“Boys! Let’s not fight,” I purr out. Satan, I feel like melted chocolate and don’t want to move. “Mattie, do you mind cleaning us?” I plead and bat my long lashes at him.
“Sure, sweetie. Anything for you,” he says with a wink. He whispers some words that clean us up and releases my hands from their restraints. After everything, I’m picked up and moved to the center of the bed, and my men curl up around me for a short cuddle session.
“Are you excited about going back to Earth tomorrow?” Carl asks, playing with my hair.
“Mmmhmm. I can’t wait to start a different chapter with all of you,” I say as my eyes slowly close on their own—what a way to start the day.
CHAPTER2
Backstabbers
Lilith
Waking up in an empty bed, I feel refreshed and energized from my fuck fest and little nap. I crawl out of bed and see a note on the tray with fresh fruit. Aww. They do care! It’s incredible to think of how long we’ve been together, yet they still treat me like when we were first dating. That is the key to a working relationship, folks. That and lots and lots of sex! Happy wife, happy life! Granted, we haven’t made anything official even though we’ve all been together for at least a couple of hundred years now. The mate marks have proven we are meant to be. The four starbursts at the base of my tail are the guys’ version of a wedding ring on me, but I want something more. Some of us are coming up on a thousand years of blissfulness. Which is just a drop in the ocean for me, but more than a lifetime for most of them. None of my past relationships have ever lasted anywhere close to what I’ve experienced with my men now, and I don’t see myself trading them in…ever! So, we decided to have a human wedding once we get to Earth.
Dearest Lil,
We cannot wait to see you tonight. Enjoy your fruit. Don’t forget to stop by your studio and get your dress, and we will see you later this evening. We’ll bring food, no cooking for you tonight. We want to spoil you.
Love- Carl, Daniel, Matthew, & Jessup.
They are so sweet. I don’t know what I would do without my men. I’m lucky to have found them at the school when I did. It seemed like every time I had been asked to fill in or come by, I met one of them. While getting ready, I let my mind drift back to how they came to be.
Carl Steinbeck was the first one to join my little harem. Though, back in the 1200s it wasn’t a harem to begin with. He walked into my lab class that day with bright eyes, a shy smile, and a mind to rival my own. The Fae weren’t known for their love of science, so to find one walking into my class as an elective blew my mind. Who was this Fae that wanted to turn away from his heritage to learn something that I loved? The combination of science and magic was a passion of mine, along with fashion. I know I’m a conundrum, yet I’m an original. I’ve been alive since the beginning of time.
His tall and lanky stature is what originally drew my attention. He didn’t walk like most of my students, scurrying into my room. He walked with his head held high, full of black wavy locks cropped close on the sides, showing off his long ears. That alone drew my attention to him since the Fae back then all wore their hair long and in intricate braids. His long legs, wrapped in leathers, took a leisurely pace as he looked around the room and took in everything with calculating chocolate-brown eyes. They sparkled when they passed over me and landed on the equation on the board.
The school needed someone to cover the lesson in the small class since the previous instructor was missing, more than likely the Withering Sulks claimed its latest victim. I was still in the realm, so I said yes when they asked. I might have exercised my teacher’s right and kept young Carl behind to ‘play.’ Yes, you may keep your mind in the gutter. It was his mind that I was attracted to first, but his body is what made me an addict. Girls, a word of advice, don’t turn your back on the nerds. They like to study, and boy, do they enjoy practicing.
Next up was Daniel Abernathy, my cocky Vampire! If I didn’t know better, I would have guessed he was an Incubus with all of his swagger. I was sitting at my special table at Darkest Desires Tavern sipping my fairy winewhen Daniel came into the picture. He walked straight over, evading the bouncer that was watching the roped-off section like it was nothing. He reached my booth, extended his hand, and said, “I already know the answer, so why don’t you just put down your drink and come have dinner with me? I’m the only thing you need tonight, and who knows, afterward…I might just keep you.”
I looked up into those hypnotic yellow eyes of his and smiled. He was dressed in a fitted, green linen shirt with a low neckline, showing off the porcelain skin of his pecs. His black hose formed to his toned thighs and when I looked down, I couldn’t help but be impressed with how shiny his boots were. He was a sharply dressed man back in the early 1400s and still is today. Now, if he would have only shaved off the scruff around his jaw and thrown away the homemade toothpick that was hanging out of his mouth, he would be perfect, but I was up for a challenge.
Obviously, it worked, but I was the one who decided to keep him around. He fit seamlessly with Carl and me. He laughed, joked, and gave us the comic relief that we needed in our life.
Roughly two hundred years later in the mid 1600’s, I had to shake it all up and bring home my Mage, Matthew. I was working in the office when Mr. Caldron was called in for fighting. He walked in with his head held high, wearing a deviant expression with fire in his hazel eyes. If I would have seen his six-foot-one frame in the hallways, I wouldn’t have looked twice at him. His tall and lithe body barely looked like it would hold him up, let alone start a fight. Though, he wore the evidence of being in one. His hair was disheveled from his leather tie, his shirt and pants were ripped and muddied, and his knuckles had some blood on them.
Apparently, he punched another student in the face without any provocation, or so it seemed at the time. I was the lucky one that got to sort out the mess, and it turned out my sweet Matthew was just channeling someone’s feelings, and he attacked. It’s not unheard of for some empaths to feel someone’s emotions strongly, but to be able to be overcome by it within seconds and physically act on it? He was extraordinary indeed. We spent most of the week together working on control and learning how to sort out what feelings were his and how to block out the rest. Granted, most of that time was spent between the sheets, but I don’t regret it at all. He was an excellent study, and that’s how I found out he was my mate. He wears a starburst mark on the back of his neck and with it, he gains stronger abilities in picking up on emotions and blocking them.
Next, but definitely not least, was my sour Shifter. I was in need of letting off some steam. My men were busy and there weren’t any souls in need of another round of torture, so I headed to the fight ring! There, standing in the middle, with sweat and blood splattered over his body and his skin torn open at his knuckles, was a naked Jessup Cloak—he was magnificent and proudly standing there in all his glory. His short black hair was plastered to his scalp and his muscular torso was heaving from the fight he’d just won. His green eyes were laser focused on his opponent until two men came in and dragged him away. Jessup had muscles on top of muscles that rippled in his six-foot frame as he paced back and forth in that ring waiting for the next one to approach.
The rage that rolled off of him called to the black tendrils that coil inside me. I found my perfect outlet for the night, and that man, that magnificent beast, did not disappoint. One night with him turned into multiple, and I just couldn’t let him go. Who knew I needed an angry bear to complete me. I knew he was my last mate when his starburst showed up on his left shoulder and I felt complete. Something inside of me just clicked and I felt at peace, balanced like I never knew possible.
Shaking myself out of my memories, I take in my outfit and smile. I’m wearing a cute Ivy summer dress with a plunging neckline and open-back design. I must say, I did an excellent job designing this myself. I especially like how the halter tie makes for easy access. My burgundy hair is done up in soft curls that cascade down my back, framing my bright blue eyes with their long lashes. Carl always says they are my best features. I loved the fact that the color stays even in my demon form. I apply some lip gloss over my rosy lips, slip on my lace-up sandals, and smile. Tomorrow will be my last day of doing my morning routine in this room for a while. Around this time tomorrow, I’ll be on Earth taking on a new life with my men, and I can’t wait, but first, I need to tie up loose ends.
With my wedding dress in hand, I walk out of my design studio with thoughts of surprising Matthew in his office at the school. He recently moved his stuff over to the Administration building because he wanted to be prepared to take over as soon as we got back from Earth. In twenty years, we will be back and taking over the title of Council Leaders of Nova. I’ve passed up the leadership for eons now, but after talking with the guys, we’ve all agreed that we’ll step up and take over for the elders that want to retire. I’ve been putting off my responsibilities long enough. I guess one can only play so long before having to grow up. And since my men have been offered the job with me, we can do anything.
“Lilith!” A wheezing voice calls out, bringing my steps to a halt. Looking over my shoulder, I see a scrawny young man jogging up the sidewalk. I roll my eyes because I know this man, and I don’t need the drama. He’s one of Adam’s assistants, and if he’s coming to see me, then Adam must need something last minute before my vacation.
“Yes?” I say with annoyance. Adam is the last person I want to see today. The young man finally reaches me and bows low, showing his reverence. At least Adam taught this one well, though it could be that I flayed the last one alive.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mistress. My master, Adam, has asked for your assistance in Hell. He said it was urgent and gave me nothing more,” he whispers in fear, keeping his head down.
Ugh. Simpletons, I swear!
The fear rolling off this servant brings a small smile to my face even though I feel the anger rise just underneath my skin.
“Where is he?” I growl out between my teeth.
