Page 179 of Starborn Husbands

I don’tgivehim my rough hand, I take his. I like his new bite, but I’m in charge and he’ll always know it. “Soon as we get where we’re going, I’m coloring your ass red with my handprints, Gem.” Not even gonna wash ‘em before I do.

My filthy hand closes around his clean one, and we’re sucked into time-space.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Treyu

Atlanta disappears into the mayhem, ready to become a ghost at the first sign of a marital spat. And I kinda want to go with him. This is the unfun part of having two men instead of one. Why should Merrick count? He hasn’t bothered to make anything official between us, and he was about to give me to his father. If he wants to participate, he should demonstrate his loyalty by doing as we say.

At least in this instance, it’s me and Zhang against him on the wing thing. “All in favor of Merrick not using his wings, say I. I!” I lift Zhang’s hand for him, but there’s serious lack of vocal agreement on his part.

“This isn’t a vote. It doesn’t work that way,” Merrick says.

“Zhang is Head of House. He says what goes,” I say.

“Merrick hasn’t joined my house,” Zhang says.

“And I won’t be. I’m not submitting to your authority.”

I look to the ceiling, hoping an answer is written up there for me. It’s not. I’m left to deal with their nonsense all by myself. “Fine, do whatever the fuck you want, Merrick.” My jaw trembles.

“Do you actually give a fuck? You never give a fuck. Not like this,” he amends.

“Get out of here, Merrick.”

I catch sight of Father, pushing through the mob, on his way to the king who’s remained rooted to the spot. The king lifts onto the balls of his feet as if he might be searching for someone.

Crack—boom!A loud burst of energy erupts against the roof of the temple and then it splinters. Zhang’s body crashes into mine, and we roll and tumble out of the way of falling stone. “That was bad ass, babe,” I say as we clamber over the crumbling stone.

“We need to get out of here. To the palace. We’ll meet up with Gem and Atlanta, and then get the fuck out of here.”

I know what he’s saying. He doesn’t mean that as a temporary thing. “So, we’ll take the hawthors’ position?”

“Yes. It’ll keep you out of Heaven. It has an end date. You get to do what you love.”

Sounds too good to be true. “And God Dad, who’s playing cat and mouse with me?”

He grunts, which is Zhang for he doesn’t know.

“All I know is, we’ve got to find a way to become the dog,” he shouts as we rush to mingle with the mob of stars trying to get out of the area.

I check for Merrick, he’s behind us, his wings poised behind him. He’s not using them, but they’re ready for flight. I scan the room for my father, but he and the king are gone.

Our boots finally hit the temple stairs, and Merrick’s managed to keep up with us. Outside it’s more chaos. Angels destroy shit while an army of Boones … Gods, what are they doing? Reminds me of one of those pinball machines you’d find in a human arcade, but the angels are the pinballs.

A Boone soldier rolls out of the way of angel fire, pissing the angel off, forcing him to hurdle toward the ground for hand-to-hand combat. A sheen of silver waves over the soldier as he throws himself shoulder first into the angel, sending him through the air.

The same Boone soldier runs up to us, his eyes focused on Merrick.

“No! He’s one of us,” I say.

“He’s got wings. The major said anything with wings.”

“Wouldja put those away, Mair? At least for now?” I plead.

Merrick obliges, drawing his sword. “What the fuck is this?” he growls.

“It’s—”