Delirious Night Read online

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Delirious Night: Air Court Book 3

  Copyright© 2022 Dagmar Avery and K. Margaret

  Cover Artist: Stella Price

  Interior text design: Stacee Sierra

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Delirious Night (The Air Court)

  Chapter 1

  Sitting in the living room of the Sithen, Riddle cuddled in between Million and Julian, as Tez paced before them. Snuggled into Million’s side, her left hand in his, and Julian close behind her, her right hand in his, she was sandwiched between them, their support surrounding her. It felt nice, though it would have been perfect if Tez was with them, instead of as annoyed as he was about the entire situation.

  Orson’s attack using the poor shikigami was weighing on all of them, and worse, the other houses knew that the issue was happening. It was only a matter of time before they figured out that Kit was the one doing it, at Orson’s command. She was fine, and so was the rest of Air Court, though she was sure Gibbs was rethinking his life choices in thinking he could hang out with the fae and not go unscathed.

  “Okay, so what’s the game plan?” Julian asked the pacing god.

  Tez stopped pacing and looked at the newest member of her guard. “If I knew exactly that, I wouldn’t be as annoyed as I am right now.”

  “I don’t know,” Million said, moving his arm around her shoulder. “You usually have that look on your face, even when you’re in a good mood.”

  Her god just narrowed his eyes on the demon. “There isn’t an easy answer to any of this. There are a few ways to release Kit, but there is still the issue of finding him and what to do with him after he’s released.”

  “So, we need a list,” she said. “Find him, and that shit bag Orson. Release Kit from his bondage...”

  “Such a shit name, Orson. Isn’t that a pig in some comic?” Julian said and then sobered. “Seriously, though, how do we find him?”

  “We’re going to find Kit, we are not going to find Orson,” Tez said. “At least not now. Priority number one is to release the shikigami. We still aren’t one hundred percent positive Orson is the one behind it. Once Kit is freed, he’ll be able to tell us who was pulling the strings.”

  “True,” Million said. “Part one, get the spirit dude here so you can do your bibbidi-bobbidi on him, then we’ll figure out part two. What did Lucifer have to say?”

  “Only one idea that might be doable,” he said and took a seat in one of the chairs across from them. “There really are only two ways to do this. One, we kill the source. Problem with that one is we don’t know for sure who the source is. While I don’t mind killing someone for the sake of killing them,” his eyes met hers, “I don’t think you’ll be able to live with yourself, no matter if the one we kill is a jackass. Two, we bind Kit to someone else once we break the connection.”

  “He can’t just be release and be free?” Million asked.

  Tez shook his head. “He’s not human. He doesn’t have a body. In order for him to not be captured again, be used again, he needs to bind himself to someone else.”

  “So, let me get this right. You want to unbind this dude from the asshole controlling him, only to bind him to someone else? Is he evil? Nefarious?” Julian asked. “And who the hell is going to be cool with being press ganged from one master to another? I mean who would be cool being this thing’s keeper?”

  Listening to them, she sighed. “He’s not evil, I didn’t get that impression from him when we talked. He’s miserable, and he’s sad and hopeless, but he’s not evil.”

  “Shikigamis aren’t evil, they wouldn’t know how to be,” Tez said, leaning forward to place his forearms on his thighs. “While humans have gotten most of their legends on this particular species right, there is far more to them than what you can find on Google. They are one of the hardest species to explain. They have a soul, they have a conscience, but the majority of their life they are used and controlled. That control, however, doesn’t usually tend to affect who they are as an individual. If Kit is bound to someone who is not going to use or control him, he will only be bound in the sense that he can’t be taken by another, especially if that being holds any kind of power or magic. Kit would basically be free to live out his life as he wants to and be able to hold a human form.”

  “Then I’ll do it,” she said quickly. “We can bind him to me, and he can be free.”

  “I had a feeling you were going to say that,” Tez said.

  “Uh, are we sure that’s a good idea?” Million asked. “Having anything bound to you, and you being a princess, might not be the best idea. Plus, I would think this Kit kid should have a say on what he wants to do after he’s released. He might just want to float around for a while.”

  “And run the risk of some asshole binding him once again?” Julian said. “I hate to say it but Rids is right. She’s pure, her intentions pure. And it doesn’t have to leave the four of us... Kit’s existence.”

  “Still think he should be the one to make the decision,” Million said with a shrug. “If you don’t, you’re just sentencing him to another cage. It doesn’t matter if this particular cage comes with freedom. Without his consent, it’s the same thing.”

  “He has a point, Riddle,” Tez said. “I don’t see why he would say no, especially since we don’t plan on using him for anything. But I think it needs to be explained to him before we bind him to you.”

  She nodded. “I agree. I wouldn’t bind anyone to me without their acceptance. So, what next? How do we find him?”

  “That’s the part of this plan that’s the trickiest,” Tez said. “The magic it will take to unbind him, I’ve been working on that since we discovered him, so that’s taken care of. I can also easily bind him to you. Getting him here?” He shook his head. “It might end up being a wait until he shows up kind of thing.”

  Million straightened, removing his arm from around her and leaning toward Tez. “He’s technically a spirit, right? Not living or dead.”

  “Correct, he’s one of the few beings who’s a part of the world and not part of the world at the same time. He’s not a ghost because he’s never died.”

  “What are you thinking, baby?” she asked Million.

  “I don’t know how much Ria has told you about the powers within Grave Court,” her demon said, “but they tend to be able to be used in concert with others.” He turned to face her. “You know how the ghosts use Elysium as a meeting place for the fae, and how Ria can manipulate who and what’s there? Well, spirits tend to congregate in the ether. The ones like Kit, though it’s definitely quieter there than I assume it used to be. What I’m trying to say, with my power over the nether realms and the ether, and Ria’s power over the dead, I wonder if the two of us would be able to call him out. Ria’s powers have expanded so much over the last few years that it’s expanded outside all of our knowledge of its capabilities. And since we now know we share a bloodline, our combined powers will be even stronger.”

  She nodded and pulled her phone out. “It’s as good a plan as any.” Pulling up Ria’s number, she hit call.

  “Well, hello there, sugar bear,” Ria said when she answered the call. “How you holding up?”

  “I’m fine. Carnex strutting around celebrating his win?”

  “He doesn’t think it would be fair to celebrate too much since it was so easy for him,” Ria said with a laugh. “He said he feels like he cheated. I told him, he’s special and no one can do what he can. ‘Cause I have the bestest demon ever.”

  “Carnex is awesome, but I got the bestest demon eva.”

  “Second best. I love you, though, Million,” Ria said, yelling into the phone, making Million laugh.

  “Best. Speaking of the best, wanna come over and help us do some magic?” she asked with a grin.

  “Anyone else and I would think that’s the beginnings of a dirty movie,” she heard Geddy in the background.

  “Geddy, sweetie, everything is the beginning of a dirty movie if you’re doing it right,” Ria said with a laugh. “Now, Riddle, what do I know about magic? I mean I can stand there and cheer you on. Of course, I’m totally down for that.”

  “Actually, we need your brand of necromancy. You and the bestest demon eva are going to help us catch and release a shikigami. If you are willing.”

  “Oh, I’m coming with!” Geddy screamed. “I am not missing this, and if it does turn into a dirty movie you don’t have to worry about me.”

  Julian looked at her with an arched brow.

  “Geddy’s a damn Ken doll,” she said to Julian.

  “With the best ass these hands have ever made,” Ria added. “Barden,” she called out, “Riddle wants me to come over to try to raise a spirit. Can you make sure Kol doesn’t get into anything while I’m gone? I’ll bring home a pizza on my way back.”

  “Not pineapple. I don’t know which of these kits has the taste for that,” they heard the fox yell. “There better be mushrooms.”

  “No anchovies, dove!” t
hey heard Niko say. “I mean it this time.”

  She heard Ria scoff at the same time Million did.

  “We live in Rome, where the hell did someone find a place that would put pineapples on pizza?” Ria called out. “I have never in my life eaten a pizza with pineapples.” She scoffed again. “I swear, I might be the one pregnant, but they have all lost their minds. So, when do you need me?”

  She looked to her guys. “As soon as possible? We are going to attempt to do this tonight, I think.”

  “Your tonight?” Ria asked with a laugh. “Give me an hour and I’ll be there.”

  “Take your time,” she said. “See you soon.” She hung up and sighed. “So, that’s part one. Where we going to attempt this? The spell kitchen? The underwater room?”

  “You have a room underwater?” Julian asked, brows raised. “Why am I surprised? This is you and the Lord of Illusions over there,” he quipped.

  “The kitchen is too crowded,” Tez said. “I think the easiest would be the underwater room. It’s much easier to put up a magical barrier where whoever is controlling Kit won’t be able to come through with him.”

  “And water is a decent deterrent, too fluid,” she said. “Okay, we need to set it up and I need a shower.” A purification ritual would help, too, she could feel her magic sparking just under the surface. “We have at the very least an hour till Ria gets here.”

  “Riddle,” Tez said, standing up, “you need to know that what we’re going to be doing tonight is what most would consider dark magic. It’s going to feel different and I want you to be prepared.”

  She nodded. “Okay and that means?” She walked over to him. “Dark magic isn’t black, so?”

  “There is no black magic, that’s just a myth,” he said with a smirk. “What I’m trying to tell you is you will feel an after effect since you’ve never dealt with this type of magic. It’s not pure and it’s not pretty. I have no doubt you can handle it, as I’ll be taking most of the brunt, but I didn’t want you to go in blind.”

  “Oh. Okay. And after it’s done, what can be done to assuage it?”

  “If you want my honest opinion, you don’t. You let it be and you grow used to the feeling.” He moved his hands to her shoulders. “It’s one of the things that goes with who you are and the magic you want to wield. If you decide you don’t want it, all you have to do is tell me. I can take the feeling away. It will be up to you.”

  She nodded, slightly wary and worried, but she also knew Tez would never let any harm come to her. “You recommend anything beforehand? I was planning a purity ritual but now saying this, I don’t think that’s what is needed.”

  “You do whatever makes you comfortable. There really isn’t anything that you need to do.” His hands moved up until he was cupping her face. “It’s going to be fine, Riddle. Different, but fine. I haven’t gone completely bad and I created this type of magic.”

  She nodded again. “I trust you, Tez, you know that, right? I might be bumbling through things but where you lead in this, I follow.”

  Julian sighed and lifted himself off the couch. “So, what do we need to do? Because otherwise I am going to see to getting the guys back to Chicago, Gibbs especially. After that shit I don’t think him being here for any other magic, dark or otherwise, is a good idea.”

  “We need to talk about Mel’s super strength, too.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” he said and did a double take.

  “Mel, during the attack he lifted a fucking cooler filled with ice over his head and tossed it for Carrigan to make an ice wall.”

  “I didn’t know he could do that,” Julian said. “I don’t think he knew he could do that.”

  She nodded. “I know he’s supposedly only partially fae, but I think the fae side is winning out.”

  He nodded to her. “Once this is over, we can discuss it.” He looked to Tez “Do you need me for this?”

  “I don’t need you for this, no. Though, Riddle might want you around. That’s up to her,” Tez said.

  She nodded. “I think I need you all here. Get them settled. Come back.”

  He went to her, wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her into a kiss. “I’ll be back.” He walked out moments later, leaving her with Tez, Million, and Baxter, who meandered his way to Million.

  “You go get ready,” Tez said to her. “I’m going to prepare the room.”

  She nodded, then looked to Million. “And you?”

  “I’m wherever you need me to be, love.”

  “Come,” she said and offered her hand. “I need you.”

  He walked over and took her hand. “Not a hardship. Trust me.”

  She looked to Tez. “You know where to find us, love,” she offered and pulled Million with her. “I need a shower,” and possibly an orgasm.

  The bedroom was bright, a new chandelier dripping with iridescent crystals, casting dreamy colored lights about the dark walls. It was new and different from the décor so far but she didn’t hate it. Turning to Million, she sighed. “I’m nervous.”

  “About the magic or bonding a spirit to you?” he asked, pulling her into his arms. “I have no doubts that you’ll be able to do the magic with ease. Tez will be there with you for that. If you’re having second thoughts on binding Kit to you, no one will have an issue with you changing your mind. That’s a big ask, Riddle.”

  She nodded. “I know, and I should be more worried about that, but honestly, I’m worried about Kit. Our one meeting, the despair, the anger, but not at me, just at his situation. No entity should feel like that. I would gladly take him on, bind him to me if it would allow him to live a life free from fear. And, I don’t know, I felt something, maybe it was empathy, when we met.”

  “It would be easy to feel for someone who had to live their life that way,” Million said, drawing her closer and kissing her forehead. “Not to have any control of my life would drive me mad.” He leaned back to look at her. “You’re doing a good thing, Riddle. Because of that, I think everything is going to work out.”

  “I hope so. I still feel so green, like I’m stumbling through so much. Sometimes it settles, like when you and Julian showed up, and then everything gets whipped up in the torrents and miasma of my life. You guys, you especially, are my beacon, that light in the middle of it. The calm in the storm. I feel like I need to be that for Kit, does that make sense? I don’t even know him past some terse words but it’s there.”

  “It doesn’t need to make sense to me, it needs to make sense to you. If you feel the need to have that connection with him, then it’s for a reason. Don’t fight that, embrace it with all you have.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You are the light, Riddle. You have no idea how important of a woman you are. Especially to me.”

  “I love you, you sweet, wonderful demon,” she said and went on tiptoe and kissed him, her hand on his cheek. The contact centered her, and she felt the world stop spinning, not even realizing it was before the touch. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “Be stuck with a musician and a dark god,” he said with a grin. “Damn good thing you brought me cupcakes.” He started to walk her backward toward the bathroom. “Come on, let’s get you ready for your big magical debut. I’m seriously looking forward to watching you being all badass and sexy.”

  “I’m happy I brought you cupcakes, too,” she said as she shimmied out of her clothing, leaving her in her bra and panties. “Speaking of magic,” she turned to him, “I can feel it building. I think I might need a purge.” She grinned.

  “Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?” he said with a grin. “I think,” he stripped his shirt off, “you need a nice, slow,” his pants came off, “drawn out purge.”

  “Gods, Million...” she said with a growl, her hands running down his torso. Her heart was stunning, sexy, and edible. “Could you be hotter?” she asked as she palmed him. Everything about this man made her body stand up and take notice. And her magic thrummed inside her, in time with her hammering heart. “Sexy fucker...all mine.”

  He took hold of her wrist, removing her hand with a shake of his head. “No touching. This isn’t about me. Now finish getting undressed and get that ass in the shower. I have plans for you.”

  She pouted and then sighed, shedding her underwear and bra, and then stepped into the shower stall. “You joining me?”