Sex with Jude was unexplainable. Maybe it was stupid to fall for him, especially if I couldn’t deliver on saving him, but I wouldn’t stop until I exhausted every option to make sure this curse broke before his death.
“If you’re thinking in there, then I’m not doing a good job.” Jude kissed my lips, the scab from my bite earlier tickling the sensitive flesh and I smiled.
“Thinking of you now.”
“Never stop.” He lifted us up and out of the water, then walked to the bedroom.
For hours we explored each other’s bodies and souls. By the time we fell asleep, I knew Jude’s heart and character, and I wanted to protect him. He had so much to give this world, and I hated that he’d hid himself from it for the vast majority of his life. His power, his shows, hell his smile could make life better for many people.
He held me close, his arms curled around my torso like his favorite teddy bear as he slept peacefully. I wished I could have said the same. I slept, but as the light began pouring through the window, I laid there in his grasp, thinking about what could be done.
I tried to live in the moment, but my brain wouldn’t shut off as the journalist in me came out to play. I had been presented with a curse, a challenge even, and now the stakes were someone I loved. I needed to solve the puzzle and save him, along with the world.
“Do we have to get up?” Jude’s husky voice broke through my thoughts and I smiled. He sounded sweet and youthful, like the weight on his shoulders didn’t feel too heavy. I hoped I helped take some of the load off of him.
“Someone wanted to have a meeting with the Hero Society early in the morning. I didn’t make the rules.” I giggled and his fingers explored my naked body.
“Someone didn’t know they’d be fucking all night and have the opportunity to continue in said morning.” He pressed kisses to the back of my neck and I realized I enjoyed waking up with a sweet, sleepy Jude.
“Someone should have been more optimistic.” I wiggled against his body behind me and felt him grow with every wiggle. Oh yeah, I definitely enjoyed waking up with Jude in my bed.
“I’ll show you optimistic.” He pressed his length against my ass and all thoughts that plagued me moments before disappeared.
Chapter Twenty- Six
Selene
“It smells like dead people in here.” Echo’s nose scrunched up on her face, with Asher laughing at his woman’s expression.
“There are dead people here. Be nice, kitten.” The warlock teased her as he wrapped his arms around her body and kissed her cheek. I always liked them; Asher’s magic came from the wild magic of the Earth, probably the same as Madam Tully. Echo and Asher both wore matching leather jackets and jeans with boots. It was cute that they always looked like a couple even without trying.
We sat in the parlor room of Jude’s mansion with a burning blaze heating up the room in the massive fireplace. Everyone from the Hero Society sat comfortably on the couches, ready for Jude to discuss whatever he called the meeting to speak about.
“We should have a party here.” Lilith smiled and danced around the room like a ballroom dancer. Leon shook his head and plopped on the sofa next to Asher. Lilith continued to dance to the music in her head, but I knew she would be listening to everything in the room.
“Feels weird here.” Rose added her opinion to the mansion and Draco wrapped his arms around her, bringing her body against his torso. Esme and Dorian sat on the sofa I was snuggled into while trying not to glance at them more than normal. Dorian was the only demigod left in the world. His presence here on our side was a big deal.
“Thank you guys for coming.” Jude stood by the fire, his pensive stare touched on every one of our faces, lingering on mine for more than a few seconds before addressing the group again.
“I’m sure Phillip has updated you. The gates to the other side are deteriorating. I’m not sure on the numbers but there are ghosts that have powers they shouldn’t. They are able to show themselves and touch things and people, then disappear. It’s dangerous, and people have already died at my show because of it.”
“Shouldn’t we be worried about ghosts hearing us right now?” Echo paced behind the couch while looking around, sniffing.
“No. I used my power to kick them out of the house. We can speak freely here.” Jude shoved his hands in his pockets to hide his nervousness. On the outside he looked completely calm, at peace even, but I knew underneath he didn’t feel comfortable. I understood his emotions. It was something we both had in common.
“So, what do we do about this?” Draco asked, his fingers lazily caressing Rose’s hand as he asked.
“I don’t know. None of your gifts are a match against the dead. I had hoped with you all here, we could discuss a plan of action.” Jude glanced at me, and I rushed to his side. The need to touch, to feel his skin against mine was unfathomable.
“Not sure what any of us can do against ghosts,” Dorian agreed, and the rest of us sat in silence while we thought about what we could do together. My hand squeezed Jude’s as he kissed my cheek.
“There’s a lot of magic here. We could tap into it and put a temporary bind on the break in the gates. It should stop anyone from escaping and stop it from spreading any further.” Asher offered up his idea, which sounded good to me, but I’m sure there would be a catch.
“How about we raise an army of the dead to battle the dead?” Lilith’s melodic voice rang around the room, and everybody tensed.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Rose wrinkled her nose, and Jude’s body trembled beside me as his face paled.
“Could you do that?” I whispered, my curiosity wondering if he held that much power inside him. His lips tightened into a thin line as he nodded. Holy shit, he could raise an army of dead people. A tendril of death’s darkness leaked from Jude and curled around our joined hands. My body shuddered, but not from a chill or fear. I was drawn to Jude in a way that should scare me, being with him, it was immense and endless. I didn’t run from his dark power. I leaned into it, like a purring cat against its master.
