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Rerek growled and rolled her onto her back. “All day and all night.”
Chapter 4
Prickling, like tiny claws across his skin, needled Rerek awake. He lay on his back in human form, his arms wrapped around Devon as she used his chest for her pillow. He’d spent the last day inside her, and still his cock stirred to take her again. Her hand splayed across his ribs and a flash of red winked from her thumb as the ring glowed.
As dawn approached, he’d sensed the absence of his venom and her previously blown out pupils returned to normal. Yet she’d still reached for him and greedily run her hands over his body.
The last time they’d coupled, he’d taken her slowly, knowing her desire was truly for him.
His power lay banked and quiet. It didn’t curl around her to tempt her to become his thrall. Right now, it would be easy to bind her shuwt to him and place her under his will, but something … stopped him. Once he bound her to him, she’d be only blind obedience and vacant eyes. He wanted her writhing in pleasure. Wanted her using her teeth and fingernails on his skin. No thrall would dare to do that.
When he’d first sunk inside her, his power—thirsty for the boost of a shuwt—reached for her. But then he’d lost all control, gone into a rut, and nothing else existed except feeling her clench around his cock as he knotted her. To hold her until his heart slowed and beat in tandem with hers.
He never knotted. Yet with Devon? She belonged locked to him. Completely his.
The ring pulsed again, and the clawing sensation across his skin increased. How long had they slept? It couldn’t have beenmore than an hour. Maybe two. ‘For my boon, I want you to save me from becoming a harpy, then immediately take me to the junction to Ulterra.’He groaned. Why had she said immediately? Had she worried he’d keep her with him? His arms tightened, and Devon let out a small sigh as she nestled closer.
She was right to be worried about that.
In her boon request, all she’d asked was for him tobringher to the junction, not help her cross. Once he transported her there, the boon would be fulfilled, and he could carry her straight back to his bed. He wasn’t finished with her. He’d barely even started.
The ring flashed again, and the needling increased to stabbing. He shifted and gently peeled Devon off him. “We need to finish your boon. Get dressed and let’s go.”
While he fastened his armor back on, out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Devon slipped back into her clothes. She remained quiet. Was it because he’d worn her out, or because she thought of Ulterra?
It was a mere flick of his power to sense where the nearest crossing place was and transport the two of them there. They landed at the base of a high mountain, the dark shale of its jagged face towering over them. Ash clogged the air and rivulets of flame singed past as lava burbled in cracks at their feet.
His kind of place.
A yawning cave marked the entrance to the junction, and from within, a willowy form with cerulean skin and pure white hair walked forward. The soot didn’t land on her and turn her pale hair grey. It bounced off her in sharp pings. His brows rose. An ala? Really? He’d thought those immortals long extinct, yet here one stood, guarding the junction.
At least she was in her mortal form and not in her raven one. Alas were notoriously bad-tempered, but they were much worse in raven form.
Devon coughed. He frowned and let a small bit of his power sneak out and form a barrier around her to burn the impurities from the air before they reached her lips.
“One of the cursed and one of the betrayers,” the ala said. “Why are you here?” Even in mortal form, her voice still resembled a caw.
Devon squared her shoulders and took a step forward, disentangling her fingers from his, and his hand fell, forlorn, against his side. “I’d like to go to Ulterra. Please.” The ala studied her, and while she did, the ebony ring on Devon’s thumb crumbled into dust.
He’d fulfilled the boon.
As the dust scattered into the wind, Rerek summoned each speck and caught them in his palm. Now was the time for him to whisk her away.
The ala’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t have the stain the other betrayers have. You aren’t one I must keep from the suns above. But to cross, I require a toll.”
Devon’s face crumpled, and she raised her arms. “I have nothing.”
The ala surveyed her coolly. “Not exactly true. You have an escort.” Her gaze flicked to Rerek. “I haven’t had one of his kind warm my bed. He joins me, and consider the toll paid.”
Devon growled and stepped in front of him, placing herself between him and the ala. “Not a chance.”
Something wrenched in his chest, as if a hand squeezed his heart. Everything around him seemed to pause. Even the plumes of ash in the sky hung in the air. In that moment,he knew.
The ala laughed. “You’re a possessive creature, aren’t you? But no one tells me no.” Her smile widened. “I take him, or yourmemories of him. They float in your mind like little jewels of happiness.”
Devon gasped and took a step back, brushing against him. “No.”
Rage coursed through him, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.Hedecided if Devon stayed in Peklo or not. Not this immortal bound to her lava mountain. What was her power compared to his?
