Ask Mr. Fierce.
Lash chuckled. "You have courage. I thought that they only taught you in the Rebel Academy how to be sneaky bitches."
My lips pinched. "Yeah, that too."
I targeted a roundhouse kick at Lash’s knee (because hey, anything that dropped his height was good by me), but he dodged. When I circled him, he smiled indulgently like we were sparring. I growled, rushing forward and swinging a hook at his jaw, but he caught my hand — my injured hand — in his giant fist and squeezed.
I bellowed, as my knuckles cracked.
Magenta tried to storm towards Lash, but Bask looped his arms around her waist and held her back. How unbalanced would her warrior skills be without her magic?
Plus, this asshole could fight.
But I'd been trained by Loki, the god of mischief and mayhem. Instead of attempting to yank my hand away from him, as he'd been expecting, I leaned closer and headbutted him.
Now it was Lash’s turn to bellow, as he let go of my hand to stagger back and angrily wipe the crimson from his nose.
In the name of Tyr, I called first blood.
I grinned, "You did say that we were sneaky."
Lash snorted, and his eyes darkened. "How about you, darling? Want to dance? I promise that I'll be gentle and not mess up your pretty face...yet."
I snarled. How dare he talk like that to Magenta? He must seriously want a punch in the dick, probably from Magenta.
But then, I glanced around and realized that it was Bask's eyes, which had widened. "If you call him darling again, then you won't be able to stand to dance because I'll have broken your legs."
Lash only steadily met Bask's gaze. "Does he fight all your battles for you, darling?"
The...soon to be unable to stand...asshole...
I surged forward, but Bask gripped my hand, yanking me back.
"Not all of my battles.” Bask slunk closer to Lash, and I stiffened. What in Frigg's name was he doing? The shifter could squash him with one hand. "But here’s the thing of it, how could a wee incubus like me fight a big shifter like you?" When Bask fluttered his eyelashes, I almost rolled my eyes. “Slippy forgets that I'm from the ancient Night Lineage and have my own needs."
When he shot a glance at me over his shoulder, it was nothing but sin and also screamed trust me.
Bask was fed on my pleasure, and his incubus power thrummed through him. His teeth glinted in the light. Lash should be pissing himself. Yet Lash only smiled smugly, as he gripped Bask's head like he meant to crush it.
I bounced on the balls of my feet. How much longer must I hold myself back?
Stop touching him...
"Don't worry, darling, I know what you need, and I’ll give it to you. Why don’t you get on your knees and show me what that pretty mouth of yours can do with a dick as well as balls.”
I shuddered. Don’t you dare…
Bask’s eyes became half-lidded. “Don’t worry, I have some ideas what to do with them.”
Yeah, bite them off.
Bask slid to his knees in one fluid movement, then he knelt up, caressing his hands over Lash’s thighs in sinuous movements, as he arched his back, bearing the long white line of his throat.
It was mesmerizing.
Bask was using his incubus power to enthrall Lash, whose eyes were hazy. I found it scorching hot to witness his power; my skin prickled and pinked.
“W-why aren’t you w-worshiping my c-cock?” Lash slurred.
Did this guy watch a serious amount of bad porn?
“That’s not what you truly need, right?” Bask’s voice was more dangerous than I’d ever heard it, and I shivered with desire. “Bastards like you who conquer, control, and hurt do it because inside, you crave to be the ones on your knees and you fear it.”
Ouch.
Bask stalked to his feet. Then he pressed with a single finger on Lash’s side like he couldn’t bear to touch him any more than that (and hey, I didn’t blame him). Instantly, Lash folded to his knees like a puppet.
Lash swayed, flushed and panting. Bask could’ve murdered him, and he wouldn’t even have blinked.
Bask had always insisted that he wasn’t a warrior, but it was a freaky thought that if an incubus was trained the right way, he’d make the perfect assassin. Was that why the Succubus Court worked so hard to train and condition their harems?
Yet Bask had never tried to control me. Was it weird that I found it a turn-on that he could?
“No one’s in the corridor,” Magenta whispered. “I do believe that we can make our escape.”
Lash hadn’t wanted anyone to know about his visit behind Marcus’ back to the dungeons; what a surprise.
Bask flashed me an aren’t I pettably awesome wiggle of his ass, and I tipped my imaginary hat to him. Then ignoring Lash, we rushed to the doorway and peered out into the narrow corridor. It was empty and glowed golden like the cell.
“So, we find the study with Marcus and Fox and then…” I bit my lip. “Look, Jormungand is usually the one who plans. Let’s just see where this…”
“Impulsive?” Bask offered.
“Reckless?” Magenta added.
“…Better than nothing opportunity takes us. We can’t help Fox, if we’re in that cage.”
For a moment, we clasped hands, then we burst into the corridor, only to tumble backwards as we bowled into Marcus and Fox, who’d just materialized.
I yelped in shock, then I dragged Fox into my arms. His wild raspberry scent was like life. I pulled him closer, tightening my hand in his curls, in case he was snatched away from me again.
I should’ve been protecting him.
Bask ran his hands over Fox, checking him for injuries. Magenta twirled in fury on Marcus, who shrank back.
“You, archduke,” Magenta wagged her finger at Marcus, “are a very bad dragon.” Wow, I was psyched that she’d never scolded me like that. Marcus paled. “Execute us if you must but do not separate us again or allow your kin to abuse us.”
“Wait, can I put in a vote for no executing…?” Fox’s muffled voice called, from where he was burrowed against my shoulder.
Magenta dragged Marcus to the entrance of the cell, and to my surprise, he allowed himself to be led.
What’d happened? Why wasn’t he acting all wrathful leader?
Marcus blinked at Lash, who ducked his head. “Why is my dear cousin on his knees?”
Bask huffed. “Wise up! He’s not your dear anything. I know what it’s like to be broken, see, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build yourself up again. This cruel bastard would’ve betrayed you back into slavery.”
Hurt flitted across Marcus’ expression, before he could hide it. “You lie.”
Fox raised his head from my shoulder. “Sorry but I’m the liar of the pack, and my Power of Confess is blasting that it’s the truth.”
Marcus’ expression crumpled, before he composed himself. “I shall deal with this attack on my authority. But first, I’ll lift the binds of the Letter Magic, and you need to return to your academy prison. I wish more than my wings that I could keep each one of you safely here.”
My arms curled more tightly around Fox, and he melted against me in that delicious way of his. “If you don’t come with us, you may as well be executing Fox.”