Page 16 of The Salvation

“I am their safe place, Merikh,” I whimper. He eases another finger into me. “Because our scars and monsters are the only ones who truly understand us. Kyan taught me that. And I want to know. I want to understand. But only when you’re ready—ahh!” He wraps his lips around my clit, strong suction working the distended nub.

More blood swirls strong currents in my pussy. I go over the edge two more times, bouncing and bucking from the orgasms ripping through my bloodstream. Part of me knows he’s doing this to shut me up.

So, I do shut up. For now...

6

She will never love my scars, nor all my sadistic monsters.

MERIKH

Once she comesface to face with the blood-born disease of my true gods-damned self and not simply the symptoms, she will run far away.

Quintessa’s half-soul is too pure for me. Even with her scars, her past, and her sweet filthy slut of unquenchable desire, she cannot fathom the depths of my curse. The only reason Kyan could accept those depths is simply because he witnessed them…and fell under their receiving end before I chose him and saved his angelic ass. Until we fell under the damned Curse of Kronos.

But this little dove…? Quintessa, this little dove of a woman with more beauty and strength in her simple gray half-soul than any god could ever possess—she will never love my scars, nor all my sadistic monsters. She has the heart of a queen. At some point, this little queen will break my throne, leave me with all my broken pieces, and take my brothers with her. She will cut the dead weight off her through pain and blood. And she will leave me to sink, a drowned wreck for eternity.

By the time I finish scrolling her blood along the tattoos all over her skin, she’s perfectly sauced in her own juices, given how much blood I’ve gushed to her cunt. My brothers have nothing on me when it comes to pleasuring a woman.

I release her from the cuffs. And pick her up, folding her limp body in my arms.

“Where are we going?” she mumbles with a yawn, pressing her cheek against my chest.

“To prove a point.”

“Mmm…” she sighs and yawns again. “You could put the point in me instead.”

Warm amusement rolls through me, but I refrain from a chuckle and kiss her brow. “Soon, little dove. Soon…”

“Is everything in order, Bo?”I ask when I emerge from my inner chambers.

“Yes, Lord Merikh.” His eyes stray to Quintessa and the ambrosial nectar patterning her skin. There is a reason the Blood Crest ritual is so fucking rare. Only done twice during Malachor’s reign. Once during mine.

This will be the second.

“Every seat is filled?” I confirm, gripping Quintessa tighter. If my heart pumped, it would hammer its way out of my chest and drag her inside to shield her beyond the rib cage.

“Every seat. And…your brothers have arrived.”

I nod. “Good.”

Quintessa flicks her head up despite her heavy-lidded eyes. “They’re here?” she lilts, her voice pitching higher. “Where? Do they have Aislynn?”

I snort and urge her head back onto my chest. “She is our daughter, Quintessa. Of course, they have Aislynn. After the Blood Crest, you will rest and see her tomorrow.”

“Are you certain of this, my Lord?” Bo’s eyes are fixated on Quintessa, his brow creasing in concern with pupils free of any lust. Naturally, it took no time for her to win him over like she does everyone.

I screw my brows low upon him. “Everything is prepared, is it not, Bo?”

He nods, his shoulders dropping in defeat. His chest doesn’t move, betraying how he’s closed his lungs to hold his breath. “Yes, Lord Merikh. And I’ve ensured the blood pool is ready for you by the end, for your regeneration.”

I shake my head firmly. “That will not be necessary.” All I need is the girl in my arms. And the hot wet sheath of her beautifully tight center.

Bo’s eyes nearly fall out of his skeletal sockets. While he may understand Quintessa is responsible for the breaking of our Curses, he does not understand how. After tonight, all will.

“What’s going on, Merikh?” my little dove wonders, her voice soft and weak, her spirit beyond fatigued as I planned. For this Blood Crest to work, for this whole damned night to work, she must be nothing more than prey. Prey to my Court of Hollows, my cursed realm. Her blood, alone, would tempt the strongest of monsters, even if they’d freshly fed.

“Should I fetch another violet gown for her, Lord Merikh?”

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