Page 16 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)
SIXTEEN
Meyer
I scream as Valen grabs me and spins us, pinning me to the bed and covering my body with his as glass explodes around us. A frigid wind races into the room, making the flames in the fireplace flicker and snuffing out the Hurricane lamp on Valen’s bedside.
“Holy shit, Mi Sol,” Valen mutters, lips moving against my neck as the room slowly settles into silence.
“What was that?” I breathe out, eyes wide, while searching the parts of the room I can see for any threat. I wind my legs around Valen’s hips, clinging to him as my body shutters with the aftershock of my orgasm.
“You. That was you,” he responds, making me freeze under him as I try to digest that new bit of information. Don’t freak out; it's totally okay. Just a bit of glass, right?
“What!?” I screech, hands pressing to Valen’s shoulders, trying to get him off me so I can take in the damage around the room. My voice is high and squeaky, making me wince as I try to control myself. “Up,” I demand when Valen shakes his head and snuggles into me, keeping me pressed protectively under him.
“Don't want to,” he grumbles, sounding tired.
“Are you sure it wasn't you?” I ask, worrying my lip as I try not to have a mini meltdown. My body feels weird. Not bad by any means. I feel well and truly fucked and satisfied. But there is this odd, almost electrical current running under my skin, and my heart is pounding way too fast.
“Yep. All you Love. You smell so fucking good,” he groans as he nuzzles my neck, then proceeds to drag his lips down, dusting my skin with soft kisses. “Smells like you're mine,” he adds, and I shiver at his deep, possessive tone.
“I am yours,” I tease, relaxing into his kisses, letting my eyes flutter shut, and taking a few deep breaths. I groan as Valen nips at my neck right where Creed bit me and arch my hips, gasping as his still-hard length throbs inside me. “Um, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think I broke your window,” I admit, looking to where the cold winter air streams into the rapidly cooling room. The glass in the wooden window pane is completely gone, and some of the wood is broken and lying on the ground.
Valen grunts and moves one hand from where he has it cupped behind my head, flicking his wrist once, and I feel something tug in my chest as the cold wind suddenly stops, the white curtains on the side of the window settling in seconds.
“Wow. Do you think I’ll be able to do that one day?” I ask, a touch of envy coursing through me. I gasp as the envy is quickly smothered and replaced with a soft, gentle feeling that has my toes curling and eyes falling shut once more.
“Maybe,” Valen says, kissing my neck once more before sighing and pressing himself up. I gasp as he pulls himself from my sex. I move to clamp my legs together in an attempt not to make a mess, but Valen’s hands snap out, grabbing my knees and spreading them wide as his black eyes watch his cum drip from my pussy.
“Damn, that shouldn't turn me on so much,” he rasps, and I laugh, shaking my head. Nox had a similar reaction to this the last time we had sex, so I’m not as shocked. At least Valen’s not pushing it back inside me the way Nox did. Valen lets his hands move up my legs until his hands wrap around my hips, and he smiles as he leans forward. “Are you alright?” he asks. I blush a little and nod. “How do you feel? Any soreness?”
“I mean, I feel like I could use a week-long nap, and my pussy feels like it took a pounding. But besides that, I’m okay.” Valen chuckles and arches a brow as he shakes his head.
“I wasn't talking about that. Should I apologize to your sore pussy, Mi sol?” he asks, bending down and pressing a kiss to my pubic bone, eyes locked with mine the entire time. “Perhaps… kiss it better?” He moves slightly lower, and I snap my knees together and shake my head.
“I will quite literally die if you give me another orgasm right now,” I admit, and he sits back, a pleased glint in his eyes. I watch in fascination as the black there slowly recedes, leaving a thin circle of the pale green color I’m so used to seeing.
“Hmm, very well. I’ll give you a few moments to rest before resuming.”
“A few moments?” I ask in shock, and he laughs.
“I was talking about this, Love. Not your delicious pussy.” Valen leans forward and runs his fingertips over my chest, his smile softening into a slight look of concern. I follow the movement and look down. Gasping, I shove myself up as I take in the red mark carved into my skin just above my left breast.
“What?” I gasp and then look at Valen, finding an identical, slightly larger mark on his chest in the exact same spot. The mark's color is similar to the one on my wrist, but this mark is more complex. There are two circles, overlapping with several smaller, almost cursive-looking symbols, surrounding it.
“My mate mark,” he whispers, smiling softly as he grabs my hand and presses it to his chest like he had just before the window exploded. “And yours.”
“Wow. Wait, so did I use magic to make it?” I ask, grinning up at him and making him freeze. He looks at me with a strange, almost excited look on his face. “What?”
“Mi Sol?” Valen lets my hand fall from his chest as he leans over me, popping his thumb into my mouth when I try to snap it shut. “When did you get fangs, Love?” he grins as he ducks down, eyes brightening with joy. “They're so small and adorable.”
“Fangs?” I squeak out, shoving his thumb from my mouth before slapping a palm over my lips in horror. “Like a fucking Vampire?” My words are muffled behind my hand, and Valen laughs, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my cheek while trying to move my hand off my lips.
“No, not like a Vampire, like a Demon, Mi Sol. Now move, I want to see them again.” He manages to peel my hand away, and I nip at his fingers when he pokes at my lips, making his laughter grow. “You feral little monster.” He frowns as he keeps trying to see my teeth, and I curse and stop struggling.
“What?”
“They’re gone,” he pouts, pulling his fingers away from my mouth.
“That's what happened with the claws too. They made an appearance and left almost instantly.”
“I would have liked to see those as well,” he mutters, grabbing my hand and bringing it up in front of him to study. “I wonder why they disappear so quickly?”
“I know I’m a Demon, but I’m also human. Maybe I can't keep them there permanently,” I shrug, and Valen purses his lips and nods.
“Possibly. You said the claws showed up when you were in bed with Nox?” I nod, confirming his question. “And now the fangs…” Valen trails off with a far-off look before he drops my hand. “What about with Jesthren?” The sudden change in subject makes me grimace in disgust, and Valen growls and shakes his head. “No, not like that. You seem to show your Demonic traits more when you have strong emotions, such as arousal and lust. But what about anger? I saw you defending Mom on the castle walls back in Versipellis, fear being a strong emotion involved, and you mentioned that something happened when you fought Jesthren. Did you see any physical changes?”
“No, well, maybe? I wasn't really paying much attention to myself since there was a bat-shit, crazy-speaking Demon trying to kidnap me.”
“Fair,” Valen nods with a quirk of his lips. “What about skin or hair color? Has it ever changed before?” My brows pinch, and I shake my head.
“No? Why?” He sighs and moves, lying on the bed beside me, tugging me into his arms.
“How do I put this delicately?” he muses out loud, and I frown, looking up at him. He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “During the mating process, your magic shifted. It’s favored the Versipellis side of your Demon heritage this whole time. Something I think was caused by Inanis leaving that mark on your wrist. But my magic, our mating,” he explains. “Well, your eyes shifted. You have a Shade form, Mi Sol. It was very much present while we mated, which is how I received the mate mark. I wasn't sure if I would end up with one or not. But I can't express to you how excited I am that I do.”
“I… wait. Like a dark, shady gray version of a Demon?” Valen chuckles and nods as I gape at him like a dead fish. He rolls his lips together, and I can see him actively trying to contain his amusement.
“I apologize. I’m excited. I haven’t had another Shade form to bond with since… well, my father died. However, I know this is something new that you must now cope with. But I’ll help, Love. I promise.” I nod, unable to respond to him verbally. He grimaces and kisses my brow again, grabbing the blankets and yanking them over us. I tremble as he runs his hand up and down my spine, instantly calming me. “That wasn’t so delicate, was it?” I try to laugh, but it comes out as a strangled sound, and he nods. “Yep. It's time to rest. We will discuss this at a different time.”
“I’m fine,” I manage to get out, then wince as my head starts to pound and my arms and legs feel like they weigh a hundred pounds.
“Of course you are. You are one of the strongest people I know, Mi Sol. Rest, the adrenaline is starting to wear off, and the magic you just expelled will take its toll.”
“Are you alright?” I manage to get out as my eyes close. Valen presses his lips to my forehead, then my cheek, before kissing my lips softly.
“I have never been better in my entire life. Sleep, Mi Sol. I’ll find you in your dreams,” he promises as I nod and let the exhaustion take me into a blissful sleep, wrapped in the arms of the man I love.
Something is there. It's watching me. Its eyes are heavy and uncomfortable on my skin. The sense of dread pools in my belly as I shake my head, trying to expel the feeling, but it only grows stronger, its dark presence like a cloak of death hanging over my head.
I gasp and sit upright in bed, the chill in the room heavy and unnatural as I press my hand to my thundering heart.
Fuck, what the hell was that? Did I have a nightmare?
My stomach turns, the dread I had felt increasing with each breath I take. I pant and look around the pitch-black room, eyes squinting as they slowly adjust to the darkness. I quickly thank the Gods for the fact that my eyesight has improved drastically since coming here as I scan the room, looking for whatever woke me. I pick out the dresser on the far side of Valen’s room, then the tiny tub and pile of clothes strewed on the floor that Valen and I never cleaned up after mating.
Shit, Valen. I turn in the bed and find my Dream Man sound asleep, his chest rising and falling with slow, easy breaths. His peaceful features help soothe me a little as I reach over and brush his hair from his forehead, then frown at how cold his skin is.
“What the hell? Valen?’ I whisper, hand moving to his shoulder, shaking him softly. “Hey,” I whisper, shaking him more, panic coursing through me when he doesn't respond or wake up. “Valen!?” I shout, patting his cheek, but there is no response. “Fuck! Am I in a dream? Why is he asleep?” I ramble out loud, shoving from the bed and looking around, grabbing my shirt and pants.
My head spins, and my vision darkens, and I groan, closing my eyes as I try to stay on my feet. I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus, then walked into a bar and drank an entire bottle of tequila. After a moment, the spinning slowly stops, and my vision clears, making me breathe a sigh of relief.
“Okay, don't freak out. Go get one of the guys,” I mutter, talking myself through my actions as I jump from foot to foot, wiggling into my clothes as fast as I can. “I’ll be right back!” I call out as if Valen can hear and respond to me before throwing the door to the room open and running out. I can feel the dread inside me grow, doubling in intensity when the hall, which usually has a few sconces lit, is as dark and cold as Valen’s room. I swallow my fear as I stumble down the dark hall, moving to Nox’s door and throwing it open, then curse when I find it empty.
“Dammit!” slamming the door shut, I move to the next room, finding the door open but no one inside. “Great. No one in the damn barracks when you actually need them. But they’re always there when I’m getting tossed over someone's shoulder,” I snarl under my breath, my hands gripping my hair at the roots and tugging as I try to figure out what to do next. Looking around, I feel a brush of magic course over my skin and frown. It feels familiar… but different.
“Hello?” I call out, turning and moving down the hall to the stairs that overlook a dark, bitterly cold common room. No fires are lit, and no Hunter or Rangers sit on the couches. “This is a dream; it has to be a dream,” I whisper, moving down the stairs to the door that leads to the small path to the castle.
There is a creak of a floorboard behind me, and I whirl around, hand moving to my hip before I curse, realizing I left Valen’s room without a weapon. I search the room, finding it empty and still, and I grind my molars together as I slowly turn and open the door. I have to get one of the guys. My eyes flicker back up the stairs, and I briefly think about going back for a weapon but shake my head and rush out into the snowy night, sprinting barefoot through the snow to the castle doors.
Something is wrong with Valen, and I need to get Nox. He’ll know what to do; he’ll be able to wake him up!
I slam my shoulder into the castle door and rush inside, not bothering to close it as I sprint down flight after flight of stairs. I feel like throwing up, my mind racing with every possible reason Valen won't wake up. When I stumble off the last flight of stairs that leads to the entry of the castle, I pull up short.
“No, no, no,” I whisper, spinning around and taking in the darkness of the rooms. There is no sound, no sign of life, nothing. “Dream. I’m dreaming and need to wake up.” I slam my eyes shut and try to figure out how to get myself out of this fucking nightmare when I feel the magic brush against my foot and squeak, leaping back and slamming my elbow into the wall behind me.
“Ow, dammit!” I rub at my now aching arm, grimacing when my head starts to spin, and my stomach heaves, trying to empty what little content is in it. Shit, this is not the time to be sick.
“Meyer?” I freeze at the sound of my name, head twisting toward the sound of Razar’s voice coming from down the dark hallway. “Meyer? Where are you?”
“Raz?!” I gasp and run. I sprint toward the entryway, desperate to get to him, as something clatters behind me. Bile rushes up my throat as a thrill of excitement races down my spine. “Razar!” I scream, tearing into the entryway. I let out a wounded sound when I find it empty, dark, and cold.
“Meyer?” My head whips to the right, ears straining for his voice, which now sounds farther away.
“Where are you?” I whisper, taking a few slow steps toward the dining hall, my hands shaking as I reach out, pressing one of the big wooden doors open. “Raz?” I whisper into the empty room, taking a few more steps in, head whipping in each direction, checking the shadows, the corners, everywhere for the hooded man I know will help.
“Meyer,” he calls again, sounding slightly more desperate, and I growl in frustration. His voice is distant, echoing from all directions, and I shake my head. Is this a game he’s trying to play? Maybe teaching me what to do in a situation like this. If it is, it’s not funny.
“Raz. Knock it off. I need help. Valen needs help!”
“I’m over here! Come over here, Meyer!” he growls, and I sigh in relief when his voice sounds closer, coming from my left. I turn, moving in his direction, but just as I take a step, the dread I had felt doubles and then triples, making the feeling turn from slight discomfort to outright pain and I freeze. Gasping, I move my hand to my chest, clutching at it, trying to get the pain to stop as something slowly registers in my mind.
Meyer.
Razar is calling me Meyer… not Pup. I frown and take a step back, feeling the pain lessen just the slightest amount. There is another brush of magic and I inhale sharply, realizing why it felt familiar.
“Fuck,” I whisper, realization hitting me as I take several more steps back from the direction I was just about to go in, then gasp as my back collides with something hard and warm.
“Hmm, not so stupid after all,” a familiar voice rasps out, and my eyes slam shut, terror coursing through me as I slowly turn and stare up into a beautiful, striking face I know and love so much. Only it’s not the comforting black-green eyes I see staring down at me from beneath the hood as I stumble back.
“Archer,” I whisper in realization as Razar’s twin grins down at me, a bow clutched in one hand, a knife in the other, his red eyes glowing in excitement as he stalks toward me.