City of Dragons: Of Flesh and Blood (11 page)

Farley said, “Medan made Haley her Enforcer.” A bad decision if there ever was one, but then they hadn’t had much of a choice.

“God of Man, Farley. It hurts.” Haley’s shoulders hitched.

He petted her cheek. “What hurts? Haley, what hurts?” She shook her head and curled against him, shaking.

“Haley, did Medan explain anything to you about becoming her Enforcer?” They both looked at Deshi.

Farley growled. “If you’re asking if we had a corporate meeting about it first, no. There wasn’t exactly a lot of time. It was kind of spur of the moment. Life and death kind of shit.” Serious enough that Farley had let the Atlanta she-bitch gut him to collect Haley’s flesh and blood.

Deshi said, “If you stopped her from coming through, Haley, she could have left part of her
RHage
behind.”

“Christ…” If a Male’s normal loss of control—Rage—wasn’t bad enough. A Queen’s RHage was downright deadly.

Haley shook her head. “Why would she do this to me?”

Deshi said, “It was probably an accident.”

Farley said, “Yeah right, accidently on purpose maybe.”

The Prince shook his head. “Trust me when I tell you there is no way Medan would want to leave her RHage behind for Haley to deal with alone. It could make a real mess of things.”

Farley still had his doubts, but he’d worry about it later. Right now he needed to take care of Haley. He looked at Deshi. “You know how to fix this, right?”

He nodded. “We need to get her upstairs.” The Jersey City Prince made as though he was going to pick her up, but Farley beat him to it. Prince or not, Haley was his first.

Farley stomped up the steps.

When they got to the top Haley said, “What am I supposed to do?”

Deshi said, “You need to get rid of it.”

“How?”

Farley answered, “You’ll just Roll me, and I’ll take it.” Which was exactly why they needed to get back upstairs, because this was seriously going to break Haley’s cardinal rule of no sex in public. Even if she could Roll Farley without sex, he sure as hell didn’t have the will power to stop himself. Farley fumbled for the door at the landing.

Deshi reached around and opened it for him, then said, “That’s not going to work.”

Farley looked back at the Prince. “What the hell do you mean, it won’t work? How else is she supposed to get rid of it?” After all, that’s how she controlled his Rage.

Deshi shook his head. “No, I mean, she can’t give it to you.”

“Wanna bet?” Farley headed down the hall, but the Jersey City Prince caught him by the arm.

“Listen to me. This is a Queen’s RHage. That kind of metaphysical power will shred you alive.”

“Farley…” Haley’s grip tightened.

Farley glared at Deshi. “Then what the fuck do you suggest we do?”

The Prince ran a hand through his blond locks and his eyes hit the floor. “She can give it to me.”

Farley blinked. Was he serious? “And what the hell makes you think you can handle this and I can’t?”

“Taking on a Queen’s RHage is what I was designed for. And I was designed specifically for Medan, remember? Servicing a Queen isn’t exactly a walk in the park.”

Which is exactly why Farley had a hard time seeing Deshi in line for the job. They made lawn gnomes with more aggression.

Deshi said, “Theoretically I’m supposed to be able to take her entire RHage, so a small

part should be easy.”

“Fuck theoretical, will you be able to do it or not?”

“I didn’t exactly get to that point, remember? Medan refused me. I wasn’t what she wanted.”

“Christ on a Cross, Deshi, this is not the time to lose your cherry.” Farley couldn’t risk Haley on a theory. He pulled out of the Prince’s grip and headed for her apartment.

“Farley, wait.” Much to his dismay, Deshi caught up to him at the door. “You won’t be able to handle this.”

“I’ve handled a lot of ugly things.”

“She’ll kill you.”

“Yeah, well you’ve never done it. I know how to get Haley to Roll me. Trust me. I’m really good at it, too.” Farley tried to figure out how to get the key without putting Haley down. Deshi fished it out from under the clay flower pot sidelining as a graveyard for forgotten flowers.

“This isn’t the same thing.” Deshi stood back up. “Please, let me help. She’d never forgive herself if she hurt you.”

Farley pegged the Male with a glare, but he was too busy getting the door unlocked to notice. In his arms Haley struggled. Heat boiled out of her skin as if she was about to shift. The wave of preternatural power rolled over Farley again, and he crushed her against his chest even though his instincts said, “Run away.”

“Fine.” Farley shoved his way inside and headed across the living room while Deshi closed the door. “Help me get her into the…”

In an explosion of pain and violence, Haley lit into his shoulder, her jaws penetrating deep into the bones dangerously close to his throat. Farley spit a juicy curse and lost his legs as she rode him down and into the floor.

“Christ!” His eyes rolled over. “Aw, shit, Haley, this was my new shirt.” A groan bubbled out of Farley’s throat, and he arched his body, responding as always to the prospect of being Food. And he couldn’t decide what hurt worse, her teeth scraping bone or the ache between his legs.

Farley looked up at Deshi as he knelt down. The Prince pushed back Haley’s hair and tried to get her attention. When she flicked up her crimson glare, he flinched and pulled back.

“Goddamn it, you said you wanted to help. Help! Now is not the time to be a nancy!” Farley groaned. “God, Haley…you’re taking too much…” But fuck him, it felt good. “Her back…Deshi…” He was going to die if she kept this up.

Deshi did as he was told. As soon as he hit both Ulysiss points along Haley’s spine, her mouth popped open and she rolled off to the side, her eyes going from crimson to gold.

“I’m sorry…God of Man…I couldn’t help it.”

“It’s okay.” That from Deshi. He hovered over her, not quite willing to touch.

“Come on, Deshi. Help or get out.” Farley was lit, one big roaring fire. But then he always burned hot during the
feed
or sex. He sat up and pulled off his shirt and kicked off his shitkickers while undoing his pants.

Deshi took off his coat but stalled again, breathing hard. Farley growled at the Male. Fuck it. He’d take care of Haley on his own. Prince Perfect was too caught up in his head, probably thinking about his damn Human.

Stripped bare, Farley turned to Haley and pulled off her blazer, then her blouse. “Haley…” She made a sound and Farley petted her cheek. “Things are always like this for us, huh? No clue what to do and just doing it…” God of Man, there had been so many things they’d gone into together blind. Him Food and her a Human-impressed Female. He’d managed to survive her first Roll, albeit barely; surely he could survive this, too.

“We’ll get through this. Just like old times, right?” She nodded. At the same time her grip tightened and her chelae punched through his shoulders. “Haley!” Stronger and fueled by the RHage, Haley slammed Farley into floor. Deshi rushed forward, and Farley pegged him with his eyes. “No!” He struggled to breath. “I’m okay.” He put his hands on either side of Haley’s face. This wasn’t her fault. She was being commanded by some other force – Medan’s RHage. “You still with me?” Haley blinked, then nodded. “Do you trust me?”

Her expression changed. And her eyes said, “Of course I do.”

“Okay…”

Riding the
burn
, Farley’s scent flared, and instead of fear he felt
need
. Haley blinked her eyes, becoming more focused as she breathed in what he poured out of his skin. But her face crumbled when her gaze slid to where her claws were impaled through Farley’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry about that.” Farley’s hands trembled when he put them on her thighs. “Listen to me. Give me your mouth…” He had to get more of his flavor in her and bring her down. He could control almost anyone if he could flood them with his taste. Or at least control their
need
. A natural-born talent honed to perfection by surviving the hatching grounds.

And his Brother Darco.

Haley shook her head, and Farley tightened his grip. “Haley…Haley, please…trust me. Give me your mouth.” She leaned forward, and he could taste her scent on the air. Only it wasn’t hers any more. It was Medan’s, sharp and cold like wild honey. Haley’s scent was rich and warm like cream. “Closer.”

Her mouth hit his, and Farley thrust his tongue over her palate, searching for her taste and filling her with his. There, under Medan, he found her; and her flavor, her scent, jacked him up even higher.

More.
He needed more of that.

Haley made a desperate sound, and her tongue moved against his, giving back. The ache of her chelae retreated, and her arms slid around his neck. Farley tried to roll her over, but the damn couch was in the way. Deshi appeared overhead and shoved it to the side. Something fell and broke. Probably the ugly-ass lamp she kept on the side table.

Farley pushed Haley’s bra up and over her head and got it caught in her hair. Deshi took care of it too, because stopping to deal wasn’t an option.

With his mouth against hers, feeding her his scent and drinking down hers, Farley fought to get the belt off her skirt and the zipper down. The Prince took over, pulling it off. Farley rolled her under him.

“More…” Haley arched herself against him, and he could feel the heat between her legs.

Fuck, yeah. Farley could definitely deal with this. He slid lower. When Haley reached for him, Deshi caught her hands. Farley watched as she turned her face up at him, her mouth open making small, pleading sounds.

Taste her
. But The Jersey City Prince didn’t.

On the back of a growl, Farley said, “Emily isn’t here.” Baby blues flashed in his direction. “Help me take care of her, Deshi, please. You owe her. More than you’ve ever owed that Human of yours.” The frown on Deshi’s face turned into a full-fledged snarl. “Go ahead, get pissed. Hell, get out, for all I care. But hurry and make up your mind.” Deshi blinked and looked down at Haley. Her hands opened and closed as she tried to pet him.

Farley ran his tongue across her stomach, making her jump, and caught the edge of her navel in his teeth. He glanced up at the Jersey City Prince. The Male was closer now but still caught up in his head.

Growling, Farley slid a hand on the inside of Haley’s thigh and pushed her legs out. Her pale blue panties were soaked with scent. Just like an addict, he couldn’t turn down the chance for a score. Impatient, he hooked a chelae in the lacy edge of her panties, shredding them in a single pull. Farley glanced up, because he loved watching Haley, only this time he got to see Deshi’s mouth on hers drinking her down.

Even better.

A deep thrum kicked up in Haley’s chest, and her cries grew sharp as Farley slipped his tongue between the folds of her sex. He worked her, alternating between licking and sucking, savoring her taste. When he slid a finger inside her, the act of penetration brought her to climax. Deshi held Haley down and the first lines of her metaphysical energy spun out, hitting Farley head-on like a Mack truck.

Caught in the wave of metaphysical power, Farley pulled himself up and sat back on his knees. His teeth punched down, and his biology shot into overdrive. Snarling, he dragged his chelae across his stomach and chest, scoring himself until blood coated his thighs, his cock, until the pain ate him up like pleasure. Deshi was right. It was too much for him, and he knew he would kill himself like this, caught on the brink of release, riding in the ebb of RHage. And he didn’t care. God of Man, he wanted this, wanted Haley to rip him apart, eat him alive, crack open his ribs, and consume his heart. And he would find the act of violence as erotic and fulfilling as being fucked.

Screaming her name and begging her to kill him, Farley drowned in the
RHage
, practically coming at the thought of his own death.

Haley’s scent, mixed with Deshi’s, was shoved into his mouth. The Jersey City Prince’s hand was a like a vice on Farley’s neck, cutting off most of his air as he pushed his tongue across Farley’s palate, delivering what Haley had given him. The taste brought a strange kind of calm to Farley’s frenzied mind.

His eyes fluttered and he put a hand on the Prince’s wrist, squeezing to let him know he was back.

Deshi pulled his mouth away and made Farley look at him. “Are you all right?”

Farley shook his head, then nodded. “What the fuck happened?” His whole body trembled as if he’d been fucking for hours.

“Medan…”

Christ, he would have eviscerated himself. “Thanks for stopping me.”

The Prince gave a nod, then pitched forward as Haley came to her knees between them. She’d pushed Deshi’s boxers down and grabbed his cock with her hands.

“Feed.” She looked back at Farley. “Please, I need to get this out of me.” Deshi made a strangled sound and rolled his eyes up at Farley.

“I’m okay.” The Prince let go of his throat. “Haley?” With one hand around her waist and the other on her chin, Farley arched her body back and angled himself between her legs. “You’ve got to send most of it to Deshi. I can’t…” Shit, it chapped his ass to admit it. “I’m not strong enough. Concentrate on Rolling him.”

“I’ll try.” She exhaled across his lips. This time her taste was dominant, and Medan’s came second. “Please, more, I need more.”
Farley punched his teeth into her shoulder as he pushed himself inside. Farley moved, pacing himself in time with how fast he swallowed.

To Deshi, Haley said, “You, too.”

Farley had to close his eyes. If he watched the Prince
feed
, he was going to lose himself because there were few things more beautiful.

Deshi’s long arms encircled them both, and his hands stroked Farley’s back up and down. He always did that when he
fed
. It was something Farley had missed since he’d stayed away. It was relaxing, gentle…

But the tranquility didn’t last very long.

“Deshi…” Haley’s voice was muffled against his neck. “This is going to be bad, isn’t it?”

Farley felt Deshi’s grip tighten across his back. With as much time they’d spent together, certain signals took the place of words. The change in Deshi’s touch said
bring her now
. And Farley knew why, because the thought of hurting either of them would make Haley stop. She started to say something else but lost her words when Farley thrust hard and her reluctance turned into pleas.