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“Thanatos…” I gasp as I study Syn. “Is she…?”Verena?
Syn juts her chin toward me while Thanatos sways his hand at a tilted angle, indicating asort of. “Her soul remained in my domain for a time, as all ghosts with unfinished business do.” He clasps his hands behind his back and curls a shade or two around Syn’s chastity belt. “She escaped my clutches many times, but finally, I offered her two paths. Verena chose to bind her soul to my bounty hunter, Syn. They’ve grown quite close over the past few months. But Syn is very much the forward persona. Something Verena is still struggling with, considering the role she once provided for you.” He hints at my underground lair.
Oh, hell…how much did she…?
Thanatos shrugs.She didn’t kiss and tell, Elysia. But rest assured, I understand why you desired to escape to your lair following your Underground rescues.
I blush as I remember our history and why I chose Verena for my high guard. It wasn’t just for herpublicprotector skills or her ability to piss off any vampire suitors with one lightning burst. In a way, my Halo and Verena’s lightning bonded first, our energy united on a metaphysical soul level. Verena was my first kiss, my first touch, my first partner…before the Halo shut down. Her energy currents helped me cope after every Underground mission, where I relived my trauma. Verena lightning-kissed it all away.
I’ve never stopped loving her. And now, the scar from her absence has filled me with more hope than the night she brought me Neo’s soul tether.
“Where’s the key?” is my first question to Syn since I can’t seem to tear my eyes from her black diamonded chastity belt.
She flicks her eyes upon Thanatos with a fox-like smile before deadpanning with me. “I ate it.” Her voice is low and malicious but also playful.
I press my lips into an uncontrollable smile as Thanatos makes his way back to my side, hands still embraced behind him. Smile knowing and sultry, he dips his head to me, and I roll my eyes, tossing back my curls. “I am so going to get you back for this,” I warn him.
“Thanatos: two. Elysia: zero.” I understand the additional check mark was due to that “death” vs. “Death” remark. However, Thanatos taps my cheek, granting me a single sprout of frost—a crystal kiss before he adds, “I thoroughly enjoyed your memory of triumphing over my brother earlier this morning in bed and in the Commons. Consider your chart with Death a lesson in humility.” He cocks his head to the side with a subtle smile.
I cross my arms over my chest and throw him a look.Oh, I’ll teach you some humility, Natos.
The Prince pauses at the nickname I’ve given him, but he remains cool as bones in winter. Finally, he nods to us, moves toward the door, dons his Reaper robe, and declares, “I’ll let you two get acquainted.”
“What kind of bounty hunter?” I question before he steps outside. Again, that barest trace of a curved smile when Thanatos gestures to Syn, freeing her to respond.
She parts her lips to reveal a set of black armored fangs. “Runaway rapists.” My jaw drops, and Thanatos’ chuckle overlaps her next words. “I hunt them down, dismember them, and bring them back stumped and bloody so Death can finish them off.”
No wonder she and my Verena bonded!
By the way…Thanatos summons me through our bond, and I note how two of his fingers tap the bone door in a staccato, seductive rhythm as he finishes,Verena may be as pink as they come, but Syn is asexual. Have fun, Elysia.
I flip him off before pivoting my body toward Syn.
Immediately, she wags a finger and weaves past me. “Don’t get any ideas, little angel,” she warns, sticking out her tongue over her shoulder, which mocks me like a black snake. “Verena’s already having a pity party in my closet. Little spitfire.”
“Asexual with an ass like that?” I dip my head toward her rather impressive and very plus-sized curves. When she spins her head with a snarl, I raise my hand to cover my giggles and bat my eyelash finery. “Sorry, Syn. Purple peace?” I flash the peace sign at her.
Syn grumbles and flutters a hand, almost dismissive. No, I am not about to let her get away with that. UntilmySpitfire pounces on me from behind and starts scratching at my chemise. Laughing, I spin to greet him, more warmth filling me at his sweet, playful presence.
While I kneel to scratch my hellcat behind the ears, Syn pauses to eye us. His warm tongue practically lathers me, begging for my flames, but he’s powerful enough to knock me down, large paws pinning my chest.
“Spitfire!” I squeal and laugh, but a moment later, Syn seizes my cat by his scruff, grinning at the creature who howls in protest, trying in vain to bat at her with his claws. Her muscles bulge, but her breath doesn’t labor, and I can’t help but salivate more. How fun Verena must have in that body!
“He’s cute.” The demoness waggles her nose at Spitfire, who scratches at her nude chest, three claws striking, but when he doesn’t spill blood, I understand her skin must be armored three layers deep. “You know, for a daemon.” Syn chucks him to the ground, and Spitfire immediately coils himself between my legs, huffing out smoke.
I kneel and rub his cheeks. “A what?”
“A daemon. You know? A shifter…guiding spirit. He’s just a runt but very eager to earn his stripes.” Syn crosses her arms, her bulky shadow draping us as I twirl my finger to offer my hellcat an extra-large portion of Halo shreds. “You named him well since he was gutsy enough to imprint on the Halo-bearer.”
Spitfire chomps on the flame scraps while I pat his heating belly and muse, “Huh…what does all that mean?”
“As long as you feed him, he’ll continue to grow. If he wants to earn daemon spirit points and take on new forms, he will follow your every command. Best. Pet. Ever.”
I rise and touch my hip, jutting it to the side. “If only Neo were that easy.”
Syn hisses, showing all her razored fangs. “Destructionnevermakes things easy.”
“Or his twin,” I hint, mouth curving down in a glower.
