Page 94 of Court of Heathens

Our powers mix inside me.

The combined magic of a necromancer, a god, a demon, and a creature fills me, making me stronger than any being on Earth, and as I plunge my hand into the water, I demand it return what it stole. I demand it listen to me as I reach into the place of the dead beyond and call to the one he lost.

I feel her on the other side, lingering like he is. Closing my eyes, I push my intention into the water and force the pool to open in her world, then I yank her through. Two hands slap into mine, and I grip them, yanking her up and out.

My eyes open, and I meet the bright orbs of a woman as she gasps.

Smiling, I look at the fallen god, who gapes. “My love,” he croaks.

Her head turns, and she cries out, releasing me and throwing herself towards him, screaming his name.

He stumbles over and drops to his knees, and they crash together in an embrace, laughing and crying. I fall back, but as usual, my men are there to catch me, holding me up.

I lean back into my men, exhausted and hurting, but I can’t help smiling as we watch them kiss like they will never let each other go again.

I’m beginning to understand myself more as I watch them.

Being a necromancer isn’t about being evil. Like with all magic,it’s about intention. We are not born evil, we are made evil, and although this thing inside me craves death and destruction, it also craves life and laughter, and I will feed it both.

There is no right or wrong, no good or evil, just the grey area we all live in, and if we’re lucky enough, the grey will sparkle with the colours of those around us.

I glance at my colours and smile. “Take me home.”

CHAPTER 51

Iwish I could say it was not weird being dead, but I can’t remember it. However, from the pain in my guys’ eyes as we appear in my house, I know they have not forgotten, nor will they anytime soon.

“I am sorry—” I start, but my words are cut off as Adder closes the distance between us and crushes me in his arms. When he pulls back, he kisses me deeply.

“If you ever try to leave this world without me again, I’ll bring you back once more and kill you myself, you hear me, little witch?” he warns, but despite his words, his tail wraps around my thigh, tugging me closer.

“Okay.” I grin as I lean into his warmth. I feel his pounding heart, and when we are connected, something just feels right, like puzzle pieces sliding together.

More arms wrap around me, and I lean into Sha. He kisses my cheek, and I turn my head to kiss him deeper. “I cannot exist without you, nor do I want to,” he murmurs. “Death cannot have you.”

“I’ll tell it.” I grin and turn my head, meeting Phrixius’s gaze. He swallows, and I hold out my hand. I know he’s struggling.He watched me die, and I know him well enough to understand he’s blaming himself. Guilt eats away at him, even though he’s happy.

“Phrixius,” I call. “I need you.”

That does it. He’s unable to deny me anything, so he takes my hand and wraps his arms around me, holding us all as our lips come together. When he pulls back, I kiss across him softly. “I am sorry you had to see that, and I am sorry it hurt you. I just wanted to protect you.”

“I know,” he murmurs. “Nothing else matters now. You are back, and at this moment, that is all I care about. Everything else can fuck off.”

“Did you just curse? It seems I’ve corrupted you.” I giggle, and his wide smile lets me know he will be okay.

“You have,” he murmurs, gripping my cheeks and bowing his head. “Corrupt me again, right now. Reclaim me, my necromancer, and bring me back to life.”

“Bring us all back,” Sha requests, licking my neck. “Remind us you are here, and wipe away the memories of losing you.”

My gasp is swallowed by them as their hands slide over me, and something about this new bond between us awakens with their touch, increasing the pleasure of each stroke.

My head is turned, and a forked tongue sweeps across my lips. “Let us make another deal—my soul for your heart and body for eternity.”

“Deal,” I croak, and he groans, kissing me deeply as I lose myself in them.

They are right. Everything else can wait as I hand myself over to them.

They lay me down on the floor of my home, their hands sliding across me. Lips kiss every inch of me. We are one, all connected, so my pleasure is theirs and theirs is mine. It rolls through us, bringing us back to life.

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