A Fey New World (The Godhunter #32) - Amy Sumida Page 0,78

came alive for Azrael as if by command. It all became an erotic blur. Wings and antlers above me or below me or behind me. Glowing eyes staring into mine and a savage voice searing my soul. I became utterly his. I forgot my other lovers. Forgot my children, even those I might be carrying inside me. I was Goddess to the God. The true Gods of the Earth. And we rejoiced in our rebirth.

On all fours, Azrael would slam violently into me, claws tickling my hips and wings fanning our hot skin. The shadows of darkness clung to us while I was on my knees before him, and when he knelt to worship me, his antlers burst into flames, stroking my thighs with beautiful heat. The elements moved over and through us as we mated ritualistically and made love tenderly and fucked wildly. They joined us as surely as Azrael's staff and seed.

I didn't come to my senses until morning and even then, I felt hazy with pleasure and drunk on love for my husband. But, as I've always said, one love cannot replace another and the memory of my other loves returned to me with the rising sun. Darkness could only hide them for so long.

I slipped from the bed, stepping through the shadow curtains and beyond the breathing trees. As I walked over a carpet of grass, scales lifted from my skin and armored me against what was coming. I knew it would be painful—the price of the night's delights. But I had no idea that the price would be paid by the Earth.

“Oh, sweet magic mushrooms,” I murmured as I went to stand at the vine encrusted stone railing.

The nearby homes—which had been pushed far away—were as I'd remembered but were once again surrounded by fey land. Primeval forest flowed around them, studded with steaming, cracked earth and vast lakes. Mist swirled with shadows through the trees, crackling with magic as if searching for its next victim. From what I could see, it had already claimed many. Animals unknown to Earth prowled the magical lands and flew across the brilliant blue sky. They called to each other in echoing, eerie voices as elemental sparks shone on the horizon, moving steadily closer to human cities.

“We will change the face of the Earth,” Azrael declared as he joined me.

“This isn't Dune,” I muttered.

Azrael frowned at me in confusion.

“Dune, Az, you know what I'm talking about,” I looked at him sideways, hoping that he did.

“Ah, yes.” Azrael grinned. “No, this is not Arrakis and I am not a Freman with a hoard of water to release. This is the Earth and we are fey gods spreading our magic upon it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I growled. “But, Az, helping the Earth and changing it into Faerie are two different things. Humans have done a lot of bad things but they've also done amazing good. They created an entire realm with their technology.”

Azrael frowned. “Perhaps we should change that as well.”

“What?” I nearly screeched. “You can't shut down the Internet, Azrael. You would cripple the world's economy.”

“That is rather the point.” His head twitched in an alarming way—as if his mind were trying to reset itself but failed.

I backed away from him.

“Carus, don't be afraid. This is necessary.”

“I'm not afraid, I'm horrified, and this is not necessary. If the magic of Faerie showed this to you, it was meant to be a warning, not a blessing. Because I can't let you do this, Az.”

“My sweet beloved queen,” Azrael said gently as he stared at me possessively, “you cannot stop me. It would be like trying to stop the breeze from blowing.”

“Azrael, where is your scythe?” I demanded.

“In Hell, I imagine. Where I send it when not in use. Why?” He gave me a sinister smile. “Would you like to fight me, Carus?”

“I don't want to fight you, Azrael,” I said as if the mere thought were ridiculous. “I want to remind you of who you are and I think that holding the scythe might help you with that. You are Death and Compassion. You know that life has a cycle and that the end is just another beginning. You're the man who held my soul in his hands. You know me better than anyone. So, sweetheart”—I took his taloned hands in mine—“I'm asking you to come back to me. Choose me, Az. You've shown the world the error of its ways. It will start to heal—that is enough. Let the magic