“Don’t you believe that rather admirable?” I said, softly.
Sleipnir raised his eyebrow. “It’s dangerous, and it’s also seriously cruel because escape is the lie. Their kingdoms won’t take them back, no matter how their guardians trick them. But I guess that it’s easy for them to live in the delusion.” Sleipnir rested the back of his hand tenderly against Fox’s cheek “I’m sorry, I just didn’t want you to lie to yourself about this—”
“Like I lie about everything?” Fox stalked away from Sleipnir, curling onto the bed. He peeked at me. “And I find it admirable, but I’m King of Exploding Lies, as well as telling them. I’ll free the Princes from their delusion, after all, I’ve been physician for Caligula, King George III, and Edgar Alan Poe…”
When Fox cuddled Nile like he was a whisker away from transforming into his cat form, Bask reddened with outrage, before prowling onto the bed as well. Sleipnir covered his face like he didn’t dare watch.
“Don’t steal Nile. He’s mine.” Bask grabbed Nile, cradling him like Fox had been ripping out his stuffing, rather than snuggling him.
Why had I never learned the incubus ritual that included crocodiles? Were they worshiped?
Fox scooted back. “Woah, snatchy. I was only planning a nice pair of crocodile shoes or possibly a handbag.”
Wasn’t it foolish to banter about an incubus’ holy crocodile?
With a growl, Bask launched himself on Fox, who fell backward with a yelp. Bask pinned Fox with the skill of a predator: he didn’t touch him, but planted his knees either side of Fox’s head, pressing Nile’s mouth to Fox’s neck in a plushie savaging.
“Hmm, little help here?” Fox pleaded.
Sleipnir slipped onto the bed with a sexy indolence, resting against the headboard. He merely smiled, watching the show. Fox relaxed, when I perched next to him. He stiffened, however, when I tapped his nose.
“Apologize. My family shan’t hurt each other even in play,” I chided.
Fox reddened, before meeting Bask’s furious gaze. “I’m sorry. Look, I have this book that dad gave me. You must’ve seen it in my memory last night. It’s in the wardrobe with my things, and I feel about it, the same way as you do about Nile. I’ll show it to you sometime, okay?”
Bask nodded, mollified. Then he held up Nile to look Fox in the eye. “Apologize to Nile.”
Fox rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry for joking about the beautiful shoes that I could turn you into. Can I kiss your ugly…sweet…tooth and make it all better?”
Bask made Nile nod imperiously, and Fox grinned as he kissed Nile’s gleaming tooth. Then Bask sat back, hugging the crocodile.
“Nile’s the only thing ma ever gave me. Incubi aren’t meant to own anything, see, because they’re owned.” Bask didn’t look up. I edged as close as I dared to him on the bed. I craved to pull him onto my lap, and kiss his neck; his draw was mesmerizing. But Damelza’s spell kept us apart, and it was devastating. “Bright light hurts our eyes, but here’s the thing, I love the sun. I hated that my brothers and me weren’t allowed out unchaperoned and had to be educated at home. I didn’t wise up to the fact that ma was hiding me to try and stop the Duchess from discovering me because I was different to my brothers. I was broken long before I was bonded.” Bask ducked his head, and his voice shook. “Ma caught me in the sun…basking…and she said that should be my name. She told me that I needed to be like a crocodile. Then she promised to teach me the secrets to survive in a Succubi Court, just in case… Ma trained me like a daughter, rather than a son.” At last, his gaze met mine. “I’m this crocodile, and it’s ruined me.”
“Listen to me,” I gripped the sides of Nile as hard as I wished that I could grip Bask’s shoulders, “you’re not ruined or broken. You’re frighteningly strong, and to survive in Rebel Academy, we all need the skills that your mother taught you. Right now, do you remember the first time that I saw you lying on this bed?”
Bask’s breath hitched. “I’ll never forget.”
“You called for me, your Ghost Immortal. I’m here now, and we’re together.” I finally sat back. “Undo your shirt.” Bask’s eyes widened, before he clumsily pushed Nile to the side. Then he undid the buttons to reveal his chest. By his ragged breathing, I could tell that the orders were feeding his pleasure, as much as his pleasure was feeding me. “Push down your pants.” Bask slithered out of his pajama bottoms. He lay beneath me like a beautiful sacrifice. “Now touch yourself.”
Bask flushed, and his gaze darted to the other Immortals. His tongue swept his plush lips; their scent of coco and almond flooded me with warmth. I was desperate to taste them.
Bask pushed open his top to circle his pink nipples, before trailing his gloved hand down his chest. He splayed his legs wider. When he teased down his inner thighs, his prick pulsed. He ran a single finger along his prick to its head.
The first time that I’d seen him like this, I’d craved him, as much as his craving for me had burned. Now, the tendrils of his longing twined with my own, sparking magic through the connection that bound all four of us Immortals. Death, pleasure, or blood: these were the Rebels who’d resurrected me. Their spirits were woven with mine.
My magic vibrated like a thousand glowing snowflakes across the snowy peaks of Bask’s body.
“What do you wish?” Bask’s gaze didn’t leave mine.
I smiled. “The first time that you lay on this bed, imagining that you and I were lovers, what did you fantasize?” Pink crept into Bask’s cheeks. How kinky could it be? “You please me, and it’d please me to do as you wish.”
Bask shuddered, as both his ability to please me, and the offer of control, fed the two sides of his nature.
His eyes flared, before they dimmed again. “But you can’t touch me.”
Sleipnir crawled like a colorful big cat to Fox, wrenching back his head by the curls to lick a stripe down his neck. “What’s the problem when you have us? We’re all connected, so command away.”
Bask’s eyes glittered with a wicked light that made the hairs on my arms stand up at the same time as my skin tingled. My incubus might be cuddly, but he was all predator. He sprawled onto his back, as he clutched his prick more firmly.
“You wore less clothes.” Bask boldly met my eye.
Challenge accepted.
I clicked my fingers (purely for the theatrics), and my clothes melted: first my outer dress and petticoats, then my corset and drawers. I appreciated the collective gasps of admiration, as did my bosoms.
“Huh, impressive skill,” Sleipnir bit his lip, “and other things.”
“And useful…also to the other things.” Fox grinned.
“Why are you still dressed?” Bask demanded.
Sleipnir snorted. “Sorry, Your Highness.”
He tore off his pajamas with such savagery that I shivered, wishing that I’d allowed him to rip my drawers off at least, although I had a sense that it would’ve been rather painful for my intimates.
Fox fiddled with the buttons of his top, however, and it struck me that he’d never undressed for a lover before. Gently, Sleipnir took his hands between his, before pulling them to his sides, and undoing Fox’s buttons for him. I knee walked on the bed, until I caged Fox in front of Sleipnir, kissing him as I pushed the top from his shoulders.