93. Kami

93

Kami

Two Months Later

I should be too tired to indulge, but Crash is sucking my clit while I'm riding Oz. I come hard, which induces a raging orgasm in my orc.

But as soon as he's done, I'm on my hands and knees taking Malkar between my lips while Crash plunges in and out me from behind.

We've been on a marathon sex streak this past week, all of us missing our closeness.

The past months have been spent getting Sacred Lakes in shape, and our workload shows no sign of slowing.

But the sex, ah, that we need. It revitalizes Malkar, which in turn spreads to his Kept.

I love sucking him off too. He gets that sexy, intense look on his face, and every now and then his wings and tail will pop out, showing me I've made him lose control.

This time, though, it's me losing control. Crash's warm cock is making me crazy, and I'm coming and sucking harder, stirring Malkar to lose his seed as he jets between my lips.

"Oh, yeah. And now for a real treat." Ries has been obsessed with my ass since we first took over the castle. Now Kami's castle, not Rilitar's place.

Malkar let me name it because he's commandeered the monarch's palace for some secret project he's got going there.

In any case, Ries uses every excuse to fuck my ass. And because he's so good at it, and so enthusiastic, I love it too.

He takes time to lube himself with some magical goop he got from a fellow merman. It makes me so horny, no matter what I've just done.

And the guys seem to love watching.

So they gather when Ries greases up then slicks a finger in my ass.

I'm already on my hands and knees, and when he does that, I arch my back and gasp, totally down for more.

"More cock?" Ries loves reading into me when he takes me.

And then he's pushing between my cheeks, his dick thick as he takes me hard.

I'm surprised by how much I like it. But then, Ries always makes sex fun and fucking orgasmic.

He takes me fast, needing it after his little excursion today. Apparently, he heard some not-so-great news.

But that's out of his mind as he's seeking his own pleasure, buried inside his sweet dryad.

I love it when I get some of his thoughts. He's better than most of us at keeping them hidden.

Not like Crash, who broadcasts a lot.

But I'm not keeping this pleasure to myself and let everyone know how good it feels.

Which has Ries coming faster than he'd intended, and me following .

And that stirs the others to more pleasure.

It's hours later, and I'm exhausted. Not just because of the sex, but I've spent the past week with the dryads in Asrai.

I'm excited to learn they're not bitchy, just shy, which I totally understand. We've been having amazing conversations about our trees and how we communicate with them.

And about liberally enhancing the forests around us, much to the delight of the nature fae and forest spirits.

Turns out that half of Sacred Lakes detested the Radiant Trials and loathed the idea of eliminating everyone in the world not fae. They just want to live their lives free of war and hatred.

The other half reveled in the trials and died. Those that still call for war are being routed daily. By Crash and his new militia, Oz and his fellow Lancer warriors, and the water folk Ries is cultivating, who gossip better than old fae.

Malkar spends his time bulking up our stores of medicines and gathering skilled laborers and experts in their fields.

I have a feeling he's mentally adding them to his "hoard." Though the guys and I are the only permanent mates allowed. And really, I wear the title mate.

The males in our group are considered Malkar's brood—nonsexual partners.

I couldn't care less what we call each other, but the guys are adamant at getting some kind of label.

I just know they're mine.

"Ries, what's up, man? You're harshing my sex buzz," Crash murmurs.

Ries sighs.

I roll over and reach for him, hugging him close. "Tell us."

"Remember Lou and Bubba?"

"Of course." She helped save us. And who could forget being inside a kraken and living to tell about it?

"She's vanished. And Bubba…Bubba's dead."

I sit up. The others tense.

"How?" Malkar asks.

"The monarch set his people on her after we escaped. I heard she tried to use magic to get back to the sea, but Mac Lir, that shifty god she used to get into the lakes, sold her out."

"Seriously?" Crash's eyes turn to fire.

"That sucks." I blink hard, feeling for the lovely nereid who saved us. But we only just survived dealing with one god. I have no idea how to deal with another I'm not attached to.

"The thing is, I have a bad feeling this mess with the war god isn't over."

We all freeze.

"Ries?" Malkar prods.

Ries sighs. "Lou was there to spy for other gods, to make sure Beyrthnel didn't succeed, so they told her. But she thought maybe they wanted to see how he went about it. That maybe they want a chance to cross over. And I agree."

"Why do you think that?" Oz asks, his deep voice full of authority. And worry.

"Just stuff a lot of the merfolk have been telling me. I think maybe her dad was behind it."

"Who's her dad?" I ask.

Ries looks around, as if to make sure we're alone. Malkar and Crash have warded our rooms for privacy since we took them over. But Ries seems worried.

Ries? Malkar broadcasts to us all.

Poseidon, Ries answers. Then out loud, he says, "I'm probably freaking out for nothing. But I'm listening to the word on the water. We need to get strong fast. Because there's always trouble around the corner. Just because we stopped one war god doesn't mean we won't have to stop another."

"True. But at least Beyrthnel is gone." I hate that guy.

Caethybdue? I call out. He is gone, isn't he ?

He is.

She answers me now when I call her. And she sounds sure.

But gods can lie.

Yes, we can . But my children have earned my truth.

Kami, Ries is right to be concerned. There is no war god coming that I know of. But I fear trouble reaches for my children to the west of you. I'm sending someone to help you with your necromancy. She's a friend. You met her in the Veil once.

"Kami?" Malkar frowns. "I sense the goddess."

She only talks to me, never to the guys. They can't ever hear her, but Malkar can feel when she's near. "She said Beyrthnel's gone. But trouble's coming. Not here. But somewhere west of here."

"That could mean anything." Crash sighs. "Some guy I knew stopped by last week. He told me Paradise, my old city, is still having issues. Eden, the central district, is cool. But the big city is having some leadership problems. It makes a vacuum when you crush the monarch. Big shoes to fill."

"That's why we made Malkar our monarch," Oz adds with a grin. "Because he's so annoying everyone would rather turn away than fight him and his big mouth."

"You'll pay for that, orc." Malkar whips out his tail and smacks Oz in the head.

"Ow."

I laugh before I remember Lou's mysterious fate. "Ries, do you want to go look for Lou? And are you sure about Bubba?"

"I'm not sure about either. But yeah, I'd like to put out some feelers. Maybe go look around after we're more settled here. I can't leave yet though, not until we're established."

"That will take months if not years." Malkar frowns.

Ries nods. "I know. But I have friends everywhere. I'll look into things." He sighs. "But I'm pretty sure Bubba's gone. And that'll have crushed her. "

"Damn." I kiss him. "I'm sorry. If there's anything we can do, we'll do it."

Ries smiles. "I know you will."

"Something else you should know," I say. "Caethybdue wants me to train up on my necromancy. She said she'll send someone here to help." I frown. "I think her name is Raine."

Crash starts laughing, so hard he cries. "Shit. Lock down the doors. She's a huge annoyance, and she won't be coming alone."

"Crash?"

"Raine's an old friend of mine. Don't worry. She's cool." He sees the curiosity—and jealousy—I can't hide. And grins.

"You're an ass."

" Your ass, my sweet flower." Crash grins. "Don't worry. She was a friend. Not my lover or my mate." He sounds satisfied as he watches me. "Besides, in a fight between her monsters and us, I'd bet on us. Despite her vampire and the werewolf." He looks at Oz. "I bet you could take him."

"Yeah? I hope she brings him." Oz makes a huge muscle.

We all start laughing and comparing toughness.

Malkar watches us with pleasure.

We have a lot to do to make our new city welcoming for all. But we've got a great foundation.

I stare at my dragon, at my mates, and smile.

Malkar raises a brow. "Something you want to add, Kami?"

"No, pet. Not now."

And that causes even more laughter.

And snuggling.

And love.