61. Kami

61

Kami

I wake up to Malkar hugging me from behind. I'm still not sure how I feel about him maybe being a dragon.

Dragons are huge. They devour people, they don't befriend them. And they're not afraid of anything.

They're also not supposed to be able to take on a regular's form. They hate anything human or fae. Period.

So what the hell is Malkar really? He hasn't admitted to being a dragon.

And he does seem to hate necromancers.

"Stop moving or I'll strangle you." A tail wraps around my neck and tightens. But the action is strangely affectionate. I feel no fear at his touch.

Maybe Serl was right. I am daft.

"Threaten me and I'll eat your soul," I whisper.

None of us have discussed my taking on Caethybdue's form. All I know is I was angry and let the feeling fill me, the need for Serl's death. Not asking, not needing consent.

Just taking what's mine by right .

And there she was. She felt right inside me, together, where we belong.

She's gone, but I sense her as I never have before, waiting.

Or perhaps it's the other way around, that I'm just a small piece of her, and when I fit into her like a puzzle made whole, we worked.

"You're thinking too hard. Stop." Malkar's tail shifts, stroking my throat with the ridged ends. The part that can kill so easily.

I like it.

I lift a hand and caress the hard ends. "Keep it up and I'll drink you down, you tasty demon."

He mock-shivers behind me and squeezes me in a hug. "Go ahead, Kami. Eat me."

The others chuckle, not asleep.

Crash snickers. "No. Eat me."

"Me first. I taste like smooth, clean water." Obviously Ries.

"Yeah, well, we made special flowers from my seed," Oz whispers. "She likes me best."

The bed is large, but I'm not sure where everyone is except for Malkar behind me.

"How come you keep showing off that tail?" I rub the firm end between my fingers. "Isn't it dangerous to do that?"

"Like you, I'm tired of hiding who I am." He sounds quiet, sad.

"So you don't want to kill me anymore?"

"Yes. Of course I do."

So why is he kissing the back of my neck? Not sexually, but…

"Are you petting me again?"

"Not that pet crap he keeps yapping about." Crash groans.

"I've decided to keep all of you. Though I may need to feast on Oz if we get deep into the trials without getting our magic back."

Ries leans up over Malkar and glares down at him. "What's all this keeping business?"

Malkar snorts. "You're welcome."

Crash raises his head over me, looking angry, as usual. But better that than sad. I do think our earlier catharsis released something in all of us. I know I feel better, closer to my companions.

Being in the present, not thinking about what comes tomorrow, helps. I like us all together. I'm not alone. And I feel like I belong with them.

We're all monsters. Mostly. I have my doubts about Crash, who seems to be nothing but fae, but he's one of us now. Just trying to survive.

Oz pipes up, "Um, what did you just say? Feasting on me?"

"Don't worry about it." Malkar yawns.

"I think I'll worry a little."

I grin. Because if I really thought Malkar had plans to eat any of us, I would be out of this bed faster than a pixie can dance.

The tail loosens around me and smacks Oz in the head.

"Ow."

I chuckle.

"That's not funny," Oz growls.

"It's kind of funny." Ries snickers.

"Yeah," Crash adds, then swears when Oz smacks him in the head.

"Is it funny now?"

I give an exaggerated yawn. "Quiet. Let's get some rest. We're going to need it."

I'm almost sorry I said it, but it's true. The last part of the trials is coming. And three of us still have no access to our magic. "We need to get you guys your magic back."

"But how do we do that?" Ries whispers.

"Kill Rilitar."

"Or Folas," Malkar suggests. "I'm pretty sure his magic is suppressing ours."

Crash asks, "How do you know?"

"Because it's hard to keep mine down. Mine isn't regular fae magic." He pulls me in tighter and sighs. "His magic feels like Iskae's. I think he's using her to keep me bound."

Using her parts, he means. I can't imagine how horrified I would be to know an enemy used Ahza against me.

I turn in Malkar's arms and kiss his chest. "We'll get her back for you, okay?"

"Okay." He sighs again.

Arms curl around my middle as someone pulls in closer to me. He smells of smoke and cinnamon.

Ah, I'm sandwiched between Crash and Malkar.

And it's nice.

More than nice.

I feel safe and loved, and even though I know I'm projecting, I refuse to deny myself these small comforts.

We'll be in danger soon enough. But for now, I can pretend we're a real fae family. One mother, three or more fathers, and a passel of children soon to come.

It's how the fae have survived for so long with so few females, making family groupings and dispersing blood lines.

Kind of like how humans have spread among all who can procreate in this world. There's a little human in just about everyone, except for a rare few elder fae or high ethereals.

Just like there's a little bit of fae in all of us here. Except Malkar. Who is part demon.

"How does that work?" I whisper to Malkar .

"Hmm?"

"How can you be…what you are, and be an incubus too?"

"Father's side." He yawns again and strokes my hair.

"He and your mom, who's…like you? And your siblings?"

"Just me. The others are ancient, all Better."

"Better?" But he's petting me, and it feels so good.

Oz is breathing heavily, Ries too. Crash rests so close I can feel his heartbeat throbbing through me.

My found family.

For as long as I can keep them.

As I fall asleep waiting for Malkar's answer, I hope I can keep my new family for a very long time.

And not lose them to the coming tragedy I fear awaits us.