by Meg Xuemei X
What if the Flame, one of the most lethal forces in the universe, was fully activated? Would it overcome the Void’s negating power and allow us to reclaim our magic in this realm?
I must mate with Paxton at the first opportunity. I had a feeling that we’d need to do that to guarantee our survival.
Paxton stalked toward me like a predator in heat. “Axel, you’re next on guard.”
“No way,” Axel grumbled, holding me tighter. “You’ll just have to stand guard a little longer while I warm up Cookie. She’s shivering.”
I was shivering, but not from the cold wind. My intense desire for my mates made me tremble. I wanted them, needed them, so much I could barely breathe.
“You’ve had her long enough,” Paxton growled, the threat of violence rolling off him.
“Axel,” Zak whispered by my side. “Paxton is the only one among us who hasn’t…you know.” He gave the war demigod a meaningful look. “It needs to be done as soon as possible. We aren’t facing a normal situation. We might not get our powers back in the Void, but our mate was born in this realm. She has a better chance than us to regain her magic. She needs…Paxton. We must fully support her in any way we can.”
Realization hit Axel’s eyes.
“You want them to do it here with the creeps watching?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at Zak.
“Ew!” I hissed, the idea dampening my heat a little. “We can’t be that desperate, guys.”
“Of course not. No one sees your lovely ass except us,” Axel said, heat and murderous light searing in his amber eyes all at once. “We’ll kill anyone who tries.” He sent a quick, disgusted glare to the corner occupied by Lucifer and Ares. “Perhaps we should force them out into the rain.”
“Engaging in another battle before we fully recover isn’t wise,” Zak sighed. “Go take Paxton’s place, please. Just don’t get in his way while he’s edgy like that. We’ll let him kiss Rosebud for a little while to soothe his thirst. Paxton has been holding back too long and he’s at the breaking point, as you can see. He won’t be his reasonable self if you challenge him.”
Axel narrowed his eyes again. “Then why don’t you go take the swimming boy’s post and I’ll stay here with them?”
My stunned gaze followed between Zak and Axel as they argued. I’d thought everything had worked out between them and things would go as nice and smooth as cream now. But they were still the ultimate alpha males and always would be. They would never shed their dominant trait as it was inbred in their blood.
They only became a united front when they faced our enemies. Maybe that was good enough?
They often acted like big boys when they were around me, or argued about me. Héctor had once told me that I made him feel young again.
Zak rolled his blue eyes at Axel. “Admit it, Axel,” he said. “I’m the calmest and most just demigod. I’m better qualified than you or anyone to monitor the situation between Paxton and my Rosebud. I can talk them down if they go too far. You, on the other hand, are a hothead. You’ll screw up.”
“I don’t screw up anything,” Axel said. “How far can they go with our enemies watching like fucking vultures across the cave?”
Growling, Paxton pulled me away from Axel, and crushed me against his chest. A hint of madness glinted in his violet eyes.
Axel gave Paxton one look, shook his head, and rose to his feet.
“No one wants to argue with crazy anyway,” he said. “Fine. You monitor them, Zak. Shout for me if you can’t handle it.” He sent Paxton a dark, warning look and stalked toward Héctor.
“I can’t believe this bunch used to be my formidable generals.” Ares gritted his teeth. “They reverted to barbarians after they met the demon hellion. Fucking unbelievable! How long must I suffer them?”
“They think they’re in love,” Lucifer said. “I was in their position when I first saw Lilith. That kind of passion is intoxicating, all-consuming, and it only comes once in a lifetime. You won’t understand, Ares. As the God of War, love is never your thing. You’re all for brutal combat and bloodbath. You live and breathe on the battlefield and thrive in conflict. Mostly, you can understand lust. Your affair with Aphrodite also shaped who you are.”
“Why does everyone keep bringing up that old tale?” Ares pressed his lips in a thin line. “That happened eons ago. I don’t even remember the details now. I only banged her a dozen times.”
“It isn’t about numbers, Ares,” Lucifer said. “You just don’t get it.”
“Like you got it and fell into Celeste’s trap,” Ares snickered. “I was watching on the other side and saw it all.”
“Then you should have warned me!” Lucifer growled.
“Why should I?”Ares gloated. “That little twig was quite good at impersonating Lilith. I have to give her that. She tricked the King of Tricksters. And you, the Devil of Deception and Lies were so pathetic in front of your old flame.” He changed his voice to mimic Lucifer. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Lilith. Now that you’ve come to me, my love, I can’t let you go. I can’t give you up. Not again. Never again. I’ll serve you and warm your bed—”
Lucifer smashed his fist into Ares’ face, and the god of war sent his own fists flying. Meaty thumps, nasty snarls, and the cracking of bones filled the air as they brawled.
Then Paxton stole my attention when his hot, sensual mouth traced up the column of my throat to my jawline, then to my lips.
I stretched my body against his hard one and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. He chuckled against my lips, liking how I trapped him.
“My Buttercup is just as possessive as I,” he said in approval.
He’d been possessive even when I’d thought he hated me back in the Half-Blood Academy, when he barged into my dormitory, dragged me out of bed, and forced me to go to class.
He hadn’t been able to hide the heat in his eyes when they roamed over my nakedness, yet he’d pretended disinterest by mocking me. “What do you have that can possibly interest a demigod, mortal?”
Only I wasn’t a mortal. Had never been a mortal. But I hadn’t known my true heritage back then.
All my demigods loved and accepted me unconditionally. They couldn’t care less that I was half-demoness. My insecurity had brought myself all the grief and misery. It was partly my fault that we all ended up in the Void. But if I said so, my mates would blame everything on Ares and Lucifer, and I wouldn’t argue with them on that point.
Right now, Paxton’s body heat radiated to me, stoking the liquid fire in my tender flesh. I was already on his lap. My ass wiggled, encouraged by his erection, huge and hard.
“This is only a kissing session,” Zak said, restraining himself from needing to touch me, “serving to give Paxton a little taste and calm his raging lust.”
The Demigod of Sky seemed to have resumed his role as an occasional instructor in the Academy.
Ignoring Zak, Paxton thrust his tongue into my mouth with a burning need. This kissing session didn’t seem to calm his raging lust. Quite the opposite, in fact, but I wasn’t going to stop him. I wanted him, all of him.
Zak wasn’t wrong about Paxton being denied for too long. I’d been denied too long as well. When I finally accepted him and we’d started the mating dance, he’d confessed in my temporary quarters in Hell, “I love you with every piece of my black heart, Buttercup.”
And then Lucifer and Ares had knocked down our door.
They were the rudest motherfuckers ever.
We’d been stuck since then, beyond frustration, unable to find the right place or time to finish the mating. Even now, while I straddled him and waggled my ass in carnal need, we couldn’t fuck. Our enemies gawked at us from across the cave, even though Axel and Héctor tried their best to block their view of us with their broad builds.
Zak had to act as our chaperone in case we couldn’t rein ourselves in.
Paxton’s tongue swept over my hard palate, sending tingling sensation and pleasure all over me. Every one of
my mates could ignite primal need in me, a mere touch making me feel like I would combust.
Paxton’s large hand slid under my shirt and cupped my breast as he kissed me fiercely. When his hand wandered toward the needy flesh between my thighs, I thrust my hips toward him to encourage him, but Zak caught Paxton’s wrist.
“That’s it,” Zak said mercilessly. “Stop right there.”
The sky demigod broke us apart.
Paxton and I gazed at each other, panting, heat and lust flowing in our blood. We wanted to continue and finish it more than anything. But then, reason flickered in his eyes, clearing the haze in them. His need to keep me safe overpowered his need to fuck and claim me.
Zak’s reminder and our immortal enemies’ presence also cooled my tits.
“Later, Buttercup,” Paxton vowed, his bedroom eyes staying on me. “You’re mine.”
I smirked, a bit more wicked and sinful than my usual style.
Out mating was sacred, and we wouldn’t do it in front of Lucifer and Ares. For now, we’d wait.
But when Paxton and I could mate without inhibition, our flame would burn the world.
CHAPTER 5
__________________
The rain ceased. Masses of gray clouds crossed the overcast sky, propelled by stiff winds that cut like icy knives.
Héctor deposited Angel between our immortal enemies and us to stand guard, so we could discuss our next moves. Héctor used to be a death demigod and ruled the Underworld, so my hellhound liked his scent and obeyed his authority.
“We’ll get out of here in the next hour,” Héctor said, scanning our faces. “You all had a couple hours of rest.”
Zak nodded. “It’s a matter of time before the beasts tear down this cave.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Lucifer called from the back corner. “We need to work together. We’ll be stronger.”
Paxton huffed out a snort. “Yeah, like we need the added stress of watching our backs while you try to stick a knife in them.”
“Not in the Void,” Lucifer said. “I’ve talked to Ares to make sure he won’t step out of line, too.”
Ares sagged against the wall. Without his godly power to get a recharge, he even had a pair of dark circles under his dull, bloodshot eyes. The lack of food, water, and sleep had affected the war god badly, though the devil seemed to have more stamina. Lucifer stood tall and watched us with clear, sharp eyes, still looking relatively refreshed. Perhaps his devil form helped.
Bless Héctor, my stomach no longer grumbled in hunger. And thanks to my mates’ care, I felt better after the rest. I seemed to have more energy than any of the males in the cave. Perhaps it had something to do with my being a native.
“Fuck off,” Axel told Lucifer and Ares.
We buried our heads together and whispered a plan while my hellhound watched our six, growling now and then to issue warnings and threats at our enemies.
“I walked through the valley to find a way out when you holed up in the cave,” Héctor said in a hushed voice. “Those beasts dwell on the mountains from all three sides, so we’ll have to push through toward the only opening—the edge of the region.”
“Let’s do it then,” Paxton said. He couldn’t wait to get out of the cave.
“What’s at the edge?” Zak asked cautiously.
“Cliffs. Heavy waterfalls,” Héctor said, looking at me. “We’ll have to jump. It’s the only way to get out of the Valley of the Monsters. I no longer have wings, so I won’t be able to carry my Lamb. Paxton will stay with her and guard her at all times.” He locked gaze with Paxton. “Even though you don’t have sea power here, you understand the water element more than any of us.”
“Buttercup will be safe with me, on land and in water,” Paxton said, squeezing my hand, and I squeezed him back.
I trusted my mates, but it didn’t stop me from glowering at them. “I’m not some damsel. I’ll protect you back.”
“Of course, Cookie.” Axel grinned. “I’ll need a lot of protection. You’d better stick with me.”
I’d keep an eye mostly on Héctor since he could get hurt easier than my other mates, but I didn’t say it out loud, as I didn’t want to injure his pride. I’d thought I’d lost him, and it had broken me. I wouldn’t risk losing my love to the jump and the river.
“How can we get past the armada of beasts?” Zak pondered, rubbing his thumb across his chin.
“I have an idea,” Héctor said, “but you might not like it.”
I darted a glance across the cave. Both Ares and Lucifer pricked their ears, straining to eavesdrop on us. If they still had their supernatural power, they’d surely hear our every whisper.
Héctor lowered his rough voice even further and explained his plan.
Paxton, Axel, and Zak considered his proposal for a second, their faces grim. Then they nodded and looked at me expectantly.
I bit my lip, not liking the plan at all. “I promised Héctor when I first met him in the Dreamscape that I wouldn’t bitch too much. I know how to keep a promise.”
Héctor chuckled, and my other demigods looked befuddled.
Axel shrugged. “Gear up, old boys.”
Héctor stalked out of the cave and returned with five beast corpses. We’d killed a dozen to clear the path to the cave. Angel leapt at one of the dead beasts, eager for his treat.
“Back off, hound,” Héctor said. “These aren’t your food. And you’ve just eaten.”
Angel whimpered.
“Will it work on him?” I asked as Héctor passed one carcass to each of my other mates, reserving two for himself.
“Better than nothing,” Paxton answered for my hellhound. He pulled out his knife and began to skin his beast. My other mates followed suit.
“What are you up to, demigods?” Ares demanded.
The devil and the god had been watching our every move.
“Get a life, punk,” Axel hissed.
Lucifer studied us briefly before turning to his pal. “They won’t work with us. You and I need to watch each other’s backs in this dire situation. I’m going out to get two bodies for us.”
“Fine,” Ares said grumpily.
Lucifer darted out of the cave. The monsters’ howls changed to ferocious snarls as they attacked him.
While he fought the monsters outside to pick up beast corpses, I debated stopping him from returning to the safety of the cave. But that would end up eating too much of our time and energy.
Lucifer soon sprinted back into the cave with two beast bodies. His arms and legs showed multiple slashes from the monsters’ claws and teeth. It seemed that they’d grown fiercer and more desperate.
Lucifer and Ares started skinning the beasts, too. The devil had figured out our plan.
We’d each wear a beast’s skin to confuse the horde’s sense of smell while we made a run for the cliffs. Lucifer and Ares didn’t know there were cliffs and waterfalls at the edge of the region, but somehow they believed it couldn’t go wrong to mimic us.
I seethed. “I hate copycats.”
“Tell me about it.” Axel gritted his teeth.
Soon the demigods finished skinning the beasts. They tested it by wrapping a beast’s skin around Axel first. When my mates finally laid a bloody skin on me, I cringed.
“This is worse than Hell,” I whined. “It’s so gross.”
“It’ll be over soon, Lamb,” Héctor said.
“And soon you’ll have a bath with me.” Paxton grinned at me with animal blood all over him. He looked like a demon. I narrowed my eyes at him. Jumping off a cliff into a raging river did not count as a bath, but the idea of sharing a real bath with my mates conjured up all sorts of naughty images. I sucked in a deep breath to calm my need. Soon, I’d find a chance to fuck the sea demigod and finally claim him.
With that incentive, I punched my palm with a fist. “Let’s do this.”
Héctor left the cave first to clear a path, with Zak backing him up. Paxton and I went next. Axel and my hellhou
nd brought up the rear.
Just as Héctor had speculated, the monsters ignored us as they’d ignored him. But Héctor had warned us that the disguise of scent might not work long. Soon the monsters would figure it out and chase us with all their hunger and might. We could only huddle under the bloody beast skins and hurry past the horde as quickly as possible. Hopefully it would buy us time to reach the cliff.
We ran on the muddy land amid the ranks of howling monsters. My adrenaline spiked, my nerves crackling. I feared for all of my mates.
Angel also had a beast’s skin on his back. He wasn’t too happy about carrying the bloody skin, but Héctor insisted on his safety too.
Héctor was the only one who didn’t need to wear a stinky skin. As soon as he cleared the path ahead, he raised a fist into the air to signal us to pass by him and leave him behind. He’d promised to join us at the cliff.
No way would I leave him behind again, even though he appeared safe among the horde now. I insisted on us running at his pace.
Lucifer and Ares rushed out of the cave each with a beast’s skin on their backs, too. They sprinted behind us, enjoying the path we cleared.
Cocksuckers!
To prevent them from stabbing us in the back while we fled the beasts, Axel fell behind to keep an eye on our enemies. Angel ran at my mortal mate’s side as I instructed him.
We ran for several minutes. We broke through the horde of monsters, leaving them behind us, and they still hadn’t noticed our deception.
Finally the cliff came into view.
“We’re nearly out of their range,” I exclaimed.
“We aren’t out of the woods yet,” Zak warned.
“Faster, old boy,” Axel urged Héctor.
Angel growled at Héctor to push him, too, then whimpered when Héctor bared his teeth.
“Don’t wait on me,” Héctor said through clenched teeth, breathing harder than any of us as he ran. “I told you I’d meet you at the cliff.”
“Not a chance,” Axel said. “You’re kind of fragile now. I don’t want Cookie to keep worrying about you and getting tearful again, so I’m watching you for her.”
