And then her breathing returned in the next second, her skin reddening from the abundance of electricity writhing through her.
Prince Ashmedai released Zebulon’s shoulder with a decisive nod. “That ought to do it.”
He took a step back, admiring the three of us.
Zebulon stole another breath, then rolled his shoulders and neck, his energy appearing nearly restored thanks to Prince Ashmedai’s last volt of energy.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
Prince Ashmedai dipped his chin in acknowledgement. “How fun it must be for you to heal your mates through sex,” he said, sounding amused. “If I could take a succubus for a bonded pet, I would. Alas, I need someone more, shall we say, earth-shattering? Yes. And now I have an entire audit to peruse for a likely candidate.” He waggled his brows. “Wish me luck. Not that I’ll need it.”
With that, he vanished.
I gaped after him. “Did he just imply that he’s going to take on a mate to strengthen his powers?”
Lord Zebulon shrugged his jacket and shirt from his torso, tossing the spoiled fabric to the floor. “That’s how I interpreted all that, yes.”
I started working the bloody sheets out from under Guinevere’s sleeping form as I asked, “Do Archdemons even take mates?”
“Do Demonic Lords?” Zebulon countered.
“Fair.” I finished removing the sheets and the rest of Guinevere’s clothes—just a pair of cute little shorts and a lacy thong.
Zebulon started on his pants, drawing down the zipper and tugging the fabric off his legs. Guinevere’s blood had soaked through the silky threads, leaving a slightly wet sheen behind on his smooth, dark skin. He lost his boxers next then leaned over Guinevere to press his lips to mine.
“But I don’t mind setting new expectations with you,” he added, referring to his counter comment regarding Demonic Lords and mates.
Trailing my fingers up his chest, I replied, “Neither do I, my lord.”
He traced my lower lip with his tongue. “Our Guinevere needs to feed to complete her healing. Perhaps we can revive her with sexual energy while we all bathe?”
I shivered at the thought of his massive bathing area. It was more like a pool than an actual tub. It had two benches and stairs to enter, and it was decadent as fuck. “Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Yes.” It seemed smart to say it twice. Becauseyes.
He grinned and carefully scooped Guinevere’s lifeless form off the bed. I followed him into the ensuite bathroom and lost my clothes along the way.
I knew where all the salts and scented items were already, having bathed many times in his presence. He left me to prepare for them, taking Guinevere into the open shower area a few feet away to rinse the blood from their bodies.
She didn’t stir, not even as his hands roamed tenderly over her skin.
“She’s… okay, right?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable by her lack of a response. If he touched me like that, I’d be on fire for him.
Zebulon nodded. “She just needs a little more energy to wake. She needs tofeed.” He gave me a knowing look when he said that, then returned to soaping himself off with one hand while holding her to him with the other.
It was a display of strength that showed off his muscular stature and had my dick saluting him in approval.
Because yeah, he was a work of art.
He glanced back at me, a smirk playing at the edges of his mouth. “Bath ready?”
“Almost,” I said, nearly swallowing my tongue. I cleared my throat and busied myself with picking a variety of soothing scents to add to the water.
No bubbles.
Because Zebulon hated them.
When I finished, he stepped out of the shower, freshly scrubbed and holding a damp Guinevere. He stepped past me to settle in the water first, situating her on his lap with her head on his shoulder. I made to follow, and he shook his head. “No, I want you to sit on the ledge. Right there.” He nodded with his chin to the space beside him.
I frowned, not sure what he had in mind. However, I did as I was told, taking a seat on the stone exterior of the massive tub area—seriously, it could fit five or six people comfortably; a literal wet dream for an incubus—and lowered my feet to the bench in the water below.
