Darkness Consuming: A Reverse Harem Series (The Severed Souls Series Book 2) Read online

  Stalking steps bring him an inch from me. His gaze darts between mine eyes before he finally pushes his big palms beneath my shirt to grip my hips. The light touch against my back digs in and he pulls me to his chest. The smooth feel of his hands on my body causes a twirling effect within my core.

  His head tilts closer as he whispers against my lips.

  “That spot just above your father’s desk is a veiled entrance. It’s an exit of sorts too, but it’ll be hell to climb out of.”

  “How did you—where are we?”

  The way he smiles isn’t comforting. It’s a manic smile that makes me wonder how stable his mind really is.

  “It’s funny you should ask that.” His thumb brushes over my lower lip as his palm cups my jaw. “We’re just below the bell tower. I’d say we’re a few miles beneath the earth’s surface but a part of my soul was able to come here and Link’s couldn’t. So …”

  My eyes widen slightly.

  Nollix is half Demon.

  “You think we’re … in the underworld?”

  He nods slowly. Not saying it, but also not refuting it. I guess, in a way, Nollix belongs here and this place accepted that part of him as if it owned him all along.

  My father’s vacationing in the underworld. Is this where he’s collecting his souls? Just interfering before they meet their end destination?

  “Link’s waiting at the top for us, he’s going to drop a rope for us as soon as he can get one. If you let me help you, I think we could climb out. We’d have to be careful though.”

  My brows crease as I stare up at this beautiful man.

  “I didn’t come here to be saved, Nollix. I might be a little unstable,” that’s the understatement of the year, “I might be a little lost, but I know why I’m here. I’m here to make a difference. I’m here to find out how much damage my father’s done and how to reverse it.” A pause shakes through my thoughts. “I’m here to kill him once and for all.”

  His eyes close slowly before he takes a step back. A couple of feet of dark iron separates him from me now. Quietly, he walks the span of the room. He stands between my father’s desk and a dark cushioned couch.

  “We can end this from the surface. There’s absolutely no reason to start a war in the underworld, Vi.” His palms push against his hips as he studies me from across the room.

  “If I leave, he’ll leave. The man took up residence in the underworld. If I leave, I’ll never find him again. Not until it’s too late.”

  A spasm shakes through his jaw before he pushes his hands down his face.

  “You don’t even know what he’s doing here.” He sinks down onto the couch, his legs spread wide. He looks exhausted.

  But that doesn’t make me go any easier on him.

  “I do know. And I know he’s training Jeriko to do the exact same thing. Think about that for a moment. My father’s insane, but he’s also highly intelligent. Jeriko’s just insane.”

  A long and defeated breath leaves his lips.

  He stays together so well. He’s been here for me nearly every night, and goddess only knows what he’s done to get here.

  All for me.

  My steps are sure as I cross the room to him. He watches the sway of my hips with every step I take. When I’m near enough, I drape myself down onto his lap. I poise my center against his, my thighs straddling him. The soft fabric of the couch on either side of his head meets my fingertips as I inch closer to his face.

  “Everything is going to be okay.” Never in my life did I think I’d say those words.

  But with these men in my life … I believe it entirely.

  One way or another, every single thing will be okay.

  His fingers dig into my sides as he pulls me closer. My core grinds against his hips as he makes all the space between us disappear.

  He takes his time. He draws out the seconds as he angles his mouth just above mine. Every heavy breath I take swirls with his own in the small space between our lips. The darkness of his eyes makes my heartbeat pound hard until I can feel it beating against his own chest.

  My lips part and our tongues meet before his lips even seal to mine. My fingers fist through his soft hair and I delve deeper into the sweet taste of him.

  I don’t know how Nollix and I got here. How angry glares and teasing touches led to caressing hands and sweet kisses.

  But I hope I never leave this place. I hope he holds me here in his arms forever.

  Warm palms push from their safe place along my hips. Slow hands sear across my stomach and up my ribs. I arch into his heavy palms until he covers my breasts completely.

  Beneath my shirt, his thumbs make slow work of rolling across my nipples as my hips rock against the hardness beneath his jeans. A moan catches in my throat and it seems to snap something inside of him.

  He lifts me, my thighs locking in place around his hips. In one quick move, my back is against the soft cushions of the couch.

  Quickly, he pulls at the collar of his shirt. It falls to the ground and his hard abdomen meets my smooth stomach as he slams his lips back against mine. His weight shifts over mine, his hips rocking hard as he positions himself between my thighs.

  My fingers tease the rough scaring lines along his shoulder and then his ribs and he groans from the light touch. Hesitantly, his fingers skim down the curve of my side. A tingling feeling knots within my core. His hips shift back from me just slightly. Even the flicks of his tongue have become slower. More careful.

  As if he isn’t sure, his palm eases lower until it’s shifting beneath my jeans. My hips lift to meet his touch. I’ve never seen him this gentle before.

  It makes my heart thunder through the tightness of my chest.

  Two fingers slip down my folds. Very slowly, he pushes inside, his fingers rocking back and forth at a torturously slow pace.

  A humming sound parts my lips and his pace quickens as he kisses me deeper.

  My fingers dig into his strong shoulders. I hang on to him tight enough for my nails to scrape his smooth skin.

  Soft lips trail the length of my jaw before sucking against the column of my throat. It’s all a spiral of overwhelming sensations. The heel of his palm grinds against my clit just as his fingers arch deeper within me.

  The quiet sounds of my orgasm shake through the room. My eyes clench tightly as waves of my release tremble through me.

  Dark, hooded eyes meet mine. Nollix watches my every emotion. A chaste kiss presses to my lips before he pulls back. The steady way his fingers unclasp my jeans mesmerizes me for a moment.

  My shirt is askew; my chest heaving. Still, he watches me with intent. He grips the waist of my jeans and I lift for him as he starts to pull. One boot after the other, he undresses me with quiet patience. When I’m nearly naked before him, his gaze lingers against my shirt.

  My arms cross and I pull the last article of clothing away. Then there’s nothing between us. I sit up to him and his warm attention trails over every inch of my body.

  “You’re fucking beautiful, Violence.” His rasping voice makes my gaze slip away from him. He’s so honest and open sometimes I don’t know what to say.

  For an awkward instant, I almost repeat it back to him.

  Instead, my fingers hook into the top of his jeans. I push them down just far enough to reveal his hard length. I shift at the sight of it. My lips part, and he glances down before meeting my gaze. His confidence is held in his shoulders as he kneels before me with steely posture.

  Goddess, why is he so perfect? Every etching line of him is perfection.

  My palm skims across the smooth head of his dick and his eyes slip closed. When my fingers wrap around his shaft, a ragged breath leaves his lungs.

  And then he’s kissing me once more.

  His tongue flicks against mine as my wrist rolls steadily up and then down.

  A low and rumbling sound shakes through his chest and he pushes me back against the couch. He pulls his hips back from my touch and a whimper falls from
my lips as I pull back from him.

  “I want to make you come.” My voice is quiet. It echoes into the silence.

  The way he laughs makes me smile, but I don’t know why.

  “Fuck, I love when you speak your pretty little mind.” A slow kiss presses to my jaw. “If you make me come now though, the sex will go on forever.”

  … I keep waiting for the bad part… but it never comes.

  “Okay.” Once more I reach for his dick, but he pulls away with a smile.

  A rumbling sound of laughter hums through him. The small dimple in his cheek shows and I find myself wanting to kiss him there.

  “We don’t have forever.” His gaze becomes serious as he looks at me. “I promise I’ll fuck you right.” His lips press to mine. “I promise after tonight I’ll fuck you for hours every day.” Another slow and taunting kiss. “I promise I’ll take care of you, Vi.”

  His lips seal to mine like a final promise. Heavy and slow strokes of his tongue have me tipping my chin up to his deep kiss. My thighs tense around his hips as the smooth tip of his dick presses to my center.

  Etching muscle wraps his biceps and I cling expectantly there.

  Inch by slow inch he sinks into me. A gasp catches in my lungs at the same time as a repressed groan rumbles through his chest. Both of our bodies are a tense form of need.

  A tightening feeling builds low in my stomach and I rock against his length. Long and slow thrusts meet my hips. He grinds his hips into me with each stroke and my head tips back into the cushion. Hot flicks of his tongue tease down the curve of my throat.

  Tension coils through my core and I can’t seem to keep my eyes open. It isn’t at all like my first time. This aching and demanding feeling within me has never existed until now.

  Every intake of air isn’t enough. Every hard beat of my heart feels too weak. Every slamming thrust of his hips is too much. I’ve never felt anything like this. His reckless magic pushes all through me, and for an instant, I feel everything about him. For just a moment, our emotions, magic, and bodies meld against each other in a euphoric way.

  At the feel of his hips grinding hard against my clit, the tightening energy within me combusts and my release soaks down his shaft. The groan that emits from him intertwines with my shaking moan.

  His pace quickens, slamming into my slickness hard enough to make me cry out. My fingers dig into his damp skin, feeling the taunt muscles of his shoulders. Once more, he pounds into me before the caressing flicks of his tongue turns into sharp biting of his teeth.

  The low groan that hums against my skin and the pulsing feel of his dick has me trembling beneath him.

  He pulls back from me. Placing a sweet kiss to the tender skin of my neck.

  With him still buried deep within me, I open my eyes to him.

  Dark eyes study me.

  Suddenly he seems uncertain.

  Is he thinking this was a mistake?

  His brows furrow. He doesn’t say a word.

  Is he thinking I made a mistake?

  Worry covers his handsome features. My fingers run along the glittering scar that slices up his jaw and kisses his cheek.

  Does he know this is the most alive I’ve ever felt? Does he know how badly I wish I’d tried harder in the past?

  Does he know how fast my heart’s pounding just for him.

  My throat feels tight and I can’t form the words to speak.

  I lean into him and he mirrors my actions. My lips brush gently over his and he kisses me with delicate care.

  Neither of us speak the confusing words that seems to disappear the moment our mouths touch. We ignore the emotions we can’t understand.

  Because the way I feel right now, with his body against mine, makes complete sense.

  He kisses me for so long, his hips begin to thrust slowly against mine once more. It’s like he’s starting all over again.

  Maybe he was wrong.

  Maybe we do have forever.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Warlocks, Girlfriends, and Cupcakes

  Violence

  We wait for Link but finding a rope to reach the underworld seems to be a real task. I’ll have to come back to the King’s office tonight to make sure a rope isn’t hanging suspiciously from the ceiling.

  I sneak Nollix into my room that night. Somehow, the number of sexy men I am hiding in my bedroom has just doubled.

  I’m getting quite the collection here. I should cut back, but they’re pretty limited edition and such, so I’m not willing to sell them off just yet.

  Cameron’s dark eyes locks on to Nollix as he trails in after me. The Warlock sits at the center of the bed, his knees bent to support the book he’s reading. The door closes with a soft click and suddenly the room feels smaller.

  As Nollix takes a step closer to me, his chest skimming my back, Cameron pulls his attention back to the book in his hands.

  The swooping letters across the front reads Severed Souls.

  “Any new news?” I cross the small space to the old bedpost. The mattress sinks lightly as I sit at the edge.

  “I think you were right. The Darkest Deed is what we’ll need.”

  “The Darkest Deed?” Nollix leans against the wall, his gaze shifting from to the dangerous book held in Cameron’s hands to me. “That doesn’t sound … pleasant.”

  It most definitely is not.

  “The idea is that King Melic is using these souls somehow,” Cameron tells him.

  “I think he’s feeding off of them.” There’s a vacant tone in my voice as I think about how ominous those words are. His immortality is coming from somewhere. I just know it’s the souls. These people lost their lives and now my father’s taking their souls.

  “Why would he feed off of them?” Dark brows lay low over Nollix’s pretty eyes.

  The sound of crisp pages turning brings my gaze to Cameron as he flicks quickly through the book.

  “It’s said if someone properly devours a soul,” he pauses, his eyes scanning the lines for accuracy, “the souls of the dead will breed immortality so long as the process continues.”

  Nollix nods slowly, his arms crossing over his broad chest. The bottom of his shirt is skewed against his hip and my attention locks onto the small detail. My teeth roll across my bottom lip as I remember how he felt against me.

  I’m apparently the only person not focused on the topic at hand.

  “So take away the souls. It only breeds immortality so long as the process continues. Discontinue the process. Problem solved. Don’t listen to the Warlock and stay the fuck away from whatever the hell the Darkest Deed is.” Nollix nods as if everything is all settled.

  It’s not though.

  Not even close.

  “It would take centuries to starve him.” I feel the heavy pull of my lips as I speak and Nollix’s attention settles there at the corner of my mouth. “The best we’ve found is to take his morning mixture of souls and … alter the power he put into the concoction.”

  Nollix’s gaze narrows.

  “Oh. You just want to poison him. That’s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.” He nods decidedly. “Yes, let’s just poison him.”

  My lips part and it’s hard for me to explain.

  “Well the souls would be destroyed in the process as well.”

  Another nod. He tilts his head back and forth as if he’s quickly weighing the pros and cons.

  “He would devour them either way, yes? And they’re underworld souls. Have you ever taken a stroll through the underworld, Vi? It’s not nearly as charming as its name seems.”

  My words catch in my throat once more as I try to get this through his thick skull.

  “It’d be a painful dissolving of their spirit, Nollix.”

  Another agreeing nod.

  “…So is the underworld.” The half-Demon shrugs carelessly. “You want me to do it? I’ll fucking do it right now.”

  “Calm down, Cupcake.” Cameron closes the book. “Some stuff I have to take
care of for your girlfriend.”

  The two glare at one another for so long my eye-rolling starts to actually hurt.

  “Some stuff the girlfriend can take care of herself,” I say to both of them.

  A half smile tilts Nollix’s lips. It’s a sexy look that I have to tear my gaze off of. He stalks closer to me. Heavy steps scuff against the dark flooring. His fingers trail down the inside of my arm until they lace with mine.

  “Come to bed. Rest. You can still be a badass tomorrow, I promise.” His temple presses to the side of mine as his breath fans against my neck.

  “Why do I always feel invisible when you two touch?” Cameron releases a sigh.

  “That’s because when we touch the whole damn world is invisible.” Nollix smiles against my lips before kissing me so sweetly I lean into his strong body.

  He’s right.

  The whole world could disappear right now and I’d never notice.

  Until the door creaks open. I pull back from Nollix with my heart pounding a fearful beat.

  If my father finds them … he’ll kill them.

  I turn until I’m standing in front of Nollix. I shield them with my tiny frame.

  But then my gaze collides with the most beautiful lavender eyes.

  When I saw Linkin last, he was hanging like a corpse from my father’s magic. Now he’s here.

  And now he storming toward me, pulling me to his chest with his arms wrapped low against my waist.

  “I thought I’d never see you again,” he whispers into my thick hair.

  And now his lips are on mine.

  He feels good. He feels like home. Soft lips press to mine over and over again until I pull slightly back to meet his gaze.

  My fingers trail up his smooth neck, my thumb skimming across his Adam’s apple before touching his lower lip.

  I can’t believe he’s here right now.

  From behind me, Cameron asks Nollix the one thing that reminds me how messy my life is.

  “How’s it feel to be invisible, Cupcake?”

  Chapter Seventeen

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