by Amy Sumida
My star god eased out of me and went to his knees. His hands slid over my ass, and I felt him nuzzle the curve of my hip before he moved away. I looked over my shoulder and saw him sprawled on one of the mats. I pushed away from the bike and stumbled down beside him. Viper instantly pulled me against his side and my head settled on his muscular chest. I wrapped my leg around one of his, and we sighed deeply together.
“Now,” Viper said, “tell me what just happened.”
“I had no idea that sweating would increase my appeal to my lions,” I tried to explain. “And when I scented their arousal, it spiked mine. We were caught in the magic. I'm so glad you walked in when you did or I would have...”
“What?” He angled his head to look at me. “You really would have fucked them?”
“I think I would have,” I confessed. “I'm sorry, honey. It had nothing to do with love. It was instinctual and magical. The lion magic is the reason I have to take multiple lovers; it's not something I can conquer. Not easily at least.”
Viper let out a long breath. “All right; I understand. But you're never getting sweaty around your lions again.”
“Agreed, with the exception of Kirill.” I bit my lip before I went on. “I'm sorry I used you to satisfy my lust.”
Viper chuckled. “The thought bothered me at first but, honestly, that was amazing. I have nothing to complain about.”
“Oh?” I lifted onto my elbow so I could stare down at him. “So, I'm forgiven?”
“I don't know.” Viper grinned, his slit-pupil eyes brightening as he glanced down at his hardening member. “I might need just a little more convincing.”
I licked my lips as I moved to straddle him. “I think I might be able to put more effort into my apology.”
I angled Viper inside me and dropped down onto him, sighing in pleasure. Spreading my knees wide pushed Viper even deeper, and I stretched out until my legs were as horizontal as they could go. Our pelvises ground together, and I began a gentle undulation. Heat rose from where we were connected, flushing my chest and tightening my nipples. Viper made a growl of delight as he lifted his hands to my breasts; fingers massaging and thumbs circling my nipples.
“Can I confess something?” Viper asked, his hands moving to my waist.
I went still.
“Fuck,” he groaned as he pumped up into me. “Don't stop; it's not that serious.”
I laughed and brought his hands back to my breasts. “Then you don't stop either.”
“You got it.”
“Now, what does the Viper need to confess?”
“I wanted to tear them apart,” he whispered solemnly. “Your lions. When I saw them watching you, touching themselves while you did the same, I... I've never felt such anger. Rage.”
“And you don't think that's serious?” I asked as I slowed.
“No.” Viper rolled me so that he was on top. He started a steady rhythm and kissed me tenderly. When he lifted his face, he added, “I not angry anymore. I just wanted to tell you how it made me feel to find you that way.”
“I'm sorry,” I murmured.
“Don't be.” He stroked my cheek. “I liked it.”
“You liked being furious?” I asked softly.
“No.” Viper hung his head and stared down at the place we were joined. “I thought that maybe this magic you have”—he lifted his stare to mine again—“this lioness magic, had dampened my feelings for you. But it hasn't. It's only made me accept your husbands, it hasn't changed anything else. Today proved that.”
“So, you've felt furious with other men before?” I couldn't understand what he was saying.
“I've felt as if you were mine from the beginning, Vervain. My star. My destiny. I feel it very strongly.” His hands bracketed my face. “Strong enough to defend it with all that I have. But then you brought me here, and I felt a kinship with your husbands. I feel as if I'm a part of your family.”
“You are.” I stroked his cheek.
Viper went still inside me as he turned his face into my palm and kissed it. Then he lifted me, pulling us both up into a sitting position with me across his lap. His arms went around my waist and he laid his head on my chest.
“I know, sweetheart. That was the problem,” he kept his face pressed against my breasts as he spoke. “I worried that this new happiness had somehow muted my passion for you. That the wild, clawing, animal inside me, the one that belongs to you, had been tamed.” He lifted his head to look at me. “But it's not. It's still wild. Its claws are still sharp. And it still belongs to you. I will tear Marduk to pieces before I let him hurt you again.”
Something hard inside me softened. Went mellow and mushy. I smiled but it was tremulous, as if even my lips couldn't function after such a declaration.
“I'm glad that your wild heart still roars for me,” I brushed my lips over his. “As mine does for you.”
I got to my knees and started another tempo, one aligned with both of our hearts. With my arms wrapped around Viper, I drove our heartbeats higher, slamming down over him with the fury of our love. Yes, tenderness is a treasure but so is savagery. Viper's declaration had set all of my beasts to purring. They swirled inside me, primal passion spinning into a vortex that swept me up with Viper. Our bodies pressed tightly together as we writhed into rapture and, finally, our voices lifted in roars that began within our ferocious hearts. We clawed each other closer until the pleasure drained away and we were left lying slack in each others' arms.
I laid my cheek on his thick shoulder and sighed. When my eyes opened, I focused on the pile of our clothing, tossed off to the side. Something about his shirt caught my attention.
“Baby?” I asked sleepily.
“Yes.” Viper stirred and lifted his head.
“Where did you get that T-shirt?”
“Oh!” Viper brightened as he glanced over his shoulder. He rolled onto his back—holding me to his chest as he did so our bodies wouldn't separate—and stretched out an arm to grab the discarded shirt. “This was what I was coming to show you. Pan had it delivered to Moonshine for me. One of the Froekn just brought it by.” He sat up and laid the shirt on the mat beside us, smoothing it so I could read the bold script on the front. “Trevor said that you're not really a part of the Squad until Pan makes you a T-shirt. What do you think?”
“Tall, dark, and venomous,” I read aloud and chuckled. “I think it suits you.”
“Me too.” Viper grinned and wrapped his arms around me again.
“Aw, come on!” Aidan shouted as he strode into the gym. “This isn't your time, Tima. What the hell? And with the snake? Really?” Aidan turned on his heels and stormed out, muttering to himself. “A fucking snake. Of all things. That's so gross! Why did he have to be a snake?”
“Is it wrong that I'm getting aroused again?” Viper asked as he hardened inside me.
“Yes, it's absolutely wrong,” I confirmed but then started to move over him. “Now, ask me if I care?”
Chapter Eight
“Do I need to read you more ancient poetry?” Viper laid back on a lounger beside mine.
It was the day after our strenuous workout, and I was still out of sorts. We were out by the pool with the children and some of my Intare. Only Odin had stayed inside, preferring to continue his research on the Mesopotamians. He had returned from Asgard the evening before with some good news; Thor had agreed to fight with us if we needed him. Thor didn't say he'd come back to the Squad but it was still a giant leap in the right direction.
Trevor and Kirill were in the water with the kids, including Zariel, whose parents were getting some time off from babysitting for a change. The golden grasslands stretched out to my left, just past the slate slabs that paved the pool area and the collection of trees that formed a half-circle border along its edge. The slate went up to the rim of the pool where it smoothed into a curved lip and angled down to line the basin. The pool's irregular shape undulated out from the natural rock waterfall that also happened to be a slide. L
esya went squealing down the slide, through the falls, and splashed into the water only to surface seconds later, laughing gleefully. Vero shrieked and clapped his hands for her achievement.
Azrael laid out on the lounger on my right in a pair of swim trunks, soaking up the sun, and Re was next to him in a much shorter pair of trunks; all of his golden skin gleaming. Viper had taken the lounger on my left, his body still wet from a swim and looking delicious. But I couldn't relax to enjoy any of it; not my children's laughter, the afternoon sun, or the sight of my beautiful men. I was still too anxious, with this hard ball of nerves filling my belly.
“I'll be fine,” I murmured. “I'm just...”
“Scared,” Viper said softly. “So am I.”
I swung my head to stare at him in surprise.
“I've just started to live.” He shrugged and looked around. “And I like it. In fact, I love it.” He looked back at me. “I love you, and I can't lose you, Vervain. I'd sooner die and return to the Void than live without you. So, yes, I'm scared of the possibility of the Mesopotamians hurting you. That somehow I'll fail to protect you. But I know I'm meant to be here, and I can't imagine that fate would be so cruel as to bring me to life—bring us together—only to tear us apart. I need to have faith in that, and I think you should too.”
“Fate is fickle,” I said gently. “I can't have faith in it.”
“Then have faith in us,” Azrael reached over and took my hand. “Know that we won't give up until our family is safe.”
I smiled softly at him and was about to tell him how much that meant to me when my phone dinged. I winked at Az instead as I grabbed my cell phone. I had a text message from Sin.
“Sin wants me to meet him at Moonshine,” I said to my men. “He says it's urgent.”
“Are the Mesopotamians leaving Bahrain?” Trevor asked as he waded to the edge of the pool with a splashing Vero in his arms.
“Hold on.” I texted Sin and waited. A few seconds later, I got a reply. “No, it's something else. He's asking me to hurry.”
“Well, you're not going.” Azrael stood up. “I'll fetch him. Tell him that I'm tracing there now.”
“Okay.” I texted Sin again, and he responded just as Azrael reached the drawbridge/veranda—the porch that extended along the front of the palace but also functioned as a permanently-lowered drawbridge, laid across the moat. “Sin says he'll meet you up on the VIP floor,” I called after Az, and he waved without looking back. “We'd better get changed.” I stood up. “I don't know what this is about, but I don't want to meet with Sin in my bathing suit.”
“No, he'd definitely take that the wrong way,” Trevor muttered as he headed out of the pool.
“Give me Vero.” Kirill held his arms out and took Vero when Trevor passed him. “I'll stay here vith children.”
“Thank you, honey.” I waved at the kids. “You three be good.”
A chorus of “Okay, Mommy” and “Yes, Aunty Vervain” came back at me.
Viper and Re joined Trevor and me, and we all headed up to the top floor of the palace to change. I used the intercom to let Odin know what was happening and then headed into my dressing room. By the time I was presentable, Az and Sin had already returned. I came out of my dressing room to find them sitting at the little kitchen table with Re, Trevor, Viper, and Odin. Sin looked distraught; sleek hair mussed, cheek cut, and shirt torn. He lifted a scared silver stare to me.
“Vervain, I need your help.” Sin stood and met me halfway to the table. “Those bastards took Ninka!”
“Ninkasi?” I blinked at him. “Why would they...” I trailed off as I realized exactly why the Mesopotamians would go after Ninkasi. “The vampires.”
“Yeah; they found out that she was hosting them, letting them spy on the Mesopotamians in her bar,” Sin confirmed. “They stormed Sikaru and went after the vampires. The vamps got away, but Ninka didn't even think to run. She didn't expect her own people to attack her. I tried to fight them off but...” he let out a shaky breath. “There were too many of them. I had to trace away before they cuffed me too.”
“Cuffed?” Viper asked.
“I'm assuming that he means magic-dampening manacles or handcuffs,” Odin said with a lifted brow at Sin.
“Yeah. The Anunnaki teamed up to make them,” Sin growled. “I wouldn't have helped make them if I'd known they'd be used against me someday.”
“I'm so sorry, Sin,” I whispered. “This is my fault, and I promise that I'll do everything I can to get Ninkasi back.”
“Do you know where they may have taken her?” Azrael asked.
“I know exactly where they took her,” Sin growled. “Marduk's estate. He was leading the group that grabbed Ninka. He even taunted me as I traced away; said he was going to enjoy making her talk.”
“What does he expect to get out of her?” Re asked in bafflement.
“He thinks she's in cahoots with Vervain.” Sin grimaced. “This isn't your fault, V, it's mine. I asked Ninkasi to help. I tried to reason with Marduk, but he wouldn't listen to me so I went to Ninka and asked her if she would let the vampires on the upper floor of the club. I didn't think they'd... damn it all! We need to get her out of there right now!”
“Okay, we're going,” I said. “You just trace us where they're holding her.”
“Not you, Vervain,” Trevor declared. “You're staying here.”
“Ninkasi was trying to help me and now she's probably being tortured, Trevor,” I snapped. “I'm going. If nothing else, I can distract Marduk while you rescue her.”
“Carus, please,” Azrael implored. “Don't risk yourself. We can get her back without you.”
“We're wasting time,” Sin said urgently. “No one has to risk themselves, we can go invisible and sneak in. I told you; I know where they are. I've been inside Marduk's house. He doesn't even have wards up; he's that fucking arrogant.”
My men looked at each other and then at me.
I went to the intercom and pushed the button. “Gather the Intare. We're going on a rescue mission.”
“Yes, Tima!” came through the speaker.
I started texting as I headed back into my dressing room.
“What are you doing now?” Sin gaped at me.
“Well, if I'm going to fight, I need to change.” I looked pointedly at my cotton dress. “And I need to let Blue know to check on his vampires.”
I hit Send and headed for my leathers.
Chapter Nine
Marduk had a significant plot of land on Bahrain's main island. The boxy, cream-stone manor had Middle Eastern influences in its arched windows, columned terraces, and carved, crown-like parapet. I might have appreciated its design more if I hadn't known who lived there.
Sin directed our trace and brought us through the Aether—the magical realm that holds the other realms together—and into Marduk's garden; right behind the cover of some manicured bushes. By “us” I mean; a handful of Intare, Odin, Trevor, Re, Azrael, Viper, and me. Kirill had stayed home with the children.
Marduk's garden worked in harmony with its environment, using a lot of the local flora in its design. Spiky palms of various heights from squat to soaring gathered around pebbled walkways bordered by iron lanterns. Delicate jasmine scented the air and clusters of bright flowers spotted the sandy ground. The sun shone brutally, unimpeded by any cloud, bringing the garden to life and making my dragon rumbled happily. We walked unseen along the path, Sin in the lead with all of us holding hands like children so no one would get lost.
Sin took us to a side door. “Just give me a second to peek in this window,” he whispered back to us. Then, “All clear.”
The door opened without even the smallest creak, and we filed inside rapidly. Sparse rooms of low furniture and stone walls opened off the main hallway. Spots of color from vibrant rugs and pillows kept the home from feeling bland, but it was easy to see that Marduk wasn't big on decorating. Salt-tinged air flowed in open windows and cooled the space along with the help of the thick st
one walls, preventing a stifling build-up of heat despite the lack of an air conditioner. We padded across tile floors, past empty rooms, and then up a slender staircase with a wrought-iron railing. I heard voices before we'd reached the stairs and by the time we crept onto the second-floor landing, I could clearly make out the conversation. Or interrogation, rather.
“You must know something, Ninkasi.” That was Marduk; I'd know his snide tone anywhere.
