Consort of Pain

by Eva Chase

  “I’m okay,” he said quickly, squeezing my hand and giving me a smile. “Promise. It was more the surprise than anything. They really like to hit us out of nowhere, don’t they?”

  He sounded steady enough. “Yeah,” I muttered. “They do.” That was one in the long list of things I could say I really didn’t like about the Assembly, or at least the faction of them that was after us.

  They seemed to be done for now, though. I waited through the thump of my pulse, but no more magic followed the last spell I’d fended off.

  With a sigh, I leaned my head against Gabriel’s shoulder, breathing in the darkly sweet smell of him. He slid his arm around my back. Sitting there nestled against him, I could almost imagine a future less fraught.

  “You’ve traveled all over the place,” I said. “Is there anywhere you’ve been that you think would make a good spot for a witch and her illicit consorts to disappear to?”

  Gabriel hummed to himself thoughtfully. “There are a lot of little hole-in-the-wall places in California. And quite a lot of liberal-minded people who might not think our relationship was that bizarre.” He grinned. “I don’t know what kind of presence your witching society has down that way, though.”

  “There are some witching communities in the south, but most of the families ended up gathering around the north and east coasts,” I said. “I don’t think it would be too hard to avoid notice. I guess I’d have to change my appearance—maybe bleach my hair.”

  Damon made a disgruntled sound from up front. “You shouldn’t have to change anything.”

  “I shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t.” I fingered a smooth black lock. “If changing a few things like that means we can have a real life…”

  “We could find another fixer upper down there,” Jin said. “Seth could work his kind of magic on it.”

  A pang shot through me at the thought of the house Seth had already made over for us: that farmhouse just across the road from the Hallowell estate. But the chances we’d ever get to go back there were slim. And this dream was a nice one.

  “A little place in the country,” I said. “Lots of land to roam around on without anyone disturbing our privacy.”

  “I can always find work online,” Kyler said. “And Jin could travel around to sell his art. Seth could start his own renovation business—or stick to odd jobs to keep a lower profile. Gabriel, you’ve got your mechanic’s touch. That’ll always be in demand.”

  “And I’ll sit around with Rose all day,” Damon declared.

  We all laughed, quietly to avoid waking up Seth. “I’m sure you’d find some way to occupy yourself,” I teased. “Maybe you’d find you enjoy farming. I definitely wouldn’t want to just sit around.” I’d been working on the witching archive’s records and compiling my own modern history. Obviously I’d have to set that aside. But I could use those skills in other ways.

  Damon and Jin started discussing our next possible stop along the route. I tipped my head against Gabriel’s shoulder.

  “It’s a nice dream, isn’t it?” he said, hugging me closer.

  “It is.” The thought of that possible future had left me with a warm glow. “Maybe it won’t be a dream.”

  “With you, I’d believe just about anything’s possible.”

  He traced his fingers up and down my side, and a tingle of deeper warmth raced through me. I looked up at him, and he gazed back at me, his expression so fond that I couldn’t stop myself from easing up to press my lips to his.

  Gabriel kissed me back gently at first and then, when I deepened the kiss, with a passion that seared from his mouth to mine. His hand stroked from my hip to my knee and back again, leaving my skin quivering eagerly in its wake. I ran my fingers into his hair, kissing him even harder.

  I wanted more of him—more heat, more sweetness, more passion. It was only a few days ago that we’d first really come together. I wanted him and loved him just as much as the other guys. I just needed to be sure he knew that.

  But he stopped, lowering his head so our lips eased apart. His breath was ragged in the space between us.

  “This doesn’t make sense,” he murmured. “I’m not the one you need right now. You’ve been using so much magic, and I can’t help you kindle more.”

  The rough note in his voice carried desire and something more wrenching. He didn’t need to tell me he wished he could offer me that too. I could almost taste his frustration.

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I want you too. I never want anything we do to be just about my magic.”

  “I know,” he said. “But you wore yourself out so badly getting us out of that prison, and you must be using a lot shielding us now.”

  I couldn’t deny that a faint ache had started to form around my spark with the last few spells I’d cast. I grimaced, trying to figure out how to turn this conversation in a direction I liked.

  Then Ky cleared his throat meaningfully. He leaned around the side of the middle seat to meet my gaze, a mischievous glint in his gray-green eyes.

  “Not to eavesdrop, but, ah, I’d be happy to join in the fun and contribute some magical replenishing.”

  An even headier quiver of desire ran through me. I glanced at Gabriel and found him smiling. If the only way he’d accept my affection right now was with someone else along for the ride, well… I was pretty sure I’d enjoy that ride.

  I wet my lips and looked back to Kyler. “All right. I don’t think I can argue with an offer that enticing.”

  He grinned and released his seatbelt. Careful not to disturb his sleeping twin, he ducked around to join us. I undid mine too. I eased over as Kyler sat down, and ended up sitting on Gabriel’s lap with my legs sprawled over Ky’s. The car bumped over a pothole, settling me even more firmly onto the hard length I could feel against my hip. Gabriel sounded as if he’d swallowed a groan.

  “I completely approve of this position,” he murmured, and dipped his head to press his mouth to the side of my neck with a light grazing of teeth. The sensation, tender and slightly sharp, sent an eager quiver over my skin.

  “Where do you want me?” Ky asked in a low voice that was so seductive it should have been illegal. I ran my hand down his arm, feeling the lean muscles there.

  “Everywhere I can have you,” I said.

  His laugh was shaky with hunger. “We have to start somewhere. How about… here?”

  He reached for the buttons of the blouse I’d bought this morning. His fingertips skimmed my chest as he undid one and then another while Gabriel teased his teeth from my jaw to the crook of my shoulder. My spark flickered at Ky’s touch, but Gabriel’s caresses burned in their own way.

  I shifted my ass against his erection, on purpose this time, and he couldn’t restrain that groan. His teeth clamped down a little harder, and a gasp escaped me. At the same moment, Ky slipped his hand beneath my bra. I sighed as he cupped my breast. Bliss sang through my veins, and my spark flared at the intimate contact.

  I turned my head to catch Gabriel’s mouth with mine. There was no holding back in his kiss now, just raw longing. As our tongues tangled, Ky lifted my shirt and bent down to suck my nipple into his mouth. His fingers eased up my inner thigh to stroke between my legs.

  With a whimper, I arched into his touch, bracing one hand against the back of the middle seat. Ky flicked his tongue over the peak of my breast and his thumb over my clit through my jeans, and if my panties had been damp before, they were soaking now.

  I teased my fingers into Ky’s wild curls, tracing over his scalp. My other hand dropped from the seat to press against Gabriel’s cock more firmly. “Fuck,” he muttered against my mouth.

  I wanted to. By all things lit and warm, did I want to. I tore my lips from his just for a second. “My pants. Off.”

  Kyler deftly undid my fly, and he and Gabriel tugged my jeans off together in one swift tug. They landed in a heap on the floor of the SUV. Before I could decide the best way to accommodate them both, one way or another, Gabriel
lifted me off him and turned me toward Ky. I straddled my consort and glanced back toward the guy who wasn’t one.

  Gabriel unzipped his jeans. “I can take care of myself,” he said, his voice husky. “I want to watch you light up like you’re meant to.”

  I couldn’t protest when he said it like that. And when I could feel Ky’s firm erection just a few layers of fabric away from the hungriest part of me. I leaned over to give Gabriel one last quick kiss, and then I focused all my attention on my consort.

  Kyler traced his thumb over my lips and then drew me to him. He stroked my other breast as we kissed, softly and then sloppily as I started to rock against him on the leather seat.

  I fumbled with the zipper of his slacks. He wrenched them down and pulled me against him, nothing but my drenched panties and the soft fabric of his boxers between us now. I pressed into him, every part of me from head to toe, from the surface of my skin to the spark at my core, wanting him.

  “So, you want me everywhere, huh?” he murmured. His hands glided over me, spreading electricity over my shoulders, my sides, my calves, even my feet. He kissed his way down my chest and then back to my throat. A swipe of his tongue left me moaning. Ky might be the least experienced of my consorts, but he more than made up for it with enthusiasm and being a quick study.

  “Everywhere,” I reminded him, and tugged at his boxers. With a chuckle, he shifted against the seat to yank them low enough to free his long, jutting cock. I caressed and squeezed that straining length, and his breath stuttered.

  I squirmed out of my panties and lowered myself over Ky. He groaned again as he filled me, and beside us Gabriel made a slightly choked sound. His clothes rustled as he stroked himself, but I was looking only at Ky now. At the heat of love and lust in his eyes as he thrust up to meet me. At the flush spreading over his freckled cheeks that matched the heat building inside me.

  “Harder,” I whispered. “Faster.” I bobbed up and down, my thighs burning, wanting to feel him everywhere inside me too. Pleasure rippled through my body and twined with the bonfire of my spark. The car sped up over a small hill, the motion adding to my exhilaration.

  Ky bucked with me, pulling me in for another kiss as he did. He tipped his body and suddenly my clit was bumping against the base of his cock. Headier pulses of bliss shot through me. My rhythm turned frantic. His fingers dug into my hip. Then as he thrust even harder into me, ecstasy burst through my veins.

  I muffled my cry against his shoulder, still moving, wanting to milk the pleasure from him too. It didn’t take long. Ky inhaled sharply, and I felt him come with a hot spurt inside me.

  I came to a stop over him as his cock softened inside me. He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my lips, my cheek, my shoulder, and that tender display of affection stoked my spark even higher. Gabriel swore under his breath with a soft grunt, and I knew he’d found his release too.

  The SUV rattled over pebbles on the road. It wasn’t really safe staying like this any longer than we needed to. My spark was glowing so bright I could feel it all through my body, but I might need to use that energy again soon.

  I let myself linger against Ky for a few seconds longer. He nuzzled my cheek with a smile. “Good?”

  I had to laugh. “I hope you don’t really need to ask that.”

  Reluctantly, I peeled myself off him. When my gaze found Gabriel’s again, his bright blue eyes were even more brilliant than usual. I retrieved my panties and jeans off the floor and scrambled into them as quickly as I could in the tight space. Ky hauled up his pants and gave me a final kiss before he returned to his seat to give me back mine.

  I sat down, sagging into the padded leather surface for a moment of relaxation with my shoulder pressed comfortably against Gabriel’s. I was only just reaching for my seatbelt when a blast of magic slammed into us—and the SUV.

  The tires screeched. Damon gave a shout, yanking at the wheel. But the vehicle swayed, and with a stomach-dropping lurch we tipped right over.

  Chapter Nine

  Rose

  The side of the SUV hit the road like a thunderclap, a crash of metal and splintering glass. The impact flung me into Gabriel, who threw his arms around me just in time to stop my head from smacking into the shattered window now beneath us. His torso jerked against his seatbelt.

  Somewhere ahead of us Damon was cursing up a storm and someone—Seth? Oh, dear Spark, he hadn’t been buckled in either while he slept— let out a groan.

  Another wave of magic slammed into the car, rocking it. Gabriel hissed through his teeth. Even I felt it through the layers of protection I’d woven around myself: little shards of pain as if the magic were echoing the broken glass beneath me.

  I scrambled around, trying to get my bearings while my head spun—and trying not to hurt Gabriel more in the process. Where were the attacks coming from? How close were the enforcers now? I stretched out my senses as my feet crunched on the remains of the window and registered the next blast of energy emanating from a cluster of bodies farther down the road on both sides.

  They didn’t feel quite the same as the witches who’d been attacking us before. The faction that was after us had gotten ahead of us, sent a force to ambush us while distracting us with lesser assaults.

  I swept my arms to draw up a barrier of magic between us and them, but it was hard to move at all in the toppled car. I had no idea how long that effort would hold.

  “I need to get out so I can work properly,” I said. “The rest of you might be safer out of the SUV too, in case we need to run for it.”

  “Got it,” Kyler said with a rasp. On the side of the SUV that was now above us, he heaved at the door. It swung open on his second attempt. Gabriel shifted beside me and offered his hands to boost me up.

  Jin was shoving his way out at the front, Damon waiting to clamber after him. “Seth?” I said as I grabbed the doorframe and hauled myself up. I hadn’t seen him yet, hadn’t heard him except for that groan.

  “I’ll help him,” Ky said quickly. “You stop those pricks out there.”

  My heart wrenched, but stopping the enforcers was the best way I could keep Seth safe until I had time to heal whatever injuries he’d suffered. Gritting my teeth, I squirmed the rest of the way out.

  “They’re to the west,” I called to the others as I slid down to the road. “Get behind the SUV. It’ll shield us a little.”

  I darted behind it myself and immediately threw myself into a larger magicking, now that I had the room for it. My feet pattered against the asphalt, and the air whipped with the slash of my arms. I focused my attention on those clusters of figures ahead of us.

  It wasn’t enough just to shield us. The closer they got, the harder they’d hit us, and there were a lot more of them than me. But my spark was freshly flaring and I’d die before I let them take me or my guys again.

  With one last snap of my wrists, I hurled a surge of power toward our attackers. Knock them down, knock them out, I didn’t care as long as I got them to back off. The wind warbled around us, and a distant cry reached my ears. A few of the presences I’d sensed faded.

  How hard had I hit them? Had I killed someone? The thought sent a shock of cold horror through me. But before I could deal with that, the remaining enforcers tossed another spell our way. A sizzling impression of a vast net hurtled toward us.

  No! I pushed forth my magic, launching every movement I knew to sever and shatter. Energy rushed through my limbs. I propelled it out and felt the thrust of the enforcers’ spell crack just as it plummeted to meet us.

  It broke apart, but the slivers of energy burned as they dropped around me. I flinched back, almost bumping into Jin. He and Damon had joined me.

  “Where are the others?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Gabriel and Kyler are looking after Seth,” Jin said. When my eyes widened, he added quickly, “He took a blow to the head, but it’s not bleeding much, and he’s coherent. Nothing unfixable.”

  He couldn’t know that for sure, but t
he words soothed my panic a little.

  Damon cracked his knuckles. One of the shreds of the magical net had brushed his cheek, leaving a red mark, but he didn’t look bothered. “How do we take the bastards down, Rose?”

  I dragged in a breath. “I’ve got to hit them again before they hit us.” And even harder than last time. And if I did more than knock them out… I couldn’t worry about that right now. I didn’t want to kill anyone, but that didn’t matter half as much as making sure they didn’t kill us.

  Damon clasped my waist, hugging me partly from behind. He kissed my shoulder. “Right here with you, angel. Take anything you need.”

  Jin slung his arm around my back too, pressing his lips to my temple. The consort bond between us thrummed, and my spark shot up with a blaze of light. A strange giddiness rippled through me.

  I had my consorts, their love feeding my magic. My love for them made me stronger than any of those enforcers could have imagined. I clasped onto that blaze inside me and whirled my arms through the air, gathering it and balling it together until the air rang with the power I held. Then I whipped it down the road.

  The spell exploded through our attackers with a force that rattled the ground beneath our feet. I would have stumbled if Damon and Jin hadn’t still been holding me.

  My impression of the figures down the road completely dimmed. Whatever I’d managed to do to them, they weren’t going to come at us again right now.

  I exhaled shakily and squeezed the guys’ arms. Then I tugged them with me to the toppled SUV.

  Ky and Gabriel were just easing Seth out through the doorway. The larger guy swayed a little as he clutched the frame, but he met my gaze steadily and smiled when he saw me. A purple-red bruise was spreading across his temple around a cut still seeping blood. My stomach turned at the sight of it.