“Absolutely,” Calliope confirmed. “But worth it. You’re not alone in this, Isolde. And you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.”
I squeezed Isolde’s hand, my thumb stroking her knuckles. “I was hoping they could help you see your power as a gift instead of a threat.”
“Maybe with the right guidance, you can learn to embrace it like I did.”
Calliope’s words loosened more of Isolde’s tension, and she squeezed my hand.
Adan leaned forward. “The rifts aren’t happening because your aura is dangerous. You’ve been starving it for years. A succubus aura needs to feed to stay balanced. When it doesn’t, it starts looking for any outlet it can find.”
Isolde’s cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her lap.
My demon pushed forward with raw hunger at the thought of her taking from me. “Not the way you’re imagining. It doesn’t have to be predatory. It can be consensual. Intimate. There’s no seduction needed with me. Just honest desire.”
“And if your mating bond works similarly to ours, it will offer further stability,” Calliope added with a rueful smile. “Not that I’m trying to add any pressure. You should only accept Kastiel’s brand when you’re ready.”
I stroked the back of her hand with my thumb. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. But if you’re willing, feeding from me could help stabilize your aura.”
Isolde’s plump lips pressed into a flat line. “I wouldn’t want to try something like that without knowing what I was doing. I refuse to risk you.”
Adan leaned back against the couch, his arm still loosely draped around Calliope’s shoulders. “Then it’s a good thing I already made the call yesterday to someone who can help.”
A low growl tried to rise in my throat before I swallowed it. Another demon near my mate while she was vulnerable—even one here to help—made my demon push against my skin. I forced him back. This wasn’t about me. It was about giving Isolde the tools she needed that I couldn’t provide myself.
Isolde’s breath hitched. “Already?”
Adan nodded. “She’s the one who gave me the advice about you needing to feed. Lirael agreed to come. She’s on her way and should arrive later today.”
“So soon?” Isolde asked, her hand trembling in mine.
“Lirael will understand if you’re not ready to begin your training quite so soon. She enjoys being at The Abyss, so it’s not a hardship for her to stay as long as it takes,” Adan explained. “She’s offered to work with you privately while she’s here. There are no expectations beyond what you’re comfortable with. But she can teach you how to feed safely and consensually so your power stops fighting you.”
Isolde was quiet for a long moment, her emerald eyes flicking between all of us. I could feel the fear warring with the fragile new hope Calliope and Adan had planted.
“And she won’t push me?” Isolde asked softly.
Adan shook his head. “She’ll go at your pace.”
I brushed my thumb over the back of Isolde’s hand. “You don’t have to meet her when she arrives if you’re not ready. But if you are, I’ll be right there with you. Every step of the way, since I’m the only one you’ll feed from.”
Adan’s gaze met mine, a silent understanding passing between us. He knew exactly how hard watching my fated mate need help I couldn’t give her myself was for me. But he also knew I’d do anything to keep her safe and whole.
Isolde took a deep breath, then nodded. “If she can really teach me how to feed from Kastiel without hurting him, then yes. I want to try. Right away. Before another rift opens and the Council has more reason to come after you.”
Relief and fierce pride surged through me. My little spark was still terrified, but she was choosing to fight instead of run.
11
ISOLDE
Only four hours after our conversation with Adan and Calliope, I paced the length of the secure training suite The Abyss had prepared for us. The room had soft violet lighting and wards that hummed with gentle dampening magic. Still, my heart hammered against my ribs.
Kastiel leaned against the far wall, his arms crossed and looking too delicious for my aura. Having sex with him had made it more difficult to hold back my succubus. Her desire to feed was focused wholly on him now, making this training even more important.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.” A faint smile tugged at the scarred corner of his mouth. “Lirael will be here any minute. Breathe, little spark.”
I stopped pacing and wrapped my arms around myself. “I know. I’m just worried she’ll take one look at my aura and decide I’m too broken to help.”
Before he could answer, the door slid open with a whisper of magic. A woman who could only be Lirael Vesperia stepped inside like she owned the room. Her aura rolled off her without a single crackle or spark. It felt nothing like the erratic lightningthat lived under my skin. Where mine fought and lashed, hers simply existed.
