Snarling, I let my madness take over as I slink backwards, my mind blank and uncertain over what just happened. It doesn’t happen to men...right?
I smash him back into the wall, my grip on his throat, but all he does is laugh. “Oh, you like it rough? Fine.” He flings out his hand and I’m thrown backwards into the wall. I jump to my feet straightaway and point at him.
“Never touch me again or I’ll kill you,” I snarl, meaning it. I want to kill him right now, right here, but I can’t. Desire for revenge wars inside me with my need to stay on our mission. So I do the only thing I can do before I bathe in his vile creature’s blood—I leave. “Clear your own bodies,” I yell at him, and race from the room.
Once outside, I press my back to the wall, my heart tripping over itself, my stomach in knots. What just happened? The madness recedes and I slump, it was nothing. Just a power play, nothing else. He didn’t do anything, nothing happened. Women have offered themselves like that, it was just a joke...a ploy.
Then why do I feel sick?
I hear voices coming this way, so I wipe my face clear and push off from the wall, storming away from the incubus’s suite and back downstairs until I’m outside. I can’t help it, I need to get away, to feel clean. I leap into the sky and fly as fast and as hard as I can to escape my own thoughts.
The feel of his hand on my body, making it do things I didn’t want.
It doesn’t help, I can still feel his slimy touch, so I swing back around and land in the forest, rushing to the secret entrance in the nephilim quarters until I enter the dungeon, my heart racing, my stomach still roiling, and my head a mess. I push into the showers and throw my clothes away, wanting to burn them.
The smell of him, feel of his power…
I yank on the water, panting as I scrub my body. When my hand passes over my cock, I turn my head and gag, remembering how his power made it hard. I scrub until I’m red raw and then step out. I feel cleaner, but not better.
I need—I need—
I need Dawn.
Ignoring my clothes, I race through the maze of cells until I find her. She’s in the cell with the minotaur, it stinks of sex, but I can’t even summon my jealousy. I smash open the door, my eyes wild until I find her.
She sits up, her face concerned.
“Griffin?”
“You are a believer, fate chosen.”
The voice is strong, both male and female. A blending of soft and hard. Velvety and rough. I know what it is—fate. I do not open my eyes, I stay seated, if fate has chosen to appear to me, it is for a reason. But why? And why now?
“You know why, fate chosen. You were brought into this world for a purpose, for a reason. You were quite literally chosen by us to be a protector, a guardian, a mate, and an anchor.”
“Dawn,” I whisper.
“Yes, the little skinwalker...or is she? You must learn what and who she is, fate chosen, it is how you will all survive what is to come.”
“And what is that?”
“Change, it is time for a change, the rule of man is over. We grew tired of their destruction and vile acts. Dawn, your mate, she is the catalyst. Do not fight it, god, embrace it and everything she has to offer. Only then will the future we desire come to fruition. Do your duty, your purpose, and you will be rewarded.”
“And if not? If it doesn’t transpire?” I question, knowing the likelihood of what this fate is seeing turning to reality is slim, almost non-existent. It is merely a hope.
“Then this world will burn and you will lose her for eternity. You are so close to what you want most, god. Do not let it slip through your grasp now.”
I open my eyes to see the room is empty, she is gone. Did she mean I would lose Dawn? That if we do not somehow complete the fate’s vision, we will all die? I do not even know what she wants us to do, she told me I had a purpose...to protect Dawn?
Only time will tell, and I can feel it drawing closer. I want to find her, my mate, but I can’t. Not yet. Fate keeps me locked in place, Dawn has things she needs to do first, an abundance of choices and actions to complete. One wrong move could send us all tumbling into death, I feel it.
No. This fight is Dawn’s. It is her choice.
But you will not do it alone, Little Monster, I am here. Feel me. Soon, we’ll be together again.
I pray we can win, that we can please fate, for I want a long life with my mate, not the stolen moments I have had. I want her forever, for eternity.
My little monster.
She is fate chosen.
I lead Jair to Dume’s cell and slip back inside. He’s waiting for me and covers the distance in two strides, pulling me into his arms and kissing me so hard I swoon. He releases me and looks at Jair. “Dume, this is Jair.”
Dume smiles. “So you like the name?”
“I do.” Jair nods and then bows with an old-style flourish that has lust shooting through me. I can imagine him back then, at a court in a fancy outfit with music playing as he bows before we dance.
Dume bows awkwardly in return and grins at the man. “Nice to meet you, I am Dume of the Labyrinth, another of Dawn’s mates.”
“How many do you have?” Jair questions, not angry but curious.
“A few.” I shrug, not wanting to stir anyone’s jealousies. “Are you okay?” I ask Dume, aware I’ve been gone a while.
“Of course, Draya, you?” he rumbles and I sigh, snuggling closer to him, having to crane my neck back to meet his gaze.
“I am now,” I answer.
“Do you want me to wait outside?” Jair queries, again not appearing to be jealous—it seems my vamp can share.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell him, and hold my hand out to him from Dume’s embrace. He hesitates before taking it and pressing me between them, making me sigh in happiness. “We are doing it tomorrow morning,” I inform Dume. “Tonight we will free all the monsters down here. Let’s show them exactly what they have been keeping imprisoned. You can’t break or tame a monster.”
“I am with you always, Draya.” Dume nods. “Tomorrow we will head to battle.”
“Battle...yeah, I guess we will,” I agree, and then it seems to hit me. We will be taking on the council, some of the most powerful members of the supernatural community. Even with my powers and my mates, we might get hurt.
We might die.
But I have to, what they are doing is wrong. I have to stop it because no one else seems to be stepping up to do it, and I have people depending on me. BB, all the girls we rescued. Jair. Griffin. Nos. Kelly. All of them and many, many more.
I feel a sudden rush of panic, of utter need to keep them close. To feel them against me, to know they are okay. I can’t lose them, they are my life. All of them. I need them now more than ever.
“Shh, my love, we aren’t going anywhere,” Jair murmurs, kissing my head.
“Draya,” Dume rasps, and I look up at him.
“What does that mean?” I finally inquire, trying to distract myself.
“It means goddess, that is what you are.” My heart bursts as he cups my cheek and I lean into his touch. “I have lived on my knees for a queen once, Dawn, and I promised myself never again. You don’t ask for that, but I would fall to them gladly right now for you, my goddess.”