Clav

The smell of sulfur grows heavier in the air the closer we fly toward the volcano. The trees become more dead and sparse as we near the mountain until there's no vegetation, just the evidence that the sun rarely shines here and volcano ash has buried whatever life used to grow.

The bat creature soars toward a cliff face of the volcano, and as we near, I notice the mouth of a cave. A strange familiarity hits me in the chest so hard I stop breathing. Almost like…I've seen this place before. But there's no way. Nowhere in my memory did I ever leave my home to travel to spikey snow-capped mountains and massive caves and a forest that looks like they were taken out of a horror book. Could what Mom said about me having a past life as a Fae be true? Vague images of long hikes at the break of dawn with warriors wearing skull masks flit through my mind, making chills prickle on my skin and shudders race down my spine.

The bat-creature lowers us down to the mouth of the cave, gently dropping me just before it lands. I stumble onto the stone ground, but lose my balance and fall flat on my ass. The creature frowns at me as it gracefully lands on its clawed feet. The bat strides upright on two legs now, like a human, its wings tucked in tight.

My brain is screaming at me to run before this creature makes me their breakfast. It was a big fucking mistake coming here. The bat comes up behind me, its leathery, puffed out chest inches from my face as it hooks a talon on its wing under my arm and hoists me to my feet. I don't think it means to be as rough as it is.

"In," the bat hisses darkly. "A feast awaits, Your Grace."

My feet can't do anything but obey the unfeeling, ice-cold voice behind me. The heat hits me with the strong stench of sulfur when we step into the mouth of the cave. Darkness presses in around me, the cavern nothing more than a black gaping hole ahead. The ground is uneven stone, and I walk significantly slower than the bat, who expertly hops across the rough terrain. The air is cool and dank, and in the distance, I can hear the drip, drip, drip of water.

As we travel deeper into the dark, the sounds of drums echoes through the chamber, matching the rhythm of my heart hammering in my chest for what awaits me. I follow the sound, because my sight is useless at this point.

I feel like I should be more afraid than I am. I mean, I'm fucking terrified, but wouldn't a normal human have passed out from panic by now? Yet…there's a humming in my blood, something in my marrow tugging me forward, thrumming with anticipation. This place not only feels familiar, like a world from a dream, but it also feels alive. The blood in my veins rages like the river as it meets the sea, vibrating with the connection to something other, something I've never experienced before, yet feels so incredibly familiar.

Home. That's what the very core of my mind—the deepest part of my brain whispers.

We're home.

I lean into that feeling, let it guide me and calm me as I continue through the winding cave, one hand running along the rough, damp wall, the other hand in front of me to keep me from running into another wall, as I continue toward the sound of beating drums. I can hear more than see the bat ahead of me, slowing down every now and then to let me catch up.

We travel through complete darkness for what seems like a good hour, though it could have been five minutes. I should be panicking. Really. I'm not exactly an outdoorsy wildlife explorer. I could get lost in here. Die in here. Starve to death. Now the panic comes, sliding over my throat like a cold, skeletal hand, and I almost stop—when I see a glint of light ahead.

Light.

It swells and brightens the closer we walk toward it, the sound of beating drums growing louder deep within. Eventually I hear voices—laughter, chatter, singing, screeches. The words to some horrible song about luring humans to the lava pit to cool the mother's temper meets my ears, and my spine stiffens.

Me. I'm the human.

What if Mom raised me all this time, only for me to be a living sacrifice for these creatures? That invisible skeletal hand tightens around my throat. I turn to run, but the bat whips around and blocks my path, his massive muscular form having no trouble nudging my fragile human form back into the giant cavern, and I emerge from the tunnel to buttery light and the stench of sulfur so thick, I almost choke on it. Steam fills the air, adding heat to the room packed with more furry bat-beast bodies that move to the beat of the drums. Torches run along the wall of the dome-ceilinged cavern.

And the creatures....

Not much scares me. I am the child of a witch, and Mom used to read all kinds of horror stories to me long before they should have. But the beasts of this place are something I might have found within those pages. They're all bats like the one with me, with large black eyes, upturned snouts, large ribbed ears, their fangs glinting in the torchlight when they throw their heads back to laugh—if you could call that screeching, scream-like sound a laugh.

They wear nothing, revealing their muscled humanoid torsos and muscled arms that merge into massive wings and end with talons instead of hands. Soft black fur begins at their hips and covers them all the way down to their feet, where clawed toes peak out. The music is loud, the creatures completely intoxicated with spirits. My heart is pounding, my hands slick with sweat, and now the panic comes in full force, threatening to make me either pass out or puke, if not both.

I look up to find several hundred more bats hanging upside down from the tall cavern ceiling. Against the wall, one smaller, human-sized bat crawls up the side of the cavern with ease, using its feet and taloned wings to grip the stone wall. It crawls over another bat, trapping it beneath its body, and that's when I see its very humanoid dick slip into the other bat, who screeches, but appears to be enjoying the unexpected penetration.

I freeze. Holy shit. They're fucking, right out here in the open. Not only them. There are a lot of bats fucking other bats, pinning them against the walls and fucking them in a primal, animalistic way. It's a full-on bat orgy, as if it were mating season in Bracken Cave.

"Mother Terra."

I turn my head toward the voice booming through the cavern. Unlike the screeching filling the cavern, this voice is deep and commanding, holding enough authority to silence the other bats. The bats slow their fucking and dancing and quiet their singing long enough to turn their attention toward a bat that is larger, darker, and far more intimidating than the one that captured me.

A terrifying monster compared to the basic beasts around me.

Like the other bat-folk, he has pointed ribbed ears covered in a thin sheet of silky black fur. He lifts his upturned snout, his inky black eyes inquisitive as they roam over the crowd. Fangs curl over his lower lip, and the jeweled talons tipping each massive, leathery wing glimmer in the faint lava light. But the crease in his brow is deeper than many of the bats I've seen, who all look joyous and drunk. This one looks far too serious, like he's never seen a good day in his life. His lips press together in a firm line that creases into a frown.

He leads a human to the edge of the cliff where steam rises from the pit. The human looks to be around my age, her head shaved on the sides, the longer part on top falling over the left side of her face to her chin. Sweat beads on her pale, naked skin, and a rope is tied around her neck, with which the bat uses to lead her.

"Mother Terra, may you find this sacrifice pleasing to your senses," the leader continues, his voice low, yet holding enough authority to keep every single bat in the cave silent. "May this rich human blood sate your appetite, that you might show mercy on our land once again. And finally, may you return to us our Spine Sovereign, for without a leader, we are lost."

Chants begin filling the cavern, making the ground tremble beneath my feet. I can't decipher what they're saying, but it can't be good.

This was a mistake. I'm an idiot for leaving the safe haven of home for this hell. Hell—this is hell. Dad was right—our land is a portal to the underworld filled with demons—the worst of their kind. Before my eyes, debauchery and murder. And Mom—Mom—led me here. They fucking brought me here and abandoned me.

I would cry, drop to my knees and let the heat behind my eyes find relief with my sobs, but I don't have time to give into that feeling before two bats appear with spears, prodding the human toward the pit. When the human resists, one of the spears punctures her side, and crimson blood streams down her slender waist. My hand flies to my mouth.

One of the bats bares its teeth, clearly annoyed with her resistance, and pulls the spear back to jab her harder this time—but no need. She spins around, facing the creatures head on. Both fists in the air, she flips them the bird.

"Fuck you!" she screams, then she takes a step back, off the cliff—and falls to her death below.

NO! All I can do is stare in utter horror as the pit of lava swallows her body whole, flames consuming what's left above the surface. It's not until the entire chamber grows silent and a thousand pairs of eyes are on me that I realize a scream has ripped out of my chest.

Silence. Utter silence fills the cavern now, every single beady eye of these beasts resting on me, a human, as if waiting for me to be ushered into the lava pit next. Oh, for fuck's sake. I know for a fact I don't have the courage to go as bravely as that girl did. I'll go kicking and screaming like a god-damned toddler at bedtime.

I should run. I am their prey, and I should get the fuck out of here if I want to live. So why aren't my feet moving?

"Abaddon," the bat who dragged me here says, as it wraps its membranous wing around me, and my body goes cold. It tugs me forward, and now my feet choose move. Of course. "Look what I found."

So this is the infamous Abaddon. The Bat King looks my way, and every drop of blood seems to slow in my body as I freeze like a prey beneath the gaze of a hungry predator. He doesn't look as excited as the others about the sacrifice, about throwing that woman to her death. That furrow between his brows is deeper, his shoulders hunched, wings sagging slightly. He looks…tired. So tired. But when his eyes meet mine, I swear hope fills those black orbs. His brows arch, his wings lifting slightly, his mouth opening with a gasp as he stares at me as if seeing a ghost.

My body locks up as Abaddon runs his eyes over me, whispers filling the chamber from the bat-beasts who are quietly waiting. And I swear, my heartbeat can be heard echoing through the entire cavern. And they could hear it, no doubt. They could probably feel the vibrations of my heart as it beats wildly against my ribcage.

"There's no way," Abaddon says, his voice lowered in disbelief. It's not husky or screamy like the other bat folk, but deep and authoritative. A wave of panic washes over me as he assesses me warily, giving a predatory tilt of his head while his thin upper lip peels over two splinter-like fangs. "icle?"

icle. icle. Somehow that name clangs a gong in the back of my mind, and Mom's words echo in the following silence.

If you don't convince Abaddon that you are Sovereign icle, the Prince of Ruin, the ruler of the Spine Empire…then he may kill you.

Abaddon—the eight-foot bat-creature standing twenty feet away, whose large, black eyes are glued on me. My mouth is woven shut, terror gripping my throat too hard for me to correct him. And maybe…maybe I shouldn't correct him. Not if I'm supposed to be this icle. Not if I'm supposed to convince him that I am the Prince of Ruin. Then again, Mom just watched as a bat carried me away. Mom brought me to this hell. Why should I trust them? What if they only brought me here to be the next human sacrifice?

The furrow in his brow seems to have deepened, if that was possible. His muscled, human-like chest heaves as he slowly approaches, eyes trained on mine. "Is it…is it really you?"

I keep my feet firm as he nears, clenching my teeth to stop their chattering, because holy hell, he's huge. Easily eight feet tall, with massive membranous wings, each tipped with a talon that must be six inches long. Gold rings glitter on each talon, one ring embedded with a crimson ruby that glimmers in the torchlight. He stops right in front of me, two gold rings in one of his ribbed ears clinking together. My muscles are stiff as dried clay, as if my body's response is to look like a statue in order to survive. I never pictured the devil as a bat, but there he stands in all his glory, towering over me.

Abaddon: The King of Hell.

"I have waited for over two decades for your return," Abaddon hisses, just loud enough for me to hear. His large, velvety ears twitch, his black eyes like fire scorching my own. It takes me off guard again, the way his chest and torso look so human, but instead of arms, his shoulders merge into his wings, talons stretching out where his hands would be. Thick black fur begins at his lower abdomen, covering his hips all the way down to his clawed feet.

"Waited…for me?" I dare to ask, surprised that my throat opens enough for those words to squeeze out. I don't have the heart to ask him why he's waited. To throw me into the boiling pit of lava? To feast on my bones? I hate to admit it, but twenty-three years haven't put much meat on these bones.

He takes one more step toward me until he's inches from me, the smell of earth and sulfur wafting off his massive body, and I automatically bow my head, but he reaches out with one wing and chucks my chin, his long, sharp talon making me wince. He lifts my chin, tilting my head all the way back until our eyes meet.

"Is it really you, icle?"

Depends, what do you want with this icle?

I swallow hard, the knot in my throat bobbing.

"Yes," I lie against the tightness of my throat, deciding to trust Mom on this one thing, at least.

It's almost as if my voice puts him in a trance. His eyes fall closed. "Say it again."

I clear my throat, trying hard to sound brave even though I'm certain I'm about to pass out from terror, and shout loud enough for everyone in the cavern to hear. "It's me. icle."

"Sovereign icle," Abaddon growls. His talon moves from beneath my chin, scraping along my throat, and hooking the back of my neck. Then pulls me in, and just when I think he's about to bite my head off, his fanged mouth crashes against mine.

His lips are softer than they appeared, his tongue longer, and hell, even his fangs gently prod my lower lip with affection. I don't know whether to lean into the kiss or bolt, but if I'm supposed to be this icle, who he clearly thinks I am, I must play the part.

So, I press my hands against his muscled pecs and lean into the kiss, opening my mouth slightly to allow his long tongue access. My heart is palpitating like a butterfly in my chest. His kiss is rough and needy, like he really can't decide whether to kiss me or bite me, so he does a little bit of both.

What surprises me is…I don't mind it. I don't mind the way his fangs poke into my lower lip until it's just painful, the way his talon scrapes against the back of my neck while his other wing wraps tightly around my body, pinning me to him as his long tongue explores my mouth. I don't mind—and—I actually enjoy it. My tongue slips out to meet his, and I drag the tip of my tongue over one fang, exploring the length of it. He moans at the intimacy, and that moan turns into a feral growl as my fingers lower to his muscled abdomen and my nails scrape down the velvet skin.

He pulls away, wings falling away from me, and stares down at me, his breaths shaky. I should be glad to be free, to have some space from this terrifying beast before me, but some internal part of me wants to linger, to keep tasting that nectar wine on his lips, to lose myself in his passion. Some part of me wishes I were the sovereign this creature longs for. Some part of me wants to leave behind any dignity I thought I had, forget what world I came from, and be swept off my feet by this beast who just threw an innocent human into the lava pit.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"Our prayers have been answered," Abaddon shouts, his commanding voice making me flinch as it echoes through the cavern. "Sovereign icle has returned."

Cheers reverberate through the cavern, making the ground tremble until I'm certain the entire mountain is going to collapse on us.

"Come on," Abaddon tells me with a jerk of his chin as the music and drums resume. "Let's go somewhere where we can talk."

Too stunned to do otherwise, I walk behind him. We leave the large, overcrowded cavern and step into a quiet, pitch-black passageway. I'm glad to be away from all the beasts. But now an eerie quiet settles around us. Abaddon nudges me with his wing, and I take a hold of the velvety membrane, following him as we make several turns until I'm positive I'll never find my way out of this maze again. Cool air presses around me, along with the silence that seems deafening after standing in that large open area where loud music played and feral beasts cheered.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, my voice scarcely a whisper.

"Someplace private," he answers. His deep voice is gentle now, not commanding and cold like it was in front of his people. "Twenty-three years of your absence has left the Five Empires in chaos. We have much to discuss."

We weave through the maze of halls, up and down stairways that Abaddon is kind enough to warn me about as I cling to his wing. We arrive at a large arch with a ragged, threadbare red and gold tapestry hanging over it. Inside, a fire roars, as if he'd sent someone ahead of us to light it. The room is sparse, apart from a few bones and knickknacks on a mantle—including a gold-encrusted skull with the top of its head sawn off. Above, a large canopy bed hangs from the ceiling by gold chains, a rope ladder leading up to the bed. Apart from the crimson and gold blanket on the bed, there's not much color in the room.

Across the cave bedroom, there's a window—or door, since he probably uses it to fly in and out of this room. It could make for a perfect escape once Abaddon is gone…unless it's set in the face of a cliff. In the distance, I can make out a glowing orange river of lava cutting through the black landscape across the broad plains. I step toward the window and look across a broad valley.

"A battle recently took place there," Abaddon says behind me. "Between the Solar Fae and the rest of the world. The Solar Fae lost." He's so close, his breath rustling the hair on my head, and I shudder. "My colony stayed out of it, as we do in all fae wars. But now I'm wondering if we should have helped the Solar Fae win the war." I look back at him, at the way his teeth flash with a vicious sneer. "Then maybe the Heart of Faerie wouldn't be trying to kill us."

My mouth is dry, my pulse throbbing in my throat. I'm not sure how long I can pretend like I know anything about this world, much less my place in it, but so far I've been able to keep up the ruse. Mom told me to make Abaddon believe I remember. I suppose, as long as I keep my mouth shut, I can't make Abaddon believe otherwise.

Crossing the room, he hooks his talon into the handle of a pitcher made for bat talons, and pours crimson liquid into the skull-mug. He sets the pitcher aside and uses both talons to pick up the skull. Returning to my side, he offers me the skull, and I have no choice but to accept it with cold, trembling fingers.

"Stronger than what your human body is probably used to," Abaddon says gently, "but I'm sure you could use it. Welcome home."

I study the skull, my stomach turning. "Is this...a real skull?"

He tilts his head and grins, flashing those teeth and splinter like fangs. "As real as the one upon your shoulders." When I don't respond, his smile dies. "Surely you remember who it belongs to." An audible swallow is my response, and his smile completely falters, that brooding V between his brows deepening. "It's your father's skull, icle. You killed him. Remember?"

My entire body goes cold and I nearly drop the skull. You killed your own father, skinned him alive and stretched his skin over your battle drum.

"And that drum over there?" I look across the room at the drum in the corner. "That drum was made from my father's skin?"

Abaddon follows my gaze, then peers back at me and tilts his head. On anyone else, the tilt of the head would look inquisitive. On the king of bats, it looks eerily predatory. A shudder rolls through me, so violent I think I'm going to pass out.

I killed my father. No—icle killed his father. And I'm supposed to pretend to be this vicious king who drinks wine from his father's skull and beats a drum made from his father's skin.

The room sways. Abaddon frowns, then chucks my chin with his talon again, lifting it until I meet his gaze. He looks genuinely concerned.

"How much…do you remember? And when did your memories return?" His eyes narrow and that chaotic grin returns. "Or was it Mandible who spilled the beans?"

"Who?"

"Mandi. Your aunt."

I choke, and this time can't swallow it down.

"I, um, remember a little bit," I lie. "But some of it is foggy." Maybe he'll clue me in on the main details. Enough that I can get by on. I stare at the skull in my hands, tempted to set it aside, but then decide I could probably use the alcohol right now. Loosen up. My only other option is to die from a panic attack. Lifting the mug to my lips—fashioned from this icle's late father's skull, apparently—I take a deep drink. Fire soars down my throat. Coughs wrack my lungs, and I wheeze in a sharp breath. That's no human wine, that's for sure.

"Faerie wine," Abaddon confirms with a chuckle, taking the mug from me. "Like I said, it's a bit strong for humans, but one sip should set you at ease. You're as tense as a young bat performing his first mating ritual."

Another cough chokes out of me—this one not from the wine. "That's, um, good." Strong, but…I need more. I reach for the mug, but he slaps my hand away with his wing.

"Easy there, little king." His chuckle is low. "Let's see how that one sip does before you chug the whole thing."

I glower at the skull, then briefly wonder what my skull would look like as a mug. The thought is mildly entertaining, and I know Abaddon was right. This shit is strong, and it's already messing with my head.

"My goddess," Abaddon whispers huskily. He stares at me with those large black eyes, as though he's afraid that if he blinks I'll disappear. "I can't believe you're here. I replayed our first meeting over and over in my head over these past decades. Do you remember?"

My throat bobs. Abaddon's eyes flicker down to track its movement.

"Vaguely." I continue to stare at the skull. "Maybe another sip will help bring back the memories," I say, reaching for the skull, but again, Abaddon slaps my hand away with his talon, a low chuckle escaping him.

"You're as bad now as you were as a Fae." His laugh is wild and free now as he takes a step back from me, his grin revealing that row of sharp white teeth. "Wanting to drink your problems away. Seeking escape through spirits. We are marching into battle tomorrow, and I need you not to be hungover."

I mutter a swear as he picks up the skull mug and drains the contents right in front of me. "To get rid of the temptation," he teases with a wink as he sets the skull aside.

"You're a terrible host."

He chuckles darkly. "There you are, icle. I knew a little faerie wine would bring you back."

Crossing my arms over my chest in a pout, I gesture with one hand. "Tell me about our first meeting, then." Make him believe you remember everything. "My human brain is incapable of remembering everything from my past life."

"I remember when I first saw you." He reaches out with his taloned wing, caressing my cheek. A shudder rushes down my spine, and while I know I should jerk away, I lean into the cool claw. Home. Some part of him screams home to me. "I mean, really saw you for who you were. Who you are."

"How…how do you remember it?" I boldly meet his gaze, my body warming from that one drink of faerie wine. Pressing my hand against his humanoid muscled chest, I step closer. His lips part with a sharp inhale, and that longing fills his dark eyes as I tilt my head back to meet his gaze. "Tell me everything."

"Your future as sovereign was set in stone. You were the heir," he says. "But that wasn't enough for you. You shook—literally shook the world when you murdered your father in cold blood."

My spine stiffens. "And you…found that attractive?"

He releases a short breath, his wings twitching. "It was the hottest thing I'd ever witnessed."

I force a cool grin that's way out of place in this nightmare, but the alcohol is doing weird things to my mind. "I was bad, wasn't I?"

His breath shudders. "Remarkably evil." His lips curve up into a smile as he moves his wings toward me, his talons hooking onto my shoulders. "I was in court the day you strode into the throne room, your fingers curled around your father's long, bone-white hair as his head hung from your fist, blood still dripping from his jugular. You'd sawn off his antlers, and only white stubs poked out of his hair. Whispers and gasps rippled through the room, everyone parting as you made your way to the Throne of Bones and claimed your spot as Spine Sovereign."

He smirks fondly and looks out the window, as if reliving the memory. "That smug smile on your face when you leaned back in your Throne of Bones, crossing one booted leg over the other…that was the moment I knew I had to fuck you."

A shudder runs down my spine. "And did we? Fuck?"

"Not long after you claimed your throne, you made a pact with me and my colony. We'd have each other's backs against the Solar Sovereign, whose armies were pushing against our borders at the time." His black eyes hold mine, piercing and deadly. "But then your step-sibling, Tarsus" —he nearly spits the name out— "sided with the younger Solar Prince and exiled you from our lands."

"T-tarsus?" That prick I met at the Ren Faire.

Abaddon's eyes darken as they search my own. "I broke our alliance with the Spine Fae after what Tarsus did to you. When Tarsus cursed you, when they sent your soul to the mortal world and claimed authority over the Spine Empire as prince regent, I swore I would bring down their empire and kill them myself." His lips curl in disappointment. "And now you're mortal. A good, healthy looking one at that, but mortal all the same." He nods slowly. "We'll make Tarsus fix you."

Fix you. As if there was something broken about being human.

"When you return to your true fae form, your memories will be more crisp. Then you can reclaim your Throne of Bones and stop Mother Terra from destroying our planet." He shrugs his wings. "After that, you can kill Tarsus for what they did to you."

Too much. Everything he's throwing at me is too much, especially with that faerie wine making my mind sluggish. I don't even know where to begin asking questions until the most urgent one drops from my lips, because the thought of facing that six-and-a-half-foot tall creature with antlers and cold, steel eyes has me shaking.

I clear my throat. "Maybe we could just…make amends with this Tarsus?"

A hardness creeps into Abaddon's eyes, as if I insulted his plans. And there he is, the king of the underworld, the devil I feared the moment I stepped into the caverns.

"Tarsus is marching out to destroy my entire colony, icle," he growls. "Tomorrow. They have the power to stop the volcano from destroying everyone on this continent, and they're not planning on using it." He flashes his teeth. "Your return couldn't have been more timely. You'll lead my armies into battle."

I snort and choke at the same time. "I—I don't…remember how to fight."

He blinks, clearly confused, then realization seems to slip into place. "Because you're human. You don't have your powers."

Powers? I have to bite my tongue to keep from asking what powers he thinks I had.

He nods slowly, processing. "You'll still lead us. The spine armies only have to see you kill Tarsus, and they will swear their allegiance to you. Because you are the rightful heir to the Spine Throne. You are the Spine Sovereign."

He has so much faith in me. He thinks I'm someone that I'm very clearly not. What if these spine armies are able to see through me? My palms begin sweating, and it's suddenly hard to swallow. I need to get out of here. Soon. Like, before the battle tomorrow, where I'll definitely die.

"I know you don't have your powers," he says in a lucid voice. "That you're only human, and that must be terrifying. But your people need you." He tucks his wings in tight. "My colony needs you. Your leadership alone, your presence, is all we need to save the entire continent from the wrath of the volcano. I'll stand with you, Sovereign icle. I'll protect your frail form with my life."

Frail. I was already frail in the human realms. Skinny, weak, and frail as fuck. Here, among these bat folks who are all easily over two feet taller than me, I'm a bug waiting to be squashed. But if I refused to help him, would he throw me into the volcano?

His eyes soften, as if reading my thoughts. He steps closer, wrapping one wing around me and gently drawing me in. "My colony is already feeling braver and more hopeful with your return, hungry for battle."

Forcing my breaths to even out, I allow myself to lean in against the firm, muscular form of the bat. Honestly, the fact that he's looking out for his colony and everyone on the continent makes me trust him more than I did in the beginning. These bats are losing their home to the volcano, and some shit-for-brains sitting on their fancy throne doesn't give a flying fuck. I'm not surprised at all that Tarsus is a cold ruler. They threatened my life the first time I saw them, for no fucking reason.

I step out of his wing-embrace, and the room suddenly feels too cold. A cool breeze sweeps in, and I have to cover my arms against the chill.

"I'll send someone to stoke the fire," he says, that crease between his brow deepening when he sees me shivering. "But first, I need an answer, icle. Will you lead us into battle at dawn?"

I chew my lip. I should agree. Why wouldn't I? If I don't, he'll no-doubt kill me on the spot.

"The Spine Sovereign I knew would never abandon their people to the wrath of the volcano," Abaddon says, noticing my hesitance.

My chest squeezes painfully. I want to scream at him that I'm not the sovereign and these aren't my people and I'm not equipped for battle. But then I think of that lava pit and the human who was tossed in, and all I can manage to do is nod.

"I'll help you," I say. "Only if you stop the human sacrifices."

His wings sag in relief. "When you're sitting on your Throne of Bones, you'll have the power and authority to make whatever laws you wish, and my colony and I will follow every single one of them."

His large velvet ears are perked, as if trying to pick up on my signals and vibrations. My vibe. I have to summon what little courage I have. I need to do it so he doesn't sense my fear. The two-inch long talons on his wings promise a swift death, but the way his wings are relaxed around his body, I somehow know I'm safe…for now. Until he decides to sacrifice me to the volcano, too.

"You okay, icle?" he whispers hoarsely. "Since you've arrived, you've been staring at me like you don't even know me."

"I'm…I'm trying to put all the pieces together. It's all a blur."

"Do you recall how you were exiled?"

"Vaguely," I lie.

"You never felt comfortable around mortals," he says. "That's why they were such perfect sacrifices. Their lives were too short to bother getting to know them. They were disposable." His lips curl over his white fangs. "Tarsus didn't like the way you disposed of humans. Nor did they like how you'd sold your soul to your Shadow. That's why they exiled you to the human realms. They figured being stuck in a human body was a worse punishment than death for someone like you." His eyes turn glassy, and the vulnerability I find in his expression makes me less afraid. "I lost you that night. I lost you, and I lost a part of my heart too."

Maybe it's the faerie wine, but seeing the pain in his eyes makes my body move without me giving it permission to do so, and before I know it, I'm reaching across the distance between us, reaching up to cup his cheeks with both hands as I look—really look into his eyes for the first time since I arrived. He stills, his breath seeming to freeze in his lungs from the intimate contact.

Without any pretense whatsoever, I whisper, "I'm here now, Abaddon."

His eyes widen, his nostrils flaring as he draws in a sharp breath. "Why are you so afraid of me?"

I blink. "What?" I force a laugh that only proves how nervous I am, and drop my hands from his face as I step back. "I'm n-not afraid at all."

"I can hear your heartbeat, little boy. I can sense your fear."

Something in me quivers at the way he calls me little boy. Something that feels good. Something that I'm not prepared to unpack quite yet.

"The vibration of your blood coursing through your body is nearly audible." Fuck. He's so onto me. He's going to know I'm faking everything, and he's going to toss me into the pit of the volcano. "You don't have to pretend with me," he says huskily, stepping toward me while the furrow between his brows grows deeper. "You never did before."

"I'm not pretending."

"Then confess this to me, icle." His voice is rough. "You don't remember a gods-damned thing, do you?"

Despite my attempt to remain calm, my breaths quicken. I take another step back from him, but he only follows that with one larger step forward, trapping me in the corner.

The room begins spinning. "I—I remember—"

"You are trying to be brave, when you know I could snap your fragile human body in a heartbeat." He corners me until my back is flush against the wall, his large, muscular body and flared wings blocking any chance for escape. Tilting his head, he offers a cold smile, inky eyes glittering. "I won't kill you, little boy."

Dammit, he must have sensed my shiver the last time he called me that. I can't hide anything from him.

"You know I won't," he continues. "Not when we need you so badly."

I swallow the lump in my throat. There it is. Not when we need you. If I prove to be useless, he'll be done with me. That's why I have to lead the armies to battle tomorrow. Although I can't help but feel like I'm trading one form of death for another.

"We are marching into battle tomorrow, and we need you there. You will have to be brave." Abaddon watches me closely. "I don't want my armies sensing this fear that I sense within you now."

I swallow hard. "A-all I have to do is make an appearance?"

"Well." He chuckles darkly. "No. Like I said, you will have to be the one to kill Tarsus."

My heart stutters to a stop. Then it beats too fast. "Excuse me?"

"To make your own people fear you—the ones currently fighting for Tarsus—you have to dominate your enemy. They won't know it's you in this frail, human body. You're shorter than your past self, not to mention you don't have the antlers you once had. That pink hair, though adorable, is a good cover up for who you truly are. To them, you'll just be another human. But when they see your courage, when they see you kill Tarsus, they'll know who you are."

I try to mask my panic, but of course I'm failing. "I'm not doing that."

He hisses, his eyes turning cold. "Then why are you even here?"

"T-to reclaim my throne."

"A throne you knew nothing about hours ago?" My spine locks up as his smile vanishes, but his fangs remain bared. "My messenger returned with a broken, shredded wing. Even he could sense your fear, your cluelessness. I was hoping he was wrong, but…"

Fighting my panic is useless at this point, with his fangs inches from my face. I can hardly catch my breath, and with him crowding me in the corner, I can't think clearly. Seeming to sense this, he takes a few steps back, lowers his wings, softens his voice.

"You will claim your throne," he says with a firm nod. "Tomorrow. We will help you. But Tarsus isn't going to simply hand the reins to the Spine Empire over when they see you. In fact, they will try to kill you."

I know he's not wrong about that. Tarsus told me themself they would kill me if I set foot in this realm. Oh, gods. I'm not living past tomorrow, am I?

"Me and my folk will do the heavy lifting of fighting back the armies enough for you to do what you need to do, but you must be the one to kill Tarsus. Once you kill them, your people will recognize you. Then your people will bow. You could end the battle with one command, and no more people have to die. Only then, could you reclaim your Throne of Bones."

He steps closer once again, his chest inches from my face as I tilt my head back to look at him. Reaching out with his wing, he strokes my cheek with his talon. "I won't let anything happen to you, icle. You must believe me. Human or not, with memories or no memories, I will always be at your service, sworn to protect you. And if that isn't enough, know that I still…I still have strong feelings for you, icle."

I'm confused by my emotions because I feel like I should jerk away from his cool talon on my skin, try to run. But my initial instinct is to lean into the caress.

That faerie wine must be making me beyond horny. Maybe I've watched Beauty and the Beast one too many times as a kid, maybe I've read too many monster romances as an adult, but with his massive, strong form standing this close to me, promising his protection, all I want is to let him throw me on the bed with those remarkable talons and fuck me the way the bats were fucking in the cavern.

It's almost like there's someone deep within taking over when I reach up and pinch his chin between my thumb and forefinger—surprised by the downy softness of it—and whisper, "Then get over here, you bastard," before pulling his face down to seal my mouth over his.

His lips part and my tongue slips through. I find his fangs with my tongue–fangs that are sharp and lethal–and I don't even want to explore why that turns me on so much. The scent of rotted wood and wet dirt pulls me closer to his warm body, until I'm flush against his torso, the ridges of his muscles pressing into my fingertips. He tastes of nectar and berries and wine, and I drink him in with a needy moan.

He sinks into the kiss, his tongue slowly exploring my mouth as our lips seal together. His leathery wings wrap around me, pulling me closer as his kisses become more aggressive, possessive, like a beast claiming his prey.

Like he wants a bite of me, but doesn't want to break me.

I run my trembling fingers down the soft skin of his wings as he creates a cocoon around us, and he shudders, a low growl coming out of him into our kiss that makes my dick twitch.

These confusing emotions are too much. How can I find a bat humanoid attractive? Scratch that, I've jacked off to enough monster smut to answer that question. And I would ask how I could be attracted to someone who threw an innocent human into the pit of the volcano, but then, I've read enough morally gray characters to answer that, too.

Goddammit. I'm fucked in the head for wanting this—wanting him—so badly. Do I care? I should, right? I mean, Christ, I could be next on his list of humans to toss into the boiling lava. But there's this weird shadow within me telling me to go for it. I'm living every monster smut reader's fantasy, why squander it?

I'm feeling bold. It must be the wine. It has to be the wine. Because I deepen the kiss, step closer, and reach down into his fur where his cock should be. My eager hand finds his long, hard length waiting for me.

Huge. He's huge. Definitely a two-hander. My fingers aren't even close to wrapping fully around his cock. My own cock grows hard as I feel his thickness in my palm, as I give it a gentle squeeze, drawing a low rumble out of him. How would this feel in my mouth? How would it feel in my ass? My stomach plummets. I'm dying to find out. I begin pumping it slowly, and he pulls away, throws his head back, and roars in pleasure.

"Arms tight around my neck," he orders. "Now."

Both panic and excitement war within me as I reach up and cling to his neck. Abaddon shoots up to the swinging bed with one flap of his massive wings and crawls over me, wedging one knee between my thighs. Pressing his body over mine, he stretches his wings over the bed, hooking his talons under the mattress. Using his wings, he pulls his body against mine, and I can feel his large erection against my stomach. A moan of delight—which sounds more like a scream—escapes me.

"Yes," Abaddon coaxes. "That's it, little boy. Scream for me."

Another scream rips out of me when he bites the skin at my throat, and it hurts. It hurts so badly. But it feels so fucking good at the same time. His knee nudges against my rock-hard erection as he loosens his bite, scraping his teeth down my arm.

How often have I fantasized about being monster-fucked? How many gay monster-fucker books have I read and gotten off to? I might very well die tomorrow. Maybe…maybe getting fucked by this beast is exactly what I need right now.

I arch my hips into his beefy thigh, seeking friction for my own erection, and another moan escapes my lips.

He chuckles into my ear. "There you are, Spine Sovereign."

I should stop this. I should stop this whole thing, I think, as I dry hump his thigh. His precum is already soaking through my shirt at my stomach, and I tell myself that the only reason I'm letting him fuck me is so that he won't kill me.

But I know that's not true. Especially when I tug off my jeans and rip off my shirt, tossing both onto the floor down below before grabbing his massive, velvety and very human-like cock in both hands stroking him against me. More liquid leaks into my hands. How much cum could a dick this large release? For an eight-foot tall beast, a full-on bukkakke that could drown me, no doubt. My cock hardens, as if that was possible.

"Do you feel how big my cock is, little boy?"

My dick throbs with this new nickname. Seriously need to unpack that with my therapist, assuming I ever get home.

"So big," I moan into his abs as he humps my stomach, his thigh grinding into my cock.

"I'll break you."

"Promise?"

He tenses. "You know, for a human, you sure do a good job looking for trouble."

I give him firm tug against my stomach, and I feel his whole body shudder.

"Such a naughty human."

I hum. "Naughty bat. Leaving your sovereign wanting more."

He chuckles darkly. "You want more?"

In answer, I scoot down until my face is level with his hips and drag his cock up to my mouth.

"icle," he whispers, his deep voice suddenly husky. "You don't have to—you can't possibly—" His words break off in a moan-growl as I pull his cock between my lips, taking it as deep as it'll go in my narrow, human mouth. Which isn't far, to be honest. It's just the head. But he seems to find pleasure in it all the same. With both hands wrapped around the fat length of him, I suck and lick and nip at the head of his cock, tasting the saltiness of his pre-cum. He moans above me, and that moan only makes me thirsty for more.

I pop off just long enough to say, "Choke me with your cock."

"icle—"

"Do. It." I wrap my lips around the head of his cock again, waiting. He's still for a moment, but then he gently pushes his cock deeper, pinning my head against the bed. I'm playing with fire, I'm well aware. He could kill me with his cock without even intending to. Crush my fucking skull with one grind. Drown me as he cuts.

He pushes it in slow until he can't go in any further, blocking my airways and hitting the back of my throat until I'm gagging. My jaw aches. I mean, it feels like it's about to get dislocated, but I don't squirm beneath him. I don't try to escape, because this is legit so fucking hot. He leaves his cock in there, pinning my skull to the bed just long enough for my lungs to start screaming for air, for my body to start panicking, for stars to appear at the line of my vision before he pulls out. I suck in a sharp breath, tears streaming down my temples from the choking. Sitting up, he looks down at me, a low chuckle escaping him.

"Do you like my cock, icle? Does it taste as good as it did when you were a fae, or have your human taste buds dulled the flavor?"

Before I can respond, he's shoving his cock into my mouth again. I suck it hard, my own cock aching for a relief as I take him in, both hands stroking him. He tastes earthy, like the saltwater in a cave. I pump him faster, bringing a delicious growl out of him that threatens to make me cum. And he's panting now. He's panting to the rhythm that he fucks my face, and those panty growls are starting to turn into bat-like screams, like the eerie sounds that echoed in the caverns moments ago.

If I were a normal person, I would have attempted to run away long ago. This beast is huge and dangerous and fucking scary as hell. The demonic screeches he's making as he plummets his dick into my mouth is nightmare fuel. So why am I so fucking turned on?

"I'm going to cum now, little boy."

I moan around his cock in response. And—are those tears streaming down my temple? From the choking. It has to be from the choking. But god, I feel like I've reached another plane of existence with this pleasure.

He pulls out, and I suck in a sharp breath as my airways are opened. "Where do you want it?"

I breathe heavily against his stomach, his cock resting on my lips. "On my face," I breathe. "Give me…a full facial, bat boy."

He releases a low hiss. "As you wish."

I continue to pump him until I feel his body shudder—and then cum—ropes of cum explode from his dick all over my face. The warm liquid coats my eyelids, dripping down my temples, over my ears, down my chin, oozing over my neck, warming my skin. He keeps unloading all over me, the ribbons of cum endless, and I take it, my cock finding its own heavenly release.

Breathing heavily, Abaddon, rolls off me, lying beside me on the massive hanging bed as he catches his breath. Before I can reach up to wipe his cum off, I feel a cloth upon my face, wiping bucket-load of bat-cum from my eyes, my mouth and nose, my forehead and neck. I open my eyes to study him as he cleans me up. He's leaning on his side now, propped on the elbow of one wing, while his other wing arches over me while he cleans me up. His black eyes are tender, the deep v between his brows less pronounced in his post-orgasmic glow. Even as it softens, his cock is massive as it rests against his thigh. I had that thing in my mouth. Already, my cock is slowly stiffening at the thought. His eyes lower at the movement, and a slow grin eases upon his face.

"It's your turn, little boy."

"N-no—it's fine—I—"

But Abaddon hooks his talons under my arms and hoists me up so I'm straddling his face. His large ribbed ears are fanned out, standing to attention to my needs, my reactions.

"Tell me what you want," he says, that low growl making me shudder. Instead of popping my dick into his mouth, I put my balls in and stroke my dick over the top part of his face. He moans in pleasant surprise, keeping his black eyes locked on mine as he gently sucks my balls, taking both into his mouth like bubblegum and somehow keeping those sharp fangs away from the sensitive sack. Then he pops them out and moves lower, dragging that long, black tongue down my taint. I shudder violently, a growl of need escaping my chest.

But he doesn't stop there.

He gently hooks his talons into my hips and moves me up, dragging his tongue further down until he's licking my asshole.

"F-fuck." I have never had a rim job. I didn't realize how good it felt. I pump my cock faster, precum dripping down the head as he glides his tongue up and down my ass crack, then gently prods my asshole with his tongue.

Holy gods above.

Blinding pleasure washes over me as he does his weird magic in my backside, his long tongue prodding my asshole, going deeper while his fangs scrape my taint. I strip my cock while I ride his mouth. An explosion of colors invades my vision. I don't have a chance of lasting longer than a minute before Ropes of come squirt onto his forehead, and he brings his face up, catching the rest of it in his mouth, swallowing it like it were some sort of treat.

"Your human cum is just as good as your fae cum," he says, then grins. "Maybe better."

It's my turn to collapse beside him, to let him clean my cum off his own face while I catch my breath. But he doesn't bother. We both lie there, soaking in the post-coital glow. He's staring at me with my cum all over his face, like he can't believe I returned. His wings are relaxed, jeweled talons shimmering in the firelight. His large ears twitch as he studies me, as if he could hear the pounding of my heart.

"You're exquisite," he hisses. And the compliment melts me to my core. I have no idea what he sees in me. Must be memories of the icle past. The prince of ruin, the king of destruction who he fell in love with decades ago. None of this is real if he doesn't know the true me. The human me, who has never fought in a school fight, much less a battle. Who doesn't remember a god-damned thing about this world. I should put a stop to this whole thing, because it's built on a lie.

But, god. I want him. I want to do more dirty things to him before he realizes I'm not the icle he fell in love with and tosses me into the volcano instead.

"I'm not done with you, yet," I say, a grin easing on my face.

The furrow between his brows deepens. "We have a battle tomorrow."

I blink, reality crashing around me. I'm not lost in some fantasy novel. This is real life. But—"That's why I desperately need this escape."

He's quiet for a moment, then says, "Tell me exactly what you want, Sovereign icle. I need to hear it from your mouth."

I lick my lower lip. I can't believe this is happening. I feel like I'm in a dream, a pleasurable wet dream that I never want to wake up from.

"I'm the same person, aren't I? Do the things that you used to do."

He huffs and shakes his head. "Your human body is far too fragile."

"I can take it."

"No. You can't."

Propping myself on my elbow, I glower at him. "I'll decide what my body can take, bat boy. If it's too much, I'll tell you."

He bares his fangs. "Once it's too much, it might be too late."

I'm not sure whether he means I'd be dead, or if he'd lose himself to his primal self at that point and not listen to me tell him no.

"I'm going to battle tomorrow for your colony." I tilt my head. "The least you can do is give me this."

He stares at me, considering. "Is that an order, Sovereign icle?"

Sovereign. Not little boy. Damn, I like that too.

"It's a request," I say with a swallow.

He nods slowly. Then, with a feral growl, he throws me on my back and pins me to the bed with his hips. His fat cock is once again erect as it rests on my stomach. His wings flare out behind him as if he's ready to take flight, but then he pins my hands above my head in a bruising gesture with one talon. Of course, the roughness only turns me on as he drags his other jeweled talon down my cheek.

"Would be a shame to ruin such a perfect body." His lips peel back from his fangs, and he releases my hands. "On your hands and knees, then," he orders, sitting back and tucking his wings in behind him.

I'm too drunk on pleasure or faerie wine to resist. Turning onto my stomach. I do as I'm told, my cock already getting hard again when I feel this massive, feral beast come up behind me, prodding my asshole with the head of his monster cock, and holy fucking shit balls. His dick is huge. I have never had one that size in my ass.

But he must have primed me up good with his tongue, because he glides the very tip of his cock right in, pulls out, and pushes deeper the second time. It's painful and pleasurable at the same time. He moves in deeper, slowly stretching me to accommodate him. I almost yelp, when I feel him pushing so deep that he rubs against my prostate.

By all that is science, he shouldn't fit. But he does, slowly easing in, deeper each time than the last.

"F-fuck," I moan. I press my ass back onto his cock, aching for it to fill me, not caring how badly it will hurt. He begins building a rhythm, and I tuck my lips between my teeth, trying to suppress my moans. His wings flare out as his rhythm builds, his deep, needy moans following each thrust. My dick is hard as rock, and I fist my cock, chasing my own release as he fucks me.

As he gets closer, he hooks his wing around the base of the bed again, bracing himself before he pulls out and shoves his cock into me again, deeper this time. I collapse, my ass still in the air as he pins me down with the top half of his body, pounding into me over and over again.

He's not gentle this time. There's nothing sweet about Abaddon, nothing romantic about our fucking. It's rough and messy as he pins me to the bed with a talon around the back of my neck, and I'm wondering if this is the point of no return, if this is where my no would go unnoticed by him. I don't even care. My balls draw in tight as I strip my cock, finding my exquisite release as ropes of cum squirt all over the sheets. Abaddon tightens his wing to the bed, pinning me in place as he fucks me hard. It's loud and chaotic, his bat-like hiss-screeches filling the room like a thousand screaming souls when he empties himself into me.

Releasing a heavy sigh, he flops down beside me, his breath ragged and raw.

I look over at the beast, the bat, the creature who has my life in his hands. His eyes are half closed in pleasure as he stares at me with glazed eyes. His wings are splayed casually beneath him, his sated dick resting on his thigh, and I can't help but wonder what the hell I've gotten myself into.