I'd grasped his hand in mine. "I swear on the World Tree, I'll protect her."
"I know you will, little stallion." I'd flushed at the pride warming through his words. "You've looked after your dad all these years, right?" He'd nudged me with his shoulder, and I'd nudged him back. "Whoever you decide to protect in your life, they'll be lucky."
My brow had furrowed. "Only you," I'd promised fiercely, "and cub."
Loki had eased himself back to sit cross-legged next to me, gazing over the lake; his lips had twitched up at one side. "Not forever."
I'd nodded adamantly. "Forever."
My eyes burned at the memory because I was separated from Loki, and he'd known that I'd find someone else to love and protect or he'd hoped that I would.
I wouldn't abandon dad though, like I hadn't abandoned cub. She'd never become my pet. She'd remained wild like me, and then I'd freed her.
I had to do the same for the cat who was snuggled right now on my lap.
When I pushed Fox onto the bed, he arched his back and clambered to his feet in a tangle of claws, fur, and unhappy meows. Then he cast me an aggrieved glance over his shoulder.
Tough luck, wild cat.
I snatched up my guitar and bounced to my knees. Magenta was lost somewhere, but Fox and I were alive. Pining wouldn't protect anyone. I needed a kick up my own ass, and so did Fox.
Luckily for my ass, music was just as effective.
I grinned. "Come on, lazy pussy, let's get you into training. You were seriously unfit on the Discipline Run. The Princes will wreck you in Dragon Polo if you can't do better than collapse in a gasping heap at the first whiff of exercise." Fox's tail smacked dangerously against the bed. Valhalla, I looked one more word away from a face full of enraged pussy; in the right context, I could be down with that. "How about some exercise godly style?"
I strummed my guitar, singing Rick James' disco funk "Super Freak". I bounced up and down on the bed to the sexy and ironic music, thrusting with my crotch because if I was going to be a freak, then I should let out my kinky.
For an innocent who'd only just gifted his virginity to Magenta the night before, Fox had no problem letting out his inner kink.
Fox’s eyes lit up at the music, and if a cat could laugh, he was rolling with it. Then he waved his fluffy tail to the rhythm of the music, wiggling his ass.
I struggled not to chuckle, as I blasted out the dirty lyrics. Fox batted his long lashes at me, wiping his tail across his face like a veil. This time, I laughed.
Yeah, freak...and not a pet.
Honestly, Willoughby would make an epic backup…all right, duet… singer.
Could he dance?
It was more than fair to imagine that tight behind swaying as he sang.
I sighed, daydreaming my perfect band: Bask on bass, Fox on the drums, and Magenta on keyboards.
At least I already had a cat dancer.
Fox leaped onto his back, cycling his legs in the air. Was that meant to be sexy in a feline way? Then in a spray of glitter, Fox transformed back into a man, and my throat dried. I coughed, forcing myself to keep singing.
Yeah, it was seriously sexy.
Fox lay sprawled palely on the bed with his wavy white blond hair tumbling into his eyes and his bright blue eyes sparkling with joy. His pajamas had slipped down to reveal his slender hips. He was still doing that jackass dance move of his that was meant to be hot, but he was hot, even though he didn't know it.
He was clueless that he was about five seconds away from me ripping down his pants and showing him my own moves.
Four seconds...
I growled, dropping my guitar on the floor.
Three seconds…
Fox looked at me, startled. His arms and legs were still in the air like he was begging me to screw him.
Two seconds…
Fox would never have to beg. But my monster inside still wanted to break him.
One…
Chapter Seven
SLEIPNIR
I bared my teeth, as my balls ached and my dick pulsed against my thigh.
I was going to wreck Fox.
"It's quite the consolation to see that you entertained yourselves without us.” Magenta slammed through the door with Bask. “We were concerned that you'd have been weeping in the blackest despair."
I twisted so fast to them that my neck hurt.
Fox's grin was both shy and radiant; it tugged at something buried inside me. It was the same instinct that’d made me swear on the World Tree to protect cub forever
Forever was a hell of a long time for a god. Yet Magenta had proved that death didn't mean the end of a human's need for love.
It was only the beginning.
Fox flung himself off the bed and bounded to Magenta, grabbing her around the waist and melting against her in that breath-taking way of his, as she in turn wrapped her arms just as tightly around his neck. Then he spun her like he could still hear the music, and she laughed.
I'd never heard such a beautiful sound.
"I was sunk in despair. I've been making plans to poke out my eyes with a brooch like Oedipus." When Magenta grimaced, Fox peppered kisses down her neck. There was my hot pathological liar. Did he even pause for breath? "Okay, okay, I was actually going to drown myself like Ophelia, but then, I thought since walling mages up alive was so popular—"
Magenta dragged Fox to a stop, bopping him on the nose with an accusing finger. "Don't ever talk so lightly of such cruelty."
Fox's face fell, before he nodded. Then he kissed Magenta's forehead in apology. "No killing the cute foxy...or mages...got it."
I attempted to play it cool unlike Fox, as I pushed myself up. I was the son of Loki and not a new student who'd spent as many years trapped in an attic, as I'd spent in the beds of human women. Although, looking back now, I wasn't certain that I’d had the best deal.
I attempted to act my indolent self, however, until Mist betrayed me (the magical asshole, even if he was only reflecting my own asshole emotions). He poked his head out of my pocket, and his eyes were bright with excitement, as he whinnied, calling out to his friends in greeting.
Bask grinned. "You are pleased to see us. Pet me."
How could I resist Bask?
Magenta appeared composed (and stunning), but Bask's blazer was rumpled. His shirt was also done up wrong and missing a button, like he'd been distracted or somebody else had dressed him.
My hands clenched into fists, and I growled.
Someone had been playing without permission.
I strode to Magenta, dragging her away from Fox. Her eyes widened, as she steadied herself with her palms against my chest. Then I kissed her like I'd longed to in the desperate hours that I hadn't been able to feel her magic: passionate, hard, and savage. She thrummed through me.
I loved her power. She could wreck this academy and everyone in it, if we found a way to unleash it.
That was such a turn-on.
When I pulled back, Magenta was flushed and panting. Her gaze was hazy as it met mine. Then I twisted to Bask whose dick already tented his pants.