Page 36

Dani

“By the shimmer of the ruby’s gleam,

In shadows cast, let’s weave a dream.

From within this gem so red,

I summon forth what’s long been dead.

Soul of longing, heed my call,

Slip from the necklace, let darkness fall.

In this hour, with whispered breath,

Awaken the heart, embrace thy death.

Rise from the depths below,

In this ruby’s light, your power shall grow.

So it is spoken; now let it be,

From ruby’s grasp, I set free!”

I chant once again.

“Ugh! This is so frustrating!” I drop the grimoire onto the hard marble floor of the living room and stomp back and forth.

“Dani, just calm down. You’ll get it. I know you will,” Amelia exclaims as she holds Jules, who leans against her on the large couch.

“Then why isn’t it working?! Why isn’t his soul releasing from this stupid fucking necklace?!” Anger arises in me, and Dax approaches, soothing me with his influence. Immediately, I start to take deep breaths and let out a sigh.

“Thanks, Dax,” I say to him. Adonis and Killian sit on the opposite side of the couch from Amelia and Jules. Adonis gives me a weak smile, and my heart nearly breaks. I have to get this figured out.

“That shit, the whole changing of moods, is still so bizarre to see….” Jules says to Dax and me.

“You’ll get used to it,” Dax flashes his cocky smile at her .

It’s been weeks since Amelia told Jules everything. She was, for the most part, pretty understanding, but damn, she was mad at me. She eventually understood why I didn’t tell her after she forced me to tell her every little detail. Jules is the best friend anyone could ever hope for.

“I doubt I’ll ever get used to the fact that my best friend is a mate to three demons, and you all have these weird superpowers,” Jules jokes. “Or the fact that my girlfriend is a fallen angel.”

Jules looks up at Amelia as she leans back on her. “Celestial being… I hate the term ‘fallen angel’. And, girlfriend, huh? I thought you weren’t into labels?” Amelia quips.

“Of course you’re my girlfriend! I do things to you that I’ve never done to another woman before. I’d say you’re more than my girlfriend, babe. You’re fucking stuck with me!” Amelia laughs and kisses Jules’ forehead.

“Did Suzanna say anything else that you can remember, Dani? Anything that could be a clue on how to release my soul from the necklace?” Adonis asks.

I know he is eager to get rid of this necklace and feel whole again.

It guts me that I’ve read this spell sixteen times now and not a damn thing has happened.

I’ve read it in the woods, in the same summoning spot where I first summoned my mates, during sex, after sex, with everyone present, with just me and Adonis, by myself; and nothing.

Not a damn thing. Not even a flicker of power.

“Or perhaps she was wrong?” Killian says. I shoot a menacing glare at him, and he leans back into the couch.

“Ouch, Kil. You just got the death stare,” Dax jokes.

“All of you have felt the necklace and Adonis’ chest. You all feel it, too. His soul is in this necklace, I know it,” I say confidently.

“What if it’s a trick?” We all look at Jules expressionlessly. “No, really. You all said Octavia was conniving, and this sounds too easy to me. Octavia is a cunt. There is no way she would just write the spell and slap it here for your mate to read.”

Damn. Maybe Jules was right? This is almost too easy to be the real deal, which would explain why the spell wasn’t working.

“I think you’re right, Jules,” Adonis says, standing up from the couch. He walks over to me and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear like he always does.

God, do I love this man.

“It all makes sense. Octavia was selfish and always had ulterior motives.” Adonis shifts his gaze from me to Kil. “Have you found anything more about Suzanna?”

Killian sighs, “Unfortunately, no. I do think she traces back to centuries ago, before Dani.”

“Possibly a great-great-great-great, times ten, great grandmother?” I ask, half joking but half serious. He smiles at me, “Something like that. Dax and I are going to the public library to look into the records more.”

“Oh! I want to come!” Jules jumps up from the couch.

“Sounds like a date. We are leaving in twenty,” Killian smiles at Jules as he runs his hands through his honey-brown hair.

“I’m coming too!” Amelia says, following Jules to her room.

Jules and Amelia return moments later with their bags and raincoats.

Thunder rumbles ominously, shaking the very foundations of the grand room, while bright flashes of lightning momentarily illuminate the ornate chandeliers that hang from the high ceiling.

A powerful surge of wind sweeps through the windows, causing the flickering of lights to paint ghostly shadows against the richly adorned walls.

The storm roars like a wild beast outside, piercing the fragile tranquility of the evening with its ferocity.

“Be careful, guys. It’s getting pretty bad out there,” I say while wrapping my arms around Killian first .

He kisses the top of my. I inhale, collecting his scent of cedar and oak. With a deep laugh, Killian says, “You forget what we are, Dani… Adonis practically is the storm when he has full power.” Adonis gives Killian a pained look.

“I love you, sunshine,” he whispers for just me to hear. I tilt my head up and tell him I love him back.

I hug Dax next. His tan arms wrap around me, and he soothes me with comfort. I know when he uses his influence on me. My body warms and starts to tingle as he calms down my anxiety.

“I love you, little dove.” Dax gently grabs my chin and presses his lips to mine for a quick embrace.

“Love you too. A lot, a lot.” I reply back. Dax flashes his dimples and his perfect teeth. “A lot, a lot,” he repeats and my heart melts.

“Stay out of trouble. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Dax winks behind me at Adonis.

“There is nothing you wouldn’t do, Dax,” Adonis says as he folds his muscular arms around his chest. Lightning flashes through the large window, lighting up Adonis, making him look like the celestial god I know he truly is.

His smile darkens, and his blue eyes are almost glowing.

“Precisely,” Dax’s grin sharpens, and a shiver of satisfaction runs through me.

“Alright,” Jules taunts with her hands on her hips, “are we done with all this mushy ‘I love you’ bullshit? We got some detective business to do, boys.”

I pat Dax on the chest and then walk over to Adonis. “Let us know if we can help in any way, okay?” I say to everyone.

“Just keep on reading through the grimoire. Maybe you guys will find something different that will jump out this time,” Killian says in a hopeful tone.

Hours pass while Adonis and I read the grimoire page for page. Whatever I can’t quickly translate from Latin to English, Adonis does for me.

As I take a moment to pause, I lift myself off the chilly marble floor.

I arch my back, twist my neck, and interlace my fingers, eliciting a cascade of satisfying pops and cracks from my weary joints.

Each sound resonates in the stillness, leaving me feeling a touch lighter as if shedding an unseen weight.

Looking over with an amused expression, Adonis raises his dark brows in mock disbelief. “Damn, woman,” he retorts, a teasing lilt in his voice, “you sound like you’ve just crawled out of the grave.”

I smile at him. I need to stretch, so I bend down to grab my ankles, open my legs and stretch. Then I place my hands on the floor, doing a few yoga poses: downward dog, child’s pose, triangle pose, and cat-cow. Right away, my body starts to feel better.

“Do that downward pose again for me. I liked that angle of you,” his throaty voice is low and sends a shiver up my spine.

Just before I bend over in front of him, lightning cracks again, a few times in a row. I jump out of my skin. Adonis’ tattooed arms wrap around my waist as he holds me tightly. His hot breath on my ear, “Someone is a little spooked. I thought you loved storms?”

I grind my ass against him, knowing what it will do. “I do love storms. This lightning is just off the charts, and I got startled, that’s all...” he deepens our embrace and rubs his hardness on my back. “Want to go fuck in the rain?” I ask as I move his tattooed hand up to my throat.

He lightly tightens his grip, and I moan.

“Is that what you want? Me to fuck you out in the rain. Outside. Where someone could walk the trail and find me railing you?” His chest vibrates against my back as he speaks low .

“Mmmm, yes.” Damn… a part of me would fucking love someone to catch us. I love having Killian and Dax watch Adonis fuck me and vice versa with them. It’s a kink of mine that all three make sure I get off from.

“You are mine, Dani. Only Dax and Killian can ever watch us fuck. You’re shit out of luck if you want anyone else watching.” He tightens his grip on my throat, and I am now utterly soaked.

“How about we play a little game?” I close my eyes as he traces my lips with his fingers and then slides his hand down to my chest.

“Mmhmm,” is all I manage to say.

His touch claims my body, making me feel so alive. Like I am the most important thing in his world…

“I’ll wear my mask. You run and hide. I’ll give you seven minutes.

When I find you, Dani, I’m going to fuck you hard.

The hardest I’ve done yet. And I’m going to do it while you’re naked in the woods and bent over in that fucking downward dog pose you like so much. How’s that sound, my perfect goddess?”

I could come right here, right now. “I like the sound of that.”

Adonis lets go of my throat. He returns his lips to my ear and whispers, “Run, Dani,” his voice smooth like butter.

My insides do a flip, and I dart towards the backdoor. I run down the long hallway. Candles are lit on the wall, shedding light on the gothic artwork that hangs in a line—I don’t even know who the artist is.