Chapter 7
Feather
Iwas dreaming of bees, a swarm of golden lights surrounding me, blanketing and connecting me with an invisible hive, when I began to hear voices instead of buzzing.
I kept my eyes shut, taking in the hushed conversations of dozens of individuals, some singing, others reading aloud.
A few were telling stories of when the Celestial Realm was new.
One was remembering recipes they’d made in the kitchens in Sanctuary. More than a few were happily merging.
But the closest one was a voice I knew well, and loved.
I know I’m young, but I can share the burden with you, Mikhail. I’m not weak. I may not be able to hear your thoughts as clearly as you do mine, but I can read your expression. Don’t underestimate me.
Young Righteous, I promise you, I do not. But I also will do everything I can to protect you as well as her.
I’m not a Novice, Mik. Don’t treat me as one.
Mikhail’s response was an upwelling of affection, and apology.
I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s just… I’m so used to doing it on my own.
Bearing the weight alone. I felt him move across the room.
I watched my realm wither and fade, and carved my own flesh away, all to keep Earth from sliding into the Abyss.
To protect those souls. I endured centuries of knowing my friend Seraphiel was most likely lost or unmade, with no way to rescue him.
For centuries, I lived with the idea that I’d somehow erred in the creation of my best friend’s mate. And today I learned that I did. I bound myself to his true soulmate. Stole her, unknowingly.
No, Mik. You can’t possibly regret loving her.
Mikhail snorted. Oh, I don’t. I would do it again a thousand times, and bear the guilt gladly. Because I love that small, bright soul more than I have ever loved anyone or anything else. More than I care about what is right or wrong. I’m obsessed with her. I belong to her.
I do as well.
I understand. But know this: if it means bearing the weight of all the realms, even if it costs me my soul, I will protect her to my last breath. The Maker of All gave me this long life for one reason—to stand as her protector and lover. And that means keeping you safe, for her.
She’s dying, isn’t she?
I won’t let her. Not alone.
The room was so filled with grief, a heavy blanket of trepidation, I wasn’t surprised that neither of them had noticed I was awake. Their breathing was a funeral dirge.
Time to change the tempo of this song to one that would be a lot more fun. I hummed the refrain to a famous striptease number, hoping it would give them the idea.
Righteous gasped. “Did you hear that? She’s moaning in agony. Call the Healer, Mik! She must be in terrible pain.” His face appeared over mine. “Oh, wait. Maybe that noise was her stomach gurgling.” I’m glad you’re awake. Mikhail was going dark.
No kidding. Time for us whippersnappers to cheer up Daddy.
Ry’s eyes widened. I will never call him that.
Never? I whined for real this time. In the back of my mind, I felt Mikhail’s solid presence. A gentle wave of love, tinged with acceptance and a hint of humor, washed away the funereal vibe. Daddy Bear was ready to play.
No, he needed to.
With a gentle thought—we all need to play—Mikhail shoved Ry aside. “Beloved? Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere,” I moaned. I traded winks with Ry, while Mikhail started freaking out, though I grabbed his arm before he could run for help. “I think… I’m going to need… a thorough examination, Doctor Growly. Maybe your young med student there could watch and learn.”
The walls of the room shook with laughter, and Mikhail’s dimple flashed. Ry just chuckled. “Only you, Scrap, could turn this tragedy into a…”
“Into a well-acted, top-tier porno?” I rolled up onto my elbows and batted my eyelashes. “You know, I haven’t seen any naughty books or movies since I got here. I might have found my calling. I could spend eternity filling this realm with smutty goodness.”
“Be quiet,” Mikhail ordered, stripping off his t-shirt and sweatpants, revealing acres of well-honed bronze flesh, and a rock-hard erection.
“I need to check your vitals, Miss Sacrifice. Open your mouth wide, and say ah.” I giggled, then leaned forward while he kneeled at the edge of the bed.
“A little wider, love. My tongue depressor is thicker than that.”
At the foot of the bed, Righteous was taking off his own clothing, still laughing.
I stopped the moment Mikhail nudged my lips with the warm head of his cock.
“Mmm,” I hummed in appreciation as I sucked him inside.
Licking the salty moisture from the tip, I cupped his balls with one hand and held him at the base of his thickness with the other.
I used my tongue to trace small, tortuous circles around the sensitive crown, watching his reaction.
He had his fingers threaded in his hair at first, tugging at the dark strands while I played, giving me leeway to move at my own pace.
After a few more lazy thrusts, he broke, his hands descending to my hair, gripping my head on both sides, fire in his gaze.
“Open up, my love. Take your medicine.” He started thrusting into my mouth with a measured ferocity that shook me, muttering obscene suggestions while he fucked my mouth.
“Want to fill you, every part of you, with me. Want to see you walk around with my come dripping down your legs, my marks on your soft skin. Parade you in front of every asshole out there, and let them see how well I fuck you. How you belong to me.” One hand moved around to my throat, gently collaring me as he murmured, “Open wider, sweet soul. Take all I give you.”
With my hands gripping the sides of his thick thighs, I tilted my head back, trying to obey.
I was relaxing into the pounding movements when I felt an unexpected, fiery thread—a bright, sharp burst of delicious energy—pouring into my mouth and down my throat from the end of his cock.
He wasn’t coming; he was feeding me his soulfire, mixed with the realm’s blue power.
It was astounding, like slamming a dozen energy drinks all at once.
And every gulp of the searing power set off electric shocks in my nipples, my clit, the edges of my wings, all the way down to my toes.
It tasted like a spiritual honey and jalapeno lollipop; my lips tingled with the unfamiliar burn.
If this was what having sex in the Celestial Realm was like, maybe I was gonna like this place more than I’d thought.
I pushed my neck forward, loving the feel of his hand there as I drank him down.
“My perfect little mate,” Mikhail growled, one hand still on my head, controlling me.
“Swallowing every drop I give you. Good girl, aren’t you?
You know you need this more than any medicine.
” His fingers moved from my throat to one nipple, pinching gently, then harder, with each pulse of power down my throat.
A short, fierce climax shook me as he twisted and pulled relentlessly at my nipple.
“Fuck, that’s hot,” I heard from the foot of the bed.
I felt hands pushing my legs apart roughly, and a hot tongue swiping a long lick all the way from my ass to my clit.
Righteous’s hungry eyes met mine as he nibbled and lapped at my inner thighs, teasing me.
“More delicious than any candy I’ve ever had,” he said, maneuvering me so I lay on my side with one leg raised, his hands gripping my thighs and holding me in position.
Then with a quick move, so smooth it didn’t disrupt the rhythm Mikhail had set up in fucking my mouth, Righteous twisted his entire body, his head wedging between my thighs as he buried his face in my pussy.
I squealed around Mikhail’s thick cock as Ry attacked me below with his tongue, using what felt like bristles of soulfire to vibrate against my clit while he plunged inside me.
Mikhail grunted with displeasure. “Dammit.”
“What?” I asked, moving my head away for a quick breath.
Righteous did something to my clit with his tongue and a spiral of soulfire that stole my attention, and when I stopped panting, Mikhail’s brow was furrowed, one hand on his slick cock.
I frowned up at him, wondering why he’d stepped back. “That didn’t feel good?”
“No, my beloved, it felt amazing. I’m just… I’m jealous.” He sighed and stroked my hair. “I want my mouth on you, too. I should have started with that.”
Righteous mumbled something that might have been, “You snooze, you lose,” and went back to work, nibbling and sucking at my clit.
“Come on, Doctor Growly. Don’t I get a lollipop for being a good patient?” I teased, arching my back and opening my mouth again. “Ahhh.”
They both fed me energy and pleasure until I came apart in a shower of golden sparks—literal ones.
It felt different than it ever had before.
More intense. I wondered if they were pulling too much of their own soulfire and feeding it into me, but when I sent that question in my thoughts, they both looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
Scrap, I could go all day and all night like this, Ry teased without stopping his vigorous tongue massage.
Please… do, I replied, panting even in my thoughts.
It felt like he was spooling a thread of soulfire on an invisible clit bobbin, getting faster and faster as he wound.
When I came, I wouldn’t be surprised if my pussy manifested some sort of improvisational energy needlepoint project down there.
An embroidered pillow with French knots that read Here Lies Feather’s Happiest Ending.
“I’m afraid this isn’t the medicine you need,” Mikhail grumbled after another moment, pulling his cock free of my mouth before he came.
I narrowed my eyes, warning him not to stop. “It so is, Doctor. I promise.”