by Emma Dean
“The best thing about a female is she never has to stop,” Lucien said against her lips, reaching down to slide his fingers through her folds. His thumb rubbed small, slow circles into her clit, and she pressed against him, pulsing around Ethan.
“Even when you can’t hold yourself up anymore,” Ethan said, trailing his hand down her spine.
“We can hold you up,” Lucien finished, wrapping her arms around his neck. He stared into her eyes, searching. “Kiss me.”
Mika couldn’t say no even if she’d wanted to. Not with Lucien holding her, eyes begging for her to do this one thing for him. So, she pressed her lips to his and bit down hard enough she tasted blood.
Lucien groaned and bit her back until their blood mingled and Ethan slowly stroked in and out of her, doing all the work with those lumberjack muscles of his. He held her hips and lifted her up and down, dropping her slightly so the penetration was sharp and delicious and hit the perfect spot deep inside.
“I’m already close,” she whispered. Lucien ate up her words and slid his tongue into her mouth, drinking up every sound she made every time Ethan dropped her.
But Lucien wasn’t willing to be a bystander. He helped Ethan lift her, helped him circle her hips every time she dropped down so she would grind against Ethan, and the whole time his thumb was making those maddening, slow circles on her clit.
“Come with me, Mika,” Ethan urged, his pace getting faster. “I know you can. Come with me.”
Lucien’s pace picked up as well, the pressure of his small circles just enough to send her over the edge one last time. She didn’t even have the energy to scream. Mika held onto Lucien and bit down on his shoulder as her entire body seized around Ethan while he thrust hard and fast into her from underneath.
Twin growls rippled through the room and she would have collapsed if it weren’t for Lucien holding her, just like he said he would.
“Perfect,” Ethan whispered, running his hand up and down her spine. “So beautiful.”
“The best thing that ever happened to me,” Lucien agreed, laying her down on the bed gently.
Ethan pressed a kiss to the back of her neck and then disappeared from the bed. When he came back, he had sweats for everyone and a murmured spell to clean everything up.
It was adorable the way Lucien and Ethan worked together to help put the sweats on her. Mika smiled and rolled into Lucien, her face against his chest. She was almost asleep by the time Ethan came up behind her, wrapping his arm around her.
Their scents intertwined and somehow became one. Cinnamon rain, she mused as she drifted off to sleep.
Her fox and her storm.
23
Mr. Park led them through the fox den, past gardens and cottages and various stands that made up a sort of trade market with colorful stalls and the like, but it seemed more for the social interaction than anything.
She watched as someone went around with a clipboard, taking requests for whatever it was that people wanted to order from the city, or sell. It was strange to think about all those times she’d been to the farmer’s market and bought various items. How many were from fox shifters and the like?
“The library is our shining jewel,” Mr. Park told her and the others. “Ravens bring us gold in exchange for the ability to access it. It’s over 6,000 years old.”
“It’s really been here for that long?” Audrey asked, looking up at the trees that shaded the entire den.
“The collection of books, yes,” Mr. Park explained. “But the collection itself has moved a few times.”
Hunter nodded as if he’d expected that answer, but Finnick and Ash looked just as awestruck and fascinated as the rest of them.
“We actually wanted to talk to you and your pack alpha about that,” Selene said carefully. “As witches and outsiders, we’re prepared to trade for the same privilege the ravens have received.”
Lucien’s dad smiled at that, stopping in front of the largest building in the den, nearly as impressive as the library in Morgana from the outside, but Mika had a feeling it was a lot bigger than it looked on the inside.
“I’ll let the Alpha know.” Mr. Park gave Lucien a nod. “I’m sure there are a few things we could use.”
Mika wondered if they’d met the pack Alpha already and why they wouldn’t have been there to greet them in the first place. Maybe the previous night had been some kind of test and they’d passed.
“Please don’t touch anything without speaking to a librarian first,” Mr. Park warned as he opened the door. “Some of these books have copies we’d prefer you use instead of the real thing. If you don’t know which books you need specifically, please mention your field of interest to one of the librarians and they will help you find whatever you need. There is no subject too taboo, or any book that is restricted.”
“Yes!” Finnick shouted, pumping his fist in the air. “Tentacle porn here I come.”
Ash rolled his eyes. “Like you don’t already watch that.”
“Yeah, but Kenzie won’t download the stuff banned in the U.S.”
Their voices faded as they walked through the door with Hunter silently following behind them.
Lucien studied her as she hesitated. “We can always come back when we don’t have a deadline if you want to see the tentacle porn too.”
She snorted. “Clearly I’m missing out.”
“It’s hard to find ones where all parties are enjoying the activity,” Ethan mused. “Let’s see what they have on other, more taboo subjects though like blood witches.”
Mika stared at Ethan, still processing the fact that he watched, and apparently liked, tentacle porn.
“My favorite is that guy who does chores for the human women,” Corbin said, eyeing the demon suspiciously when he winked as he walked by, appearing out of nowhere.
“Oh, the guy who’s just super wholesome?” Ethan asked with a laugh. “I love him.”
Mika couldn’t decide if she was horrified or amused at the turn the conversation had taken. A bit of both she assumed.
“Lesbian hentai is better than tentacle porn,” Audrey whispered conspiratorially as she walked into the library.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t watch porn?” Mika demanded, suddenly feeling left out and weird.
“Prude,” Lucien teased. “Such a good little witch. Now stop procrastinating.” He shoved her through the door.
“I’m not a prude,” she muttered, looking up, and then up.
Six stories?
The mountain the library was built into to keep the whole place cool and dry didn’t look tall enough to support a six-story library.
“There’s ten floors total and each is the size of a football field,” Lucien explained. “Four more go down underground.”
Her jaw dropped in awe as she spun slowly in a circle to take it all in. There was so much light coming in from massive windows on the east side and in the ceiling. But everywhere else was completely covered in books.
Millions of them.
“This is amazing,” Selene murmured, looking up at the balconies and spiral staircases so one could truly appreciate the magnificence from every floor. “More books and knowledge than I’ve ever seen in a witch library.”
“That’s because more than half of our inventory witches don’t know even exists,” a quiet, female fox said as she came up to Selene. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had witches here. Fifteen hundred years or so I believe.”
“1,639 years to be precise,” a passing librarian said as he walked past with a stack of what looked like manga for Finnick.
“There you go,” she said with a small smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Matriarch Kavanagh, Mika, Ethan, and Audrey.”
Kenzie was already talking to another librarian about voids with Hunter and Eisheth on either side. Finnick was devouring the manga as fast as he could while Ash gently asked one of the other librarians for a tour.
“I am Mel, the alpha of this pack.” The female fox smiled up a
t Mika. “Or chaos is popular I’ve heard.”
It was hard to breathe for a moment. Mika almost glared at Lucien for not warning her, but witch society insisted she respond to the highest ranking first. Without hesitation she stepped forward, took the vixen’s hands, and kissed each cheek.
“It’s a pleasure to meet Lucien’s Alpha. I owe you much for allowing us here.”
Mel smiled wickedly at Lucien. “Don’t be angry with him. I forced him to tell me why I should ever let a witch within our wards again and he told me what you are. It’s been a very long time since we’ve had the honor of helping a blood witch and her family.”
“We’re willing to trade, as we did in the old days,” Selene offered. “I recognize the risk you took in allowing all of us, not just Mika.”
“Yes, well don’t worry Matriarch. I’ve got a list for you and your friends. And you, would you like to see our gardens?” Mel asked Ethan. “You smell like rain and soil.”
Lucien choked on his laughter, but Ethan beamed.
Squeezing his hand, Mika released him. “Go, you know where I’ll be for the rest of the day.”
Corbin sighed. “I’m going to take a nap. We have training to do later, don’t forget.” He pecked her cheek before folding in on himself and flapping to one of the railings so he could perch.
He promptly fell asleep, beak tucked under his wing.
The Alpha smiled up at the raven fondly like he was nothing more than an adorable child and not the deadliest assassin in his flock. “Corbin came here with his flock when he was only five years old. The universe has an interesting sense of humor, sending him here with you.” She turned to Ethan then. “I’ll take you to the plants. My second will bring you the list Matriarch Kavanagh. And Mika, take care of Lucien or I’ll gut you myself.”
Her stomach dropped as Mel led Ethan back outside.
If Lucien hadn’t already pledged himself to her, she would have known it by that statement alone.
His Alpha saw him as hers—as Mika’s to protect.
Not that she would let anything happen to any of them.
“I wouldn’t let her gut you,” Lucien said with a little nervous laugh. He glanced up at Corbin and then herded her, Selene, and Audrey farther into the library.
“What do you want to look at first?” Lucien asked, looking around for someone to help them. “I know this place well enough, but not as good as even the newest librarian.
And suddenly, a librarian was there.
“I’d like to see books on battle magic and enchantments,” Audrey told the new fox. “Meet back here when we’ve got a good stack?”
Mika nodded and watched as her best friend disappeared with yet another librarian. Exactly how many were there?
It was just her, Selene, and Lucien now.
“I’m not sure I’m going to win the challenge,” she confessed quietly to Selene. “Claire has had a lot more practice with magic than I have.”
“I’ll train with you every night until the challenge,” Selene promised. “Between practice and a few spells Claire can’t possibly know, I think you’ll win.”
Mika nodded and smiled at the approaching librarian. “But, am I more powerful than her?”
Selene shrugged and glanced at Lucien who held his hands up, clearly wanting no part of this conversation. “If you win, then supposedly yes. But I think you and Claire are close in sheer strength of power based on what I’ve seen from both of you. You have blood magic though which essentially means you have infinite power and strength. So…yes, I think you’re more powerful.”
“The game isn’t always about power,” Lucien murmured. “It’s about being the smartest and cleverest, about using what you have in ways that make you better than the opponent despite not having the same strength, speed, or power. Look at Kenzie for example. Or the foxes against the wolves.”
“What can I help you with?” the librarian asked Mika.
She had to take a page out of the foxes’ book and be the cleverest, not just the strongest. Audrey was on battle magic which gave Mika the opportunity to finally get the answers she’d been looking for.
“I want the book of witch challenges unaltered and up to date. Every single book you have on blood witches specifically, not just blood magic. Every book on the Marshall clan, the Hellfire Society, the Council of Paranormals, and the Morrigan. As well as every book that even mentions blood crystals and blood stones. Then finally, the books on blood magic.”
Mika tugged on the charm that allowed her to speed read. “Please and thank you.”
The librarian blinked and Lucien rolled his eyes. “She’s a bit demanding.”
“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” the librarian told her, waving so she would follow along.
“Me too.”
There had to be answers to her questions in one of those books and Mika planned to sit here and read them all until she found them. She was done being jerked around by all the secrets and mysteries.
24
The librarian had found at least one book on each subject she’d asked for and, in most cases, more than one. It had taken all of five minutes for her to hand the book of witch challenges to Mika.
“How did you get this?” Selene asked.
“This library is 6,000 years old. Many books were spelled to update copies around the world,” the librarian said, as if it were obvious. “How else would we stay up to date?”
For the first time in a long time Mika didn’t feel despair. She felt like maybe, just maybe she’d find out what happened in that two-hundred-year gap that had even affected the infernal edition of her clan book. Maybe she’d even get lucky enough to figure out why blood witches had been wiped from the collective paranormal memory.
Foxes were clever though. Of course, if anyone would have up to date and accurate copies, it would be them.
She cracked that book open while Lucien helped the librarian gather the others.
The writing was cramped and barely legible but the book itself was in perfect condition even if it looked as old and ancient as the one that Takahashi had called in to record Mika and Claire’s challenge.
Selene leaned over Mika’s shoulder, peering at the names listed and the various dates. Mika flipped to the last page with writing on it. Odd that there was enough space in the book for a thousand more names. It was only half-filled, but no doubt it was enchanted and would never fill completely.
“What’s the name before yours?” Selene asked. Mika could tell the other witch was trying her best not to take over and just rip the thing from Mika’s hands, so she shoved it between them.
“Look at the date,” Mika murmured.
“Is that…” Selene murmured something and held up the thumb and index finger of both hands to make a box, magnifying the writing. “Cassandra Jadis.”
Mika’s heart skipped a beat. “Cassandra Jadis, the current Head Witch?”
“That’s what it says. She challenged the last Head Witch for the position. I didn’t know that.”
“Because she’d almost be three hundred years old per this,” Mika reminded Selene. “With some kind of wicked age-reversal spell.”
Selene wriggled her fingers to dissipate the spell and then sat back. “I wouldn’t have guessed she was a day over seventy.”
“I think that’s the point.”
“And then after her…no more challenges.” Selene pursed her lips. “Interesting.”
“If by interesting you mean suspicious.” Mika didn’t know what to make of the information, but she knew that it was no coincidence the current Head Witch had challenged for her position just before marriages started coming into fashion and challenges went out of fashion.
Whatever was going on, Cassandra was part of it, if not right in the thick of it.
“I don’t know of any anti-aging spells that could hold up as well as the one she uses,” Selene admitted. “And my grandmother runs a company based on cosmetic spells.”
“I do.” Mika
chewed on her lip and flipped through the pages until she saw a challenge for witch queen.
Someone had tried to challenge Morgana, the last witch queen, and failed. Based on the records that someone was Head Witch, but not a blood witch. The challenge hadn’t ended well either.
“There’s a few blood magic spells that could do it,” Mika explained. “Though Cassandra would need the blood of her familiar and the blood of a female witch who hasn’t fully matured yet.”
Selene’s face went pale and she looked like she might be sick. “Sacrifices?”
Mika shrugged. “No, not necessarily. Blood magic doesn’t usually require the death of the host, just the right amount of blood.”
“You know, I’ve studied and used the odd blood magic spell, and I was always surprised by the ingredients for some of them.”
Selene eyed Mika and she pretended not to notice as she closed the book on witch challenges and passed it over to the matriarch.
“Why do you think it’s become taboo?” Selene asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“Necromancy also,” Selene mused, idly flipping through the pages of challenges. “Of course, there are the darker spells that actually do require death, but most of them are harmless. It’s easy enough to get body parts for spells without having to kill anyone.”
Mika decided not to ask as she opened a book with the Council of Paranormals seal on the front. Maybe this would give her more insight to the Head Witch and her end game.
“What is the point of all this?” Mika muttered, scanning the current members of the Council.
“Power,” Selene said with a shrug. “Hey look, one of your ancestors challenged for witch queen before Morgana. What even is that?”
“Witch queen?”
Even Jack Pine was listed, and he was a brand-new Council member, so the librarian had been right. Everything was kept up to date thanks to witches forgetting or not caring about the spells in the ancient books they used.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a witch queen, although they said Morgana was one.”
