25. Thea

Chapter 25

Thea

T hunder walked into her place like he owned it, a low grumble vibrating his throat when he noticed Reaper napping on the sofa.

"Don't even think about it," she scolded, eyeing him warily.

Thunder licked his lips, and as she went to grab his scruff, Ruhne appeared in a burst of glitter.

"Fucking toadstool! I thought you were dead!" he shouted in her face. "You can't just abandon me with your pussycat and then come back dressed in a man's clothes." He placed his hands on his hips, stamping his feet despite being mid-air.

"Good morning to you, too." Eyeing Thunder, who was now tracking Ruhne, she threw everything on the foot of her bed. "Should you still be leaking so much glitter?" she asked, grabbing her phone and putting it on charge.

"Look, it happens when I get nervous, and there's no need to keep calling me out on it." His wings whistled as he rubbed them together. "What's with the giant… creature thing?"

"Oh, this is Thunder. He's Jax's alter ego. "

Thunder snapped his jaws, and more glitter fluttered down from Ruhne's wings. "You've got to be shitting me." Landing on Thea's shoulder, Ruhne whistled. "I thought shifters just toggled between two settings? Not become entirely different characters."

"I'm not sure Jax is a shifter." She'd never really asked, and it wasn't like Thunder was any animal she'd ever seen before, other than the hellhound.

Ruhne pulled at her hair, using the strands to stabilise himself. "Why is he looking at me like that?"

He was licking at his muzzle, watching Ruhne like he was dinner.

"Just stay high."

"High?" Ruhne squeaked. "He's taller than you!"

"He's not going to eat you." She hoped. "Stop overreacting; you're going to scare him."

"Scare him ? The embodiment of death?" Ruhne wrapped more of her hair around himself like a shield. "I've survived crossing the veil, snatchers, and several months in a cage. All that, and I'm about to be eaten by a fucking dog."

Shaking her head, Thea sat at the edge of her bed, bending down to untie the boots. A cold nose touched her bare thigh, followed by a hot tongue.

"Oh Moon God, I'm about to witness bestiality, aren't I?" Ruhne whined.

Thea pushed at Thunder's head, reaching past him to the other boot. Something marked the floor, her carpet turning a strange pink shade. Frowning, she touched the spot, her fingers coming away red. Moving to her knees, she followed the droplets.

"What…" She reached for Thunder's back leg, the dark fur saturated. Thunder grumbled at the contact, tensing as she accidentally ruffled the fur. Beneath, she could see muscle, as well as a flash of bone.

"Jax, I need you to shift back." Panic made her voice strangled.

Thunder stood on the leg without problem, but she could see his muscles trembling.

"Please, bring Jax back. You're hurt, and I don't know what to do."

Thunder's ears flattened to his head before he gave her a slow blink.

"Ring a vet!" Ruhne shouted, his mouth close enough to her ear it hurt. "Ring animal control!"

Thunder cocked his head, tongue licking out across her cheek.

Ruhne yelped, shoving himself backwards off her shoulder. He got tangled in her hair, having to wiggle and fight before freeing himself. "Fucking cockwaffle. He was going to eat me!"

The carpet squelched beneath her knees, and there was no sign his bleeding would stop anytime soon. Rushing to her feet, she ran into the bathroom, hoping the basic first aid kit she'd bought a few years ago was still there.

She left red smears along her white porcelain, but she finally found the kit tucked right at the back of the little cupboard beneath the sink. Running back into the main room she halted, finding Jax sat on the floor, covered in sweat. His body was hunched forward, the muscles of his shoulders rigid. Tattoos – the same delicate swirls and lines that marked both his arms and legs – covered the entirety of his back. They glowed gently, brightening when she took a step closer.

His arm blurred, grabbing the sheet from her bed, only to drape it across his hips.

"Holy yeast infection," Ruhne chuckled. "That man is going to absolutely ruin you."

Jax jerked his head up, glaring at the pixie. His hair was wet, dripping with perspiration. "How long was I out?" he asked, his voice closer to a growl.

"Honestly, you're not going to be able to walk straight," Ruhne mused, dropping down to walk along the carpet. "That's not a cock, it's a Cockasauraus Rex. R.I.P your cervix."

"Ruhne, shut up." Thea dropped beside him, cringing at the state of his thigh. There was a wound that tore through his muscle, starting at his hip and ending just above his knee. It wasn't bleeding as profusely, and the edges looked like they'd already begun to heal.

"How long was I out?" Jax asked again, turning his head slightly to meet her eyes. They were back to their natural blue, but they were ringed in silver.

"A night, I think." She reached for one of the wipes from the med kit, only for him to grab her wrist.

"Leave it."

"I can see your bone." She pulled, and he released his grip.

Jax frowned, looking down. "You got a suture kit?"

"Why would I have a suture kit?" Thea double checked, finding only a single roll of white gauze and a few plasters with cartoons on.

"Tape?"

"I got it!" Ruhne said, whizzing over to her kitchen. He managed to kick open one of the drawers, grabbing the roll of duct tape and flying it back. "What? You shouldn't have left me alone with your cat; I was bored and snooped."

Thea returned her attention to Jax. "You're not seriously going to use that?"

He ignored her, pinching together each side of the large slash before using the tape to secure it closed. He worked meticulously, not a single wince or evidence of pain.

"Jax? "

He jumped to his feet, one hand holding the sheet against his hips while the other checked the integrity of the tape. It rasped as he flexed his thigh, but kept tight to his skin.

"This is why men die earlier than women." Thea let out a sound of frustration when he simply turned his back, dropping the sheet to grab his jeans.

She couldn't help but stare, watching the muscles of his butt bunch as he tugged them on. He'd seen her naked. It was only fair.

"Take off my shirt," he said, turning back to face her. He'd left his jeans undone, and Thea was immediately drawn to the lines of hips.

Fuck.

Jax closed their distance, grabbing the bottom of the T-shirt while her brain momentarily short-circuited. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Take it off."

Thea pulled the fabric from his hand. "Thunder had fur. I needed it more than you." His brows raised, and she rolled her eyes in reply. "Thunder was a better name than Fluffy; you should thank me."

"Thunder's a cool name," Ruhne added, and Thea had almost forgotten he was even there.

"Thunder?" Jax asked, still confused. "You named my beast Thunder?"

"He's the Jekyll to your Hyde." Thea smirked. "I think I prefer him, actually."

Ruhne chuckled, the sound like little bells as he floated around. "Wasn't Hyde the crazy one?"

"Exactly." She grinned.

"Thea," Jax growled, impatient.

He tugged the T-shirt gently, and with a last scowl, she lifted her arms so he could pull it off. She immediately covered her breasts, remembering her dress was ripped. He didn't deserve to see her naked again, but he wasn't looking at her breasts. His eyes had settled on her shoulder, and before she could comment, he nuzzled his nose against her neck."You smell clean," he said, breath hot against her skin. "No trace of venom."

"It's just a scratch." There was no pain, even when his fingers brushed against the side of the one furthest cuts along her shoulder. She could barely feel them, just a slight tugging from the stitches when she moved. Whatever was in Thunder's slobber was amazing, if not disgusting.

"You could have been killed," he growled, his body vibrating with barely controlled rage. It was strange to see him react so viscerally around her. He was always so composed, cold.

"But I didn't." Thea stilled, waiting for Jax to relax. "It killed Grey." Her memory was crystal clear. The drowsiness had faded pretty quickly once she'd woken and found a large beast draped over her.

"Who else knew you were meeting?" Jax asked, heat radiating from his skin.

"No one." Thea swallowed. "He was messaging me, telling me where to go… but he was already dead."

"Someone knew you were meeting him."

"That's impossible. No one knows who I am."

Jax sank his hand into her hair, tilting her head slightly to the side. His nose continued to nuzzle her throat, only pulling back so he could meet her gaze.

"Thea," he said her name in his deliciously low rasp. "If they'd known I was there, they'd have sent more than a single hound and Skull."

It took a moment to understand what he was saying. "It's just a piece of paper."

"A document that can reveal the first offering. Gideon already has the chalice, and now it's confirmed he's hunting the pages needed to unlock its secrets."

Jax's skin was clammy, heat radiating as if he had a fever.

"I'm sorry if my beast scared you." Cheekbones cut sharp beneath his skin, his tone paler, highlighting his scar.

Thea gripped the fabric around her breasts tighter. "Thunder needs to be taught some basic etiquette skills, but I wasn't scared."

Jax cocked his head. "Your pulse is telling me differently."

"Well then, you're clearly delusional." She licked along her bottom lip, and Jax's eyes darkened. "Thunder and I are best friends."

Ruhne rubbed his wings together. "I thought I was your best friend?"

"You said you didn't want to be my friend yesterday?"

"Well, that's before I had competition." Ruhne crossed his arms, gaze flicking between them. "You look like shit, by the way."

Thea scrunched her nose. "Rude."

"Not you." Ruhne pressed his bare foot into one of the bloody spots on the carpet. "Okay, you look like shit, too. But mainly him."

Jax finally stepped back, putting on the T-shirt before grabbing his boots. "Stay here."

"Excuse me?"

His lips were pressed into a thin line when he stood. "Don't leave until I get back."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was under house arrest," she said. "If I want to leave my own bloody – "

She didn't see him move. He was standing by her bed, and then she was pushed back against the wall. His larger body curved around hers, palms planted each side of her head. He said nothing, his breath hot as he simply stood there, rigid. His chest heaved, and Thea didn't know what to do. His anger was vivid, and she wasn't sure whether it was Thunder's influence that had him on the edge, or he'd finally removed that stick up his arse.

Dipping his head closer, his lips parted, and Thea felt her own breathing pick up. A man should not have such wickedly sinful lips. She wanted to feel them, to see whether the skin of his scar was as rough as she'd imagined.

"Jax," she whispered, his gaze an intensity that electrified the air between them. Thea thought about what it must take to remain so constantly in control of himself. And what would happen if he released the reins a little.

"Little thief, I need you to be a good girl and stay here." His words, said with such delicious authority, had her lower stomach pulsing with need.

Yes, she was aware her mental health was clearly compromised, because she was going to do something she didn't think she'd ever do. She was going to kiss the man with an emotional spectrum of a shoelace.

"Careful," he warned, as if he could read her mind. "Don't do something you'll regret."

"Stop giving me unsolicited advice." Decision made, she slotted her lips across his. There was a second where he didn't reciprocate, his body as solid as marble over hers. But then she felt it, as if something inside him snapped.

Thea moaned, reaching up to grip his T-shirt, teasing him with little flicks of her tongue that only made him kiss her like a violent savage. Her head knocked against the wall, the pain forgotten in an instant as he reached beneath her thighs and lifted. She hummed her pleasure against his lips, her fingers moving to wrap in his hair. His stubble scratched at her, another sensation that was driving her to the edge of sanity. He kissed like a man possessed, devouring her from the inside out. And fuck if she wasn't into it.

"Well," Ruhne whistled. "This is awkward."

Jax jerked back with a growl. Their eyes locked. Held. Fucking consumed. There was no mask, his gaze burning with such hunger that she felt it dance along her skin.

Thea dropped, the place where he'd held her aching at the loss of his touch when he stepped back.

Fuck.

He held himself rigid, and Thea wanted nothing more than to continue what she'd started, to push him beyond his carefully constructed control. But she didn't. Couldn't, and without a word Jax turned, the front door slamming closed behind him while Thea tried to calm her own pulse.

"Trust me on this; you don't want to go there." Ruhne appeared in front of her face, hands on his hips like a disappointed parent. "There's nothing more humbling than seeing a cock that's bigger than your entire body."

Thea snorted, unable to contain her laughter while Ruhne sniffed, as if offended.

"I'll have you know I'm just as well-endowed… for a pixie."

"I'm sure you are." Thea was still laughing when she jumped in the shower, quickly scrubbing the remaining blood off before finally peeing and grabbing a fresh set of clothes – ones that didn't show her boob.

She hadn't yet decided what to do.

Eyeing her bag, she picked it up to see what survived, and reached for the pocketknife Jax had thankfully picked up. There was a strange relief when she picked it up. Without it, last night could have been much worse. She probably only grazed that hellhound, but it was enough that it hadn't eaten her straight away. Gripping it tightly, she kneeled beside her bed, pulling out the hidden drawer .

It was her designated place where she spatially jumped her bounty. She made sure to always spend a few minutes each day studying every inch of the drawer. The left side was kept empty on purpose, leaving a space for whenever she needed to quickly get rid of something, like wallets, watches, and stolen jewellery. On the right, she kept everything in perfect order, making it easier to recall the specific item from memory. She placed the pocketknife there, never knowing when she'd need it again.

"Hey, what does this do?" Ruhne asked, holding up a spoon made from twisted oak. It vibrated slightly, and his eyes widened before dropping it. "What the fuck?"

Thea picked the spoon up, only to shove it back in another drawer in which Ruhne had been snooping. "It's a Fae artefact."

"These aren't artefacts, they're junk." Jumping into the drawer, he rummaged through the stuff. "Trust me, nothing here is powerful enough to be classed as an artefact, which is good because otherwise you'll have a Hunter chasing you."

"Hunter?"

"Yeah, artefact Hunters." Ruhne frowned at a magnifying glass that constantly had a line swirling in the centre. It was pretty terrible at magnifying things, actually. "Firstly, Fae artefacts are super rare. They're dangerous and usually have specialised Hunters tracking them throughout the realms. Nothing here is powerful enough to be classed as an artefact. It's just a drawer of crap."

Thea frowned, brushing her fingers over a few of the objects she'd collected over the years. She'd found many of them by accident, and wasn't sure how to dispose of them. Shoving them in the bin felt wrong, so she'd shoved them in a drawer by her bookshelf instead .

"What I want to know is why is it a spoon?" Ruhne asked. "And why does it vibrate?"

"You know how some Fae things can change over time. How am I supposed to know why it looks like a spoon and vibrates?" She wasn't entirely familiar with Fae stuff, which was probably why she'd collected such strange things in the first place. Fae creations were known to be peculiar in the first place, but that was the risk with a magic that was completely wild, with a dévorant interest in trickery. "It's probably not even a spoon."

"You're right, it's probably some dirty old faerie's sex toy, and you've shoved it in your sock drawer like a weirdo." Ruhne wrinkled his nose. "I don't think a Hunter would be interested in anything in here. Your bracelet has the strongest magical residue, but it's a dud since the bead's been twisted."

Thea touched the thin silvery rope on her right wrist. It kept getting caught beneath the golden bands, which only reminded her she now had three things on her body that she couldn't remove.

Fucking great.