She repeats the same steps with Rhyland, and I feel a twinge of irrational jealousy. I know it's just magic mermaid CPR, but those lips are mine. Thank you very much. I make a mental note to chat with Rhyland later about accepting kisses from other women, even if they are life-saving, underwater-breathing kisses.
I glance at Rhyland, wondering if he's experiencing the same surreal feeling. His expression is of wonder and amusement."Well, this is new, "he says, using our mental communication pathway.
Mirella grabs my hand and tugs us down, Rhyland holding mine as we swim into the unknown.
Lucian
53
Rhyland and Dani fucked off to find that damn key. And yeah, I know they're fine. I mean, I've got this whole blood bond thing with Dani, which is excellent for keeping tabs on her emotional state. But let me tell you, when I felt her arousal, I noped the fuck out of that connection faster than a virgin on prom night.
I do not need to be privy to whatever freaky shit they're getting up to, thank you very much.
But you know whatreallytickles my funny bone? Pissing off my dear, sweet, stick-up-the-ass brother, Rhyland. I mean, the guy's got a perpetual case of resting bitch face, and it just brings me so much joy to ruffle his feathers.
Especially when it comes to Dani, I swear, the mere mention of her name from my lips makes him go all twitchy and broody. So, naturally, I make it my mission to piss him off at every opportunity I can to watch him squirm—and this one will definitely get a rise out of the fuckface.
I'm sure they'll come strutting back any moment now, regaling us with tales of their daring exploits and narrow escapes. But in the meantime, my little cupcake, Seraphina, has been keeping herself busy all day by soaking up knowledge like a fucking sponge. She's already got Erik, Mr. Stoic McBroodyson himself, eating out of her hand. He's been teaching her how to wield a sword and hot damn; she's a natural.
It must be an angelic or Atherian thing, having the skills of a goddamn ninja assassin. She knocked me on my ass during a sparring session, and all I could do was laugh and try not to jizz in my pants at the same time. It was a delicate balance, let me tell you.
But Erik, the stoic, serious type, takes pride in training my little hostess cake. He even crafted her a custom Bo staff when she said the sword felt tooheavy and awkward. And holy fuck, watching her twirl that thing around like a deadly ballerina is enough to make a grown man weep. She had the entire crew on their asses in a matter of seconds, each one eager to test their skills against the angelic warrior princess.
From what I've learned about my little celestial snack pack, Seraphina is missing a few key ingredients from the standard angel recipe.
No angel fire? Check.
No fancy-schmancy time warp tricks? Double check.
But light grenades? Oh, hell yeah. And those things pack a serious punch—just remembering when she smacked me upside the head with one has me grinning like an idiot.
According to my angelic amuse-bouche, the angel fire thing is reserved for the warrior bloodline in Atheria. Seraphina fits into "guardian angel" territory. Meanwhile, Dani goes all Human Torch at the slightest provocation.
What Seraphina lacks in pyrotechnics, she more than makes up for in ass-kicking abilities. She could probably take on a whole Martial Arts league with one hand tied behind her back. It's like watching a ballet of violence, and it's fucking beautiful.
It's been a real treat watching her come into her own and discover new strengths. She may be a sweet, innocent angel, but she's got the soul of a fighter. And I gotta say, it's pretty fucking hot.
There's just something about watching your mate kick ass and take names that gets the engine revving.
"That was a blast!" Seraphina practically skips over to me, her Bo staff casually propped against her shoulder like a goddamn action hero. Erik, however, is sprawled out on the deck, staring up at the sky like he's contemplating his entire existence. "I saw his leg sweep coming from a mile away, but I countered and took him down," Seraphina explains, grinning.
"I know, baby girl, I saw the whole thing," unable to keep the pride out of my voice. "You were fucking magnificent."
"Could you kindly reiterate the reasons that compelled me to undertake this endeavor?" Erik groans from his prone position, seriously regretting his life choices.
Seraphina giggles, taking a swig of water from her canteen. "Because you agreed to help me hone my combat skills, which is neededand—"
"Necessary for you to learn, yeah, yeah, I know," Erik finishes for her, waving his hand in defeat. He sighs, sitting up with a grunt, "It has been a pleasure in sparring with you; it brings to mind the time I instructed our Little Huntress in the art of combat."
Fuck, that feels like a lifetime ago when Erik was teaching Dani the fine art of ass-kicking in Luminara. Seriously, so much has gone down in the blink of an eye. It's insane to think about how tight-knit we've all become after wading through the hot mess that is our collective lives.
"Hey, there's no shame in learning from the best," I quip, giving Seraphina a wink. "And right now, the best just happens to be a gorgeous, ass-kicking celestial snack cake with a heart of gold."
Seraphina blushes at the compliment, ducking her head shyly. But I can see the glint of pride in her eyes, how she stands slightly taller and holds her head slightly higher. It's a beautiful thing to witness, watching her come into her own and realize just how fucking incredible she truly is.
"Well, I couldn't have done it without your guidance," turning to Erik with a grateful smile. "You're an amazing teacher, and I'm lucky to have you as a mentor."
To his credit, Erik looks genuinely touched by her words. "It's been my pleasure, Seraphina," looking at her like she just hung the fucking moon. "You're a natural, and it's an honor to help you cultivate your skills."
