12. Chapter Twelve

CHAOS

Asmile adorns my face as I draw the latest parchment from the celestial postbox in my office in the veil. The paper is red construction paper, and when I open it, I find the missive written in child-like scrawl using crayon.

Der K-oss,

Miss Lisa says we hve to go swiming this aftrnoon, but they're playing Pixy Prnces at the theeter and today is the last day. Pleas, pleas, pleas make it strom so I can go see my fayvrit movey insted.

Sinserly,

Abby

P.S. A frendshyp braslet for you.

Taped to the bottom of the letter is a multi-colored string bracelet, the knots uneven and haphazard, with tiny pink and green beads woven into it. I chuckle, pulling it free from the letter as I use magic to secure it to my wrist.

This is how I spend most of my days when I'm not keeping an eye on Rose. Answering requests, manipulating weather, intervening where necessary, and working with the gods' council on realms-wide matters. But the letters that come through my celestial postbox? They're my favorite part.

I don't know how long I've received requests this way, only that very few bring me as much delight as the ones I receive from the human orphanage on Sundahlia.

Only a mortal would dare to ask something so trivial of me, but secretly, I love it. For mortals, they sure are daring.

The children there are the offspring of witches who'd ventured from Earth to Bedlam, seeking the secrets of immortality but hadn't survived the harsh realities faced in this realm. Their children, left behind, age far slower than our fae offspring, their human fragility making them peculiar outcasts in a realm governed by the capricious and the eternal. Nearly all of them end up witches, unless one of their parents is fae, which is the more dominant gene. You can always tell them apart by who fully matures in two years versus the ones who remain toddling little children by then.

I carefully fold the letter and slide it through the designated filing slot, to be automatically sorted and stored with other requests.

After rising from the desk chair, I pause in front of the window, willing my eyes to haze so I can see beyond the veil and to Sundahlia.

Clear skies. A sapphire canvas ready for my brush strokes. I lower myself onto the stool in front of my drum set, sighing as I reach for my drumsticks—a pair of frostwood rods encrusted with crystal shards that glow with the power of the cosmos. The crystals hum with latent energy, shimmering in time with my pulse. A final bracing breath, and then I let loose.

The rhythm begins slow—soft patters mimicking the first hesitant droplets on a dry, thirsty soil. I feel it more than hear it—the beating in sync with my own heart. It begins to build, gaining in strength and momentum, and I turn my gaze towards the sky over Sundahlia. Clouds begin to gather, shadows sulking their way across the clear blue expanse, drawn to the rhythm I dictate.

The beat quickens, and my pulse pounds in my ears, setting the tempo of the coming storm. Anticipation rolls under my skin like a live thing, electric sparks dancing with each thump of the drum. The first thunderclap reverberates in the distance, chasing its tail with the drumbeat.

The sky darkens further, a deep brooding indigo seeping into the expanse. The light of Sundahlia gradually begins to flicker and dim like a candle nearing its end. Loud, earth-rumbling claps accompany my beat, the roar of the storm becoming one with the pounding of my drums. The sky lets loose its rain and lightning, tears and wrath descending on Sundahlia in brilliant arcs of white against the roiling indigo backdrop.

I am the puppeteer, my drums the strings, and nature dances to my rhythm.

For hours, I keep up this relentless drumming. I could use easier weather magic, but this is more fun. My back muscles strain from the effort, sweat trickling down my brow, yet I persist.

I don't let up until the afternoon has passed, having given my new friend plenty of time to see her movie without risk of interruption. Only then do the storm clouds begin their slow retreat, surrendering control of the sky to the setting sun.

Now that the fun is over, melancholy sets in. I rise from my drum set and pace, keeping an eye on Sanctuary from here. Most of the guys are in the living room, antsy as they wait for our mate to show her face again.

Seconds is all it takes for me to portal to and from Bedlam. And when I'm not there, I can see almost every spot I want in the realm just by looking through this window and hazing my eyes.

But for all my powers, I cannot protect my soul bond and her mates from ascension. Nor can I summon the acceptance and love of Rose's family as effortlessly as I can the fury of a storm. My chest tightens at the thought.

Dinner with her family ended better than it started, but it still hurts that her parents spent a large portion of the evening vehemently denying something they know we—or they—have no control over.

A soul bond surpasses all other types of bonds—stronger than an anchor, a mating bond, or a kismet bond. It's the closest and most unbreakable connection one can have with another being. To try to explain it away, or prevent us from solidifying it, feels like a personal attack.

The only thing I can do is take the summer to show them I belong. That I am not merely the god of all the gods, but a god worthy of their daughter, their sister, and an equal to her other mates.

And though ascension is inherently dangerous, I will do everything I can to prepare them. Rigorous lessons. Team building exercises. Extraordinary trials. Each one designed to help them harness their vast powers, to turn them into forces of nature in their own right.

But it's not going to be all doom and gloom; I'll show them how to use their magic for things like the answer I granted for Abby. But I won't start that until the end of summer, once I know they've got a good grasp on their powers.

Rose and Kieran are still sequestered in his bedroom after solidifying their kismet mating bond. It's unique to serpent fae. That's five down, one to go. But I'd like to think we're saving the best for last.

In a fruitless effort to keep my mind off Rose and Kieran, I head for the kitchen and leaf through the stacks and stacks of cookbooks I'd picked up on Earth. My fingers glide over the glossy pages as I scrutinize every tiny detail, every measurement, each ingredient until I finally come across one I know Sundahlians love.

Chocolate chip cookies.

I spend hours on these, burning my first batch before I finally figure out the right spell to conjure the oven heat just right. This isn't like Theo's invention. It doesn't have an igniter; it just has a bowl of magic fire that keeps the temperature steady for as long as I need. But it's finicky and the slightest imbalance and your baked goods go from golden brown to cinders.

Before long, a sweet aroma fills the kitchen, signaling the triumphant baking of an edible batch of cookies. I savor one. They're a tiny bit burnt around the edges, but they're both chewy and have just the right crispness. I bag a tray for Sanctuary while I bag up the other tray to drop off for sweet little Abby.

Portaling from the scented warmth of my kitchen to the warm, quiet streets of Sundahlia's sleepy city of Eden's End is disorienting. I emerge into the shadowy alleys of the town, the bag of cookies secure in my grasp. The orphanage isn't far, a modest building nestled among taller, more foreboding structures. I hop around the giant puddles my storm created.

The orphanage, while modest, radiates a kind of warmth that the stony facades around it lack. Flickering lampposts paint the village in golden light. I approach silently, mindful of the hour, as the deep blue of twilight casts the world in hazy outlines. I know the matrons well enough; they'd welcome me during the day, but tonight's visit requires a touch more stealth.

I slip through the garden gate, and its hinges whisper. The garden is a patchwork of shadow and silver moonlight, the flowers asleep under the night's watch. My steps are light across the gravel path, careful not to disturb the peaceful air that envelops the place.

Reaching the side of the building, I find the window I know belongs to Abby's room, as the outside of the letter gave her room number at the orphanage. It's slightly ajar, as it often is during warmer nights, allowing the scent of the garden and the cooler air to mingle inside.

I chose this hour because I know the orphanage always has a bedtime story down in the common room at this time, and I wanted her to have a nice surprise to come back to when she returns to her room.

I carefully open the window further, just enough to allow my arm passage. I place the bag of cookies on her windowsill, imagining her delight at finding them once she comes to her room. The bag rustles softly, and I pause, holding my breath, hoping the sound hasn't carried. I could do a silencing bubble, but I'm just popping in and out, and such charms are not as reliable as late, even from a god. I shake my head. I can't think about that now.

I withdraw my arm and softly close the window, leaving just the whisper of the night breeze as evidence of my visit. I step back, watching the moonlight dance across the glass pane, a silent guardian of the small joy I've left behind.

Satisfied, I turn and walk back through the garden, the sense of having brought a simple happiness to someone so innocent strengthening my spirit. As I leave the orphanage grounds, I feel a rare, uplifting clarity. Tonight, at least, I have made a difference in a way that feels profoundly right. With the potential strength and balance provided by our newfound family, once the mate group ascends, we could do so many more of these acts.

Once I've made my way back to the alley, I sift to the outskirts of Sanctuary, on the other side of Bedlam where it's already morning. The other bag of cookies are still warm, thanks to the charm I placed on them.

Operation Melt the Resistance: Baking My Way Into the Circle shall commence.

Deakan

"A fucking week."

"You mean, a week of fucking." I chuckle.

My hand curls around the cold, smooth brass handle, and I give it a slight twist. The door creaks open a tiny crack. I turn to Jax, who stands beside me with a bewildered expression on his face.

"Why didn't they bother locking it?" I whisper, my voice barely reaching his ears in the quiet.

"Fuck if I know." Jax glances back down the hallway.

Theo had told us to give them space. That new bonds are precious, especially for someone like Kieran, who'd been left out of what we have for so long.

We've left care packages outside this door every night for the last seven days, and they're gone by morning, so we know they're at least staying hydrated and eating well.

I catch his eye. "We should go in there. For moral support."

"I can hear them. They've been fucking all day."

A low moan echoes through the door, and I let out a groan.

No doubt neither one of them put up a sound barrier so we could listen all week as payback. No one has seen them, as they use their magic to dart to the bathroom and back, and use charms to levitate the stuff we leave for them.

We fucked up the night they mated, by suspecting he'd been hurting her. And now I've got a serious case of blue balls, having listened to them going at it all hours of the day and night. So, obviously, I'm roping Jax into coming with me. It's time. We put up a sound barrier so Rose and Kieran can't hear us, but we sure as hell can hear them. "She's got to eat some more," I suggest to him. "They're burning a lot of calories. Don't want her getting sick before Chaos School starts."

That's what Jax calls it. He's always been a little more territorial than me, but he really doesn't like Chaos. It's in his Dragon fae nature, but this feels different. More personal. I've never seen Jax behave this way towards someone else. Maybe he's jealous?

Jax's deep, throaty laugh fills the space between us. "If you're going with that excuse, you'd better have food, or Kieran will kick your ass."

Fuck.

My heart sinks. I hadn't thought about bringing food as a cover for our impromptu visit.

"Go grab some real quick!" I whisper.

He shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "No way bro, you go. You're the one who came up with the idea."

I groan inwardly. He has a point. But I have a better one.

A smirk adorns my lips. "You don't want to feed your mate?"

He scowls at me.

My smile turns into a full-on grin. Got him there.

"Asshole," he grumbles as he trots off towards the kitchen.

I turn back to the closed door and take a deep breath. If they really didn't want company, they would've locked the door, right?

It's my best friend and our mate.

I'm going to just go in there.

Pushing open the door, my eyes immediately find the only source of light in the room: a glowing silhouette on the bed, head tilted back as Kieran fucks Rose from behind, keeping a tight grip on her hair. Shadows dance on the walls as the two of them move like they were made for it.

The faint scent of sweat and sex wafts through the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of arousal.

My mouth runs dry as I watch the scene before me, my tongue involuntarily darting out to wet my lips. The taste of desire and longing lingers here, too, engulfing my senses as if I were part of the action. I stare, gripped by the pure carnal display, an observer to the raw intimacy they share.

I swallow hard and my pulse quickens. It's intoxicating, addictive, even. Rose's full breasts sway in a hypnotic rhythm.

She must sense me because her eyes lock onto mine, a knowing smirk playing on her lips amidst her rapturous pleasure. The sight before me is so raw, so primal, I find it hard to look away.

And she knows it.

Kieran's intense gaze moves over to me, his eyes gleaming with a hint of challenge as the sheen of sweat coats his skin. His sharp inspection slowly travels from my head down to where my body betrays my desire, straining against the fabric of my sweatpants. A sly smirk tugs at his lips, and he raises one eyebrow in a daring gesture, meeting my gaze once again with an unspoken challenge.

My heart beats like thunder in my chest as I take in the sight of them. Kieran is my best friend, closer than a brother, and yet at this moment, the small spark of possession does something for me.

Lion fae love big families. They don't mind sharing. In fact, we prefer it.

Adrenaline surges in my veins, and my answer hangs heavy in the air between us. I nod, a silent acceptance of his challenge as I tug on the drawstring to undo my sweats, and they drop to the floor. I kick out of them and stalk towards the bed.

His smirk broadens into a grin, victory sparking in his eyes. The intensity of their fucking picks up, and Rose calls out to me.

Her voice curls around my name like a caress, an invitation so enticing that it's impossible to resist. Her eyes are half-closed, dreamy with pleasure, but pleased as I cross over to her.

"I think our greedy little mate is ready for some more, don't you think?"

Kieran chuckles. "With the way her pussy is squeezing my cock at your words, I think she agrees."

"Is this what you've been waiting for, love?" I tilt my head to the side to study her. "Want Ki and me at the same time?"

Her mouth drops open in a lust-filled haze. "Yes."

"His piercings feel good, huh?" I smirk at her.

She nods, only able to groan as Kieran adjusts his angle.

I climb onto the bed, my body alight with arousal. It dips with my weight, and I should be nervous as this is uncharted territory—sharing with Kieran—but it only feels natural. Inevitable.

I touch Rose first. My fingers trace a path along her thigh, my actions slow and light, just enough to give her goosebumps.

She sits up, pressing her back against Kieran's chest. She grabs my hand and pulls me towards her, her fingers weaving through mine. Her eyes, heated and filled with a longing that matches my own, remain locked onto mine as she guides my hand to the curve of her full breast. Her skin is hot under my touch, her heartbeat a rhythmic drumming against my palm. My thumb brushes over her nipple and she hums in pleasure, her head tipping back against Kieran's shoulder. His mouth grazes the nape of her neck, an act that earns him a soft moan from Rose.

As my chest aligns with hers, she pulls me in for a soul-searing kiss. Each touch fans the flames between the three of us—every move, every breath, every whimper.

His hands find Rose's waist, keeping her steady against him as we continue to kiss. The sensation is overwhelming; the taste of her lips, the way she squirms between us, Kieran's heavy presence at her back.

"Poor Deak's cock needs some relief. Why don't you provide him some while I tend to this pussy?"

I let out a groan.

Yes.

It's been over a week.

Rose's lips leave a trail of hot, wet kisses down my jaw and along my neck. She pushes me back onto the bed, her hands tracing patterns on my chest. I inhale sharply as she takes me into her mouth, her tongue working magic.

All thoughts leave my brain.

The world narrows to nothing but the pleasure coursing through my veins as Rose takes me deeper into her mouth, her tongue swirling along my length. And then, Kieran is there, his fingers dipping between Rose's thighs, his touch earning a gasp from her that vibrates against me. I fight back a groan, my hand fisting Rose's hair as Kieran bears witness to our intimacy.

"Bloody hell, Deak." Kieran's voice is rough, filled with lust as he watches Rose work her magic on me. He parts her with his fingers, eliciting a needy moan from her and yet another gasp from me.

Kieran's words cut through the haze of pleasure, his command directed at Rose registering after a moment. "Slowly … make him suffer a little."

A wicked glint sparks in Rose's eyes. She obeys, dragging out each movement until it's torture—exquisite, unbearable torture.

I deserve it after not believing what happened between them in the hallway, but fuck, I'm even more sorry for it now.

The pleasure pulls a ragged growl from deep within my chest; the sound vibrating against Rose's lips, causing her to moan around me. Anticipation tightens everything as the sound echoes through the room, its tremor coursing straight to my gut.

The world spins as I fight for breath, my fingers tightening in Rose's hair as Kieran's soft chuckles meet my ears.

"Enjoying yourself, Deak?" Amusement laces his tone as he continues to watch us over our mate's shoulder.

Sweat beads on my forehead as I bite down on my lip. The sight of Rose between my legs and Kieran's driving into her is almost too much.

"Been dreamin' about this day for a long time," I grunt. "Sharing our mate."

Kieran's cadence falters for a moment as he stares at me, and once he recovers, he gives the tiniest nod of his head in acknowledgment. I'd miss it if I weren't paying such close attention.

Rose's hand tugs gently at my length while her tongue paints slow, tormenting circles around the head, drawing all my thoughts back to her. My blood is a liquid fire in my veins, roaring louder with each passing second. I feel myself teetering on the brink of an abyss, craving the sweet release lurking beneath.

A gasping moan vibrates from Rose as Kieran caresses her, and it gives me a perverse satisfaction to know that she's also teetering on that same precipice. My hand leaves her hair and travels down her body, tracing every perfect undulation until I find the junction Kieran is exploring.

"Two can play this game," I growl. My hand slides against Kieran's, and his surprised grunt is immediately swallowed by Rose's gasp as our touch becomes one.

I settle into a rhythm in sync with Kieran, our combined ministrations making Rose writhe between us. Her moans reach a fever pitch, filling our ears with the sweetest sound. The pleasure intensifies and wraps around me like a vice, its grip growing tighter with each stroke.

As Rose's movements become erratic, her hand around me loses rhythm and I curse under my breath. My control slams into a wall and I know I can't hold back any longer. The tension coiling in my body is an insistent thrum, a prelude to an imminent explosion.

The world narrows down to the connection between us, an electric charge that surges and crackles in the air. The room is filled with heavy panting, low growls, and soft cries as we each near completion.

"I'm about to come, baby. You want to swallow me, or paint that pretty face?" My fist grips the mattress below me, and I do everything I can to hold on and not come before she's ready for me.

Suddenly, she pulls away, releasing me with a mischievous glint in her ocean-colored eyes. With a breathless laugh, she says, "Neither," and looks back at Kieran and winks. She taps his thigh, and he pulls out of her, his pierced cock glistening with her release.

The unexpected break in her touch sends shards of need so sharp through my body that I shudder violently. My lion needs this. Needs her. I do, too.

"Her call," Kieran says with a shrug, but I catch the spark of anticipation in his gaze.

Turning back to me, Rose straddles my waist, her hands steadying on my chest as she positions herself over me. The warmth of her body sinking onto me makes my eyes roll back, the slick heat far more intense than anything I can remember. How could I forget so soon?

That I'd kill for this.

Die for this.

The feel of her, the sight of her, lips parted and eyes sparkling with desire, has me teetering on the edge of oblivion. And as she sinks further, letting out a sigh of pure pleasure, I feel myself being sucked into that vortex, where only her and I exist.

My hands snake to her waist, guiding her movements as she rides me to the rhythm of our shared breaths. Kieran moves behind her, his fingers tracing down her spine like it's a precious treasure map, his lips pressed against her neck. I can see the flush spread over her cheeks, feel the tremors wracking her body as she shudders beneath our touches.

"That's it, ride him just like that." Kieran meets my eyes, though he continues to speak to her. "You're going to have him filling you up in no time."

Every thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through me, like lightning striking hot and unyielding. I watch as Rose arches her back, her hair tumbling down to touch my chest, dark strands tickling my skin.

I can't believe I'm so lucky to have her as my mate.

Her breath hitches, and her rhythm stutters. I know she's close. I can see it in the flush creeping down her chest, feel it in the way her body clamps down on me, as if trying to pull me deeper. Kieran's hand moves to where we're connected, his fingers brushing against me as he teases her into a frenzy. And then, she squeezes her eyes shut, a small cry escaping her lips as she topples over the edge.

Her release triggers my own, and I follow her down into that chasm of pure pleasure. It's all-encompassing, blinding, everything and nothing at the same time. I surge into her with a final, deep thrust, my body shaking with the force of it. She clings to me, her nails digging into my skin as I fill her.

Fuck, do I love filling her.

Kieran, still behind Rose, gently strokes her back as her trembling subsides. His eyes meet mine over her shoulder, an indecipherable look in them. There is something there—regret, maybe, or longing—but it's quickly masked by a smirk.

"See? Told you you'd have him filling you up." Smiling down at her, he chuckles lightly, but there's a tightness to his voice. As he plants a kiss on her shoulder, the door opens, and in walks Jax, who freezes at seeing me still buried in Rose.

"What the fuck? Without me?" Jax uses magic to help him levitate several dishes of steaming hot food to Kieran's side table.

"Jax," Rose breathes, her voice still shaky from her release. She squirms underneath me, tilting her head to see our newest intruder. Her ocean eyes twinkle in amusement as she sees the faux hurt expression on his face, and she reaches out with one hand to beckon him over. "You're just in time," she teases.

Jax raises an eyebrow at that, a smirk playing on his lips as he glances down at our still joined bodies. "Am I now?" He sets down the dishes he'd been levitating, a rich aroma filling the room that has my stomach grumbling in response.

With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he saunters over to us.

"As much as I'd love to participate in this, Chaos is in the living room waiting for us all." A new voice joins us from the door. "And he brought cookies."

Cookies? Fucker is using a dangerous weapon to win the war, and it's working. I like cookies.

Our eyes track to find Theo propped against the doorframe, heated eyes on Rose.

"But we don't start for another few days!" Rose pulls back from me, and we all stare, transfixed, as come slides down her inner thigh.

Theo chuckles. "Just how long do you think you've been sequestered to your … mating chamber?" His nostrils flare, and a small smirk tips up the corner of his lips.

She glances at Kieran, and he shrugs in response.

Theo checks his watch. "Officially over a week. I miss you."

Rose gasps, a beautiful flush painting her cheeks, and Kieran gives the biggest, most enormous cheshire grin that has ever been grinned. I swear I see his chest puff out, too.

"I'm sorry. You should've come in before now. I feel terrible."

Theo gives her a sad smile. "Knowing you were safe and content helped ease the ache a bit."

She gets off the bed and showers Jax with a big, wet kiss before running to Theo and throwing herself into his arms, naked, and wrapping her legs around his waist.

He groans as she plants a big kiss on his lips.

"I missed you too, Theo," she murmurs against his lips, her fingers threading through his hair. She releases him, sliding down from his waist and landing softly on the floor. Her eyes run over each of her mates, a mix of guilt and mischief dancing in them. "I suppose it's time to dress and eat, then."

Jax crosses to the table and picks up a plate of food. "Theo can start a bath for you while I feed you."

Rose nods, allowing Theo to tuck her under his arm.

"Congrats, man." Jax gives Kieran a fist bump. "My turn for a few."

I round the bed and pull him into a tight hug. "Welcome to the family."

Rose's eyes glaze over and her mouth parts slightly as she takes in the hug I give Kieran. He gives me a pat on the back, and I keep my arm wrapped around his shoulder to face Theo and Rose.

"We should probably all bathe." I grin.