by A. K. Koonce
Ten of clubs.
“Lower.”
Six of hearts.
Shit, I blink down at that taunting little middle number. My line is made of up a mixture of red and black. I cock a brow at the dubious bottle of liquor.
No way in fuck am I drinking Demon alcohol.
“Lower.” My jaw clenches shut as I prepare for whatever card the High Card, Low Card, Red and Black master is about to serve to me.
He flips.
I hang on his every move.
Neatly, he presses a five of clubs in line with my other cards.
And that’s what winning feels like.
A smirk pulls at my lips, and I settle back into the worn cushion. I won’t admit how much tension leaves my body just because I guessed a fucking card right.
“Good job, Cupcake.” He looks to Vi as he gets the cards ready.
“Wait, doesn’t the dealer usually drink if someone wins?” I cock a brow at the Warlock. He stares at me with an expressionless look that I know is hiding his real thoughts right now.
No one wants to drink Demon liquor.
But rules are rules.
“That’s not how we’ve been playing.” He shakes his head at me.
“I think we should follow the rules, don’t you?” The taunting smile pulling at my lips is something I can’t repress.
“Nollix,” Violence warns, her palm skimming my thigh before she brings her attention back to Cameron.
“I’m not drinking whatever the hell is in that bottle.”
A beat passes quickly before I lean forward. I’m entirely too invested in this game now. I won. I should win something, right?
“I should win a dare then.” I shrug as if it’s not that important, but the tension lining Cameron’s wide shoulders hints at just how important we both know it is.
His gaze holds mine, and we simply stare at one another, both of us masking our glares.
“Nollix,” Violence’s tone is testing, but before she can say anther word, he speaks.
“Sure. What’s your dare?” His head tips up just slightly, urging me on to dare him.
“Cameron, you don’t have to do this.” Violence tries to soothe the tension out of the room, and for several seconds, the only sound is the sand hitting the glass of the window and the rumbling whispers of the Demons in the next room.
Her palm’s still against my thigh. Her gaze is held on him. This moment, right here, this is what it’s been like for the four of us since the moment I met Cameron; her touching me while watching him. She’s powerful, but she’s not cruel. She’s not going to explore things between the two of them because she thinks it’ll hurt Link and me. But I only care about him hurting her.
Of all the shitty things I want to dare him, only one keeps pressing to the front of my mind. Because Violence is the only thing I care about.
“Kiss her.”
Link’s head turns slowly until he’s staring hard at the side of my face. Cameron’s dark brows rise, and he too is gaping at me.
I peer down. Violence is looking at the floor. Not meeting any of our gazes.
“What?” His dark hair shifts as he tilts his head abruptly as if he really didn’t hear the simple words out of my mouth.
I have to bite my cheek to stop the smirk from pulling at my lips. This has been on my mind since Link mentioned their bond last night.
Our bonds are all interconnected in a way. If my feelings reflect Vi’s, and her feelings reflect his, then I want to know just what the fuck his real feelings are. I want to know if he wants her, or if he just wants to use her.
“I said, I want you to fucking kiss her.”
There’s a demented way my mind works. I know it’s off. I know it’s not like everyone else’s. But it’s never led me wrong.
I don’t think it will right now either.
Cameron places the cards down for the first time in hours. His palms settle hard against the scratches of the tabletop. For several seconds, he just leans there, staring at me, seemingly trying to make sense of what I could possibly gain from this.
He probably thinks I’ll kick his ass.
I’m still not ruling that out as an option.
Especially if the bond doesn’t show me what it should.
Slowly, his attention shifts to the woman sitting between Linkin’s legs. She’s still studying the dark floorboards, her fingers trailing absently against the dust. And the look in his eyes should be all that I need to know. He looks at her the way I used to look at her. He looks at her like she’s something he want’s but he can’t reach.
“Vi,” the rumbling sound of his voice pulls at her attention. Long blonde hair shifts against her back as she looks up at him, “come here.”
For a second, even I’m surprised by his words.
She stands, her boots scuffing against the flooring as she passes Sev to meet Cameron on the opposite side of the table. When she’s near enough, his fingers grip hers. With one hard pull, her feet stumble and a gasp leaves her lips. The dark fabric of her shirt rides up, revealing her soft skin where his fingers are digging in to her hip, cradling her against his chest.
They stare at one another for a moment. Building tension rises in my chest, making my heart pound hard and demandingly. I watch his every move as he slowly leans into her. Her hesitant fingers push through his hair, bringing him closer to her as her head tips slightly up.
The amber color of his eyes lingers against hers just before his lashes fall closed.
His lips meet hers so softly she lets out a small moan. The humming sound of pleasure rings through my ears, making my chest ache from the sound of her emotions.
It’s only a second. Barely a chaste brush of their lips.
When he pulls back from her, I realize … my dick’s hard.
That’s … unexpected.
Chapter Twelve
Threatening Words
Violence
My lips still tingle as I watch him head upstairs. Heavy darkness falls over the Warlock’s back as the strange nightfall envelops him into the shadows. Cameron kissed me. In front of everyone. And my heart still hasn’t come down from the feel of it.
Nollix and Link whisper on the couch in a low hum of voices as I sit on the floor where Cameron previously sat. They’re talking about the Core and how once the storm passes, we’ll make our way into the city without our kind little Demon friends.
Apparently, it’s only five miles out or so. I agree though, it’s probably safer to travel alone than with the four manic Demons, one of which is still dozing with his face plastered to the coffee table.
I pause and study the two handsome men across from me. They sit side by side, Link’s hands gesturing around while Nollix nods slowly. They’re opposites, but they’re the same. I love them the same. And yet, differently.
On slow steps, I walk toward them. Link watches me with heavy attention as he continues to plot with Nollix. I lift my leg and settle myself against his hips, letting my center press firmly against him until the words falling out of his mouth finally halt mid-sentence. I face him and he watches me intently.
“Why didn’t you dare Link to kiss me?” I turn my head, watching the sexy Fae beneath me before his palms finally grip my hips, holding me tightly against the hardness that’s starting to press to my center.
Nollix smirks at us, his fingers skimming slowly up my thigh. My jeans prevent the feel of his hands on my body, but the sensation of his touch buzzes through my veins.
“Because I know what Link feels when he kisses you. I’ve known how he’s felt about you for years. Fae always know.” His cocky smirk only widens when I narrow my eyes on him.
“So you think Link can feel it when you kiss me?”
“Yes.” They both say in unison.
My brows rise. Interesting.
Link holds me against him, and I lean forward slowly until my palms meet Nollix’s shoulders. The half Demon watches me with a curious gaze, that taunting smile still pulling at his
lips. As if he’s testing me, he waits. He doesn’t move an inch. He makes me do all of the work as I close the small distance between us. But the moment my lips touch his, his tongue skims against my mouth, demanding entrance as his finger thread tightly through my hair.
With slow strokes, his tongue drifts along mine until my hips start to rock against Link’s hardness. With every shift of our hips, my chest brushes against his. The two of them groan at the same time, and the humming sound of it drills straight through me. Firm hands grip my hips harder until he’s grinding just right against my sex. A shaking moan falls from my lips, and Nollix kisses the sound away. His palm pushes lower, whispering along my skin until his fingers dip beneath the waist of my jeans.
His lips leave mine, his teeth raking along my jaw and down my neck until I angle my head for him. Slowly, Link pushes his fingers through my hair, tilting my head down to him to meet his pretty eyes once more. My breath catches as his lips seal to mine, his hips still thrusting hard against me. There’s perfection in the way our bodies are meeting. As if we’ve done this a thousand times even though we’ve never touched each other quite like this. Link meets my movements just right, his fingers tightening on my skin as he pushes me harder against him every time our hips meet.
Nollix’s fingers inch lower and lower and lower until I can’t even think straight and my sex clenches hard for the feel of his hand right where I want it.
“I could watch you all day,” a dreamy voice purrs, sounding too close for comfort.
I jump from her nearness to find Tantra sitting on the cushion next to Link. Her head rests against her hand as she watches us with a wistful smile that reveals a hint of her sharp teeth.
The lust within me slips away on a shaking breath, and I try to compose myself without letting her know how much she startled me. Dark eyes watch closely at my changing emotions. She isn’t someone to trust. But we’re stuck here together, and, for whatever reason she’s helping us.
I’m just worried about what that reason might really be.
“How do you know Nollix?” My voice is steady, and I feel confident even as I sit in Link’s lap, his palms no longer firm against my hips but skimming down to rest along my outer thighs.
Tantra passes a quick look to Nollix, and there’s one terrible moment that I think she might say they have a history together.
“We grew up together. My family adopted him in a way.” The twisted smile these Demons always cling to is no longer on her lips. “He came here when he was young. He was lost and confused. You surface people didn’t accept him, his fucking Fae mother didn’t accept him, I—I accepted him.” Disgust tinges her words and my jaw tightens as I realize … she hates the people above on the surface.
Her unsteady emotions are hard to keep up with, and it takes me a moment to realize how angry she is. Nollix’s palm skims over my knuckles before he interlaces his fingers with mine. A few tense seconds pass as the Demon woman and I stare hard at one another.
When someone does speak, it surprises me.
Because it’s Link who breaks the tension.
“Don’t take your hate out on Violence.” His words are spoken carefully. Something similar to aggression mixes into his steady tone. “You’ll want to be careful not to threaten the wrong person.” His head turns then, and he stares at her hard, his jaw locked with more unspoken words.
The feel of his long fingers tangling with mine sends a burst of energy all through me. I meet his pretty gaze, but the warm and serious look in his eyes only swarms me with more emotion. He’s always been my friend. He’s always been there for me. But it’s never felt like this. Both of them hold my hand, and I can physically feel their protectiveness all around me. No one’s ever believed in me like they do. I feel stronger just because they love me.
“Isn’t that sweet.” Her cold tone draws my attention back to her. “Listen, I helped you four because I care about Nollix.” Her clipped words slice through her sharp teeth. “I don’t care what happens to the Princess of Fallen or the woman you are looking for. It is you who should be careful who you threaten.” She bites out the last word before standing abruptly and storming from the room.
In silence, I watch as she leaves. She has no idea what will happen to her world if I don’t find that woman who she cares nothing about.
She has no idea what could happen to us all.
Chapter Thirteen
The Sweet One with the Dirty Thoughts
Linkin
Her small hand is loosely in mine as I lead her upstairs. Our boots scuff against the old boards with each step we take. I feel exhausted. We did absolutely nothing today, but waiting somehow feels more draining than anything else.
The hinges announce us as I push open the door. The moment she halts, I do too.
Her attention is held on Nollix as he takes his seat on the top step.
“Come to bed with us,” she whispers to him.
The pounding of my heart kicks up at the sound of her words. I’ve always liked Nollix. Deep down, he’s a good guy. But the thought of he and I tangled around her seems to flood me with want in a way I’ve never felt before. Suddenly, all I want is to see her come to life between the two of us … I want to see him fuck her …
My throat clears as I try to push the images from my mind.
“I’ll be right out here.” His attention flickers to me with a knowing look in his eyes, and I can’t help but wonder if he feels what I feel.
She hesitates, staring down at him for several seconds before taking the few steps into the room. She makes her way inside, but doesn’t go near the small bed pushed against the wall. The window just behind her lets in a small amount of crimson color. It washes over the old floorboards and dust.
The wind is quieter tonight. The darkness is nearly gone, letting in a little hazing hue of red light into the long hall. That light casts across Nollix’s inky eyes, giving him an eerie look.
“We need to leave in the morning.” His tone is low as he pulls his attention back to the wall at the bottom of the stairs. “Night, Link.”
The way his arms rests against his knees makes his shoulders seem even broader as he sits in a careless way. An awkwardness pushes into my chest as I realize my thoughts earlier were not the same as his. Our relationship between the three of us is new and different. We have a lifetime to figure it all out. However long that may be.
I just wish I understood it more.
Chapter Fourteen
Us
Violence
The four walls are chipped, revealing the white concrete beneath, and deep scratches run through them like someone once climbed the ceilings here. At least the wind has died down and isn’t pushing sand in through the small window. It’s an ominous room, but the setting doesn’t even register in my mind when the door closes with a quiet clicking sound. Lavender eyes meet mine before trailing slowly down the length of my body. The room’s small, and it feels smaller with the way he’s looking at me.
“After we leave here, things will be different.” Link’s words distract me from his heated attention and the pounding of my heart. “I want you to know that once we leave here, I’ll help you.”
“You’ll help me?” I shift on my feet, and he doesn’t move an inch closer as he leans against the door on the opposite side of the room.
“That reckless feeling that’s always boomed through you, I’ll help you control it. I feel it when it shakes through you, and I know you’re strong enough to contain it. And I know you’re strong enough to wield it. But I also know you’d never ask for help. Somehow, I’ll help you.”
Slowly, step by step, he makes the space between us disappear. His body heat washes over me as his palm skims against my jaw. My hair brushes against my cheek before he pushes it back from my face. Energy pushes down on me, consuming my breaths while he stares deeply into my eyes, seemingly searching the depths of my soul.
“Let me help you, Vi.” His breath kisses my lips as he leans closer, his pale ha
ir brushing mine.
The inky scar of the Wild Hunt on his lower lip catches my attention just before I arch against him, stretching against him until my mouth presses to his. My fingers dig into the smooth muscle of his biceps as I steady myself. Tangling energy collides within me, catching my breath and sinking low into my core. His hands skim against every inch of my body before settling low against my back, pressing me harder against him. My lips part for him, and he strokes his tongue along mine, and I feel every part of him. Our bodies are aligned, but so is our rhythm, down to the mirroring pounding of our hearts.
I want him. I want everything about him. I spent years avoiding him, and now this sweet man is all I want. My fingers brush against his soft shirt before pushing it aside. Warm skin meets my fingertips, the muscle tensing beneath my touch. Slowly, my fingers follow the angling lines veering into his pants, and he kisses me harder when I meet the button on his jeans.
The one and only time I’ve ever touched Link like this flickers through my mind. I wanted him to distract me from my life, and he refused. Now isn’t anything like that. He isn’t a distraction, even if he is deliciously distracting. I want …
I want to make him mine in every single way possible.
The sound of the door clicking closed diverts my attention, making me slip my hands away from his hard body. A breath falls from my lips as I pull back from him. Hooded, dark eyes meet mine, and in an instant, Nollix is striding toward us.
A needy form of energy tingles all through me as his big palms settle low on my hips. Link’s gaze leaves me, and the two men look at one another with a knowing gleam in their eyes. It’s a look that sets my nerves into an anticipating frenzy.
With a leisurely pace, Link pulls his sword from his belt and takes Nollix’s, setting the blades against the wall as if he’s not in a hurry. When he comes back to me, he’s studying me like he’s trying to understand my thoughts.
I can’t help but think about Link. I don’t want him to feel pushed aside. I never want him to feel that way. I’m literally caught in the middle, and I’m afraid of making a move, afraid of ruining everything about this moment.
