Chapter Six
Kaleb was having sex with a Chimera. If Sonny hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would have sworn it was a nightmare. He had no idea where the creature came from. It looked almost identical to the one that lived inside Leo but smaller. Like it was a baby.
Did the god-son breed with a person and this was the result? The threat had been talked about. But Zen had seemed sure Leo had killed it before it had the chance to do such a thing. Had anyone bothered to keep tabs on Leo’s monster? Maybe it was the one that they needed to worry about siring unwanted Chimera to plague the earth.
If this Chimera was the offspring of Leo’s monster, then why would it be after Kaleb? Chimeras didn’t seem to tolerate each other’s presence, so if it had been around before surely, Leo would have known.
Maybe he did.
When Leo had quit taking ambrosia, everyone had been afraid as he aged, he would lose control of his parasitic twin. And when Leo died from old age the Chimera would take over.
Sonny still didn’t know the circumstances of Leo’s death, and he didn’t believe for a second Alton, The Priest, or Zen didn’t know. They just weren’t talking about it.
Unless it was under a dangerous situation, why would they feel a need to keep it to themselves? Or the better question would be, what kind of circumstances would be dangerous for a god?
Sonny’s gut told him whoever killed Leo had been close to him. The man was too deadly to be taken by just anyone.
And who—or more precisely what—could be closer to the god than the very creature living inside him. Since this new, smaller Chimera was identical to Leo’s, and going on the assumption it had never sired young, then it could only mean it was Leo’s beast.
While the idea felt strained, it was the most believable one Sonny could come up with. It would explain why the Chimera was with Kaleb. The creature had decided he wanted the Doxie for itself.
Sonny sidestepped too late, and the punch caught him in the jaw. Despite the head protection, his ears rang. He stumbled.
“Keep your mind on what you’re doing, Sonny, or I’ll run you till you drop.” Kree glared at Sonny from the other side of the sparing line.
Brice brought up his fists. None of them wore more than lightly padded gloves that left their fingers free and their knuckles slightly covered. As far as Sonny was concerned, it was a false promise taking a blow to the face wouldn’t hurt.
Brice lunged, and Sonny blocked his strike. Brice brought his knee up, and Sonny twisted his torso, moving from the line of fire. He punched, striking Brice in the chest. He wanted to hit the jerk in his stupid face, but he was too tall, and the over stretch would open Sonny up. Zen had been adamant about keeping arms in, protecting the body, and in a position to strike was always better than a head shot.
No matter how satisfying knocking a couple of teeth out could be.
Sonny kicked, and Brice blocked it.
“You spread your legs like that for everyone or just me?”
“Shut up.”
“What? Scared you’ll like it?” He swung.
Sonny ducked.
“I bet you would. Seeing how you popped out of the same pussy as your whore brother.”
“My brother isn’t a whore.” Sonny regretted saying it only because of how Brice’s eyes lit up. Now the asshole knew he’d struck a nerve.
“News flash midget, all Doxie’s are whores. They like it up the ass, in the mouth, fingers, tongue—” Brice kicked again catching Sonny in the side. He stumbled but was able to stay on his feet. As Sonny regained his stance, a deep ache blossomed in his side and threatened to form a stitch.
“Look at you.” Brice laughed. “Walking like an over fucked Doxie. Your Sasquatch roommate banging you all night? Or maybe you just partake in some mutual masturbation while you share fantasies about all the dick you wish you could have.”
Heat filled Sonny’s cheeks.
Brice swung, and Sonny twisted to the right, but Brice countered with another kick catching Sonny square in the chest. His breath whooshed out, and he staggered back gasping. Another high kick came at Sonny’s head; he managed to jerk away enough only the tip of Brice’s shoe skimmed Sonny’s chin. The burn left behind promised raw skin and bruising.
Sweat trickled into Sonny’s eyes, and his heart clawed his ribs. Brice was at least two-heads taller and with a reach Sonny could never match. The fact the other student was lightning fast didn’t help.
Brice descended, throwing out a fist. Sonny blocked only to miss the second strike nailing him in the jaw. Toll bells drowned out Brice’s next insult. Before Sonny could recover, a vice wrapped around his neck. Air wheezed through Sonny’s gaping mouth.
“Aww, listen to you, all hot and bothered.” Brice slapped his tongue across Sonny’s cheek, smearing a gob of spit. “You know what I heard?” Brice laughed next to Sonny’s ear. “That when your brother chased after his god, it wasn’t the man he found.”
Sonny grit his teeth and clawed at Brice’s arm, trying to loosen the godling’s hold so he wouldn’t black out.
“It was the Chimera.” Brice hummed. “Imagine that, your brother not only spreading his ass to the gods but offering his hole to an animal.” He tightened his grip.
Black stars bloomed in front of Sonny’s eyes. He had to break away before Brice got him on the ground. The godling not only had height on Sonny, he was at least fifty pounds heavier. If Brice pinned Sonny, he’d never get in another strike.
Sonny arched his back and slid his foot to the side. If he screwed this up there would be no do-overs. Sonny locked the knee of his left leg and shoved back with his right. Brice tipped shifting his weight and Sonny took the opening, hooking his foot around the back of Brice ankle.
Brice barked out a yell as he went back, Sonny against his chest. The other godling’s back slapped the mat and his hold went slack. Sonny rolled away and sprung to his feet. Brice was already back up with his fists raised.
Sonny sucked in breath after breath of much needed air.
Brice grinned. “C’mon, midget, yield before I put you on your knees like your Doxie brother.”
Like Sonny’s brother.
Like Kaleb.
A Doxie.
“I am not a Doxie!” Rage propelled Sonny forward. He ducked, bypassing Brice’s punch and landed a foot on the back of the other student’s knee. He’d been ready and didn’t go down, but all Sonny needed was to get him within reach. Sonny hooked his arm around Brice’s neck and hoisted himself onto the other godling’s back. One punch after the other, Sonny pummeled Brice on the side of the head while he twisted and turned trying to shake Sonny off.
Brice collapsed, rolling over Sonny. He refused to let go, continuing to swing, jack-hammering his fist, striking the headgear in its thinnest spot.
“Sonny!”
Sonny was yanked off Brice’s back and dragged out of punching distance. Sonny tried to jerk free of whoever held him and was tossed to the ground. Kree pointed at Sonny. “Stay. Your opponent yielded. You should have stopped.”
Brice flailed on the floor.
Students broke from their sparing teams and walked over to Brice holding his face. Crimson smeared over his headgear and left streaks on the mat.
Sonny lifted his hand. Blood soaked the fingerless glove he wore.
Kree waved at two boys. “Take him to the infirmary. I’ll be there in a minute.” They helped Brice stand. Even with one eye already swelling shut, the seething hate in Brice’s gaze all but burned. He was steered off the training mat and led from the gym.
“What the hell was that?” Kree grabbed Sonny’s wrist. “He yielded, and you didn’t stop.”
Sonny swallowed down the shame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
“You didn’t what?”
Sonny shook his head. “I didn’t hear him.”
“Because you weren’t listening.” Kree grabbed Sonny by his head padding and towed him forward. “You may think that little macho stunt of yours was proving how well you can fight, when in fact it shows how much you have to learn.” Kree shook him. “Look at me when I’m talking to you, Student.”
Sonny did.
“Is that how you plan on taking your opponent in a real fight?”
“No…no, sir.”
“And do you understand why what you did was stupid?”
Sonny nodded.
“I can’t hear you.” Kree shook Sonny again.
His teeth knocked together. “Yes, sir.”
“Prove it. Tell me what you did wrong?”
“I got pissed, I didn’t watch what was going on around me. I left myself out in the open for a moment of gratification.”
Kree let Sonny go. “Zen did teach you well.”
Sonny clenched his fists. The knuckles on his right hand throbbed. “Yes, sir.”
“Then honor him by fighting smart. You pull some shit like that again, and you’ll be digging ditches in the rain, in the dark, while it’s below freezing.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kree jerked his head at the bench. “Sit. And don’t move till I tell you.”
Sonny parked it on the bench while the other guys continued to spar, and Kree went to the infirmary. When he returned, he motioned Sonny to follow. He kept his mouth shut. If Kree wanted him to know what was about to happen, he would tell Sonny. This wasn’t the first time he’d been at the receiving end of punishment from a teacher. Zen wasn’t light-handed, and more than once Sonny had done pushups on his knuckles with a weight on his back.
Zen never gave a number. He just counted until Sonny collapsed.
Sonny tried to keep his face calm as Kree loaded up into a Jeep and drove them to Sanctuary. Great, if he was kicking Sonny out, Zen would flay his hide. It wasn’t the flaying Sonny worried about. It was the idea Zen might pull him from training. If Sonny didn’t have the discipline to control his temper, then he wasn’t ready to learn what it took to defend Sanctuary.
Sonny didn’t think Zen would send him home. Alton believed Sonny’s father had been involved in the creation of the god-son. Not directly, but his associates had a connection that had yet to be found.
Since Sonny had been an accident, created by the enhanced ambrosia left over from when Alton had created Kaleb, Sonny was too valuable to risk falling into his father’s hands. But value wouldn’t stop Sonny from being sent to live with the goddesses until it could be decided what to do.
These facts plagued Sonny, fogging his thoughts until he found himself following Kree into a conference room occupied by Alton and several senior gods, including ones Sonny knew. Zen, The Priest, Pan and more. They stood from their seats, whatever discussion they’d been having was over.
“Stay.” Kree pointed to the floor, then walked over to Alton. They exchanged whispers. When the last of the gods left the room, Kree followed.
Alton gestured to the chair near the end of the table. “Please, sit.”
Sonny did as he was asked. Alton lowered himself into the chair beside him. “Kree says you’re having anger issues.”
“I was stupid, I’m sorry.”
“Perhaps we should cut back on the testosterone.”
Sonny’s heart sank. “No, no, please.”
“I’m not saying completely, just back off the injections. If they’re causing you to lash out.”
“They aren’t.”
“It’s a common side effect, Sonny, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Without testosterone, Sonny’s chest would become impossible to hide. The last thing Sonny wanted was a figure unless it was straight lines and washboard abs.
There were other changes, ones that had started before the injections; like his hips getting wider, monthly bleeding. But at least the testosterone had stopped both. “It’s not the testosterone.” No, it was worse, but if Sonny told Alton, what would happen to Kaleb?
Alton watched Sonny with kind eyes. “Sonny, I know you want to transition, but slow is better than taxing your body and mind in all the wrong ways.”
“I promise, it’s not the transitioning.”
“Then why did you lose your temper and beat one of your classmates bad enough during a sparing exercise to send him to the infirmary?” Alton leaned back in his seat.
“I…” Would Alton make Kaleb leave?
Alton picked up the pen laying next to the folder in front of him. He tapped it on the table. There was no malice in his expression, but it weighed on Sonny all the same.
“I was angry.”
“About what?”
Sonny scraped his thumb over a nick in the shiny table. He shrugged.
“I need more than angry, Sonny. I need a reason, or I’m going to pull you from the training barracks and cut back on the hormones.”
Tears pricked Sonny’s eyes. He curled his hand into a fist. “I was mad about Kaleb.”
“Kree told me what the other boy said. It was ugly, but it wasn’t grounds to beat him like you did.”
“He called me a Doxie. They all call me names because Kaleb is my brother.” Saying it aloud made it sound so stupid. No wonder Alton didn’t seem impressed. “They make fun of him. They make fun of me.”
“They’re godlings. They haven’t yet learned the value of a Doxie. When they do, their attitude will change.”
“Kree doesn’t make them stop.”
Alton exhaled a heavy breath. “Because it is a lesson they will have to learn on their own, in their own time. And if they don’t, then they’ll have no place here. I’ll let Zen know you’ll be returning to the protected area.” Alton started to stand.
“I wasn’t just mad about what Brice said. I was mad about…”
Alton folded his hands and put them on the table. Echoes from Sanctuary whispered through the wood door.
Sonny leaned closer to Alton. “Promise me Kaleb won’t get in trouble.”
Alton smiled a little. “There is hardly anything a Doxie can do to warrant discipline outside training with their Master.” Alton’s faded blue eyes were closer to gray under the fluorescent lights.
“I saw Kaleb outside Sanctuary.”
Alton’s expression didn’t change.
Sonny cleared his throat. “He was with the Chimera.” Sonny dropped his voice even more. “I think it was Leo’s Chimera.”
“And that’s all?” Alton still watched Sonny.
Sonny shook his head. “Kaleb was…” He clenched his eyes shut. “Kaleb was having sex with it.”
Silence.
Slowly Sonny opened his eyes. Alton’s brows were furrowed. “When did you see the Chimera and Kaleb?”
“Night before last.”
“Have you told anyone?”
“No!” Sonny didn’t mean to shout. “I mean, no…sir. I’d never…”
Alton held up a hand. “I believe you. And it’s important you keep this secret.”
“Please don’t be angry with Kaleb.”
Alton’s mouth thinned out. “Kaleb is a Doxie who has lost his god. The Chimera is all he has.”
“It’s an animal, Kaleb is…” Sonny’s stomach turned.
“The Chimera is a beast. It is not an animal. It’s a monster.”
It definitely was.
“So, you’re just going to let it…” Have sex. Have sex with Kaleb.
“You are young. Just as your fellow students are young. There are things you are not only not ready to know but could never comprehend.”
“If the others find out they’ll…they’ll never stop laughing at me.”
Alton arched an eyebrow. “And the world does not revolve around you, Sonny. It does not revolve around any god. Your comforts, your wants, your fears, even your protection will always be second to a Doxie.”
Fine, sure, so Alton didn’t give a shit about him. But there was more than Sonny’s reputation at stake. “And what will happen to Kaleb when the other gods find out what he’s doing?”
“They ones who matter will understand. The ones who don’t understand, don’t matter.”
Alton made it sound like…
Sonny scrunched up his face. “So you’re not going to stop him? You’re just going to let the Chimera…do…do those things to him?”
Alton dropped his shoulders. “I’ll speak with The Priest, and we’ll talk to Kaleb.”
“You’ll make it stop?” Sonny hated to sound so desperate. But that’s exactly what he was.
“It will be taken care of. I assure you.”
Good. Maybe no one would ever find out. Sonny didn’t even want to imagine the ragging he’d get from the other students. Hell, from the other gods. The ones who didn’t matter.
Yeah, well, they might not matter to Alton, but he wasn’t the godling who would have to face them everyday. Look them in the eye while they whispered about Kaleb’s unnatural behavior.
So what if the Chimera was a monster. It wasn’t human.
Alton squeezed Sonny’s shoulder. “Do you think you can return to the training barracks and refrain from abusing your fellow students?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Don’t worry, Sonny. I promise this will be handled with the utmost discretion.”
Even though nothing about Alton’s expression hinted dishonesty, Sonny’s gut went cold, and he was sure whatever was happening with the Chimera was not going to stop.
*****
Wren took one of the lesser used tunnels into the dining hall. It wasn’t really a place anyone sat down to eat. It might have been a long time ago, but in all the years Wren had been in Purgatory with Malum, the dining hall was set up as more of a free market.
Bread, some fruit, on rare occasions meat. On rarer occasions meat that wasn’t spoiled and could be eaten. But it had been a little more than a week since new food rations were supplied as well as other necessities, and now the dining hall really did look like a market. The tables were piled with jars of salve, soaps, towels, fresh fruits, meat, bread, blankets…Wren still couldn’t believe they had real blankets.
There were even clothes for the gods who wanted them.
For the first several days, the room had been packed with bodies jostling for their fair share. Wren couldn’t blame them for hoarding the supplies; it had been so long since they’d had them, there was no telling when they’d disappear again.
If the whispers where true it wouldn’t. Because all the gods in Purgatory would soon be free.
Wren slipped between two gods grumbling at each other over a basket of meat and made his way to the table with a brightly colored cloth. There was nothing in the pile for a Doxie to wear, but it was nice to look.
Yeven, the tall strawberry blond who looked to the god named Shadow stood on the other side of the table. He smiled at Wren and held up a green vest. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
Wren was certain that was the first thing the other Doxie had said to him in years. He nodded. “Very pretty.”
“No harem pants.” Yeven frowned a little.
“Malum wouldn’t let me wear clothes even if they did have them.”
Yeven grinned. “Yeah, neither would Shadow. Hey.” Yeven took a jar from the basket over his arm. “They brought new salve.”
“What kind?”
“Sensitizing cream.”
Oh, to have that torturous stuff spread over his hole while Malum fucked him. Heat rushed to Wren’s balls. There would be no hiding his erection. “Is there any more?”
“It went fast. The other Doxies got them.”
Damn. That’s what Wren got for waiting till the rush was gone.
“Here.” Yeven held out the jar to Wren. “Take it.”
“But it’s yours.”
A blush colored Yeven’s cheeks. “I took two. Everyone else was taking three, but I took two, and I only need one. Please?”
Wren took it. The clay jar was a dark green. “Thanks.”
“Are you going to—”
“Boy.”
Wren turned the same time Yeven did. The god had pale skin and long red hair. His scraggly beard was black. Wren didn’t know him, but he hadn’t been here long and always followed Shadow around. Several of the gods here followed someone with a Doxie.
“Asger.” Yeven ducked his head as the god stormed up. He seized Yeven by his arm. “What are you doing out here? You were supposed to be in my chambers an hour ago.”
“The deliveries came and—”
Asger moved his hand to Yeven’s hair. He twisted his grip, and Yeven almost lost his hold on the basket. “I’m sorry, sir.” Yeven winced. “I mean, Master.”
This god named Asger was no more a Master than Wren’s big toe.
“Go, and maybe I won’t whip you till you can’t sit.” Asger shoved Yeven forward, and the boy hurried out the doorway. Asger stopped and looked at Wren. “You lost?”
Several of the gods in the room stopped moving and turned their attention to Asger.
“I think the little whore is lost. Why don’t you come with me, and after I’m done fucking you, maybe I’ll take you home.” He grabbed Wren by his arm.
“Release him.” Taurus’s calm voice carried over the stillness.
Asger let Wren go and whirled on the bull-god. “A wandering Doxie is free game.”
“Not here.”
Aaron peeked out from behind Taurus. Asger’s gaze flicked down at him, then back at Taurus. “Maybe I’ll kill you then and take your boy.”
“Wren, Aaron, go.” Taurus didn’t look at them when he spoke. Wren grabbed Aaron’s hand, and they ran from the room. After they were partway down the hall, a crash echoed through the chamber, and a man screamed.
Aaron widened his eye, and Wren pulled him farther up the hall. “We don’t want to hear this.” Wren darted down a side tunnel too small for most gods to squeeze into. There was no light, but Wren had walked the path so many times, he didn’t need it. The passage emptied into a niche between two large clumps of moss and plate fungi.
Wren stopped and leaned against the wall. “You okay?”
Aaron nodded. He pointed to Wren, himself, and then the hall to the left.
“I don’t understand.”
Aaron huffed. He pointed to himself and held up one finger, then Wren and held up two.
“You and me?” It was just a guess.
Aaron nodded. He held up a third finger.
“Taurus?”
Aaron shook his head. He pointed to his third finger, then himself and Wren. “I’m sorry…I…”
Aaron stepped up to Wren and put his lips to the boy’s ear. The words were barely a whisper. “The other—” Aaron’s voice cracked, and he swallowed and tried again but wound up coughing.
“Yeven?”
Aaron nodded.
Asger had sent the boy to his room.
“I know where he went.” Wren led Aaron up the hall to a staircase. The air on the next level held a frigid bite. “I’m sure his quarters are here somewhere. This is where all the new gods start out.”
Then if they were brave enough and strong enough to challenge someone else for their rooms, they might improve their living conditions. Or at least, have warmer chambers.
Wren pushed on a few doors to see if they would open. A short, stout man with black hair walked out of the next room. Wren stumbled to a halt, and Aaron bumped into him.
The man looked at Aaron and gave a half bow. “Doxie, Aaron.”
Aaron tapped Wren on the shoulder and pointed to the god. Wren wasn’t really supposed to talk to any of the other gods, but this was important. “I’m looking for Asger’s quarters.”
The god looked at Wren with surprise. Now would he answer him? Some gods were too afraid. “You should be on the lower level, close to Malum.”
Wren nodded. “A friend went to Asger’s room, and we need to find him.”
The man wrinkled his brow. “Two rooms down on the left. You better hurry before Asger gets back.”
“I don’t think he will.” Wren and Aaron hurried to the room.
Yeven sat on the stone slab of a bed with his hands in his lap.
“Hey.” Wren walked over with Aaron.
Yeven jumped to his feet. “You can’t be in here.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, if he finds you here…”
“He’s not coming back. At least I’m pretty sure he won’t be coming back.”
Yeven squinted at Wren.
Aaron took Yeven’s hand and squeezed.
“I hate him.” Yeven hiccoughed. His exhale trembled, but there were no tears.
“I don’t think Taurus likes him very much either.”
Yeven touched Wren’s arm just below his shoulder. A dark red handprint marred his skin. “Oh, no.” Yeven shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please tell Malum—”
Wren held Yeven’s face and kissed him. The boy blinked when Wren let him go. Yeven touched his lips.
Wren petted Yeven’s hair. “Malum won’t blame you, I promise.”
“What about Shadow?”
“It wasn’t his fault. I’ll make sure he knows.”
Aaron tugged on Yeven’s hand. “Where are we going?”
Wren grabbed up the basket Yeven had been carrying then took Yeven’s other hand they led him down the hall. The bitter chill faded and water droplets formed on the stone walls of the tunnel.
“Where’s Shadow?” Wren said.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for a couple days. I was supposed to stay with Irwick until Asger came to get me, but he was late, so I went to get some food and see what’d been delivered.”
“Does he leave you alone like this a lot?”
“No, he’s never…but…”
Aaron gave Wren a worried look.
“You think something’s happened to him, don’t you?” Yeven’s expression said he’d already decided something had, yet was afraid to think it. And now that he had?
“I don’t know. A lot has changed lately. There have been new groups forming.”
“What’s going to happen to me?” Yeven tried to stop, but Wren wouldn’t let him.
“Let’s get to Malum’s.”
Yeven yanked free. “No. No, I can’t.”
“He’s not going to hurt you.”
“Shadow said he kills Doxies.”
At least he didn’t convince Yeven Malum ate them. Wren took Yeven’s hand again, and the boy didn’t fight him. “Malum would never hurt a Doxie.”
“It’s why he’s down here.”
“He hurt one. A long time ago. The Doxie tried to kill his brother. Malum didn’t mean to harm him, he was only trying to stop the boy from killing his brother. The Doxie lived, he was just hurt really bad.”
“But he’s down here forever, right?”
“Yes. But not because he killed a Doxie or hurt one on purpose.” Wren tugged on Yeven’s hand, and they were walking again. Incandescent lights replaced the bunches of glowing moss, and voices echoed up the hall. Wren led both boys down the passage towards Malum's quarters.
Aaron ran ahead. By the time Wren caught up with Yeven, Aaron had found the paper and pencil he'd used a few days before and was writing.
Wren encouraged Yeven onto the bed. “We’ll wait here till Malum comes back.”
Yeven paled even more.
“I promise he won’t hurt you.”
Yeven nodded.
Aaron joined them with the sheets of paper. Wren took it, and Yeven looked over his shoulder.
“You can’t talk, can you?” Yeven held Aaron's hand.
Aaron shrugged and touched the scars on his throat.
“I’m sorry.”
Aaron smiled and kissed Yeven on the cheek.
Wren finished reading Aaron’s note. “I’m not sure when he'll be back. I guess if you want to go back to Taurus’s, you can, but he’d probably rather you stay here until he comes and gets you.”
Aaron nodded and took back the paper and wrote. Do you think he killed Asger?
Wren nodded.
“Why?” Yeven said.
“I’m not sure. Just be glad it was him and not Malum.” At least with Taurus, the man probably died quick. Malum could drag out a death for days and had when a god had tried to take Wren.
The air in the chambers went heavy, and all three Doxies looked at each other. Malum and
Taurus walked in from the tunnel. There wasn’t much light in the room, but it gleamed off of Taurus’s wet fur. “I’m sorry, little one, I had to clean up before I came to get you.”
Malum stopped beside the bed and cupped Wren’s face. The god’s gaze raked over Wren with a physical force and paused on his bruised arm. His expression didn't change, but the anger in his black-black gaze flared.
“You should have brought Asger to me.” Malum stroked Wren’s cheek with his thumb.
Taurus stood by the fire. Probably to dry himself. He must have been covered in blood, even his loin cloth was gone. “Don’t worry, he suffered, and there were enough there to let the rest of the gods know what happens when they put their hands on things that don’t belong to them.”
“Is Shadow going to come get me?” Yeven slid off the bed. He hugged himself.
Malum glanced back at Taurus. “You can stay here with Wren or go with Taurus till he does.”
“How will he know where to look?”
“We'll send the word out,” Taurus said. “Right now, Aaron will stay here with Wren.”
Aaron jerked his head up.
Taurus smiled a little. “I will be back. I have business with Wolf.”
“I will join you.” Malum still touched Wren, his hair, his ear, his shoulder.
“If you wish.”
“I want to hear this man’s proposal. And if I don’t like it, I’ll kill him.”
Taurus huffed a laugh. “By all means.”
“Do not leave this room.” Malum stepped back, and the distance pulled at Wren’s insides. “You may play if you wish. You may even come.”
Wren would have rather had Malum stay too and come for him. But his fellow Doxies would be welcomed.
“The same,” Taurus said.
Aaron scribbled something down on the paper and gave it to Wren. “Aaron says don’t go. Wolf is up to something bad.”
Taurus nodded. “I know, but I gave my word.”
“All the more reason for me to go with you,” Malum said. “I made no such vow.”
Aaron climbed off the bed and went over to Taurus. He knelt in front of the god and lay his head on Taurus’s thigh. The god combed through Aaron's golden locks with his fingers.
“I will come back.”
Aaron nodded.
“I promise, little one. I will come back.” Taurus made Aaron stand. “And when I do, if you obeyed and stayed here, I’ll give the crop, then let you suck my cock.”
Aaron put a hand on Taurus’s limp dick, and the god growled. “After.” He turned and left. Malum followed.
“What do you think they're going to do?” Yeven said.
Aaron shook his head.
“Hopefully, whatever it is, they’ll be careful doing it.” It wasn’t as if any god stood a chance against Malum. Yet Wren couldn’t help but be afraid.
*****
Taurus had planned on waiting until tonight before answering Wolf’s summons. Aaron was far more important than anything concerning the other god. But the incident in the dining hall had Taurus surging for one more head to rip clean of a body.
It had made a mess. Ruined several baskets of supplies, but at least the message would not go ignored. With luck, Asger’s violent death would even reach Wolf’s ears.
Taurus and Malum entered the narrow corridor leading to Wolf’s chambers. The god had claimed the room from a long-time resident in Purgatory. Taurus could only assume the man was dead. He had a feeling Shadow was dead too.
As if reading his mind Malum said, “Why do you think Wolf killed Shadow?”
“I don’t know he did.”
“Who else would?”
Or could. The list was short, and they all had Doxies and no reason to off the other god. At least Shadow had shared his boy enough times that his death wouldn’t take Yeven with him. But the boy had developed affections for his god. Most Doxies did.
If only gods could love as easily and so completely. But then that's one of the things making a Doxie a Doxie, not a mortal man and not a god.
“If he killed Shadow, there had to be a reason.”
“Such as?”
Malum ducked his head as they passed under a ridge in the ceiling. A few more yards down, Taurus had to turn to the side to keep from knocking his shoulders against the walls.
“Change of power. Promised a god or gods to get rid of Shadow and make it easy to claim his Doxie.”
The only reason Taurus could figure Wolf would do something like that was if he was afraid Taurus might back down on his oath.
Malum gave Taurus a look. “I don’t have to tell you not to trust this man, do I?”
“No. I know he’s a snake.” A murderer, a liar, a thief.
Malum stopped, and so did Taurus. Malum said, “The woman you were accused of killing, were you lovers?”
“It’s forbidden for a god who’s taken ambrosia to lay with a woman.” It was dangerous enough for a god who hadn’t. While nature usually took care of any possibility of a male child coming to term, it did happen on rare occasion.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I loved her if that’s what you want to know. But I never lay with her. I couldn’t take the chance she might get pregnant.” Besides, there were so many other ways to pleasure a lover.
“And Wolf killed her.” Malum made it a statement.
Taurus nodded. “Yes.” Then Wolf had gone to the goddesses and sworn Taurus was at fault.
“Didn’t they put him before the Oracle?”
“They did.”
“How was he able to lie?”
“She was young, she was in love.”
Malum stared past Taurus in the direction of Wolf’s quarters. They still had a ways to go. “I owe you for protecting Wren.” His eyes said the rest. Wolf’s death would be repayment.
Taurus nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He started walking again. The last quarter mile was covered in silence.
Similar to Malum’s quarters, the room Wolf had claimed began life as something different. Taurus had no idea what because the god who’d lived in it had been in Purgatory long before he arrived and the man stayed isolated.
The enormous room had its own hot spring, a fire pit, and high ceilings colored by remnants of paint long lost to time. There were other communal rooms in Purgatory that had kept the murals painted on them. Pictorial history that told the stories of many gods here.
Wolf stood at a table with another god. Even with his back turned, Sol was recognizable. Long golden hair, perfect hands, physical form, even how he stood. When he turned, his beauty was a momentary speed bump in Taurus’s thoughts. But unlike the young Oracle Sol had wooed as a favor to Wolf, Taurus was too strong for Sol’s perfection to keep a hold on his reason.
Malum’s expression didn’t even change. Either the god was a master at controlling his emotions, or Sol simply had no effect on him.
“You’re late.” Wolf tossed down the papers he’d been looking at and came around the table. His limp was more prevalent than normal.
“I had a Doxie to care for.”
Wolf glared at Taurus and flicked a look at the floor. Taurus’s joints groaned with the effort it took to make himself go down on one knee. Wolf started to smile then seemed to realize who it was beside Taurus.
Wolf took a step back. “What are you doing here?”
“I am interested in knowing if the rumors are true.”
Sol and Wolf exchanged a look. Wolf said, “Leave.”
“No.” Leave it Malum to get right to the point.
“He could be a very valuable ally, Wolf.” Taurus kept his head down, letting his anger and agitation out by beating the floor with his tail. Wolf was not as observant as Aaron and didn’t seem to notice how its movements could convey Taurus’s mood. But Aaron was a Doxie, a very good, very attentive Doxie.
“I don’t need him as an ally.”
“I disagree.” Taurus raised his head, and Wolf sneered at him. “There have been changes of rank in Purgatory, a god has gone missing, making his Doxie free game.”
There was the slightest twitch of Wolf's left eye. Unlike many gods as old as him, he’d never been able to keep what he felt off his face.
“But I'm sure you knew that already.” Taurus soaked his words in subservience.
“Of course. Nothing stays quiet in this place.” Clearly something had remained quiet. Wolf couldn’t seem to pull his unsure gaze off Malum. Was the man even breathing? As old as Malum was it, wouldn’t surprise Taurus if he didn't have to. So little was known about Malum, it could have been one of his gifts. Not the only one, of course. A god like him did not get his kind of reputation unless he was beyond deadly.
“You had something you wanted to discuss?” Taurus was really getting tired of being on his knee.
“Yes.” Wolf backed up to where Sol was. Only when there was distance between him and Malum did he turn away. “I need to know if you’ve swayed the rest of the population.”
“I’m working on it.”
“That’s all?”
“These things take time, Wolf. I told you. It cannot be rushed. Loyalty does not come cheaply here.”
“And I paid more than enough for your loyalty.”
“No.” Taurus did stand then. “You paid for an agreement promised on my honor, which I will keep, but not because I am loyal to you.”
Wolf clenched his fists.
“Should we give the Doxie to someone else.” Sol lifted his chin.
Taurus wouldn’t even break a sweat ripping the man in half. “You can try.”
The smile on Sol’s face fell.
Wolf said, “Do not threaten me, cow-man.”
“I wasn’t. I was threatening him.” Taurus indicated Sol with a tip of his head.
Wolf opened his mouth, then closed it. “I need all of you ready in under a month. I need to know the men here will be loyal to you.”
“Then let me give them more.”
Wolf stiffened. “I am not bringing you another Doxie.”
“And I'm not asking for one.” Taurus took a step forward. “Gaining loyalty with these gods isn’t just about being able to offer them ambrosia, it’s being able to convince them if they are willing to face death I can deliver them to a better life if they succeed. To prove to them I'm capable of that, I need to be able to give them some of the things they want while here.”
“You’ve got everything you wanted.”
“You reinstated the necessities that were taken away. I need luxuries they have not had in a very long time or even at all.”
“Like what?” Wolf practically spat the words.
“Items for the Doxies who reside here. Wine, liquor, furniture.”
“Should I build you a fucking house while I’m at it?”
“You could, but I don’t think that would be necessary.” Taurus managed to keep his tone calm.
“How about this?” Wolf seemed to gain some confidence because he walked back over. “How about I give power to someone else, someone who won’t make stupid demands, someone who will do what I say? Don’t think I can't kill you Taurus and take your Dox—”
Malum moved so fast he was nothing but a blur. One moment Wolf stood in front of Taurus, the next, Wolf dangled four feet in the air, his throat in Malum’s grip.
“Stop!” Sol didn’t come any closer. “We had an agreement, Taurus.”
Wolf’s face reddened, and he clawed at Malum’s hand.
“You had an agreement with Taurus,” Malum said. “Not with me.”
Wolf’s eyes bulged, and he pulled a gun out from his jacket. The crack of gunfire echoed off the walls. The bullets struck Malum’s chest, where they stopped, then the god’s flesh crawled over them, gobbling them up. The gun clicked, and Wolf still pulled the trigger. Malum did not move.
Taurus caught Malum’s gaze and gave the smallest shake of his head. He had no idea if the god would do as he asked or if he would kill Wolf. And Wolf dying could be very bad for all of them. He’d had his hand in the supplies coming to Purgatory for so long, they might very well dry up completely, then the gods would be left there to starve to death with their Doxies.
Malum lowered Wolf to the ground and opened his hand. Wolf collapsed, the skin of his throat blood red and dimpled from being crushed. He fumbled for his pockets and pulled out an ambrosia flower. Wolf ate it and the damage Malum had done faded.
Wolf got to his feet. He pointed at Malum. “You do something stupid like that again, and you will get nothing. I’ll not only cut off the supplies, I’ll cut off the fucking water.”
At least dying of thirst would happen faster than dying of hunger.
Wolf coughed and pulled at the collar of his shirt.
“I’m curious, Wolf,” Malum said. “You promise you can free us from Purgatory. Exactly how do you plan on getting the Sphinx to cooperate? He is the only one who can move us in and out.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Malum is right. I need to know how you plan on getting us off this island.” If the place where Purgatory resided could be called that. It was more like a blight in the middle of a hellish ocean.
“The Sphinx will obey me.”
Obey. Not do as he asked. Not owed him. Not agreed. Obey. There were few things capable of breaking the will of a god. Almost all of them had ties to ambrosia. The Sphinx, a man who existed in three places at the same time, took people or supplies into Purgatory. Flying and boating near the island was almost always a death sentence.
Either Wolf had done something to the man, or he’d taken something he valued more than his life.
Malum narrowed his gaze.
Taurus had a feeling the god was thinking the same thing.
“A month, Taurus. You have a month to have these men at your beck and call.”
“Then I’ll send you my list so you can make sure everything is covered.”
“I didn’t agree…”
Taurus turned.
“Do not walk away from me.” Wolf started to follow but stopped when Malum fell into step beside Taurus.
They headed back down the tunnel. It wasn’t until Wolf was out of sight that Malum spoke. “It would have been easier to just let me kill him. Then we could make Sol let us out.”
Taurus shook his head. “Wolf is greedy, but he isn’t stupid, he’d have safety nets in place. If he were to be taken hostage or killed, we’d be sealed in here to die.”
“Are you really expecting to pay for the loyalty of these other gods with trinkets and food?”
“Of course not.” Taurus laughed.
“Then why are you stalling? Why not do what he says now and get out?”
“Because Wolf won’t keep his word. He’ll have some way to dispose of us once he’s gotten what he wants.”
“A war?”
“Death.”
“But you have a plan,” Malum said.
“Wolf has his fingers in the supply funds to send us the things we need to stay alive. I don’t know how or when it happened, but he’s the reason everything but the most basic food disappeared, and why he does not want for anything in his private quarters. If he’s in charge, then the extra will disrupt the flow of funds to cover the expenses. It will appear on accounts holding the funds and Alton will see.”
“He could pay for it with his own money.”
“At first, maybe, but it costs millions to keep us alive down here. He wouldn't drain his coffers for our benefit. Either the goddesses will see the discrepancy or Alton will.” And Taurus was betting on Alton. Very few details went unnoticed by the man.
“You’re warning him.”
“Yes.”
They stopped at the end of the corridor. “Are you sure that’s wise? He could just kill us.”
He could. They were rats in a hole in the ground. “He won’t.”
Malum studied Taurus. “The Doxies.”
“Exactly.”
“He could come get them.”
It would be a risk. “Even better.” Then they could tell Alton what was going on. “But I don’t think he will. There are very few gods who'd be able to overpower the men down here pumped full of ambrosia. He’ll figure out another way. Once he investigates the use of money, he’ll realize what Wolf has been doing, and he’ll fix it, then Wolf will be powerless.”
“And Alton will correct the error because of the Doxies.”
“Yes. We may not be freed, but we won’t starve to death. And whatever leverage Wolf has over the Sphinx can be removed.”
Malum started walking. “I hope your plan works.”
“As do I.” Because so much could go wrong. “You told me you owed me for watching out for Wren.”
“Yes.”
“If you want to repay the debt, promise me you will make sure no harm comes to Aaron.”
Malum chuckled. “You do not need my promise for that to happen.”
Good. At least if Taurus wound up dead by Wolf’s hand or another god’s, Aaron wouldn’t be left unattended. “Thank you. And if something should happen to you, I will do the same.”
“No need,” Malum said. “I’m not going to die.”
Taurus laughed.
*****
What do you think Wolf wanted? Aaron showed what he’d written to both boys.
Wren shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure it’s not good.”
Neither god was back yet. They hadn’t been gone long, but more than enough time had passed for something bad to happen.
Wren took the paper and pencil and laid it on the side table. “We shouldn’t worry. They’ll be mad.”
Aaron let himself be pulled back on the bed. He wound up propped against Yeven. He ran his touch down Aaron’s scars. “How did you get hurt?”
Aaron tipped his head back, and Yeven gave Aaron his ear. “A god-son.”
Yeven looked at Wren, then Aaron. “Where is it now?”
Wren answered, “Dead. Aaron wrote it down for me. It’s dead, so we don’t have anything to be afraid of.” Wren pulled Yeven over until he was leaning against his shoulder. “And that’s another thing we shouldn’t be worried about. It’s god business, not ours.”
Yeven smiled and kissed Wren on the cheek. “You’re right.”
Aaron couldn’t argue, but still.
Wren pushed Aaron over and straddled his lap. “I told you no worrying.” He twisted Aaron’s nipple, and Aaron hissed. Yeven leaned down and brushed his lips against Aaron’s. Aaron opened to him, and they slid their tongues together.
Wet heat covered Aaron’s cock, and Yeven swallowed his gasp. Aaron broke the kiss. Wren looked up at Aaron from between his legs, lips wrapped around Aaron’s cock, sliding his mouth from root to tip.
“Wow.” Yeven licked a line down Aaron’s chest. “That’s so…”
“Arousing?” Wren said as he let go of Aaron.
“Yeah.”
Aaron pulled on Yeven’s leg and the boy moved to where Aaron guided him. Yeven wound up with a knee on either side of Aaron’s head, putting his cock right at Aaron’s lips. He tongued Yeven’s slit, and the boy groaned.
Hot suction pulled on Aaron’s cock again and he wrapped his lips around Yeven’s dick. The boy dropped his hips, pumping into Aaron’s throat.
“That’s…oh, that’s so nice.”
Wren moved from between Aaron’s knees. “Here.” Yeven turned around, leaving his cock in Aaron’s mouth, and took over sucking him.
Bitter salt flavored the droplets beading at Yeven’s slit.
“I wish we had some toys.” Wren reached to the side. “I’d love to put plugs in both of you, or maybe sounds, or maybe both. I haven’t got to do that for centuries.”
Aaron could only imagine. He teased the vein running down Yeven’s cock all the way to the glans, where he brushed his teeth over the edge.
Wren set a jar next to Aaron. The other Doxie already had a glob in his hand. “Yeven.”
He gave a muffled reply as he bobbed his head faster. The wet friction towed Aaron higher, lighting up his body, building a chill under his skin.
“I’m going to use the sensitizing cream on you.”
Yeven sat up. “What?”
“I’m going to fuck you with the sensitizing cream.”
Yeven tried to crawl away, and Wren held his hips. Aaron crawled out from under Yeven.
“Hold him.”
Aaron wrapped an arm around Yeven’s chest.
“Wait…I don’t…”
Aaron craned his neck so he could watch Wren. The boy pushed two fingers into Yeven’s ass, and Yeven yelped.
“Oh, god.” A shudder ran down Yeven’s frame as Wren pumped his fingers. “No, no, no, it’s too much.”
Wren grinned, and Aaron made Yeven turn his head. Aaron pressed his mouth to the other Doxie’s. Yeven’s cries turned into wanton moans.
“Putting another finger in you.”
Yeven jerked, and ropes of cum splashed on the blankets.
“That’s it. I want you to have another.”
Yeven pulled his mouth away from Aarons. “No. Not like this. I want…I want you inside me. Both of you.”
Aaron bit his lip. Oh, to bury himself in the boy’s ass with another Doxie. Wren lay down, and Yeven crawled over him. Aaron got behind Yeven and Aaron helped the boy guide Wren’s cock into his hole. The sensitizing cream smeared on Aaron’s fingers, and the air bit his skin with splinters of agony. Soon his cock was going to feel just like that.
Wren held Yeven’s hips as the boy slid to the cradle of his hips. Wren cried out and arched off the bed. “Oh, god that’s… Hurry, Aaron, hurry, I need to move.”
Aaron urged Yeven to lean forward by pushing him between the shoulders. He did, and Aaron worked his cock where Yeven was stretched around Wren. The pleasant slide of flesh prickled with a thousand needles. Aaron had to bite back the need to yell.
“Aaron…please.” Wren’s face contorted in agony and pleasure.
Aaron forced his cock into Yeven’s opening, stretching him wider as the boy took both of them.
Yeven screamed and bucked. Aaron had to hold on to him to keep from being pushed out. Wren popped his hips and Aaron thrust. What normally was a slow rise of pleasure, chewed its way across Aaron’s nerves, burrowing into his gut, drawing up his balls. Aaron struggled to keep going, but his release roared through him, stripping away the world, and pulse after pulse raked the head of his cock sliding against Wren and into Yeven’s opening.
“Don’t stop.” Wren grunted, and the pulse of his cock rode up Aaron’s. Warm cum leaked from around where they impaled Yeven. The boy wailed, his shoulders jerking, his sobs echoing through the room.
“More, please, more.” He reached back for Aaron, and he gripped Yeven’s hand while trying to control his body and keep pumping his hips rather than pulling away and find relief from the jagged edge of pain.
“Gonna come again.” Wren’s movements stuttered. “Going to…can’t…stop.”
Aaron’s own release slipped from his grasp. He jerked, driving his cock as deep and hard as he could with each crashing wave, only stopping when the muscles in his body went languid. He collapsed on top of Yeven who had his face in Wren’s neck.
“That was wonderful.” Yeven’s words were muffled against Wren’s flesh.
It was wonderful.
Aaron leaned around Yeven and brushed his lips over Wren’s mouth. Yeven joined in, and they nestled down next to Wren. Yeven on one side, Aaron on the other, trading kisses and gentle touches.
“We should do this again.” Wren laughed. “Maybe, tomorrow.”
Oh, that would be spectacular. Aaron nodded.
*****
“Why wait?” Malum said.
Aaron turned, and the other two Doxies sat up. Standing next to Malum, the bull-god wore nothing to hide his rigid cock. He cleared the distance and gripped Aaron by his hair. “Oh, little one that was lovely.”
It had been beautiful. Malum missed seeing Doxies lay together. He joined Taurus and snatched Wren up and tossed him over his shoulder. The boy yelped, and Malum pushed a finger into Wren’s hole. He was well lubed. Good. Then he wouldn’t have to wait.
Taurus had Aaron by his hips. Lubricant was forced out of the boy’s opening as Taurus sank his cock. The site alone was almost enough to make Malum come. He lowered Wren to the bed and made him watch.
“How would you like to feel him thrusting into your ass?” Malum nipped Wren’s ear.
“Just you, sir, just—”
Malum pulled Wren’s arms to his back. The boy whimpered. Malum groaned as Taurus moved in long slow strokes while Aaron lay panting, hips pulled up off the bed, his head lying on the blankets. There was no doubt the boy was small, even more so next to a god as big as Taurus. Despite Aaron’s frail appearance, he took every inch of Taurus without complaint.
The bull-god thrust faster, and Aaron tore at the blankets, pushing with his arms to meet Taurus’s thrust. He growled and looked at Yeven. “Come here, boy.”
The Doxie scurried over.
“Kiss Aaron for me, tease his nipples, touch his cock.”
Aaron grabbed hold of Yeven’s shoulders and slammed their mouths together. Yeven pinched both of Aaron’s nipples.
“Harder.” Taurus shoved forward, so hard Aaron threw his arms around Yeven.
The boy must have obeyed because Aaron jerked, mouth open, air hissing from his throat. Beautiful ropes of lilac cum spilled on the blankets.
“What do you think, Wren?” Malum fondled the boy’s cock, collecting some of the cream left over from earlier. Within seconds his skin tingled. “I see you found something fun to play with.” Malum moved his touch to Wren’s nipples and pinched the buds until they purpled.
Wren moaned.
“Where is the jar, boy?”
Wren looked in the direction of the side table.
Malum let him go. “Get it.”
Wren obeyed.
Malum held out his hand. Wren gave him the jar and Malum dipped his first two fingers into the salve. “Knees on the bed and bend over.”
Wren perched his knees on the end of the bed and dropped his chest. His exquisite round ass all but begged to be taken.
Malum left the jar on the bed and slid his fingers down Wren’s crack. Beside him, Aaron and Yeven fought for control of their kiss. Aaron relentlessly pumped Yeven’s cock. The boy sang in such a high wanton voice. Taurus continued to fuck Aaron, every thrust slapping the boy’s ass. The bull god’s heavy balls swinging into the back of Aaron’s legs.
There’d been a time when Gatherings had been held in Purgatory, but now there were just too few Doxies to ask them to serve all the gods in a night. Here there were only three, but the beauty of them together revived something in Malum. A part of his being he’d lost when handed down his sentence.
Some days he was grateful Wren had followed him. Others…others he wanted the boy in the sun, running through the grass, in the arms of other Doxies where he belonged.
Malum pushed his fingers into Wren’s ass, lathering him in sensitizing cream inside and out. The boy wailed, and Malum didn’t stop until he was knuckle deep.
“That’s it, boy.” Malum made short, hard thrusts. Wren’s cheeks shone with tears. “Hurt?”
“Yes.”
“But you like it too.”
“Yes, yes, please, sir…”
“All ready hungry for something bigger?” A lot bigger. Malum had always taken care when fucking a Doxie, it was too easy to damage them. But Wren had centuries under Malum, and the boy had trained his body to accept whatever the god gave.
“Yesss—please, sir. Please, I want you.”
Malum added a third, and Wren tried to scurry away. Malum grabbed him by the head of hair. “I thought you wanted my cock?”
“I do.” His dark gaze pleaded with Malum.
“Yet you’re crying from three fingers.”
Wren tried to nod.
Yeven whimpered. Aaron had his mouth on the boy’s cock. Yeven thrust, his eyes closed, his mouth open. Taurus slowed in his movements, sliding deep and holding himself there. The discomfort of taking something so large showed in how Aaron paled and flexed his hands as if trying to find something to cling to.
Malum needed to do this before he lost his load all over the back of his boy’s thighs. “You ready, boy?” He removed his fingers and teased Wren’s puckered hole with the head of his cock.
“Yes, sir.”
“You sure?”
“Ye—”
Malum shoved his cock into Wren. The boy looked over his shoulder at Malum. Color drained from Wren’s cheeks, his mouth opened, but the breath he lost left him so quick, it was nothing but a huff. Tears filled Wren’s eyes, and Malum pumped his hips, giving the boy no time to adjust. Wren dropped his head between his shoulders. His thin frame pulled taught, and the scream rose up from under his broken gasps.
Malum didn’t stop, relentlessly pounding the boy until all he could do was lay limp in his hands. His voice gone; his eyes glazed.
Taurus grunted, slamming himself harder and harder, then stopped. The muscles in his arms trembled with the force he held Aaron with. The Doxie writhed and jerked, either trying to get away or find more of the god’s cock. It was impossible to know, but his agony was an elixir of lust for Malum. The sight of a Doxie taking his god was almost as great as watching Doxies fuck each other.
Malum slapped his hips against Wren’s ass. He pulled the boy upright by his hair, changing the angle. Wren went from pliant to flailing limbs and desperate pleas. Words that made no sense but conveyed the agony of taking Malum’s cock, the pleasure, and the rush of the ambrosia high as it built inside him.
“That’s it, Wren, let all of Purgatory hear your beautiful voice.” Malum shortened his thrusts. The tight ring of the boy’s ass clenched around Malum’s dick, and the electric rush boiling in Malum’s body broke free. Invisible claws raked up Malum’s back, striking every nerve as he pumped Wren full.
Beside him, Taurus fucked Aaron again. Yeven keened thrusting into Aaron’s mouth. Cum dripped from the corners of Aaron’s lips. He opened his eye, then closed it. His limp body held up by Yeven cradling his head.
Taurus’s second release was quicker, every withdrawal feeding the stream of cum running down Aaron’s thighs.
Malum was not going to be out done. He pressed Wren into the mattress and curled over him. The god pumped his hips with violence. Cum squelched around his cock, mixing with the sensitizing cream. The salve finally worked its way to Malum’s nerves turning pleasure into euphoria. He didn’t want to stop, but he was not going to be able to hold on. The slow rise of heat was out matched by the sharp bite of his release. Wren shook under Malum, the boy’s ass clenching so tight Malum could barely move. He reached under Wren. The boy had not come.
“Good, Wren, very good.” Malum pulled out. Taurus was already sucking Aaron’s cock. Every release causing the Doxie to arch up.
Malum flipped Wren over. The boy’s face was flushed, his gaze gone, sweat colored his temples in violet.
And just from a fucking. Wren never sweated ambrosia unless he was racked and cropped or hung and whipped, hurling him toward the dangerous edge of an ambrosia bubble.
Apparently, taking from Aaron had enhanced Wren. Malum closed his mouth around Wren’s cock. As soon as Malum pressed his tongue against the boy’s length, heated jets of nectar filled his mouth. The rush of ambrosia crashed through Malum, blurring his senses. He pulled on Wren’s cock, forcing release after release. Wren pushed at Malum’s head and tried to pry the god’s fingers off his hips. Malum refused to stop and Wren lost his hold again.
The rich sweetness strengthened, and Malum moaned as power filled his muscles, sounds clogged his ears, and the mere presence of the god beside him warped the space between them. By the time Malum released Wren, the poor boy had lost consciousness, and his pretty cock had been sucked raw.
Aaron was in no better shape. But he was still producing nectar when Taurus let go. The violet-blue fluid dripped down the head of the boy’s cock.
“Suck him.” Taurus pulled Yeven closer. When the boy hesitated, Taurus pushed the Doxie’s face into Aaron’s groin. “Suck, boy, or I will put you over my knee.”
Yeven shuddered as he took Aaron into his mouth. Taurus held Yeven there while his whimpers and cries were muffled by a mouthful of dick. Taurus pushed and pulled on Yeven’s head, setting the pace. Aaron opened his eye for a moment then fell slack.
“You are not done yet, little one. I know you have more.” Taurus crammed two fingers into Aaron’s ass, and he jerked and hissed out a breath. The root of his cock jumped against Yeven’s lips, and an earthquake seized the other Doxie, and he dove down on Aaron, making a greedy sucking sound.
Taurus let Yeven go, and Malum watched the boy with the other god as he pawed and pulled at Aaron’s hips, sucking and bobbing his head. The slurp and smack of his mouth filled the room.
Taurus continued to message Aaron’s prostate until Yeven collapsed, ambrosia as dark as midnight collecting in the corners of his mouth.
“I’ve never seen such potency.” Malum petted his boy.
Taurus pulled his fingers from Aaron’s ass and leaned down. He growled against the boy’s ear and bumped his muzzle against the side of Aaron’s head. “He is remarkable.”
“And like you said, his strength is contagious.”
Taurus stood up. He cut a look at Wren. The only signs of life in the boy was his rapid breathing. “He will only get stronger.”
Malum nodded. “Then I look forward to when he’s making ambrosia that rich.” He would because when Wren did, the might Malum gained could very well rival his brother.