7. Cami
CHAPTER 7
CAMI
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
G reat. Just fucking great.
Ajax’s “disco ball” comment was way too appropriate. And no amount of water and scrubbing seemed to fix it.
Because I was fucking glittering .
I wiped my hand through the fog on the mirror, furious that it still resembled the same golden sheen in the reflection. “ Ugh .” I wrapped the towel more firmly around myself and stomped out of the bathroom to where Az and Ajax were waiting on the bed. They’d joined me in the shower as well, both of them trying to help me cleanse my skin.
Alas, no.
“You’re right. I look like a fucking disco ball,” I ground out, causing Ajax’s lips to twitch. “This is not funny.”
“It is kind of funny,” he replied, making my eyes narrow at him. He held up his hands, causing all those delicious muscles in his arms to flex. “I can try a few spells, if you want.”
“She’ll just absorb them,” Az muttered, causing Ajax to sober. “Just like she took all my energy.”
I grimaced. Because yeah, apparently that had also happened. The power exchange Az had feared—the one he’d wanted Ajax to take the edge off of—had all gone into me.
I hadn’t realized it until our shower when Az told me my orgasm had basically yanked both men into oblivion with me, whereby Az had lost all control and unleashed everything he’d been holding back. That was why my climax had been so powerful—I’d literally been riding the high of an energy explosion.
But I was fine.
He was fine.
Ajax was fine.
So… everything was fine.
Except my skin.
Gold. Fucking. Melek. Jizz.
This time, the male in question didn’t laugh. Actually, he’d been quiet since telling me to enjoy it . Whatever the hell that meant.
“I need more coffee,” I muttered.
“As you wish,” a gravelly voice replied. Sir Silber appeared a moment later with a tray in hand, coffee mugs already steaming. “On the balcony, living area, or in bed?”
“The living area would be great,” I told the gargoyle. “Thank you, Sir Silber.”
The tiny stone creature gave a little bow and went into the living room to set the coffee table. “Do they just lurk in the walls, waiting to be called upon?” Az asked, his attention on Ajax.
Our Midnight Fae mate shrugged. “They’re always listening, sort of like figments, only far more useful.”
“Better looking, too,” Sir Silber commented as he stomped back into the room. “You know, because you can see us.”
Ajax smiled. “Yes, I got the joke.”
“You didn’t laugh.”
“It wasn’t very funny.”
Sir Silber huffed. “See if I bring you coffee again.”
Ajax shrugged. “I’ll just ask Sir Fletcher, then.”
The gargoyle shuffled, his posturing reminding me of a pissed-off bird, only he had no feathers. “There’s no need to be insulting, Master Ajax.”
“You’re right,” my mate agreed softly. “I’m sorry. I will happily accept coffee from you any time, Sir Silber.”
The gargoyle nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Good. Call me if you need anything else.” He disappeared without a trace, leaving Ajax to shake his head at him.
“He takes away your coffee privileges, you mention another gargoyle, and suddenly you win your privileges back,” Az summarized. “Well played.”
“The same could be said about your edging game with Cami,” Ajax drawled as he rolled off the bed to his bare feet and grabbed his wand. His towel disappeared for a pair of gray sweats in a blink, then he did the same for Az. He raised his wand toward me, frowned, then dropped his hand. “Actually, you can stay naked.”
Az nodded. “Agreed.” He reached out to grab my towel, yanking it off me before I could protest.
“Oh, yes, let’s all stare at the glittering gold orb.”
“Happily,” a silky voice drawled, one that had been in my head countless times over the last few hours. Which was why I assumed he was just lurking in my mind, not actually here.
But then Ajax cast a spell to give me yoga pants and a tank top as he demanded, “Do you not know how to fucking knock?”
“Of course I do,” Melek replied. “I just chose not to.”
Ajax grunted.
Meanwhile, Az folded his arms. “What do you want, Melek?”
“To talk about Ty’s offer,” Melek replied. “I’ve been helping Cami learn more about deals over the last few weeks, and in my experience, reviewing real-time examples often provides the best teaching moments.”
I shook my head. “We’re not talking about any of this until I have coffee.” I started around him, then paused. “No, actually, we’re not talking about it until you get your sparkly jizz off my skin. And after coffee.”
Yes. That was the deal I was willing to offer him— get your glitter shit off of me, give me a few minutes to drink coffee, and then I’ll talk to you.
It’s not my glitter shit, darling. It’s yours, he murmured into my mind. It’s Virtuous Fae energy, something I believe our strengthening bond has brought out of you.
How do I get rid of it?
He caught my wrist and whirled me toward him, causing Ajax and Az to both step forward. But a pair of wings suddenly blocked them from my view, my eyes widening as Melek showed me his Virtuous Fae form.
My lips parted, my gaze on his white plumes tinged in gold dust.
Gold dust like what’s covering my body right now, I realized as his wings came around me in a hug, hiding me from view.
I stared up at him, starstruck by his beauty. Mystified by his nearness. Lost to the multicolor swirl of his irises.
Melek was stunning without wings. But with wings… with wings he redefined the meaning of impossible . Because he was the most glorious sight I’d ever witnessed.
All sharp angles.
Chiseled features.
Alluring eyes.
Thick hair.
Muscular stature.
Glorious feathers.
I wasn’t even sure how his wings existed while he wore this suit, but I didn’t care enough to ask. It was Melek. Everything about him was enigmatic and defied reason.
He pulled me into him, his hand leaving my wrist for my nape, his lips ghosting over mine. I sighed in his embrace, a sense of protection warming my skin. Or maybe that was just his soft plumes settling around me.
I wasn’t sure.
But I felt at peace.
Safe.
Pleased .
“I can’t wait to fly with you, sweet Cami,” he said against my mouth. “But until that day comes, I’ll help you.” A flurry of movement whispered all around us, then his wings suddenly disappeared.
As did the gold covering my skin.
Frowning, I glanced at my arms—which I’d apparently woven around his neck—and blinked. “How…?”
He shrugged. “I absorbed some of your energy. Much like you did to Az.” He glanced over his shoulder. “That was one hell of an explosion, Commander. A whole new level for you, if I’m not mistaken.”
Az grunted and moved around him. “Cami’s right. We need coffee.”
“I think I liked it more when you looked like a disco ball,” Ajax muttered, following Az but pausing to glance my way. “Now you just smell like Melek.”
My eyebrows came down.
“You two are going to have to learn to share,” Melek said before I could comment. “She’s my mate, too. And while I may have chosen a slower seduction method, I still fully intend to fuck her. So you’d better stop trying to piss all over her.”
“Says the guy who dusted her in gold jizz,” Ajax clapped back.
“She did that to herself,” Melek replied. “And it’s not jizz , which is a very crude word, by the way. It’s ethereal magic. Very potent and powerful.” He looked down at me. “I can teach you how to use it.”
“Why am I suddenly sprouting ethereal magic ?” I asked on a sigh, honestly not all that surprised to learn that I’d inherited what seemed like yet another ability.
“I assume it has something to do with our mating.” He leaned down to press his lips to mine once more, reminding me that we were still locked in a somewhat intimate embrace. When I attempted to release him, he held me tighter. “I mean it. I can teach you.”
“Like you’re teaching me about deals?” I asked.
He smiled and pulled me around in his arms, bringing my back to his chest. “It helped you forgive Az, didn’t it?” he whispered against my ear. “Brought Ajax and Az back together, too.”
I frowned. “How did your deal lessons help with this?” But even as I asked, I realized the answer. It was obvious. “Vivaxia’s deal.”
“Vivaxia’s deal,” he echoed. “Everything I’ve done has been in your favor.”
“Why?” I asked, turning to face him again. “Why me?” It was something I’d never understood.
“Because you’re the key to our salvation, little angel,” he replied, his lips brushing mine. “You were meant to be ours. And soon, you’ll understand why.”
“Or you could tell me,” I offered.
His lips curled slightly. “No, love, I don’t think I could.”
I shivered, his endearment reminding me of what Az had said before claiming me with his cock.
All these men.
All their words.
So much chaos.
I shook my head. “Coffee.” That would fix everything.
Except, no, not really.
Because Lucifer wanted Ajax to mate him.
How the hell were we going to counter that?