Page 57 of Inheritance
Tears welled in my eyes as I rose up on my toes and kissed him, his arms immediately wrapping around me as he groaned into the kiss. My entire body lit up under his touch, and I felt that part of me, the one that was filled with emotions for all my mates, snap into place, causing a surge of relief—the likes of which I had never experienced before—to roll over my skin. Contentment like I’d never known ran through me, and tears dripped down my face. I felt complete.
“Why are you crying?” he questioned in a panicked state, pulling back.
“I missed you,” I swallowed down my emotion, “I really missed you, despite also really wanting to punch you.”
“And you don’t think I’m a monster? I just fucking slaughtered more people—”
“You are a monster,” I teased, trying to relieve the tension. “Mymonster. My devil. Killing is justified, Luce, when you are protecting the people you love. You came here for me. You just unintentionally ended the war—”
“Oh, it was intentional,” he offered quietly before adding, “I left your forces unharmed.”
“And the others?”
“Those who raised a sword against you are very,verydead,” he confirmed, not looking remorseful in the slightest.
Before I could respond, a frustrated voice spoke up. “Ama, princess, I really need to know that you’re okay—No, I don’t give a fuck who he is, Colt.”
I smirked at Drayven’s response, and Luce’s expression turned dry as he remembered just who was around us, but he allowed me to detach from him slightly, his wings snapping back into hiding as I turned to find all seven of my other mates watching us with varying expressions.
Drayven looked possessive and annoyed, something that I found amusing because it seemed that not even the devil himself could persuade Drayven I was anything but his.
Finias looked back to his somewhat cheery, psychotic self, offering me a sweet smile and seemingly unbothered by Luce—probably because he believed he could kill him if necessary.
Damien was in Hellhound form and edging closer, whining at me but snarling when he looked at Luce. I crouched down, and he came to me quickly, nuzzling against my neck where his mate marks were. I could tell he was worried.
Adrien seemed normal, but he didn’t even give Luce the time of day, instead focusing on me and looking very concerned.
Then there was Jace, whose shadowy Hellhound was nearly whining as I motioned for him to come over. He ran to me and rested his head against the markshehad placed on me, he and Damien surrounding me with warmth and love as I held them tightly.
After a moment, I stood and walked towards Colt and Nico. The first because I knew he was oddly the most anxious, his gaze moving towards Luce as his own wings twitched, like they wanted to wrap around me. It was likely because he knew exactly how I felt about Luce after our conversation and knew he had to accept him. I melted against his chest as I whispered that I was perfectly fine and gave him a quick kiss.
Nico squeezed my hand as I came to stand next to him, and his hand caressed my cheek while his lips dropped to mine in a searing kiss. I smiled up at him as I pulled back and winked.
Moving towards Dray and Finias, I saw them exchange looks with each other like they were about to fight for the chance to get to me first. Although we all knew how that would end...with Finias knocking Dray out for...I don’t even know how many times now.
Finias smirked in satisfaction as Dray rolled his eyes and nodded for him to go first. I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from my throat. “You guys seriously act like brothers.”
“Ew,” Drayven responded as Finias scoffed and took me into his arms, dipping me down and peppering kisses all along my neck and up to my lips. He pressed his soft lips to mine before pulling back and murmuring, “I love you.”
I giggled, not hating the sound for the first time in my life, as he lifted me back up and I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I love you too.”
Drayven was immediately at my side and stole me into his arms, glaring at Finias for taking so long with me. He pulled me into his hard chest and tucked my head beneath his chin as he whispered, “Saved the best for last.”
I couldn’t help but smile at their easygoing banter now.
After a few seconds, Dray allowed me to turn around, still keeping me tucked under his heavy arm as I looked towards the men in my life who seemed to have altered everything I knew in such a short span of time.
It felt like yesterday that I was grumbling about having to go to the Summit and feeling like I’d be a recluse forever.
“So…” I hedged and looked around and towards the capitol grounds. “That was interesting. I’ve never been part of a war before.”
“Ama,” Colt chided, shaking his head at me.
“What? It is true!” I shrugged before realization hit me. “Oh shit, okay we need to go unlock my parents—”
“Your father?” Nico asked, wanting clarification.
“No, not just him,” I hedged. “My mother is also in there.”
