Chapter 23 Sera
Sera
Morpheus, I think, searching for him as the world fades away.
And suddenly I’m staring at a ceiling adorned with crystallized flowers.
I blink, trying to determine what caused me to wake up. Or… or how I even fell asleep to begin with.
My brow furrows. The last thing I remember is following Hades in here and going to take a bath. Then… then nothing.
Glancing downward, I find myself in a gold silk gown, one that’s clearly meant for sleeping and not a dinner party. It’s not what I usually sleep in at all, which suggests that Hades dressed me.
But when did I fall asleep?
Swallowing, I try to push myself up, and come face-to-face with a three-headed beast.
“Oh!” I scramble back into the headboard, the pillows cushioning my abrupt scurry, all while the animal watches me curiously.
Two of them have their heads cocked, while the third—Ossa—gives me a goofy, pant-like grin.
I stare at them. “Erm.” I… I don’t know what to say or do. Are they going to eat me? Attack me if I move? Bark? “Hi?” I say uneasily.
Ossa’s jaws close, then open again to release a tiny little yip, one I’m pretty sure belongs to a puppy, not a wolfish beast.
Howl and Mort follow, releasing two varying sounds, but equally as, well, cute.
I blink at them.
And they blink back.
Then loll their tongues to the side in matching grins while Ossa pants happily.
I scoot a little closer to them on the bed—which I now realize is massive since the beast is only taking up the foot of it, and there’s still room to maneuver around them.
Stars, this mattress would easily fit a party of five or six…
Or at least me, Morpheus, and Malaki… and maybe Hades.
I shiver at the thought, my thighs clenching at the idea of being with all three males at once.
Oh, that would be… something.
I swallow, my heart suddenly racing. “Something” is an understatement.
Ossa lays her head down with a little whine, her silver eyes big and round as she stares at me with an adorable begging expression.
When Mort and Howl follow suit, my heart begins to crack. Because, oh my thorns, they are adorable.
And their tail is wagging.
I lift my hand toward Ossa and cautiously go for one of her floppy black ears. When I give her a scratch, her eyes begin to close, and I swear she starts to purr.
I reach for Mort next, his ears equally as soft and floppy. His eyes are a golden color that reminds me a bit of Maliki.
Then Howl gives me the saddest look with his blue irises, and I feel compelled to move both hands to his head and give him a thorough scratch.
When I’m done, they’re all panting happily again, and I can’t help but smile.
“You’re very cu—”
Ossa’s snarl cuts me off and has me yanking my hand back in alarm.
“I’m sorry,” I rush to say as Howl and Mort both look at her and yip. Loudly.
I scurry backward again, convinced I’m about to become dinner for this beast, when the creature launches itself off the bed and sprints out the bedroom door.
Goose bumps pebble along my arms as I hear Ossa vocalizing her anger.
Something is happening…
I… I don’t know if I should stay here, or…
My lips twist.
Then my brow furrows.
Hades said this maze was safe. So whatever has his beast reacting this way must be related to the labyrinth.
With narrowed eyes, I slide off the bed and wander toward the door, determined to face whatever has Ossa growling like that. Because I refuse to be a damsel.
Hades created this place to punish Persephone. But he loves her. That much I know. And I really don’t think he would ever truly harm her—or me.
So whatever this is, I can hand—
My eyes widen as I see Mort and Howl leap up to give Maliki twin kisses with their long tongues, all while Ossa grumbles and growls.
He chuckles and gives the two heads pats, then reaches for Ossa and snorts when she tries to bite his fingers off. “So touchy,” he says to her.
She snarls again.
Which just has him shaking his head. “One of these days, you’ll give me a chance.”
She grunts, then looks away from him while Howl and Mort continue to show their affection.
My eyebrow arches at her clear annoyance. She’s very obviously miffed that her brothers are loving on Maliki, which is endearingly amusing to observe.
Only, after a few seconds of enjoying the scene, a realization hits me square in the chest—a realization that instantly dismantles my amusement. “You’re here,” I say, my eyes widening. “You’re here!”
Maliki looks at me and smirks. “Yeah, trouble, I’m here.” He disentangles himself from the massive paws and comes toward me in a pair of dark jeans and a black button-down shirt.
I throw myself into his arms and inhale his leathery scent, the smoky tendrils seeming to curl around me in a subtle claim. He kisses my neck and then my cheek before pressing his lips to my ear. “Did you miss me, little mystery?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
Except another thought occurs to me right after, causing me to pull backward and look up at him.
“This is real, right?”
He frowns. “What?”
“This isn’t a dream?” I press.
He stares at me for a beat, then cocks his head. “Well, I suppose that depends on what you want to do. Would you like to make this a fantasy, trouble? Because that could be kind of fun.”
“I’m serious, Maliki. Am I still dreaming?”
“Still dreaming?” he echoes. He arches a brow for half a beat before adding, “Oh, I see. That’s where Morpheus misted off to. He’s been playing with you in the dream world, yeah?”
His use of the word playing has my stomach twisting as fresh heat warms my veins.
Playing is certainly an accurate term.
In fact, I want to go back to playing in the water. Straddling him again. Feeling his warmth against mine…
“Mmm, playing indeed,” Maliki murmurs, his hands going to my hips as he lifts me effortlessly into the air. “I’m going to assume the bedroom is this way, then.” I grab his shoulders as he starts carrying me back the way I came. “Maybe we can make our own dreams come true.”
“Maliki…” His name comes out a little breathy.
I’m still not convinced this is real.
But I’m not sure I care anymore.
Maliki is here. He’s warm. And he’s taking me to the bed.
“This gold gown looks beautiful on you, by the way,” he says, his mouth at my ear again. “I assume Hades manifested it?”
“I… I don’t know,” I whisper. “I think so, though. I don’t remember falling asleep.”
“Yes, he mentioned that you nearly drowned.”
My eyes widen. “I did?”
He sets me on the floor by the bed and looks down at me. “Hades said you passed out in the bath.”
“Oh.” My nose crinkles. “I don’t remember that.” But I do vaguely recall asking for a bath. Which… which isn’t like me to do.
But I’m not exactly sure what’s normal for me anymore.
Everything feels… strange. New. And oddly exciting.
Er, well, that latter emotion is purely a result of the way Maliki is admiring my gown right now.
That, coupled with what Morpheus did to me in my dream, anyway.
I tremble, my thighs clenching. And Maliki seems to notice because he slowly returns his gaze to mine and arches a brow.
“You all right, trouble?” His hand travels up my side to cup my cheek. “Or did Morpheus not properly care for you in your dream?”
“I woke up before…” I trail off, not able to finish that sentence. As I’m not really sure what would have happened if I’d stayed asleep.
But I know what I would have liked to have happened.
And it involved learning more about Morpheus’s knot.
“Hmm, I suppose that’s my fault, then. The moment Hades showed me how to find you, I shadowed straight in.” He draws his fingers back into my hair. “Would you like me to make it up to you, Sera?”
I… I don’t know how to respond to that. “Isn’t it wrong?” I ask, thinking out loud. “To… to go from Morpheus to…?” My eyes widen as I continue processing my thoughts. “I mean, wait. Are you even here because you want to be?”
It’s a jarring subject change.
But he said Hades showed him how to find me… because Maliki wanted to find me? Or is he here because I asked Hades to grant Maliki access to the maze?
“Am I still an assignment?” I wonder aloud. “Or did Hades—”
Maliki’s mouth silences me, his tongue slipping past my lips to indulge me in a kiss that leaves me dizzy and confused against him.
Dizzy because wow.
Confused because… because I have no idea what I was just thinking or saying. I simply want more.
His fingers slide into my hair to hold me against him as he devours me. “If this is still an assignment, Sera, then this is the best fucking assignment of my life.” He picks me up again and tosses me onto the bed.
I blink up at him, my head swimming with his words and mingling with the passionate desires echoing through my heated thoughts.
“I’m here because I want to be here.” He starts unbuttoning his shirt, his golden eyes holding mine. “I can’t define what this is between us, little mystery. And frankly, I don’t want to. I just want to be with you. That’s all that matters to me.”
There’s a reverence to his tone that leaves me breathless, but it’s his expression that captivates me.
Hunger radiates from his gaze.
And his mouth, so sinful and full, continues to move as he says, “As for going from Morpheus to me being wrong?” He smiles. “From what I understand, Omegas craving multiple mates is expected. And, fortunately for you, I like the concept of sharing.”
His shirt parts, and he places a knee on the bed.
“In fact, I love to share,” he adds as he crawls over my prone form. “So if you want to invite Morpheus into your nest, I’ll very much enjoy pleasuring you with him.”
Okay. Now I’m sure I’m dreaming. Because that sounds like a fantasy come true, one I didn’t even realize I desired until recently.
Or perhaps I’ve known for a while now. Ever since Alina introduced me to her mates. Plural. And left me wondering what it would be like to have a circle.
I quickly dismissed it at the time, as I didn’t think that could ever be my future.
But now… now I’m wondering if it might be possible.
With Maliki. Morpheus. And maybe even Hades.
He let Maliki into the maze, like I requested. That has to mean something, right?
Unless I’m dreaming.
But reality or no, I want this. I want Maliki.
So when he settles on top of me, I spread my legs around his hips and lean up to kiss him.
His palm wraps around my throat as he indulges me with his tongue, his mouth hot and intent against mine. I moan, needing something I can’t define. Something intense. Something Morpheus awoke inside me that I need Maliki to fulfill.
Is that wrong of me? I wonder, repeating the concern but only to myself. However, Maliki’s comment from moments ago echoes through my mind.
“I like the concept of sharing.”
I shiver as his thumb traces the column of my neck. It feels threatening, yet reverent, and the combination leaves me squirming beneath him.
Which causes me to arch up into his hips, searching for friction. He presses me right back down and gives my throat a little squeeze. “Don’t rush me, trouble,” he murmurs. “I’m not done tasting you.”
His tongue slides back into my mouth before I can reply, his kiss subduing me and heating me up at the same time.
I want more. So much more.
But he’s holding me down and mesmerizing me with his mouth.
Thorns, he’s a good kisser. Not that I have anyone to compare him to. Except Hades and Morpheus… in my dreams.
Does that count?
Do I care?
No.
I just… I just want to fall into this kiss and be utterly consumed by Maliki.
His grip loosens on my throat while his opposite hand skims up my side. A moan escapes me as he palms my breast, his thumb stroking my already stiff nipple.
It reminds me of Morpheus.
Yet it’s different, too.
This is Maliki. His touch is electric. Morpheus’s is more fantastical, like a dream. And Hades… Hades is intensity personified.
“I really do like this silky gown,” Maliki murmurs, his finger circling my areola. “But I want to touch your skin, Sera.”
A rip follows his comment, the strap popping right off from him tugging at my dress and yanking it down to my waist. I barely even felt him move, but he’s settling on top of me once more in the next second and kissing me again.
The sensation of his bare chest meeting mine lights my blood on fire. He’s muscular and hot, and his tattoos… his tattoos are moving.
I feel them against my skin, writhing in a rhythmic pattern that teases my breasts and causes my nipples to tighten even more.
He smiles. “You like that, Sera?”
I nod and moan in confirmation as I try to somehow touch even more of him.
“That’s my version of a purr,” he tells me. “But it’ll do so much more than soothe you, trouble. It’s going to drive you over the cliff into an ecstasy unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. I promise.”
I don’t even question his words. Because I know everything he just said is true.
And I trust him.
I want him.
I want this. Whatever this is. I don’t want to think anymore, just indulge.
So I do.
Kissing him.
Grabbing his shoulders.
Pushing his shirt off so I can explore his muscular back.
All while wrapping my legs around his hips and pressing up into him. When he spins us, I yelp and suddenly find myself straddling him. Which is when he takes the gold silk gathered around my waist and pulls it up over my head.
“Fucking stunning,” he says, his gaze roaming over my naked form. “Now free my cock, Sera. I want to show you what my tattoos can do.”