Tempting Darkness

Aleera

Pain radiated through my stomach, so I rolled over, only to be invaded by Lycus's scent. A hand moved across my stomach, heat radiating out of it, and I sighed as the pain eased. I glanced over my shoulder to see Darius pressed against me. Darius kissed my shoulder while his thumb brushed my stomach gently. He tugged me closer, so I was flush against him, his entire body heating like my very own personal hot water bottle.

"It's late. You should try to go back to sleep," Darius murmured. However, I wasn't sure I could sleep knowing he was lying beside me. It kind of put me on edge, yet I was reluctant to move away.

"What happened to the hellhounds?" I asked, confused. I had no memory of returning here or anything since I passed out.

"Nothing. Tobias and Lycus got to us in time," Darius said. The memory of teeth and claws trying to get to us made me cringe. Shivering, I jammed my feet between Lycus's legs in an attempt to warm them. Lycus hissed at how cold they were when I realized I had no pants on. I lifted the blanket and peered under it. To find I only had underwear and one of their shirts on.

"I changed you. You bled through your pants," Darius whispered behind me. My face heated at that thought before shaking it off. I had literally bled on his lap in the shower, and he didn't seem fazed.

"Geez, your feet are freezing," Lycus hissed before wiggling a little closer and rubbing my thighs and the back of my legs with his hands, trying to warm them. My heart raced with their closeness, yet the bond soared, enjoying their skin against mine. It took everything in me not to reach out and bury my face in Lycus's neck or climb on him. Yet I didn't want to move away from my demon hot water bottle either, especially not now that he was being nice.

"Move closer, Lycus. She wants your scent," Darius said, and I peered at him over my shoulder.

"Demonic fae, love. I'm part incubus. So, I can sense your desire and what you're craving."

I thought over his words and turned back to see Lycus smile slyly.

"I have no issues being all nice and close," Lycus said, his eyes flickering under the dim light from the open fireplace.

Lycus pressed his chest against mine, his entire body touching, and I slid my leg between his, melting against him, suddenly not caring if I looked needy. I just wanted his skin and Darius's heat.

"Go to sleep, Aleera. You're safe with us," Darius whispered.

"You're not mad?" I asked him.

"Mad that our keeper is one of the most powerful faes in the world? Never but now we know we need to take extra precautions," Darius whispered behind me.

His sudden change since the other day was giving me whiplash, and some part of me wondered if he was only being nice because he wanted my non-existent power or because he now knew he owned the ultimate weapon, one he could use to his benefit. "What's wrong?" Lycus asked, and I opened my eyes to see him staring at me.

"Nothing," I whispered, and I saw his eyes dart to Darius before I pushed my face into Lycus's neck, only to hear him start purring.

The sound soothed my soul as I melted against them while Darius's heat bled through me like my own personal heat pack. I sighed, closing my eyes and snuggling between them, enjoying it for now because no doubt they would probably go back to hating me when I was no longer shredding and of no use to them. So, for now, I would enjoy the bond and worry about its withdrawal when it happened. I knew I would pay dearly for letting them get this close. The withdrawal from the bond would be pure agony, yet I ignored common sense, instead giving into it for once.

I let my eyes close. A few hours later, I was awoken by Ryze, his beak playing with my hair, his tongue flicking over my cheek. I blinked up at him perched on the headboard.

Lycus was still asleep, and I could hear Darius snoring behind me, feel his breath on me, tickling the back of my neck. Rubbing my eyes, I lifted Darius's arm off me, wiggled out from between them, and scooted to the end of the bed. Seeing that I was getting up, Ryze flew over to me and perched himself on my shoulder, rubbing his beak across my cheek and cooing softly.

His weight was becoming heavy, and his talons dug into my flesh, making me hiss. Still, I scratched his tummy feathers as I peered back at the bed.

Kalen was beside Lycus, snuggled against him, also asleep. However, Tobias wasn't in bed, and I couldn't see him in the room. I walked toward the bathroom and turned the handle, only for it to open before I could. Tobias stepped out, having just hopped out of the shower. A towel hung dangerously low on his hips, his hair was wet, and droplets cascaded down his chest from the shower. Some foreign urge to trace the hard lines of his abs rushed over me. My breathing hitched as my eyes traveled lower to his V-line that disappeared beneath his towel.

Ryze shifted his weight on my shoulder, his talons digging into my skin and collarbone, piercing through my delicate skin.

"Ryze, careful," Tobias said, holding his hand out for him to climb on. I was relieved when Ryze climbed up his arm and off mine, only to perch on Tobias's shoulder for a moment before flying out the window. "We need to cut his claws," I told Tobias while looking down at my bleeding shoulder. I wiped the blood off only to look up at Tobias, whose eyes were glazed over, staring at my neck. Tobias licked his lips.