Page 17

17

DIANA

M al rubbed soothing circles on my back as the doors of the elevator in the Training Building closed. He had siphoned some of my fear, but I was still skeptical of Desmond’s surprise. Nothing good ever came from a basement. Back in Nonna’s house in Brooklyn, we joked about a ghost haunting our basement because of how crowded it felt like someone was watching me when I went down there, which is why I often avoided it and all basements in general.

Never have I seen a basement in a movie and thought “Wow, something great is going to come out of here!” Usually that’s where the murderer hid in horror movies. And knowing how much of a hard ass Desmond was, this surprise could resemble a B rated horror scene. Or it could be a torture chamber.

“You’re not going to tell me what it is?” I asked Mal a second time.

“No. Desmond’s orders were to escort you here at nightfall.” He pressed the button for the basement and we descended.

“But I’m your Queen, remember? You upgraded me from Princess status. You should take your orders from me .” The elevator stopped, but the doors didn’t open.

Mal smoothed his thumb over my bottom lip. “Please don’t pout. Trust me, this is going to be a good training exercise, Queen. Afterward I’ll give you the Royal treatment,” he promised with a wink.

You better give me the fucking dynasty treatment after this bullshit.

He pressed another button, opening the doors to a dark, silent space. The only lights were swirls of glowing magic moving throughout the room. The dim lighting showed a maze, with walls that didn’t meet the ceiling.

“A maze?” I asked Mal.

“Yes. You need to reach the center and find the prize. But beware, you have no allies here. We’ll hunt you down, and if we catch you…you’ll wish we hadn’t,” he warned before fading away.

My blood rushed in my veins as I thought about my would-be attackers. The guys were hiding in there…waiting for me so they could hunt me down. This would be ten times more brutal than our daily training sessions, because they had the element of surprise and darkness on their side. but I refused to run around like a chicken with its head chopped off. I’d pass this challenge with flying colors, no matter what.

Oisín’s advice from earlier today flitted through my mind.

Sometimes speed is your best bet, but other times you need to slow down, set the tempo so you’re fighting on your wavelength.

I slowly walked into the maze’s opening, making a right turn and walking down the path. The silence was eerie, setting my teeth on edge.

I dropped into a crouch when I heard a low whizzing sound from behind me, my sore muscles protesting the sudden movement. A bolt of magic whizzed over my head, then hit the wall. Dry, vicious laughter tipped me off as to who was behind me.

“Don’t get on your knees right away, Birdie. We just got started,” Bash quipped.

I sprang up and lobbed a fireball right at his chest, but he blocked it. He blocked my next few attacks too, pressing closer with each one. I weaved my magic into a lasso and casted it over him, pulling until he was only a few steps from me. I imagined a stun gun, willing my magic to course through the lasso like bolts of electricity. He jerked and writhed on the ground, and I wasted no time running to the end of the hall and turning left.

I made a few more turns in random directions, so it was harder for Bash to find me. When I lived in Brooklyn, I rarely used a GPS app and worked off the grid system for my directions. But something told me this maze was going to be difficult. Some of the hallways were curved, while others were straight. Some had openings that bisected to other hallways. I was already losing my way.

A large figure faded in front of me, their face shrouded in darkness. It was tall and broad, with thick horns protruding from its head like a crown of wickedness. Those were Desmond’s horns. I didn’t wait for the roaming lights to illuminate us, attacking him on pure instinct with magical strikes shaped like small daggers. One or two of them hit, but most fizzled out before they hit him.

“Good try, Dollface,” his rasping voice tickled my ear, as if it was trying to burrow into my skull.

Fear sluiced through me, settling in my stomach like sour milk. My anxiety spiked as I was hit with the sudden, intense urge to run…to scream in fear.

“You said you’d never use your emotional manipulation on me,” I reminded him.

“All magic is fair game in war. You need to know how to block psychological attacks better,” he said.

I wanted to slap myself. Between trying not to get lost and anticipating the next attack, I let my mental shields weaken. I tried to force him out, but he held on tight. My heart beat a mile a minute as adrenaline pumped through my veins, and I took off running. I heard his footsteps behind me, gaining on me. He was chasing me, just like he had at the mountain house in New York.

Why was being chased a turn on for me? There was something about running away from my men and having them try to catch me that got my blood pumping and my pussy super wet. I’d save the psychoanalyzing for after I escaped.

“Hey, where are you going?!” he cackled.

I felt a burning hot bolt of magic hit my back, and my steps faltered. Fuck! His footsteps got closer, and I could hear his heavy breathing behind me.

“I smell your arousal. This is a turn on for me, too, my pretty little doll,” he rasped. “Let me catch you, and I’ll try not to hurt you.”

I turned my head to see exactly how close he was, then tripped and fell, skinning my knee on the ground. I crawled forward, but a weight on my back pinned me to the ground. Magical bindings circled my wrists, holding me tight.

“Right back to where we were this morning. I thought my favorite place to have you was over my knee, but tied up on the ground is so much better.”

“Whatcha got there?” Bash asked. I turned my head and saw him walking toward us.

“A cute little doll who was too slow and got caught. Wanna play with her?”

“I do love a good fuck-toy, Des.” Bash smirked at me.

As fun as that sounded, they could fuck off. I wasn’t going down without a fight. I willed my magic to snap the bindings, then turned into a large black raven. Desmond’s next strike barely missed me as I took flight, flying over the walls of the maze. I saw Mal below, but couldn’t find the center. Banking right, I landed in an empty hallway before changing back into myself. Thankfully, the new catsuits Quelier made for me morphed with me, so I wouldn’t be naked anymore.

I let my magic extend, the tendrils running the halls as they scanned for the presence of other magics. The coast was clear, so I turned, then went down to the end and turned again. I felt like I was walking in circles. Knowing my way was almost impossible with how dark it was.

Conjuring light risked giving my location away. But if I could morph my entire body, it wasn’t a huge jump to just morph my eyes. I stopped moving, focusing on animals that had night vision. Owls…snakes…bats…wolves…ummm, foxes…sharks. I envisioned their eyes, and felt my own painfully adapt. It stung, my vision becoming cloudy before everything came into a sharp focus as my night vision took root.

I could see everything—the black walls and magical markers on the floor included. Only the ones I passed were lit, which meant they probably alerted the guys to my location. They were playing games with me, letting me run around until they pinpointed my location. Well not anymore.

My new vision gave me an edge. Now I felt like a predator instead of prey…and would act like it. Why was I letting them hunt me when I should be hunting them?

I created a group chat of sorts with our mindlinks.

Change of plans, gentlemen. I’m hunting you now…

I took off at a run, determined to find them and make them all pay for this bullshit training exercise in the creepy basement. After a few minutes, I ran into Zaz. His black and white marbled wings were out in their full glory. They flapped at me, sending a magically enhanced gust of wind strong enough to knock me over.

You can do better than that, I taunted him.

He lifted his hand, and a torrent of water rushed at me. I erected a shield in enough time to block it. I let my own wings pop out, their red coloring a stark contrast to his. We circled, sizing each other up. Zaz usually attacked from an aerial vantage point, so I was curious as to how he’d fight on the ground.

He closed his eyes, and an image projected in my mind. It was us, sitting in a clearing surrounded by trees. We were eating a picnic lunch, laughing at something random a third person with us had said. I didn’t know her, but she looked familiar.

I felt a piercing hit drive into my shoulder, and it knocked me down. For fuck’s sake, he shaped his magic like an arrowhead.

“How did you—” I asked, before my body started to rise. Mal stood next to him now, levitating my body into the air so I was level with the tops of the walls.

“We got her!” he shouted. Desmond and Bash faded to us, and I noticed Ares’ absence from the group. I didn’t plan on sticking around and asking where he was. I had to get myself out of this.

I have to find the center of the maze. I need to be the best, to survive what I knew was coming.

My shoulder was repairing itself, but the wound was deep. My blood seeped into the fabric of my uniform, the pain making it hard to concentrate. I had to think. How could I get out of this?

But beware, you have no allies here.

No, I didn’t have any allies here… yet . But I knew exactly who to summon. Sometimes when I thought of Feta, he appeared. One time I even called him while I was reading in bed, and he popped into the room and plunked himself next to me to snuggle. I wasn’t sure how the dog’s magic worked, but it was worth a shot.

Feta, here boy! FETA!

The guys attacked, throwing an onslaught of magic at me. My shield bounced most of it off, but I knew it would only hold for so long. I tried using my power to break Mal’s magic and morphing shapes to escape, but nothing worked.

“You want to surrender?” Desmond asked.

“Make it easy on yourself, and—OUCH, WHAT THE FUCK?!” Bash shouted as a terrifying snarl grabbed my attention. “Feta get off me!”

He sank his teeth right into Bash’s ass, ripping through the fabric of his uniform. No matter how much Bash struggled or how much magic the guys used to make Feta let go, he held on. The whole ordeal seemed so painful.

But as a wise, red headed bastard once said… All magic is fair game in war.

Mal’s concentration on me diverted enough that I busted through his magic, my wings catching the air before I gracelessly fell to the floor. I flew over the maze, Feta running beneath me.

Thank you, my favorite big boy, I cooed. He ran back toward the guys, which gave me time to locate the center of the maze.

I knew this building was the biggest in Pit-13, but they one hundred percent used magic to augment the size of the basement. It seemed to go on forever, and I couldn’t find the center of it. After several minutes of trying, I landed in a corner to regroup.

Something wasn’t right. Between running and flying, I should have covered a decent portion of the maze, yet I was no closer to reaching its center. I didn’t even think I was close.

Now that I think about it, this is the first corner I saw… Where were the other three?

This maze was rigged. I’d bet money it didn’t have a center, and they somehow spelled it to reroute as we traveled through it. The markers probably didn’t track my location, but demarcated what sections of the maze needed to change.

I ran down a hallway, made a left turn, then a right one through an open doorway that bisected the hall. After waiting a few minutes, I retraced my steps, only to find the first turn I made replaced by a dead end. The markers that changed as I passed were now back to their original color.

There was the proof I needed.

“You figured it out, didn’t you?” Ares whispered in my ear. Somehow, the bull in the china shop snuck up on me from behind. I whirled around, my face smacking into his chest.

His entire body was encased in his godly golden glow, which showcased his traditional war helmet and armor. He even had a shield strapped to his back.

“Come quietly, and I won’t hunt you down,” he offered. “Although judging by your scent right now, it seems you want a repeat of what happened in the woods months ago. We can do this the easy way, or the rough way.” The way he said ‘the rough way’ in his deep, purring Greek accent felt like a caress over my most intimate parts.

I wanted him to be rough. To take my body to new heights.

“I’ll never surrender. You’ll have to catch me.”

My instinct took over. I ran as fast as my super speed would let me, down hallway after hallway, making too many turns to find my way back out again. Ares was hot on my heels the whole time, his breathing louder with every step I took.

Keep running Little Goddess. I’ll chase you to the end of the earth, wherever you go, he growled in my mind. When I catch you, I’m going to make you moan so loud the others will hear us from across the maze.

I pushed myself as hard as I could, my breathing erratic as I frantically sought an escape. My hard nipples rubbed against my catsuit, and I felt lust pool deep in my core. I was so turned on by the idea of being hunted by him. Imagining him chasing, catching, and ravaging me was almost enough to make me stop. The feeling only intensified when I saw Desmond and Mal cut me off at the end of the hallway. The only thing better than one of them catching me was all of them catching me…

My wings flared, and I flew over them, resuming my run when I hit the ground again. The three of them chased me down hallway after hallway, coming so close to catching me that they tore my sleeve. The high I hit knowing they were right behind me, so close to catching me. It raged inside of me, turning me into an animal.

It distracted me so much that I didn’t see Bash fade in front of me until it was too late. I wasn’t sure if I started the fade before or after they had touched me. But when I finally landed in my bedroom, Bash’s hand collared my neck and Mal’s were wrapped around my waist. Zaz appeared last, and I felt Bash’s magic seal the room.

No one can come in or out, Birdie. You’re going to learn some fucking manners, Bash growled down the mindlink.

Zaz came up behind Bash, projecting his silver magic through his body. “You’re all healed up and ready to educate,” he said before grinning at me.

“Zaz, you’re going to let him punish me?” I pouted, putting on the helpless maiden face he fell for so often.

“Yeah, I am. You sicced Feta on us. As creative a battle tactic as it was, it’s very deserving of a punishment. I’ll be here to oversee it, don’t worry,” he assured me. He laid on his side of the bed facing us.

“Wow, I feel so much better now,” I needled him. He liked to play at being the good guy, but he had a light sadistic streak that came out to play every now and then.

Bash leaned me over the bed, until my cheek touched the pillow. I struggled, trying to buck him off. I wanted to fight him, to feel him dominating me as he put me in my place. He tied my hands together with a magical binding, then Mal added his own magic for good measure.

“You too, Mal?”

“I told you, you had no allies in the maze. You riled me up, and now you’re going to reap the consequences, my queen. Bash, pull her hips back from the bed, give me some room.”

Bash positioned me so my lower stomach and hips were off the bed. Mal sat on the floor between my legs, his back against the bed with his face tilted up. He pulled my hips down, so his face was right in my pussy.

“As hot as the catsuit is, it needs to go,” Zaz said before he snapped his fingers. All my clothes disappeared, leaving my body bare for them.

Mal buried his face into me, licking up my seam and swirling his tongue around my clit. I was strung like a bow from the chase, so tight I felt insanely close to falling apart on his tongue. He sucked down hard as Bash landed a hard slap to my ass.

I moaned from the unexpected impact. The two distinct pleasures warred with each other, coursing through me and settling low in my stomach.

“Count.” Zaz’s gentle voice was such a contrast to Bash’s brashness. “I think ten is a good start.”

“One,” I forced out through a moan as Mal speared his tongue inside me, his groan vibrating through me. Fuck, he felt so good.

“Don’t you dare come,” Bash ordered me as he spanked me on the other cheek. Mal moved up to my clit, circling it and sucking on it until my pelvis started to shake.

“Two,” I cried, wanting to come so badly. I was so close.

Mal eased up with little flicks of his tongue and bites. I thrust my hips down, but he only laughed. “You’ll take what you get, Queen.”

Bash spanked me a third time, harder than the first two. The pain radiated through my entire lower body, bringing tears to my eyes.

“Three,” I rasped out.

He rubbed his hand over my smarting skin, then dug his fingertips into it right as Mal slid his fingers inside me. The pain melted into pure pleasure as he worked them inside me.

“You’re doing such a good job, honey,” Zaz crooned. I internally melted at his praise. Knowing he watched me being punished added a whole layer to this. My cheeks heated with shame and lust.

Bash slapped my ass twice in the same spot as Mal sucked on my clit, his fingers still inside me.

“Four, fi—” Bash spanked me lower this time, part of the blow landing on my pussy. I shrieked, coming on the spot.

“Fuck yes.” Mal buried his face deeper, feasting on me and pressing that spot inside me just right with his fingers.

“I told you not to come,” Bash reminded me, his tone serious. “Do you think you should be rewarded during a punishment?”

“I don’t think I should be punished at all,” I quipped. “You’re just mad you got the drop by a dog.”

Bash levitated me out of the bed, and onto the floor. “Kneel.”

I smiled to myself, because if he thought sucking dick was a punishment, he missed the mark.

I knelt, opening my mouth wide. He snapped his fingers, removing his clothes and revealing his muscular body. He had a swimmer’s build, with broad shoulders that made me drool. He thrust his hard cock inside my mouth, all the way to the back of my throat and held it there. I peered up at him and hoped my defiance came through my gaze as I swallowed around him.

Fuck my face, I linked him. You know how much I love that…

I loved it almost as much as I loved getting under my men’s skin. This would not be the punishment he thought it would be. No matter how hard he fucked my face, or how little air he gave me, I took it like a champ. I sucked and swallowed around him as much as I could. A brazen part of me relished the tears sliding down my cheeks—the drool dribbling out of my mouth. He wrecked me so well. Lust coiled deep in my core, and I wanted, no, needed , something. Anything. I wanted to come again so badly.

“Hells bells, she’s enjoying this almost as much as you are,” Mal said to Bash as he knelt next to me. He rubbed my shoulders as he kissed down my neck, over my collar bone. Everywhere but where I needed his lips. Fuck, it was getting hot in here.

“Look at the blush creeping over your skin,” Zaz remarked. “You love eating cock, don’t you my angelic little slut?”

Yes. I want yours next, I purred down the mindlink. Zaz was so turned on, I felt his positivity swirling around the room, lifting me up and giving me a sense of euphoria that could be dangerous during sex… I want you to all to come inside me and stuff me like a fucking cream puff. Then we’ll see who gets to eat the filling.

You’re fucking filthy, he groaned, getting off the bed and kneeling on my other side. He pushed three fingers inside me, and fuck, I felt full…but not full enough. I wanted more.

Bash pulled out of me, then lifted me up to stand. He turned me around and bent me over the bed. He thrust inside of me, his hips moving erratically.

“Stars above, you’re so wet,” he groaned. “I’m going to make you fucking sloppy.”

“Don’t knot her, I can’t wait that long,” Mal said as he took his length in hand, stroking up and down while he watched us.

Bash’s release was hot, and before I could feel it run down my leg, Mal stood, unbuckled his pants, and pushed inside me. I looked over my shoulder, and saw Bash standing next to him, his hand on the back of Mal’s neck.

“Fuck, this feels amazing. I feel so close to you…both of you…” Mal said as he rubbed my clit in fast, tight circles.

The carnal desire on Bash’s face—the heat in his eyes—made my pussy clench around Mal. I loved that expression…and the activities it often led to.

“Are you mine?” Bash asked Mal. He pulled his hair, tilting his head back.

“Haven’t I always been?” Mal answered. “I always will be, too.” They locked eyes, something unspoken passing between them. Then Bash bit down into Mal’s neck, hard, breaking his skin. The sight of the blood, the feeling of Mal’s fingers on my clit, and the utter destruction in how he pounded inside me made me come so violently I soaked the sheets beneath me.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! You feel so fucking good, Queen,” Mal shouted before he came inside me, too.

“I need to lay down,” Mal said, laying on the bed and pulling me on top of him, wrapping his hands around my waist. He buried his face in my neck.

I felt you, Malevolent. I’m exhausted too.

“Zaz…” I called. “Please…”

“That was so hot to watch, I feel like a live wire. Not sure how long I’m going to last…” he admitted to me.

“I just want you inside me, please?” I asked. I didn’t care if it was downright filthy, I needed him inside me. Now.

I felt Zaz rub circles into my back, his angelic warmth spreading through me. It was like a little hit of love, energy, and warmth rolled into one. “I can never say no to you.”

He gently slid inside me. I heard how wet I was, and the thought of how I got this way made my pussy flutter around him. He leaned over until his chest was against my back, and his face was near Mal’s.

“You’re both so fucking beautiful,” Zaz whispered as he drove into me in slow, measured thrusts. “Inside and out.” I felt him hit me in a deep, sensitive spot, and the wave of pleasure that overtook me felt like electricity coursing through me.

I felt Mal hardening beneath me, rubbing himself into me. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, Mal, you’re so brave. So fiercely loyal,” Zaz said as he caressed Mal’s cheek. “I love the way you take care of our woman.” How did he always know what to say to make me melt inside.

Good dick game was a great way to orgasm, but Zaz had something none of my men had—the power of words. The gift of making them so utterly hot and sexual I couldn’t help but feel them like a physical touch.

Somehow his thrusts got harder, deeper, and I knew he was close. I felt a wet finger touch where Zaz and I connected, and I moaned.

Please… I begged Mal. I sounded so desperate, but I didn’t care. He carefully slipped it inside me, and I felt so full. So good. Fuck . I came again, taking Zaz with me.

I had no clue what happened in the next few minutes, My brain went offline, disconnecting to the fuzzy, floaty place it sometimes went to after sex. My limbs felt like jelly. And my poor pussy…I was sure she’d feel something tomorrow, probably with every step I took.

The door slamming against the wall brought me out of my haze.

“You ran a train without me! What the fuck, guys?” Ares’ deep, whiny voice filled the room. “Wait—you’re CLAIMED? Bash claimed you?! Holy shit can an incubus even do that more than once? How come they don’t write books on this shit.”

Oh yeah. I guess it made sense now why Bash bit him so hard. I touched the angry skin on Mal’s neck, and heard his sharp inhale of breath.

“Welcome to the club,” I congratulated him.

“Thanks,” he breathed. “I didn’t think to ask if you minded…”

“Of course I don’t mind. I love you all so much, it would only make sense for you all to love each other, too.” Mal kissed my cheek, then nipped my nose. “You want to go in together on a Stalkers Anonymous membership for him for his birthday?”

“I don’t know. He seems like a hopeless case. And I sort of like his stalking anyway…”

Ha! He says that now.

I wouldn’t burst his bubble. He’d find out in his own time. A great yawn spread through my whole body, falling out of my mouth, unwelcomed. I rolled off Mal, while Bash and Ares talked about something boring.

“Mal…” I said.

“Yes, Queen?” he responded.

I yawned again, never actually finishing my thought because I fell asleep.

Thirst hit my dry, battered throat, waking me up in the middle of the night. I carefully dislodged myself from the three of them, tip-toeing around the room until I got to the door. Every aching step reminded me of how I ended up in this condition.

And it was so worth it.

My cheeks burned just thinking about it. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe that I went from being a regular bartender in a jazz club with no romance in my life to Hellish royalty with five men who made me feel like this. Who actually supported me and believed in me. Who knew I was a badass independent woman, but still treated me like anything but in the bedroom.

Life was crazy, I thought as I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of cold water from the fridge.

I took my glass to the living room and sat down on a couch, wincing at the contact to my ass. Several minutes of silence passed as I sipped on my water and thought about all the changes in my life over the past months.

“Are you okay?” Zaz asked as he faded next to me.

“Yeah, are you?” I took a sip of water, then handed him the glass.

“No. I woke up and you weren’t there, so I used our soulbond to find you…” he answered before drinking the rest and setting the empty glass on the table.

“I’m sorry for worrying you. I got thirsty and ended up lost in thought.” I climbed into his lap, resting my head on his chest.

“Remember when I ended up at your cabin?” I asked him.

“Yeah. It was snowing, and you showed up butt naked, your feet almost frostbitten. You seemed so calm despite it all.”

“I thought it was a dream. That you were this hot dream guy who made delicious venison chili. Sometimes I still think I’m dreaming…”

He squeezed me, resting his head on top of mine. “That’s understandable. Your life has turned upside down. All the change is beyond stressful.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to give this up. I love you all so much…” Tears welled in my eyes, because if that vision came to pass, I may not have a choice. “I’m so scared that Red will kill me. Or you guys. That we won’t have a future.”

“Visions of the future are not set in stone,” he reminded me.

“This one feels like it is,” I breathed through my tears, refusing to cry.

“What if I told you I’ve seen our future and all the beauty in it?”

I sit up on his lap, turning to face him. “You have?”

“Multiple versions, because none of it is guaranteed. I’ve seen us fight this battle dozens of ways—our victory and defeat—but I see us winning more than I see us losing. I’ve seen our mountain house, and the fun we have together. I’ve even seen our children, Diana.” As he said the last words, his voice cracked. “I saw you as a mother, and that gives me hope for our survival.”

He’s seen our children, as in more than one? I knew I wanted kids, but they seemed like such a far off goal with all the conflict we faced.

“What are they like?” I asked.

He hesitated for a moment, then offered me his hand. I took it, waiting for something to happen.

“Use your magic to see what I see. Tap into our bond,” he instructed.

I reached for the bond that linked us. At one point, it had been frayed, but now they were strong. Because we worked to rebuild them thread by thread. My mind and soul were open, and I called to his visions.

Show me our children, I thought with intention. Snippets of visions of a little girl with curly chestnut brown hair and ocean blue eyes filtered through my mind.

In the first vision, my baby girl cuddled with Desmond as he read a bedtime story about a unicorn on an epic adventure. In the second, she was a toddler. Mal chased after her as she ran through a kitchen with a spatula. A slightly older version of her casted a spell to move a plate of cookies across a table, and Zaz was there to cheer her on. She, Ares, and a younger little boy with red hair practiced fighting in a sparring ring outdoors. Bash, Ares, and I laid on a blanket outdoors at night with two teens and another younger girl, showing them the constellations.

The last version was one I saw before—of the familiar looking woman, Zaz, and I eating a picnic in the forest. That woman was a grown up version of the first little girl.

I let go of his hand, breaking the visions. Zaz held me as I sat on his lap in stunned silence. We made a family together after the war… There were three children in that dream. I made three people, at least. That’s three more people who depended on me to win this war, and end Red once and for all.

“They’re…” I trailed off.

“A handful,” Zaz finished for me. “I’ve had many visions of the first child, although I don’t know her name. She has the same crazy laugh as you, and she loves pushing the envelope. I’ve seen the little boy, but he’s a lot more reserved. He’s a momma’s boy, your little shadow following you everywhere.”

My heart swelled at the idea of having a little mini-me shadow. “How come you’ve never told me about them?”

“I had some unease about us when we first got together. Our soulbond wasn’t romantic, it was for protection. I didn’t watch you constantly like a creep, but I did drop in on you from time to time, especially for all your theater and musical productions.” I laughed, and he rolled his eyes. “It took some getting used to. I started getting all of these visions when we started dating, and it seemed crazy to tell you ‘Hey, I know we just met in these crazy circumstances, and there’s a war brewing, but I’m going to have a baby with you at some point.’...”

“You didn’t want to seem pushy,” I finished his thought for him. Benefits of having a soulbond.

“Yeah. And then after Ares pulled his birth control nonsense, I definitely didn’t tell you about it. I want you to make that particular decision in your own time, and whether or not you want kids, I’ll always be here for you.”

“I do want kids, but I won’t bring them into this world until I know Red is dead and gone. They shouldn’t have to watch their backs and worry about threats. I will always make sure they’re safe.”

He nodded in agreement as he rubbed his hands up and down my thigh. “You’re beautiful, do you know that? I’m really tempted to pull an Ares and say something corny like Let’s get some baby making practice in, Little Goddess. I wanna get it just right when I fuck a baby into you.”

Holy cosmos and ground beneath, that was an awful impression. I busted out laughing so hard I started snorting. “Your Greek accent is awful.”

“Oh, like you can do a better impression,” he challenged me, tickling my sides.

I closed my eyes, morphing into Ares. I made sure to don a speedo, so all his muscles and chest hair were on display. As my body rearranged itself, the couch sank beneath me, and I silently thanked Mal for magically reinforcing all of our furniture when we moved in weeks ago.

Jumping up from the couch, I said in a decent Greek accent, “I am Ares, God of War and Personification of Chaos. I shall slay my enemies and paint the world red with their blood. Then I’ll get victory tacos before splitting my Little Goddess’ taco with my giant ridged dick!”

“Fo fuck’s sake, that was good,” Zaz laughed as I flexed my muscles. “For real though, his dick is a monster. RIP your Taco.”

“It seems to be doing just fine to me, despite the train I wasn’t invited to,” Ares said as he came into the living room. “Diana’s impression was better though.”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you that eavesdropping is rude?” I asked him, as him. And in my impression of his voice. It was a mindfuck, but a fun one.

“Not when it comes to you. Everything you do and say is my business, LG. I always have an eye and ear on you,” he replied, smiling at himself. He walked around me, looking me up and down. “I’m so fucking hot. Can I fuck you like this?”

“How did I know he was going to ask that?” Zaz sighed.

“Maybe if you’re good, but not tonight. My pussy literally aches.” I kept it vague, because I didn’t want to take it off the table. But my body was closed for service tonight. And maybe tomorrow. I needed a break.

“On that note, let’s go to sleep. I’ll do a warm compress for you. We have a busy day tomorrow,” Zaz said, picking me up bridal style.

Goodnight, love you, Ares linked me as he kissed me on the cheek. He gave Zaz his own kiss, then slapped his ass before going back to his room.