Rune dropped the arrow into his thigh quiver. His ever-present bow was strapped over his back. "So she's truly a fey? Pointed ears and everything? Don't know whether to congratulate or console you."
Sian scowled. "I wouldn't have her any other way."
Rune held up his palms. "To each his own. So how's she settling in?"
"Very well. Though getting used to life in a castle like this has its challenges." Three days after their wedding, he'd heard her screech from the bedroom.
He traced and found her staring up at the Lotan trophy--which had just reappeared above the mantel.
She raised a brow at Sian. "Yet another prank, demon?"
"The castle did this. I have no idea why. I'll take it away again, but if the head continues to return, we must accept Graven's will. . . ."
Rune said, "I can't imagine a Sylvan female appreciating the wildness of hell."
"In fact, she enjoys exploring the realm." She loved everything new he showed her, but especially the animals.
One day when they'd been hiking through the steamy Stygian Marsh, he'd sensed a litter of hellkittens nearby.
As their wary mother looked on, Calliope had cuddled the cannonball-size runt, stroking its red and silver pelt. The kitten had purred loudly, and a drop of drool had clung to one saber tooth. . . .
"I don't suppose I could have this little guy?" Calliope asked.
She could have anything in this world she wanted. Still, he said, "You shouldn't separate him from his litter."
"Oh, of course." She'd put the kitten back with the others, giving it a scratch and a look of longing.
"We will take all of them, mother and kittens alike--it's not as if we can't spare the room."
Calliope had leapt up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly. He'd needed ever more of her, deepening the contact. Against his lips, she'd murmured, "Not in front of the kittens. But definitely somewhere, demon!"
As he'd gazed down at her bewitching face, he'd thought, I am so fucked if this ends.
Josephine said, "I see that look in your eyes. You're done for. It's the look this one"--she hiked her thumb at Rune--"sports twenty-four/seven. It's getting embarrassing."
The archer nodded. "Too true."
Sometimes Sian had the urge to throw a wall up between himself and Calliope--anything to keep their bond from solidifying more. If his new existence with her was going to end, he needed the divide to happen now--not in a century or so, when his appearance had changed so drastically that she finally hit her limit.
Rune said, "I know you haven't claimed your female yet, or you would've been bursting--pun intended--to talk about the experience. You'll need to talk to someone. Trust me."
"Trust him." Josephine tossed her legs over the throne's armrest, the first to sit there.
Sian had had no choice but to separate Calliope from his demon subjects. He didn't anticipate any danger, but she wouldn't be fully protected until she wore his mark. "I'm in no rush."
"Liar." Rune filched a flask of demon brew from a jacket pocket and raised it in offer to Josephine.
Her expression said, You've gotta be kidding.
Rune took a pull, then tossed it to Sian.
He caught it and swigged. "Do I imagine what it would be like to claim my mate? Constantly." Despite the devastating pleasure they'd been sharing.
She was open to anything. Earlier today, they'd relaxed on a blanket at the beach, lounging naked in the sun. His mind had wandered, wicked fantasies arising.
He'd realized there was nothing to stop him from taking a taste of his mate.
Without a word, he'd lifted her to straddle his face. After a hesitation, she'd gotten caught up. Her fists had moved on his horns, jacking him as she'd shamelessly ground against his mouth. She'd screamed, climaxing right upon his lips.
And his mate was all too happy to reciprocate, using her life-altering little tongue to render him mindless.
Just when he swore their bedsport couldn't possibly get hotter--quite a thing for the king of hell to think--they would reach new heights. Yet at no time had she said those four words: Will you claim me? "But I also imagine a future with her." Sian coveted what Rune and Josephine had. "I won't push Calliope before she's ready."
Rune plucked his bowstring. "Gods, man, you really do like her."
When Sian nodded, Rune and Josephine both raised their brows, waiting for more.
He exhaled. "Can't stop looking at her. Or touching her." If he could take relationship advice from a dragon, he could be forthcoming about his feelings. "I watch her when she sleeps and dreams. The sound of her laughter makes my wings unfurl, like I'm godsdamned flying." He scrubbed his palm over his face. "When we talk into the night, I get to see inside her dazzling mind, and I can never get enough."
Tough-talking Josephine sighed. "How did your girl react when you told her about the hell-change?"
Sian took a drink. "Haven't told her." Not only was he selfishly keeping the curse a secret, he'd been taking out his frustration on her.
Yesterday, he'd asked what kind of tattoo she'd make him get once he marked her.
"No tattoos for you." She kissed one of his glyphs. "I would never change a single inch of this skin."
Body gone tense, he drew back, cursing his future.
She blinked at him. "Did I say something wrong?" When he didn't answer, she muttered, "Moodiest male . . ."
"I wanted Calliope to feel more for me before I revealed that." Sian believed her attachment grew, but he also suspected something was holding her back.
"No offense, demon, but she's going to know soon." Josephine tilted her head. "I can already see a difference from the last time we stopped by."
Truly? Their previous visit had been only a couple of months before Calliope's arrival here! "I will tell her soon."
"I wouldn't sweat it. She married you, so obviously looks"--the halfling gestured to him with a careless wave--"aren't that important to her."
Sian scowled. "She likes my looks." Whenever Calliope gazed up at him from under her lashes, he could feel her attraction to him--and her growing possessiveness. The proprietary light in her eyes made him stand taller. Made his cock harder than stone.
To his surprise, she couldn't keep her hands off him. The more she explored his body--and she adored exploring it--the more aroused she grew by his form. "But not for long."
How much time do I have before she doesn't even recognize me? Would he recognize himself? Even now the low hum along his spine, that engine inside him, roiled on.
"It doesn't matter what you look like," Rune said. "You're still my brother. Win her over, and she'll be just as loyal."
"Easier said . . ."
"Has she told you anything about her life on Gaia?" Rune asked. "Her family?"
Sian capped the flask, then tossed it back. "She doesn't like to talk about it. Probably because I forced her to abandon her fiance."
Rune and Josephine winced.
"Exactly." Did that male still stand between them? Sian had finally brought up the subject.
"I know I took you from your intended. Abruptly. Tell me what I can do to help you put him in the past."
"I might pine for the family I thought I'd have. But not him in particular."
Sian had thought, I could give her a family. But they'd be dark fey. Considered abominations by most.
Then why did he feel like they would have young between them? "My spies found out nothing about her in Gaia. Next I will dispatch them to Sylvan."
"Josie and I can dig into Calliope's background there. My female's interrogation techniques are improving every day." She gave a queenly wave. "And my connections are still in place."
"Even though Rune the Insatiable isn't trading sex for secrets anymore," Josephine said in a pointed tone. "Funny how that worked out, huh?"
Rune nodded easily. "I trade exclusively with phanpires now." He turned to Sian. "We'll begin at once. In any case, I'd be less worried about a fiance and
more worried about her reaction when the Morior conquer Sylvan."
As good a time as any. "About Sylvan . . . I vowed to her that as long as she is my wife, none in that kingdom will fall by a Morior's hand."
The color of Rune's irises shot from magenta to black. "The fuck?" He traced to his feet. "With zero warning--or discussion--you made vows for me?"
Josephine swung around and sat on the edge of the throne. "Demon, you're in troubllllle."
Striving for calm, Sian said, "Calliope kept attempting to escape me, endangering her life. So I bargained with her, giving her incentive to stay."
"Your bargain includes the royals in Sylvan!" Rune traced in front of him, fists clenched like he was about to take a swing. Sian would welcome it. "You undermined my entire life's goal. Everything I've worked for. I've craved revenge against that bloodline for millennia!"
Sian squared his shoulders. "This is what I had to do to secure my mate," he said simply.
"And I want you to experience matehood, brother. I do. But you have to know Nix set you up like a bloody line of dominoes." Sian nodded. "How do you know Calliope isn't working with her? Was Saetth involved? He benefits most from your . . . arrangement."
"Calliope had a job in Gaia for years, living as a human. She wasn't immersed in the Lore whatsoever. But I do wager Saetth is in league with the Valkyrie."
Rune's lips parted, revealing his fangs. "And you still went ahead with this?"
When Sian recalled the night Calliope had escaped him, how frantic that chase had been, his calm deserted him. "I would have done anything not to lose my mate."
Rune stabbed his fingers through his hair. "You don't have the right to make vows for me."
"You of all people should comprehend my motivations. Put yourself in my place." Sian grabbed his friend's forearms, needing him to understand. "Would you have hesitated to protect Josephine--until you could discuss your actions with me? Could you live with her death not once, but twice?"
Rune turned to Josephine. They shared a look that was fraught with emotion, communicating so much, though not a word was spoken.