Page 37 of The Dark Rises
Aamon growls, and Madoc places a hand on his arm. “What if he were to live with creatures stronger than him? Would that ease your fears?”
Intrigued, I tilt my head, wondering where that could possibly be.
Lucifer looks at Callyx and Evren, who both nod their approval. “Since he wears our brand, I’ll need to know his location at all times.”
Madoc takes a deep breath. “I believe The Wild Hunt will allow him to live with them. They’ll take care of him and teach him about the world in a way he’ll understand. I’ll be able to regularly visit and check up on him.”
It’s Lucifer’s turn to look intrigued. “That’s a pretty big assumption. How can you be sure The Wild Hunt will even listen to your request?”
“Right now, they won’t,” Madoc returns with a scowl. “But they will once I get back the power Leandra stole. I need time to set things straight. For now, Aamon can live in the outskirts of the Wilds, and nobody will bother him.” Back ramrod straight and jaw locked, he waits for Lucifer to decide Aamon’s fate.
Tension rises as Lucifer studies Madoc. Aamon moves restlessly, but Madoc only meets Lucifer’s probing look with one of his own, each taking the measure of the other. Suddenly, Lucifer’s demeanor changes to one of supreme satisfaction. He raises an eyebrow at me, but unsure of what he’s asking, I can’t answer his silent query. That surprises him.
“Remember this moment,” Lucifer tells Madoc with a chuckle. “I’ll consider Aamon’s term served, but I want regular updates.”
Madoc dips his chin in acknowledgement. “Understood. Thank you.”
I step forward. “One more thing… We need permission for Aamon to help us hunt Leandra.”
Lucifer narrows his eyes. “Fine. But, Cormal, he’ll be under your supervision during those times. Fuck up, and you’ll find yourself in one of my dungeons.”
Smiling broadly, I bow. “Thank you, oh so generous and benevolent leader.”
“Get out.” He waves a hand, and we find ourselves standing outside the forbidding, dark palace.
I slap Madoc on the back. “Well, that went well. Now we don’t have to worry about Callyx hunting down Aamon and taking our heads. Let’s return to my office, then we’ll drop Aamon off in the Wilds.”
It feels good to accomplish so many things in one day.
The news I get at the office brightens my day even more. Lot, the demon of greed, sent me an update. His contact, the shadow demon, is dead and all leads are going cold. He asks if I want him to return, but I’ve been at this game too long. If demons are dying, it means we’re close. I tap the desk, thinking of how to proceed.
Sending one of my shadow demons to you. Set him up as the contact. See who bites.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MERI
Cormal slides into me from behind. “Mm, you’re very, very wet. Dreaming of me?” His hand cups my breast and squeezes. “Or maybe Rivan?” Kneading the fullness, he licks the side of my throat and finds my ear. “Dark and brooding Madoc, perhaps?”
Phantom hands move all over my body as if they were all here, touching the places that turn me on most. An image of the three of them, thrusting into my mouth and body, each one filling me up brings me to a fever pitch. Panting at the thought, I press into Cormal.
“All three of us,” he concludes. “Fuck, you’re beyond drenched at the thought.” With a twist of our bodies, he pulls me to my knees and thrusts in hard from behind. Dark magic swirls around us, and I lose all sense of time. Only the pull of Cormal’s seduction and the plunging of his body into mine registers.
Coming in a sea of darkness, I cry out, my body pulsing and clenching his. He continues to slide in and out, faster and faster,until he slams his body deep into mine and stops, coming a second later.
Tiny kisses pepper my shoulder, until he releases me to lie on the bed.
Twisting from my knees to my side, I stare at the scruff covering his face. “That’s one hell of a wake-up call.” I reach out and sweep the hair back from his face. “Is everything okay?”
“Long day,” he murmurs. He continues, telling me about taking Madoc and Aamon to Lucifer.
Startled, I stare at him with a troubled look on my face. “Why did you do that? Because you thought they were ready? It could have gone horribly wrong. What would you have done then?”
He sighs and gets out of bed. With a wave, he clothes himself, then paces across the room. “Everything worked out.”
Exasperated, I jump up and stand in front of him. “Cormal, it wasn’t your call to make. Why not offer it to Madoc and let him decide? You always have to manipulate things to your satisfaction, but that doesn’t make it the right way to handle things.”
“Thank you,” Madoc says from the door. “Someone understands…” His voice trails off into silence.
