Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Michaela
TWO DAYS EARLIER
My wings snapped out to catch the current of air as I curved my body in the sky to match the direction of the wind. Flying was the only time I was able to find peace in the last twenty-four hours since my sister gave herself up to save us.
It killed me that I wasn’t with her. Everything happened so fast. The Obscuritas Kings were once again several steps ahead of us. And while we thought the small army we’d gathered would be enough protection with the Princes away on their rescue mission, it wasn’t enough at all.
A shadow above me blotted out the sun, and warmth spread from my chest straight to my toes.
Morax Ormaenus, my mate. He was strange and familiar all at once.
We’d only known each other for less than a year, and yet he felt like home.
My heart and soul were blended with his for eternity.
I shivered at the feeling of his eyes on me.
Turning in the air, I glanced up at the monster flying above me.
Morax was in daemon form, dark horns spiraling out of his thick dark hair.
Black feathered wings flapped strongly in the wind.
His golden eyes glowed with power, captivating me.
And he looked entirely too serious. I knew that was partly my fault.
I’d been mostly a mess since we lost the fight against the Kings.
But the blubbering phase was over. Now it was time to kick some ass.
“Catch me if you can,” I called out to him, blowing a kiss before whipping around and diving back to the field below.
You know what happens when I do, little doe. Morax rumbled, his deep voice echoing in my mind.
A whimper of need zipped through to my core, and his answering roar above me in the sky made me giggle.
With our mate bond solidified, Morax and I could communicate within our minds, and every emotion, every fiber of our souls, we felt as one.
My heart beat only for this creature of mine.
And right now, it fluttered with desire.
Morax had a bit of a primal kink, and what happened when he finally caught me was absolutely worth being hunted.
Do not pretend you don’t enjoy the chase, too, little doe. Morax growled in my head. I know your sweet cunt is wet for me already.
It was impossible to clench your thighs while flying at speed, but my body jerked awkwardly to do so anyway. Morax chuckled, and I scoffed, sending a blast of air back at him. He roared in fury, and my laughter carried through the sky, enraging the monster intent on catching his prey.
I might not be as much of a badass as my sister, either sister, if I was being honest, but poking the beast was too much fun.
My feet hit the ground, and before I could look up, thick arms wrapped around my middle, pulling me into the muscular body that belonged to my mate. His forked tongue flicked out against the shell of my ear, and I shivered.
His claws scraped softly against my skin, tugging up my sweater. “Mine.” My mate growled the word, biting down on my throat hard enough to leave a mark.
Morax held me in place, asserting his dominance and making me feel safe all at once. And I loved it. I loved him.
We walked back into Vespertine Hall hand in hand.
Daemons, lumens, and witches greeted us as we made our way to the ballroom, now acting as our war room.
There were even hybrids among us, creatures like me who were a mix of human and something more.
If we weren’t planning a literal war right now, I’d be fascinated and asking dozens of questions.
It was insane to me that so many hybrids lived on this planet.
But before my mother sealed us off with her sacrifice, daemons and lumens traveled to Earth quite often.
And not just our planet, dozens of others, too.
That bit of information I was still wrapping my head around.
Daemons and lumens weren’t the only creatures with power; there were so many others.
The gods, according to their lore, split apart and used their varying powers to create all creatures, each as unique as the next.
While it was a wild truth to accept, there was a part of me that wasn’t shocked.
It was arrogant to think we were the only creatures to exist in this multiverse.
The voice of the witch who shared all these fun facts with me caught my ear as we walked down the hall.
Since mating with Morax, all of my senses heightened.
I was still getting used to that. Blocking out sound was my first task, considering how many horny-as-hell creatures now lived in the manor.
Not even ear plugs could block them all out.
Morax pushed through the doors, keeping a possessive hand on my back.
With all these new guests, he was extra snarly and territorial.
Not that he was worried I’d have a wandering eye, mated creatures were just extra proprietary.
I discovered this about myself when the first new lumen appeared and winked at Morax and I nearly drowned her with water magic.
To be fair, I wasn’t trying to create a waterfall, but my powers were still new and mostly untrained. It was a constant worry of mine, especially when we were preparing for a battle of epic proportions.
If I didn’t get my powers under control, I’d be a liability on the battlefield. And sitting on the sidelines while everyone I cared for risked their lives was not an option. It was past time for me, Michaela Valdis, to become a badass warrior like her older sisters.