Sun God, dressed in golden god wear, is all gleaming perfection. Nobody should look that good.

  “Great question,” Day sneers, baring his canines at Dusk.

  “I wasn’t expecting a welcoming party, I would’ve brought snacks.” Dusk’s voice is deep and husky, and he has a wicked gleam in his eye when he looks me over. My traitorous whore vagina’s sniffing the air like a rogue bitch in heat.

  “So … why are you here?” Night asks Dusk, though Dusk doesn’t respond. Instead, he looks straight past Night, to Day, who’s watching him like a predator on a hunt for a dusk feast to feed his starving family.

  “Why the fuck are you here, Day?” Dusk growls.

  Night rolls his eyes and intervenes, stepping between the two. “Because she made her wish right on the threshold this morning. So, why are you here?”

  Dusk shrugs with a face all nonchalant and perfect looking. “It’s dusk somewhere in the world at the moment.”

  The other three glare at him.

  “What? I’m not missing out on the first fucking wish in over two centuries just because she had a moment at the wrong fucking time of day. Nope. Count me the fuck in.”

  “You say fuck a lot,” I interject. Not that I can talk—my inner monologue consists primarily of the word fuck.

  Dusk shifts his attention to me, which, I’m not going to lie, makes me weak at the knees. My vagina’s practically purring and needs a decent talking to, because her lack of self-preservation skills leave a lot to be desired.

  “That’s because I fuck a lot.” He throws me a wink.

  I shiver a little. The bitch between my legs wants to pee all over him and mark her territory. She’s so unladylike sometimes.

  They aren’t at all how the stories portray them to be. They don’t seem all that godly, and they haven’t killed me yet which is strange, because I’ve spoken out of turn eight times already. I’m confused. They seem more interested in bickering and growling like animals than running the world. Not that I think that’s their job … that’s the King’s job, but still. How did ancient men become so petty? Immortality must be boring.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” Dusk asks, brow furrowing.

  Ok, so my head’s cocked to the side and I’m studying him intently, as if he has five arms and a penis protruding from his forehead. I straighten and compose myself. “Nothing. You guys just aren’t what I expected.”

  “What were you expecting?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t expect my body to still be intact and functioning at this point, though.” And by ‘body’ I mean my vagina, but I’m not going to bring that up right now and put ideas in those ancient heads of theirs. All eight of them.

  Dusk arches a perfect golden brow. “Just say the word and I’m more than happy to do a quality control check on just how functional your body still is.” His voice is laced with a husky undertone that sends tingles straight to my randy vagina. Where’s a chastity belt when I need one?

  “Dusk, goddamnit, I know you have a taste for Lesser Fae flesh but please, keep it in your pants for one goddamn sun cycle,” Day spits.

  “You’re really damning those gods, aren’t you?” I say, before I can rein my fucking mouth in. I swear Day’s canines lengthen. Scary.

  “We are the fucking gods. And believe me, we’re already damned.”

  My alarm bells are ringing, even though my vagina’s ears are perked and she’s snatching at thin air. She has a mind of her own and doesn’t know what’s good for her. If getting lumped with these primal High Fae Gods, who will probably condone torture like I’ve never experienced before, is my B option, I don’t want it. Sorry, vagina.

  I’m fucked either way. Do I want the pain drawn out, or over in a flash?

  Easy answer.

  “Right, well, good for you lot,” I say, in the merriest voice I can muster. “I’ve decided I want these wishes after all.”

  They look at me quizzically, but it’s Night, all dark and mysterious, who answers. “Wish, little one. Not wishes.”

  I look at him flatly, because he’s being a slippery sausage whether he realises it or not. “No … wishes. Four of you are here, that means I get four wishes.”

  They study me as if I’ve just grown a penis. I don’t bother telling them that I won’t be needing all four, but I like to exercise my rights as a living mortal. Now that I have some, that is.

  Dusk is the first to answer, grinding his jaw as if he’s truly pissed that I called th
em out on the shit deal they were offering me. “Fine. Four linked fucking wishes. I’ll take the first one. What’s it to be, mortal?”

  The waves crashing at the bottom of the cliff send up plumes of sea spray that dance over my skin and make it pebble. I straighten my shoulders, trying to look a little badass even though I feel utterly deflated. Despite my small victory, my body still aches and I smell like a cum dumpster. Like I said, I’ve had enough.

  “I want to be fearless.”

  Dusk clears his throat. “No can do. I can’t permanently change your makeup. You’re born with what you’re born with.” He may sound like sultry sex on a stick, but he has a crude gleam in his eyes that suggests he has a taste for control. I’ve become good at reading men.

  “What about temporarily?”

  Dusk’s frown deepens as he studies me, golden eyes smouldering. I’m sure girls go weak at the knees for him, right before he cuffs them and fucks them seven ways sideways until they’re screaming out the safe word. “Yes … I’m able to do that.”

  Great. No time to lose my testicles now. “Do it then,” I say in my best ‘fearless’ tone, because I like to play the part seamlessly.

  They shuffle about me as Dusk and I hold each other’s gaze. “Is that your wish?”

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod. “Yes.”

  His jaw stiffens, a muscle along it twitching as he clenches his fists. “Then say it,” he snaps.

  Fuck me, I bet his bedroom talk is on point.

  “I wish for you to make me fearless for five minutes.” Why five minutes? Because it seems High Fae are slippery, and momentarily could be interpreted any way he wants to interpret it. I’ve been fucked enough today, I’m not interested in it happening again.

  He exhales and closes his eyes, drawing a deep breath then opening them again. They appear to blaze a deeper hue of gold as a warm wash envelopes me. I feel a metaphorical weight lift from my shoulders.

  I close my eyes, straighten, stretch my arms and crack my neck.

  Fuck yes. That’s what I’m talking about. I’m fucking invincible.

  I open my eyes and smile, catching the glares of four very serious looking gods. I smile wider, because this is the bees-fucking-knees. I can do anything.

  Dusk catches my gaze and I throw him a wink, because I’m totally badass right now. “Thanks.”

  I saunter a step backwards, towards the edge of the cliff that no longer seems so frightening. But sauntering like a badass hurts like a motherfucker because my arse definitely took a beating today.

  The four males converge, nostrils flared. They probably want a go too, sadistic pricks.

  Another step and I reach the edge. I don’t even look down before I throw myself off backwards. I’m fearless as fuck, and like I said, I’m done.

  I free-fall, spinning so I’m falling face first.

  I’m flying.

  The thought flutters through my mind that this is the best way to go, because right now I feel more alive than ever. But then I hit something hard and warm, halting my progress towards the rocks below.

  I’m swept into a storm that sends me tumbling into a sea of white and out of consciousness.

  I really hope this is fucking heaven.

  Chapter Three

  I’m pretty sure I’m not dead when I come to. Fuck it. Not that I open my eyes immediately, but I can hear two males bickering a short distance away.

  I strain to hear what they’re saying, trying to ascertain as much as I can about my surroundings before I make it obvious I’m no longer passed out, because I may need to formulate an escape plan.

  “Well, that was a fucking disaster. Somehow, you just broke the law, twice.” Day’s voice makes my vagina think dirty thoughts, because it’s more frightening than ever.

  “You would’ve done the same, cockhead. Admit it.” Dusk, and he just said ‘cockhead’. Wow. I thought I was immature.

  “I’m not saying I wouldn’t have, I’m just saying this is a disaster that shouldn’t have been possible in the first place. We might get skinned alive for it.” Day again. My vagina’s panting. Randy tart.

  And who would skin them alive? They’re fucking gods!

  “He won’t find out.” This comes from a different voice, I think it’s Dawn’s. “I’ll hide her in my territory.”

  “Fuck off.” Dusk again. He has that deep husky voice that probably lures even the most prudish virgins out of hiding, though I doubt there’s many of them about these days. He sounds like he’s only a few feet away from me now. “You don’t get to keep her. My drako needs a friend. I want her.”

  “No. If the old territory lines still applied she would technically be under my protection anyway. There’s no point in arguing with me over this.” What the hell is Dawn talking about?

  “Well they don’t still apply, and we all know why that is, so moving the fuck on. I’ve got an antisocial drako with attachment issues. The toddler stage is killing me, and she still has another thirty fucking years of it to go. She needs a woman’s touch …”

  What the fuck is going on?

  Day scoffs. “Doesn’t she get exposed to a new woman every day, and hate every single one of them? Your argument’s falling flat, arsehole. The mortal pet will come to the Day Kingdom with me. Case closed.”

  Yup, I’m definitely not dead. Unless I died and went to hell. In which case I’m fucked, literally, because I’m pretty sure at least two of the four Sun Gods are sadists. If only I wasn’t so good at reading men.

  “She’s not a pet,” Night rumbles, in his seductive bedroom voice that heats my nether regions.

  “She owes me payment for her wish, so you can all fuck off. She’s mine.” Dusk again. And payment? I knew I wasn’t getting something for nothing! Slippery sadistic Fae Gods!

  “Yeah well, she owes us all, in case you’ve forgotten. You’ll just have to share the mortal pet with the rest of us until our contracts are paid out.” Day again. I owe them all? But I only got one wish! I’m not liking the way this conversation’s going.

  “I’m okay with sharing. I like to share.” Night. Of course he’s okay to share—he’s the sultry seductive type. He probably has his own harem.

  They all probably have their own harems!

  Fuck. That.

  I’m out.

  I snap my eyes open, quickly taking in my surroundings. Which are … disorientating. The air about me is shimmering with overwhelming light, creating millions of teeny tiny rainbows and suffocating my bearings.

  Woah, head spin.

  What the fuck?

  “By the way, she’s awake.”

  “Could’ve said that earlier, Dawn!”

  “Nah.”

  My eyes try to adjust, unsuccessfully. How long have I been out for? Fuck knows, but I need to get away. I need to run. Now. Not that I can see the ground, but hey, at least I can feel it. I can also feel my broken bits throbbing inside me.

  I stumble to my feet, shielding my eyes from the brightness of this weird little world, fumble forward a few steps and bang into something firm and warm. Thick arms wrap around me.

  Ugh. This really is not my day.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Dropping my hand, I blink in the direction of Dusk’s voice, almost two heads higher than me. My vagina likes them tall. Calm your labia, twat.

  He slowly comes into focus, those tiny rainbows coagulating to form the Sun God holding me captive.

  I clear my throat, because all that golden skin, golden hair, and golden everything is disarming at such close proximity. High cheekbones and a square jawline to boot, not to mention that chin dimple. Even my wounded sexual appetite has awakened. Down girl.

  “Ahhhh, home. I’m going home,” I state in a fearless tone, even though I’m no longer fearless. Doesn’t hurt to fake it.

  He shakes his head, ruffling his curls. “You lost the right to make that choice when you threw yourself off a cliff. Now, unfortunately for you, you’re our respon
sibility.” He frowns, and I can’t be certain, but his eyes seem to darken as his arms tighten around me ever so slightly. “Stupid mortal.”

  “I’m my own responsibility, thank you very much!”

  I wriggle to escape, but he spins me around, large hands wrapping around my bruised wrists. I wince and his hold loosens. Footsteps approach and I’m faced with three more gods—three more judgmental glares sharpening from the sea of rainbow. They dip to the hands grasping my wrists, then back to my face.

  My lungs deflate, my body becomes slack, because these men … although they’re intimidating with physiques built for the battlefield and surely not everyday use, they’re stunning. My vagina and I agree on something, for a change.

  Each of them is unique, physically sculptured to represent their time in the sun cycle.

  Dawn, auburn haired with molten amber eyes and honey skin. He towers over me, as they all do. He’s pretty, with high cheekbones and fine hands. I’m also fairly certain he’s a sadist. Even though he’s calmly composed, there’s something about the gleam in his eyes that I recognise from past experiences. I try not to judge a book by its cover, though I’m usually right. Not to jingle my own bell or anything, but … ring a ding ding.

  Then there’s Day, all platinum hair and chiselled beauty—the way I would depict a god if I were to draw one. He’s the tallest, yet perfectly proportioned with broad shoulders and a tapered waistline. Day likes control, I can see that already. Somehow, I’ve pissed him off, because he’s looking angry right now, staring at me with a glare heavier than a two-tonne penis standing to attention, and I don’t particularly want to learn the consequences of said anger. My vagina does, but I’m sending her to the sin bin. She needs some time out before she digs us into a hole writhing with godly penises.

  I shift my gaze to Night with his tousled ebony hair, olive skin, full lips and eyes a rich tone of cobalt blue. He’s looking at me like he wants to devour me whole, and hell, it’s kind of working.

  Wait …

  Fuck. I’m surrounded by four gorgeous gods who want to keep me as their pet, and I’ve just lost my way out … not that I know where the hell we are right now. All I can see are rainbows and sexy Sun Gods.