If a Sleep Deprivation Hex were ever cast on me, I'd go crazy within a week. I needed my sleep to have the energy to...well, fail at everything.
But I wouldn't fail Midnight. For whatever reason, he'd chosen me as his king, and I took my royal duties seriously.
I pressed a light kiss to Midnight's lips, and he gave a surprised, happy sound that filled me with joy.
Truth: I never thought somebody would love me.
“I missed you and I thought of you when I was walled up in this academy’s luxurious…okay, dusty and rat-infested…walls.” Don’t disappear inside yourself. You’re needed. Midnight’s pleased smile was enough. I cocked my head. "Have you tested this hex then?"
Midnight looked down. "On my wings, it's hard to never sleep and have so much time to think," his voice was gentle with a soft Welsh lilt. "I only have so many good things to remember."
"You're with us Immortals now. Just watch the good times come rolling in. I promised to save you and I will." I pressed my bound arm more tightly against his. "I'm Champion of Pedantry; it means that I'm hated but it comes with perks like always being the smuggest person in the room and the ability to make anyone look stupid. So, sleeping: that's the state of being asleep, right? What about a cat nap? Meditation? Just a really epic zone out. My dad said I was brilliant at zoning out. I'm not sure it was a compliment."
Midnight's smile widened, but he shook his head.
My brow furrowed. "Okay, more extreme now but go with me here. How about knocking yourself unconscious? Do people sleep in a coma or...?"
This time it was Midnight quietening me with a kiss; his lips were soft, and when his fang caught at my lip, I blushed at the thought of how much I desired that he'd bite my lower lip.
Then heavy hands landed in my lap, before I was being pushed back from Midnight by something furry, swishy, and black. I spluttered, unable to bat it away.
Who knew there were so many disadvantages to bondage?
Something even heavier squirmed in Midnight's lap and mine, before curling around.
I found myself staring into the furiously protective eyes of my naked pussy nemesis: Bacchus' cat Halfling and familiar, Pocus.
I winced, as Pocus' claws bit into my chest, as if my nipples were pincushions. He shoved his nose against mine; his eyes were narrowed with predatory danger.
Hanging around with naked vampires was apparently my new thing.
"The mage is not harming my vampire, or I'll knock him on his silly curly head," Pocus hissed. "Pocus knew not to trust you."
What was it with my curls?
I pulled at my arms like I could smooth down my hair. Being shut up in the walls probably hadn't helped with its wildness.
Pocus was a lithe Korean vampire with striking black eyes and matching black ears that poked out of his mop of hair. His tail was right now wrapped around my balls. I shivered; I'd rather that a psychopathic pussy didn't have me by the balls. Unlike the Immortals, he didn't look like his torture of them would end in fun orgasms.
"And I always trust someone who grabs balls and talks later." I arched my brow. "I thought you liked my silky hair. Why don't you have another stroke?"
I shook my hair like it was a cat toy.
Come to the silky hair...
Pocus hesitated.
"Last chance..." I forced myself to hold still.
Pocus darted out his hand and carded it through my curls. Then he sniffed. "Pocus is still not impressed."
Pocus needs to be taken to the vets and neutered.
When I smirked, Pocus looked at me suspiciously.
"My king is helping me," Midnight's voice was steely, "and this is not a fair fight. You won't hurt him, just as you won't hurt the Princes."
Pocus sneered at me, before turning on our laps (and getting in a final twist of his claws). His tail thwapped me in the face again, and I got a closer look at his hole and the balls swinging between his legs than if we'd been lovers. I reddened. Then he settled, straddling Midnight, before shooting me a smug, possessive glance over his shoulder.
"But I protect you," Pocus insisted.
Truth: I'm sorry that I can't protect you.
Pocus had been at Bacchus’ side at the tournament, but he hadn't been able to stop the hexing.
He might be my nemesis, but how long had be tried to guard Midnight? Midnight had been alone apart from Pocus, and Pocus hadn't been able to do more than offer comfort.
But I still respected him for doing that. Very, very, very grudging respect.
Midnight's expression gentled. "Now I'm lucky to have more who care to protect me, see? Blood and bones, I never thought that I’d be so blessed again. Be pleased for me…?"
I heard the uncertainty.
Pocus wrinkled his nose. "Can I claw him a little?"
Midnight narrowed his eyes.
Pocus pouted, nuzzling his ears under Midnight’s chin. “Just a little?”
He fluttered his eyelashes, hopefully.
“I withdraw the right to stroke my hair,” I huffed.
Pocus hissed.
“You only claw him, if he wants you to,” Midnight admonished. Wants…? Midnight blushed. “On my fangs, you may enjoy it.”
Yeah, just as much as I’d enjoy Bacchus using my foxy tail as a fun clit toy.
I shuddered. Bad brain, the Wank Bank would be closed for the next week…okay two days…okay, for tonight…to wipe out that image.
Wait, did that mean that Midnight enjoyed Pocus’ claws?
The Wank Bank was officially open for business again.
Pocus shot me another smug grin.
Over Midnight’s shoulder, the Immortals and our Prince swaggered together towards us.
Mist rode Sleipnir’s shoulder; he was still high on the whole dominant thing. I’d better not coo then.
It was weird being bound on the floor. It made me realize how much I trusted all of them that I didn’t stiffen, but only grinned.
“You appear to have adopted a pussy,” Magenta pointed out.
Pocus bared his fangs, and his tail wagged, rubbing against my face again.
I spluttered. “Stop pissing off the pussy. And you’ve adopted a Prince.”
Magenta looped her arm through Willoughby’s. “He’s quite charming, don’t you think? I’m determined to keep him.”
Willoughby’s lips quirked.
I nodded. “Let’s sign the papers to keep the Prince, and my fellow whipping boy.” When Midnight’s eyes flared with longing and desperation, I wished that there truly were papers that I could sign to officially claim both Willoughby and Midnight. Although, by breaking the Membership, maybe that’s what we were doing. Adopt a Prince could become a popular scheme. “But this pussy isn’t housetrained. I’m sending him back, unless we…?”
I whispered snip, snip, snip in the hushed way that meant parting him from his manly bits.
And that’s what happened when you wrapped your tail around my balls...not that I was against it as a principle…I mean, my merrily swinging against my stomach prick wasn’t…
His fur had been so soft…
Pocus’ expression darkened. Then he twisted in outrage, and his claws extended over my manly bits.
I’m mage enough to admit that I squeaked.
“You’re lucky that Midnight said no scratching.” Pocus leapt off Midnight’s lap, flouncing with a swish of his tail back to the corner.
Sleipnir blinked. “Honestly, I’m more of a dog person.”