Chapter 24 #4
I rolled my eyes but complied, listening to the rustle of paper and Talon's excited breathing. Someone, I’m guessing Rhodes, let out a long-suffering sigh.
"Okay, open them!" Talon commanded.
I blinked my eyes open to find the table now covered in.
.. rabbits. Dozens of them. Not real ones, thank gods, but every possible rabbit-themed item imaginable.
Ceramic figurines in various poses, some cute, some weirdly elegant.
A bundle of fresh carrots tied with a red ribbon.
Three different rabbit vibrators still in their packaging, each progressively larger than the last.
"What the actual fuck?" Felix muttered, picking up one of the vibrators with curiosity.
"There's more!" Talon declared proudly, pulling out a collection of bunny masks in every color of the rainbow. He immediately placed a neon green one over his eyes. "For ambiance!"
"Ambiance," Rhodes repeated flatly, looking like he was reconsidering all his life choices.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as Talon dramatically pulled out the final item, and my jaw dropped when he revealed a silver butt plug with a fluffy white rabbit tail attached.
"For my little rabbit," he announced, presenting it to me with a flourish. "To complete your transformation!"
Misha covered his face with one massive hand, but I saw the way his eyes flashed. Big boy loved a good predator versus prey situation. Ashland looked torn between amusement and wanting to throw Talon through one of the crystal walls.
"This is a sacred claiming ritual," Rhodes started, his voice strained. "Millennia of tradition—"
"Boooring!" Talon sang the word this time, placing a hot pink bunny mask on Rhodes' face. "Now it's a sacred claiming ritual with style."
The mask lasted all of one point two seconds before it was hurled across the room. I couldn't hold it anymore, and laughter bubbled up from deep in my chest. The absurdity of it all, the earnest look on Talon's face, the absolute horror on Rhodes'... it was too much.
"I love it," I managed between giggles, picking up one of the small ceramic rabbits. It was surprisingly detailed, with tiny whiskers and alert ears. "Really, Talon. It's perfect."
"See?" He shot a triumphant look at the others. "She loves it!"
"The question is," Jasper's voice carried a note of amusement, "what exactly are we supposed to do with all of this during the ritual?"
Talon's face lit up with unholy glee. "I have so many ideas—"
"No," Rhodes, Ashland, and Misha said in unison.
"Maybe," Felix countered with a wicked grin.
"Yes," I said firmly, stepping forward to place a kiss on Talon's cheek.
"Not everything, but... some of it. After all," I added, picking up the butt plug with deliberate slowness, watching their eyes darken as one, "what's the point of being claimed by chaos if we don't embrace a little. .. spontaneity?"
The air in the chamber suddenly felt charged with more than just ritual energy. Talon looked like he might combust with excitement.
"You're going to be the death of us," Rhodes muttered, but he was smiling now.
"But what a way to go," Felix added, already rearranging some of the rabbit figurines to form a circle around the edge of our ritual space.
I met Ashland's eyes across the room, surprised to find them twinkling with amusement rather than annoyance. He gave me a slight nod, as if to say Your choice, little rabbit.
And it was. These ridiculous, powerful, protective demons were mine to claim as much as I was theirs. If that meant incorporating bunny masks and ceramic figurines into our ancient demon ritual... well, that just made it perfectly us.
Misha quietly moved to stand before me, and I looked up at him. “For you.” He shoved a long box into my hands and crossed his arms across his chest.
“What’s this?” I asked, lifting off the lid. “What?!” I gasped when I saw the contents. My bunny blades. “How?”
“I found them on Scorpio’s body after the fight. I just finished cleaning and polishing them. I didn’t want any of that fucker’s—”
I threw my arms around his waist and squeezed. “Thank you, Mishy Bear.”
His palms found my ass, and I was lifted up, bringing our faces closer. I had one arm thrown around his neck and my other pressed against his chest as I gripped my beautiful weapons. His eyes swirled with tenderness, and he whispered, “I love you.”
I smiled, loving the way those words sounded coming out of his mouth.
“I love you, too.” Then I leaned in and kissed him, sealing my words with a kiss.
It started out sweet and slow, and then ramped up to level one hundred.
I was so ready for all of this, and I frowned when Misha set me back down with a knowing smirk. He knew exactly what he did to me.
"Okay, now what?” I asked impatiently, looking to Rhodes, who was going to implode if he didn’t get to lay out the facts sooner, rather than later.
The guys all started laughing, having seen how turned on Misha had gotten me. Rhodes focused.
“There are several steps here. We have to finish the ritual circle. Next, there’s the binding words and claiming marks, then we have to consummate the bond."
I raised an eyebrow. "Jasper and I didn't do all of that."
"You didn't need to," Felix said. "If this were just mate bonding, this would be simpler.
Knotting you would've been enough, but since we're also trying to see if we can use the power of our mate bonds to bring Jasper back fully, we're taking extra steps.
" He showed me his hands that were covered in runes and designs.
"The marks need to be drawn precisely, connecting our energies through the veil. It's delicate work."
"So even though it might be boring, it is potentially dangerous," Rhodes added, shooting Talon another look. "Especially with your unique abilities involved."
My fingers traced one of the runes carved into the wall. "Because I can manipulate the veil?"
"Exactly." Misha's deep voice rumbled through the chamber. "No one has ever attempted a claiming ritual quite like this before."
"Good thing I like being unique then," I quipped, trying to hide how their intensity was affecting me. "So, where do you want me?"
Six pairs of eyes darkened at my choice of words, and my inner witch did a backflip in victory. Ashland stepped forward, all controlled power and authority. "First, we prepare the circle. Then..." His ice-blue eyes raked over me. "We’re going to make you scream."
I swallowed hard, watching as they moved with practiced efficiency.
Felix began drawing intricate patterns on the floor while Rhodes consulted his book, making adjustments to the design.
Misha and Talon arranged various crystals and ceremonial items, their movements precise despite Talon's earlier flippant attitude.
Jasper drifted closer, his presence sending pleasant shivers down my spine. "Are you nervous?" he asked softly.
"A little," I admitted. "Not about the claiming part, just... I don't want to mess this up. There's so much power involved. There’s a lot at stake." I couldn’t look at him. He knew exactly what I meant. If this didn’t work…
"You won't mess up," he assured me, killing my unproductive line of thought. "Your power knows what to do, just like it did during the battle. Trust yourself."
I leaned into his mostly solid form, drawing comfort from his certainty. "I trust all of you. That's what matters."
"The circle is ready," Felix announced, standing back to admire his work. The floor was covered in sweeping lines of silver ink that seemed to move in the crystal light, forming patterns that made my head spin if I looked too long.
"Then it's time," Ashland said, his voice carrying that note of authority that never failed to make my pulse quicken. "Palmer?"
I stepped forward, letting my robe fall open slightly. "Where do you need me?"
"Right here," Rhodes murmured, guiding me to the center of the circle. "And lose the robe."
My heart thundered as I let the silk slide from my shoulders, leaving me bare before them. Their collective intake of breath made me feel powerful, desired. Claimed.
"Beautiful," Felix breathed, already reaching for his ink.
"Perfect," Talon agreed, his usual playfulness replaced by something darker, hungrier.
Misha's massive form blocked out some of the crystal light as he moved closer. "Ready, kukola?"
I looked at each of them in turn—my artists, my warriors, my protectors, my mates. Power thrummed through the air, making the runes glow brighter as our energies began to merge.
"Ready," I said firmly, tilting my chin up. "Make me yours."
The first touch of Felix's ink-covered fingers against my skin sent sparks of electricity through my body, and I knew there was no going back.
Not that I wanted to.
Felix's fingers traced delicate patterns across my skin, each stroke sending shivers down my spine. The runes seemed to come alive under his touch, glowing with an inner light that matched the pulsing crystals surrounding us.
"Hold still, little witch," he murmured when I squirmed. "These marks need to be perfect."
"Easy for you to say," I shot back. "You're not the one being painted like a canvas while six incredibly hot demons watch."
Talon's laugh echoed off the crystal walls. "Technically, five demons and a demon ghost. Though hopefully not for much longer."
I glanced at Jasper, who hovered near the edge of the ritual circle. His form seemed more substantial by the minute, the energy in the room clearly affecting him. The sight made my heart race with possibility.
"Focus," Rhodes commanded softly. "The alignment needs to be precise."
I tried to stay still as Felix continued his work, but it was difficult with Misha's intense gaze burning into me, Ashland's ice-blue eyes tracking every movement, and Talon practically vibrating with barely contained energy.
"Almost done," Felix assured me, adding final touches to what felt like an intricate web of symbols covering my body. "Just one more..."
He drew a final mark over my heart and stepped back. The runes blazed to life, creating patterns of light that danced across my skin. Power surged through me, making me gasp.
"Holy fuck," I breathed, watching silver threads of energy begin weaving between the marks.
"That's just the beginning," Ashland promised, darkly. "Are you ready for the next part?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice as the power continued building.
They moved as one, taking positions around the circle and began stripping down to reveal the runes of art that Felix had already completed.
I swallowed thickly at the sight. Fucking hell, I was really going to feel the effects of this for at least a week.
"Remember," Rhodes cautioned, "once we begin, there's no stopping until it's complete. The energy has to flow freely between all of us."
"I remember," I said, stronger now. "I want this. I want you, all of you."
The air crackled with electricity as they began speaking in an ancient language I didn't recognize, but I somehow understood—words of binding, of claiming, of eternal connection. The runes on our skin blazed brighter with each syllable.
Jasper's form began flickering and solidifying repeatedly as the veil between worlds grew thin. I could feel it responding to our combined power, bending and stretching in ways I'd never experienced before.
"Now," Ashland commanded, and they moved toward me as one.
The first touch of their hands on my marked skin sent shockwaves of pleasure through my body. Power exploded between us, raw and primal and perfect. The veil pulsed with our energy as the claiming began, and I surrendered myself to it completely.
This was what I'd been waiting for. What we'd all been waiting for. And as their hands and mouths began their caressing, I knew with absolute certainty that I was exactly where I belonged.
The crystal chamber filled with light as our powers merged, and I smiled, ready to show them exactly what their little rabbit could do.
Because now? It was forever.