Hellfire (Nightfire Academy #4)

Chapter 23 - Gable

CHAPTER 23 - GABLE

F uck, my dick never had a workout like that before. Three times my princess brought me to release, stroking my cock, hanging out for the world to see as we rode along the highway. Each time, he came back for more. I had to pull off the road onto a private driveway to return the favor, bending her over the seat and taking her before riding her back to my place. I never left my princess unsatisfied. I didn’t care if anyone saw what she did to me, but I sure as hell cared if some dirty old pervert might get off over what was mine.

Her cheeks still glowed from what we did as she removed her helmet, scrunching her squashed curls with her fingers, injecting a little bounce.

She put aside the helmet to cuddle me against the bike and brush my flat hair. “Thanks for taking me out today. It’s good to get away. I’ve lived here for five months and barely seen the region.”

“I do this once a month to restock.” I sifted through her hair, glossy silk sliding along my fingers. “You’re welcome to come. I like the company, especially if I get a happy ending.”

She unzipped my jacket and grabbed the lapels, jerking me down to her. “Ahh. So that’s why you wanted me to come.” Her mouth crashed on mine, and we made up for the lack of tongue and lips on the ride.

“No one gives a hand job like you,” I murmured in between tongue flicks.

She whacked me for that response. “Good to know I have use.”

I slipped my hand under her jacket and shirt and scratched her back. “I prefer to think of it as back scratching.”

She laughed and leaned her head on my shoulder. “For the record, I like your company too.” She bumped her hip into my leg. “Will your friend Dash approve if you take me back?”

“I’ll have to let him down gently about your associations.” A conversation I didn’t look forward to.

Dash knew of my history, and despite his reservations, we built a rapport that I hoped to continue into the future. I just hoped he was willing to overlook Luna’s connections when hers went higher up the ladder than mine.

She rubbed at her left wrist tattoo. “I wish I didn’t have these.”

I caught her hand and stopped her. “We are who we are, Princess. We can’t change that. The markings mean nothing. They don’t speak of our character.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She tugged off my spare riding jacket, folded it over her arm, and switched topics like lightning flashing. “Should I be jealous that he dreams of you?”

“He can’t help it. I’m charming and irresistible.” I slung the pack full of plant material over my back, hooked my arm around her neck, and steered her to my shop, unlocking it, getting us inside.

“Modest, too,” she laughed as I locked the door, checked behind the curtains for any lurkers, coming back to her when I was satisfied we were alone and safe.

I dumped the bag on my shop’s counter. We’d hang the sprigs up to dry and pack the rest away when I relieved Castor of babysitting duty.

“I’d love to see my princess jealous and catfight with a wolf. Or is that snakefight?”

“Something tells me it wouldn’t be a fair fight.” She juggled a ball of pink magick on her fingers.

“You’re right.” I clapped her ass. “He’d eat you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Luna pinched and poked me.

We laughed all the way back into my apartment, where Mary and Castor lounged on opposite sofas, warming by the wood heater along the wall by the TV, Castor flicking through one of my books, a grimoire I acquired from a private collection through less than legitimate means.

“Princ.... Luna.” Mary snapped off her headphones, shot out of her seat and bowed. She’d taken to listening to podcasts that I shared with her on history, the world at large, science, and other interests.

“Hi, Mary,” Luna greeted my sister, going to her side, hugging her, and delving into small talk.

“Warlock from another mother!” I clapped the enforcer’s hand.

“Warlock,” he clapped me back.

“Thanks for today.” It went without saying that I was grateful for looking out for Mary while I was gone.

“Get what you need?” he asked, separating his ass from my sofa and standing.

I produced a bag of seeds he specifically required. A little bargaining chip to sweeten the deal. “And more.”

“Excellent.” Castor accepted the pouch and tucked it inside his jacket’s jetted pocket. “I better get back to my mate.”

Ah. That was right. The infamous avatar of Isis, goddess of magick. “When do I get to meet your new lady?”

Castor smirked, a sign that a quip was coming. “Never, if she knows what’s good for her.”

“Here I was thinking we were friends.” I patted his arm.

“Take care of yourself, Mary and Luna.” Castor tipped his head at them, and they murmured their goodbyes.

He jerked his head, gesturing for me to take a walk with him, and we went back into my shop, pausing by the door.

“I found something the other day in the Library of Thoth,” he began, “and confirmed the meaning of the language on your friend’s arm.”

Blaze’s serpent enchantment.

“Yeah?” I held my breath. “Still a slave?”

The enforcer’s downturned mouth said it all. “Unfortunately.”

I scrubbed my itchy eye with my palm, set off by discussing dark magick curses. “Is there any way to erase it?”

“Yes, but it’s not easy.”

Difficult spells didn’t bother me. I was always up for a challenge, and I was sure he was too. “Hit me with it.”

“There’s two ways.” He flicked out a finger for the first. “Sap from the Morrigan tree erases dark curses as it gives life and doesn’t take it.”

“Where can I get it?”

“There’s none left on Earth.”

“Great,” I muttered. “What else?”

Castor threw out a second finger. “You’ve got friends up in the Capertee Valley, right?” By friends, he meant shifters. Specifically, Pack Lumbry.

“Yes, I do. Why?” I replied.

“They’re the only spot in the world to grow Banksia penicillate flowers,” Castor explained. “The flower was traditionally used for coughs and sore throats. It also happens to erase dark magick curses.”

This was my personal hero. “My brother, you are a genius.”

“I know.” His confidence came with the gig of representing the smartest god in the Egyptian pantheon and being one hell of an attractive man.

“Think you can get me some? I’d love to study its other properties.”

I snorted, air quoting him. “ Study, my ass.” He smiled at that. “ My friend wasn’t happy with me for bringing Luna into his turf. I’ll ask, nonetheless.”

“Good.” Castor clapped me on the shoulder. “Call me if you manage it, and we’ll see what we can do for your friend.”

Blaze seemed miles better since Castor purged some darkness from him, but I sensed an ugliness deep within him that called to mine. “Appreciate any help we can get.”

“Before I forget.” Castor slipped out an envelope, laying it in my hand. “Mary’s documents are done.”

Fake birth certificate, school reports, and medical records with immunization records. Everything she needed to enroll in high school if she chose to. I went through them, and they looked legit. Fuck, I wanted to throw my arms over him, cry, and hug him for giving her this chance. For having more people to call friend than I initially thought.

“Thanks, man. Take care until next time, okay?” I got out, and let him out and closed the door, scrubbing my face.

I took a moment to realign before fishing out my phone and dialing my contact’s number. Asking him for another visit might sound weird considering I was just up his way, but fuck it. I wouldn’t leave Blaze tied to Camus the way Luna and I were. This madness had to end, and in the only way possible. With the Dark Lord gone.

My contact took a while to answer and grunted, “Hello,” as if he were in the middle of fixing one of his bikes… or doing something else I didn’t want to mention.

“Dash, buddy,” I said, making it quick in case it was the latter. “Long time no see.”

“Hang on,” he grunted. “I’m just tightening these brakes.” He set down the phone, and I waited about half a minute before he came back on the line. “What’s up? Miss me already?”

Time to throw the wolfy a major bone. “How would you like to get eighty percent off your monthly bill?”

“What do you need?” He cut right to the chase.

“ Banksia penicillate flower,” I replied. “Heard of it?”

He went deadly silent for a few beats. “What do you need it for?”

Ah. His father taught him well. Always ask the hard questions. Scope out his allies and enemies.

No point beating about the bush. “To erase a dark curse placed on a friend. Think you could help a brother out?”

“You’ve got a deal.” The future Alpha of Pack Lumbry knew when to cut a deal. “Swing by tomorrow and I’ll have some for you.”

“I can’t this weekend,” I said. “I’m away for the weekend with Luna. What about Tuesday?”

All four of Luna’s princes planned this for weeks. The last two months, with all the bullshit politics at the Guild and Blaze’s kidnap, took its toll on everyone, and we all needed a little TLC.

“See you then.” Dash hung up, and that was that.

Smiling, I shoved my phone back in my pocket and regrouped with my princess and sister. My heart inflated at my sister babbling about her latest podcast episode. She caught on fast about the new world and immersed herself in it. Soon, she’d be ready to tackle the whole therapy process.

Life felt like it came together for me, and I thought over all the good things that happened since my escape. I opened and owned my own business in magick purveying. I had my sister safely with me. I found someone who loved me and didn’t want anything from me. I formed a kinship with three men I came to admire for their respective talents and qualities. And I had allies willing to trade and help those I loved. Yeah, life was fucking good for once.

“Tea and cookies?” I interrupted my girls, and they both glanced over, smiling and nodding vigorously. “Of course, you wouldn’t say no. You’ve both got a sweet tooth.” I filled up the kettle and flicked the switch on.

“A chocolate a day keeps the doctor away,” Luna sassed back.

I unscrewed the lid of the cookie jar. “Where’s your scientific evidence to corroborate that?”

“Right here.” She rubbed her belly.

I laughed and said, “You’re lucky Castor left. I think he’d denounce your scientific proof if he were still here.”

She poked out her tongue and went back to chatting with my sister. I watched them while I tossed tea bags into saucers, grabbed the milk from the fridge, and plated cookies. A renewed sense of hope flushed my body at Mary’s shy smiles and glances from beneath her lashes. I loved how quickly they bonded, how Luna made Mary feel comfortable and safe, when my sister spent a lifetime of degradation and abuse at the hands of the Brotherhood.

Thanks to Castor’s documentation, Mary had a life of endless possibilities ahead of her. Most importantly, she got to choose which possibility she pursued, and that filled my heart with joy more than anything.

Feeling even more reflective, I smiled that I was no longer the rogue snake fighting my old association and losing. I was surrounded by soldiers willing to go into battle for me, my sister, and I was willing to fight for them.

I took my new outlook with me to afternoon tea with my two favorite girls, holding onto my princess, tucking her to my side, laughing with them, having never felt freer and purposeful.

Once we downed our drinks and treats, we spent the next hour prepping all the ingredients for drying. Mary chopped up the roots and spread them across the six trays in the dehydrator. Once that lot was done, we’d dry the seeds in there, using trays with finer mesh grids. Luna and I tied up the herb sprigs, flower, and leaf bundles and hung them on the trellis in my courtyard at the back of my place. Six by six feet, it was tiny, more of a space to sneak a quick smoke rather than relax. Worked for me though, when I didn't want a garden to maintain or a lawn to mow, even though a space to grow my own herbs came in handy. I put that goal aside until I got my own place.

For now, I didn’t mind the ride out to the various shifter territories to replenish protective wards or collect spell ingredients. The open road and purr of the bike soothed me. There was something freeing about the open road. It lowered my tension after a busy week.

The three of us spent the rest of the afternoon harvesting the previous months’ supply of plant material. Technically, it only took two weeks to air dry, but I let mine dry for longer in the winter to be safe. Mary volunteered to crush up the leaves she plucked from branches. My princess and I refilled stock in jars, putting the new stuff in the bottom of the containers, and making up pre-prepared bags and bundles popular with the customers. My shelves looked alive again with all the fresh products on them.

By the end, we were exhausted, and I threw my arms over my girls, and asked, “Who wants pizza for dinner?”