TWENTY FIVE

Azeroth

Elodie sighs into my chest as I pet her hair softly. I can't bear to stop touching her, even though it's probably disturbing her. She's too precious.

She's going to crash again when she wakes. I should have been more careful to limit her high while she's still suffering the aftereffects of the reaping. It's best to keep emotions steady, if possible.

But, the selfish ass I am, I chased my own pleasure watching her come like an angel on my cock and greedily lapping up all the things she said to me. I want more. I'd like to wake her and keep going. This is why I'm dangerous for her. Once I get like this I am basically insatiable until whatever I'm obsessed with eventually loses my interest.

I can't bear to think of that happening with Elodie. I know without a doubt I'll hurt her terribly if I just discard her like a used toy, but I also know that's who I am.

I'm jolted nastily from my introspection by a cloud of noxious fumes and a cackling laugh.

"Oh, I hate to interrupt you." Mordicus looks very much like he feels the opposite. His face is creased into an ugly sneer. His pig-like snout scrunched even more than normal.

Elodie starts and opens her eyes. When she spots Mordicus she lets out a little shriek and clutches the blanket tightly to her chest. I snap my fingers, instantly dressing her in leggings and an oversized sweater that hides everything from Moridcus's view.

It's a mistake. His brows raise at the unnecessary expenditure of magical energy. "Oh, I'm definitely going to need more information about whatever is going on here. But first, my payment."

Elodie scrambles to sit, tucking her knees up to her chest and hugging them. She looks between me and Mordicus. "What's going on?" Her voice is low.

I hate how she's put distance between us, but I understand if she thinks I invited this jerk into my bedroom while she was completely vulnerable.

"This asshole picked now to barge in on me and demand payment." I glare at Mordicus. "I'm sorry. I should have warned you that he might pull a stunt like this."

"Come on, Azeroth, fair's fair. Do I need to get out the contract again?"

I sigh. "No." I throw back the covers and step out of bed. If this prick wants to stare at my cock, he can go right ahead. It's terribly childish and human, but I most certainly hope it's bigger than his. Drawing on the piece of soul I took from Elodie, I call forth the orb and hold it out to Mordicus. "Here."

He inspects my open palm lip curled. He sniffs. "It's not enough."

Behind me, Elodie sucks in a breath.

I puff out my chest. "That's all I could get. That's all she used."

Mordicus scoffs. "I don't know what game you're playing, Azeroth, but it's not enough." With a swipe of his hand, he collects the soul fragment. My palm is suddenly cold and bare. Following a flash of blue green light, Mordicus absorbs it. With a flourish, he produces the contract. The signature on the bottom still glows red. He's right. It wasn't enough.

Damn it.

"What else have you got for me?" He sneers.

"Give me more time. I'll take another summoning."

"Another summoning," Elodie whispers.

I turn. Her brows are drawn together and her knuckles are white where she's clutching her legs.

"It won't be forever."

"But you didn't want to."

Oh, angel. She's worried about me. I open my mouth to tell her not to, but she speaks before I can stop her. "I'll pay the debt. How much more do you want?"

"Elodie!" Even the order she asked those questions in reveals too much about the purity of her soul.

Mordicus's cruel laughter cuts me off. "Oh, will you now? This just keeps getting better. Where did you find this cute little pet, Azeroth?"

Elodie scowls. "How much? Is it as much as before?"

"Elodie, you could summon me. You don't have to give your soul away for nothing."

She shakes her head. "I don't want to do that again. It wouldn't be for nothing. It would be for you."

Something buoyant in my chest makes it hard for me to speak. It doesn't help that a hard lump seems to have formed in my throat and I have to give a little cough to get my next words out. "Elodie, that's... that's too generous."

She slips her feet off the bed and hurries to my side, pressing herself against me. "It's not. I want to give it."

I can see the calculating look on Mordicus's face as he watches us. I sling an arm protectively around Elodie. I still have plenty of stored power if he tries something. Something other than enacting payment for the debt he's owed. I can't fight that.

Elodie's skin is warm. The broken piece of soul should already be knitting back together, repairing itself as we speak. An act of such generosity will make sure of it. She could survive another loss. Especially if I take care of her.

I'll just take real good care of her.

Yeah, I'm just as big a jerk as that makes me sound. But I promise myself I'll make it up to her. Somehow.

Mordicus steps forward. "Fine. You want to pay his debt, I won't turn you down."

I instinctively twist and put myself between him and Elodie. "You won't take it yourself, though."

I slash my tail the air at Mordicus's laughter and the hackles raise on the back of my neck. I need to be careful. So far, I've played right into his trap and revealed far too many of the cards in my hand.

"Will you do it?" Elodie whispers to me.

I hate that Mordicus is watching, but there's nothing to be done now. I won't be able to get rid of him until the deed is done.

"Yes, sweet." Drawing Elodie back to the bed, I encourage her to sit. I only need to take a tiny amount. It should only take a moment.

I pull her into my chest and keep my eyes firmly on my enemy where he stands across the room. No need to give him the opportunity to make a sudden move.

She's so trusting in my arms. She lays her head on my shoulder willingly. She's a little stiff. I'm sure she feels my tension and it's not helping. I can't blame her for not being relaxed under the circumstances.

God, I'm the worst sort of prick. I should have fought harder to stop her from making this offer. I shouldn't actually be taking it now.

The last thing I want to do right now is take another summoning and be dragged from her side. I want to stay wrapped up in this as long as I'm able. Right now, the thought of being away from her for more than a few hours feels unbearable. If I am away from her, though, I don't know how much longer I can hang onto this feeling. This glorious burn of need. I'm not ready for it to end.

So I touch my fingers to her temple and make the connection to the power I need. It always amuses me that humans have some crazy ideas about where the soul is housed. I mean the heart. Really? Everyone knows your soul is what helps you choose good from evil. That's clearly in your brain. Not that you can't do good without a soul. You can. It's just much, much harder.

It's a vicious cycle, really. The more soul you lose, the harder it is to do good and the harder it is to repair the damage you already did.

There! Energy surges from Elodie to me. I concentrate on containing it into the wisp of soul I need, rather than letting a whole hell of a lot more get sucked away from her. She's giving so willingly it flows so much faster than a usual reaping. It's hard to keep it under control.

I break a tiny fragment from the sliver and withdraw before she can give me the whole damn thing. When Elodie slumps, I use a little magic to make sure she doesn't fall into my lap.

Holding out my hand, I allow the shimmering shard to appear on my palm.

"Take it," I hiss at Mordicus. "And get out. Here's hoping we never cross paths again. It's been real."

Moridcus snatches the piece of soul and grins. "Oh, I have to disagree. In fact, I'll have to make it my mission to find a reason to visit you again. You're such a generous host."

Before I can come up with a retort, he vanishes, leaving only an unpleasant odor behind.

Good riddance.

I wish I could be sure he was gone for good. I wish I could ward the room, but to do it would mean keeping me out, too. I need a solution, though. I wonder who I can make a deal with to keep him off my back.

I tuck Elodie into bed and sit up late into the night searching for the answer, but find nothing. It's looking more and more like there's nothing I can do and that pisses me off.