We now live in luxury in this house that is heavily warded by the etherium shields that used to protect the safe havens. Everyone has their own space here. My own room off the main suite is mercifully minimalistic, Baelfire’s has a studio filled with his photography of landscapes in the Nether, Silas has a small laboratory for all the spells and potions he’s constantly trying, and Everett has a fencing room he pretty much never uses anymore. He spends most of his time going back and forth between here and the mortal realm for business and for the nonprofit he started to help Nether humans.
But despite all the space and extra rooms, we all sleep in here.
And fuck in here.
Needless to say, it’s my favorite room. Even though it’s still weird to have an actual home, I kind of love it. Especially because it’s just my quintet here. We’re hardly left in peace, but this is our own bubble.
Glancing out one of the floor to ceiling glass windows, I gaze out over the plane of existence that I tied my soul to. The Nether is starting to heal itself slowly, color returning as less twisted, less gnarly plants begin to grow.
Especially in the greenhouse that Everett carefully had moved here, along with my fake headstone and Lillian’s resting place, which I visit almost every day.
Angel of Death,Baelfire prompts through the bond.I might pick you up myself.
I can’t resist teasing my dragon.You were all for Crypt sweeping me away an hour ago. Why the change? Is there something I’m missing?
Me,he insists quickly.You’re missing me. Tell Stalker Boy to quit all the canoodling and come find us.
Canoodling is still a banned word,I remind him.
Punish me for using it later and get your sweet ass over here.
Crypt sighs like this is the biggest inconvenience in the world before he helps me stand, running his hands everywhere he gets the chance as he returns to kissing my jaw.
I pull away from Crypt to sigh. “I should probably wear clothes if it’s not just our quintet.”
“Or put on a show,” he grins and then tips his head, frowning. “Although Frost might destroy the Baird quintet for seeing you naked. The Decimus family, too.”
Grinning, I kiss him one more time before I clean up and get dressed. Several minutes later, as I’m lacing up one of my combat boots, Baelfire strides into the room and punches Crypt hard in the arm as payback, which just makes the incubus laugh. My tall dragon shifter stops in front of me with a bright smile on his handsome face.
“Come on, my queen. I’ve got a little something for you.”
“She’s already seen yourlittle something,Decimus—you’ve disappointed her with it plenty of times,” Crypt drawls, shrugging into another ripped leather jacket.
He keeps ripping those, which is why I hope he’ll like what I have stashed in my pocket void. It took me several tries to get thespell right a couple of months ago, but at least I’m starting to get the hang of fucking holy magic.
Baelfire snorts. “Yeah, we all know how not little I am, and I’m way ahead of the rest of you in that bet.”
“In your dreams,” Crypt scoffs.
I fight a smile. I know all about their bet to see who can get me to orgasm the most. While their last bet was really fucking annoying, I have to say I don’t mind reaping the rewards of this one.
Baelfire and Crypt walk with me out of our home and into the Nether. The Gateway is about a quarter of a mile from the wards surrounding our property, so it doesn’t take us long until we approach the massive, arched, mist-like wall of white. Its sides are ringed with etherium that glows with holy magic, drawing me closer.
“Ready?” Baelfire grins, taking my hand.
I nod, ready for a surprise party.
The thing is, I’ve never been to a surprise party. I can’t even picture what one would look like, since most of my birthdays were quietly celebrated between Lillian and me in the past.
Which is why I genuinely startle and nearly draw Cuttrina from my side when the second I step through the Gateway, a shit ton of people scream,“Surprise!”
My heart pounds from residual shock as I see that Crypt was right and my quintet, the Baird quintet, the Decimus clan, and Everett’s sister, Heidi, are all here as they clap and cheer to greet me.
Everyone is dressed warmly, since it’s December in fucking Maine, but someone—probably Silas—put up warming spells to make this a cozy area. There are several tables set up on the beach with the stormy gray seas in the distance, and presents are clustered on one of the tables. Several ravens flutter to land nearby, croaking happily when they see me. No ghosts are hereyet, but I know it’s just a matter of time because anywhere I go in the Nether or the mortal realm, they find me.
Everett is immediately at my side, kissing my temple and wrapping his trench coat around me for good measure. “Happy birthday, Snowdrop.”
Silas moves to join the rest of us, too, his crimson irises captivating as he smirks at me. “This year, I believe twenty-four orgasms are in order.”
