Chapter 38 Ezra
Ezra
Oh, my little queen is seething. Perfect. Her flames surge, her fury scorching the air.
Fuck, yes, darling. Burn for me.
Louie inches closer, her mouth twisted in a snarl, white fangs bared in concern.
I smirk, reaching for Aurora’s hand.
“Little flame, you’re on fire again. Tell me why you’re upset.”
Her flames lash out, and my shadows recoil, slinking to my skin’s edge like spooked animals.
Fucking cowards.
Last night, they curled into her fire. Now they waver, unsure whether to kneel or run.
The moment we touch, I’m instantly engulfed in her flames.
The sting is sharper than last time. Interesting.
“I’ll carve that ancient skank’s still-beating monster heart from her boney-ass ribcage,” Aurora spits.
The revenants shudder with glee. They slither up my arms, reveling in her violence as they play with her fire.
Her rage is magnificent.
My smirk sharpens as her antlers rise and her sweet briar crown blooms. The green in her eyes blazes, burning into a copper fury.
The shadows sway, caressing the air around her, drawn to the power spilling from her skin. They reach for her, weaving through the flames like children chasing embers, spellbound by their queen’s wrath.
When she growls, a very human-like flinch runs through them.
Oh, the melodrama! Like a pack of second-string Hamlet understudies.
“Christ!” Louie breathes, her expression folding somewhere between awe and what-the-fuck.
“Look at you, Aurora! Fuckin’ beautiful!”
Aurora slowly turns her head towards Louie while an invisible wind makes her hair dance along with the flames.
Slowly, the scent of kettle corn thickens in the air, like sugar burning on the edge of something dangerous. It’s the telltale sign she’s slipping, lost in her rage.
She looks like she’s about to use her untethered persuasion magic to get Louie to do something truly terrible.
I trail my hand up her arm to cup her face, gently pressing her cheek to bring her attention back to me.
“Hello, beautiful,” I whisper, leaning forward to press a kiss at the corner of her mouth.
She smiles, then bites her bottom lip with a fang.
My breath stutters, then stops entirely.
One of my shadows flicks toward her jaw, running along her smooth, fire-kissed skin in a silent dare.
Do it.
Christ, even they want me to fuck her senseless.
“You flatter me, little queen. I understand your anger. But Vesna is not a threat. Just a centuries-old soul-whore who thought choking on my cock would make her matter.”
The sentient sulk cloud bristles. One lashes the air, shoving Vesna’s memory out of my space. The rest coil at Aurora’s throat, whispering their intent: Ours.
I barely stop myself from rolling my eyes.
Yes, yes. Only her. I’m aware.
“There is no comparing, little lupine. You are everything to me. I told you I would worship you, Aurora, and I fucking meant it. You have my utter devotion. You know, darling,” I murmur, thumb tracing her lower lip, “keep talking like that, and I’ll put you over this table and fuck the fire right out of you.
It hasn’t even been an hour, sweet girl, and your filthy little threats are already making me hard. ”
Aurora’s fiery eyes catch mine and don’t let go. The scent of kettle corn fades, and my shoulders sag with relief.
I’m certain she was going to use her persuasion magic to force Louie into killing Vesna. It’s a battle the hellhound could never win.
“Thank you, Ezra,” Louie whispers.
It’s clear she knew what was coming.
Hell, Aurora may have already had Louie under her spell. We must consult Iain immediately, even if I’d rather listen to Jesus explain—again—that the crucifixion was “a misunderstanding that got out of hand.”
“M-my head feels weird,” Aurora mumbles, one hand drifting toward her antlers.
Her eyes go wide, while a few shadows curl around her wrists. They waver between us, then curl around her shoulders.
Watching her. Watching over her. Protecting their queen.
Good.
“Shit, what did I do? Did I hurt you?” she asks in a panicked, unsteady voice.
“No, Aurora, you didn’t harm anyone. Though you were about thirty seconds away from persuading Louie to murder Vesna, which would have most likely resulted in the hell-pup’s untimely demise.
But I believe I’ve found a way to temper that rage of yours, little lupine,” I say, bringing her hand to my lips.
“Shit. I’m so sorry, Louie. I just got so angry. I hope I never meet this cunt, because I’m not sure if I’ll be able to control myself,” Aurora says, turning to her protector.
My shadows shudder in agreement, writhing at my feet, restless as hounds aching for the chase. I don’t need to understand their language to know what they’re saying: Let. Us. Kill. Her.
The little shits can barely contain themselves. They stretch toward Aurora, knowing exactly who they’ll follow into war.
“Well, darling. I think you’ll have company when that day comes.”
Christ. Absolute fucking menaces.
Louie gazes at Aurora, eyes glassy with adoration. “Seriously, it’s okay, Aurora. Hell, if we had a plan, I’d go kill that old vamp bitch for you right now. But can we talk about the llosgcarn in the room? You’re fucking gorgeous! My whole life’s led to this one moment.”
A few tears streak down Louie’s cheeks as a rare smile, fangs and all, spreads across her round face.
The hellhound jumps from her seat and wraps her arms around Aurora’s waist, nuzzling her neck. To my surprise, Aurora’s hellfire doesn’t consume Louie like it does when it’s near me.
Char-stained tendrils slink forward, eager little wretches, reaching for her flames. The shadows curl into her fire, winding through it, soaking it in, thrilled to be wrapped in her heat again.
They’re practically purring with bloodlust.
“Well, that’s certainly interesting,” I say thoughtfully, while my thumb makes light circles on the back of Aurora’s hand to keep her calm.
Both Aurora and Louie shoot me questioning looks.
“Aurora’s hellfire wraps itself around me, but not you, Louie. Do you know why?”
“Oh, shit. I didn’t even notice that! I’ve never seen hellfire wrap around anyone before.
Most beasts of Hell wield flames; they don’t wear them.
The Daughters seem to be the exception. It could have something to do with her strength.
Or it could have something to do with that stupid thread Aurora bitched about while you were gone. I dunno. This is new, even for me.”
The moment Louie acknowledges I’m probably the only thing Aurora’s hellfire will embrace, my shadows coil tighter, unbearably pleased with themselves—the smug little idiots.
A few shadowy tendrils slither up my chest, drape across my shoulder, then shape themselves into a gloating royal sash.
Others coil across my wrist, flicking toward Louie, taunting her.
Peasant, they sneer. We bask in the queen’s radiance. You? You don’t belong here.
Louie scowls, fangs flashing.
“Tell your smug little nightmare noodles to fuck off, Ezra.”
The shadows writhe, their movements dripping with cruel laughter. Some drape themselves around Aurora’s waist, making an exaggerated show of slinking through her flames, while others stretch luxuriously along her thigh, practically rolling in her heat.
“Oh, they’re enjoying this,” I murmur, running a hand along Aurora’s jaw, where a shadow has taken up residence.
The little bastards are basking in her.
“Buncha dicks,” Louie grumbles, crossing her arms.
I agree.
“I suppose we have more questions than answers. I really think we should see Iain as soon as possible. Aurora, once you calm yourself, we can leave. I don’t think this town is ready for a fiery goddess casually driving down Main Street in the middle of a workday.”
Aurora swats at my shoulder as I pull her into my lap.
My shadows go absolutely wild. The moment I settle her against me, they rush in—sliding along her arms, brushing her ribs, humming something old and satisfied against her skin.
I nuzzle into her neck, breathing in her calming honeysuckle scent. One of my shadows snakes forward, curling against her pulse point, pressing into her warmth.
I angle my head, brushing soft kisses along her neck as she rolls her hips just enough to make me ache.
The shadows slink around her thighs, vibrating with unbridled delirium.
Filthy little fuckers.
“Such a naughty little lupine,” I growl softly in her ear.
Her antlers recede, her hellfire dims, and my shadows—still so goddamn pleased with themselves—tighten their hold around us, savoring the moment.
I nip at her ear, my voice dark with promise.
“Save those filthy thoughts for tonight, darling. Something tells me after dealing with Iain, we’ll need an outlet.”
My shadows ripple with thrilled anticipation. They curl around her, smug and twitchy and already half in love.
Traitors. Every damn one of them.
As if I wasn’t the first to fall.