“I’m not emotional,” I said with a huff. “I’m … hungry. There’s a difference.”
Siret appeared from the same direction Cyrus and Emmy had, and his expression was worrying at first, haggard, eyes blazing, but he must have heard my words because he said, “Sometimes it’s hard to tell, Soldier. Emotional, hungry, tired …”
“Horny,” Yael added, striding over as well.
I coughed, trying to stifle a laugh. I probably should be annoyed that I apparently had so many “emotional” moods—and they were having fun pointing it out—but I was mostly happy to be on the receiving end of their teasing once more.
“What did you two find?” Coen asked, his hand tensing briefly on my hips, the hard length of him still pressed against me, sending small tingles of his power through my body. “I’m assuming the lower levels were empty?”
Siret and Yael’s careless grins faded. “Not exactly.” Siret wore that disturbed look again.
“Care to elaborate?” Cyrus requested.
“Some of the servers were bound and left down there,” Yael said in a low voice. “A few must have gotten free and they killed and ate the others before turning on each other.”
I flinched, gagging at the mental images that I would now never be able to get rid of.
“Rome and Aros managed to ignite most of the … leftovers,” Siret said. “They’re making sure the area is cleared out.”
Emmy made a low sound that tugged at my heart. “Staviti probably gave them an order like ‘succeed at any cost’ or ‘survive no matter what’ and they were forced to obey.”
“I’d really like to kill him now,” I said, almost choking on my words, I was so angry. “But since that would make me as bad as him, I’ll settle for stripping away his power so he can never hurt another innocent being again.”
Coen’s touch was no longer sexual; instead it turned to comfort as his hands rubbed along my sides, up and down in a soothing motion.
By the time Rome and Aros returned, smelling of salt air and ash, we were all more than ready to get some rest. No one asked them for more details about the lower levels; we’d heard more than enough from Yael and Siret. We started to move, no one talking much. I was desperate for some alone time with the Abcurses. We needed some moments together. The bond needed it as well.
On the stairs Aros was the one to keep a hand on me, making sure that I didn’t trip and plummet into the water below. It was an old habit of theirs from my clumsier sun-cycles, but I appreciated the gesture all the same. The lights Siret had lit earlier were still burning brightly, their warmth washing away the shadowy landscape of the cave. It almost felt homey in there.
My feet were really dragging by the time we ended up in the main room with the fire. It was burning strongly, despite the limited wood that had been left behind to use.
“You certainly have a way with that element, Will,” Emmy said, chuckling before she yawned. “I recognise your handiwork.”
A look passed between us and I wondered if she too thought about the dweller I had burned in Soldel. Evie. She was on my mind a lot; it was one more wrong I had to right in the very near future.
“We’re going to my old room,” Cyrus said shortly, cutting off my dark thoughts. “I might consider you all family now, but I sure as shit am not sharing an orgy room with you fuckers. Emmy and I will be far enough away not to hear the begging and bondage that I’m sure you’re all into.”
“Speak for yourself,” Siret said, crossing his arms, his grin wry. “No one has to beg when I’m in the room.”
“Speak for yourself,” Yael chimed in, cutting his brother off.
I cleared my throat, hoping my face wasn’t too red—the heat in my cheeks was strong, and it wasn’t all because of the fire. Cyrus shook his head and reached out to grab some of the food before his other arm wrapped around his girl, hauling her into his chest. Emmy went willingly, moulding herself against the Neutral God like a stick of butter against a hot pan. Cyrus being the pan of course—unyielding bastard.
I heard her breathy words for a few more clicks, and then they were far enough away that I couldn’t hear anything. I turned from where I’d been standing to find the five Abcurses lined up across from me. Silent. Staring at me in a way that had the fire in my face spreading lower, until it lit up my insides and had me squirming on the spot.
“Choose!” Yael demanded, his eyes blazing green.
I faltered, my body aching. Need rocked me forward, but I couldn’t move yet—the last thing I needed tonight was a god fight. I’d seen more than enough Abcurses go through walls to last me for the rest of my life.
But how the hell could I choose one of them, when I needed them all so much.
“I can’t,” I finally said, my voice husky. “I can’t choose tonight. You’re going to have to figure it out because right now I feel like I need all of you.”
Not even for sex—although that was definitely something I wanted—but more for the bonding and rejuvenation of our energy.
They moved together as a single unit, somehow keeping in perfect unison. They circled around me, surrounding me with their warmth. Their power. The heat of my energy flickered lightly. It was still wispy compared to normal, but it was a relief to feel the familiar warmth once more.
“We should sleep first,” I suggested, even though I had said I wouldn’t choose. “All of us, together. Our bond needs this time in close proximity. And then sex … we’ll see what happens in the morning.”
