31. Its Alive
31
IT'S ALIVE
JADE
“ L et me see him. Now,” I snarl.
I’m not sure why I’m so pissed. I had been dreaming and hoping that Osen would join us in our life together, but now, he seems entirely lost to us.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Arran releases his hold, but still has a hand on my back to keep me stable as I shuffle to the coffin. I’m not okay. Maxum wasn’t lying about Osen draining me. I used up a lot of magic just to get Osen’s shadows out of Rob and into his rightful body.
From what Calder has told me during our lessons, I will get stronger with my magic as I use it. Like a muscle. But there is a maximum capacity for every individual in what they can take on. I’m just beginning my training, so I have only so much strength.
I gaze at Osen’s handsome face, wishing I had a chance to kiss him in this life. To feel his strong hands hold my body. To feel him make love to me in this reality.
Is this really the end of what we have?
I’m fucking mad. I carried this guy around and was doing everything I could to make this right. But in the end, what I could offer was fleeting.
Calder will be heartbroken. Truly mourning his lover and mate.
I will have lost a potential mate and partner. Someone I was growing too fond of. Someone who I was spending my nights with during the sleeping hours. Talking and making love in his shadowscape world.
Tears stain my face. I’ve been so lost in grief that I didn’t even realize I’m crying.
I wipe my tears from Osen’s bare arm and find a current of something.
Him. His magic. His soul. But sluggish. He isn’t stuck as I thought. He needs something to stir his life force.
An image of an old movie pops into my mind.
“Do you know one of the first science fiction books was written by a woman?” I ask.
“Mary Shelley,” Maxum says confidently.
I eye him. “Knew her too, didn’t you?”
Maxum shrugs. “Met her in passing.”
This guy… acting like that isn’t a big flipping whoop.
“We’re talking about that later.” I refocus back on the thread. “Frankenstein’s monster was based on an idea at the time, bio-electric Galvanism.”
“Don’t they use a gigantic bolt of lightning in the movies?” Arran asks.
I hold up my hand, electricity sparks off my fingers. I reach down over with both hands, palms flat on Osen’s broad chest, and send a bolt of electricity into him.
His body arcs and shakes. It looks more like I’m hitting him with a defibrillator than magic, but that’s exactly what I’m hoping to do. Restart his heart.
I remember in medical dramas, they sometimes have to try a few times.
I stop the flow of electricity. “Maybe someone can breathe life into his lungs?” I look at Calder. Life-giving air from a phoenix seems fitting.
He rushes over and pinches Osen’s nose, and blows a deep, intentional breath. He releases him, and I shock Osen’s chest again.
Then we do it again.
His body arcs and rattles.
Then a gasp. An intake of air.
It’s the most wonderful sound. I release my magic, and Osen flops back flat against the bottom of the coffin.
His eyes barely open. He takes in another ragged breath.
“Water!” Flint calls.
Maxum throws him a bottle from their stockpile down here. Flint splashes some over Osen’s closed eyes and then tips the container to Osen’s lips while Calder lifts his head.
They only wet his lips, then when Osen seems to be aware, they allow a few drops, then a mouthful into Osen. Finally, Osen swallows down the water.
His limbs don’t seem to be working, but I’m hopeful about his ability to drink.
Osen blinks a few times, then gazes up to Calder’s face, who’s still hovering. He smiles, then turns his head toward me. Our eyes lock, and I feel the weight of the connection between us.
We have something few people, if any, have experienced. His hands lift slowly from his sides. One for Calder and one grasping for me.
“Thank you,” he croaks out, his throat still horribly dry and his vocal cords unused.
“We have a modern-day Prometheus amongst us,” Maxum says as he comes up behind me, kissing the top of my head. “Good job, my little demon.”
I just fucking brought someone back to life. Dead for weeks, then not dead. I did just steal fire from the gods.
I hope they aren’t going to be pissed.
But then the room swirls. I fall back into Arran. “I over-magicked.”
Arran scoops me up into his arms, bridal style, and I let the world fade away.
“Rest, sweet mate.”
When I awaken, I see we aren’t in the bunker anymore. I don’t know where we are. It’s dark, but I can make out that I’m in a bedroom. I’ve been stripped down to my panties and bra. And a thin blanket has been thrown over me.
Osen is asleep beside me. The moonlight filtering through a window reveals Calder’s silhouette sitting on a chair near our bed. He’s watching us like some dark protector, flames burning low in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Calder rushes to the side on the bed’s edge near my hip. His warm hand grazes down my cheek, over my hair, and settles over my heart. “Nothing. Everything.”
“That doesn’t help to clear things up,” I say with a hopeful smirk.
“I want to be here with you both, but I also want to have my turn ripping Rob to shreds.”
“I’m surprised he isn’t dead already.”
“I’m sure he wishes he was. The guys have shown him no mercy.”
“Why aren’t you helping them?” I ask.
“I found the sight of torture… triggering,” he explains, and I nod in understanding.
Osen hasn’t stirred with our conversation, and I worry. “How is he? What happened after I passed out?”
“He rallied enough to sit up and wiggle his toes. So that’s good.” Calder frowns. “We gave him a shower and some food. He passed out not long after. He still needs more time to heal. Unfortunately, I don’t have healing magic beyond regenerating myself. And Maxum believes his sex magic only works on his true mate.”
Hmm. He didn’t mention that to me. I suppose he hadn’t wanted to scare me before when he used it.
Then I remember. “Hold up. I healed Flint after we were attacked at the lake house. Maybe I can help now.”
“We’ll have to see if that will work, but should wait until you recover more.” Calder narrows his eyes. “You’re completely spent. And we still don’t know what replenishes your magic. Other than time and rest.”
Being a late-blooming freak has more drawbacks than I expected. I will have to figure out the replenishing thing soon. But since I’m not quite a proper witch, fae, or demon, I may never know.
“Why wouldn’t my healing work on Osen?” I frown, studying Osen’s profile in the low light.
“You had initiated a mating bond with Flint when you healed him. Some demon and fae have a healing ability… but only with their mates.”
“Oh.” I bite my lip. “And I haven’t mate bonded with Osen.”
Calder rubs the back of his neck, thinking. “But we don’t know if you healing Flint was that or not. It will be worth a try when you’re replenished, my flame.”
I grin at his mating nickname. With my depleted magic and overall fatigue, I feel more like a little flickering candle, and not a roaring bonfire.
Curling up against Osen’s side, I place my hand over his heart. A heart that wasn’t beating yesterday.
His shallow breathing instantly becomes deeper.
I try to recall how it felt when I healed Flint. The need to take away his pain and suffering was overwhelming. All-consuming.
While I concentrate on Osen, I stir those same feelings. It seems ridiculous that we’d get this far, so close to having it all, for it to fail now.
He deserved better than dying alone in a dirty alleyway. He died fighting to protect his pack, his people, and innocent fae children from being killed by a fanatical group of witches and warlocks.
“Come on, Osen. I need you here. Calder needs you. I want to know what those lips feel like on mine. I want to be with you, all of you. Don’t you fucking dare slip away now.”
The pain of losing him before I even have him stings my eyes. Love thrums in my heart. A wave, a pulse of magic so pure radiates out of me and into his chest.
His body twitches, like he’s waking up from the deepest sleep of his entire life.
“Sweet witch,” Osen murmurs. “You’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”
I exhale with relief. Joy springs inside my heart.
“Besides, I need to claim you and Calder, my mates. And I plan to show your pretty pussy a good time.”
I bark out a laugh. “Because, of course, that’s what a naughty incubus would have at the top of his to-do list.”
“I’m not apologizing for my sexual desires. It is how we power up. But I’ve been aching to connect with you since the beginning. Instead, I had to sit back, watching all these other punks give you pleasure in the real world.” He chuckles, then he rolls over to stare into my eyes. His charcoal eyes swirl with need. “But truly, I just want to make love to you without my damned powers.”
“Powers or no powers, I want you too. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” I pour more of my healing into his body because I can tell he’s still suffering.
“I sense your reserves are low. You should stop giving me your magic.”
I frown. I want him to be completely healed, but I remember touch and sex power him up, and I can do that. So I pull back my magic and sweep my hand over his chest.
“Do you think this healing means we’re mate bonding already?” he asks, stroking my hand with his fingertips.
“We were bonded in a way. So maybe?” I shrug. “I’ll have to try healing with someone who isn’t a potential mate.”
He hums thoughtfully. “Is it wrong that I don’t want these beautiful hands on anyone but our pack?”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t say I was giving out hand jobs.”
“Unfortunate, since that might help me right now,” he says with a wink.
“How can I give you a hand job if your magic takes over and paralyzes me?”
“Oh, my shadows can keep your hand moving.”
“That just sounds like fancy masturbation,” I tease.
Calder laughs, and it draws our attention.
“Will you join us?” Osen asks, his voice cracking with vulnerability.
Calder gives me a sweet kiss. Then he goes around to Osen’s other side and crawls into bed. His hand reaches over, stroking my arm, then he places his hand over mine that rests on Osen’s chest.
Osen keeps his hands at his sides, not wanting to trigger Calder’s PTSD.
Calder presses his forehead to Osen’s temple and sighs. “I still can’t believe you’re back. I fear I will wake up from this dream and lose you all over again.”
Suddenly, I feel like I’m invading their space. They deserve to have a moment for themselves.
I pull my hand free and roll over to get out of bed.
Hands are on me in an instant, dragging me backward over and between Osen and Calder’s body. “Where do you think you’re going?” Osen growls playfully.
“I was giving you a moment to reconnect.”
“Why do you assume we’d want to do that alone?” Calder asks.
“Because I’m not so self-centered as to believe I should infiltrate the relationship that you have together.”
“Too bad, because you’re in it.” Osen crashes his unyielding mouth over mine. He commands my entire being with a kiss. I know he isn’t using his shadows, but it feels as if he’s binding me to him, gripping my body and soul, drawing me to him. I’m being possessively dragged into his world. Claimed.
Now he possesses me from the outside, reaching in.
Osen breaks the kiss. Still cradling my face in his hands, he turns to claim Calder’s lips. I have an intimate, front row ticket to the most passionate kiss I’ve ever witnessed before.
I don’t feel left out. No, I feel my heart beating in time with theirs, sharing this moment of reconnection.
Calder then turns to me and gives me a consuming kiss like I’m the fuel to his flame. Our tongues stroke along each other, and it feels like the moment before an explosion.
Osen groans with delight.
My body is taut with need, and I rub my legs together to ease the searing burn of lust.
Osen slides his hand over my thigh and presses at the seam where they meet, running his fingers back up to my apex, grazing my sensitive lips through my underwear. “Fuck,” he hisses. “I can feel how wet you are for us. Your panties are soaked.”
“I need to check for myself,” Calder says with a wicked grin. He runs his fingers down my stomach and over my mound. “Such a needy pussy. Maybe we should give it some relief?”
“Yes please,” I beg.
Calder’s fingers shift to talons, and he shreds my underwear with a few swipes. I gasp as it falls away in tatters. He cuts my bra where it joins between my breasts and the fabric slides to my sides, revealing my already hardening, aching nipples.
Calder and Osen each grasp one of my knees and they pull me open, my pussy exposed and glistening. Osen slides his fingers over my sensitive flesh.
I moan with how delicious it feels, and I don’t think he’s even using any incubus magic on me yet.
Calder joins in. Their fingers work in tandem, brushing over my clit and inner thighs, and teasing over my entrance.
Both lean down, laving and nipping at my tits as they plunge their fingers into my pussy. I cry out with the sudden invasion and then tilt my hips, inviting them to continue. To give me more.
They play thumb war over my clit and they're ramping me toward an orgasm.
Then, right as I’m about to crest and fall off that cliff, they both pull their fingers free. Locking his heated gaze onto me, Calder sucks on his fingers and hums.
“I need to taste you,” Osen growls into my neck. “From the source.” He slides down the bed and plunges his face into my wet heat. His tongue delves deep inside, then he laps at my clit before inserting his fingers once again.
Calder squeezes my breasts, pinching my nipples so perfectly it’s like he’s been trained his whole life in how I enjoy it.
Osen whispers over my lower lips, “Come all over my face, sweet monster.” Then he feasts on my pussy like a man possessed. Well, as no longer a ghost possessing me.
Calder claims my mouth as I whimper and moan.
I fist Osen’s long hair, and he groans with pleasure. I had a feeling he’d like it a bit rough and passionate.
His fingers curve, rubbing along that sensitive spot inside me, and my toes curl in response. Then I’m shouting at the heavens with my release. I float through the cosmos, pleased that I’ve finally found my loves.
I’m quaking in their hold when I return to my body.
“Wait!” I gasp, realizing something that feels off.
I was able to move. Calder was moving, too.
“Why aren’t you using your shadows? Why am I not paralyzed? Is your incubus magic not working?”
Osen smiles and his entire face lights up like the sun when the clouds finally part. “My magic is being fed, but not with intention.”
I glance at Calder, remembering the frustration that Osen’s magic always took over and Calder was immobilized during sexual encounters. “I thought if you were sexually excited, it just happened.” Then that rejected part of me rears its head. It’s one thing for him to sex me up when I was his only source, and he was only in my mind. But in real life, it appears the spark just isn’t strong enough. “Oh, you aren’t enjoying this very much?”
Feeling ridiculous, I try to close my legs and wiggle away, but Osen is solidly between them, his face hovering over my crotch.
“Stop,” Osen growls, holding my legs open and my thighs against his shoulders. “Remember, I figured my incubus paralysis magic wouldn’t work on you in the real world because of your demon magic. Believe me, I’m very much enjoying this and am fighting my release with all I have.”
Still not one hundred percent believing him, I ask, “But what about Calder?”
“Your bond, our bond, when I was inside you, has given him immunity, too.”
“Oh!” I smile excitedly. “So you can be together in any way you like now?”
“I believe so,” Osen says, kissing my inner thigh, making goosebumps race along my flesh. “Thank you for that.”
“Will you be able to use your shadow magic on us at all?” I ask. I sort of wanted to play with that sometimes.
Two shadowtendrils shoot out of his body and wrap around my wrists, pinning me down. It’s just like extensions of his body, but I can still wiggle and squirm.
I grin, wanting to give in to this some more, but I also feel I have a responsibility to give Osen and Calder a moment to figure out what all this means for them.
I tilt my head. “Are the other guys here?” When they nod, I say. “I think I’m going to get something to eat and give you both a moment alone.”
The shadows slip away. “What? You sure?” Osen crinkles his forehead in confusion. “We want you. Here with us. Between us.”
“I want you both too. But I want you both to figure out how I fit in with what you have. You need to discuss your boundaries with me, with each other. I’m not going to assume that because we have bonds, it means a free for all. When you’ve decided how I fit with this, I will be here for you both in whatever way you decide.”
“You don’t have to leave for us to talk about this,” Calder argues.
I kiss both on the lips and sigh. “Yeah, I do. I won’t pressure you. And I don’t want you to regret anything with me.”
Osen captures the back of my head, pulling me to look into his gorgeous, haunting gray eyes. “How could I ever regret being with you?”
“You’re not the only one in this room,” I remind him and pull away, leaving them to work out how their new lives together will be.