I lost control before he'd even finished his sentence, coming savagely against the rocks while he pressed into me from behind. He groaned and let go too, coming with me as he pushed even harder, rooting himself deep in my body, filling me with every last drop of creamy cum he had.
By the time we were done, I was a spent puddle of contentment lying limply on the rocks. He chuckled and scooped me up into his arms, kissing me softly before dropping his forehead down to mine.
"I'll never forget this."
I smiled serenely and shook my head. "Neither will I."
He sat me down on my feet, and before I could even completely catch my breath, I found myself face-to-face with Rob, Cal and Dan trailing close behind him.
He stroked his rigid cock as he stared down at me. "We're feeling really cold, Jewels," he said in his best convincing voice. "Would you mind lighting a fire and warming us up?"
I was exhausted at the moment, but we all knew that as soon as my magical lust took over, my jewels would be ready for polishing. My precious peach would be ripe for the picking. Sexy Lexi would be in full-blown Sex Princess mode once more.
So, I bit my lip and started a fire…
A deliciously fevered inferno that lasted all weekend long.
Chapter 26
ARES
"They've defied you again, Zachy boy."
My whisper entered the king's ear, and his jaw ticked.
Grinning, since I knew he couldn't see me, I continued. "They had another wedding. Another honeymoon. And now all six of your sons are married to that cunning cunt of a princess."
He growled from his seat on the throne, never turning to look at me but allowing my poisonous words to sink deep into his skull, nonetheless.
"Speaking of cunts," I continued deviously, "hers had better be fucking magical in order to ensnare so many men. Have you ever wondered what it'd be like to sink deep inside of it?"
Finally, he glanced at me, and I forced the grin off my face just in time.
"No," he replied. "Sex doesn't do it for me. Torture does. And, yes, I've imagined sinking my blade into her pathetic flesh more times than I can count."
I raised both brows in appreciation of his depravity.
Okay, so the guy was a little fucked in the head. I could definitely work with that. I'd gotten to know him a little bit over the years as I sent him off on various and utterly pointless missions, all the while allowing him to gain strength, power, and a thirst for domination. So far, he hadn't disappointed me. His insanity was just what I needed in order to wreak mass havoc and devastation. This little partnership of ours would exceed and surpass all my previous exploits and triumphs; I just knew it.
This war was going to be epic.
"She's meaningless," I told him with a sneer. "They all are. They're not even your true sons. You are the only true ruler of Blackwood."
His whole body turned my way as he hissed the word, "What?"
I could tell he didn't want anyone at court to overhear our conversation, but he still very much wanted to know what I had to say. I kicked back in a small chair on his left and propped my feet up on the matching ottoman. The furniture was a last-minute request on my part, one old Zach Storm wouldn't dare deny me. Besides, as long as my seat looked less ostentatious than his, he didn't seem to really give a shit.
I nodded in response to his question and propped my hands behind my head. "It's true. They're the products of the gods, not you. Even barren Fran has a demigod child."
Livid did not even begin to describe his features. There was a crooked vein bulging out from his forehead, and his face was so red I wasn't sure if he was about to pass out or spontaneously combust.
"And these bastard princes are plotting to overthrow you." I shook my head in disgust. "You need to stop them. To squelch this rebellion before it even begins."
Zach rolled his eyes and sat back in his throne, his skin tone dipping into a paltry pink instead of red. Shame. It would have been kickass to watch his head explode.
"What would you have me do?" he asked mockingly. "I've already torched an entire town with a dragon, for fuck's sake. Should I burn it all down? Become a king of ashes and bones? A king of nothing?"
I sneered at him. "Better than you becoming the bones and ashes while they warm their asses on your throne."
His eyes narrowed, and he nodded his agreement.
"They've been making a fool out of you for far too long," I pressed, casually crossing my ankles on the footrest. "Even your servants are getting brave. Did you know, two of them even tricked you into thinking they were dead?"
His eyes went wide, and he turned to me, madness circling around those cold blue depths on loop. He seemed to know exactly which pair of servants I was referring to.
"There was never a wolf attack, was there?" he asked me, and I shook my head. "So, Alexis's pathetic little friend faked her death to avoid torture and servitude…"
His voice trailed off before he smashed his fist into the stone armrest of the throne. His knuckles hit hard enough to draw blood and chip a few pieces loose.
I grinned, pleased to be getting him so fired up. I could work with this. I needed all the hate he could bring in order to fuel the greatest war of my divine career.
"Bartri!" the king shouted, and one of her guards quickly approached and kneeled.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Find the servant girl Gemma and her stable boy lover and bring them back to me."
Bartri's eyes squinted slightly. "But they're dead, Your Majesty…"
I smiled pleasantly. "Oh, but they're not. They're camped out on the coast of Hydratica. You'll find them if you look."
"And you damned well better look," Zach threatened, making the guard's skin go pale.
I had to hand it to him, the man knew how to strike fear into the hearts of those around him.
"Yes, Your Majesty, of course," Bartri stuttered before bowing. He was out the door before Zach even blinked.
"Ravenold!" the king shouted to another guard. "Get me some alcohol and a bandage."
Ravenold bowed from his spot amongst the soldiers, then quickly disappeared as ordered.
I smirked. I could have given him another vial of my divine godly potion—which was really just Kool-Aid with a touch of magic dust—but he'd failed to bring me the Eye of the Sea, and promises were promises. My fucking fish tank back at the mansion was looking mighty bare thanks to him.
"You know they got the Eye back," I said, assuming he'd heard the news even though I knew damn well he hadn't. His spies were dropping like flies. Every day, more and more of his supporters were joining the Storm Princes' revolution. I grinned internally. All the more glorious it was going to be to watch them fall in the end.
Zach rolled his eyes and rubbed at his temples. "It doesn't surprise me. What does, however, are the lies and deceit surrounding their immaculate conception and birth. Those fucking whores bedded gods just so they wouldn't have to bear my offspring?"
I considered telling him he was shooting blanks, but I kinda liked stirring that particular pot, so I decided against it.
"The nerve of them," I agreed, shaking my head. "First you conquer their kingdoms, next you make them marry you and force yourself on them, then when you threaten to kill them for not getting knocked up, they run to the fucking gods?" I scoffed as if the very idea of their ungratefulness appalled me.
"Sorcerers don't like gods?" Zach asked, as if that were the most important part to take away from my previous run-on sentence. The dumbass still thought I was an all-powerful sorcerer living in an invisible pocket in the woods only accessible through a crumbling archway. My name was Ares for fuck's sake, and he still didn't realize. I mentally rolled my eyes.
"Hate them. Arrogant bastards, the lot of them."
Zachy boy nodded in agreement, as if he'd know a fucking god if he saw one…
"I wonder where the sixth demigod ran off to?" I prodded, trying to sound casual.
Ravenold returned
then with the king's cleaning supplies and gauze. Zach held out his hand in a bored sort of way and waited for old Raven to take the hint. After much too long of a pause, he finally got to work tending to the king's wound.
After the bandage was wrapped securely around his hand and Ravenold had made himself scarce, King Zach turned to fully face me. "You mean Francesca's bastard progeny? The one I never even knew existed?"
I smirked. "That's the one."
He sneered at just the thought of the child. "Why would I care?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Just thought you'd want to stick it to the man. It's been weeks, and your fake children still haven't attacked. I'm starting to think there's a reason they're still in Southern Blackwood. Perhaps they're looking for something… or rather, someone."
"The demigod?" he asked stupidly.
"Tia," I said, nodding. "You did know the child was a she, right? And you did know Fran's servant ran off with the child years ago and headed south, right?"
Of course he fucking hadn't.
I didn't wait for him to reply. "Anyway, I just thought it might send a meaningful message to those little shits if we got to her first, kidnapped her, and forced her to join our side."
Zach's return smile was half maniacal. "I like the way you think, wizard."
"Sorcerer," I corrected, to which he promptly apologized. "While we're down there, let's send the Storms an actual message. One that sets all the final pieces into play."
Zach's brow rose. "And what might that be?"
I smirked. He was feeding right into the palm of my hand.
"We'll reveal a bit of our hand and give them an ultimatum. Tell them we have their friends and loved ones held captive, and if they don't meet us up north in three days, we'll kill them all. No more pissing around and waiting on your ex-kids to show up. We'll force them to show."
Zach's wheels were turning underneath that thick skull of his, but I could tell he hadn't quite caught up to me yet, so I continued explaining.
"When they agree—because, let's face it, they're pussies like that—we'll ambush them, squelching their so-called revolution on the spot. We could even use the dragon again…"
The king's eyes lit up. "Oh, I do so love the carnage and devastation that wicked beast can cause."
Me too, Zachy boy, me too.
I held out both arms and cocked my head. "What do you say?"
He stood up right then and there and adjusted his crown. "I say we fly to Southern Blackwood and kidnap us a demigod."
I could practically feel my metaphorical horns curling.
It was finally showtime.
Chapter 27
ALEXIS
Our weekend honeymoon was the calm before the storm.
We should have known. We never had moments of happiness and joy without pain and sorrow lingering in the abysmal wake.
We'd barely been back in Blackdell for ten minutes, changing clothes in our tiny room in the inn, before a soldier knocked at the door.
Rob strode over to answer it, rolling the sleeves of his charcoal gray shirt as he went. "Yes?"
"Messenger Davis reporting," a slow, droning voice replied. "I have a message for you, Your Majesty."
Rob crossed his tatted arms and licked his bottom lip. "All right. Let's have it."
The messenger reached out to deposit a letter in Rob's hand, and I quickly noticed the holes rotting through the flesh of his arm. A zombie messenger. I wondered when Sohsol would ever cease to amaze me?
"Bastard Traitors to the Blackwood Throne," Rob read aloud from the letter in his hands. His brow quirked and an amused half smile lit up his luscious lips. "You think this means the Storm King finally found out we're not really his sons?"
I bit my lip and shrugged. "Hell if I know."
"Just keep reading," Dan demanded nervously.
Rob sighed and started again.
Bastard Traitors to the Blackwood Throne,
I have your sister, Tia. I have your friend Gemma. I have what's left of your duplicitous mothers. I have every last member of your extended families. And I have an ultimatum.
Meet me at the Temple of Hera in three days' time, or so help me gods, I will kill every last one of them.
Sincerely,
King Zacharias,
The one true king of Blackwood.
I was going to be sick.
Rob balled the letter up and threw it into the fireplace while I fought the urge to puke.
"Who the fuck brought this to us?" he bellowed at the zombie messenger.
"We're not sure, Your Majesty," the zombie replied. "All we know is that it bears the Storm King's seal."
Rob sighed. "Yes, that's because the Storm King wrote it. What I want to know is how he snuck down here and escaped back up north without any of us noticing."
The zombie merely shrugged. "No idea, Your Majesty."
Rob closed his eyes, probably against the urge to chuck the messenger into the fire as he had the letter. "Thank you, Davis. You're dismissed."
Davis bowed and limped out of our room on rotting legs, leaving us in a wake of heavy silence.
"He has Gemma," I said eventually, feeling my voice raise a couple octaves in panic. "How the fuck did he find out she was alive? How the fuck did he find her at all?"
"I don't know, Jewels," Rob said calmingly, "but we're going to do everything we can to make sure she stays alive."
I ran my hands through my hair and pulled at the roots. "Do you honestly believe any of them are still there? Or do you think he's already killed them?"
Ash reached out and pulled me into his chest. "Don't think like that, Sweets."
"Do you honestly think he ever had them?" Dan countered with a shrug. "It could be a bluff."
Ben gave his brother the side eye. "Have you ever known that man to bluff? Especially where pain and torture were concerned?"
Dan sighed. "Way to make it better, Ben. Now Lexi is going to be puking for sure."
"Ah, shit, I'm sorry, Sailor," he apologized.
Luckily, I'd been able to suppress the urge once more, but his response was definitely not helpful. If the Storm King had Tia and Gemma and all of our mothers—except the ones we'd recently reanimated—then he was probably abusing them that very moment.
"We should check the cabin," Cal decided. "Make sure Tia and her mother…"
He trailed off, because honestly, what the hell was he going to say? Make sure they were actually kidnapped? Make sure they weren't, in fact, dead? We were just out there in the woods. Why the hell hadn't we heard anything? It killed me to think about it.
"What are we going to do if we find the place empty?" Criss asked, tucking his hands deep into his pants pockets while he rocked on his heels.
"Then, we're going to pack up and travel north," Rob decided. He seemed like he wanted to say more, but upon studying my face, he remained silent. I must've looked like a nervous wreck.
My scattered thoughts kept racing back to Gem, though, and whether or not she was okay. I rehashed every conversation the two of us had ever engaged in, recalled as many memories as I could think of, and just tried to stay positive, which was damn near impossible.
Why did that bastard have to find them? Why couldn't she and Tristan just live out their days in peace on the coast of Hydratica, catching fish and trading pearls and never once having to worry about senseless torture or accidental murder?
The word pearl made me think of the Eye of the Sea, which then made me think of the gods and Ares. If there was one conniving fucker who would've loved to rat Gem and Tris out to the king, then it was him. He was the reason my friend's life was in danger.
Where the fuck was Dion anyway? He should have been back by now, bringing with him Zeus and maybe even Hades and helping us rid our world of that psychotic war god once and for all.
Wait.
Pearls and portals and gods, oh my…
I suddenly had an idea.
We mounted our horses and trekked—yet again—through
the snowy woods. But when we arrived at the cabin, it became apparent rather quickly that it had all been for nothing.
Broken branches and loose pine needles littered the forest floor. Burn marks raced across the dirt where the snow used to lie and ran up the trunks of charcoaled trees. The cabin's front door had been ripped from its hinges and tossed to the side, and inside, furniture was toppled over and glass was shattered everywhere.
Clearly the Storm King had been there… and on the back of a dragon if I had to guess.
Guilt overwhelmed me as I recalled Rob's warning. Maybe we should have killed the poor beast after all? Not because he deserved it, but as a courtesy so he couldn't be used by the wicked king anymore.
Cal sighed as he studied the wreckage. "Well, looks like we're heading north once more."
The guys nodded their agreement, but I simply held out my hand. Tucked into the palm of my mitten was a tiny pearl.
"Whatcha got there, Sweets?" Ash asked, coming closer to see.
Cal, for some reason, seemed to know right away what it was. "Peach… why did you bring the Eye of the Sea out here?"
I sighed, and my breath puffed out in a white cloud. "Because we're running out of time and options. Thane was going to use the Eye to open a portal to the Underworld. Why don't we use it to open a portal to the realm of the gods?"
"Why the hell would we do that?" Rob asked, staring at me like I'd grown another head.
"Because we need their help!" I shouted. I wasn't angry at him in particular but rather frustrated in general. Ares had to go, and he had to go now. "Dion never came back, but since we have the pearl, we could go to him."
"And do what?" Criss asked uncertainly. "Beg Zeus to help us?"
I shrugged. "Something like that, yeah. Anything is better than nothing at this point."
No one said anything for a long while. No agreements. No disagreements. There was just nothingness and silence. I was beginning to feel like all hope was actually lost, that no matter what we did or didn't do, we were doomed to fail at the hand of a god who wanted nothing less than death, destruction, and discord.
Perfect Storms (Storms of Blackwood Book 4) Page 23
