Devil Inside Read online

Page 3


  “I always figured it was either because he could never best me in a fight or I’m just plain prettier than him,” Scur said with a grin.

  “Well, the first one has something to do with it,” Khalid agreed. “Bet if you think about it for a minute, you’ll figure it out.”

  Scur stared at Khalid, and Alyx could practically see the wheels in his head turning. Then he started laughing, bent over at the waist, uncontrollable laughter.

  “What, what am I missing?” Abaxley said. “Someone fill me in.”

  “Alyx’s brother, Quinn, his Hand of Power is the ability to borrow or siphon other beings’ powers, or to enhance other’s powers. Well, Scur’s powers are different since he doesn’t technically have any. His are hereditary. Quinn can’t touch them,” Khalid told him.

  “Oh, and you know that really chafes his ass,” Scur said between laughs.

  “Indeed.” She smiled. “I thought you might find it funny.”

  Abaxley arched a brow. “The Hand of Taking? Rare hand. Alyx, what’s yours?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have one.”

  “It’s pretty common in the Mayhem line for the females not to have a hand,” Scur said as he finally regained his composure. “They don’t need them since they are way more badass than the males in their family.”

  “Born into, yes. My mother, by all accounts, was a joy and not a badass,” she said. “But this asshole is right. While Quinn has a rare hand in a family that has specific power sets, it’s even rarer for a female to have one.”

  “But you’re royal now,” Abaxley said. “You need one.”

  She shrugged. “I’m sure the kids will have them, but I don’t think I will.”

  Khalid squeezed the hand he was still holding. “If you don’t, then it won’t be a detriment. If you do, then it’s just an extra boost to an already powerful woman.”

  She smiled. “Always know the right thing to say don’t you, Cappy?”

  Abaxley turned as Faust came to him. “Prince, question...”

  “Yes, Faust.”

  “What would you like me to do with your stuff?”

  Alyx smiled. “Find him a bedroom on the second floor. That’s where all my guard have theirs.”

  “Very good, Princess Alyx,” Faust said and inclined his head.

  “Just Alyx. Only ones that get to call me princess are houses, queens, and my guard. And you fall into none of those categories.”

  Laughing, Faust nodded. “Of course, Alyx. Prince, I have a few things that need your attention as well.”

  “Well don’t let us keep you,” Alyx said and looked to Khalid.

  “We do have a meeting scheduled,” Khalid said, his expression giving nothing away.

  “Well that sounds boring,” Scur said. “I’m going to head over to the village, make sure those that decided to stay are finding their way.”

  “Decided to?” She looked to him and then Abaxley. “Did we not get everyone?”

  “Some decided they prefer to stay at the Sithen,” Scur explained. “They would like to become a part of the household staff.” He looked at Abaxley. “We figured you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Oh, I... No, not at all.”

  Abaxley nodded. “See you later?”

  She nodded. “I’ll see both of you later.”

  Scur inclined his head to her, but winked as he walked backwards a few steps before turning around and disappearing around the corner.

  “You ready for our meeting, Princess? I’m thinking a soak would be a good way to start it out,” Khalid said, already leading her toward the back of the Sithen.

  “Cappy, baby, that sounds amazing. Take me.”

  They headed outside and his steps picked up, almost having them both running toward the tree line. “If they see us, they’ll know we’re up to something,” he told her with a smile. It didn’t take long for the tall, circular stone structure to come into view, and not much longer after that Khalid was opening the door and ushering her inside, before locking it tight. The steam was rising off the water of the hot spring, and the enclosure itself was hot and welcoming.

  “We should have headed straight here after being in the arctic,” he said, pulling her against him and kissing her. “How about you strip down and get in.”

  “Don’t gotta tell me twice,” she said, literally pulling her clothes off as she shucked her shoes and socks. She was naked in moments and stretching with a sigh. “Oh, the air in here is so lush.”

  Khalid leaned back against the wall, his eyes slowly taking her in. “Not the only thing in here that’s lush. If I’m honest, sometimes I still can’t believe I’m here, with you. But moments like this, when I get to look at you, and I know you’re enjoying my eyes on you...” His smile was slow. “Makes every damn minute of my life worth it.”

  She sauntered to him, her hip sway exaggerated, and shook out her hair. “I like that you like to watch me. I like that you think I’m beautiful, Khalid.” She ran her hand down his arm.

  “Any being with a pulse who doesn’t look at you and know you’re beautiful is either blind or an idiot.” One hand moved behind her, fingers trailing down her spine, the other fisted her hair, rolling the long strands around his hand. He gave a tug until her head tipped back. “You make me feel like a very possessive man, Alyx. As in I want to possess you.”

  “I would never stop you. I’m yours just like you are mine, and I need the attention.” She gasped and closed her eyes, letting a breath out of her mouth when he tugged a little harder. Gods, the man was so fucking perfectly dominant when he wanted to be.

  She felt his teeth along her bottom lip and the hand on her back slid down until he was squeezing her ass. “Get in the water, Alyx,” he growled and released her hair.

  “Yes, sir,” she said in a whisper and spun out of his grasp, and then stepped down into the perfect water. “Are you going to join me, Cappy?”

  He started to undress, kicking his shoes off before pulling his shirt over his head. Walking closer in only his jeans, the heat rising from the water already caused a fine sheen of sweat over his chest. Hands going to the buttons of his pants, he stared at her and shook his head. “Not yet. First, I want to know how badly you want me in there naked with you. But don’t tell me. Show me.”

  Oh, how badly? She gifted him a small smirk, and then went under, coming up she smoothed her hair back and then moved to the small slate seat that was just under the water to her right. She hopped up, leaning back on the smooth rock there and lifted her right leg, placing her foot on the seat and slowly opening her legs.

  One hand touching her throat and upper chest, the other’s fingertips dancing across her taught belly, circling her belly button, and then lower, stroking the top of her thigh, and then lower still, ghosting between her folds.

  She closed her eyes, licking her lips as she pet herself, the hand on her chest stroking small trails across the upper mound of her breast, as she lost herself to the sensation. The water was just over the rocky seat and as it bubbled it caused the surface to caress her, lap at her as she worked her fingers around her clit and then lower to slide inside herself.

  “Khalid...” she moaned and then gasped as she circled and pinched her clit, her upper hand tugging on the ring of her left breast. “I need...”

  She never heard him finish undressing, but he was there what felt like a second later. Hovering over her, his mouth found hers, and he kissed her. A kiss that was both punishing and tender. His hand covered her own, but instead of pushing it aside, he guided her fingers faster around her clit. “I could watch you pleasure yourself for hours, Alyx,” he growled against her lips.

  “You make me want to...” She moaned and licked his tongue with her own. “You make me bold...because I know you like it.” Gods, she was already so close, and she felt magic spark inside her, as if it was there, shorting out just this side of becoming.

  He nipped her lips before pushing away from her, but instead of leaving her there to finish on
her own, he lifted her up, sitting down in the place she’d vacated and pulling her down to straddle his lap. “You have no idea just how much I like it.” Sliding his hands up her sides, then down her arms, he wrapped his fingers around her wrists then raised her hands to her breasts. “I want you to continue to touch yourself as you ride me.”

  “Like that’s a hardship.” Both hands cupped her breasts and feathered her fingertips across the underside, the action sending little shocks through her skin. She felt him beneath her, hard, pulsing, and rolled her hips, hungry for the perfect fullness that overtook her when he entered her. The man was like a key to her lock.

  Hands moving back to her hips, he lifted her, shifting underneath her until she felt him pressing against her entrance. Then slowly, oh so slowly, he moved her down over him. His lips parted and he let out a slow breath.

  “At your leisure, Princess,” he said with a curve of his lips. His eyes drifted down to her breasts, where she continued to touch herself, and his nostrils flared.

  There were few things she liked to do more than ride her captain. The way he curved, ever so slightly, he always hit the G-spot on the downstroke. Khalid could send her to the stratosphere in moments, and if she had the reins, was allowed to set the pace? Rolling her hips, she rose slightly, settling on the downstroke, keeping the penetration shallow for the feeling to build. As it was, he almost knocked her cervix, and when he did, the pain was between that bliss and the lip-biting gasp that always made her go further into need.

  Magic curled around them from the inside and she felt small tingles between them, like tiny pulses. Gods, the man was magic, carnal and elemental. She was lucky to have him as her captain, and beyond blessed to have him in her bed.

  Tugging on the rings in her nipples, she felt the orgasm build between them, and sobbed, picking up her pace.

  “Gods, you’re exquisite,” he breathed, flicking his gaze up to meet hers. “So fucking perfect it’s almost unreal.” His hands squeezed her hips, but he didn’t move her faster. She knew how much he liked for her to find her own pleasure with his body. If she wanted a lover who would take all the control from her, she had Scur, but with Khalid, he wanted her to use him, however and wherever she wanted. Though her captain could only give up so much control. One of his hands left her hip, and once again, he wrapped her hair around his fist and pulled her to him. “So...fucking...perfect,” he growled before taking her mouth in a deep, seductive, head spinning kiss.

  She shattered, his actions taking her over the edge, tumbling them both. Her body bloomed, ran with tingles and rolled with pleasure right behind it. She clutched him to her as she sped up, chasing the next orgasm, the one that was in the pipe, ready to devastate her.

  “Hurry... So close...” And she knew he would follow her this time because it was going to have a stranglehold on them both.

  “Now, Alyx,” he said and this time his hand didn’t just squeeze, but rocked her faster against him as he grinded himself up. “Fuck!” he yelled, the sound echoing off the walls as she felt his entire body go rigid under her.

  Magic crept into the spaces between the orgasm and her soul, and she wasn’t sure if it was his bonding them together harder, or if it was something more, but she closed her eyes to the feel of the orgasm, of the magic rooting, of his seed searing her. Gods. Epic. So fucking epic.

  She gasped and panted, kissing his shoulder as she felt her hips slow of their own accord, the skin between her thighs sensitive, thrumming with her release, and his. “Fuck... Fuck, I love you...”

  “Never will grow tired of hearing you say that.” His arms went around her, cradling her to his chest. “I love you, too. So you’re aware, you’re not moving for a good long while. I like you right where you are.”

  “Get us further in the water,” she said on a giggle. “My very favorite place to be is in your arms, Khalid. I know I’m safe, and I can let myself be safe with you.” She kissed his shoulder.

  She didn’t need to see his face to know he was smiling, she could feel it. He stood, moving his hands to her legs to wrap them around him, then waded into the center of the spring. “You’ll always be safe with me.”

  They were quiet for moments, letting the water lull them, Alyx still felt the after effects of the magic that curled inside her. She ran her fingertips across his upper arm as she swallowed, and focused on the power there.

  “Did you feel the magic? It’s there...but...I don’t know if it’s the bond, or...” She swallowed again. “It feels like it’s shorting out when I try to focus on it.”

  “Maybe you should try not focusing on it.” He tipped his head back to look at her. “And Alyx, I always feel magic when we’re together, and I’m not saying that as a cheesy pickup line. There is something there, something that is more, if that makes any sense.”

  She nodded. “We complement each other, on a cellular level.” And they did. It went way past being her captain. If the world was different, this man could have been hers and she his alone and it would have been perfect. She wasn’t sure she believed in soul mates but...

  “Exactly. But as far as you feeling like the magic is shorting out. Love,” he said, brushing her hair back, “you’re not complete yet. With Bax joining you, a part of you grew strong, closer to whole, but not completely whole. I think you need your full guard to really feel it. I can’t say with all of us you’ll receive a power, but you’ll have something better than even that.”

  “Oh?” She smiled. “What’s that?”

  “You’ll have us,” he said with his own smile. “A guard to make sure you are happy, loved, and have a life full of adventure for the rest of your life.”

  “Doesn’t sound too bad at all,” she said and kissed him sweetly. “Think we can lengthen this meeting just a tiny bit longer? Because you are so perfectly comfy right now.”

  “As long as you like. Door’s locked and the only two with a key are already right here.” He kissed her again and sank deeper into the water. “I think everyone can handle themselves for a couple hours...”

  4

  “So, what we got?”

  Octavia looked up from her tablet. “Everything is good to go. Caterer is set, full three-course dinner for two hundred, desserts are set, including that lovely Earl Grey cheesecake from Renny’s, Ryker already called and said all the booze will be here before three on the day of, and Azrael is handling the space and decor. We got this, Al, it’s going to be amazing, and a wonderful way to welcome the faeblins to the Court.”

  Pristina nodded. “And Amalda will be here presently for your fitting for the dress. I still don’t know why you decided on formal.”

  Alyx grinned. “Because it’s total lady porn. Seeing the guys dressed in suits...dear god.”

  “Let’s just hope Scur doesn’t rip the arms off the jackets, and makes sure to keep his fly zippered,” Octavia said.

  Alyx chuckled. “They’re getting fitted, too, right?”

  “Of course. Though Abaxley suggested his tailor come from Prague.”

  “Whatever he wants,” she said.

  “So, how did that work out? You leave with two guards, come home with three, and over a hundred faeblins?” Pristina asked.

  Alyx smirked. “What can I say, I’m that good.”

  “There she goes again with the magic pussy,” Octavia said.

  Pristina laughed. “It’s not that far off.”

  Alyx shook her head. Had Pristina been called to her, she would be in her guard now. They liked each other, hell, they were lovers on and off for a while, and since becoming princess the other woman had spent a decent amount of nights in Alyx’s bed because they had a connection, but ultimately, that connection wasn’t to be guard to her princess. When she had asked Pris to join her ladies, the huntswoman accepted, if for no other reason than to stay close to her. Though they had stopped the screwing, Alyx was not one to ever claim that would keep.

  Seeing sex differently than the others, she felt more like the wild, free spirit of
the royalty. She was uninhibited, and she knew it came from the fact that royalty was new to her, and pleasure...well, pleasure wasn’t something one limited for oneself.

  “Honestly, Al,” Octavia said.

  “Honestly? I think Bax just came to his senses. I mean this entire thing...I need him. I need all my guard, but it’s been months. I know most princesses aren’t as lucky as V to having them know, and it’s trial and error, but...” She sighed. “Having the three of them, it’s making it easier.”

  “Making what easier?” Pris asked.

  “The ache. It’s easing that bone-deep ache that’s been in my body since Verity named me princess. Like literally the second I accepted, something inside me clicked and a deep thrumming started in my bones. And it has nothing to do with sex. I think it has to do with connection in a different way.”

  “And the powers?” her lady-in-waiting asked.

  “Still nothing, but I felt something different with Abaxley, and yesterday with Khalid...something rippled in me.”

  “I just bet.” Octavia handed her the tablet. “Colors, right? I know it’s teal but this is your house, we need to make sure it’s the right teal.”

  Alyx looked down to the screen and nodded. “Perfect. You were always better with color than me.”

  Octavia nodded. “You have a head for design, I have the head for the details. It’s why we do so well as a team.” She grinned. “Oh, the moth room is finished, Azrael told me a little while ago. It’s...well, it’s a world unto itself.”

  At the mention of her moths, she felt Willy stir on her collarbone, and then felt the weird sensation of him becoming real. He crawled out from her shirt and she looked down to him. “Hello, sweetness. Did you hear that?” Willy moved his wings softly, his large oil-slick compound eyes staring at her, his furry black legs walking to the ball of her shoulder, the feeling light as snow on skin.

  Where Verity and Nymea were so in tune with their sigils, she still had a long journey with hers to get to that point. Willy, though, he was young, she could feel it, and he was learning, too. But the queen moth, she connected with Alyx quickly, and the intrusion in her mind was powerful, and gave her one hell of a headache. Argie had told her it was the sigil trying to bond, but she felt like it was possible she wasn’t meant to bond with the queen, that Willy was all there was in that regard for her.