Page 186 of Starborn Husbands

Daniel smirks. “Astute. Maybe someday I’ll tell you.” He brushes invisible lint off Merrick’s white T-shirt. “The Gods have spoken. You have my permission to mate with the little miscreant. Keep him in line.”

He folds his wings protectively around his mate, and they disappear from sight. I fucking shiver.

“Time for us to go too,” Major Ryker says. “But we’re working on something for you. Our paths will cross again, Treyu Orion.”

* * *

Did I get my sunstar back from the angels? No. Why? Because they’re dicks. And our Nebula is stuck with cleaning up the temple, no assistance from them at all. The Guild commandeered my help because I’m half-God or whatever.

I thought Gods were meant to be worshipped?

Is the Guild giving me my sunstar back for my troubles? Also no. They fed me some major bullshit about being unable to clear me for crimes I committed, even though said crimes were also bullshit. They went on to tell me that my powers belong to the Nebuli. That it’s my duty to help rebuild the temple without expecting gratitude or compensation.

Know what? They’re dicks too.

I wouldn’t even mind all that so much if they’d just give me my sunstar. I want my Godsdamn sunstar back. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes. Apparently, it should be my honor to be asked to rebuild the Tauri Nebula’s temple. Fuck them. Fuck them with a sharp fucking cactus.

My body is wrecked. Lifting large blocks of stone all day—by myself, I might add—takes it out of a guy, half-God or not. I want to curl up with my illegal phone and read another Johnny spanking adventure. There’s no adventure in temple building, lemme just state for the record.

Instead, I’m sweating like a greenhouse. I’ve tied a bandana around my forehead to catch the drops from landing in my eyes, and I’m taking this soggy shirt off soon no matter how unprincely it is to walk around the Guild temple half naked—Zhang’s words, not mine.

Everyone else has left for the day anyway. I’m the only one in the place and it’s fucking eerie. Too many statues are looking at me, judging me. Dipping my hands into the fountain of the Gods—I qualify for this water and the Guild can suck it if they think I’m not drinking it—I scoop hydration into my mouth, letting the sweet water wet my tongue.

A rustle of rocks to my right grabs my attention. I spin to the east, but there’s nothing there. My heart rate kicks up. I haven’t forgotten Daniel’s words:If you only knew what was coming for you …I acted like a tough guy, but they haunt me.

Merrick’s massive form leaps from the shadows, pouncing on me, and taking me to the ground. He pins my wrists to the stone, and I’m supposed to be his captive but my dick’s immediately hard. Can we play slave and master? He can abduct me, and I’ll be his needy abductee. I buck my hips to let him know what I want.

“This is serious, Treyu,” he says, nibbling my neck. Rapid shivers raid through me. “You’re not paying attention, and it’ll get you killed.”

“You’re a terrible spy. I heard you.”

“You didn’t hear anything. I’ve been watching you for two hours, and you didn’t know a thing.”

There’s another rustle of rocks to my right, the opposite direction Merrick came from, but the same place I heard the noise from before. “That, did you hear that?”

Our heads snap right. A fat Nebuli rat scurries out, disturbing the crumbled stone.

“Oh, he’s scary. Shall I behead him for you?”

I glare. “Why are you here?”

“Your husband’s made a decision; he asked if I would fetch you while he makes a few arrangements.”

There was a lot of talk about what we’d do next. Atlanta and Gem are gone, but Zhang thinks he knows where to find them.

And, okay. It wasn’t talking so much as it was arguing. In the end, I didn’t want to decide. Zhang decreed that he would make the decision anyway, and that was a fucking relief. Doesn’t mean I haven’t got nerves over it.

Merrick sucks a bruise onto my neck, and I close my eyes. My heart beats a steady rhythm for him. Every press of his lips imprints more of him into my soul.

“I was involved in a head rant. Ask Zhang what it means. I’ll never be able to explain it to you properly.”

“I’d rather cut off my own arm than ask him anything about you.”

Sharp teeth threaten to sink into my flesh. I bare my neck for them, opening wide, the ultimate sign of submission. I need them, and I need him to own me. “Please. Do it, please.”

“No,” he says, but his sapphire eyes burn with hunger. He’s drooling, for the Gods’ sake.