Starfire (29 page)
Authors: Kate Douglas
Tags: #Romance, #Man-Woman Relationships, #Fiction, #General, #Paranormal, #Demonology, #Revenge, #Paranormal Romance Stories
He thought he could do this forever, this slow and easy rock and sway, but then he felt her body quicken and tighten around him. He opened his eyes to watch her climax, to see the almost painful twist to her lips, the tightly closed eyes, and the flair to her perfect nostrils as she drew in a long, sighing breath.
The visual was more than he could take. That, and the tight, rhythmic clenching of her inner muscles finally pulled him off the edge. He leapt with his heart wide open, with the shock of sensation coiling from the base of his spine down the full length of his erection.
Pumping his hips, his body moving now of its own volition, Dawson thrust hard and fast. Selyn’s satisfied whimpers and his own sigh of completion played counterpoint to the final clenching spasms of climax that left both of them limp and half asleep in the steaming pool.
Long moments later, Selyn raised her head from his shoulder and looked at him out of sleepy blue eyes. “We’re both turning pruny.”
He chuckled, bouncing her against his chest. “I know. But getting out of the pool means getting out of you, and I’m not ready to end that connection. Not yet.”
She kissed his chin, and still had the energy for a cheeky grin. “Both of us need sleep. I don’t want to drown in Alton’s bathing pool. That would be so rude, don’t you agree? We are his guests, after all.”
It was impossible to deny logic like that.
A few minutes later, Dawson tucked Selyn into bed beside him. It was late, but they still had time for a few hours of rest, unless the demon king chose to attack again tonight.
For now, though, he fought sleep, even as his body cried out for it. He hated to miss a moment of Selyn lying naked and warm beside him, her damp hair neatly braided, her fingers resting on his chest, just above his heart, the soft puffs of air from her parted lips tickling his throat.
He wanted to hang on to this moment in time. Hang on to the warmth of her body close to his, the peace of the night, and the hope that they would have more moments just like this, again and again in the years to come.
But, just in case that wasn’t to be, in case life, as it so often did, kicked his ass once again, he knew he would always remember tonight.
Darius was already at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, when Eddy and Dax finally dragged themselves out of bed. No one else appeared to be up yet, but Eddy poured a cup for herself and fixed one for Dax before joining Darius at the big kitchen table.
She stared at the steam rising from her mug for what felt like a long time. Then she took a sip and sighed. “Ahhh … perfect. Darius, I’d never guess you’re new at making coffee. This is ambrosia … and strong enough to melt the tines on a fork. Just the way I love it.” She took another sip. “Where’s Mari?”
It was Darius’s turn to sigh. “She sleeps, still. It’s been almost ’round the clock. Yesterday’s battle took much from her. I fear today will be even more difficult.”
“Why’s that?” Dax leaned against the counter, but he paused with his cup halfway to his lips. “What’s going on?”
Darius shook his head and his frustration was obvious. “Taron contacted me after Mari’s battle, shortly after everyone here had finally gone to bed. All hell has broken loose in Lemuria. Alton and Ginny and many of the others were captured and imprisoned, but Dawson and Selyn managed to free them. Artigos the Just has formed his army of Forgotten Ones and their wardens, who, it appears, were all possessed by demonkind. The demons are gone from the wardens now without damage to the men, but the council members were not as lucky. It looks as if their demons were more deeply entrenched. They were all that kept them alive. Maxl and Drago are dead, along with one other. Two barely survived, but their minds appear to be gone.”
Artigos and Gaia wandered into the kitchen, followed by Freedom, Spirit, and Ed. BumperWillow trotted along behind with her tail wagging. Eddy glared jealously at the dog. She appeared to be the only one who’d gotten enough sleep.
Artigos nodded to Darius. “We heard most of what you said, Darius. What else has happened?”
“Your father has assumed leadership of Lemuria.”
Artigos nodded his head again. “As it should be. I was so terribly wrong. He never should have been deposed, and I’ll back his rule a hundred percent.”
Gaia reached for his hand, and Artigos took it. “Good changes, my love. They’re all good. What else, Darius?”
“Five of your council members were possessed. Drago appears to have been their leader, and he’s the one who’s been opening the portal between Abyss and the vortex chamber. At least that’s one mystery explained. We were going nuts, trying to figure out why we couldn’t keep the damned thing closed. Roland would close the portal, only to find it open again the next day. Even with guards set, it was being reopened. We had no idea the guards were also possessed. It appears demonkind had been taking over Lemuria for thousands of years, one person at a time.”
“They’re subtle, I’ll grant them that.” Artigos took the chair next to Eddy. “I never suspected I wasn’t making my own decisions. There was no sense of anything changing.”
“Even when you left my quarters? When you left our marriage bed?” Gaia stood behind him with her fingers clasping his shoulders. “You didn’t think there was anything wrong with that?”
Artigos bowed his head, shaking it in slow denial. “No. I felt that all my decisions were made for the good of Lemuria. Leaving you became a sacrifice I made for our world. I’m sorry.” He bent back, looked over his shoulder, and shot her a cheeky grin. “Will you let me move back?”
“I don’t know.” She tilted her chin, but there was a definite twinkle in her eyes. “Maybe if you grovel.”
“I like that.” Spirit stood by the stove where she’d set water to boil for tea. “Groveling is always good. Remember that, Darius.”
“I’ll do that.” Darius glanced out the window, but he didn’t smile at Spirit’s teasing jab. “Anyway, the demon king reappeared… .”
“Shit.” Eddy slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, but I had hoped he was going to stay gone a little longer. What else?”
“He’s somewhere inside Lemuria with at least a few hundred more demons. He was also seen sending demons here and to the portal leading to Sedona. Do we have anyone in Sedona we can call, to see if there are problems?”
“Yep.” Eddy glanced at Ed. “Ginny’s cousin Markus lives there. Dad, do we have a phone number? Ginny said she told Markus that she and Alton were secret agents fighting demons or something like that, so Markus is supposed to keep an eye out for anything strange. If we can get a phone number, we can check with him.”
“Okay,” Darius said. “What about the demons sent here?”
Dax went to stand by the window, but Eddy could feel his worry. How many more might be coming to Evergreen?
“I think those are probably the ones we fought yesterday,” Dax said. “The time frame sound’s about right.”
Eddy nodded. “There were definitely thousands. That’s the most I’ve ever seen together at any one time, and they kept coming for what felt like forever. But what of the ones in Lemuria?”
“That’s the problem.” Darius stretched his big arms high overhead, and groaned. All of them were sore and tired from the battle that had lasted through much of the previous day. “The bulk of the demons headed for Lemuria, and while a lot of the devils were killed in yesterday’s battle, Taron said more were coming through the portal even as he was closing it. He killed what he could, but those that escaped all headed directly into Lemuria. Our guys are going to be facing the demon king and what sounds like a full-scale army, defending Lemuria on Lemurian ground.”
Dax turned away from the window. “How can we get there? The roads here are impassable. There’s no way we can get to the portal up on the mountain or the one in Oregon. The snow will be over our heads. We’ve got to figure a way into Lemuria, or the battle could well be lost.”
Darius folded his arms across his broad chest. Eddy thought he looked decidedly unhappy about something. “Okay, Darius. You look like you’ve got a bee up your butt. What’s up?”
“A bee where?” He frowned.
Eddy snorted her coffee. “Sorry. Guess that’s another one of those things that doesn’t translate well. What I meant was, what’s got you so upset? Why are you frowning like that?”
Mari walked into the kitchen with a big grin on her face. “He’s grumpy because he doesn’t like my idea for getting us all into Lemuria.” She went straight to Darius and planted a big kiss on his mouth. “But he’ll get over it, won’t you, sweetie?”
He glowered at Mari, but Eddy noticed he also got up, grabbed a fresh cup, and poured coffee for her.
“I don’t know that I want to get over it,” he said, glancing over his shoulder, “but this is your department, not mine.”
“Right.” Mari leaned against the counter next to Darius. “We’ve run out of options. We need to get to Lemuria, but the snow’s too deep. There’s another storm due later today.” She folded her arms over her chest and grinned. “But, I think I can spell us to the vortex.”
“A spell?” Mari’s mother raised her head and tapped her fingers against her chin. “I know we discussed it, but do you think your power is strong enough?”
Mari nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “I do. I felt it growing earlier, as tired as I was. It was especially strong when everyone gathered around with their swords and their hands on me.” She gazed at all of them, smiling with absolute confidence. “I felt the power of the crystal separately from your life force, but it really charged me. I think if Darius shares his visual of the chamber where the portals are, I can transport all of us directly into the area.”
“Now that would be pretty darned excit …”
“No, Dad.” Mari laughed. “You are not going to Lemuria while still recovering from surgery. I’m talking about Artigos, Eddy, Dax, Darius, and me.” She turned to Gaia. “I know you want to be with Artigos. When it’s safe, okay?”
Gaia nodded in agreement, but she clung to her husband’s arm.
BumperWillow barked.
“No, Bumper. You need to stay here, too, and make certain there aren’t any demons around. If you sense any, let Mom know so she can take care of them.”
“And how do you expect me to do that?” Spirit cast a glance in Freedom’s direction. “I’ve never fought demons before.”
“Time to start, Mom. I tried a simple spell yesterday on one that was trying to get in after we’d come inside. I must have missed him earlier, but all I did was imagine the thing going back to Abyss. Keep that thought in your head and say, ‘Demon spawn, be gone.’ I don’t think it actually kills them, but it does send them away.”
Spirit laughed and threw her arms around Mari for a quick hug. “Ya know, for a girl who denied her powers of witchcraft for the first thirty-three of her thirty-three years, you’ve certainly figured things out in the past, oh … week?”
Mari’s smile slipped. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? It was just a week ago I fully realized I was a witch. I can’t believe I was in denial my whole life.”
Freedom chuckled at that. “You always were a stubborn little thing, but Mom and I are proud of you, sweetheart. Darius, don’t worry about Mari. She’d never do anything she wasn’t certain was going to work, and she’ll never harm anyone.”
Darius stared directly at Mari. “She may never harm another, but Mari knowingly sacrificed her life for me and my companions. That was unacceptable.”
“Quit complaining, sweetie.” She kissed the frown right off of Darius’s face. “I’m perfectly healthy, and it all worked out just fine. Trust me. I really do know how to get us to the portal. But not until we’ve had breakfast. I’ve discovered that using magic really makes me hungry.”
Are you sure you don’t want me to come?
BumperWillow sat at Eddy’s feet and stared at her with all the hope that a blond, brown-eyed, curly-haired pit bull/poodle-cross mutt could muster.
I can find demons even better than DemonSlayer.
BumperWillow sat at Eddy’s feet and stared at her with all the hope that a blond, brown-eyed, curly-haired pit bull/poodle-cross mutt could muster.
I can find demons even better than DemonSlayer.
Eddy stared down at the hopeful face and caved. “Mari, do you think you could add BumperWillow to that spell? She’s even better at finding demons than our swords, and if demons are hiding somewhere in Lemuria, I’d trust Bumper’s nose over anything or anyone else.”
“If Dax or Darius is holding her, no problem. But first, food.” Mari gave her father the same kind of hopeful look Bumper’d just given Eddy. Somehow it seemed entirely apropos.
Darius carried the coffee pot to the table and refilled everyone’s cups while Freedom started cooking. Snow was beginning to fall once again, and the morning was all but gone.
Eddy gazed out the window in the direction of Mount Shasta and the energy portals. All was lost behind a heavy wall of white, but somewhere, deep within the mountain, she wondered if the battle raged once again; if Alton and Ginny were okay; if Dawson Buck and Selyn had figured out just how attracted they were to each other.
Now that could prove interesting. She’d sensed Dawson’s interest from the very first day, but they faced the same problem Alton and Ginny had once faced—a mortal and an immortal had a hard time with a long-term relationship.
Then she glanced at Dax and smiled. Caught Mari’s raised eyebrows, and wondered if she’d been listening in. She, Mari, and Ginny, all perfectly normal, mortal, human women, now paired with immortal men and facing lives that could go on forever.
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