Wars of the Underworld Read online

  He smirked. “Gonna kick me out now?”

  She wasn’t so sure she could, much less wanted to.

  He seemed encouraged by her silence and lifted his hands filled with bubbles. He rubbed them along her arms, from her shoulders to the tips of her fingers. Then he shifted closer to her, rubbing her back and her front, massaging her breasts as he kissed along her collar bone.

  Every touch of his hands, as he grazed them along her skin, sent shocking sensations through her body and filled her with not only warmth but need.

  He chuckled. “Speechless? Interesting, Captain.”

  She smiled and said, “Don’t get too comfortable or used to coming to me during my private time. That is still a rule of mine, and one you especially seem fond of breaking, much to my chagrin.”

  “I have yet to hear a complaint,” he said as he continued to touch, rub, and kiss her.

  She giggled and said, “I just haven’t figured out the right moment to kick you out yet.”

  “Bet you can’t.” He settled his gaze on her and she became consumed with how deep and intense it was.

  She allowed him to continue for just one minute longer and said, “I bet you I can.”

  “Challenge accepted.” He kissed her deeply and his hand drifted to between her legs.

  Sadie let out a soft sigh as she arched her back and felt a little bit more of her give in.

  Mordecai kissed the space between her breasts and slipped his fingers inside her. She moaned. He took a breast into his mouth and sucked on her nipple while his other hand wrapped around her back, pulling her closer to him.

  He abandoned her breast to ask, “Still want to kick me out?”

  “Haven’t decided yet,” she panted out. But she wasn’t going to. She couldn’t. It felt too good to stop now, and she loved the way he was making her feel.

  He chuckled and removed his hand to pull her closer, sliding her onto his lap. The water sloshed around them, and she felt his erection press against her belly. He kissed her, deep and passionate, leaving her lips to trace along her jawline and neck. He nibbled the spot of skin between her neck and collarbone, and she moaned again. Her legs twitched as her clit rubbed against his shaft.

  His hands gripped her hips, and his shaft rubbed against her again.

  Yes. Yes. More!

  She clutched handfuls of his hair and gyrated along his shaft as pressure built between her legs. But just before she could gain that sweet release, he stopped her and adjusted himself to allow her to slide onto his erection.

  She slowly let him fill her, and when she had settled with him completely inside her, he groaned.

  “Dammit, Sadie. Don’t stop now.”

  She smiled, feeling powerful and in control as she slowly moved up and down. His dick pulsated within her, and his fingers dug into her hips.

  “Mmm…” he growled out and that made her need grow even more.

  She quickened her movements, little by little until the pressure grew too great and released as she buried her face into the crook of his neck moaning.

  He let out a dark, satisfying chuckle. “I told you, you couldn’t kick me out.”

  She laughed and slapped his shoulder. “It’s not too late, you know.”

  He shook his head. “Oh, we’re already past all that.” Gripping her tighter, he stood and carefully stepped out of the tub. He carried her to her bed and laid her down, allowing himself to slide out of her so she could get adjusted.

  Once she did, he wasted no time climbing on top of her, sliding an arm under her leg and pulling it over his shoulder. He hovered over her and stared into her eyes, seemingly looking for something that told her to stop. She glared at him.

  He smiled, shook his head, and entered her.

  At first, his thrusts were slow and gentle. That was all fine and dandy, but she wasn’t fragile. She wanted what he could give with no holds barred.

  “Harder,” she demanded. “Give me all you got.”

  He gave her a questioning look. She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

  “Okay.” He didn’t seem so sure she could handle it.

  Well, she would show him.

  His thrusts increased, harder, wild, savage. And she loved every moment of it. She needed more. She didn’t want to stop. The bliss was too amazing, and this was exactly what she needed. The pressure built again and released. He grunted and warm liquid gushed inside her, and she was amazed at how she could orgasm at the same time.

  Panting, they exchanged tender, more relaxed kisses. Mordecai pulled out of her and lay next to her. She curled into his body and breathed in his scent. He pulled her in closer and pressed his lips to her forehead.

  As their breathing evened, Sadie’s eyes grew heavier. She thought of how wonderful it was to be with him like that and how she felt even more connected to him now that she had.

  Her last thought was of how she wouldn’t have changed a thing.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sadie

  In the morning, Sadie and Mordecai found the other three princes eating breakfast and bantering back and forth. She smiled, warmed by the love the brothers shared. She loved them too, more and more each day. She especially loved that Steele appeared to be completely healed.

  Relief flooded through her.

  Kaiser laughed. “Seriously, your face though.”

  Steele shook his head and a big smile stretched his lips. “You should see some of the faces you make. Terrifying, really.”

  Damien sat back and shifted his gaze between his two brothers laughing along as they took turns making fun of their battle faces.

  Sadie said, “I’m glad you are all having fun. And especially glad to see you up and around, Steele.”

  “I told you it wouldn’t be long.” He winked and took a seat at the table and grabbed an apple from the bowl at the center. He kicked up a leg on the edge of the table and tossed the apple between his hands. Ever relaxed and at ease.

  “I, too, am relieved,” Mordecai said as he approached his brother and squeezed Steele’s shoulder before taking his own seat at the table.

  Sadie joined everyone at the table, and Hobson served breakfast consisting of poached eggs, toast, and thick pieces of ham. He also placed a small bowl of fruit at the top of each plate.

  “Tea, Your Majesty?” Hobson asked.

  “Yes, please.” She smiled and waited for him to finish pouring the tea into her cup before picking it up and blowing into the steaming liquid. She took a sip. “Mmm.”

  “I’m pleased you find it satisfactory,” he said then moved to a spot along the wall while everyone ate.

  That made Sadie wonder if Hobson ever found the time to eat and why he never joined them during their meals. “Hobson, care to join us?”

  He pursed his eyebrows and his mouth parted slightly. “I-I couldn’t possibly—”

  “Nonsense,” she said. “If you are hungry, please, join us and eat.” She gestured to an available seat.

  Hobson hesitated and then slowly moved to the table and sat down. He seemed unsure of what to do with himself, and Sadie wondered why he never got the opportunity to participate in the meals. Perhaps Hecate thought herself above him. To Sadie, he was an equal. Not her slave.

  “Thank you, Sadie,” he said and helped himself to the platters holding the food.

  “Absolutely.” Her attention shifted between her men.

  They had barely scraped by the battle with Zagan by the skin of their teeth. She had been so focused on his visit that she wondered if her men felt a little neglected. She decided to spend a little one-on-one time with each over the next few days. Besides, having nearly lost Steele in the fight, she wanted to make sure she got a little more time with them individually. She missed having some of that down time as well.

  Once everyone finished their breakfast, Damien said, “I’m going to go check out the barrier and do some repairs to it.”

  “Can I come with you?” she asked.

  He smiled and nodded. “Absolu
tely.”

  SADIE

  They walked outside the perimeter of the forests, checking for any signs of Zagan and his scouts while reinforcing weaker areas in the barrier. Though both of them were battle ready, they didn’t seem to let that get in the way of enjoying the time they had with each other.

  She absolutely loved the way she felt when she spent time with him. How powerful she felt with him around. Unstoppable. Untouchable. She relished in that feeling and couldn’t help the smile that came to her face.

  “I love it when you smile,” he said. “I can understand why. You give me things no one ever could.”

  She stared at him and cocked her head to the side, overwhelmed by curiosity. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  He stopped and turned to face her. His hand gently cupped her cheeks. “You give me something to protect and cherish and a reason to live. You make me feel things no one else has. You move me…”

  She kissed him. And he deepened the kiss, pushing her against a tree and pressing against her body. Fire ignited within her and she gripped fistfuls of his shirt in her hands. He moved his hands behind her head and wove his fingers through her hair.

  She moved her hands to his shoulders, wrapping her arms around his neck. He gripped the back of her legs and pulled her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he squeezed her tightly to him.

  Sadie grew dizzy. And just before she gave in to her need, she pulled back, panting.

  “We should stop,” she said.

  “Why?” he growled out, eyes swirling red. He pecked the tip of her nose.

  She giggled. “There will be more time for this. For now, we need to focus on training, maintaining the barrier, and finding a way to defeat your father.”

  He sighed, and they rested their foreheads together. After a few moments to catch their breath, he gently set her on her feet and made sure she was steady before letting go of her.

  “My father is not to be taken lightly. It will take a great deal of training and planning to get close to defeating him. He’s callous, ruthless, and does whatever he can to make sure he reigns supreme.”

  “I saw as much during the battle,” Sadie said as they began walking along the barrier again.

  Little creatures scurried through the underbrush as they walked. Some of them she caught short glimpses of before they disappeared. Damien held her hand and they scanned the magic of the barrier for more weak spots. Finding one, he released her hand and knelt, focusing some of his magic into the barrier, strengthening the area before returning to her, and took her hand again.

  “Don’t underestimate him, Sadie. He is powerful, using magic from whatever sources he can gain it from. He can wield weapons most couldn’t touch without dying. He’s a force to reckon with.”

  “So, we will become a greater force.”

  “How do you suppose we do that?” he asked as Sadie found a spot in the barrier and added her magic to seal the hole and fortify the area.

  “Beating him at his own game,” she said matter-of-fact.

  He said, “He’s a master at war. Sheer strength and will won’t be enough to take him down. It won’t be easy, but I think it can be done. He constantly feeds on the souls of his enemies, demon or otherwise, to gain more power and maintain his strength. That makes him nearly unstoppable.”

  Sadie’s ears perked at that. So that is his weakness.

  If she could find a way to exploit that, she could possibly defeat him.

  “Is there a way to disconnect a demon from the souls he’s eaten?” she asked.

  “If there is, no one has figured out a way yet. That is for certain. I myself have never thought of that. But that is a great idea to pursue. Very resourceful of you.”

  She held her head a little higher. “Thank you.”

  “Even if we do succeed in figuring out a way to do that, the five of us still wouldn’t be strong enough to take on my father. It will take more than just an army to overcome him. Defeating Mara was difficult enough with the daggers we had to find.”

  Sadie nodded, taking that into consideration and said, “In that case, I better get to work on training. The stronger I am, the better prepared I’ll be to fight. And I tend to think better while training.”

  He pulled her into him and kissed her deeply. He murmured into her neck, “I would go crazy if anything happened to you.”

  Her knees grew weak and she got dizzy in the wake of his strong arms around her.

  She had to train, think, and formulate a plan with the new information she just found out about Zagan.

  But she just couldn’t resist the way he made her feel. So, for a moment longer, she delighted in the feeling, laughed, and kissed him.

  “Stay with me longer,” he said, voice low. There was a hint of pleading in his words.

  “The longer I stay here with you, the less time I have to train and even less time left before Zagan returns.” She pried herself from him, smiled, and winked before turning and heading back to the fortress.

  As she walked, she thought about her men and how they each demanded more and more time with her. Sex with her. She sighed.

  Having an empire to run was almost exhausting enough, especially with all the wars that kept knocking on her doorstep. If she devoted herself to giving in to the men, satisfying their sexual appetites would turn into another full-time job. But it was fun to keep teasing them and leaving them wanting more. She demonstrated her control when she made them wait.

  That was fun too.

  She decided she would keep them wanting more. Besides, the sex had always been worth the wait.

  That thought pulled her lips into a smile.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mordecai

  Mordecai met Sadie in one of the many halls of the fortress. He smiled, as she did in greeting. As she passed by him, he hooked his arm around her and pulled her in close.

  She laughed. “You beast, let go of me!”

  “Never.” His voice came out even. And he meant it. He could never let her go. Not in any sense of the word.

  “I am going to go train now. If you would, please get Kaiser and Steele, and help Damien finish the barrier.”

  He frowned and released her. He could never tell her no when she requested anything of him either.

  “Make sure you dispatch of any scouts that Zagan may have hanging around as well, please.” She turned and headed down the hall, to her favorite training spot. She faced him and walked backward as she said, “In fact, take care of anything else that could threaten our safety and home while you’re at it.”

  He bowed at the waist slightly and said, “Anything you wish, Captain.”

  She laughed, shook her head, and turned, continuing down the hall.

  He stared at her rump as she moved, watching her until she turned the corner at the end. With a sigh, he set out to find his brothers and take care of the task.

  MORDECAI

  After the famous retelling of the first fight he and Kaiser had gotten into, the brothers shared a laugh.

  “Man, Cedric was so angry we broke his staff,” Kaiser said, shaking his head.

  Mordecai pointed at him and said, “You mean the staff you broke.”

  “You grabbed it,” Kaiser said and gave his brother a playful push. “I was just defending myself.”

  “Uh-huh. We’ll go with that, even though you and I know damn well what really happened.” Mordecai pushed Kaiser just as playfully.

  Those were the days. Back when Cedric was the big brother, keeping him and the others out of trouble and off Zagan’s rampaging war path that happened every time the boys were too loud and rambunctious. Before their father shattered their family by removing the glue keeping the four remaining princes together.

  Now, Sadie had become their glue.

  That made Mordecai think about how they all separated after Cedric’s death and reunited when Sadie became queen.

  “Do you think we would be here right now, doing what we’re doing if Sadie wasn’t responsib
le for keeping us together?” he asked, without realizing he had spoken out loud.

  “Duh,” Steele said. “Are you new here?”

  Mordecai smiled, but it bothered him that it took Sadie to reunite him and his brothers. But, at the same time, he was ever grateful for that. Not that he would dare speak those words out loud.

  “Sadie is amazing like that. Not at all what I originally expected,” Damien said.

  “Yeah she is,” Mordecai agreed. “Which is why I want to make sure each of you truly love her and will do whatever it takes to make sure she has a healthy, long rule.”

  “It’s not like she’s like Hecate, Mordecai,” Kaiser said. “Sadie is probably even stronger than she was.”

  Each of his brothers agreed. Even Mordecai sensed the power growing within her.

  Steele asked, “What do you think will grow first?”

  Each of them turned their attention toward Steele.

  “Horns, wings, or tail?” he added.

  “Why does that matter?” Mordecai asked.

  He shrugged. “Curiosity killed the cat.”

  “Yeah but knowing you,” Damien said, “satisfaction brought him back.”

  Steele winked, snapped his fingers, and pointed at his brother. “You got that right. So, how about it. Maybe we can orchestrate a wager?”

  “No!” Mordecai, Damien, and Kaiser spoke at once.

  Steele held up his hands in defense. “Okay, just for fun. What do you think will grow first? I’m gonna say tail.”

  Kaiser said, “I vote horns.”

  Mordecai doesn’t really see the point in this game, but to entertain his brother, he said, “wings.”

  Steele giggled with boyish enthusiasm as he said to Damien, “What about you, brother?”

  “No. It shouldn’t matter what grows first. And it’s stupid to take bets on it, fun or not. Sadie is perfect regardless.

  “No one is arguing that with you,” Kaiser said.

  Steele added, “Right. It’s just a fun little bet. That’s all. Honestly, if I may say so, the four of us couldn’t care less what grew first, if anything at all. It was merely a curiosity, brother. Something fun to break the pitiful talk of old childhood games.”