24. Kami

24

Kami

I 'm just as confused as the others. I don't worship gods. But my connection to Caethybdue makes sense.

If I trusted any of the guys enough to confess my deepest secret, they'd understand a little better.

I'm a necromancer. So yes, I am connected to a death goddess. But I've never seen her, prayed to her, or consecrated anything to her.

The flowers were from me and Oz. From having sex.

What does Caethybdue have to do with it?

"Are you thinking we might have to deal with more than one fae god?" Ries asks.

"That's a possibility." Malkar seems more disturbed by the flowers than the possibility of interacting with deities.

Oz has Crash in a headlock and drags him to us. "Tell them about the gnome-cum flowers."

Malkar stares. "What?"

"Oz." I wish he would have stated that differently. Because these are our cum flowers. And yeah, that's pretty gross. Weird. Whatever.

"You' re blushing." Malkar looks accusing.

"Have you guys seen the tree men?"

They shake their heads.

Crash is still trying to get free from Oz.

"Apologize," Oz growls.

"No."

They step away and Oz punches him again.

I explain the tree man I saw.

Ries grimaces. "I hate this place. I hate these trees. I hate cum flowers."

Malkar turns a speculative look on me, then Oz. "Then I guess you won't be making any of your own."

Ries stiffens like a fae hound on a hunt who's sighted prey. "Wait. What?"

Malkar nods. "These flowers have Kami's energy. And Oz's."

"How can you tell?" I ask.

"I know everything."

Ries snorts. "Do you even hear yourself?"

"Yes." He ignores the merman. "The scent of a god has mixed with our dryad and protector. I have no idea what it means, but I know we'll likely find out the hard way." He sighs. "Everything here is difficult."

"Here meaning the arena? Or Sacred Lakes?" I sigh with him. "Because it's been trouble since we got here."

"Yes and yes." Malkar picks a flower and swears as it digs into his fingers, stealing a drop of blood. "See?" He holds up his finger.

"I don't see anything."

"It hurt me, then it healed me. But what is it doing with my blood, I wonder?"

We stare at the flower that's in his hand, plucked with care .

Ries frowns. "Did a thorn stab you? Because those petals look soft."

"They are." Malkar's eyes narrow, the bright blue seeming to glow in the darkness. Then the flower in his hand curls up, turns as blue as his eyes, and crumbles to dust.

He looks satisfied.

I'm curious. How does Malkar's energy taste? Will he willingly let me sip from him?

Right now, only Ries has given to me. I didn't exactly ask Oz, so he might not realize what happened. I'm too afraid to ask. If he doesn't know, no point in telling him.

Crash would definitely use the information against me. And Malkar… I don't trust him.

There's something about him that's off.

Ries clears his throat. "So. Kami. Cum flowers?"

His speculative gaze has me blushing. "I don't know. It just happened."

"Can it happen again?"

Crash is rubbing his throat. "Seriously? Keep it in your pants, merman."

Malkar shrugs. "I'm fine with it if you are. I'm still full from yesterday, but I could do with another meal." He smiles. "I'm sure we'll meet our share of danger tomorrow."

Oz lumbers closer, lifts me up, and kisses me breathless.

"Oh." I blink up at him.

He grins. "Make sure she comes."

Ries salutes, and the orc steps outside of the small alcove.

My face is really hot, though I don't know why. Sex is nothing to be ashamed about. It's more that my private life hasn't been private in months.

"Crash, you're a buzz kill. Wait outside."

"Wait. You already had her twice. It's my turn."

I stare at him. "You don't even like me. "

The expression that crosses his face looks like shame. But I blink and it's gone.

"So?" he shrugs. "You have a great body. I'm happy to rock you."

"As if." Ries snorts. "I doubt you know what to do with your cock except hold it and sing it to sleep each night."

Malkar doesn't even try to hide a smile.

Crash glowers. "We made a pact." His smile turns sly. "I already held up my end. I saved your life yesterday."

Oh crap. He did.

I would have thought the transactional nature of this relationship would put me off, but it's actually making things easier.

I don't want to owe any of these guys anything. If sex is my currency, so be it.

Or at least, that's what I'm telling myself.

Being with Ries and Oz felt good.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about Crash.

Especially now that he's looking at me as if he hates and desires me in equal measure.

Oz sticks his head back inside. "Guys? This all is going to have to wait. We've got a bunch of shifters heading our way. Except I think they're tree men. They're not quite right."

"Shit." Ries kisses me then joins Oz. "Let's do it, big guy."

Malkar cracks his knuckles. "Sex has to wait, Firefly."

"Fuck off." Crash sneers. He turns to me. "Stay inside. Gotta keep that tight body in one piece before I nail it."

"You are such a dickhead," I say to his back.

They've all gone to fight our enemy.

I should help them.

Ha. Yeah, right. I know my strengths.

Fighting hand-to-hand against creatures larger and stronger than me isn't it .

I'm a thinker. A strategist.

A winner.

I'll bide my time. With any luck, Crash will fall to the tree men. Then I'll just have three males to satisfy.

And if my heart aches thinking such treachery, I tell it to shut up and let my survival instincts keep us alive.

Because sex with Crash, or even Malkar, feels like it might be the end of my sad little world.

And I have enough to worry about with all the?—

Death.

I feel it.

So much of it outside this small shelter.

And it's waiting for me.