by K. F. Breene
Come at me, bro.
“What’d you just say?” Kieran and the kids were all looking at me funny, and I suspected I’d said that last bit out loud. My face heated, and thankfully, the limo stopped and the driver came around to open the door.
“Nothing.”
Bria and the cats met us as we were climbing out of the limo. The guys were still exiting behind her.
“So this is interesting,” she said, and lifted her hand to indicate the large warehouse-looking structure with two wings off the back and Lord knew what else. Bria turned and pointed the way we’d come. “We should be way back there.”
“I know.” Kieran walked toward the front entrance confidently, but I could sense his unease. We’d just shown up and already things weren’t going as expected.
I straightened my formfitting beige suit jacket and smoothed my gray slacks. It didn’t make sense—when I chose plain beige items, I was told I looked frumpy or unfashionable. When Daisy chose them, they looked perfect on me and “accentuated my natural wild beauty.” I honestly didn’t see the difference, though I had to admit, the ensemble she’d put together made me more comfortable than anything I’d worn under Aubri’s guidance. Other than the quality, which was beyond fine, it reminded me of something I might have worn in the dual-society zone. That life had been a constant struggle, but it had made me me.
“It might be because Magnus put Alexis under his protection,” Amber said as she walked up behind us, Henry at her side.
“Or it might be because of the highly desirable staff members you possess.” Henry looked out at the street as though expecting an enemy any moment. “If they’d positioned us at the periphery of the living area, without any nosy neighbors, someone might have tried to make a grab. We have a reputation for fighting back and winning—no one wants the Summit to devolve into a war.”
We entered the front doors into a plush environment I wasn’t expecting but probably should’ve, given the nature of Demigods. A foyer led off into two rooms and a hall down the way, one room a grand entertaining area decorated with an appalling amount of gold and silver, the other a cozier setting without the bling and bells and whistles. The furniture was just as fine and clearly well made, but it was upholstered in earth tones and looked like it might actually be comfortable.
“That room is typically reserved for the Demigod’s significant other to entertain his or her friends and allies.” Kieran slid his hand along my lower back and hooked his arm around my waist. “The residences at the edges of the living quarters don’t have these spaces. They hardly even have private space for the resident leader.” He must’ve seen the look of horror on my face. He leaned in a little closer, a smile ghosting his lips. “Don’t worry, you won’t be expected to use it until I achieve status.”
I couldn’t help the sigh of relief. Given I still wasn’t comfortable with service staff, I couldn’t think of anything that would go worse than putting on a high society party for a bunch of important people.
The “warehouse” offered everything a person could hope for in a permanent residence. A state-of the-art kitchen held all the little machines and appliances that made life easy. The bathrooms had trendy sinks and furniture, and the entertainment room had all the recent tech and game systems my kids still hadn’t gotten into.
My mouth fell open when I saw the hot tub in the bathroom of the enormous master suite.
“What are our plans, sir?” Amber asked. Henry wasn’t standing next to her this time—it was Zorn.
“Get everything unpacked and put away. Find out where the other teams are located. I want an up-to-date map when we head out for our stroll at dusk.”
“Which of your people would you like to take for the walk?” she asked.
“Just the kids and the crew. Dress for the purpose, not for any surprise attacks. We must show everyone we’re not concerned others might break custom and come at us.”
“Yes, sir.” Amber turned and slipped by Zorn, leaving the master suite.
“Daisy will need to be checked in immediately,” Zorn said. “Today is better than tomorrow. How do you want to handle that?”
“Lexi and I will take her right after…we get settled.” Kieran pulled me against him and slid his hand down over the swell of my hip. “A limo is still standing by, correct?”
“Yes, sir, as per your request.”
“We’ll take it to the registration office. I want her on the books before we walk the grounds. What about Mordecai? It’s not necessary, since solo shifter registration only applies when shifters are of age, but people might wonder why he doesn’t have a pack. It’s pretty unusual for their kind, obviously. If they even halfheartedly look him up, they’ll find out about his past sickness. That might make him a target if there are any other shifters on premises. I don’t want them trying to pick him off as a weakling who has history of being kicked out of a pack.”
“They won’t think he’s weak when they see him fight,” Zorn said. “He has the knowledge and ferocity to fight for placement in a pack right now. If he were eighteen, he’d be able to take over a lesser pack.”
“Without a clue how to lead it,” Kieran replied. “He knows nothing of pack life or true leadership. We need to start incorporating that into his training.”
My heart clattered against my ribs. “But he’s not of age—it’s illegal for anyone to challenge him so young.”
“It is illegal for them to challenge him, but not for them to answer a challenge from him. They’ll know how to goad him into action, Lexi. You need to harden yourself to the brutality of the magical world. We’re in the big leagues now. We’re with people who spend their lives manipulating others. Mordecai is ready for this, and he’s smart enough to handle it. It’s time to let him.”
I took a step back and stared Kieran directly in the eyes, fear eating away my rationality. “Do not tell me how to parent my kids. I will take what you say under advisement, but I want us both on the same page—he’s still my kid, and he’s under my protection. My protection. Ultimately, I am responsible for him. I will not let him walk straight into slaughter, whether or not you think he’s ready for it. Do I make myself clear?”
They both wrestled with grins. Zorn took a step back. “You’re wrong, sir. Mordecai has knowledge of pack life, just not the traditional kind. We’ve all got a ways to go before we challenge mother bear.”
I narrowed my eyes at Zorn. “If you are mocking me, you won’t like what happens next.”
He lifted his hands in surrender and his eyes twinkled with delighted malice. “We’ll do just fine here. All of us.” He closed the door behind him.
“What’s with him? He’s acting strange,” I said, still staring at the door.
“We’re all keyed up.” Kieran turned toward me and wrapped his arms around my middle. “We’re going to be okay. We will get attacked, and they’ll throw a lot of stuff at us, but we’ll make it through. We’ve been battling for placement in the magical world ever since we met. Everything we’ve been through has prepared us for this moment. We just have to make it through the next week.”
“I hate to be Negative Netty, but you were also optimistic about the Demigod Lydia fiasco.”
He sighed and kissed my forehead. “Will I never live that down? One mistake that almost changed our lives forever, and no one can let it go.”
I laughed and leaned against his body, taking comfort in his strength and warmth.
“Let’s take a moment to unwind, and then we’ll confront the next thing,” he whispered, then slipped his large hands down to cup my butt cheeks.
“A moment to unwind?” I angled my face up to him as my fingers danced along his belt line. “What did you have in mind?”
He covered my lips with his, and suddenly we were ripping at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel skin on skin. Desperate to lose ourselves in each other’s bodies for a few moments before we plunged into danger.
I freed his large erection from his pants and slid my pa
lm along its smooth skin. He sucked in a breath as he tossed my shirt to the side. I sank to my knees, using my free hand to pull down his pants.
He stepped out of them as I licked his tip and then encased his head in my mouth. His breath hitched, and I worked my hand and mouth in tandem, starting a rhythm.
He grabbed my upper arms, and suddenly I was cradled against him and he was hurrying me to the bed. He ripped the covers to the side and laid me down gently before bending down between my thighs. I groaned as he licked up my center and his lips took in my nub. He swirled me in his mouth, and any worries clinging to my mind fell away.
“Hmm, Kieran,” I breathed, clutching the sheets.
He kissed and licked his way up my fevered skin, his fingers taking over for his mouth, working me higher. I gripped his shoulders in eager anticipation. His hot mouth encased a nipple, sending sparks of pleasure through me. My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head as he took in the other.
“Kieran, please,” I said, running my legs along his sides, desperate for him to enter me. To move inside of me. “Please!”
He kissed up my neck and dragged his tip along my core. His weight settled on me, pushing me into the mattress. His cock lay against me and he moved his hips slowly—too slowly!—letting his cock trail through my wetness.
I wiggled under him, trying to angle up. Trying to find purchase.
He sucked in my bottom lip and pushed forward again, skimming me maddeningly. We breathed the same harried breath, his control about to give out, his teasing undoing him as much as it was me.
Unable to help it, I reached between us and took his base in my hand. I directed him where I needed it and gripped him with my thighs.
“Fuck me,” I commanded, desperate. Drowning in desire.
He met my gaze, fire and love smoldering within his eyes, and shoved forward, filling me to bursting. Color exploded behind my eyes, pleasure within my body.
I groaned and held on as he pulled back before crashing into me again, the sensations almost unbearably good. I rocked up to meet his thrusts, mindless, mad with passion. My body wound tighter and tighter. I dug my fingertips into his solid muscle, holding on for dear life as my body moved of its own accord, control utterly lost. The sound of skin meeting skin filled the room as we strove harder, headed for release. Relishing in each other.
“Oh!” An orgasm tore through me, blindingly good, and pleasure vibrated through every inch of my body.
“Hmm, Lexi,” Kieran exalted, shaking over me.
Fire sizzled across my skin and passion exploded in our kiss as we climaxed together.
Afterward, my body melted into the mattress. Kieran made no move to get off me. The stress of what was to come throbbed just out of reach, but in this moment, I felt utterly relaxed.
“I love you,” I said softly, feeling his ring encircling my finger. Feeling the promise of our life to come.
“You are my forever,” he said against my lips, as though he’d heard my thoughts.
I let my eyes droop. I’d relish these quiet minutes with him. I’d take these moments for the godsend they were. And then, when we entered the magical battlefield beyond these doors, I’d turn on Beast Mode.
It was time to show the magical world what I was capable of.
3
Alexis
“Just like we practiced,” Zorn said to Daisy as the limo came to a stop in front of a walkway leading up to a nondescript door in the absolutely enormous Magical Summit building that reached five stories into the sky and sprawled across the land. Plenty of room for the inner courtyards, plus the lethal maze of hallways lined with rooms people could use to hide or lie in wait so they could pop out like a deranged jack-in-the-box when their chosen prey happened by.
“Waste of resources, all of this,” I murmured as we waited for the driver to come around and open the door. “It’s like a nightmare fun house, full of serial killers on the loose. Why can’t people just talk things out, like non-magical people?”
“When non-magical people don’t get their way, they engage in expensive, destructive wars that kill thousands.” Kieran held my hand as Zorn left the car. “At least here innocents don’t get hurt.”
“Stop making sense.”
Daisy stepped out beside Zorn, followed by me and then Kieran. Mordecai got out last, this party small and intended to be as nondescript as the door we were about to enter.
“Has a non-magical person ever attended the Summit?” Mordecai asked quietly.
“Not in recorded memory.” Kieran dropped to the back of the group. “Some magical people have non-magical pets, but they leave those at home.”
I scrunched up my face as Zorn reached the door. He opened it, pausing for a moment as Daisy and Mordecai lined up at his back. They entered together.
“Pets? Is this the part where you adopt the gross lingo other Demigods use?” I asked, lowering my voice so the strangers waiting inside—three souls clustered in close proximity—didn’t hear.
“Yup.” Kieran held the door for me and then followed me in. It was like the guys expected us to be attacked at any moment.
A woman as old as the hills waited behind the counter across from us, seated in a tall chair. Half-moon glasses clung to the edge of her nose, and a non-living helper stood at her side, a man in his mid-forties with an annoyed expression. I couldn’t tell if the woman knew she had company or not. A brown door closed off what had to be another office, holding the third soul I’d felt when approaching.
Not one piece of paper existed in the whole office. A printer sat against the wall, but there was no evidence anything had ever been printed. Instead, there were two tablets on the counter, one in front of us and another at the empty station next to us. Other machines sat near or next to the computers, including what looked like a thumbprint scanner.
The woman looked over from her computer, peering down her slightly raised nose through her glasses.
“Yes?” the woman asked, gruff and uninterested.
“Demigod Kieran, unofficial leader of magical San Francisco, here to check in two minors.” Kieran stepped up next to Daisy, and Zorn filed in behind him, blocking us off from anyone who might walk in the door.
The woman turned back to her computer. Her fingers flew across the keys.
“That’s that Chester we were told about,” the non-living man said with a sneer. “What has the world come to that they are allowing Chesters into a strictly magically sanctioned area, the filthy animals—”
“That’s enough,” I said, unable to help it.
The woman’s fingers paused and she slowly turned her head to me, her dull eyes showing no reaction to my interruption.
“Sorry.” I held up my hand, then pointed at the snarling man to her right. “I was talking to the guy hovering around you. He’s a spirit. I can see spirits.”
“Me?” the guy said, peering harder at my face. “But you’re not a Demigod.”
“You know about my ward, but you don’t know who brought her?” I asked the man. “You don’t do a good job picking up information.”
He started before turning around and looking behind him.
I sighed. “Yes, I can see you.” I gave the woman a smile. “I apologize. He was saying some…rude things. I’m a Spirit Walker.”
The woman stared at me for a moment longer. “Yes, I gathered.”
The guy sucked in a breath. “No one mentioned a Spirit Walker. A Spirit Walker bringing a Chester?” His eyes narrowed. “What sort of trick is that? What games are you playing, girl?”
“Do you know the man?” I asked as the woman’s fingernails clacked against the keys. “Would you miss him if his presence left the office?”
“I’m pretty sure I know who it is, and I haven’t noticed his presence since he died a few years ago in a mysterious accident,” she drawled, talking and typing at the same time. “No one knows what happened.”
“I know what happened!” the man said indignantly. “You killed me with a sle
dgehammer, that’s what happened!”
She paused and pointed at the tablet on the counter, which suddenly glowed to life. I suppressed a smile as Daisy looked down at her photo.
“Is that you?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Daisy answered in a steady tone. If she was nervous, she didn’t let it show.
The woman nodded and went back to her computer screen.
“You snuck up on me when we were doing the year-end filing and clubbed me in the head,” the man went on, shouting at her now. To me he said, “One minute I was double-checking her report, and the next I was looking down at my collapsed body. What a mess she’d made, too! All over the clean floor. She didn’t even do a good job cleaning it up—there’s still a stain. And the old shoe they got to replace me! Well—”
“I can get rid of him if you want,” I said to the woman. “He seems like a negative presence.”
“No, that’s quite all right.” The woman reached under the counter and came back with what looked like an identity card. Daisy’s picture showed at the top in a little square, her name and affiliation printed beneath it. Emblazoned in the corner was a red crest. “He used to get such joy out of micromanaging me and telling me what a bad job I was doing. Now, he can yell to his heart’s content, and when he realizes I can’t hear him, he’ll be in his own little hell. The office has been downright pleasant since he was mysteriously killed.”
“As soon as someone gets around to investigating, they’ll have you killed,” the man yelled. “You put as little effort into covering up the crime as you do your day-to-day work. Mark my words, your days are numbered.”
The woman focused on Daisy. “Keep that with you at all times. You have been granted access to all public areas of this island. Your presence here is official. Next?”
Mordecai stepped up, and they went through the same drill, the spirit grumbling all the while. After Mordecai received the same pass, we were sent on our way.
“I thought I’d get shade from the staff here,” Daisy said as we filed back into the limo.
