Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Morax
My fingers grazed the pale flesh of my mate’s perfect thighs wrapped around my own. Her eyes were closed, her head resting against my chest. Since our wedding, I was damn near insatiable, and she met my passion with equal measure.
Michaela was determined to prepare for the coming battle, absorbing knowledge, learning new ways to fight, and practicing with her new Seer gifts. And between all her preparations, we found time for ourselves. It was imperative that I brought pleasure to my mate, fed her soul with hope and love.
The moment her sister left, Michaela’s anxious thoughts and feelings were a constant companion.
I was unsettled as well, knowing where my brother headed with his mates.
The stories we heard as children about the cursed mountain were not pleasant.
No one survived. But it was more than that.
Whatever monster lurked in the dark not only destroyed the body, it was said the souls of the daemons and lumens who attempted the venture there lost their souls, never to join our ancestors in the stars.
My wife stirred in my arms. “Knock knock,” she mumbled, and seconds later, someone pounded on our door.
I left the comfort of our bed and found clothes for us both. Even if the voice calling out on the other side of the door was the witch, no one was allowed to see my mate’s beautiful nakedness.
Michaela quickly slipped into the pale-pink dress I handed her and opened the door. Her eyes were bright with some new knowledge. “Zombies!” She shouted the word, and Delphine’s eyes widened.
Gremory and Tabitha were also with her. The witch chuckled. “Something like that.”
Gripping the back of Michaela’s neck only a little possessively and smirking down at her, I spoke first. “I don’t believe we have zombies.”
“And yet”—Michaela rolled her eyes—“you do. Belial basically turned all the daemons, and the prisoners, into zombies. He’s controlling them.”
I shook my head, unable to grasp what this meant. “How on earth could Belial do this?”
Michaela shrugged, but it was Gremory who responded. “I think he is using the king. When I questioned Halphas, he alluded to it.”
Keeping one hand caressing the nape of Michaela’s neck, I contemplated his words. “Belial was always testing old magics and new ways to grow in power when we were younger. I suppose he could have found something. But I cannot imagine my father would give up control to him.”
Michaela glanced up at me. “Maybe he didn’t. Maybe your father is zombified, too.”
Tabitha’s tinkling laugh caught our attention. “Sorry. That was funny. But that might be right. When I was…with the Obscuritas Kings, they only dealt with Belial. Darren called Corson a lovesick fool once.”
A sharp laugh escaped my lips. “You must be mistaken. My father never showed any gentle emotions like love.”
My wife wrapped her arms around my waist, looking up at me with her beautiful, mismatched eyes. “Are you certain? Never?”
Her question made me pause. “Hmm. Maybe. But I was barely a teen. It feels more like a dream than a memory. I do recall the day he became vicious. As if a switch flipped and the blackness in his soul finally broke free.”
“Unless it’s Belial’s will,” Gremory added.
I nodded. “If it is, then perhaps we have a chance. Find a way to sever the connection my brother has to him and his zombies, as you call them.”
Michaela smiled. “We’re going to war with zombies. This should be fun.”
Our army of rebels moved south from Liboteria to Terrae Mortu.
Terrae Mortu was once a thriving city with a marketplace where all creatures intermingled.
Thousands of years ago, before the Ormaenus line held the royal titles, before even the distinguished Valdis family thrived, Stella Terra was a peaceful country.
We shared knowledge, traveled to other worlds, and mingled with creatures far and wide.
There are very few stories of this time in our history; most of the books were destroyed.
There would always be villainy in the world, because greed always finds a way into the souls of devils.
“You’re very serious, husband.” Michaela twined her fingers with mine, my hand engulfing hers. “I caught a glimpse of that world.”
I arched a brow at her. “What world?”
“The one you were thinking of just now.” She gazed into the distance. “Your thoughts were enough direction for me to point The Sight that way. It was wonderful.”
Our bond pulsed with vitality, and I saw through her gift and our connection flashes of the city teaming with life. Bringing her hand up to my lips, I pressed a soft kiss to her fair skin. “Perhaps we can bring it back?”
My mate smiled broadly up at me. “You can count on it. I want to make a life here, in this world, with you.”
Her words filled my soul with so much joy. If someone had told me I’d be completely head over heels in love with a lumen princess, I’d have told them they were insane. How could I, the son of a devil and brother to a demented daemon, be gifted with a mate who radiated so much light and goodness?
I pulled Michaela into my arms, lifting her off the ground.
She wrapped her legs around me instantly.
Instead of her usual dresses, Michaela was dressed for travel in buttery soft pants and a fitted sweater.
Her golden hair was braided down her back, and I itched to get my hands in it.
I captured her lips with my own, and as if she could read my every need, she opened herself to me.
My tongue dominated hers, and her slender body melted into mine. I relished the submission.
She giggled when several wolf whistles filled the air, but I didn’t care. They could all watch me claim my mate, watch me worship the queen she had become.
When our lips parted, her eyes glowed with power. “What was all that for?” She breathed heavily, nipping at my lips.
“I vow here and now, on all the stars above. On my soul, I will make sure we survive this,” I promised her. “You will have a life here, one filled with love and peace unlike anyone has ever seen. I swear it. And I will be by your side through it all.”
Tears welled in her eyes at my declaration, and I knew she could feel the truth of my words through our bond.
“I swear it, too, Morax. You and me. And maybe a kid or two.”
A groan escaped my lips at her words, and the beast within reared his head. My cock ached, pressing against my pants with the need to breed her right fucking now. “Little doe, do not say another word about children. I may drop you to all fours and breed you right fucking here.”
Michaela laughed, the sound filled with mirth. “Good to know.” She leaned in, her pink lips brushing against my ear. “Perhaps we can find time for a walk in the woods later, and you can fill my pussy with your seed.”
My wings snapped out in seconds, and I leapt into the air.
As if I would just let her speak such filth and get away with it.
Her laughter carried on the wind, and her capricious grin told me she knew exactly what she was doing to me.
I flew us away from the others, zipping over the trees and moving deeper into the forest and closer to Terrae Mortu.
Her hands teased me without mercy, rubbing my hard cock through my pants near enough to cause me pain. I dropped out of the sky, pulling her sweater over her head and tossing it to the forest floor. Her pants were next. The last of my restraint disappeared the instant I saw her lacy red lingerie.
“You little minx,” I growled, slashing my claws through the flimsy fabric until she was completely nude before me. “On your knees, wife.”
She obeyed, and fucking hells did that do things to me.
Michaela had my dick down her throat before I could issue another command.
Every single inch of her body and soul was perfect.
My hand instantly went to her head, threading my claws in her braid and tugging her long hair free.
I fucked her mouth mercilessly, and she took it all.
“Such a good fucking girl,” I moaned. “You know you deserved to be on your knees after whispering those filthy words to me.”
Leaning over her head, I smacked her ass in three rapid strikes. Michaela moaned, her spit dribbling out of her mouth stuffed with my cock.
“You like that, don’t you, my dirty little lumen.”
She felt like heaven, but I needed more.
Using the hand wrapped in her hair, I pulled her away and forced her up.
The dirt on her legs only encouraged the primal beast within me.
Michaela grinned when I dragged her to the nearest tree and lifted her in my arms. I didn’t give her time to adjust, just slammed her back into the tree and filled her with my cock,
She screamed for me, her sweet cunt taking me in so well.
“You’re soaked, little lumen. I think you enjoyed that.”
Michaela groaned. “You know I did, mate. Now make me come. Please. I need it.”
“How could I refuse, when you beg so prettily for me?” Setting a ferocious pace, I fucked my perfect mate until she screamed my name. Until my seed filled her. Until we both fell to the earth in a heap of sweaty limbs and unimaginable bliss.