I'd rubbed over the plectrum compulsively. The stench of the cave had overpowered me, and the wind had beat, beat, beat against the rock. When thunder had rolled overhead, I’d jumped.
The black had suffocated me. I'd struggled to draw in breaths.
How many times had we hidden? Why had this felt different?
"You promised not to cage me, but I've always been in one," I'd whispered, fiercely. It'd been kind of easier to say the dark, twisting things inside me, when I'd only had to stare into darkness, rather than into Loki's face. Except, then he'd shifted closer, and I'd been able to see the gleam of his anguished eyes. I'd wished that I’d been able to claw back the words. But it was too late. "You're the one who snatched the chaos moment. This is your fault."
"I know," Loki had answered with a soft sadness. He'd smoothed out the furrow of my frown with the pad of his thumb like he'd always done ever since I'd been tiny. "Look at that, my own words bite me in the ass. I guess that's being a parent." His smile had been crooked and then it’d slipped. "A long time ago, I set the cult's sacrifice free, and ever since, their god has possessed them with a frenzy to hunt me and turn me into a bloody replacement. By the Norns, I'd give myself up in a moment, if it’d keep you safe."
I'd gasped, wrapping my arms around Loki like that'd hold him to me forever.
He couldn't leave me...monstrous...alone...
"Don't go," my voice had wavered, and I’d bitten my lip. "I don't care if I'm in a cage, as long as we're in it together."
Loki's smile had been more genuine this time. "I'll remind you of that the next time that you’re whining about my cooking." Then he'd stroked my hair, cupping the back of my head. "My sacrifice wouldn't help anyway because Bacchus didn’t merely curse me but also my descendants." Then he’d pulled back, and his expression had been fierce. "But remember, it's only a curse if we let it be one. Omens and runes, I swear that I've done everything to give you a life that was blessed, instead. And I won't ever let them take you."
Yet eventually, the witches had caught me and taken me away from Loki.
Where was he now, when I was truly caged again?
I snarled, and my eyes burned. Had the witches caught Loki as well and Professor Bacchus simply didn't know?
Loki had spent his life protecting me. The witches in the academy were keeping me as a hostage to trap him as well. If those assholes thought that I'd ever help them hunt my own dad, then they knew nothing about real love between a parent and child. They’d made a mistake cursing his descendants as well. They’d thought they were punishing him in a way that never ended, but a kid would battle to protect their dad just the same as he did for me.
I'd find a way to continue everything that Loki had taught me.
I'd destroy their asses.
Cool kisses feathered down my neck, drawing me back to myself and the furnace of the cell. Magenta tightened her arm around my waist.
"Well, that certainly showed the mean old wall." Magenta pressed a final kiss to the base of my neck, and my skin tingled. "Although, it fought back admirably. Are we at war with the buildings within this kingdom, as well as the dragon shifters, because with our magic bound, I don't favor our chances?"
"I'm at war with all cages," I growled.
Then I shuddered, as Bask sucked my thumb into the silky softness of his mouth in retaliation. He flicked his tongue along the length of my thumb. I clenched my jaw; I yearned for that talented tongue to lavish its attention somewhere more exciting.
My dick thickened and waved enthusiastically to volunteer its services. Gods’ dicks are courageous like that.
Bask let go of my thumb with a pop.
Please tell me that my dick's services were required...
Instead, Bask licked across to my fingers on my injured hand and delicately sucked on each of them in worship.
My breath caught.
On the World Tree, it was worship.
At last, Bask raised my hand to rest it against his cheek, gazing at me from underneath his eyelashes. "If it pleases you, don't risk your ability to pet me again, Slippy."
I raised my eyebrow. "Wow, I was expecting at least a cursing."
Bask sniffed. "Perhaps, I'm saving it for when we get back."
Odin's cock...
Bask slipped to sit in a graceful slink of incubus on the floor, holding out his hand to Magenta. I missed Magenta’s touch the moment that she clasped it and dropped to join him in a twirl of black velvet.
When Magenta pulled me down to settle on the floor between Bask and her, I rushed to promise, "My hand's your eternal petting slave."
Bask preened. "So, no damaging my property."
That definitely shouldn't have made my balls tighten with desire, should it?
But then, Magenta ducked her head, avoiding my gaze; my chest tightened. "It's my foolish hesitation that has led to this awful situation. On Hecate's tits, why was it so hard to simply cast the charm? How can I ever apologize enough...?"
I hushed her, pulling her onto my lap. When I stroked her hair, she melted against me. The tension flowed out of her.
"It sucks that we're locked up and Fox is...well, whatever's happening to him." I regretted mentioning Fox the moment that Bask stiffened, biting his lip. "But you don't need to say sorry for being good."
Magenta's eyes widened. "You seem to have me confused with some other witch who's snuggled on your lap. I'm Magenta, the Wickedly Charmed witch."
Bask snorted, pulling his knees up and encircling them with his arms. "Not a chance. You're not wicked, see, just because you did one wee wicked thing."
"I cursed an entire academy," Magenta protested.
"Wee." Bask rested his chin on his knees. "I broke but does that make me always broken?"
"You don't say always,"
"Only if you don't." Bask's expression became as stubborn (although, he'd call it resolute), as the time that I'd insisted his plushie, Nile, shouldn’t sleep on our bed.
As if I’d had any chance of winning that one. Nile had slept on the bed amongst the pillows, of course.
"Are we playing the banned words game? Fox should be here because he excels at such amusements." Magenta's voice wavered at Fox, although she tried to hide it. I caressed down her side. "Oh, I have one." To my surprise, she twisted to me. "Monster."
I froze.
How did she understand my hidden pain so well? But I was a monster, right?
Time to play dirty. "Is it my turn? Tea."
I fought not to burst into laughter at Magenta's outraged expression. She gave a shocked breath, as she scrambled to twist in my arms and straddle me.
She pinned me against the wall. I swallowed, and my pulse fluttered in my neck. Okay, being caged by a furious witch made my dick twitch.
There was no way that she couldn't feel the effect that she was having.
Magenta’s expression gentled. "Vetoed. Tea is sacrosanct like your chaos moment."
My breath caught because she understood, even after my dickish mistakes. When she ground her crotch against mine, I moaned.
Bask knelt up, slipping his hand to palm the front of my pants. "Weren't we meant to be distracting you? What do you desire?"
I gazed into the Magenta's anguished, ice-blue eyes. All of a sudden, I knew that I was also distracting them from their fear and worry about Fox. Screwing was a better distraction than smashing my fist into a wall.