by A C Wilds
He’s waiting for me to come to him. Normally I’d counter his wait, but I need to punch someone. I rush him in a blur of power.
He tries to connect to my face, but I slide underneath his arms, popping up behind him. I kick out, and his left leg crumbles. Definitely an old injury.
He hits the mat with a smack, but I get up and circle him again, giving him a chance to recover.
He growls and stands. Oops, someone is pissed. He doesn’t wait for me this time. He attacks. His movements are graceful and strong. I block a few punches, but I take one to the shoulder and another to the chin.
Spitting out blood on the floor, I make a come-here gesture. He stalks toward me, but I block his cross, stepping into his space.
I launch my leg off his bent thigh, then wrap myself around his neck. My thighs squeeze his throat. He grabs at my thighs, trying to get me off, but I cling on.
He thrashes about, but I’m too strong. “Yield,” I grit out, holding on tighter.
He shakes his head, and I let out a sigh. One of those, then. When I rock us back and forth, his steps falter, bringing us down to the mat. I flip around at the last minute and land on my back, my legs never letting go but shifting with the fall.
He’s now trapped on the mat with me snaked around his neck. Reaching up, I capture one of his hands, which is blindly trying to hit me. I stretch back, taking his arm with me. He’s now in an impossible situation.
“Yield, Sean. She has you,” one of the other soldiers says, but Sean isn’t listening.
He’s trying to use his weight to get me off, but nothing can flip me now. It’s getting annoying that he’s not passing out. When I apply a little extra strength, his face turns purple. His weight sinks into itself, and I release him.
He coughs and leans to his side, glaring up at me through tearstained eyes.
After I bow, I salute him before walking off the mat and picking up my gloves and wraps. I return the gloves to the shelf and throw out the wraps.
“Hey, your Anima, right?” the guy who told Sean to yield says.
“Yeah, you are?”
“Leo. It’s nice to meet you. You’re not quite what we all expected.”
“That’s the problem, Leo. No one expects me to beat them, and when I do, they all look like your friend Sean.” I gesture to my opponent. He’s getting up, cursing his friends and doing his best to look menacing even if his skin is still bright red.
“He’s cocky and a dick, but he’s a good soldier. Excellent marksman. He’s got the god-complex, though.”
I laugh at that because I can totally see Sean trying to be hot shit. He’s the guy Shelley would stay far away from, no matter how pretty he is.
“It explains a lot. How much did he lose?”
“About a hundred mortal dollars.” He flashes me a grin. If I wasn’t already mated to Torque, I might be tempted to show Leo what else these legs can do.
“What put that smile on your face?” I felt my mate before I laid eyes on him, but it was fun to see his jealousy.
“Leo was telling me how much money he bet on his friend losing.”
He steps into my space and puts a hand on my waist, staking his claim. Leo takes a step back, looking crushed.
“I would have made that bet, too.” Torque kisses the top of my before leading me over to my sword.
“Nice to meet you, Leo.” I wave as we walk away.
Torque hands me Hubris, and I belt it on before I lean down and slip my shoes on.
“What were you doing?” He takes my hand as we walk out into the night. It’s later than I thought. I wonder how many hours I was in there.
“Letting off some steam. I have a problem with people trying to tell me what to do. It’s not something I enjoy.”
He makes a committal sound and drags me over to the woods that are behind the garden. He hands me two blades, similar to those I lost in the woods when Scur took me.
“What are these for?”
“A present. I want you to be armed as much as possible when you go into the Deathlands. As much as you are a strong independent tri-bred, I want to make sure you’re protected. That I can’t be there is eating at me.”
I take the blades, feeling their weight. They’re finely crafted. Honed to perfection, both are of superior quality. The hilts are wrapped in leather with silver stitching running through it.
“What does it say?” I touch them reverently, memorizing their curves.
“It’s a protection spell. A witch did them for me a long time ago. They’re supposed to bring you true aim.”
I rise on tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth. “Thank you. They're beautiful.”
“Try them out,” he says, pointing to a nearby tree.
And I do, but it’s not the only thing I try that night.
Seventeen
TORQUE
It pains me to think I’ll be separated from her starting tomorrow until we can both complete our missions. The thought of her finding Caedis alone makes me pull her tighter against me.
We lay in bed after making love for the third time. She’s drifted to sleep, but I can’t help but stare at her. What if something happens? I’ve waited for a mate for all of my existence, and now that I’ve found her, they may pull her from my grasp.
When she shifts on the bed, the sheet slides down, exposing her breasts. The pink buds look like a blush on her alabaster skin. I can’t help myself. Leaning in, I lick the nub, making it hard.
The peaks respond to me immediately, and her hands thread through my hair a second later. She arches her back to give me better access as I suck and nip at the sensitive flesh.
“Aren’t you tired?” she grumbles.
“Never. I’d worship you without sleep for decades.”
She laughs and pulls me up, cracking her eyes open to look at me. Her lips meet mine, and our tongues slide together in a passionate kiss.
“I’m going to miss you,” she says, breaking the kiss and staring into my eyes.
“Me too. But it will be only a short while we are parted. We will meet in the Bloodlands when you’ve convinced Caedis to fight with us. Then we will take Rahna down.”
“You make it seem so simple. I don’t think convincing the Death king to do anything is going to be easy.”
“Probably not, but you have to believe you can do it. This is our only chance. Don’t take no for an answer.”
“Aww, look, you’re giving me advice on how to win over people. You’re like the worst one at it.”
I glare at her before nipping her neck. She giggles and rolls on top of me. My body responds to her immediately. My cock starts getting hard.
“I have a lot of friends. You remember Hallowed Grounds.”
“How can I forget a motorcycle club of ruthless killers who only care about themselves, except their president who has another side? A side in which he cares more about his people than himself.”
My heart swells, and I move the hair off her cheek. “The Fates blessed me when they made you my mate. I’ll forever cherish you.”
She glances away, not used to having someone express their feelings. A tinge of pink colors her cheeks, and I pull her in to kiss it away.
My other hand goes between us, and I rub my cock on her wet entrance. Her slick makes me groan into her mouth as I push up, connecting us once again.
She moves slowly as I sit up. Placing both hands on her shoulder blades, I pump into her as she pushes back. She moans, and my cock twitches inside of her. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to her moans and the beautiful flush that comes over her when she’s had an orgasm.
Her movements come faster now, chasing the orgasm she knows I’ll give her before I spill my seed inside of her. I break the kiss and let her head fall back, exposing her perfect breasts.
I suck on one, rolling my teeth around the nub. So perfect and sweet. I suck a little harder before gently biting down. A sting of pain moving to all the right places.
She digs her nails into my shou
lders, and I bite down a little harder. She thrusts her hips forward. Before I know what has happened, I’m pinned to the bed while she fucks me.
Her hair swings back and forth as her tits bounce up and down. Those powerful thighs crush my sides, not allowing me to move. I’d stay still for her all day if I could look at her like this.
“Fuck me harder,” I growl. I want to see her let go. Release all the tension and go wild. There’s no need to hold it when we’re together.
She flicks her hips in a circular motion, driving me to close my eyes and keep myself from coming right then. Her speed is unnatural, yet it’s the best thing I’ve ever felt.
“Fuck,” she hisses out. She bites down on her lip, squeezing her eyes closed.
She releases my hands and grips the headboard, slamming onto me. Her juices flow all over me as she comes. Her scream is so loud that half the castle must have heard her.
She doesn’t slow that much, riding out her orgasm on my cock. I flip onto the bed, placing my body on top of hers. I don’t break stride, picking up from where she left off, pounding into her.
I pull her legs up as I sit up and throw them over my right shoulder, allowing her tight hole to become tighter. My hips thrust into her so hard she needs to hold on to the headboard so she doesn’t hit her head.
Her squirming underneath me has me biting my lip, wanting to taste her again, but this is too much fun, watching her surrendering to me.
“Torque, oh gods. I’m going to come again.”
“Come for me. Let me feel that tight pussy clench around me. Show me how wet you get for me.”
Slowing my speed a little, I run my hand down her leg toward her center. I circle her clit and watch her explode. She clamps around my cock, and I roar out my orgasm as she milks every drop out of me.
I lean back on my heels, staring down at her for a moment. She’s wiping sweat off her brow, but her smile is only for me. She’s so exposed and open. I never want to leave this room.
ANIMA
Torque shows me how much he’s going to miss me two more times before we walk into the hall to see him off. He’s taking Mammon with him to the Bloodlands. Umbra and I will leave tomorrow via a portal. The quicker we can convince Caedis, the better.
They saddle two nuckelavees, waiting for us as we get into the courtyard. Pages are running back and forth, filling the saddlebags.
The Blood soldiers from the fight all wear a different seal on their chests, and the banners they hold are all changed to represent the new king. All traces of Scur were erased.
“How many men do you have left?” I ask, watching the rest line up on horses.
“About a hundred. They have the equipment, and Nox gave us provisions. Our journey won’t be as dangerous as last time. We should be there within a week.”
“I wish we had phones like at home. It would be great to know how you’re doing,” I say, mumbling so no one can hear me. I sound like a lovesick puppy.
“Don’t worry. It will all be fine. If there is an issue, I’ll send Ari to you. But I have protection, and I’m not exactly helpless.”
“I know. My big, strong biker man.” When I tug him toward me, he chuckles, causing a delicious vibration to go through me.
“Hmm… you think I’m big?” He kisses me like I’m the last woman on earth.
“I think you’re more than big, but you need to leave before I pull you into that shed and let this whole army know how strong I think you are. With loud, inappropriate noises.”
I can feel his hardness between us, and he pulls me in the shed’s direction. I let out a laugh, but an angry Mammon stops our banter.
“We need to leave,” he says gruffly.
“Mammon, when are you going to remove the stick from your ass? Doesn’t it hurt?” I ask.
Laughter sounds around me, and Mammon’s face turns purple. It’s my cue to leave.
I give Torque one more kiss before going to stand with my fathers and Umbra. Torque flings himself on the saddle and adjusts himself before turning and staring into my eyes.
That look says it all. How much he feels for me, what he wants to do to my body, and how much he’s going to miss me. I try to give him the same back, but a tear leaks from my eye.
It’s a foreign concept for me, so I wipe it away and blink back the rest. I hope no one saw the tough assassin cry.
Eighteen
ANIMA
It feels empty without Torque in my bed. The sheets next to me are cold. I blink my eyes open at the sun coming through the window and sigh. Today, I’m going to meet the Death king and hope that he won’t kill us.
A knock sounds on my door. Before I can get up, Umbra barges in with clothes and shoes in her arms. She’s dressed for battle with a gigantic smile.
“Morning! Rise and sunshine or whatever the humans say.”
“You’re cheery for someone who might die today.”
She shrugs before placing the clothes on my bed. I get up and pad to the window, opening up the curtains fully. The courtyard is busy, demons running back and forth carrying various things. They tack nuckelavees up, ready to go.
“We won’t die. I’m sure you’ll win him over with your charm.” She laughs, coming to stand with me at the window. She places a hand on my shoulder and turns to me.
“You may not know all about court life, but you’re a warrior. A kindred spirit. We’ll get him to agree, and then we’ll stop this witch from uniting the realms. All will be well.”
I need some of her confidence. This is all so foreign to me, but the one thing I understand is selfishness. And if Caedis is as bad as they say, he won’t want anyone coming in to shape his realm.
“What’s that you’ve brought me?” I indicate to the bunch of cloth and leather on the bed.
“I had it made special. Fighting leathers in the Demon Realm are a sign of status. I couldn’t let you go if you didn’t look your best.”
I laugh and kiss her cheek. It’s something I would do with Shelley, a sign of affection, but I feel like Umbra is becoming something more than an aunt in name only.
“Thank you. I’m sure they’ll be a wonderful asset in battle.”
I slip into the bathroom and do my morning routine, taking care to brush out my long hair. Taking a deep breath, I go into the room and look at the clothes on the bed.
Soft leather pants, the color of Nox’s smoke, are so dark they looks like they could blend into the shadows. A tunic and leather chest plate are next, each molding to my body perfectly.
There are sheaths built in for my knives and a clasp to hold Hubris’s scabbard. She even put a holster on my hip for my SIG. I slip on the boots before glancing in the mirror.
Nox’s crest stares back at me, but there’s something on my left breast right above my heart. It’s a smoking crown, but the color of the smoke is like mine, the darkest purple tinged with gold. I run my fingers over it.
“It’s your symbol. The symbol of the heir to the Dark crown.”
I try to interrupt, but she holds out her hand and comes to stand behind me, looking at us both in the mirror.
“This shows your status. Even if you don’t want to live this life, it will get you out of tough spots. People will respect you because of it. Play the part until we’re all safe.”
I nod and take her hand. She’s right. I need to sacrifice my own feelings for a while. Taking down Rahna is more important than my choices at this moment. Later, I can decide.
She pats my back, then leaves me alone to stare at the stranger in the mirror. I look like a warrior princess in one of the old comics in the Mortal Realm. I tie my hair in a topknot and secure it.
The stark contrast between my alabaster skin and the leather's darkness makes me look like a ghost in the shadows. I’m badass.
The courtyard is still a buzz when I step out into the sunlight. Everyone is standing around, excitement in the air. I join Nox and Uriel by the nuckelavees, where they’re deep in conversation. Uriel doesn’t seem happy.
>
“I told you I don’t want her to go. You don’t listen to me. It’s been a millennium, yet you still haven’t gotten it through your head when your wrong,” Nox hisses.
“She’s an adult. She has the right to fight for this realm. Whatever your stupid deal with Caedis was, it doesn’t apply now. I won’t let it,” Uriel spits back.
“What are you two arguing about?” I ask.
They both look like they got their hands caught in the cookie jar. Two faces try to compose themselves with fake smiles.
“Nothing. Old argument. Let me get you settled on your nuckelavee. It won’t be long now.”
“That’s not an answer. But an outstanding job in trying to avoid it.”
“Nothing for you to worry about. Let’s concentrate on getting the bastard Death king to agree to our terms,” Uriel says, walking away.
Namir trots over to me and rubs on my back, placing his big head on my shoulder. When he purrs, it makes my whole body vibrate.
“Good morning to you, too.”
The small group of soldiers lines up, and I walk over to my nuckelavee with Namir behind me. Nox gives me a leg up. I adjust myself in the saddle, slipping my feet in the stirrups.
“Be safe. Don’t let him bully you. You’re stronger than you know.”
He seems like he wants to say more, but he only pats my knee and walks away. I look out at the sea of people, registering what this means. For the first time, I will be fighting under someone else’s banner.
Togmerin is giving a speech, but I tune him out, trotting my nuckelavee to the front of the procession. Umbra settles next to me with another demon at her side. I’ve never seen her before, but she looks fierce.
“Sata is going to open the portal for us. We’ll come out on the royal grounds border, and then two soldiers will make our presence known. After that, we march to the castle and hope he doesn’t kill us on sight.”
“That not reassuring at all.”
“All will be well,” Donaas says, coming up next to us.
“Let’s hope so,” I mutter under my breath.
