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August 31 - September 12, 2023
“The devil ain’t coming for Papa’s soul.” I nodded against his shoulder. For the first time and only time in my life, I was grateful he could no longer hear. “I know,” I whispered. “He’s coming for mine.”
Words were thrown into the void between us and left there to perish. He used to hear me out, even when words were nothing but twirls on the carpet and jerking limbs, but that was before. It was never that he lost the ability to hear. He lost the ability to listen.
“It’s a new moon tonight,” I said. Tommy frowned. “We’re not taking a boat or anything, no need to worry about tides.” “I know.” I left it at that, not adding on what I really wanted to say. Tonight was a new moon. So, tonight, I’d see the devil.
“Well, if it isn’t the object of all my adoration.” I turned, not at all surprised to find him on the top bunk closest to me. He lounged on his side with a lazy smile, cheek propped in his hand.
Leaning my head against the door, I gave him half a smile. “Hello, Devil.” “You know I loathe when you call me that.” A vicious grin pulled at his lips, sharp incisors on display. “If you told me your real name, I wouldn’t have to.” “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.” “Would you prefer Satan?”
“It’s not as simple as that. I can whisper and wish all I want. It doesn't change how fast flowers grow.” “It’s not a wish, it’s a command.” He placed a lingering kiss to my jaw, filled with something so dark I feared I’d lose the light. “The flowers, the earth, the darkness, the woods. They’re all yours if you want them. One day, you may even command me.”
I ignored them all, because waiting behind the desk, reposed in an armchair more like a throne, hands folded on his waistcoat with a vicious smile blooming beneath dark eyes, was a man I’d recognize anywhere. The Devil sat on the top floor of The Glamour Hotel. The glass slipped from my hand and shattered.
“Ask for me, Adeline. I’ll give you anything you want.” I shook my head. “Are you the Devil?” He leaned in. Close, so close oak and rain and gunmetal washed over me, breathing across my lips. “For you, I’ll be so much fucking worse.”
Men didn’t walk into a room and set the place on fire unless they had a history of watching the world burn.
“There’s one problem with your blackmail, darling.” “And it is?” His stare burrowed into mine. “I haven’t fucked you yet.”
I caved, laying my hands over his. A small breath left my lips. A delicious honey coated my veins, pulling me under. That simple touch was ecstasy, a symphony, a feeling so lurid that pleasant shivers broke down my spine. I craved more—more touches, more nakedness as images flitted behind my eyes faster than I could catch them: my dark prince in the forest, waiting beyond the trees as the moon waned down to darkness. Swollen lips kissing me, touching me, following a hand up my bare thigh. A ceiling of swaying wisteria and deadly nightshade. Then Jack’s eyes—my dark prince’s eyes—blinking in
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“Throw her in the Abstruse. I’ll make use of her later.”
Yoo reppin my house!
His head tilted to the side, golden eyes scouring me. “You are mine.” “I think I would remember agreeing to that.” “You didn’t,” he whispered. “But that does not change fate, annwyl. So, here I am
I fell to my hands and knees, sinking into the mattress. It put us at eye level, and that felt right. To be on equal grounds. To edge closer to him. To feel the air leave my lungs and enter his. His golden eyes darkened, pupils swallowing the sunlit color. The arm of the chair creaked beneath his grip, but he slid closer and closer to the edge of his seat. “Just like that,” he whispered. I moved forward. He growled low. “Just like that, darling. Crawl to me.”
at that moment, Violet kicked open the study doors. Blood doused her head to toe, scowling and hissing like a cat thrown in water. “He got to the boundary before I could catch up. I hope you’re happy we are all fucked now.” The last line came directed at me. Throwing her swords onto the floor, she collapsed upon the futon closest to the blond man, Arthur. Mr. Porter grinned. “Violet, you look absolutely radiant today.” “Oh, piss off, Will,”
“We call it a parallel bond. For all intents and purposes, it means we are soulmates.”
And since you are parallelled, both of you feel that pesky little desire to complete the power, which, I would like to add, is very uncomfortable for his sister who has to scent you wanting to fuck him all the time.”
My smile cracked at the corners. “Are you in possession of a single redeeming quality?” He actually considered it, eyes on the ceiling in thought. After a laborious minute, he decided on, “I’m rich and very attractive.” My face dropped into my palms. I dragged my fingers through my hair, breathing, “I’m supposed to have sex with you.” “Oh, I just remembered one other redeeming quality.” He dropped his feet from the table. “I have a massive—
“Are you in possession of a single redeeming quality?” He actually considered it, eyes on the ceiling in thought. After a laborious minute, he decided on, “I’m rich and very attractive.” My face dropped into my palms. I dragged my fingers through my hair, breathing, “I’m supposed to have sex with you.” “Oh, I just remembered one other redeeming quality.” He dropped his feet from the table. “I have a massive—”
“I know what I can be. But part of me hoped if you saw a true monster, you would think me a little less of one.”
“Long day at the office?” “No, had to stop for hookers and blow on the way home.” He fell into the chair beside me. “How were they?” “Terrible. None of them looked like you.”
A white Rolls Royce screeched to a stop on the curb. Lillian leaned out the back, red hair blazing with a brillant grin. Violet sat in the driver’s seat, a silk scarf around her neck. A scowl cursed her lips. “Get in the car, human. We’re getting zozzled.
“When I’m in a room with you, I can’t breathe.” The words hardly mattered, because my feet slid closer to him anyway, reeled in by that incessant tug. “I can’t sit in my own skin. You gave me a choice but it really isn’t one, let’s be honest, because I want you so bad and I don’t even know why. Because I don’t want you, Jack. I fucking don’t.”
Because there was nothing else to say, I, being a woman of reason and class, murmured, “Holy fucking shit.”
Jack told me I would have to save myself. He was not a hero, no knight in shining armour, but I was no damsel in distress and that was okay. Because he was mine. He was mine and our bond was ours and I told him I could do this, so I would. I would climb. I would rise. I would believe in myself for once in my fucking life. I would not die here.
My lips tilted up in a half-smile. “You know, I have been meaning to mention something to you.” She frowned, but waved an airy hand at me. “In the bank, you told me if I fainted, you would leave me to die. And all I am saying is, you totally fainted and I saved your ass.” Her eyes narrowed, mouth set in a hard line. Then the corner of her lips twitched, trembling as she held in a laugh. “I fucking hate you.” “I fucking hate you too, Violet.”
You are such a stupid little girl. What do you want? I screamed Me? She laughed. I want to be free. But if you live forever . . . She cocked her head to the side. You will just have to become something else instead. Become what? She smiled. You will not remember this, but I will, Adeline. I will remember what you cannot, but know you won’t become a druid. No, you will become something . . .much . . . Much . . . Better.
His eyes flicked to mine, a little smile lifting his lips. “Terribly romantic, isn’t it?” I nodded. “I always wanted to lose my virginity in a dark sex ritual.” “You and every other blushing young woman.”
“Creoche glin ilirash.
“Yn y bywyd hwn ac o hyn ymlaen.”
A low growl sounded in his throat and he laid me on the ground, the ribbon tied around our backs keeping him close. His fingers grasped my jaw, his dark eyes consuming me. He pulled out. Slowly, so fucking slowly. “I’ve waited a long time to do this, annwyl. I’m savoring every fucking second.”
“Tommy,” I gasped. “Tommy, please—” He leaned in close, hissing, “Would you shut up, you idiot? I’m not actually choking you.” A wheezy breath passed my lips, strained and panicked, but I could still breathe. I kicked my legs beneath him and he pinned me harder to the floor. “For the love of god, would you pretend to fucking die so we can get out of here?”
“I’m not sure who’s watching. I’m going to pretend to mourn you for a minute.” Great, wonderful. Just another fucking afternoon for the Coltons. He released a couple of fake sobs. I went limp as he pulled me into his arms, bending over me so both our mouths were hidden. “You have so much fucking explaining to do,” I breathed. He rocked me back and forth. “Shut up, you’re breaking my rhythm.”
“As I would never leave my sisters. It is a family’s biggest weakness.” Tommy stepped back. “Addie, what’s happening?” Agent Rodney snapped. His male form shimmered away, leaving behind the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
It’s the other morrigan !! The triplets!
I fucking knew it as soon as I saw three of them!
“You can’t bring someone back thirteen times and expect no fucking consequences.”
