Striking Souls

by Erin R Flynn

  “No because the charge is in you too since you helped,” I argued. “You pushed it back while getting a lot out of me. Don’t worry, you’ll keep going and going. Welcome to the fun of too much magic.”

  “It’s heaven if it gives me every chance to be with you,” he muttered before thrusting in me.

  I might have had something smart to reply, but after we started, I didn’t have a thought in my head besides wanting more. And more. And more.

  After a few rounds, I caught some of his thoughts, my eyes going wide. “Jesus, Hunt.”

  He simply shrugged, seeming to get what I caught. He brushed his lips over mine. “Remy. I’m your dog Remy.”

  I decided to not delve into his thoughts, as we all went dark now and again, but I was fairly certain he was a bit crazy to be willing to have me lock him in a dog crate if it meant we had sex like that all the time. Instead, I rolled us and moved my hands to his shoulders as I leaned down. “You give me some wolf worthy doggy style, and maybe I’ll show you real dark fun and let you bite me somewhere hidden.”

  “Fuck, Soraya,” he hissed, sitting up and fisting my ass.

  “Yes, that is what I want,” I taunted. I yelped as he used his speed to move me, dragging me to my hands and knees and to the edge of the bed. Then he proceeded to give me what we both needed and not holding back anything.

  When we finally finished, we fell to the bed, both of us groaning and exhausted. Hell, my thighs would have bruises from his body slamming against mine and where his hands had held me to pull me towards him each thrust. My throat was raw, and I was just spent.

  Unfortunately, my day was far from over. My power trickled along my skin, letting me know a trap I’d set was ready.

  I leaned over and kissed him. “Good doggy. I’d love to play more or enjoy the moment but I can’t.” I tapped his collar and changed the magic. “I’m sending you to the cafeteria to refuel us.”

  “Where are you going?” he murmured, sounding half asleep.

  “Into a trap.” I cleaned us up and dressed us before sending him off and popping over to California where one of the psychics had come from.

  One of the dirty ones. She had power, but she was working for the other side and the demons had sent her to draw me out.

  Idiots. As if it was that simple.

  I leaned against the wall and smirked at the three demons I had trapped in banishing circles. “Good trap, guys.”

  “You knew we would try,” one seethed, his red eyes not even bothering me as I’d seen many, many over my centuries.

  “Yes, and I would like to have a talk before sending you back, so I didn’t even use the painful banishing circles as traps,” I replied as I pulled a chair closer so I was visible to all three of them. “Because that’s how this goes. You guys do bad, and if I catch you, I send you home to get spanked for getting caught.”

  “Except the one you erased,” he reminded me.

  “Yeah, he didn’t follow the rules,” I told him firmly, noting their shock. “I would like to note many of you have tried to kill me over the years, and all I do is send you back because there are rules in our fun, right?”

  “Yes, there are lines we’re held to,” he muttered, studying me curiously. “What rules did he break?”

  I smirked at him. “If I told you his master plan and others found out what would make me flip shits, someone would be stupid and try to repeat it. We both know that.”

  “Yes, but you want us to take a message back. We need something or you know someone will still be stupid.”

  “Fair enough,” I agreed after a moment. “You guys aren’t the mob. I don’t erase you guys or push for that, try to block you guys even coming here, and you don’t go after any under my protection. That’s always been how we work.”

  He nodded. “We’re evil, not the mob or cartels where you kill the whole family. Though, I can’t think he was the first who wanted to or thought to.”

  “No, he wanted to break your rules and possess enchanters, my enchanters.” I wanted to pump my fist when I saw they totally bought it, demons not as good at detecting lies as shifters or vamps were. “I won’t tell you which ones, but there was talk of bringing other enchanters—my family—back from the dead and locking them in people. Those are against your rules, not just our mutual understanding on how we play these games.”

  “Agreed. That is an egregious abuse of our powers and clearly against the rules.”

  “And that is why he was erased,” I told them firmly. “I haven’t gone after any other demons. He got a bit big for his britches, a bit of world domination and thoughts to take over both Heaven and Hell and whatever else. I think getting as old as he was had him drinking at the crazy fountain, as you don’t mess with some shit.”

  “Agreed, and I will pass that along.”

  “Wonderful. If you could also make it clear I’ve enlisted the help of an angel on something, but I am not going to become their demon erasing weapon or whatever other ideas might come from the crazy fountain. That is not my fight, and the only side I’m on is mine and my people.”

  “You’re fighting to restore balance if you’re going after psychics and—”

  “Yes but no, as that involves me directly,” I interrupted before he got too preachy. “The growing number of souls on this side is screwing with those of us with magic and can hear them. Plus, I’m not a fan of you guys just popping over for a visit so easily. It’s in my best interest that not happen, especially as there might be more drinking from the crazy fountain. So that is the side I fight on.

  “Now, I would like to make it really fucking clear that if anyone else drank from the fountain, your people should handle them and fast or I will. It’s not a fight I want, but I will wipe you all the fuck out without shedding a godsdamn tear if any of you cross that line again. Savvy?”

  “Yes, and I will make it clear that you are on the course of how things have always been, even if we’re butting heads.”

  “Good.” I stood and moved the chair back. “I don’t have demon hunting clothes, and I don’t have the time for a new wardrobe. It was such an unbelievable mess that I’d really rather not get into it, as I’m already going to have angels bugging me to be their champion.” I rolled my eyes. “I work hard enough already. No one filled with as much darkness as I have should ever be on Team Angel.”

  “You could always come to our side,” the demon offered, grinning widely at me.

  “No, sorry, I like puppies and kids too much to join Team Evil.” I winked at him. “Have fun getting spanked. I recommend the flogger with the knots in the leather.” I knelt down and slammed my power into the floor, activating all three circles at once. Then I cleaned the area of power—mine and the power that had called the demons—before finding the totems used. I sighed as I felt the energy.

  One rogue caster, coming up.

  I ‘ported over to the caster; his eyes bugging out were almost comical. “I’m too busy for the song and dance today, darling. Enjoy Hades.” I reached out and drained his chi, putting it into another totem. I popped the body into the ocean and brought myself to the lobby.

  And found some very angry people.

  “Here are some totems to be locked up and the addresses I need you to clean out and search for anything good,” I told Tommy as I handed them over and made a sheet of paper appear with the information. I held up my hand to ward off any comments. “You are not getting on the radar of any demons. I handled it. They were sent back with a message that I will not become a demon erasing machine as long as they keep the hands off coven rule.”

  “Fine,” Helen said after a moment. “It’s a cross culture Friday. We’re supposed to head to the earth of kitsune outside Tokyo in half an hour unless you want to reschedule.”

  “No, the kids have been too excited about it to cancel,” I muttered, scrubbing my hands over my head. “Okay, gather the troops and we’ll head over. I’ve got a few more things to handle to make a dent in the list.” I reached over
and tapped Hunt’s collar so he was attached to me again, catching a few of his thoughts even as he pressed his lips together to keep quiet. “Good dog.”

  He was on me though the second we were in my workroom, his lips on mine as he lifted me up under my ass. “You want to fuck with me by teleporting me out of the shower to the lobby, fine, I deserve it and worse. But please, please do not send me off and rush into danger that I don’t even understand when I swore I would watch your back. I swore it to your whole coven too. Don’t make me fail all supes again. Please, Soraya.”

  “You’re asking me not to be a snarky brat and give you a hint and pop you away, right? Not bring you with to something you can’t handle or curtail how I do things?” I nodded when I heard the answer in his head. “Fine. That’s not something to be a brat about. I get it. You didn’t know it was three low level demons. They were sent to check out things, the bigger ones knowing I could handle them and not caring if I erased them.”

  “Thank you,” he breathed before setting me on my feet and dropping to his knees.

  Apparently not being a brat came with perks. Or several orgasms.

  I was starting to wonder if I was punishing a bad wolf I’d taken as a dog or if he was training me.

  11

  I sipped my green tea as I stared out at all the cute munchkins having fun trying yukatas for the first time. The kitsune kids were just as adorable helping the enchanter kids out and teaching them how to move in the clothes. There were several comments about eating eggs for dinner, but with the time difference it was breakfast the next day in Japan.

  Which always tickled the kids as they leapt into the future.

  And led to lots of comments that they had salmon for breakfast. The party room was bespelled so everyone could understand each other, and the adult they had teaching their culture was perfect and very patient with our coven’s inquisitive and excited kids.

  “Thank fuck the rest of the day is something easy,” Hunt sighed, scrubbing his hand over his head. “How you guys go and go like you do is just…”

  “It’s not normally like it has been, but yes, we rarely just chill,” Jerome told him.

  “And you just jinxed our quiet night for sure,” Helen complained. She looked like she had more to say, but Keegan hurried to diffuse the situation as he normally did.

  “We do this twice a month, as this is undoubtedly a much better education on cultures not ours than anything they would read in a book,” Keegan explained to Hunt. “We came to them this month, and next month we’ll bring them to us so it’s spaced out. We had a different group from France two weeks ago. It would become too much and tedious if we did it every Friday or all the time. Every other week and rotating between going or staying helps.”

  “Plus it gives the adults some fun,” I chuckled, smirking at Keegan. “You look very handsome in a yukata.”

  “They’re really comfortable,” he muttered, smoothing the material down. He was a bit of a clothes horse and sometimes was more excited than the kids.

  Which was fine and half the fun.

  I headed over to the buffet to get some food and felt Hunt following me… His eyes on my ass from his thoughts. I caught something else and smirked at him over my shoulder. “Really, Hunt?”

  He sighed. “It’s a good thing I don’t have any pride left.”

  “Maybe next time you’re a good dog and take care of me,” I teased him, trying not to smile when he gave a low groan. He turned to walk off, and I decided to screw with him even more, chanting the spell to make him feel like he was getting a blow job. He stumbled and glanced at me with wide eyes before hurrying away from the others.

  It made me feel better when he left because he also looked handsome in his yukata.

  A bit too handsome for someone I hated. Plus, seeing in his head that he was dying for me to wear one of the super short kimonos that I would be spread over later while he screwed me silly was hard when I needed to keep hating him. He had to stay my dog and someone useful, nothing more.

  I foresaw that working well.

  The earth’s leader approached me, smiling brightly and bowing.

  I dipped my head in acknowledgement. “Everything is wonderful. I’m glad we decided to do this.”

  “Yes, the children are having much fun,” he agreed.

  “Your ancient is not here,” I noted as I picked up some tamagoyaki—which was a Japanese omelet egg roll—with my chop sticks. “She was pissed the last time she wasn’t invited to a tribunal, and we invited her even if she starts trouble. Now she’s invited and doesn’t make an appearance when I show and I’m an elder too? Does she just like to bitch and complain because it’s fun?”

  “I apologize for the offense, Enchantress,” he said formally, bowing again. “We both know as one earth leader I am far below our beloved ancient. I could not and would never dare to speak for her.”

  “I understand as I would feel the same if any spoke for me on such matters. But please make it clear that I am insulted, and while I will not hold it against your earth, that I said for her to pull her head out of her ass and drop the bullshit. We have bigger problems than whatever’s crawled up her ass now.”

  “I will relay the message, Enchantress,” he promised, looking a bit pale to have to say that verbatim, as she would know if he changed any of the words. Still, some people did kill the messenger for it to become such a cliché.

  I nodded and moved on, talking with a few very excited foxes who were a bit young to catch the nuances of life like they were speaking informally to an elder. I didn’t act like that with my coven, so it was understandable they didn’t pick up on it. Their parents though looked mortified when they noticed, and I waved off the apologies, not wanting the kids to get in trouble.

  Moving for another plate of perfectly cooked salmon, I saw something and found myself heading towards the kitchen. I swallowed my shock when I caught up to the young man and saw he had seven tails. That was unheard of for someone under a hundred.

  “How old are you?” I asked, setting my plate down, vibrating with excitement.

  He spun around, his eyes going wide, before he bowed deeply. “I recently turned twenty, Enchantress.”

  I opened my mouth to ask more but then frowned, realizing the energy of his tails was wrong. “Why has it not been bound to you yet? Did it just happen today? You know how dangerous it is for a kitsune to have an unbound tail, yes?”

  “I do, Enchantress,” he answered, not raising his head. “It was not today. I apologize if this upsets you.”

  Rage filled me as I heard in his mind why his tail was not bound to him. “Oh, she’s not starting shit, she’s hiding her misbehaving, as I would have caught her if she’d been around me. Let me guess, you weren’t to leave the kitchen, right? I wasn’t meant to see you.”

  “No, Enchantress.”

  But he was relieved I had. He’d been sneaking out in the hope I would see him as he did know how dangerous it was and was scared.

  “You jinxed us,” I told Hunt as he joined us. “Let’s go start some shit.”

  “Don’t you do that everywhere you go?” he muttered, holding his hands up in surrender when I spun around on him. “Most would ignore it or leave it as their problem. It wasn’t a slight but a praise, Soraya. You can’t leave it alone when you see someone being hurt or needing help. I think it’s amazing and you’re a miracle.”

  My mouth dropped open as I saw in his aura he totally meant it. “I’ve melted your brain with sex. You hate me.”

  “I don’t,” he growled, his eyes filling with anything but hate.

  I held up my hand to ward off anything else. “Time to save a powerful young kitsune. We can fight or fuck or whatever later.”

  “Just tell me what to do.”

  “Don’t argue with me and speak only when spoken to,” I said after a moment. “I need you to play the part.” I tapped his collar signaling what I meant, and he nodded. I ‘ported the three of us to the ancient who was at the same e
state we were at so the translation spell worked there and smiled at her, knowing it wasn’t a happy one. “Hello, Ikuyo.”

  Her eyes flashed anger. “You would speak to me in such a familiar way?”

  “Oh, stuff the shit,” I drawled, rolling my eyes. “I’m an elder too. Just because you call yourself an ancient doesn’t actually make you above the rest of us. We’re a coven. You’re an earth. You call your elders ancients.”

  “I am a thousand years older than you,” she snapped, getting to her feet.

  “And I am more powerful than you,” I reminded her, flicking my wrist and forcing her to sit back down. “And don’t forget it because I’m furious already. What the fuck is wrong with you, Ikuyo? You would be so horrible to one of your own?”

  She only caught then who I was with and swallowed a flinch. “It is none of your concern.”

  “Bullshit!” I seethed, moving closer. “Or do you want to be the next tribunal I call?” I nodded when she went a bit pale. “If you had forced him and I had found out then, I would not hesitate to call a tribunal on your ass, Ikuyo. We do not force our own to mate. Not ever. And to withhold binding his tail until he does as you want is not only dangerous but horrid. Have you forgotten who tried that with you? Who saved you from that?”

  “I have not forgotten,” she threw right back. “I know it was you who bound many of my tails so no one could force me to mate. He is the only one to have found his seventh tail before turning a hundred, and he was nineteen. It’s unheard of. We cannot risk him mating with another species and birthing non-kitsune children. We need him to continue his bloodline.”

  “There is always another way to make sure of that. It is not a reason to force someone to mate!” My eyes went wide when I heard from her mind who it was she was trying to force him to mate. I sneered at her. “Don’t even give me that bullshit it’s for the good of all kitsune. She’s your family and you put that before your people. You are not fit to be an ancient! We do not use our own!”

  I stormed over to the young man, moving my hand around his throat and then grabbing his tail.