Page 44 of Gods and Graves

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

KRYSTIAN

S omething is different when I wake up the next morning.

I…remember.

I remember everything that happened the night before, when I was Krys.

Holy fuck.

That has never happened to me before.

I remember discussing the plan for today with Everett and Rafe, before all of us went silent, transfixed by the cries and moans drifting through the door. I remember stalking forward, placing my hand on the knob, and preparing to barge inside. But…something stopped me.

Zaid’s whispered confession about this being his first time.

I remember the shame that filled me when I thought about my own sordid past and the flings with girls I used and discarded. Then, I remember thinking—why not let Zaid have his moment?

It took considerable self-restraint, but I returned to the queen-sized bed and sat down stiffly, my cock feeling like granite in my pants.

Krys showed…restraint.

I showed restraint.

Fuck.

The other two guys are still sleeping—Everett awkwardly draped in one of the armchairs, his body too big for the minuscule piece of furniture. Rafe sleeps like a damn vampire in the bed beside mine, his body perfectly still and his hands folded on his chest.

I shakily run a hand through my hair, my thoughts whirling.

How is this possible? How do I remember everything that happened last night? How is it that Krys showed restraint when he lacks the ability to?

Unless…

I swallow the lump in my throat and pad on silent feet to the bathroom, slipping inside and closing the door behind me. I place my hands on the granite countertop and take a deep, shuddering breath.

I know the others have been claiming for years that Krys and I are the same, yet I haven’t believed them. I always considered us two entirely separate entities—a Jekyll and Hyde case scenario.

But…

But they’re right.

Thea is right.

Taking another deep breath, I finally lift my head and take in my reflection.

A gasp lodges in my throat.

I’m…me. But I also look different.

My eyes are darker, the cerulean blue appearing almost indigo in the bathroom light. And my hair… My hair is darker too, the white strands underscored with black streaks.

“What the fuck?” I whisper, bringing a trembling hand to my face.

Those are definitely my features. I can feel the pressure of my fingers against my jawline.

Is it possible that Thea was right about more than just Krys and me being the same? Have we finally…merged?

I catalogue myself, my emotions, wondering if I feel differently.

I still feel like me, but…more confident. There’s a part of me that wants to march into Hades’s throne room and demand answers. That same part wants to crawl into bed with Thea, part her creamy thighs, and lap at her slit until she’s crying my name.

And since the first idea will get me killed…

I slip out of the bathroom and move towards the connecting door.

Rafe and Everett are still asleep, which surprises me.

Then again, we did have a stressful few days.

I can’t imagine either of them has slept more than a wink since Thea materialized in our lives.

I wonder if they took comfort in the fact they could hear her—her breathy moans, her pleas for more, her ragged breaths.

My cock stirs to life, as it always does at just the thought of her.

I slip into the second bedroom and pause to admire my beautiful sleeping reaper. It’s strange to watch her like this, unencumbered. With her lashes shut, she looks soft and vulnerable. Normally, there’s a combative glint in her blue eyes that never fails to rile me up.

Zaid is curled around her, also naked, his hand cupping her perfect tit in his sleep.

Lucky bastard.

I move to her side of the bed and kneel before her, taking in the flawless perfection that is her face.

“Thea,” I whisper, keeping my voice soft to not disturb Zaid. “Thea, love.”

Her lashes flutter, confusion creasing her brow. She blinks repeatedly before her hooded eyes settle on me.

“Krys?” She blinks again, rubs at her face, and then frowns. “Krystian?”

I can’t stop the small smile from unfurling on my lips.

Krys…

Krystian.

I suppose either will work.

“It’s me, shortstack,” I say, tenderly brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear.

She gawks in surprise, moving to sit up. Zaid’s hand falls on the bed with an audible thump.

I lick my lips as I admire her naked upper body. God, those tits… I could lick and suck on them for hours. I wonder what they would look like with my cock between them.

“You called me shortstack,” she whispers, stunned.

I frown. “I…did.” Where does that nickname come from? Is it…Krys’s for her? “Are you okay with that?”

“Of course.” She tenderly cups my cheek, and I allow my eyes to shut as I lean in to her touch. Warmth migrates from her palm and spreads through me like wildfire. “I love whatever name you call me.” Her thumb absently brushes just underneath my right eye. “Your eyes are darker.”

“They are,” I concede easily.

She swallows. “And your hair…”

“Something happened last night,” I confess, grabbing her wrist to pull her hand off my face. I absently begin to play with her fingers as I struggle to find the right words. “I…I remember what Krys did.”

Her brows scrunch together. “This is the first time that’s ever happened, right?”

I nod. “Right. But the last few days, I started thinking of Krys differently. Like he was a part of me, instead of someone else entirely. You were right, Thea. Of course you were right. Krys is me. He may be loud and obnoxious and pigheaded, but he wouldn’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

A wide, beatific smile spreads across her face, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful.

“I had a feeling for a while that Krys remembered everything you did during the day, that he accepted you. All you needed to do was accept him in return,” she confesses, twisting our combined hands so she’s the one playing with my fingers instead.

A shiver runs through me at her feather-like touch. “Do you feel different?”

“Not overly,” I say with a shrug. “Maybe a little more confident and daring.”

“I’m… I’m happy for you, Krystian. Proud of you. I know you struggled with the two facets of your personality.” A tiny blush heats her cheeks, and she lowers her head, focusing on our fingers.

“You helped me,” I whisper, leaning towards her. “I never would’ve gotten to this point without your encouragement.”

Her brows lower. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You did everything,” I assure her.

I kiss her before she can argue.

Thea melts against me instantly, her hands trailing up my arms to curl around my neck. Her bare breasts press against my shirt, and all I can think is that I want her. Again and again and again.

I want every piece of her, the good and the bad. The parts that she tries to hide and the parts she happily embraces. Her anger and jealousy. Her happiness and joy. Her sadness. And if she gives herself to me, I’ll treasure every piece of her until the day I die.

We already lost so much damn time together. I refuse to waste even another second.

I pull away just enough to rasp out, “I wanted to wake you up with my tongue between your pretty thighs, lapping at your sweet pussy, but I need your permission first. Can I wake you up like that, love? With you shaking and panting and crying my name as I fucking devour you?”

Her chest heaves, lust darkening her eyes. “Yes…god, yes.”

I smirk and tug her back into my arms. “Good answer.”

I kiss her again—each swipe of my tongue against hers a possessive claim—and she suddenly goes still. I grin wickedly when I see Zaid behind her, his lips nibbling on the skin of her neck.

Goose bumps pebble on her skin, and Zaid moans huskily.

“Fuck, you’re so responsive, sweetheart.”

“If I shove my fingers between your thighs, will you be wet?” I ask, desperate to do just that.

“So wet,” she whimpers.

I grin and exchange a sly glance with Zaid. Our reaper isn’t ready for double penetration yet—we’ll have to ease her into it with butt plugs and fingers—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other things we can all do together.

Maybe she can ride my cock while sucking off Zaid, or vice versa.

Maybe she can wrap her tiny hands around both of our shafts, and we can paint her perfect tits in our cum.

Maybe she can alternate sucking on us, her head swiveling as she licks up and down our dicks.

Maybe she can?—

“Get dressed!” Everett barks, pounding his fist against the door connecting the two rooms.

All three of us freeze.

“Hades’s goddamn minions are here!” Everett snarls. “They’re taking us to him, and so help me god, if any of these fuckers hear a single moan from Thea, I’ll go on a murder spree.”

“I already did,” Rafe murmurs…from directly behind us.

We all spin, Zaid and I moving instinctively to block Thea from view.

Rafe stands at the foot of the bed wearing his favorite leather jacket, his black hair hanging loose and disheveled around his face. In his hand is…a minotaur horn.

Holy fuck.

Rafe throws it into the air carelessly and catches it, his eyes trained on Thea between Zaid and me.

“I’ll have to add it to your bouquet of fingers,” he says simply—like the goddamn psychopath he is.

Though…I am happy he murdered the minotaur who thought he could push around our girl. I’m also grateful Rafe chose to do it away from us, so as not to trigger Thea’s reaping frenzy.

“You kept my finger bouquet?” Thea asks with hearts in her eyes.

“Of course.” Rafe offers her a droll look, as if she’s silly for thinking otherwise. “I have it displayed in my bedroom, though we’ll have to move it when we return home. Perhaps to the dining room table?”

“No way in hell,” Everett snaps from the other side of the door, obviously listening in.

Thea simply swoons, her lashes fluttering as if she’s envisioning jumping the crazy blood fae right then and there.

I wouldn’t be entirely averse to that idea.

But then I remember we have a bunch of armed, dangerous guards right outside the door, and my cock softens instantly.

“Fucking cockblocking god,” I murmur, moving back to the other room to get dressed.

I want to kill the God of the Underworld.

Then, I want to fuck Thea senseless while my brothers watch.

For now, I need to shower and change.

A long, cold shower.

Fucking Hades.