by Auryn Hadley
The thumb slid across my palm. That long grasping claw rested on the back of my knuckles. The rest of the fingers in the wing were longer than my entire body, but he managed to wrap them gently around my forearm like an adult holding an infant's hand. The tips of his wing bent against the sand, extending far past my arm, but he didn't seem to care. His touch was delicate, like gossamer, but the tips of those claws teased at my skin, sharp, deadly, and oddly seductive.
"That's amazing," I breathed, clearly unable to think of a better word.
He leaned closer and kissed me again. "You're amazing. My wings are no more special than my arms."
"Those are pretty amazing too," I pointed out, grabbing a well-muscled bicep in my other hand. "All four of them. Tell me about your horns?"
"What do you want to know?" He shrugged. "They grow slowly, but they do grow."
"Do they have feeling?" I released his wing and reached up for the one by his ear. "Can you feel it when I touch them?"
He sighed. "They're like fingernails. When the tip hits something, you feel the pressure on your finger, right? I feel it on my head, but it's the same thing."
"Does it hurt to catch them on something?"
He shook his head slowly. "No. The ones across the top are used to gore anything that attacks my back."
I nodded. "Vulnerable wings, right. That's amazing."
"You keep saying that."
I laughed, my finger tracing the ridges of his upper horn. "Because it's true. What about your tail?"
He blinked slowly, setting the stars whirling, and I felt a touch sliding up my leg. "Think of it like a rudder. Aerodynamics and all that." Thick muscle wrapped around my thigh, sliding between flesh and sand easily before wrapping back around to brush across my hip. "Strong, sleek, flexible," he paused, the tip of his tail sliding under the hem of my shirt toward skin. "Smooth."
"Prehensile."
He laughed, the tip of his tail flaring against my ribs. "Among other things, yes. The flight vane works very similar to other parts I know you're more familiar with. Increased blood flow swells and flattens the end, but the lack of sharp edges is extremely useful."
My teeth closed on my lip as my mind fell into the gutter. "Sensitive?"
His lids dropped but didn't quite close. "Very."
"How soon do we have to be back on Earth?" My pulse was a little too high.
He groaned and released me, pulling his wings in before flopping on his back. "Too soon. I'm guessing we're already missed, and Michael probably has everyone looking for the peak." His tail unraveled from my leg and flicked across his own. "I thought we'd only be here a few seconds." It twitched again, like an irritated cat.
"Damn it." I sat up, brushing the green sand from my arms. "Because I'm really curious about that tail of yours now."
He closed his eyes and smiled. "You can certainly kiss it again. I wouldn't stop you."
The next time it flicked closer, I snatched it, my fingers curling around the thick muscle. "Really?" My hand slid toward the end, my tongue dragging after.
Nick clawed at the sand, sucking in a gasp of air as his body arched. "Sia! Dear god."
"There is no God," I reminded him jokingly, kissing the flared edge.
He moaned, gently pulling his tail away. "Oh there is, and right now, I'm convinced it's your mouth." He turned his head, looking at me with a lazy smile that showed perfectly human teeth. "If we aren't back, Luke will check here. It would be very awkward to get caught like that."
"And yet you flaunt your tail openly?"
"Think of it more like a man's nipples. Not obscene but still sensitive. One of many erogenous zones. Being seen without a shirt is fine – is pretty typical for people with wings. Being seen with your lover pinching or fondling them is a little more personal." He sighed and pulled himself to his feet, those massive wings shifting with his body for balance. "Come here, dove. Let me take you back to Earth."
"Already?"
He folded his wings tight to his back, the tips brushing his calves like a cloak. "We just had a group of Archangels corner us. There's probably a freaked-out demon wondering if we're ok, and maybe even a demented angel. It would be rude to keep Sam and Luke guessing."
I took the hand he offered with a sigh. "Will you bring me back?"
"I promise, dove. I will bring you back to Vesdar, show you what it's like to soar with dragons, and seduce you in my real body." Starry eyes glowed as he smiled down at me. His wings relaxed, moving to my clasp my hips. "Completely, like a woman should be," he breathed and brushed his lips against mine.
I kissed him deeper, needing more. With our tongues entwined, he stepped back, his hand tightening on my arm, his other grabbing my wrist, and I felt the veil pass over. Cloth suddenly brushed against the side of my face.
"Demon, Death, and a very good-looking man," I said, glancing up into his starry eyes. "Remind me what you were so worried about?"
"Losing you," he replied, pulling me back to Earth and simultaneously shifting into a man. "Get inside. We'll key the house to you tonight."
I jogged up the steps, half expecting angels to appear before I could make it through the door. Nick was right behind me. As soon as I stepped inside, I called out, "Luke, Sam?"
"Thank God," Luke said. "They're safe!"
"Damn you, Satanael," Sam yelled, storming up the hall. "Stop fucking around. Seal her, key the wards, and get over the whole wings thing already. I'd rather you didn't get laid than..." He trailed off when he saw the grin on my face. "What did I miss?"
I shrugged a little too innocently. "I went to Vesdar. Oh, and had a few angels at my place."
"I know!" Sam exclaimed. "Michael brought all the big names. They didn't expect us to be coming in through the corridor, but when we saw twelve... Wait."
Luke laughed. "He's been a little worried."
Sam ignored that. "You went to Vesdar?"
I nodded. "Green sand, purple sky?"
He looked up at Nick. "And how'd that go?"
Nick shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "I think she wanted to dissect me."
"Is that what we're calling it now?" Luke asked. "She didn't even flinch when she saw me, and we already know her opinion on angels."
The corner of Nick's lip twitched. "She liked the tail."
Both Sam and Luke laughed a little harder than I would have expected. Sam leaned closer, "Very sensitive to catch the air currents. Very sensitive."
I felt my face heating up. "Yeah. So, angels?"
"Gone," Luke assured me. "Slipped out in a hurry."
Nick nodded. "Probably trying to figure out where we went. They'll be back, so I need you two to get the rest of her stuff later tonight."
I lifted my hand. "What about my ex-boyfriend?"
Luke sighed. "I'm going to bet he's just gone missing."
"Stupid fuck," I muttered, heading into the kitchen. I refused to acknowledge the pang of guilt. Wasn't my fault he'd gotten messed up with angels. Besides, he was an asshole anyway. "Someone want to tell me what we're going to do next? Luke, can you still control the Angelis veil?"
He watched me leave, calling to my back, "Um, technically, but it's nearly impossible with just one person, why?"
"To lock me out. If they can't take me there, then half of their threats are null and void." Yep, I was yelling through the house like a teenager.
When I heard footsteps, I looked up, shocked to see only Sam. "Can't do it," he said. "You and Luke are the only ones on our side that aren't locked out. It'd be better to have Nick give you a crash course in aethersmithing, and um, figure out how to lock them inside."
"Is that possible?"
Sam toyed with his magenta forelock and shrugged. "In theory. It's a dream the demons have always had, to lock them away from the other realms. You're strong enough. It might finally be possible."
I dropped grounds into the basket and closed the lid, pressing the button to start the coffee brewing. "Sam? Just tell me something? Nick's thing for
me?" I turned, pressing my back against the counter. "It's not just because I can warp veils and all the other crap, right?"
He looked at my hands, my fingers a little too tight against the granite. "He saw you the first time when he was looking for a weapon." His voice was calm and sympathetic. "Maybe a year before the robbery? Something like that. You were young but at the age where girls start to become women. They used to marry you off by then, and um, he was intrigued."
"Because I had this power?"
Sam reached up and rested his hand on my arm. "He didn't even know you were the reason why. This was before the robbery, Sia, and we can only see your power when you use it. Nick just liked your hair – I know because he told me all about it for a year or so – but you kept talking to angels."
"I did?"
He nodded with a wry twist to his lips. "A counselor at the school, an employee in town, a guy on the street. We'd all figured out there was something about that little town, but Nick was the first to realize it was a who, not a what."
"What? Those were angels? No wonder I hated them – well, at least that counselor. But that's beside the point. Sam, is he just with me because I'm a Muse?"
"I really don't think so, sweetheart." He looked over his shoulder, back toward where he'd left the others. "I think he's been lonely, but no matter what you call him, Death or Satan, he's not something people tend to welcome."
"But he looks human. Wasn't that just from back before y'all had skins?"
He chuckled once and leaned beside me. His shoulder just bumped mine. "We all use the corridor to collect aether. We've all been called the Grim Reaper at one point or another. Nick? He's the most powerful of us all, and that means he uses more aether because of it. He's reaped so many lives that it clings to him, slowly changing his pattern. Only his seal holds it in place. Most people can feel it, like intuition that he's dangerous."
"They aren't like that with you?" I hadn't seen people look at Sam with concern.
He tilted his head and smiled. "A bit. That's why I prefer the punk look. It gives people an excuse for what they feel, and most of them write off that gut reaction. The thing is, Nick's had a few bad experiences in his life. Then you come along? He's loving every moment of this."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."
He bumped against me playfully. "So, about the whole demon thing?"
"Yeah?"
He laughed. "Don't play innocent, human. Didn't freak you out? Not even a little?"
"Nope." The coffee pot beeped, signaling it was done. "He's gorgeous, Sam. I mean, skin like the moon on water, iridescent horns, and his wings are so soft! I thought they'd be awkward or something, but they're like hands." I couldn't keep from smiling at the memory.
"I know. In case you forgot, I have a set of my own. Granted, he did get an impressive rack of horns."
"Is that a good thing?" I pulled down a cup, touching a second as I raised my eyebrow.
"I'd love one," he said. "And yeah, horns are basically a symbol of power, not to mention sexy. The more aether we wield, the bigger they grow. The more potential we have, the more horns. There are demons with one, demons with just nubs, and a couple with three. Only a handful have two full, matched sets, and Nick's are the most impressive rack I've ever seen. I mean, the outer set nearly curls all the way around!"
"And his wings are huge!"
"Mine too, baby." Sam winked.
"Ugh, I'm so jealous." I stirred the cups and passed him one while sipping gently at my own. "I can't wait to see what you look like as a demon."
He smiled down at his cup. "Hopefully, you'll approve. Not a lot of people are enthusiastic about it."
So I'd gathered. "Bet you terrified people back before you wore a human skin," I teased.
Sam waggled his eyebrows, the line of metal rings bending awkwardly in his left. "Yeah. I could swoop into a little village, spread my wings, and demand anything. It's how I started my fortune."
"By terrorizing humans?"
"Yep. Stupid, bigoted humans. I miss the days of the Inquisition. There was nothing like waking a priest in his sleep, convincing him I was only a dream, and having my way with him."
"Raping some guy?"
He flapped his hand at me, dismissing that. "No, trust me, it wasn't rape. Those men were seeking witches because they wanted men. They didn't hold back in their 'dreams,' so I got to have a whole lot of fun." He took a long drink, his amused eyes peeking over the rim. "Tails do make for a great reach-around, you know."
I nearly choked on my coffee. "What?"
"You know, bend them over, flick your tail around, wrap it nice and tight with the flat vane lying against the underside..." He paused. "What?"
"Y'all jack off with your tails?"
He wrinkled his brow. "Uh, yeah! Feels better than a hand. I told you our tails are sensitive."
I dragged my hand down my face, trying not to laugh. "You're such a pig, Sam. You know that, right?"
"Yep." He laughed and pulled himself from the counter. "Nick's in there making plans with Luke. That means it's going to be nothing but training for the next couple of weeks. You know that, right? I mean, no way is Nick going to chance you getting dropped in the corridor by an angel or leaving you defenseless."
"Yeah." I'd realized things were about to get a little more intense but hadn't really wanted to admit it. "So I'm stuck in the house for a while, huh?"
"Looks like." He tilted his cup to his lips, draining the last of the coffee, then placed it in the sink. "But the faster you learn, the sooner you get to reap the dead and take a trip to Daemin to wake up more friends."
"Ok, now that I can handle." I grabbed the coffee pot again, and Sam turned to leave. "Thanks, Sam," I said, meaning it. "I always wanted a friend like you. The kind of person I can trust."
He paused, one hand on the door frame. For a moment he said nothing, then just sighed. "Yeah. You're cool, Sia. We'll see how long it takes before you're sick of me."
"Not gonna happen," I promised.
He left, but not before I saw the warm look in his eyes. I wasn't quite sure what was going on between Sam and me, but it was still there, lurking every time we were alone. Not that I'd do anything about it. It was just hard to miss how sweetly he treated me – or how good these outworlders looked.
Yeah, he was sexy, but so was Mike. The difference was that I didn't like to see Mike smile. These guys? It made my day. All three of them. So long as I didn't do anything stupid and kept my hands on Nick, maybe I could finally have that happy ending I'd always wanted. Since Sam wasn't trying to change my mind, I didn't have anything to worry about. This was completely ok. I hadn't done a single thing wrong.
I mulled things over while filling my cup again. Most likely, Nick would keep me up all night, teaching me to use aether, so a little extra caffeine wouldn't hurt. Dumping out the last dregs from the pot, I turned on the faucet, placing the carafe beneath it, and heard heavy steps on the hardwood floor of the hall. It seemed Nick was done plotting with Luke.
"Hey," I said, without turning around.
A deep chuckle made me spin in place. The man standing behind me was massive, even taller than Nick, and twice as broad. The problem was that I didn't know him. His skin was a deep umber, his jaw was beautifully square and strong, and the muscles across his upper body convinced me he wasn't human. Unfortunately, I was too busy sliding along the side of the counter to bother looking at the color of his eyes. It really didn't matter. This guy was scary as shit!
"Hello pretty," he said with a strange accent as his hands slammed onto the counter on either side of me. I was trapped between the trunks of his arms. "Nice of them to leave me a welcome home gift. Been a long time since I've seen a woman."
Black. His eyes were as black as his skin, which meant he wasn't an angel.
I lifted my chin defiantly. "You touch me, demon, and I'll make you regret it."
He leaned closer. "Will you scream? Demand I marry you when we're done?" He chuckled
as he pressed closer. "If one of my brothers hasn't already, I can do that. It's ok. We don't mind sharing the good ones. I'll make sure you like this just as much as I do."
"Don't you dare come any closer," I growled in his face.
"Sia?" Nick called, hurrying into the kitchen. "Someone just..." He saw the man leaning across me, and his words fell away – but his feet never slowed. The dark man looked up with a smile just as Nick grabbed him. Wrenching the asshole away from me, Nick shoved him hard into the side of the fridge. "Don't touch her."
"Samyaza won't mind. He never does." He laughed, the sound empty. "And he'd rather I do the marrying."
Nick slammed him into the appliance again, the monster's body bouncing off the stainless steel. "She's not Sam's, Beelzebub."
"Then Lucifer's! Ah, well, he owes me a few."
Nick glared. "Mine."
There was something about seeing my man turn into a protective beast that was just a little too gratifying. Plus, knowing I wasn't completely helpless? Yep, that made this whole thing amusing instead of terrifying. I giggled, having figured out that this was the man Nick had just woken from a very long nap.
"Good morning, Beelzebub. If you're a dick, I'll pull out all the aether I just gave you."
Chapter 28
Beelzebub froze, the malicious amusement draining out of him at my threat, but his eyes were on Nick. "She got the aether? So she's... You have the Muse in your home?"
"And sometimes in his bed," I added. "Nick, is he ok?"
"Nick?" Beelzebub asked. "Like, Old Nick?"
"Yeah." Nick looked at me. "He's a little behind the times. Women's rights are probably something he hasn't even heard of yet."
"Satan, you're going by Nick? I thought you hated that name."
Nick sighed. "Yeah, well it works, and I've gotten used to it in the last thousand years or so. Leave the Muse alone?"
"Didn't know she was your pet," Beelzebub muttered. "Just thought I'd gotten a welcome back present."
"She's not a pet!" Nick clenched his jaw and gave him one last shove before stepping back.
"Sorry!" Beelzebub held up his hands. "You marry her or something?"
