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Maven is dancing. I mean, she's actually slaughtering our enemies—but every deadly move she makes is so lithe and graceful that it looks like a macabre, perfectly choreographed dance.
She moves faster than a human can—maybe even as fast as a shifter. Reacts faster, too. It's like seeing her in her true element for the first time, and I can't look away.
He screams. She beams. Fucking gods above. My stunning little mate is kind of a sadist, isn't she?
But now, knowing about some of her past…I don't blame her. It'll take time to earn her trust. Especially because we fucked up with that stupid bet.
"You could have died," she mutters. "I should have killed him slower." "Aww. You do care," I grin. Maven's gaze arrests me. "More than you know. Now apologize for letting yourself get hurt like that."
"I mistreated you on purpose, which you didn't deserve. Also…” She meets my eye, her expression softening. "I liked those flowers you got me. I just couldn't let you know that, or you'd think I was encouraging you."
I pout as playfully as I can while looking like a bloody mess. "Why not? I'll beg so fucking good for you."
She was once a human, and then she lost her heart, so that makes her…I have no idea. Mine, though. Always mine.
Maven snorts, which makes our attention snap to her. She's smiling as she turns to walk away in the direction Everett returned from. Gods above, I love her smile.
I reach up and tug on his collar until he's at my eye level. His golden eyes widen. "Fine. Wash me. And then I'll decide whether I'll still punish you for getting yourself hurt." He swallows hard, so I feel it against the collar. "Fuck. Please punish me, baby.
"You look so good on your knees like this. I just wish I'd put this collar on you myself. Only for when we're alone, just for me to see, because we both know you're my good little pet."
"You shifters. So emotional. But I really don't fucking care about girls in your past anymore, Baelfire. You're mine. I decided that, and for me, there's no going back. Now lift your head."
"Be a good boy and lick this pussy until I come on your face."
Ooooof. So sexy.
"Damn it, I…I need to see my mate when she takes me for the first time. Please let me see your face. Please." The rough gravel of his voice is absolutely addictive. It's even more addictive when he says please.
"Please," he whispers against my throat, his pace growing uneven. At first, I think he's asking to mark me as his mate, and I wonder if it's too soon to say yes. But then he chokes out, "Please, can I come?"
so far, none of the Immortal Quintet or their henchmen have jumped from the shadows and attempted to kill me. Which is disappointing.
"So, um…you said you were raised by humans." "Actually, I didn't. You assumed it." "Huh. I guess that's true."
Kenzie is not totally fine. The moment we appeared outside of Everbound's wards, she keeled over and vomited, apologizing in between gagging and groaning. I felt bad enough for her that I awkwardly patted her shoulder while explaining that her system is probably particularly sensitive after coming out of a stasis spell.
I realize that the flash of silver was a blade of some kind because the vampire's hands didn't vanish. They fall away from my neck, flopping onto the marble floor. My lips curl up.
"You're back." "You're smiling," he rasps. "You've no idea how much I've missed your face, darling."
"Don't ever accuse me of leaving her willingly," Crypt warns darkly.
"Enough of that dreamy look. I'm pissed at you." I know she is. She's unhappy with me for getting hurt. My chest swells, knowing that she was worried about me.
My cock is stiff as steel, the piercings around the head creating extra friction against the inside of my pants,
"I'm going to kill your father next. Does that bother you?" I adore how blunt she is. "Quite the opposite. Tell me any way I can help."
"You're very sweet, in a fucked up way," she informs me.
"Sexually speaking, are you interested in men?" My brows go up. That's quite the subject change. She's always so delightfully unexpected.
"Fuck around with them?" I grimace. "Not to insult your taste in men, love, but that's revolting."
"Thanks for the water," she murmurs sleepily. Thank you for existing, my love.
according to Bael, when Crypt came back injured last night, Maven looked like she was going to kill the first person who so much as breathed wrong in his direction." The idea of anyone being protective of the Nightmare Prince is laughable.
She rolls her eyes. "Here's how it works. If any of you beat me on the mat, I'll tell you what I am."
"What, you think this was my idea? I just spilled my guts to her about my curse because she knows how to play me like a fucking fiddle." He stares, then smirks. "Good." "No, it's not." "It certainly fucking is. I never wanted us to keep secrets from Maven. Plus, as I said, I doubt that your curse ever hurt her, anyway.”
"We don't know that. What if I end up being the death of her?" "Then I'll shred your psyche and piece it back together over and over until we both die. Sleep tight."
I can't think about anything except someone trying to take you away from me. I swear on all six gods, Maven, I will lose my fucking shit and kill the first person who so much as breathes in your direction if you're not wearing my scent today."
I realize I must look mildly horrified because Crypt starts shaking with silent laughter on the bench beside me, looking away to hide his amusement. Asshole. He must know public displays of emotion freak me out.
"Close your mouth. If you ever open it around me again, you'll learn what your innards taste like," Crypt drawls. Vivienne hiccups in fear. I bury my face in the book to hide my wicked amusement.
Crypt materializes beside me a moment later, one elbow resting on the table while he gazes at me dreamily. "Have I mentioned I adore you? I could watch you bare your claws all day."
Kenzie stares at me for a long time, and then, to my horror, her eyes fill with tears. "Oh my gods, Maven."
Was I actually just considering helping Silas fucking Crane with his sleep troubles? Good gods. This camaraderie is like a disease. I must be more careful, or we'll all be braiding one another's hair and getting matching tattoos. I shudder at the thought.
My brows go up. "Fucking fuck," Decimus grimaces. Articulate to a point, that one.
I'm going to leave one member of the Immortal Quintet alive. I'm going to weaken the Nether just enough for the humans to escape."
"Your blood oath is with those humans. You promised to free them from the Nether, didn't you?" She nods, her jaw set in determination. And just like that, my consuming obsession only doubles.
From a table across the room, I spot Amelia Lykoudis staring longingly at the back of Silas's head. When she sees me looking, she glares fiercely. Too bad, Angry Girl. He's mine now.
"Damn, Maven! Have a heart." A laugh rips from my mouth. It makes Vivienne and Luka jump, and they both look mildly concerned to see me laugh for the first time. Silas and Crypt are both fighting dark smiles of their own, and Baelfire just shakes his head at me, sighing, "Fucking morbid as fuck."
"I don't want answers. I want to kill anyone who touches any of you four that isn't me." His face softens into something tender, and he scoffs softly. "So territorial. All you need to do is rest, Oakley."
"Stay with me." "I will." "Good. And Silas?" "Tha, imo ghrài?" Which means, yes, love of mine?
When I make her my muse, my dark little darling will discover how utterly obsessed I am. She'll see inside my head and learn just how unhinged I become at the very thought of her. And she'll love it. Of that, I'm certain.
The story isn't funny, but the way Baelfire looks at me like he's silently begging me not to ask any follow-up questions makes me laugh. Crypt grins at my amusement and winks at me.
"Welcome to First Placement. Many of you will die today." If she wasn't one of my targets and a selfish monster, I would like her more for leading with that.
"If I lose control in there and begin berserking, you four need to abandon me and run." Crypt snorts. "Good one, love."
Soon, we're locked in combat—only this time, Maven's personal training has paid off because our quintet works together far more smoothly.
