by Lia Davis
She pushed him away. "You wish." Her voice didn't sound too convincing, though. Ew. Grandparents shouldn't be allowed to do that in public.
I crinkled my face and looked at my sisters who mirrored my expression.
My dad's face crumpled like he'd bitten down on a fresh lemon. "Dad!"
"I have your back. If I can't come when you call, I'll send someone right away. I've given Phenex control over the hellhound packs."
Phenex started, and his eyebrows flew up. "Thank you, sir."
"Eh, it's temporary. I can't show favoritism." Poppy glanced around the dorm. "You need to train more of your Collective to fight and prepare for a war more bloody than any of us has ever seen. But you can't do it here."
Dad sighed. He looked tired and annoyed with Poppy. "We just got everyone settled, and this is the best we've got. Do you have anywhere safer in mind?"
"I do." Poppy stood and smiled at everyone. "I have access to a private island. It's safe and no one knows about it."
"An island?" Dad looked at Poppy suspiciously. "How is an island safer than here?"
Poppy rolled his eyes. "It's not in this realm." He winked at my sisters and me. "Duh."
Chapter Five
"Poppy, can you help us?" I asked. Surely he could do something. "She took our elements."
He looked shocked, then furious. "Explain."
Meda held out her hand. "We can't reach our elemental powers. It's like they're not there."
"Also," I added. "When she first attacked, before she took our powers, I connected to my sisters and made a huge ball of energy, magic, and elemental power. I wanted to add the power of Hell to it, but it was closed to me. I couldn't access it."
Lilipad touched my arm. "I'm sorry, darling. You must've felt helpless."
"I had our other powers to lean on." I took her hand. "But now, without our elements, we're vulnerable."
Poppy walked across the dorm and looked out the window at the darkened campus. All lights had been shut off. The vampire and lycan sentries saw better without the artificial lights altering their vision. The witches that had turned up to help, mostly a few close friends of the Hightowers or parents of the students, were safely ensconced on the top floor with the sentries.
Phenex stood. "Sir, their powers are still linked to them. They haven't been removed. But they're being used by someone else, and the triplets can't reach them at all. To them, it's total darkness. A black hole where their power used to thrive."
Poppy nodded. "Only a few people could do that. And only one would..." He sniffed. "Well, anyway. I'll deal with that. That's the best way I can help, besides the island. Phenex, if you'll come with me, I'll take you there."
Poppy hugged and kissed us all, then gave Lilipad a lingering kiss. "I'll see you soon."
She patted her hair when he pulled away, clearly flustered. Phenex hugged my sisters and me and kissed us all on the forehead. I felt a tiny zing of power trickle into me. Nothing major, just his way of saying goodbye. Like a hug or kiss.
Phenex took Poppy's hand and they disappeared.
Dad arched an eyebrow at Lilipad. "I thought you couldn't stand him?"
She straightened her suit coat. Lilipad always dressed to the nines. She said it made her feel like she had a semblance of control in a chaotic world. When we were young, we all thought that meant Hell was a massive fiery room full of demons running around screaming and wreaking havoc.
Our parents finally let us visit when we turned thirteen. We couldn't have been more wrong. Hell was hot and fiery, the realm containing it being so. But it was set up more like a giant office building, except the floors went down, and never ended. Poppy swore he knew every level, every floor, every room, but I wasn't so sure.
Lilipad sniffed at my dad. "Why don't you worry about yourself?"
Dad grinned. "Sure, mom. Whatever you say."
Paw stood and clapped his hands together. "Are we doing this island thing?"
Lilipad nodded. "I've been there. It's in a realm Luce created. As far as I know, only he and I, and now Phenex have ever been there."
Creating a realm took a ridiculous amount of power. "When did he make a whole realm?"
"Oh, hundreds of years ago. It was one of the things he did to try to woo me." She rolled her eyes. "The fool."
Lilipad was very secretive about why she resisted Poppy so hard. She said it had to do with how he treated her when they first met. Dad told us once that all he knew was that Poppy wasn't happy with the way things were run in heaven, he rebelled, ended up leaving, and the first thing he did was make Lilipad. He'd never been told anything more.
Whatever happened between them, it had been obvious Lilipad had feelings for him now. I wondered how long it would take them to sort it all out.
"What can we expect?" Meda asked, going into organizer and leader mode. She couldn't keep her room clean to save her life, but give her a group of people to save and she turned into Joan of Arc. "What sort of accommodations, provisions?"
"Oh, he'll update it for you before you get there. I'm sure there will be plenty of food. Don't worry. Just come. If there's anything you need once there and you can't reach us, Phenex will be able to create a portal."
She made the rounds, hugging everyone, starting with my Dad and ending with me. "Sweet girl," she whispered. "You and I are much alike. When I was young..." She sighed and wiped her eyes. My heart beat faster. They all worried about me so often. I wasn't strong like them, and they thought I was spaced out. In reality, I liked to read and always had so many stories floating around in my head. I never missed anything going on around me but didn't always see the need to involve myself. Though, they were right about me not being very strong. That was my sisters.
Lilipad squeezed me again. "Don't worry about what is to come. You're going to surprise yourself."
I had no idea what she was talking about, but I smiled and hugged her tight. "Love you, Lilipad."
She kissed my forehead, the way Phenex had, but no jolt of power this time. Then she disappeared.
"Why can a vampire disappear?" Sterling asked. He hadn't grown up around our family, so he probably still had a lot of questions.
"Now that she's officially situated on the throne as the Queen of Hell, Poppy gave her nearly the same amount of power he has," Meda explained to her mate.
"Nearly?" He raised his eyebrows. "I can't imagine trying to give you nearly as much power. You'd kill me."
Everyone laughed. Meda most definitely would have killed him for something like that.
"My mother is a complicated creature. If not for Dad, she would've been dead a couple thousand years ago."
Randell whistled. "I didn't know that."
"Right, well," Dad said, standing from the bar stool he'd perched on to talk to Poppy. "We've got more work to do tonight. Meda, Tala, Ami. Each of you take a floor, take your mates and sentries. Notify everyone that we're moving to the island. They can bring only what they can carry. Everything else will be provided."
He turned to Sterling. "Can you spread the word among the witches? There will be very little protection from the Collective left on Earth, and those that stay will be in hiding. If they need help, we won't be able to provide any. But they are welcome to come."
Sterling nodded. "I'll tell my parents and the Dracos."
"Thanks. We'll start the phone chain and reach out to those that didn't come to stay at the dorms. Everyone must be ready to go at first light."
We dispersed to do our assigned jobs. Harper, Noah, and I went down to the first floor and updated everyone down there. Mostly individuals, vampires and Lycans without any family. One room held a family of witches, and the back corner four-bedroom dorm held some lycan overflow. Elijah's family was there.
"Hey." I gave his mom a big hug. "How are you holding up?"
She shrugged. "Okay, I guess. This is a lot to take."
"I know. But I've come to give good news."
His dad walked closer, and I explained about the
island. "Be ready to go at first light. Top floor. We'll have a portal."
"Ami," Sarah said, following me into the hall. She pulled the door close. "How bad is this, really?"
I considered my words carefully. She was grieving deeply, but I didn't want to lie to her.
"It's bad, honestly. But it's not the end of the world. We'll get through it."
I pulled her into a hug and tried again to reach for my air. Nothing.
"See you in the morning?" I asked.
She nodded. "Have a good night, Ami."
Theirs was the last family to tell on the floor. Harper and Noah waited for me at the stairs at the end of the hall. "You okay?" Noah asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I wish I could fix this." He put his arm around me, and we followed Harper upstairs. Everyone else had returned.
I looked at my mates and couldn't help but wonder where Gino was and if he was thinking about me. "Let's get some sleep. It'll be another long day tomorrow."
Chapter Six
When we reached the top floor, Noah pressed a kiss to my lips. "I'm on watch." He pulled back and his green eyes brightened as his wolf looked out at me, most likely sensing my sadness and worry about the future.
I squeezed his hand. "Go. I'll be fine."
He glanced at Harper then nodded before leaving. Harper linked our hands and tugged me into the dorm. We crossed the common area to my room without the parental units noticing. If they did, they didn't acknowledge us. Thank Lucifer.
Once inside the bedroom, Harper closed the door and locked it. I met her desire-filled gaze and squeezed my thighs together. I ached with need for both my mates. Gino wasn't here yet. Even though the urge to have him buried deep inside me was strong, unease overcame desire when it came to him.
Harper moved forward, watching like I was her prey. Excitement filled me, warm tingles racing through my body. I was alpha because both my parents were. However, I didn't need to dominate all the time. I learned pretty quickly that I liked submitting to my mates. It was the only time I could let my guard down and turn over control to them.
When Harper's fangs lengthened enough to peek out from her upper lip, I groaned and cupped my breasts over my t-shirt. She watched the movement, her bright blue eyes darkening with desire. A lower growl escaped her, fueling my desires.
Harper and I had always been close friends. But once the mating urge slammed into us, that friendship bloomed in lust and need. She was my heart, as was Noah.
Stopping in front me, Harper brushed my hands away and pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it to the floor. A wicked smile formed when she noticed I was wearing her bra. A black lacey one I loved. "I might be jealous that my bra looks better on you than me."
"It's very comfortable." I grinned at her.
"I know." She dipped her head and kissed the top curve of my breast. "I want to mark you."
My breath came out in a rush with a groan following. The thought of Harper biting me almost made me come right then. "Yes." It definitely made my panties soaked.
Harper reached around me to unhook her bra then slid the straps down my shoulders. A whimper escaped me. Why was she torturing me with her slow seduction? "Harper," I warned.
She laughed, knowing good and well that I'd turn alpha if I needed to. In this case, when I wanted something bad enough.
Bending her head, she licked one nipple, then the other as she unbuttoned my jeans. The cool air of my bedroom tickled my wet nipples, and they tightened to nubs.
The zipper was next. After she slid the denim over my hips, she pushed my shoulders so I fell backward onto the bed, giggling.
Fire ignited in her eyes. Flames of passion that brightened her eyes. We locked gazes as she removed my jeans and panties.
Harper pressed a kiss on the inside of my leg and nipped at my skin. I cried out in pleasure then grabbed the pillow and placed it over my face. No need to alert my parents on what we were doing. Although, they probably already knew. Sometimes our excellent hearing meant we heard far more than we wanted to. I was pretty sure my parents had soundproofed their room for just such a reason, because my sisters and I hadn't ever heard anything icky from there.
Pushing that gross thought away, I focused on my mate. Harper covered me with her mouth, sucking and licking. I bucked my hips, riding the wave of pleasure exploding inside me. With strong hands, she held my hips in place, reaching around my legs to spread me wide open to her tongue.
I let my legs fall to the side, giving her as much access as possible and forcing myself not to buck.
It freed up her hands. Keeping her mouth on my clit, she slid two fingers inside and rolled them around, exploring and enjoying my body.
For all that was unholy, the woman had a talented mouth. Her tongue ring slid against my nub, the smooth ball pressing and adding a powerful zing of pleasure.
I rolled my hips in rhythm with her, and she fucked me with her fingers, picking up speed and going deeper with each thrust, then curling them first in one direction, then the other. She found the perfect spot, focusing on it until I bit down on the pillow as the orgasm slammed into me, causing my body to spasm.
Harper crawled up my body, nipping at my flesh along the way. When she straddled my waist, I flipped us over to flatten her on the bed.
With fast fingers, I removed her clothes a lot quicker than she had mine. By the wicked smile that formed on her face, she enjoyed my eagerness. Her jeans caught on her ankles, so I kissed the soles of her feet as I disentangled her from the material.
She giggled until she was naked, and my hands were well away from her sensitive feet.
Once I stripped her bare, I crawled up, so I hovered over her while cupping her. Sliding my fingers through her slick folds, I teased her clit before I entered her, her low moans turning me on again. I thrust my fingers in and out while rubbing her clit with my thumb.
Lying at her side, my fingers still drawing moans and gasps from her lips, I captured her mouth in a raw kiss, thrusting my tongue inside her mouth and tangling it with hers. My hand moved faster, her sounds and overheated body readying me for another orgasm.
Harper threaded her fingers in my hair and curled them into fists as she rode my hand and pulled my head to the side. Then she struck. Her fangs sank into my throat, and I rolled my body to hers, feeling our heated flesh press against each other, my arm trapped between us as I continued my movements.
As the bite-induced orgasm washed through me, my fangs lengthened, and I bit her shoulder. Damn. She was amazing. My mate.
She tasted sweet and rich. Her blood coated my tongue and slid down my throat. I picked up the tempo, fingering her as she pushed me to the side, rolling with me and entering me again. We connected as one. It was the only place I wanted to be. Harper was mine, and I loved her.
As soon as the thought merged so did the threads of our mating bond. I hesitated and wondered if this was what Harper wanted. She must have felt my hesitation because she pulled her fingers out of me, hooking her legs around my waist and wrapping me in her arms, holding me to tell me she was all in. Opening up, I allowed the bond to form until it snapped into place, binding us together.
Then we both completed our orgasms at the same time. Our pleasure bounced between us, intensifying our release.
When the last shudders left our bodies, we curled into each other. Harper played with my hair, twirling the black stands with her fingers. "I love you, A."
I squeezed her. "Love you too, H."
My sisters and I sometimes called each other by our first initial and Harper and I started to do it somewhere along the way. It fit us.
Harper kissed my lips. "Get some sleep. I'll be here until it's time for me to relieve Noah."
I nodded. I was tired despite being anxious about the pending war and the safety of my people. She hadn't needed to tell me to sleep. It was coming for me anyway.
Movement on the bed made me open my eyes, fear gripping my chest and squeezing. Noah's smooth voice settled over me. "Just me."
Staring into his eyes, I cupped his cheeks. "What time is it?"
He bent down and kissed me, letting his lips linger for a little bit. "Late. Well, early for you. It's two."
He stripped down to his black boxer briefs then climbed under the covers with me. A wicked grin formed as I snuggled against him. "You and Harp are killing me. I've told her I wanted to watch you two. The thought..." He cut off his statement with a growl.
Needing a distraction from my worrying thoughts, I traced circled on his chest, then walked my fingers down to the waistband of the boxers. "Maybe next time you can watch and join in."
A low growl was his reply as he rolled to pin me to the bed. "That sounds like a plan." He nuzzled my neck, then jerked his head up. Frowning, he said, "You bonded with her."
Dread churned in my gut. "Are you angry? I know we haven't talked about it. But it felt right at the time for Harp and me to bond."
He framed my face and kissed my nose. "No. I could never be mad at you. Frustrated, maybe." He paused and squeezed me. "I'm envious."
There was a tease in his tone that made me relax. I draped my arms around his neck, then my legs around his waist. "Don't be. We can now if you want."
His wolf flashed in his eyes. "As much as I want to, I don't want to do it just because you and Harper did." He brushed the hair from my face. "We'll do it on our own time when we both know it's the right time."
I cupped him over his boxers, and he pressed into my hand with a moan. "I do want to mark you. Make that Italian witch know exactly what he's missing by not coming clean with us."
Gino. I frowned. "I'm going to talk to Phenex about him once we all get settled on the island."
Noah dipped his head and kissed her throat. "Good idea. If anyone could dig out someone's darkest secrets, it's the demon."
I groaned as Noah bit the curve of my neck on the opposite side Harper did. My body jerked and pleasure crashed over me. Noah gripped my wrist and pulled my hand away from his hard cock to hold it above my head. Then he jerked his boxers down and thrust inside me.
