41. Thirst Trap Husbands
Aleiraah
It's been a few days since the stubborn-as-hell husbands have set up a huge tent on the sprawling Nephilim castle grounds.
"Oh my, look at those Adonis belts!" Zahara sighs, fanning herself as we eat a breakfast of waffles and moonberry cream with a generous drizzle of lavender honey in the gardens outside. I’ve also demolished a pile of tiny meat pies in between. The carnivore in me is rampant!
The only blight on this beautiful landscape is the seven no-good weasels putting on a striptease while flexing muscles that have no business clenching!
"Aleiraah, control your overgrown peacocks. They are flashing my poor, innocent Hara!" Ispahan growls, blocking Zahara's line of sight while Zenith calmly sips his tea.
The seven infernal showboats continue posing dramatically—brooding profiles, taut musculature, and is that the subtle glisten of oil?
Ispahan's eye twitches. He looks a moment away from throwing an axe at someone...or 'someones'.
"They're not my responsibility and they can flash their cum-gutters to whomever they want." I feign a bored tone, while unable to move my eyes away from the slo-mo strip show taking place just beyond the garden's fence.
"What's cum-gutters?" Zenith asks curiously.
"It's a mortal sports reference. A boys-love novel written by a human author had it, and it made an impression." I explain while grinding my jaw.
My plate cracks in the middle from the pressure I'm exerting with my knife while I slowly cut through the waffles.
Just then Rinn and Archie take off their breeches and walk into the lake nearby for a swim. Slowly. Flexing their thighs and buns of steel. Drool pools in my mouth and Zenith sits a little straighter with a "hmmm" under his breath. Zahara leans sideways to catch a glimpse.
"Ugh!" Ispahan shoots to his feet, banging the table top in staunch disgust. "Is no one else concerned that they're one pelvic thrust away from public indecency? Am I the only one immune to this uncouth display of nudity?"
Well, supernaturals run around semi-naked half of the time. So I don't know what he is complaining about. But damn those Aphrodite's saddles!
Mmm..yummy tan bubble butts. I want to take a bite or two and maybe lick? No! No! Bad succubus! Horniness shall be thy downfall!
"Why are you acting like those human maidens from the Victorian era, Han?" Zahara quips, arching a vivid blonde eyebrow. Ispahan grumbles something under his breath that suspiciously sounds like 'stupid stud-muffins'.
A few catcalls pierce the air as I notice a posse of banshees and harpies strolling by the tent. And suddenly scholarly Baz is bench pressing with some weights. His sinewy muscles flexing as the females giggle some more.
He makes eye contact with me while lifting and winks.
Ughhh! What's with these weirdos? And where did he even get those weights?
He's a dragon! He doesn't need to lift weights. The fudge-with-dollops-of-cream is happening?!
Biceps and abs continue to flex as I get a fresh plate of waffles for myself. I try to focus on the delicious food but a few whistles and coy comments from the fangirls finally snap my patience.
I march over to the perverts putting on a show. My purple cropped shirt flutters about and they rake their gazes over me. Slowly, full of heat.
"What do you think you all are doing? Is this a live porn gig? Will tentacles be unleashed next?" I bark irritably, folding my arms across my chest.
Azael steps forward cracking his neck from side to side as a slow smile forms on his lips. I'm momentarily dazzled by that sexy smolder. Azael rarely turns on the charm in public. His default is mysterious and broody.
To distract myself I shoot a quick glance at Rinn, checking if those blasted tentacles have really come out.
The last time I saw them in action, my Mooncleaver had chopped them down and I had been living under a mountain of guilt since then.
I contemplated sneaking out and checking on him even after Azael's assurance that he was fine.
But then I had talked myself out of it, knowing that if I'd give an inch, they'd take a mile.
But what catches my eye ratchets up my libido making me flush.
He's floating on his back in the water aiming a lewd smile at me as he unhurriedly strokes his dick.
Archie stands beside him, his hand moving in a similar motion below the water surface, as he watches me with a lascivious grin.
If looks could devour, I'd already have been eaten a thousand times over.
"They certainly can be. Depends. Did you like the show so far, Azizam?
" Azael draws my attention, sounding amused.
His gravelly voice causes me to break out in goosebumps.
My 'I'm-a-slut-for-you' nipples tighten and poke through the shirt to say hello.
Zien's gaze drops to them and he licks one of his fangs with his tongue.
Stop betraying me, hormone-riddled body!
The sound of a splash saves me from answering as Silas breaks through the surface of the water.
He tilts his head back slightly, combing the wet shoulder length hair back with his fingers as rivulets of water roll down his long, lean, muscular torso.
He looks at me with unnerving intensity, his burning gaze lingering on my torso but then continues to peruse my legs clad in flowy shorts smirking to himself.
Pervert!
I feel strong currents of lust zip toward me from the seven, trickling into my slightly parted lips, coating my tongue in their potent essence. A jolt of energy runs through my veins as arousal blooms in my nether regions.
Azael's nostrils flare. Baz inhales sharply, his eyelids drooping. Zien's irises turn a glowing vibrant red and my gaze drops to their cocks that are at full mast.
My breaths turn shallow, as Alistair scratches his happy trail while giving me a lazy smile, then slowly licks his full red lips.
This cannot be happening!
I take an involuntary step back, suddenly feeling panicked. My gaze frantically darts between seven pairs of eyes watching me intently.
There's an instant shift in the energy. A hint of caution enters into Azael's sapphire gaze. But he covers it with another crooked grin and asks, "Hungry, Azizam?"
"Don't call me that!" I snap, feeling piqued. He slightly shakes his head as others grumble under their breaths.
What an odd question.
I notice the anticipation on their faces, as if they are waiting for something?
Then I realize that I am indeed no longer hungry.
I've been feeling tired since I woke up this morning.
Hoping that the trio would have an orgy today so I can mooch off a dose of lust off them.
But this impromptu display of exhibitionism satiated my lusty cravings.
I feel refreshed. Better than I've felt in the last few days.
Did they plan this? Why?
I drop my gaze, looking at the grass underneath my feet, dotted with tiny wildflowers, my throat growing tight.
Do they really care whether I go hungry? Is it because I shared my past insecurities with Azael?
The banshees break the moment by cackling as the harpies whisper something about riding multiple cocks. Whores!
My gaze snaps to them and they suddenly go quiet, taking a collective step back.
Huh! My horns must be out.
Lucky for them, I don't do territorial anymore. Not even if baby trolls sprouted milk teeth!—Which never happens.
"Starling?" Baz calls out hesitantly and I whip my head back toward the males who used to be my sun and moon and the stars in between, pinning them with an icy glare.
Whatever they see on my face makes them shut up, eyes widening in surprise.
My lips curl in a sneer. "Look! New candidates for your concubine clique. Bet they'd put up with your shit."
Facing those salivating tramps I say sweetly, showing all my teeth, "Have fun while it lasts, girls!
They've the emotional maturity of a limp noodle on top of daddy issues.
" The banshees and harpies look at each other nervously and give me a wide berth as I stride away not giving anyone a chance to speak.
Zenith watches me cautiously and Ispahan does a double take as I draw nearer.
Zahara whispers, looking alarmed, while clutching onto Ispahan's arm, "Aleiraah, your eyes have turned completely black with red slits! And there're glowing rings around your neck. Your arms and legs too! Are....are you feeling ok?"
I look down in surprise and indeed there are glowing orange rings around my limbs. I trace my finger on the ones on my arms, and they are warm to the touch but otherwise feel like air.
Is this a new demonic power? I don’t feel any different though.
“I'm fine, Zahara.” Poor butterfly, I scared her.
"Want to spar?" I pivot to Zenith needing an outlet for my frustration.
He looks behind me for a moment with a pensive expression, then nods and leads me away. "Let's go."
I don't look back at the seven thirst traps as I walk beside Zenith, head held high. The rings slowly fade away the more distance I put between them and me.
I wonder what these new rings mean.
Azael
Aleiraah's demonic traits have evolved.
To say the rings are uncommon would be an understatement. It’s the mark of a high demon seen around the neck. But the glowing rings were all over her. It’s unprecedented. Something I've never seen. It worries and wounds me that she’s not within my reach when her physiology is changing drastically.
And she's expecting.
My Azizam is going to become a mother.
Beneath the canopy of magnolia blossoms, when my fingers brushed her skin, the world seemed to stop.
The moment I sensed the fragile heartbeats nestled within her, every thought deserted me.
For one staggering instant, I could do nothing but feel.
The sheer magnitude of the realization coursed through my veins like lightning, eradicating the agonizing guilt.
But then came the sobering thought of the night of conception.
Sorrow and remorse almost brought me to my knees.
I was desperate to touch her soft belly and feel the wonder, but I had to earn back her trust first.
Wary of her reaction, I had not let it slip, afraid it'd be too much too soon.
Did she know she's carrying our young?
The energy signature had a distinct shifter feel to it. And something else too. I needed to feel her longer, closer, to determine the nature of the babies. But she had been spooked enough.
Evidently, Silas is one of the sires.
When I disclosed events concerning the gargoyle filth, Jadeth to others, they spectacularly lost it.
It took immense restraint not to rush and smother Aleiraah with the comfort she deserves. Pierced with guilt, our own actions kept us from reassuring her.
Too late we realized that our most valuable treasure is Aleiraah. We'd taken something she had not consented to. Making us hardly any better than that scum.
One thing became certain though, to protect Aleiraah from whatever's brewing on the horizon, we've to be on our guard.
There's something suspicious about that gargoyle's sudden appearance right after Aleiraah's mother's death. Everyone had their own theories, but most agreed that Jadeth’s appearance wasn’t coincidental.
Shock had swept through the tent when I revealed Aleiraah was pregnant.
For a heartbeat, there was savage joy. Then the mood turned grim.
Bazrosh fell silent, while Silas lost all reason.
Rhazien had to knock sense into him with a few hard punches before the threat of losing her finally quelled his frenzy.
"Would she be able to stand the sight of a cub?" Silas asked brokenly with a faraway look."I'm not certain if she knows. And if she does, I don't know if she's come to terms with it yet, Silas. The fact that she's carrying our young," I hedged.
Silas visibly deflated, appearing like a male on the brink of losing everything.
It was Archer who boosted his morale, impressing that Aleiraah needs us now more than ever. We'd just have to keep breaching those walls she has erected around her bruised but brave heart.
Alistair had sat by the lake the entire night. Not sleeping in.
When I went to check on him, he was crying by himself. "What if she's carrying my child, Azael? I've forced her to bear the mark of my cruelty."
"Azizam is strong, Alistair. She’s stronger than either of us gave her credit for.
She's a survivor. And her heart is precious. Pain doesn’t erase the capacity to love, just hides it for a while.
She’ll love the younglings when she’s ready.
All we can do is support her in every way possible.
But no matter what she decides in the future, we'll all be there for the little ones. "
It had taken a full day and a night but Silas had eventually agreed that he'd wait for Aleiraah to come clean about her pregnancy to us. But he'd not be deterred from hovering over her. It's not something he can control given that he's already caging his panther.
Bazrosh had been quietly pondering and finally came to me two days later.
"Azael, I combed through the tomes in the Nephilim library but nothing about cross-species breeding says anything about a dragon-succubus pairing.
I don't know if it's even feasible. Have you ever seen anything like this in your existence?
" He'd looked haggard. Possibly hadn't slept for a couple of nights.
I had no answer since dragons are known to hatch from eggs that must be incubated in dragon flame.
Bazrosh turned even more dejected. "All this time, the pressure to continue the Emberfang bloodline has been eating away at me.
Yet now that Starling is possibly carrying my young, I only wish the circumstances were different.
" His eyes had reddened pooling with tears before he strode away, dejected.
For now, I'm glad we're able to at least feed her the energy she obviously needs. Exhaustion hung heavy on her, casting deep shadows under her eyes when she stepped outside for breakfast earlier. I had considered offering her my manna but wasn't certain how she'd react.
Probably would've asked me to drown myself in the lake.
Alistair and Silas had taken one look at her and hatched the plan to seduce her into coming near us. The others had agreed wordlessly.
And it worked, wiping those purple bruises underneath her beautiful aquamarine eyes. Her skin is radiant again. She looks healthy.
My mate's sustenance shouldn't be dependent on others outside of our marriage. But, one battle at a time.