Chapter 18

18

DEVA

“Dinner was amazing,”I said to Lilah as I helped her clean off the table. I knew she was eager to escape the discussion taking place as much as I was, and if I had to guess, she was looking forward to retiring for the night since all three of her kids had fallen asleep.

I had to admit, there was something quaint and peaceful about their life, but I also didn’t think for a moment that Lilah was simple to any extent. Nor her husband.

“I could give you the recipe,” she offered.

“I wish I cooked; I would take you up on that.” I finished rinsing a dish, the quiet allowing the men’s voices to drift in from the other room. They were talking logistics, discussing where Astaroth’s people had last been spotted and our plan to go scouting in the morning. I didn’t feel the need to participate in planning the details; I was just eager for this day to be over.

“I imagine you’re busy being at the academy,” she said thoughtfully. “How the hell did you get so embroiled in all of this? The Nyx family can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating, but you don’t strike me as the type to fall victim to their whims.”

Lilah’s bold statement and the way she said it so casually was one of many reasons I had found so far that I liked her. Well, that and the way her appearance was such a direct contrast to her mannerisms and the way she conducted herself. Considering her bright blonde curls and tiny pixie-like height, I would have expected her to be sweeter and a bit more…peppy, maybe? Or maybe that was because Lavinia was a bit like that. Instead, she seemed more like a hard-ass and straight shooter.

This situation was also making me miss my friends a lot, the only true consolation being the fact that they were safer at DIA than out here. Probably.

“I have a personal…investment in the situation,” I hedged.

Her gaze scanned my own before she nodded. “Not that you would need one anyway—that fucker has been causing problems for decades now. I would happily see him dead, even if it means Renwick helping for a little bit.”

“We would never ask that,” I promised. “Besides, it seems you’re doing more than enough, taking care of this town.”

Her lips pressed into a smile. “It’s my home town, where I’ve spent my entire life. Renwick wanted to protect it and make it our home.”

I loved that. Before I could say exactly that, a cry from upstairs had her letting out a huff. “I’m going to go make sure he’s okay, and I’ll probably stay upstairs and take some much needed relaxation time. I hope you come back to visit when all of this is done. I would love to hang out more.”

“Absolutely,” I said as she disappeared to go check on their youngest.

Standing in the kitchen for a long moment, I slipped back into the dining space and squeezed Grim’s shoulder in passing, hoping they understood I was excusing myself. They were deep in conversation, and a bit of me time didn’t sound like a bad idea in the least.

The yard was dark and rainy as I made my way to the guest house, and I kicked off my boots at the door before making my way upstairs. The upper floor had two bedrooms, each with two queen beds. The bed on the right in the room I’d claimed was covered in a few of my belongings, including my dagger, my book, and some of my clothing.

After slipping out of my clothes, slightly damp from the rainy weather, I made my way into the attached bathroom. Luckily, the shower almost immediately steamed up the space, and it was only moments later that I was standing beneath the hot water, letting out a happy sigh.

My brain was in ‘overthinking’ mode right now, considering everything from how my friends were doing on campus to what we would face tomorrow—but there was no good way to fix that. No solid answer I could hang onto until I just handled it.

Instead, I just tried to savor the sensation of the water on my skin and tried to focus on my magic that was vibrating with more power than usual. It made me wonder what point in the lunar cycle we were in…nearly a full waning gibbous? That would make the most sense considering the Black Moon Ball last week. The moonstone in my chest warmed as an idea came to me.

Maybe tonight I would do a lunar ritual, something small, outside in the yard. Nibbling my lip, I wondered if maybe it would also be a good time to suggest adding some lunar-fueled protection runes to the men…I mean, it wouldn’t hurt them, especially now that they had a piece of the moonstone within them. And honestly, it would make me feel a hell of a lot better considering I had no idea what we were about to walk into.

The more I thought about it, the more I found myself absolutely loving the idea—as long as it was something they were interested in. I nearly smiled at that. I knew they would be okay with me marking them.

Stepping into the bedroom a few moments later, wrapped in a towel, I found Oz sitting on the bed and playing with my journal, smoothing his hands over the material. His gaze was dark as he looked up at me with curiosity and then heat as his eyes ran over my nearly naked form. Placing down my journal, he motioned for me to stand between his spread legs. I didn’t even bother trying to protest, sliding my hands over his muscular shoulders.

“You should’ve joined me,” I said as his lips pressed to my collarbone, his fingers trailing up my thighs.

“I was tempted, but I could tell you were trapped in thought. Our bond is way stronger than before,” he said softly. “I love it.”

“I love it too,” I murmured as he lifted a hand to play with the bone necklace around my throat. The intense marker reminded me of what I had wanted to ask him to begin with, having been momentarily completely distracted by his touch.

“I was thinking that tonight…” I slid one knee onto the bed next to his right hip, and Oz groaned, leaning back as I crawled over him. His other hand slid up my thigh and pushed my towel up. “That maybe I would do a lunar ritual, and if you guys are cool with it, put runes on each of you.”

Oz’s chest produced a rumble as he tugged my hips down so I was truly straddling him, his hands sliding further upward to grip my hips underneath the towel, the fabric barely holding on. He was hard underneath me, his cock swelling to the point that I had to imagine his pants were uncomfortable. I rolled my hips on instinct, unable to help myself, as his grip on me turned far tighter than before.

“I will never say no to you marking me, starlight.” He leaned forward, and when I brushed my lips over his teasingly, I let out a surprised noise at how quickly he flipped our position, my back hitting the bed so I was spread out underneath him. Oz peeled the towel off of me, looking over my naked form before he met my gaze.

“I understand more than anyone the urge to mark you,” he growled softly, leaning down and trailing light, teasing kisses down my throat and to the center of my breasts, my legs opening wider to accept his frame as his thumb began to toy with my nipple. I whimpered at the intensity of the need surging through me, and as if he knew, he slowed his movements, probably loving that I was suffering.

“I love when you mark me,” I admitted breathlessly. “With the necklace and in other ways.”

“With my cum, you mean.” His voice was a dark rumble that vibrated through me. “You never even need to ask for that, starlight. I would happily do it every goddamn day.”

My hands tugged at his belt as he nipped my breast harder than I expected, a moan leaving my lips on the note of his name.

“Patience,” he said with a tsk. “I barely have enough control when it comes to you, Deva, and I know you’re still recovering from that battle in class.”

“I promise I feel great.” I moaned as his fingers slipped between my parted legs, his thick digits playing with my clit as he moved the wet heat over it in a hypnotic, pleasurable pattern.

“I don’t trust myself to not take you like a fucking animal,” he explained. “It won’t stop me from marking you, though.”

“Oz—” I whimpered at the loss of his fingers, but it was only momentary as he straightened and undid his jeans, revealing his massive, stiff cock. The sight instantly had me squirming, remembering exactly how it felt when he was inside of me.

“Fuck, I can see how much you want it,” he rumbled. “Touch yourself, starlight. Open your legs fully and show me how much you want me.”

I had zero issue doing exactly that. My fingers slipped over my clit, and I rubbed teasing circles, feeling completely exposed and so incredibly flushed. I loved the way he stared down at me as he stroked his cock, and when his length rubbed against my wet slit, the tip of it pressing right at my entrance, I nearly came on the spot. My back arched up as he began to play a game with my body, removing my hands and taking over teasing my clit as he pushed his cock in only an inch or so before retreating. Enough to feel a shot of pleasure but not enough for me to tighten around him and truly climax.

I was so lost in sensation, my hands gripping the bed above me, that I hadn’t even realized someone else had joined us until I felt rough hands smoothing my hair away from my face. Oz let out a low rumble but didn’t seem bothered by Alek’s arrival, pushing into me just slightly more than before and causing me to moan his name as Alek kissed me upside-down.

“Alek…”

“Nyet. Quiet Zaya,” he instructed. “Only open those lips if I tell you.”

Oh fuck.

“Deva.” Oz tightened his hold on my hip. “Where do you want me to come, starlight? I’m going to end up coming right inside of you if you keep trying to squeeze around me like that.”

“I want that,” I responded breathlessly, whimpering as Alek began to rub his cock through the outline of his jeans, his gaze running over the scene with a level of heat that felt like it was burning me alive. “I want to be marked by both of you.”

I could not believe I’d just fucking said that. I also had no inclination to take back the words, wanting that and so much more.

Alek chuckled as Oz let out a grunt and continued to tease my entrance with ‘just the tip’ while rolling my clit. Suddenly, the man over me unzipped his pants, and I felt my mouth go dry at the size of his cock that he began to stroke, running the head over my lips.

“Oz, flip her over.”

Oz easily turned me over and pressed me flat on my stomach, his larger body straddling mine from behind. My eyes widened as his cock pressed right against my entrance again and he began to pump just slightly deeper, any lingering soreness I had from Lazaro gone in the haze of need. When Alek tilted my chin up, I instantly opened my mouth for him, knowing what he had in mind.

His cock ran over my wet lips, and I moaned at the salty taste of his precum as he pressed forward, my throat relaxing as I looked up at him. His grip in my hair was firm as he began to stroke himself in and out of my mouth, the two of them both exerting so much dominance over my body that I felt like I was on fire, ready to scream from a lack of release.

Especially when Alek began to push harder, sliding more of his cock in my throat at the same time Oz filled me about halfway with his length, his hands on my hips almost turning bruising. The sound of the three of us, our bodies moving together as I tried to please both of them, had me nearly seeing stars as I attempted to find a bit more friction against the bed.

“Fuck.” Oz groaned suddenly, and I moaned around Alek’s length as he slid in harder, bottoming out in my pussy with one full stroke.

I exploded around him, my eyes watering as Alek cursed and tightened his grip on my hair, not letting me back away. Oz pulled out slowly, and his cock, still hard, rested right against my ass, covered in both our releases. I shuddered as he reached under me, tugging back my hips, and began to use the cum leaking out of me to tease my clit before pushing it back inside of me. Almost like he was trying to stuff me full of it.

Alek started to pump in and out of my mouth again, faster this time, his breathing rough and the wild intensity of his magic circulating over my skin. I could tell he wanted to do more, so much fucking more, but right now the control he was showing was so insanely hot, and I knew I was going to come again—but I wanted it to be with him down my throat.

“In your pretty mouth or on your face?” Alek asked. I sucked harder on his cock, wanting to feel him deeper. He chuckled, the sound pained, as he pulled back suddenly so his cock rested against my lips. One of his hands left my hair to squeeze my jaw just slightly, my lips popping open fully. Stroking his cock with one hand, his voice was dark as he growled, “Stick your tongue out, zaya. Now.”

My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head as Oz brought his hand down against my pussy right as Alek coated my tongue with his release. I didn’t hesitate to swallow it, and he growled my name as he began to spread his remaining cum across my lips as I moaned through another orgasm.

My body trembled, thrilled for the release, but also somehow wanting more from these men—so much fucking more.

Oz groaned, his breathing rough as Alek put his head down, his hands in my hair softening and making me nearly fucking purr.

“That…that was amazing,” I breathed out. “I’m going to need another shower though.”

Not that I minded. Not at all. I just hoped they would join me.

“We’re tragically excluded from fun now,” Cage lamented. I rolled my eyes, stepping from the ladder onto the roof of the guest house a far better option than the yard, if you asked me.

You would have thought the man was actually pouting by the sound of his voice. Okay, he was pretty much pouting, something Alek and Oz found pretty damn amusing. Grim and Lazaro, not so much. Both looked grumpy at the realization that while they’d been talking logistics, we’d been having much more fun.

Something I didn’t feel bad about in the least.

“Good news is that I’m planning to do something super cool tonight,” I teased, my body feeling absolutely alive after another shower. Oz had joined me as Alek hunted down some warmer clothes after I told him my plan. I wasn’t cold—I suspected getting cold was impossible in the three sweaters he’d thrown on me, but I had a feeling he was playing a bit of a balancing game.

After fucking my throat hard enough my voice should have been raspy, he now felt the overwhelming urge to be extra focused on my well-being. It was sweet.

“What’s that?” Lazaro asked curiously as I set down a small bag and took out chalk.

“Help me draw a ritual circle. I want to do a lunar ritual and use it to fuel protection runes. If you guys are cool with me putting them on you.”

“As long as I go first,” Cage said, “and Oz and Alek go last.”

Grim chuckled as I shook my head but didn’t disagree. Lazaro and I began to draw the ritual circle in the light of the waning moon, creating enough space to fit the five of them with me in the center.

The nighttime wind was cool from the rain, and it was an oddly peaceful moment, the comfortable silence of my men making me feel extremely content. This felt like the calm before the storm, the lull before the incoming onslaught of insanity, and I wanted to take full advantage of it.

As my men and I took our places in the circle, I took my time drawing from the moon as it shone down on me, filtering it through each ornamental line of the ritual circle. As it filtered through me and trailed along the chalk lines on the roof tiles, I felt it also radiate from the moonstone in the center of my chest and towards the men around me.

For the first time since…ever, I felt completely connected to my magic. While I was still learning and discovering more about it each day, I could feel how the bond worked and how my magic had so much more freedom than before. It was able to pull from all of my men as well as fuel them in an unending loop, acting almost as a siphon for their intense array of magic. It was beautiful and so incredibly unique.

I also realized at that moment that instead of using a traditional set of rune-crafting materials—ink and a pen—I could pull on our bond. I approached Cage first, and he tugged the collar of his shirt aside, nodding to the skin at the top of his pectoral he wanted the mark. I closed my eyes and ran my hands over it, allowing the magic to circulate through me and into him.

Infusing every ounce of love and need I had for the man, along with my will to keep him safe, into the moonlight, I gave him elements of lunar magic that would serve as protection and warding. Ones he wouldn’t normally have. Cage let out a small groan of surprise but held steady. My eyes fluttered open and I found a silver rune unlike any I’d ever seen before right where he wanted. Examining his face and seeing a healthy glow to his skin, I stepped back, thrilled with the result.

Turning towards Lazaro, I did much the same, my lunar witch having me mark him right on the neck. I brushed my lips across the spot before pressing my fingers there. I didn’t know how the rune would work with each of my men, but for him I could feel it almost counteracting his family’s magic. Relief filled our bond as his magic and mine danced in an endless loop of replenishing and taking from one another.

Grim was next, and while I was a little worried about his magic’s reaction, I took his wrist and added to the rune already present. His shadow magic only fought me momentarily before it gave way to recognition, his walls crashing down and welcoming me in. I leaned into him as I made sure his magic and my own found a peaceful sense of balance before stepping away.

My magic felt absolutely on fire, working with such a different ease and intensity than ever before, as I turned towards Alek. The man instantly offered me his chest, his finger tapping on his heart. I swallowed down the emotion at his choice as I smoothed my fingers over his skin and infused him with some of my lunar magic, his body instantly accepting it. My heartbeat thumped louder in my head, making me let out a slow breath of relief.

Finally, I turned to Oz, my fingers trailing up towards the left side of his neck as he held my gaze. I closed my eyes and infused a protection rune with not only lunar magic but shadow and blood magic as well, knowing he would be able to accept them in a small amount. The rumble that left his throat when I let the magic slide off my fingers and into him was enough to spark a flare of desire in my stomach.

Stepping back to the center of the circle, I let my magic collapse over me as I pulled as much as possible from the moon, feeling as recharged as I could at this stage of the lunar cycle. I let out a content hum as I opened my eyes and looked to the north and the village we would travel to tomorrow.

Now that I had this extra connection with each of my men, I felt so much better about facing the threats to come.

I was coming for Astaroth, and I had a feeling he knew.