His hands map my body with purpose, learning what makes me gasp, what makes me groan, what makes me grip him tighter and forget that we're standing in the realm of the dead. When he wraps his hand around me, stroking slowly, I bury my face in his neck and let myself feel.
"That's it," he murmurs. "Just feel. I've got you."
The orgasm builds slowly, death and life tangling together, cold and warmth finding perfect balance. When I finally break, it's with his name on my lips and his essence flooding through me like sunlight.
For a long moment, we just stand there, wrapped around each other, the veil shimmering peacefully around us.
"Better?" he asks, pressing a kiss to my jaw.
"Much better." I pull back just enough to look at him. "But we really should show you the rest of the realm before the others send a search party."
He laughs, the sound bright and alive in this gray world. "Fine. Show me your death realm. But I reserve the right to warm you up again later."
"Deal."
I take a steadying breath and gesture to the endless expanse around us. "This is where I exist. Half here, half in the living world. And as Champion, I can protect all of you. Even from death itself if I have to."
I show him more, pointing out the threads that connect our six essences, how they're woven together in patterns that shouldn'tbe possible. How our bonds are visible even here, in the realm of death.
"We're connected deeper than just romantic mates," I explain. "Our essences are literally woven together. If one of us dies, the others will feel it. The bonds might even try to follow."
Skye's face goes pale. "That's why Dmitri wants to eliminate us. Not just because we're different, but because we're connected. If he takes out one of us, he weakens all of us."
"Exactly." I pull us back to the living world, and Skye stumbles slightly as we cross the veil. "But it also means we have each other's backs on a level most mates never achieve. I can sense if any of you are in danger. I can pull you into death realm to protect you if needed."
The others are staring at us, clearly having seen us phase out and back in. Skye's lips are slightly swollen and his aura is blazing brighter than usual. I'm sure I don't look much better, my usual pallor flushed with borrowed warmth.
"What the hell was that?" Rumi demands, his wings flaring slightly. His eyes narrow as he takes in our disheveled state. "And why do you both look like you just..."
"We were discussing the nature of existence," I say flatly.
Jade snorts. "In death realm? Really?"
"It's very atmospheric," Skye offers, not quite meeting anyone's eyes.
"I bet it is." Jade's grin is knowing and entirely too smug. "Is that what we're calling it now? Discussing existence?"
"Do you want to see death realm or not?" I ask, letting frost creep into my voice.
"Fine, fine." Jade holds up his hands in surrender, still grinning. "Show us your spooky ghost dimension. But I'm definitely asking for details later."
"Death realm," I explain. "I can access it at will, and I can bring others with me. It's part of being Death's Champion."
I gather them all together, reaching out with my power. "I want to show all of you. So you understand what I am, what I can do."
One by one, I take their hands and pull them sideways into the gray realm.
Jade adapts immediately, his essence recognizing the space between worlds. "Oh, this is perfect for feeding. There's so much ambient emotion here."
Stellan looks around with wide eyes, his fire dimmed but still present even in this colorless place. "It's so quiet."
Rumi's wings spread wide, his power making him glow brighter here than in the living world. "I can feel the balance here. Life and death, perfectly equal."
Ambrose walks to the veil itself, reaching out to touch the shimmering silver barrier. "The contracts here are different. Written in the language of fate itself."
Skye stands in the center of us all, his pink aura the only real color in this gray space. "This is where you've been existing? Half here, half there?"
"Yes." I let them explore for a few more moments, then guide them back to the living world. The transition is smoother this time, all of us crossing the veil together.
