Page 47 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

M y soulmate was a fucking gorgeous mess, staring at me utterly dazed and satiated as I approached her with a clean dampened cloth I had dug from the trunks nearby.

Slumped against the wooden post I had just taken her against, I couldn't help but purr with pride at the way I could fucking undo her—just like the way she undid me.

Even now my heart still thundered in my chest, my body still roared with the aftershocks of pleasure, my mind still screamed to never stop touching her, and my soul still craved to claim every inch of her.

She watched me through hooded eyes when I tenderly wiped away the blood I hadn't managed to lick and kiss from her. She was right, she was no damsel, she was a stunning savage that wielded death to perfection—the very death that always sought her.

A fact that had me trembling with rage.

Those demons had taken her blood. I could scent every single one on her body and they were now my new prey.

The need to kill the ones she hadn’t killed herself, radiated through every fiber of my being—and I would do it too…

someday. Growling softly, I controlled my fury, kissing her healed wounds where I knew hidden beneath her pale skin, new scars had formed.

"The demon's name is Zazion. Turns out he owes someone a huge favor," I whispered to her, kissing her lips softly and moving that cloth over her shoulders to wash the grime and blood from her arms.

My grin flashed in the darkness when she only hummed back to me. I goddess damn loved this part of her. When I fucked the words right out of her, destroying her mind to a puddle of satisfied mush…barely able to make just one comprehensive word.

"Someone," I continued, wiping her gently between her legs, our mingling scents lighting up my desire for her all over again—I was a fucking beast after all and she…

.she was an addiction of the best kind, obliterating all my other senses so that there was just her and the darkness that claimed my light.

A light that would never shine for anyone else, so consuming was her grip on my heart and soul.

"Someone…that has powerful sight. Someone, with the ability to see things happen before they occur. Someone. that is fae."

Remnant's hand snapped out to my wrist, gripping it tightly and stopping me. My eyes rose to those gorgeous emerald depths that I could drown in, seeing keen understanding shining within.

I smirked. My soulmate's mind was fully back to its cunning functional status.

"Penina." She released my wrist and stepped away, making quick work of returning her clothing to its proper state. I eyed her shorts…were they even clothing?

"Likely," I grunted.

Tearing off a piece of leather that had ripped from her vest, she pulled her hair back with a ragged sigh and wrapped the strap at the crown of her head.

The long length of her ponytail swinging, her blue highlights flashing in the dim darkness.

"What else aren't you telling me, shifter?

That cannot be the reason you decided to play bait… again ."

Tossing the cloth to the side, my lips thinning with irritation, I braided my own hair back roughly. "That fucking demon called our daughter the heir to the Faerie throne."

The flush from our lovemaking rushed quickly from my soulmate’s skin, her hair whipping across her face as she turned to look at me.

"No. Absolutely not. Not ever. Faerie can not have her…

she is ours. The fae…" Her voice broke and instinctively I was in front of her, pulling her into my arms. "That's why Deirdre wants her.

Riella is a threat to Deirdre's plans…but why give her up then?

Why place her in The Under for me to find? " she whispered into my chest.

I ran my fingertips up and down her spine. "There have to be players hidden in these games we have not identified yet…someone else may be playing Deirdre's strings—and it seems, it might be in our favor this time."

My hands fell away as Remnant began to pace the darkened room.

Unaware, she summoned the shadows to her, their darkness swirled around her fingertips like sparks ready to ignite.

"Falcon is not discreet enough to be able to deceive Deirdre.

She called herself a goddess the last time… a blood goddess."

Crossing my arms, I enjoyed the sight of her magnificent mind at work.

"That could mean the Blood God must be a part of all this…how could he not be? The origin of the Sanguine, only he would have the power to grant her such a status. If that's the case then—"

"Faerie," I spat. Our goddess had a lot of explaining to do, especially why she gifted me with her son's soul and power but how exactly was this blood god still at large. She was supposed to have destroy him.

Remnant paused and spun towards me, her eyes wide. "The Goddess, what if…what if she never abandoned us, Emon? What if she has been trapped all this time…in the Sanguine?”

And there it was, the way my soulmate could cut through all the mess and chaos, puzzling out the world in a whole new light that no one even considered.

I fucking loved her for it but her realization only served to facilitate the fear I had for our cub. “My mother once said that only Faerie had the right to declare and designate the true ruler of our world. It is why the shifter kingdom never agreed to Deirdre’s rule."

Remnant’s clever light quickly flashed back to panic.

“Faerie,” she gasped. “If I am right and if the demon Zazion is to be believed, then Riella really is the true queen of Faerie. The goddess must have bestowed this upon her within the Sanguine at her birth.” Remnant shook her head and exhaled shakily, “Emon, our daughter…if she is the true Faerie queen,” she shivered, pulling her arms across her body, “Deirdre doesn't just want her back because Riella replaces the child she lost from the Blood Wars, she wants her back to destroy her. If she does not, then her true claim on this world will always be threatened. Even if she is a blood goddess now. Deirdre will see her as a flaw in her own rule—a queen blessed by Faerie, something Deirdre never had.”

My response was cut short when the sound outside the yurt changed. The distinct sound of scuffling and grunting could be heard just on the other side of the heavy fabric of the enclosure.

Instinctively I moved, pulling Remnant with me into the darkness on the far side of the wall, away from the heavy thuds of bodies dropping to the ground—I knew that sound all too well for it not to be.

“We will keep Riella safe, little umbra, our family will keep her safe. Deirdre will never come close to ever touching a single hair on her head.” I whispered reassuringly inside her mind even though my own raced.

My fear for my cub just as fucking palpable as Remnant’s and it stirred the hunger I had locked away.

My soulmate’s lips thinned in the darkness and she nodded once before curling horns and stern black eyes ducked inside the tent. The demon had returned, and I smirked as his nostrils flared, peering into the darkness with his tail thrashing with aggravation.

"Lucifer's cock, fae. Did I not tell you to fuck your female at a later time?"

My soulmate stepped out of the shadows she had masked us under, her teeth bared. "What makes you think it was him doing the fucking, demon?"

I snickered, stepping beside her with smug arrogance.

Black eyes assessed my soulmate warily before he growled back at me.

"There is no time for these pointless fae games.

The entire demon army is conveniently pissed or rutting their balls off and I finally convinced that feathered bastard to join the celebrations and service our queen for her victory.

" His face wrinkled with disgust, mine did too.

That angel gave off rotten fucking vibes and this poor bastard had it bad for his queen. Like a lap dog not getting a bone, he had to obediently watch the whole charade, loyalty and love his perpetual suffering. I knew the feeling, it was easy to recognize.

"Another herd of centurions are also on the move…

with reports of those abominations heading north into Wrath territories.

It seems one of our enemies has joined forces with yours.

This complicates things." His eyes narrowed on my soulmate.

"You didn't happen to tell the queen that your destination is The Well, did you? "

Remnant ignored him and glared at me. "You did not mention the blood wraiths shifter."

I grinned, shrugging. "I got distracted."

Remnant snorted and the demon glared at the both of us, his tail tapping, waiting for his answer. She pursed her lips at him. "I was attempting to appeal to her… good side ."

Cursing, the demon ran his hand over his curling horns.

"Avalon has no good side, fae. It died when her father was murdered at her feet, just seven years old.

" He glared harder, flames in his eyes. "She will send her entire army to hunt you down, including me, and she will not stop.

If I help you now, my side of the bargain will be fulfilled.

So I must warn you, I will no longer be bound by my debts and my loyalty to my queen is infinite.

If she orders your death, I will be the hand that delivers it. "

Remnant frowned. "Then why even cash your debt? Why not kill us now? You are a demon, you have no respect for the honor of bargains."

The demon grinned and this time I could see the dangerous power behind him, a power he had been holding back…

perhaps even from his beloved queen. "You are right, I certainly do not.

Except this was the price I accepted to keep her safe…

if I do not, it will be stripped away, and so…

I will betray my queen at the same time as I strengthen her rule. "

Fucking goddess above and below. This poor bastard was fucked five ways in his own Hell, and the sharp way he looked at me now…

he knew I understood him too well. There was a fire raging inside us, the dark urge to incinerate the world to ash, building a throne from its deadly cinders for the females we loved—then admiring our work from our venerated knees amongst the bones of their enemies.

I grunted, nodding back to him with acknowledgement and respect.

Remnant glanced between us both and I could hear her teeth grinding with displeasure.

"Then I accept. Get us the goddess out of here, far enough to give us a good head start, safely, with our daughter, and I will call your debt paid.

" The shadows darkened around her, "But know this demon, should you hunt us, I will not hesitate to cut you down and your little child queen too.

I have a talent for bringing thrones to their crumbling end, and your beloved Hell?

It will be no different should you force my hand. "

The demon looked back at me and I rubbed at my lips not able to hide my smile. That formidable strength…I goddess damn loved it and I loved that it had passed down to our daughter. I tilted my head towards my soulmate, "What she said, demon."

The demon's white teeth gleamed as his grin spread across his face. "I see where your daughter gets it from, fae."

This time there was no hiding my wicked smile, pride glowing inside me when Remnant and I’s gazes met. "Indeed, there is no power greater than when one knows their own worth and is not afraid to unleash it." I said more to my soulmate than to him.

The demon grunted, “agreed,” turning back to Remnant, the shadows swirling menacing around her. "So be it, Goddess of the Wells."