“But you said you didn’t want me with him.” Confusion put an adorable frown on her face.
Sex was one thing, but her tender emotions for her husband rankled. He couldn’t compete against sentiments. “That’s because I’d prefer not to share your emotions. You don’t do sex without intimacy.”
That answer did nothing to alleviate her baffled expression.
“Humans.” Zenny slurred the word as he came off the bed. “I’ve been pushed to my non-nosy brotherly limits.” He approached. Nix kept Mads against his side, enjoying the feel of her body alongside his, as he looked at the immortal. “Madison needs Micah to survive, of that I’ve grown certain over the last two days. I’m confident if you choose Phoenix over him, Micah will still give you his seraph when you need it.”
Zen leveled Nix with an unflinching stare. “Not fighting for her is lame. Let me tell you how Phoenix really feels, Madison.”
“I didn’t lie to her.” He ground his teeth together so hard he was surprised his molars didn’t fracture.
“No, but you didn’t tell her that you’ll be devastated to lose her. You’ll be unsure how to go into a future without her. You worry that you’ll lose your purpose in life without her. Or that you want to cut particular body parts off Beliel at the idea of him touching her. ” Zenny turned to Mads. “Although he was telling the truth about thinking it hot to watch Micah have sex with you. And your tender thoughts toward the King of Hell vex him more than the idea of you sleeping with the man. Strange conflict of emotions.” Zen shook his head. “Once again, I’m baffled by you mortals.”
Mads laid her hand on the immortal’s arm. “I get it. Thanks for clarifying, big brother.” She winked at him, and Zen’s corresponding grin seemed a little more natural than the first time he’d seen one. “I love you, Nix. I can tell you that without any hesitation.”
“I know, baby.”
“Micah’s right that your family is safer with us.” Back to business, that was his Mads. “Getting him not to be a jackass around them will be our biggest dilemma. Do you think you can convince them to stay a little longer? At least until this is settled?”
“Aunt Georgie is a whiz at convincing folks to do things against their will. As Micah suggested, we should move locations.” He squeezed her. “If they found you here once, it’s logical to assume their allies know we’re here.”
Mads nodded. “Which safe-house do you think would provide the best defense, Zen?”
“Either six or one.” The immortal swiped a lock of hair off his forehead. It fell back across his brow. “Six is the biggest.”
With all the folks homed under one roof, they would need the largest space possible.
“Okay. We’ll move there today.” Mads peeked at Nix through her lashes. “Nix has gotta sleep, Zen. He’s drained and he needs to regenerate.”
“I’m fine.” Although her concern felt nice.
“You’re not fine. You’ve got dark rings beneath your eyes, and I know it’s because you gave me too much messian.” She poked him in the belly. “You’re always taking care of me. Let me return the favor. And, Zen….” She faced him. “I still have that Crow feather that she left me when she gave her confession about Nix.”
Five years since Crow swooped into their life and delivered the news of his fall into Hell. He’d discounted the validity of the prophecy and hadn’t thought about Crow since. It felt like a lifetime ago.
“Crow said the feather was a one-time pass for help. I’m thinking it’s time to call in that aid.”
“I don’t know much about Crows, and I’m reluctant to trust her.” That’s what he loved about the immortal. Chances with Mads or Amos’s lives weren’t an option. And he was the best-damned strategist Nix had ever met. “But I can kill anything…except Micah.” A glower hit the immortal’s features, and Nix was glad it wasn’t turned on him.
“I didn’t say anything about trust, Zen. I want answers and my research indicated she cannot lie when the feather is utilized.”
“What research?” He hadn’t been aware she’d done any on the creature.
Mads flashed him a wicked grin. “Georgie.”
He chuckled. “You and my aunt. I’m a little jealous of your relationship with her.”
Rolling her eyes, she hip-bumped him. “You are her favorite nephew.”
“I’m her only nephew.”
“Then you know I’m telling the truth.” The cheeky grin she offered infected him in so many ways. He returned her smile.
How in the world would he go on without her if she picked Micah over him?
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Impressive,” Micah’s awed voice transitioned across the room. “You’re strong for your age. Elias is the only one I know that can create illusions. Not surprising you have some of his talents.”
Madison cringed, hating the thought Amos shared anything with her brother-in-law…powers or genes. God, how she despised that demon.
Two days after the angel attack, Micah helped them discover their demonic mojo. They’d been at it all day, practicing and discovering new talents. Her husband had turned into a sexy drill sergeant, vigor boundless as he issued instructions and commands in tailor-made suits. He expected each order to be followed precisely to the letter, but between his scent, cockiness, and how good he looked in his dressy ensemble, she kept spacing out.
“Channel your power through your breastbone, Amos. Like this.” Not about to miss this instruction, she observed. Micah’s eyes were closed. She could sense he coalesced his energy into one location. His aura spiked jagged, felt like static on her skin, before flattening smooth as he exhaled slow. “Focus on that inner glow of power and imagine it flowing out of you.” Blue orbs rotated in his palm. His eyelids swiveled upward and his gaze flicked to hers. Making sure I’m watching. No question, she was impressed.
“Those aren’t an illusion, but it’s the same principle.”
Dear God, pheromones dripped off the man. She’d never have guessed such dominance could be so provocative. The intermittent peeks he sent her way hinted he suspected her mood.
Not hungry, but I’d love to mainline his power twenty-four-seven. Jesus Christ, her demon had been vocal today. So were her freakin’ hormones.
What would those blue orbs feel like against her flesh? Hot? Cold? A combination of the two?
Can they get me off like a vibrator? Holy hell, Madison wasn’t addressing that comment by her Lynx.
The orbs might taste like his seraph, so fucking amazing. Damn. She had to focus on something else. She’d leave if not for the promise she’d made to her son to stay. Magic lessons 101 had turned into Libido Hell lessons 101.
Amos’s energy seemed unlimited and his excitement was obvious. Otherwise, she’d have insisted on ending the lesson already. Her oomph had been tapped out early on. If Micah had kept his hands and his intense gaze off her, she could’ve focused longer. But how could he expect her to pay attention with his tempting vibe melting all over her? The not-so-innocent touches that he claimed were accidental weren’t any help.
“Let me try.” Her child braced his feet and closed his eyes. Her husband squashed the orbs in his hands.
Madison sighed. Oh, well, she’d discovered the ability to give life to plants and seeds. Just add water and a little Madison-power. Instant Miracle-Gro. Huge letdown.
What the hell was that good for anyway?
In an apocalypse, no one we love will starve. Madison shook her head at Lynx’s realism.
Near her feet, Devlin pounced on FiFi’s back, a growl making him sound fierce. The Hellhounds rolled around on the floor, biting each other and giving high-pitched yips. Cousins to human canines, but so much deadlier.
“I cannot believe you named that hound FiFi.” At Micah’s comment, Madison lifted her gaze to his. Heavy-lidded eyes watched her in a studious nature. She was tempted to give her pinkie to know what he was thinking. “It’s a disgrace to their species.”
Unnerved by craving
sexual exploits she shouldn’t want, she shifted in her chair, but no position was comfortable. Madison offered a casual shrug and focused on the dragon Amos had drawn her. “No one will guess her true nature with a name like that.”
“Much like you. Your beauty hides the demon inside.”
With a gasp, her attention zip-lined to him. What a nasty way to remind her she was evil straight to her soul. As if him teaching her how to use her Azura stones wasn’t reminder enough.
“You’re fucking perfect and don’t allow anyone to tell you different.” Fingers swiped through the illusion centered in their son’s palm. The tiny butterfly with droopy wings scattered into puffs of fizzling magic. “Again, Amos. It’s got to appear real enough someone can touch it without it dispersing.”
Confused, Madison looked back at the dragon her child had drawn. Bright yellow underbelly, royal blue wings with light purple skull heads on them. A long, forked tail corkscrewed across the page. She traced the image with a fingertip. The detail was phenomenal. Scales etched into the body, surprising her when they didn’t slice her flesh from the wispy fondle.
Does Micah really think I’m perfect? Of course he had designed her and mentored—
Madison sat a little straighter and forced her thoughts back to the picture.
Ridges across the bridge of the dragon’s snout reminded her of a crocodile and…well, and the real-life dragons she commanded. Upper teeth longer than the jaw protruded over into icepick-sharp tips. The yellow eyes were speckled in a blue and light purple star-like pattern. The image was so realistic, she could almost envision the sketch coming to life and—
“Oh, fuck!”
Madison shoved away from the desk. Her chair caught on the rug and rocked backward. Somehow she managed to contort her body at the correct angle to hit the floor on her side, rather than ride the chair to the hardwood. The clatter of her seat against the floorboards whipped the guys about.
She felt Micah tense more than saw his disquiet. Shoving to her feet, she held her arm toward Amos. “Stay.”
The dragon photo had come to life in a carbon-copy replica. The creature squawked and hopped across the sheet of paper toward her.
“Take it,” Micah instructed in a no-nonsense tone.
Madison shook her head hard enough her ponytail slapped her face.
Rapid footsteps and then his fingers were curling around her upper arm. “You gave it life. Doesn’t matter if it was by accident.” He jerked her toward the table. “Take. It.”
The mini-dragon wasn’t more than a foot in length—if she didn’t count the tail. At least a three-foot wingspan flapped as it screeched and two-stepped across the desk, ogling her like an obsessed stalker.
“It recognizes you as mother. Either nurture it or kill it.”
She flinched. “I cannot kill it.” But neither did she know how to take care of it.
“I’ll help you figure out what it needs to survive,” he said as if he read her mind.
“Momma, that’s so cool.” Amos shifted from one foot to the next, his wide-eyed gaze honed on the upset creature.
Not cool at all, but she disregarded his enthusiasm. Madison extracted herself from her husband’s grasp and took the final step to the dragon. A moment of hesitation, then she held her hand toward the dragon. The reptile tucked its wings and leapt onto her arm. Scampered up to her shoulder, where its little body curled along her neck, his tail draping over her opposite shoulder like a shawl.
Madison stroked the frigid head that reclined against her collarbone. A purring as loud as a Harley startled her. Who knew such a tiny creation could make so much noise? She laughed until she met Micah’s intense gaze.
“You’re strong, Madison. More than I realized.” His fingertips skimmed her cheek. Pride and something she couldn’t identify made his eyes glow demon-like. “What were you thinking when it came to life?”
“He.”
“Pardon?”
“When he came to life, not ‘it,’” she corrected. “I don’t know how I know, but the dragon is male.”
“May I?” His fingers shifted off her face to hover over the dragon’s head.
She removed her touch and nodded. As he stroked her creation, the purring softened, but continued. Madison cleared her throat. “I don’t want to do this again.”
“What were you thinking right before you breathed life into the drawing?”
“That Amos’s photo was lifelike.”
“I’m impressed, Momma.”
She wished she was.
“I’m impressed, too, kitten.” His gaze said something else entirely. Like he wanted to shove her to the floor and fuck her until she cried uncle.
I so want that, her succubus chimed in, purring a little, too.
“What else were you thinking?” His stare bored into hers.
Nothing she wished to confide. She shook her head.
“You are a conduit for magic when your emotions are rattled, Madison. Something else was on your mind or you would’ve been aware of your actions.”
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she eyed her son to get her focus off Micah and what she’d really been thinking. Because no way in hell would she admit what’d been on her mind.
“That’s all for today, Amos.”
“I’m gonna go show my illusions to Petra.” Their child flung himself against Micah and hugged him. “Thank you so much, Daddy.”
Madison’s heart clenched at her son’s expressive emotions.
Micah ruffled his hair and squeezed Amos’s shoulder. “Tomorrow, we’ll practice more.”
“’Kay.” Their son took off at a dead run, the Hellhounds scrambling to follow. The door slammed behind them.
Fingers shoved hair behind an ear and her husband leaned against the desk. Ankles crossed, his hands flattened palm-down on his thighs, he leveled her with a stare. His wedding ring glinted on his left hand. That piece of metal eroded her commitment to Nix. That bothered her.
“Spill it.”
The slight quirk to his lips and the way his eyebrows danced with his hairline, she suspected he knew what she’d been thinking. “No. My thoughts are my own.”
“They were about me.” Smug certainty made his voice sound like velvet being dragged over her skin. Arousing her in the most wickedly clandestine sort of way.
“You’re conceited.” Open book to him from the get-go. Just once she craved to be a hard read.
“I label it self-realism.”
“Arrogance is not sexy on a man.” Lie much more and—Madison shut down her demon chat. It wasn’t a lie; at least she didn’t find it sexy on other men. Just on Micah, it was lethal to her libido.
He rerouted the subject back on topic. “Specifically your thoughts are of us naked and me inside you.”
Again, not a question, but a statement. And so close to the truth, she wouldn’t engage additional conversation.
Madison spun on her heels and stalked toward the door.
The soft confidence of his voice whipped over her as decadent as she imagined his tongue would across her skin. “It’s natural to think of your husband that way.”
As if slamming into an invisible brick wall, she drew up short and executed a half-turn to face him. “You’re not my husband. I divorced you and I have the papers to prove it. I also divorced you where it counts. In my heart.” Damn, that hurt to say, thanks to the strange burning in her throat. She’d ask him about that, but she worried what his answer would be.
“Liar.”
She frowned. “Which part is a lie?”
“The divorcing me in your heart bullshit.”
Haha…he has so got your number. Madison might never speak to her succubus again at this rate. They were supposed to be on the same damn side!
“I understand your ego is so huge you cannot see the truth right in front—” She squealed as he suddenly appeared directly in front of her. His warp speed had him across the room and nose to nose with her.
“I can smell your arousal.�
�� Gee, nothing embarrassing about that. “I’ve been around long enough to recognize the looks you’ve been tossing me.” He circled her, eyeing her like a succubus he owned and could have anytime of his choosing. “They’re fuck-me looks.”
So got your number.
Was she really giving those looks to him? “Dream on. I only give Nix fuck-me looks.”
From behind his lips pressed against her ear. “There is no codex in existence that says you cannot love two men at once.” The rough glide of his tongue along her lobe had her breath catching in her lungs. Heat swirled in her belly and stretched downward. Oh, God. “Only the pretentious Christian that raised you would lament such hypocrisy.” A blow against her ear scattered goose bumps along her flesh and liquid pooled between her thighs. “Leave before I follow my impulse and bestow your secret desires upon you.”
Self-preservation dogged her as she fled.
With a hand on the door, his mild tone stopped her in her tracks. “My guess is you’re good and wet.”
Her spine snapped straight, but she refused to face him.
“Go to Phoenix to relieve your ache and you won’t like my reaction.”
How dare he threaten me! Madison whipped around, ready to fillet epidermis off him one layer at a time. The flames in his eyes, proof of his hellish principals, stunned her into silence. She’d not seen them directed toward her since Hell.
“I can tolerate the Ark fucking you, but not when the arousal is for me.” His walk was full of pride, supremacy and superiority. A damn shame he could back up the swagger. A finger beneath her chin and he tipped her head back to meet his passionate stare. “I grant you many liberties. This is not one of them.”
She knocked his hand aside. The dragon hissed. “Your self-realism is on my last nerve, Micah.”
Shocker—she’d managed that sentence without the typical burn on her tongue.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Nix gaped at the billiards table as Zen’s remaining six balls rolled into their pockets. “No fucking way!” Arms tensing to wrap his pool stick around the immortal’s head, he forced his body to relax. “Goddamn cheater!”
Genesis Queen (The Road to Hell Series) Page 27
