Page 37 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Seraphina

M y senses returned slowly. Everything felt the same and different all at once. The latent power flowing through me was stronger, just at the edge, so close I could taste it. The feeling was intoxicating. I wanted it, needed it to bend to my will.

I stirred, waking from the vivid dreams of worlds burning.

Dreaming of fire wasn’t new for me, but this was different.

Dream me thrived in the fire, dancing with the flames and feeding them.

The warmth of another body against my back brought me out of the fiery dreams. I tried to process what happened last night.

Was it last night? I honestly didn’t know. I was so exhausted.

The only moment of clarity was that sexy-as-fuck daemon wanting to fuck me. I said no, because I’m crazy, apparently. Mina, my horny-as-fuck pussy, must have been sleeping. She would never turn down dick like that.

Images of the daemon thrusting his cock between my pussy lips had my thighs clenching.

Fuck. But my Princes were there too. They were screaming angrily as the daemon used my flesh and covered me in his cum.

My cheeks flushed with shame. How could I let this stranger do that to me? They must hate me right now.

“Awake, mera dil ?” Dev’s rough voice brushed against my ear.

I nodded. “Barely.” I was naked under the blankets. How I got here was still a bit fuzzy.

“What can I do? What do you need?” Dev’s arms circled my body, tucking me in close.

“How long have I been sleeping?” I murmured.

Dev squeezed my body tightly. “About two days.”

“Fuck.” I turned in his arms, my gaze finding his. “Where is everyone? Where’s my sister?”

He smiled, his eyes peppering my skin with tingling glances, making me shiver. “She is safe. For now, we are all safe. We are at Vespertine Hall.”

I nodded, relieved to know we made it out alive. Well, not all of us. I choked out a sob. “My father.”

Dev’s smile dropped instantly, and his forehead pressed to mine. “I am so sorry, Seraphina.”

I closed my eyes, tears threatening to spill over. Michaela must have been devastated. I needed to go to her. I pushed out of his arms, and Dev let me go.

“I need a shower and to see my sister,” I demanded, crawling out of the bed and going to the ensuite. I shut the door, needing to be alone.

Joseph Bronwen was dead. He was dead and it was my fault. Did she know? Would she hate me? Both of our parents were dead now, but this time, I was the one who took his life.

I slumped in the shower, the hot water pouring over me.

“Seraphina, may I—” Dev’s voice was cut short on the other side of the door.

Suddenly, a massive daemon was there, jumping into the shower and pulling me into his arms. “I am here, my sweet.”

I was too tired to move, to force this stranger away. But he also didn’t feel like a stranger. Phenex, I remembered. His body was warm and comforting. His chest was bare, but he wore jeans, which were now soaked as he cradled me against his chest. My princes surged into the room.

“Seraphina! What happened?” Levi shouted, jumping into the shower, his clothes instantly soaked as he brushed his fingers against my cheek.

“Back off,” Phenex snarled, squeezing me.

“Fuck you, daemon dick,” Ty snarled, stepping forward.

This shower was becoming seriously crowded, and I had had enough. I shoved out of Phen’s arms and stood before them all. “STOP IT. I will kick you all out if you don’t fucking stop it.”

I glared at every one of them, including Dev and Andras, who were leaning against the vanities.

I turned to Phenex last. His eyes were on my face, their color brilliant like starlight.

It was nearly impossible to look away. And maybe at another moment, I’d get lost in those eyes, but I was too sad and too angry.

“I don’t know you. You’re new. And maybe you’re cool, but right now, you’re at the bottom of the list, buddy,” I snapped, and Phen frowned.

“How can you say this? Don’t you feel our bond?” He looked at me with puppy dog eyes, like I just revealed Santa Claus wasn’t real.

My arms went to my hips, and I didn’t care about my naked body on display. “I don’t know what I feel. But I do know these men here”—I gestured to the Princes—“they’re mine. And I am theirs. That hasn’t changed just because we have some kind of weird bond.”

Phenex growled and stood, towering over me, but I wasn’t afraid and glared back at him.

Levi chuckled. “We are, as always, yours to command, diabla .”

The tension broke, and Phenex smirked. “Fuck, she’s feisty.”

Andras scoffed. “You have no idea.”

I rolled my eyes. “Now get the fuck out so I can actually shower. I need to speak with my sister.”

Ty’s rough hands grazed my throat. “As you wish, little vixen. We will escort you when you’re ready.”

Phenex pushed Ty toward the shower door. “Yes we will.”

The five hot-as-fuck creatures, three of them sopping wet, exited the bathroom, and I sighed, leaning my forehead against the tile. This was a shitshow. My pussy throbbed, and I smirked to myself. A shitshow I was maybe a little bit interested in diving head first into.

Walking through the halls to find Michaela was pure torture.

I was anxious as fuck to see her, and also terrified she would never speak to me again.

The Princes and Phenex walked beside me, offering me strength.

Phenex was a prince too, I suppose, so now I had five royals under my thumb.

If only I could hide behind them and not deal with this.

Some all-powerful creature I was. I smoothed my hands against my leggings.

Now that we were no longer in captivity, I could dress how I liked.

It was comfy clothes all day long for me. My feet needed a break from the heels.

Phen could communicate with his brother and said we’d find him and Michaela in the smaller dining hall having lunch. It was nearly midday, but the cloudy skies of the northeast offered little light. Winter was in full swing in Massachusetts.

I squared my shoulders and walked into the dining hall, Levi holding the door and the others pausing to let me lead. He winked at me, offering a reassuring smile.

My sister was sitting next to Morax, nibbling on her lunch, her eyes staring into the distance as if she were lost in thought. I cleared my throat, and her head snapped up.

Michaela shot out of her chair and ran at me. I braced my feet, ready to take a punch in the face if she so desired. But she didn’t hit me or scream at me. My little sister wrapped her arms around me, hugging tightly. My arms instantly did the same.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat.

“Me too,” she murmured back.

I pulled her away, staring into her beautiful blue and brown eyes filled with tears. “Why in the hell are you sorry?”

She frowned. “This wasn’t your fault. And I’m sorry you had to do what you did.”

I shook my head. “Kaela. Please don’t. I failed you. I killed him.”

She nodded, squeezing my hands. “I know.” She glanced at the Princes at my back. “They told me everything. I made them tell me.”

I scoffed. “Do you mean your daemon made them?”

She smiled softly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Hey. I’m tough too.”

I squeezed her hands. “I know you are. More than me, I think.” Everything Michaela had been through, and everything coming at us, she could handle it. I could see that. She was strong as hell.

Michaela shook her head. “No way. I don’t know if I could have done what you did, even if it meant saving everyone. And that would have been wrong.”

I nodded, unable to stop the tears. “He said…he said it was okay. He said he was going to them, to mom and Lailah.”

Michaela’s own tears flowed down her cheeks. Morax came up behind her, his massive frame offering comfort.

She leaned into him, keeping hold of my hands. “I hope he is. I hope they are all together.”

“Me too.” I swallowed, letting go of her to wipe away the salty tears rushing out of me. I wasn’t really the crying type, but if there was a time, this was it.

“This is not over,” Morax added, joining our conversation. His eyes scanned the others as he spoke. “Belial is here, on Earth. He has imprisoned our father, and we believe he’s using him as a conduit to boost his own strength. What his plans are, I cannot say.”

Phenex nodded in agreement. “Our brother is cruel and hungry for power. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I thought our father was cruel, but it seems Belial is finally unleashing his darker side.”

“So what do we do?” My gaze slid to Phenex. His silver eyes were more gray now, his power dimmed. They were still beautiful, and it was difficult to look away.

He smirked at me, as if he knew, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

The stupid daemon was undeterred. “We get you at full strength. You are the daughters of Aurora Valdis and…well your father was Belfegor. The power in your veins is likely exceptional. Belfegor was from a different breed of daemons. He was not from Caligo.”

“What does that mean?” I frowned, confused as hell.

“It means we don’t really know what you are capable of, mini monstra ,” Phenex murmured, and I couldn’t help glancing at his lush lips.

I clapped my hands together. “Well, let’s get this shit going then.”

A door opened on the far side of the room, and I peaked around Morax to see who it was. My breath caught in my throat, and this time it was my turn to run across the room. Tibby’s eyes widened as I ran at her. She flinched, and I stopped short of wrapping her in my arms.

There were two imposing figures at her back. A woman with dark bronzed skin and curling hair. Her eyes glittered with the fierce look of a predator. The other creature was the daemon who saved Tibby. His horns were out, spiraling out of his long blond hair, and his skin glowed with a green hue.

They both stared at me, watching and waiting. For what, I wasn’t sure.

Tibby’s bright-blonde pixie cut was on display, no wigs or eccentric outfits. Her makeup was minimal, and she wore an oversize sweatshirt and dark jeans. Her face was shy, and her bright-brown eyes searched mine.

“Tibby.” I whispered her name, remembering the last time I saw her, being tortured by that prick of a King. “Are you okay?”

She sighed. “No. But I will be.”

The daemon behind her brushed his hand down her arm, and she shivered. The woman smiled.

I had no clue what was going on, but I was glad she was here. She was safe. I turned my gaze to the daemon. “Thank you for saving her.”

He nodded. “I wish I’d been able to do it sooner.”

Tibby smiled at him, and her cheeks flushed. We needed some girl time soon. I was dying to know what this throuple vibe was all about.

“Gremory, you little shit. Out here saving humans?” Phenex laughed, coming up behind me and clapping the daemon on the shoulder. His eyes turned to the woman. “And who’s the witch?”

My eyebrows shot up. She was a witch?

The woman rolled her eyes. “My name is Delphine. And don’t forget it. Lest you find poison in your food.”

Phenex grinned, his eyes glittering at the challenge, but Gremory spoke before he could retort. “She’s my mate, Phen. Touch her and I’ll cut your dick off. Or rather, I’ll let her do it.”

I laughed. “My money is on the witch. She looks intimidating as hell.”

Delphine smirked. “You’re not wrong. Nice to officially meet you, Seraphina. It is you who saved Tabitha first, you know.”

I cocked my head, unsure of her meaning. “How’s that?”

Tibby held up her hand, the scar on her palm that mirrored mine visible. It was the only scar I had. The only wound that left a mark.

“She should never have survived the mental torture those scum inflicted on her mind. But you vowed to protect Tabitha when you made a blood oath with her. Without it, she would have gone insane from the assault on her psyche. Because of you, I was able to coax her mind back to health.” Delphine’s eyes flicked to Tibby, and a soft smile played around her lips.

She cared for my friend, saved her again when I couldn’t. Although it felt loads better knowing something I did, even unintentionally, kept my only friend from losing her mind.

I smiled at Tibby. “What are friends for, right?”

She smiled back at me.

I leaned forward then hesitated. “Can I hug you?”

Tibby’s smile grew, and she nodded. I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame and almost started crying again when she hugged me back.

Gods. So many emotions were coming out of me today. But I was relieved as fuck to have her and my sister here safely. This feeling was long fucking overdue.