by Maggie Walsh
“Oh yeah. My favorite place in the world,” Micah replied, then thrust his tongue inside Jesse’s mouth again.
Strong, large hands moved over his bare flesh, causing wonderful shivers to race through him. Micah’s hands always brought him immense pleasure, and his strength, great peace. His mate always loved him with abandon and gave of himself freely. Micah was fierce in his love of him and his loving on him. Jesse always felt complete and consumed by his big mate when they made love. He always felt like he was a part of Micah, and right now he needed everything Micah gave him.
With the uncertainty of what was to come, he was almost desperate to feel this connection to his mate. More than he had realized. Jesse writhed against Micah as he ran his hands down Micah’s powerful back, loving the feel of all his rippling muscles. Lowering his hands, he cupped Micah’s muscled ass and pulled him closer, then thrust his hips, rubbing his cock against his mate’s thick thigh.
“Shit. I gotta have you, baby. I need to feel you wrapped around me. I need to feel our bond,” Micah said, panting.
“Yes, love. Take me, claim me again, and let me get lost in you. In our love.”
Micah pulled the towel from around his waist as he pulled back from the kiss. He raised the towel and swiped it across Jesse’s face, taking all the shave cream away, then wiped his own face before dropping the towel to the floor.
Micah took hold of his globes and lifted him off his feet, then placed Jesse on the counter. “Lean back, baby.”
Jesse leaned his back against the wall and brought his feet up and spread his legs, resting his heels on the edge of the counter, as Micah quickly stripped. Once his mate stood before him naked, Jesse let his eyes feast on all of Micah’s golden skin and hard muscles. Gods he loved his mate’s body. It was pure perfection.
“Keep looking at me with that hunger in your eyes, baby, and this is going to be quick.”
Jesse shifted his gaze to meet Micah’s and gave him a sexy smile. He reached out a hand and ran one finger down Micah’s chest from collarbone to his navel as he said in a husky voice, “I can live with that. We don’t have much time right now anyway, but later when we get home, I want to spend a few hours licking every inch of this glorious body of yours.”
“Damn, baby. Maybe we can bow out and have a private party here,” Micah said as he moved to stand between Jesse’s thighs.
“I wish we could, but as you said, we all need this tonight.”
“True, but I need you more,” Micah replied.
“And you have me. So take what is yours, love.”
Micah leaned in and claimed his lips again. At the same time, Jesse could feel Micah moving around and heard a drawer open. He knew what his mate was doing. A moment later, a slick finger pressed against his hole and Jesse moaned. Micah quickly prepared him, sliding one finger after another inside him until Micah had four fingers thrusting in and out of him easily.
“Now, love. I’m ready. Need you where you belong. Inside me,” Jesse said breathlessly, gaining a growl from his mate.
Micah pulled his fingers free and a second later, Jesse felt the blunt tip of Micah’s huge, thick cock, that he loved so much, pressing against him. Jesse slid his hips down further, allowing his ass to hang off the edge of the counter, and Micah slid inside, filling him with one thrust.
“Fuck, yes!” Jesse cried out and gripped Micah’s shoulders.
Micah wrapped his arms around Jesse, pulling him up, and held him tight against his chest as he thrust up into him. Micah buried his face in Jesse’s throat, nibbling, kissing, and sucking. Micah’s hands moved down his back to his ass and lifted Jesse off the counter. He immediately wrapped his legs around Micah as he held on.
“Fuck, baby. So damn good. Every time with you, every day with you, is heaven on earth. I love you, my heart,” Micah said.
“I love you, too, love.”
Micah continued to power into him, and Jesse bounced up and down on his mate’s long, hard cock, loving every inch, every thrust, as he moaned and panted. His head dropped back on his shoulders as he released a long moan. Micah licked his mating mark, and a powerful shiver of lust ran up his spine. He felt the sharp tips of Micah’s teeth on his sensitive skin, and a rush of need raced through him. He loved when Micah claimed him. He needed it.
A slight bite of pain hit his shoulder. Then his head swirled in euphoria as the pleasure overtook and wrapped around him, filling him. Jesse’s body bucked against Micah’s strong one. His orgasm shot out in a rush, exploding between them, and Jesse screamed his mate’s name. “Micah!”
Micah snapped his hips faster, harder, then his body went taut, and he gripped Jesse tighter. Jesse felt Micah’s release as he was filled with Micah’s hot seed. Micah said his name low against his skin, and it came out guttural on a moan, telling Jesse of the pleasure his mate felt in this moment, too. He smiled knowing that he could satisfy his man and give him a place of comfort and release.
Micah licked across his mark, then lifted his head and kissed Jesse tenderly. Micah put their foreheads together as they both panted, breathing one another in. “I love you, Jesse,” Micah whispered.
“I love you, too, Micah.”
After that, Micah joined him for another shower, then he finished his shave, and they both dressed for their night out at the club for karaoke night.
* * * *
“I am not happy with that thinking, sonny boy. And I think you’re wrong. The prophecy stated six leaders to lead them all, with the Alpha Prime on top. We know we are those six, so I can’t see that we were not supposed to be a part of this. I think it is exactly why we were brought in. Think of the power you would have just from my legion and Ryland’s fae,” Phen argued.
“I must agree with Phenex, Micah. I know none of you but Jesse and Taylor have met more than a handful of Legion Warriors, but do you have any idea how many we truly are?” Nuriel asked. “Me, Duma, Ryx, Laylen, Karael, Zephon, Peliel, and Griff are just his inner circle.”
“He’s right, Micah. When the gods created the Legion Warriors, they were called that because they were a Legion of Angels. They sent the whole damn legion down to help me police the Underworld and hell. There are six thousand of them, all with their own special gifts and powers,” Lucifer added.
“Admittedly, I lost a lot of my people when Minos attacked the fae realm, but I do still have about a hundred warriors, all who have fae powers,” Ryland replied.
Stepping away from everyone and going to the French doors leading outside, Micah began mulling over what they had just said. After a few minutes, a smile came to him, and he turned to face them.
“Oh no, I know that look,” Raith said.
“What is it, Micah?” Ryland asked.
“Phen’s right. We’ve been thinking of this all wrong, and maybe Hades knows it. Either he is thinking the same way we were, that it is just supposed to be my inner pack and Dante’s inner circle, along with our mates who are supposed to face him, or he thinks that is the way we are thinking, and he will be facing our few against his army. But then why have the others been brought in? We’ve been thinking it has been to help us get ready, but Phen’s right. He, Ryland, their people, Dare’s dragons, and Storm’s pride have been brought in. Then Evan and his boys, as well as my father, then Lucifer and Demi. And on top of that, we opened a training facility and have over a thousand paranormal fighters of all different breeds. They have all found their way to us. Which tells me that we’ve been wrong.”
“What do you mean, Micah?” Dante asked.
Micah met his best friend’s gaze. “All along we were supposed to include everyone. And look at what’s happened out there, and all those who made it here to safety in a place called Sanctuary. It’s everyone who is left here under this dome of protection. Our own army has come to us. The paranormals are supposed to stand together and fight, not just us. Aurora said the Prime would bring all paranormals together. So let’s use this to our advantage. Hades doesn’t think we know this so we wi
ll have the element of surprise on our side, as well.”
“And from the look on your face, I think you have one hell of a plan forming,” Lucifer said.
Micah gave him a smirk as he nodded. “Any here in Sanctuary who cannot fight, will not have to. We’ll set them up as far away from this house as possible. Those who can fight or want to help will be a part of the plan. I have a feeling Hades is going to come right here, to this house to face us. Let’s put our heads together and think of what we do have, even around us, and how we can use everyone to the best of their abilities.”
“Now you’re talkin’, sonny boy,” Phenex said with a smile.
“So where do we start?” Jesse asked.
Toryn, Ryland’s second, looked to Micah and narrowed his eyes. “I think we need to know who can do what first, not only naturally, but what powers they possess, then we can use that to our advantage.”
“That’s a great idea, Toryn,” Micah replied.
“I say we take Toryn’s suggestion and make it a physical list. Then we’ll have it all in front of us,” Larken, Dare’s second added.
Micah replied, “That’s the best place to start.”
Jesse stood from his seat on the couch and went to Micah’s desk. He sat in his mate’s chair and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, then looked up at everyone. “Okay, so let’s do this.”
* * * *
Samuel and Aaron held each other’s hands as they jumped up and down squealing in delight. “We did it!”
“I know! I can’t believe it!” Samuel replied with excitement.
The door opened, and Sasha and Rory walked in. “What’s all the excitement about in here?” Rory asked as he strode right to Aaron and slid an arm around his waist.
“Samuel and I found a way to take away a demigod’s powers,” Aaron announced.
“And not just that. We found a way to get it to him.”
Sasha smiled at his mate’s exuberance. His mate had really come out of his shell since working with his twin over the past six months. Even though they still hadn’t claimed one another yet, Sash loved his little man. Samuel wasn’t ready to take their relationship any further than where they were. They spent as much time together as possible and had gotten to know everything about each other, but that was all Samuel could really do right now. As much as Sasha wanted his mate, wanted to claim him and feel his beautiful body against his, he wouldn’t pressure his Sammy. He wasn’t going anywhere and would wait forever for his mate, as long as he could still be a part of his life.
“Isn’t that great, Sasha?” Sammy asked, coming to him.
Sasha gave his mate a big smile and put his hands on Sammy’s arms. “That is wonderful, sweetness. I knew if anyone could figure it out that it would be you and Aaron. Our two geniuses. I am so proud of you.”
The look of pure joy that Samuel gave him then only convinced Sasha more that he would wait for as long as his mate needed, as long as they could still be together. He just wanted this amazing creature by his side always.
“Thank you, Sasha,” Sammy said happily and slid his arms around Sasha’s waist and squeezed, his face plastered against Sasha’s chest. Gods it felt so good. Sasha gloried in the feeling and returned the embrace, loving when Sammy showed a little initiative and hugged him like this.
“The council has been locked in Micah’s office all day, and they have called for some of us to join them in a few minutes. I think you two should come along and let them know what you’ve done. Maybe give them a demonstration. I know they are in there strategizing and this would definitely help in that,” Sasha said.
“That’s a good idea, but we shouldn’t show them how it really works. We don’t want to take any of their powers away right now. Especially with the threat of Hades so close,” Aaron replied.
Sammy turned toward his twin but still kept one arm around Sasha’s waist. “Oh, I agree, but we could bring the microscope and some slides and show them. Or, if we work quick we can download it to a USB and show them on the computer. That would probably make more sense than bringing the microscope,” Sammy suggested.
“That’s a great idea. Let’s get all the data moved to a USB and head in to show the council,” Aaron agreed and went to his desk and sat, turning his computer on.
Chapter Two
“You’re telling us that the powder in that small vile will take away a demigod’s powers?” Toryn asked.
“Yes and no. It will stop a demigod from using his powers for a few hours, like phoenix blood and phoenix tears will do to fae, but it won’t take them away for good,” Aaron replied.
“And how would we get it to Minos? You know he won’t just stand there and let us blow it in his face, and he sure as hell won’t allow us the opportunity to inject him,” Phenex said.
“We thought of that, too,” Samuel said and held up a small ball the size of a golf ball. “We placed a dose of that powder in this. The ball is made of a very thin membrane that will break open on impact, releasing its contents.”
“So what, we would have to throw that at him, hitting him, and it would burst open and once the powder touches him, poof, no more powers?” Dare asked.
“Pretty much, yeah,” Aaron replied.
“How the hell are we supposed to get that close?” Ryland asked.
Dante smiled, then leaned forward in his seat as he said, “Can we make those balls bigger?”
Aaron looked to him, his brows lowered in confusion and nodded. “Yes. Samuel and I can make them any size we want. It will take us some time though. Then there is the problem of making the amount of powder needed to fill it.”
“How much would you need?” Dante asked.
“For one ball the size you want, which would be what, like the size of a baseball?” Aaron asked, and Dante nodded. Aaron looked to Samuel.
“I would guesstimate about 0.20173334 liters,” Samuel replied with a shrug.
“I would guess between that and 0.21901575 liters,” Aaron added.
Raith smiled at his mate. “In normal terms for those of us who aren’t geniuses, so we can understand, baby.”
“Approximately seven and a half ounces. A tad less, but close,” Aaron answered.
“And what would you need to get that seven and a half ounces of powder?” Dante asked.
Samuel scoffed, then controlled himself. “We would need about a gallon or more of liquids to dry out into the powder needed.”
“But your liquids are blood and tears, right?” Micah asked.
“Yes. With the measurements we used to make that small ball, we would need about a gallon of blood and around a half gallon of tears of each a dragon and a phoenix to fill something the size of a baseball,” Aaron said.
Dare sat forward. “If me and my dragons could supply you with the blood and tears needed, would that work?”
Aaron’s eyes went wide. “Of course, but we don’t have enough phoenix blood and tears for that. Last time we checked we only have two phoenix shifters in Sanctuary currently. Isn’t that right, Jesse?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Damn it,” Dante said and sat back. Everyone became silent, all lost in their own thoughts.
“What were you thinking, King Dante? I mean, to use the baseball sized ball on?” Samuel asked.
“I was hoping if we had one bigger, I could shift into a dragon and fly over Minos, then drop it on his head.”
Suddenly Micah’s eyes filled with mirth, and a smirk formed on his lips. “That’s a great idea, Dante, but not for Minos,” Micah said and swung around to face Aaron and Samuel. “Can you put any type of powder in those balls and it have the same reaction? I mean, to split open and release what was inside?”
“Of course, Micah. The membrane we created can contain pretty much any ingredient and still burst open upon impact,” Aaron replied.
“Good. Very good,” Micah said happily.
“What are you thinking, Micah?” Lucifer asked.
“The list of paranormal breeds
and powers we made, along with this ball of wonder our geniuses made. I think I have an idea. Aaron, Samuel, can you start making more of those membranes right away, but instead make a few dozen about the size of grapefruits?”
“Shit that’s a lot, but yeah, we could do it,” Aaron answered.
“Good. You two start that and also make a few of those smaller ones like you have there. While you do that, the rest of us will go over the plan I thought of. Along with everyone’s feedback on what I am thinking, I think you boys just gave us what we needed not just for the element of surprise, but also what may very well have us winning this fight,” Micah announced, causing a few gasps and grumbles.
* * * *
Jesse stood in the backyard looking up into the darkness that now surrounded them twenty-four hours a day. The protection spell Ryland and the fae created over them looked like it was still holding strong, but for how long?
“Hey, Jess,” Taylor said from behind him.
Jesse looked back over his shoulder, surprised to see all the mates with Taylor. “Hey, guys. What are you all doing out here?”
Taylor, Aaron, Rory, Noah, Dale, Bailey, Adam, Raffy, Evan, Liam, Haven, Laylen, Sage, Josh, Milo, Shelby, Shay, Kia, Thaddeus, Demi, and Mitchell all walked closer. “We were in the kitchen and saw you standing out here alone. We thought maybe you could use some company. You know all us mates need to stand together,” Taylor replied and nudged Jesse’s shoulder with his as he stepped beside him.
Jesse gave them all a smile. “Thanks, guys, but I’m okay. Just thinking.”
“Hades be soon. We all thinking,” Noah said from his other side, then slid his hand into Jesse’s.
“Yeah. I feel like he’s closer than we think,” Jesse replied.
“Do you think we won’t have a chance?” Bailey asked nervously.
“No. I honestly think we do have a chance at defeating him. And with the plan the others have been working on, I have a better feeling about us facing Minos and Hades.”
