Page 55 of Orion: Galaxy Huntress

Chapter 25

Orion

The blood moon.Orangey-red like desert sand. Crackling with dark power that made the fiery heat in my veins dampen my starlight with fear. A time for me to be extra vigilant and on guard.

Reznor’s cool body chilled my heat from behind me while Vice’s fiery sin burned me from the front. I glanced beyond my lover’s form over at my various stockpile of weapons stashed around the camp to battle intruders. Arrows I’d fashioned from starlight. Spare blades hidden in the bark of trees, under bushes, logs, or hollows. We were prepared to fight if anyone entered our space.

I felt the loss of one lover amid the curl of limbs over me. Stormy’s comforting warmth and protection that had been where Reznor now lay. Another check confirmed Stormy missing from the camp. At first, I thought he might have gone hunting for breakfast, but we had enough food to last us days. Preparation in case of a siege situation with the vampires. Then I wondered if he went to relieve himself, but when he didn’t return after some time, I knew otherwise. My mate had left the camp. Gone back to his pack. Abandoned me. Broken his promise to protect me.

Furious, I sat up, nudging the vampire and demon snuggling me awake, and they groaned, eyes cracking open. They sat up rubbing their eyes and jaws. “Where’s Stormy? Why did he leave?”

Vice’s tail, which normally snaked around, stroking me, poking me, sometimes sharply scraping me, tucked tight to his body. “He’s gone?” He pretended to look around and I hit him for lying.

“He left early in the morning.” Reznor’s indifferent reply set me on edge.

Agony cracked down the center of my chest, splitting open my ribcage, knowing that my mate had deserted me just like the two men who’d broken my heart. I was a fool for trusting him. Trusting any of them. Men were born to take what they wanted. My breath spiked to ease the pain and the tightness in my chest and throat, restricting my airway.

“He said he’d be back when he was done with his pack,” Reznor added coolly.

He was coming back? The shifter hadn’t abandoned me, after all. Scars on my heart encouraged fears to creep in convincing me otherwise. Old habits I had to forsake if I hoped to build a relationship with these three.

Rational sense sparked in my chest. Relieved, I rubbed over the marking on my breast. Stormy had no other choice but to leave. His pack was in danger from invaders, and the demon army arrived tonight on the blood moon to defend them. Yes, I was hurt that he’d chosen his pack over me. Would I kick him in the balls when he came back? You bet I would! He wouldn’t be walking straight for days once I was done with him. Damn shifter should have taken us with him. He’d claimed me, and as part of that deal, I belonged to his pack too. I had every right to defend what was mine, but he hadn’t given me the option. Stubborn wolf wanted to keep me safe, and had left me in capable, if not dishonest, hands. If push came to shove, I was sure they vampire and demon would defend me and get me out of harm’s way until we could reunite with Stormy. Then I’d go all exploding star on him and rain down fire and chunks of rock. Shifter better beware.

Irritated that my two lovers knew about Stormy’s departure and let me sleep through it, I crawled away from their naked bodies to grab my clothing and pull it on. “We shouldn’t be split up when the vampires are out looking for us. We can’t defend each other.”

Listen to me. In the space of a day, I’d gone from a loner, out to protect myself, to someone who’d taken three lovers into her heart. I didn’t want to lose what I’d only just found. The gods would not take that from me. Not when they’d taken so much from me already. These monsters were mine and I’d not lose them. If I had to leave the safety of the camp, the traps and weapons behind to go searching for my wolf shifter, then so be it. Should the vampires come for me, then I’d do what I’d always done—fight and win. Orion had been injured, scratched, bitten, and stabbed, but never beaten, and I intended to keep up that winning streak.

Vice gripped me by the wrist, spinning me to face him. “Ace made his choice, kitten.” Right. He knew Stormy had left and lied. Typical demon. Well, he wouldn’t be keeping up his dishonest act if he wanted to be my lover. I’d take one of his balls for every lie. Then something else to teach him what was acceptable. Wait. Damn. Punishment was his game and he enjoyed it. I’d have to get more creative. Another time, though. Shifter to track down and all.

“I don’t care.” I wrenched free. “I’m not losing him or any of you. Take me to him.”

Vice tried to use his persuasive powers over me, brushing my arm softly, using that syrupy, coaxing voice, turning on those pleading eyes as bright as the sunlight. No. Not falling for that.

“Kitten, I don’t think you seem to understand.” He swept my hair back over my ear and I lost a slice of resolve. Damn those eyes. Pure trickery! “I’m a demon. We cause strife, we don’t run into it.”

I shook off the flecks of swirling gold, the cajoling, the touches. “You ran into strife to save me.”

He dropped a sizzling kiss on my forehead. “That’s because I like you, Hell Kitty.” My skin begged to be burned under his fiery kiss. “You get me so hot when you threaten to kill me.” Fire blazed in his eyes the way it did when he got aroused. “Ace is a grumpy ass that has been known to crush my tail. Why would I go to his aid?”

Selfish demon.

Vice stroked the tip of his tail to amp up his victim act.

I wasn’t falling for any of it. Or the stiff glances from Reznor that told me not to leave the safety of the camp.

“Be serious, demon.” I thumped his arm for only ever thinking with the log between his legs.

The demon looked to the vampire for support, but Reznor remained neutral.

“Don’t look to me, demon, I’m not forgiven yet.” Reznor shrugged, amused at our interaction. “I’m not risking her staking me through the heart for refusing her.” He lovingly clasped the back of my neck and massaged it.

“Thanks for backing me up, bro.” Vice’s tailed whipped unappreciatively.

I fastened my weapon’s belt to my skirt, almost ready to leave. “Stormy’s in trouble. You’re just going to leave him?”

Vice tried to cage me in his arms again, but I backed away, refusing to be swayed away from my mission. “That’s because he’s an idiot who walks into trouble.” Vice earned another thump on the arm from me. “What was that for?”

I picked up my arrow pouch and slung it over my shoulder. “Stormy is brave and fearless. Qualities I admire in a monster and lover.”

---