CHAPTER TWO
Only when my arms and legs shook with the strain of staying upright, only when I’d used every attack, every spell, every bit of mind magic trickery in my arsenal a dozen times over, only when I pleaded to end training for the day did my horde of leaders leave the rune room, laughing and clapping each other on the back, musing over how much they’d enjoyed themselves.
Yesterday they couldn’t stand to be in the same room for more than an hour.
I collapsed to the floor, spread eagle, staring at the shifting sigils on the ceiling, unable to collect enough energy to shimmer to my bedchamber. I gave myself a ten-count, then another and in time, hauled my ass off the floor. Scrounging up the last scraps of my energy, I shimmered back to my room.
“Hello,” I said to Verrill, who sat waiting for me on the black settee that matched the decor of the rest of the room. The Shadow King also matched the room in a strange way. Inky black hair and black, star-lit eyes set against the cool paleness of his skin which, despite the stark white silk of his clothes, carried the same elegance and refinement as the black-clad Arcane castle. Perhaps the shared aesthetic was born of the fact that Verrill and Jadzeera were cousins.
He stood, the movement disturbing the air enough to rustle the sheers around my bed. “I wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings after our training session.”
“That depends on what you mean.”
“I know we went hard on you today. I didn’t want to jump in quite so brutally but the others....”
“I’m not upset about training, Verrill. You’re all preparing me to battle the Blood King. Why would I have hard feelings about that?” I reached for a slice of lunch meat from the tray Magda, my intuitive handmaiden, brought while I trained, and focused on restoring my energy.
“What I am upset about is the unilateral decision to exclude me from the fight.”
Verrill sighed. “I won’t bore you listing the reasons for our decision. You’ve already heard them. Just know, we wanted to keep you safe.”
I shoved a piece of bread in my mouth, too tired to argue.
“I guess I can’t blame your intentions, can I?” I whispered into his mind.
A handy trick when your mouth is full.
Verrill smiled. “You could. You’d just be wrong.”
I chucked a piece of meat at his head which he dodged and continued eating. “Did you want some?” I offered him the tray.
“No, thank you. I’m not hungry.”
I continued to munch on the cheese and meat and the Shadow King stood in my bedchamber, awkwardly watching me eat. He pulled a hand through his silky, dark waves. “I’m sorry, Zurie. I shouldn’t have come.” Verrill turned on his heel and headed out.
“Wait. Wait a minute.” I grabbed his sleeve. “Why would you say such a thing? You, all of you are welcome to see me any time. Tell me what’s going on, Verrill.”
The demon sighed, his star-lit eyes closing. “Watching you work so hard for our benefit, it has an effect on me.”
“Oh? What kind of—oh.” I said when he met my gaze. Desire smoldered in his black eyes, leaving no doubt why he came to my bedchamber. “But you’re tired, I can see that.”
I smiled, stepping into his space. “I am tired. But the thing about magical sex is it heals.” I trailed a finger across his cheek where just hours before a swollen purple bruise marred the perfect planes.
Damn right it did or I’d be too sore from last night to even think about sex.
Verrill stepped closer, his sweet amber scent filling my nose. He kissed the top of my head, snapped his fingers, and my leathers fell to the ground.
I leaned into him, pressing my body to his. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower?”
“Only if you don’t allow me to join you.”
I laughed and led Verrill to the bathing room.
During my stay in the Arcana Realm, I’d taken full advantage of the enormous free-standing bathtub, the centerpiece of the marble bathing room. But I’d given no attention to the equally enormous standing shower at the far end of the sparkling black en-suite. Enclosed in glass, with six shower heads, the space could probably accommodate a football team. Or my horde. Or maybe just Verrill and I.
He adjusted the water and we took turns lathering each other, first to clean, then for fun. My hands slid down the hard planes of his chest, to his hips, and finally to his hardness, coaxing a groan from him.
“Lillith help me, your touch is divine.” He pulled away, kneeling before me as the shower spray soaked his beautiful inky hair. “I’ve been dying to have a taste of you since I first laid eyes on you.” He threw my leg over his shoulder and flicked at my clit with just the tip of his tongue.
I moaned into the sensations, arching my body into his mouth. “Don’t tease me.”
Verrill chuckled and in one motion stood and had me in his arms, carrying me to the bed. With a wave of his hand we were dry and he laid me down on the freshly changed sheets.
He trailed soft, slow kisses down my neck and across my collarbones. It was a nice, sweet gesture but he’d already wound me up in the shower. “Quit dicking around and get to the fuckin’.”
Verrill let loose a hearty belly laugh. “As you wish, my queen.” He slid into me and I gasped at his girth. I hadn’t noticed it last night, but then, my focus was divided between four people.
Verrill smirked, reading my expression. “Do I please you?”
“Jesus fuck, Verrill. Yes. Very fucking much.”
I shifted my hips beneath him, finding that perfect angle, and rode that sweet, dirty rollercoaster uphill. I already was close, so, so close.
Verrill hopped to his knees, gripping my hips and sliding a finger across my clit.
My breaths grew ragged as delicious pressure built between my thighs.
“That’s it, Zurie,” The Shadow King purred. “I want to see you come.”
His velvety voice threw me right over the fucking edge. I thrashed against his body, wailing and crying out as a mammoth orgasm razed me to the ground. Verrill came too, a growling rumble ripped from his throat as his spasmed into me. Panting, wrecked, and sated, we laid next to each other in silence for a long time. I curled against his chest, watching the steady rise and fall of his breathing. Eventually, hunger roused me from the comfort of his embrace and I reached for the silver platter of meats and fruits.
“We should have a date,”I said as I stuffed my face. I offered Verrill a pepperoni-like cured meat, but he declined. I shrugged and brought the tray back to bed, resting it in my lap as I ate. “How about tonight?”
“A date?”
“Yes. Where we spend time together and get to know each other.”
He quirked an eyebrow at me. “This doesn’t count as such?”
“No. Not even a little.” I sighed, not sure how to explain to a demon what a date was and why I wanted one. “So, generally, people decide whether they like each other, and find out if they have common interests and life goals during a series of outings.”
The Shadow King nodded.
“After that, if all goes well, then the sexy stuff happens.”
Verrill paused, taking in my words. “So you wish to stop mating with us and get to know us better? Is that what you’re saying?”
It was my turn to pause.
“No. Well...no. Not really. Obviously our situation is different. We’re all fated and mated because of prophecy nonsense. But I would like to know you better. I would like to spend time with each of you individually.”
“Of course. When would you like to have a date, Zurie?”
“Tonight?”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you here after dinner.”
I giggled. “I’m looking forward to it.
Now I just had to carve out time to do the same with all the others.