Page 13 of Nine Inch Nasty (Hemlock Academy #9)

Leo

“That doesn't look suspicious at all.”

I look at the sign that I just made and scowl at the grumpy unicorn who's only bitter because he won’t admit how much he actually does want my Delaney. “You really want to go there, frosting crotch?”

“Shut the fuck up, man.” Saladriel stalks away, no doubt to mope some more, but that's fine, doesn't affect me.

“Free samples? What are they free samples of?” The strange unicorn asks as they walk up to my table. “It's pink. Why is it pink? Food should not be pink. I don't think that should go in my body. It looks positively toxic. No thank you.”

I sigh the sigh I've been sighing since I woke up in this realm, calling frosting crotch back over to me. “It seems we need a demonstration, fros—I mean, Salad .”

He scowls at me and eyes the bowl of frosting in front of me, and I can see him physically brace himself for what he's about to experience again.

We've already done this dozens of times, but it's never not amusing to me.

He's the only unicorn we know really, so he gets to be the one that proves to the other unicorns that the frosting isn't toxic.

Because nearly every single one so far has thought so.

The slight hint of almond in the concoction makes my mouth water as Saladriel dips a wooden tasting spoon into the bowl, bringing it to his mouth and licking it clean before tossing the spoon into the compost pile.

The strange unicorn watches Saladriel as his body shakes, and I'm pretty sure at this point it's a dry orgasm. He's taken to just wrapping a giant blanket around his waist because he's sick of people asking why his crotch is wet. It is the greatest joy I've had in years.

It's not. I take that back; the greatest joy I've had in years is licking Delaney's sweet— well, you get the idea.

Her buttercream is far superior to this.

But that's not going to be on my sample table, now is it?

Unless... maybe we find those unicorns of hers that their goddess gave her and get them addicted to her that way? Is that legal?

“That looks unnatural,” this Unicorn remarks as they make a move for the wooden spoon I'm holding out to them.

When Saladriel showed up back at the inn, telling us what happened to our lady and our Cory, we of course broadcast the games and then immediately got to work.

The less work she actually has to do here, the sooner we get to go home and have a proper roll in the hay.

But probably without the hay because that stuff is very itchy.

Because he's on the same wavelength as me, Rush appears at my side, leaning over the table, watching the unicorn consume the sample.

But I'm on to him. I know exactly what this demon is doing.

He folds his hands together, flexing those arm muscles, making my ears twitch and my tail swat the air behind me.

I don't remember him, but it seems my body does.

I've taken to rising whenever he's near me.

“That is… ohh my good goddess ...” The unicorn starts smacking the table repeatedly, an orgasm wracking his body.

“Add another tally, Wil!” Rush yells as the unicorn stumbles away to tell their friends.

Maybe not the smartest choice to put the virgin in charge of the orgasm tally, but we're hoping that exposure therapy will help desensitize him. We really want to see his ‘O’ face for the first time with Delaney.

It's not weird, alright?

Because the goddess of this realm is obsessed with herself, being outside means we get to watch Delaney’s progress in her games because there’s no avoiding it in the public spaces here.

Although, none of us can quite figure out the point of the games.

Saladriel doesn't seem to think that's concerning, but then again, he's used to all the other confusing things in this realm.

I'm a bit pressed we didn’t get to see whatever they blocked out at the beginning, I wonder if we can get it out of her and Cory later. I can be quite coercive.

The longer Delaney struggles, the harder it is to stop myself from simply finding her and keeping her protected. It’s hard to see my mate face obstacles I cannot face with her, but I'm grateful that at least Cory is there to support her.

We all cheer when they free Adam, startling everybody waiting for a buttercream sample. I notice that some of them are watching the way I interact with Delaney’s other mates, afraid to talk to us but interested nonetheless, and Saladriel says the fact they're even showing curiosity is a good sign.

Zac's parents have been helpful as well, canvassing neighborhoods and telling people where we're set up, informing them we have important other worldly things to share with them.

They're telling them coming to us is the request of their goddess's chosen one, and will help in the fight to save Glittertopia; so what started as a slow trickle has turned into a steady stream of curious unicorns, and I'm thankful that Rush is able to duplicate what we made with a wave of his hand, because it makes replenishing the potent buttercream so much easier.

I want to paint him in it and then lick it up.

What?

Nobody in the crowd breathes when the screen shows Adam racing towards the suspended unicorns and saving them all, catching them on a soft cloud before their goddess can feed them to her hungry fire. Does that sound like a euphemism to anybody else? Maybe I've been stone too long.

I didn't believe Saladriel when he told me that the captive unicorns wouldn't appreciate Delaney rescuing them, because that's madness.

We all fought him on it, in fact. But the animosity they're all shooting Delaney is plain as clouds, and we can hear everything they're saying since the goddess has microphones everywhere in her strange stadium.

“They're seriously mad they didn't get to sacrifice themselves for a pointless game? How can they not see Delaney’s perfection? Saladriel, are your people blind as well as a simple?”

Quite the diatribe out of Wil; I pat him on the back for being a properly obsessed mate.

“Sorry, shouldn't have called them simple. But it's hard not to think like that when in all her perfection she manages to save them, and they hit her back with that ? Oh, what's happening now? What are they saying? Turn it up!”

It's not an actual television set, so we can't turn it up, but everybody in the vicinity stops talking, which has a similar effect. Delaney has freed herself, and a stray unicorn that was amongst the group has approached her.

They wander away from the cameras until they’re no longer visible, and they're not miked anymore so I've no idea what's happening, but I want to scream at her to come find me, and eventually I get sick of waiting.

I entrust the bowl of frosting and the line of curious unicorns to Saladriel, and I take to the skies.

I may be stone, but since stone isn't really a thing here, the world doesn't seem to know what to do with me.

Therefore, the laws of gravity don't seem to affect me.

Don't ask questions, just appreciate the gesture alright?

I can sense Delaney’s location in my chest, my bond with her pulling me to where she is.

The closer I get, the faster I fly, and when I finally lay eyes upon her, it takes everything within me not to mount her right there.

Pretty sure she would appreciate it, but I can't say the same for all of the spectators around us.

As it is, I tackle her to the ground and roll us through the clouds, pinning her down so I may kiss her beautiful face. She seems thrilled to see me, and I can't hold back the beatific smile that shines out of me. “You were magnificent, my love. Way to vanquish your enemy!”

Her kisses are sweet; her legs wrapped around me even sweeter. But there's enough throat clearing around us to tell me we still have things to take care of. So, I stand with her still attached to me like a barnacle, not willing to give her up anytime soon.

“I was just coming to find you guys. This is Tuna Sandwich... aka Jackknife. He was taking us to the inn. Jackknife, this is Leo, another of my mates.”

I shake his hand, gently of course, and then yank Adam in for a hug.

“It is good to have you back with us. And you Cory,” I say as I hug them as well, my arms wrapping around all three of these people that have come to mean so much to me in such a short time.

“I thank you for taking care of our mate when we couldn't. We were all cheering you on.”

They kiss Delaney on the cheek very sweetly, warming my heart further.

“Wait ‘til you see what we've been up to in your absence, love. Saladriel came back and told us everything. We've been working as fast as we can.”

“Doing what?”

I squeeze her rear end because it is in my hands, finally letting Adam and Cory go so that we can start to move forward. “Giving out frosting, of course. Rush keeps duplicating it, but we've been handing out samples for quite a while now. I think it is working.”

“What is frosting? That sounds toxic,” Jackknife predictably says.

Do I…ask about the name?

I want to roll my eyes at Jackknife’s question, but it's not his fault their goddess has limited their palate so.

“It’s a wonderful concoction from our realm.

We're trying to bring happiness to the unicorns. We have been underwhelmed by the cuisine here, and because food is such a big part of our culture back home, we thought it might help improve morale here if we introduced some things to you guys.”

“I should let you go. I've delivered you to your mates. Thank you for speaking with me, Chosen One. I shall tell all my friends and family of our time together. I wish you a good journey.”

“Wait, Jackknife!”