26. Diana

The first thing Lucifer had ordered after we confirmed Red's involvement was for Ares and Apollo to do a sweep of the Fourth Realm. We needed to know if Red was actually there and what his setup looked like in terms of protection. Once we knew what we were up against, we'd be able to strategize.

After a full day of training and debating courses of action, my fathers and I went to Michael's barrack to sit and wait for their return. Michael's place was cozy, and quiet, because the guys weren't here to argue about the revelations from earlier today. We each had a glass of whiskey in hand as a nightcap.

"So where do we strike first?" I asked my fathers.

"Bash made a solid argument—-cut off the head and the body dies. Without a leader the army will be easy to take out," Michael said.

"But the army may have up-and-comers who are scheming after the top spot. As long as they're there to command, someone will try to deploy them for their own gains." Lucifer also made a good point.

"Zaz and Mal think we should divide and conquer, but I'm hesitant to break our resources up," I admitted. "We don't know his army's size or abilities and whether or not he's alone in the Fourth Realm."

"You're smart to be hesitant. The unknown isn"t something you chase after. We shouldn't do anything until Ares and Apollo return," Dad said.

"If you had to choose, what would you do, Luci?" Michael pressed. "The longer we sit on this the more we invite retaliation. Damon was truthful; Red won't stop until he's put down."

Lucifer leaned back, thoughtfully swirling his glass around and watching his whiskey move. I thought about it all day, but was torn in two separate directions. Neither option seemed ideal. I swirled my glass, taking in the woody, caramel notes wafting up and tickling my nose.

"The guys worked for Red for years and they're torn. We can't agree. Azazel can't get a clear vision as to who wins the war…but I could travel forward in time and ask…" They both whipped their heads at my suggestion.

"Hard pass." Michael said at the same time Lucifer snapped, "NO."

"Why not? It's a solid option. I can consult with one of us from the future and use the plan we made."

"Because until we make and execute a plan, you won't know if it actually works. The future builds on itself, like blocks. Our decision is a block that's needed to know the after effect." Michael took a deep sip from his glass.

"It's not safe, and your safety is my top priority. Please, for the love of common fucking sense, don't do it. Don't think about it. Don't tell me you won't do it and then sneak off and do it anyway. I can't bear to see you hurt again," Lucifer implored.

He was right—they both were. It was an awful plan.

"We need Ares and Apollo to get back ASAP," I offered. "This is his area of expertise, and Apollo is one of the few people who can travel across the Fourth Realm.

As if I had called them back, both men appeared in the middle of the sitting room. They were in black tactical gear, and Apollo's hair was tied in a low, understated bun. Ares' snapped his fingers, changing into gray sweatpants and a short sleeve white tee shirt. His tattoos rippled with movement, the constellations sparkling like actual stars.

"Little G, why are you so surprised to see me?" he cooed as he picked me up and hugged me so tightly I felt as if my eyes were going to pop out of my head.

"Because I literally just told my fathers how you needed to come home right away." He kissed my face, then set me down on the couch and sat next to me.

"I will always make my way back to you, adelfí psychí, no matter what." His intense gaze warmed me inside, and I felt a blush creep across my face.

Apollo had changed into jeans and a black tee, taking the liberty of pouring himself a glass of spirits as he smiled at us. "We saw some interesting things on our trip."

Without his black turtleneck, I noticed some burgundy smudged on his neck that looked suspiciously like a familiar shade of lipstick…

Your aunt owns a very similar shade of lipstick…Michael echoed my thoughts.

Oh, I have a lot of gossip to tell you about them, after we figure out a plan, I promised him.

Ares frowned at his brother, but nodded in agreement at whatever he said while I was distracted. "Yeah, calling Red's digs in the Fourth Realm a castle is pushing it. We have way better castles on Olympus."

"Let's stay on topic. Tell me what you found," Lucifer snapped.

"He's there, with a small unit of about ten beings protecting him. Most are demons but we couldn't confirm them all. There's no signs of a larger army present there," Apollo reported.

"This compound is compromised and it may not hold if Red's entire army attacks. I would decimate Red's army first, then take over Pandemonium city. That's the epicenter of Hell and would make a perfect stronghold. Then we get a special ops team together and go after Red. He'll be nothing without his army behind him," Ares suggested.

"Once I have Pandemonium City, I basically have Hell in my hands again. That sounds like a plan…" Lucifer poured himself a second glass, then topped off Michael's. It was an odd gesture that made my fathers smile at each other.

"Okay. Tomorrow morning we gather the others and start making a battle plan," Ares beamed as he bounced on his toes.

We went our separate ways and got ready for bed. The compound could get cold at night, despite us being in SoCal, where it seemed perpetually sunny and uncomfortably warm all the time. Judas said that it had to do with being so far underground and how vampires preferred that climate.

Regardless, I was not a fan of cold weather. Usually, I created a warmth-catching spell, but tonight I wanted to go old school—-tight cotton leggings, a long baggy sweatshirt, and fuzzy socks. I felt restless despite being so comfortable. This outfit had reading a book on my e-reader while drinking a glass of wine written all over it… but I just couldn't get into it. I felt anxious, like something big was about to happen any minute.

If I started a book, maybe I would keep reading. I just felt like I had to do something and couldn't put a finger on what it was. After picking up my throw blanket, I made my way to the living room, but couldn't find my e-reader.

I snaked my magic through the apartment to search for it and found it in one of the bedrooms. Ares laid on his stomach reading it with his feet crossed in the air. He was so engrossed in whatever he read that he barely noticed me.

"Hey," I said to get his attention.

"My beautiful Little Goddess, you look adorable with your socks," he exclaimed, pulling me into bed. He spooned me from behind and showed me the screen.

It wasn't a book, but a map of Pandemonium. A very detailed one, with color coordination.

"I pulled this for the meeting tomorrow and saved it so I can project it. Do you need it back?" he asked.

"Not really. I thought if I started a book I'd actually read it, but I feel so restless, I don't think I could even focus."

He trailed his hand up my sweatshirt, groaning in appreciation when he brushed my breasts. "I love night time, because you don't wear a bra and I can hold onto my favorite things."

I arched into his touch, basking in his attention, but I still felt…edgy.

"Mmm Ares. I feel stir crazy. What's wrong with me?" I asked him.

"Nothing. You do the same thing every day—meetings, training, eating. You see the same people. We've all been trapped in this compound."

He was right. Lather, rinse, repeat. Everyday. I needed a change of scenery. "Let's go outside, like above ground!"

"Hmmm," he thought about it for a minute, his brows furrowing. "Another night, absolutely. But I'd want a security sweep first. And a day to secure the area. But Bash could give us a night out in the open?"

Bash! Come here! I linked him.

He popped into the room, clad in boxer briefs. He smiled at us in bed, then laid on my other side. His hands grabbed my ass, kneading my cheeks like bread dough.

"What are you doing?" I sank into the motion as some of my edginess disappeared.

"It seemed as if we were grabbing our favorite parts, so I joined in. Hoping this turns into a threesome, with me in the middle," he explained with a serious tone of voice. I peered over my shoulder at him and he smirked.

"Diana wants to go outside the compound, but it's a safety risk I don't want to take. Can you dreamweave something?" Ares asked. "Maybe a wide open field and some stars…"

"Maybe… Or I can weave London. We can go for a moonlit stroll?"

"Where are we strolling?" Desmond asked as he walked by the room.

"I'm weaving us something so we can get the fuck off this compound," Bash tossed out, deep in thought.

"Hm, the ocean? I miss open water," Desmond said.

"The beach would combine water, stars, and a stroll, even though London at night would be cooler," Bash grumped.

"Yeah, if you wanna meet Jack The Ripper…" Desmond barbed, elbowing him in the side.

"Either way, I'm sure we'll have fun because we'll be off the compound. I'm going to bed right now!" I squealed, excited for my impending date night.

It may not be outside in the real world, and it may not be a traditional date—-but that shit was overrated.

I walked back to my room, already finding Bash snuggled under the covers, a devious look on his face.

"No funny business, you," I said as I waggled my finger at him. "I need to go to bed right now."

I got under the covers, pulling them up to my chin. Bash pulled me into him, rearranging me so my head was on his chest.

"You always fall asleep faster if you're resting on one of our chests…"

"Thank you. You know you're getting soft," I teased him.

He rubbed my back in soothing circles as we settled into a comfortable quiet. I thought he had gone to sleep, until he cleared his throat.

"No, Birdie, I'm not growing soft, just realizing that this is the way I'm supposed to treat you. I should have been taking you on dates all along, tucking you in at night, and guarding you as you slept. I was so caught up in possessing you, I forgot to take care of you."

I kissed his pec, then burrowed deeper into him.

"You're amazing, Sebastian. I know love is too pedestrian a term for you, so know that you're mine. All mine.

He barked a laugh, then ran his fingers through my hair, tugging slightly. "You're mine, Birdie. For eternity."

The crashingof ocean waves on the shore were welcoming, rousing me from sleep. I laid on a huge daybed in a cabana, with silver moonlight shining in from the open front. The ocean sparkled under the moon, and I took a few moments to truly take everything in. Each detail was so realistic. The beauty of this place rivaled every dreamscape Bash had made me.

"Queen, you're gorgeous," Mal said as he pulled me on top of him. "Lit by moonlight, all sleepy and snuggly."

I glanced around, but we were the only two people here.

"Where is everyone?"

"They're all swimming in the ocean or off doing something. You took a while to get into deep sleep, so Bash brought you in last."

I sat up, peeking out of the open white curtain of the cabana. Bash floated on his back in the water. Desmond shot out and flipped, crashing back beneath the waves. I didn't see Ares or Azazel. Mal sat up and kissed my neck, making his way up to my jaw and hitting that sweet spot right behind my ear.

"Mmm, you know where all the right spots are."

He held my waist, his thumb caressing my naked skin. The odd thing about dreamscapes was that thought alone was enough to rid you of unwanted clothes. Everything was heightened beyond reality, and your wildest, most secret thoughts could come to life. I melted into his touch, getting lost in the feeling of his hands roaming my sides. A masculine groan caught both our attention.

That sounds like Ares… Mal linked me.

We should investigate. He may be in danger. The chances of someone like Ares being in danger in a dreamscape weaved for relaxation were nonexistent.

We got out of the daybed, leaving through the white curtains at the back. A stone path winded down a small hill, through a copse of trees, to a sandy bank. Ares sat in the sand, with Zaz grinding into his lap as they mauled each other's faces. Ares' hand stroked Zaz's dick in quick, frenzied strokes that made my breath hitch.

"I wish I got to suck your dick in the shower that day," Zaz rasped into Ares' ear.

"Me too. I wanted to make you feel better. You're always making me feel better, Feathers."

I felt Zaz's arousal through our soulbond, and his positivity radiating through the air. The dreamscape super charged it. He must have felt me, because his head turned to me, and our eyes locked.

"Look behind me," he said as he thrust into Ares' hand.

"Come here," Ares called to us.

We met them, and Ares pulled me down into the sand, so I was kneeling next to them. He grabbed my face, turning it to the side so he could bite and suck at my neck, right over the places Mal had. His lips seared my skin with an all-consuming passion. Each bite was sharper than the last, heightening my arousal. I felt a light touch glide over my shoulders, opening my eyes to find Zaz's wing brushing my upper back.

Mal knelt behind me, his fingers brushing over my slit before they pushed inside me. Fuck, I felt so full. Zaz's lips kissed the other side of my neck, working their way down to the valley between my breasts. Two hands twisted my nipples, and I was so fucking turned on I didn't care who they belonged to. This felt like ecstasy, like gliding through the stars in the sky—a high I never wanted to come down from. I worked myself back onto Mal's fingers, but it wasn't enough, I wanted more.

Please, give me more, I begged him. I want more, I want you inside me, please Mal.

He pushed me down onto my hands and knees, then thrust inside me. His hands held onto my hips for dear life as he pounded inside me.

"Fuck, Queen, you and Azazel are giving off those angel vibes. I feel like I'm going to explode," Mal grunted.

"It feels like I'm soaring," Ares dreamily sighed. He rose into a kneel, positioning Zaz on his knees in front of me.

"Open up, Little G," he cooed as he tapped on my mouth. He knelt behind Zaz, his chest flush to his back, rubbing up his arms and over his chest.

"Come on, Angel, take me into that heavenly mouth of yours," Zaz ordered in his smooth, raspy tone. The one that made my knees weak and my pussy quiver.

Opening my mouth, I licked up his shaft, running my tongue over the tip before pulling it into my mouth and sucking it.

Zaz groaned as he threaded his fingers through my hair, gathering it in his hand and pulling it. The sting in my scalp went straight to my core, and I clenched around Mal.

"You're a hellish little tease, you filthy girl," he said as he pushed my head further down on his length. "Oh fuck, Ares, right there."

I couldn't see what was happening behind him, but I felt his body rocking into me in a steady rhythm. Mal's fingers brushed my clit, and I swallowed Azazel deeper. The positivity gathered around me, buoying me with every drive inside me. I came moaning around Zaz's dick, rocking back on Mal as wetness coated my inner thighs.

"Fuck, that's right Queen, come on my dick and soak me. Mark me with your sweetness," Mal growled.

He pulled me off Zaz, lifting me upright and banding an arm around my chest until I was flush to him. Then his finger slid inside me, gathering my wetness before he brought it to my mouth.

"Taste him, Little Goddess," Ares ordered me as he flipped Zaz onto his back and slowly worked his dick inside him. I'd had Ares hard, ridged cock in my ass before, and could only imagine how full and overwhelmed Zaz felt right now.

Mal plunged his finger in my mouth, filling it with a salty, sweet taste. I licked it clean before he put two more inside me, pressing my tongue down and sliding them down my throat as he drove inside me faster, harder—chasing his finish.

"Watch them, Queen," he gritted out.

There was beauty in Zaz's pleasure. The way his head tipped back, his mouth slack as he moaned. How he held onto Ares' strong forearms. The way his deep grunts and gasps went straight to my aching pussy.

I came a second time and took Mal over the edge with me. His knot swelled inside me, and the indescribable fullness made me cry. He leaned back until he was sitting and held me against him as we watched Ares and Zaz.

My gaze caught on a golden glimmer in the trees. Desmond's eyes shone from the shadows. I recognized the shorter male outline next to him as Bash. They had watched our foursome…

"You just squeezed my knot so hard," Mal whispered in my ear. His dick hardened inside me again.

"How are you hard again before your knot even goes down?" I gasped.

"Because this is a dreamscape, and all I have to do is think about my knot going down, and how good it'll feel to fuck you again, and it can happen," he explained as his knot released me.

Desmond sat next to us and took my hand, pulling me into his lap so I faced him. "I want her next." His shadows wrapped around me, chilling my heated skin.

I had a feeling that this dream was only getting started.