He pulled me into him, his hand leaving my wrist for my nape, his lips ghosting over mine. I sighed in his embrace, a sense of protection warming my skin. Or maybe that was just his soft plumes settling around me.
I wasn’t sure.
But I felt at peace.
Safe.
Pleased.
“I can’t wait to fly with you, sweet Cami,” he said against my mouth. “But until that day comes, I’ll help you.” A flurry of movement whispered all around us, then his wings suddenly disappeared.
As did the gold covering my skin.
Frowning, I glanced at my arms—which I’d apparently woven around his neck—and blinked. “How…?”
He shrugged. “I absorbed some of your energy. Much like you did to Az.” He glanced over his shoulder. “That was one hell of an explosion, Commander. A whole new level for you, if I’m not mistaken.”
Az grunted and moved around him. “Cami’s right. We need coffee.”
“I think I liked it more when you looked like a disco ball,” Ajax muttered, following Az but pausing to glance my way. “Now you just smell like Melek.”
My eyebrows came down.
“You two are going to have to learn to share,” Melek said before I could comment. “She’s my mate, too. And while I may have chosen a slower seduction method, I still fully intend to fuck her. So you’d better stop trying to piss all over her.”
“Says the guy who dusted her in gold jizz,” Ajax clapped back.
“She did that to herself,” Melek replied. “And it’s notjizz, which is a very crude word, by the way. It’s ethereal magic. Very potent and powerful.” He looked down at me. “I can teach you how to use it.”
“Why am I suddenly sproutingethereal magic?” I asked with a sigh, honestly not all that surprised to learn that I’d inherited what seemed like yet another ability.
“I assume it has something to do with our mating.” He leaned down to press his lips to mine once more, reminding me that we were still locked in a somewhat intimate embrace. When I attempted to release him, he held me tighter. “I mean it. I can teach you.”
“Like you’re teaching me about deals?” I asked.
He smiled and pulled me around in his arms, bringing my back to his chest. “It helped you forgive Az, didn’t it?” he whispered against my ear. “Brought Ajax and Az back together, too.”
I frowned. “How did your deal lessons help with this?” But even as I asked, I realized the answer. It was obvious. “Vivaxia’s deal.”
“Vivaxia’s deal,” he echoed. “Everything I’ve done has been in your favor.”
“Why?” I asked, turning to face him again. “Why me?” It was something I’d never understood.
“Because you’re the key to our salvation, little angel,” he replied, his lips brushing mine. “You were meant to be ours. And soon, you’ll understand why.”
“Or you could tell me,” I offered.
His lips curled slightly. “No, love, I don’t think I could.”
I shivered, his endearment reminding me of what Az had said before claiming me with his cock.
All these men.
All their words.
So much chaos.
I shook my head. “Coffee.” That would fix everything.
