Fallen University: Year Three

Jayce tilted my head back and kissed me deeply, pouring all of his essence into me, what felt like his entire soul.

His mouth was like water, and I was dying of thirst. I drank him in, pulling him close, running my hands over his body. Kingston’s arms circled my waist and he rolled me toward him as Jayce released me, then poured his own essence into me. Jayce’s kisses were like sunshine and spring water. Kingston’s were like whiskey and music. They flowed into me, filling me up, one after the other and back again until a bit of my strength returned.

“There,” Jayce said with a firm nod as he finally drew back. He pressed one more kiss to my lips—this one having nothing to do with feeding me—then pulled back, biting his bottom lip as he gave me a concerned look. “Anytime you need it, just say so. That’s what we’re here for, you know.”

“Thank you. Both of you.”

I squeezed his hand and offered him a weak smile. The energy was already leaking out of me. They might as well have poured water into a sieve, but it was enough to keep me steady for a little while longer.

“Let’s go,” I said quietly.

I hated letting them see me like this, so weak and helpless, and I didn’t want to waste the boost of energy they’d given me either.

Kingston and Jayce kept me flanked as we continued onward, as if ready to dive in and kiss me anytime I showed a hint of flagging strength, but I didn’t know if it mattered. I was a table with a leg missing. One poorly placed burden and I would topple over.

Several minutes later, a siren song drifted through the air, harmonizing with the screeching harpies.

“We must be near a sea,” Jayce mused.

“Shut her out,” I said, trying to sound stronger than I felt. “Focus on each other.”

Then I rolled my eyes at myself. Do as I say, not as I do.

The siren’s song reminded me of the school’s healer, Cassandra. She’d told me that I must be a strong succubus to have bonded with four men at once. There was a time when I had believed her.

Yeah, look at me! Strongest succubus in the world, collecting vulnerabilities like they were Funko Pops.

Because that’s what my bond-mates were, really. If I had bonded to one man, I would have been tasked with protecting that one person. Four guys meant four chances for an enemy to hurt me, to break my heart—to take me out of commission entirely.

Beside me, Jayce was drifting, drawn in by the siren’s call. I could feel it.

“Single file,” I ordered quickly. “Jayce behind me. Kingston, the siren’s after your cell phone. Take the rear and guard the treasure. Kai, you’re behind Jayce. Stay in line, and grab each other’s hands if you have to. She won’t sing forever. And we won’t let her snatch any of our own.”

I could smell the sea now. Salt and Sulphur, fish and blood.

We were drawing closer to it with every step, but I still couldn’t see it. Low, rolling hills blocked my view. The blood-red grass that seemed to grow everywhere slowly faded to black as it reached the top of those hills. Not a dead black, but a shiny, vibrant black. I shook my head. Life was all backward here. No wonder I felt like dying.

Dying…

Till death do us part.

That was another thing the healer had told me. That the separation sickness I would feel when I spent too much time away from each of my mates could only be cured by proximity or death. Either mine or theirs.

Which means Xero’s definitely alive. He has to be.

If he was dead, the bond between us would’ve been severed. I wouldn’t feel anything. Not the pull toward him. Not the sickness of being separated from him. I perked up, straightening my spine. This sickness was a good thing. If I ever started to feel better, it would mean…

But, no. I wasn’t going to think about that, because it wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t about to let him die on me.

The siren finally stopped singing as the sun crept low toward the horizon. The smell of blood was sharp and heavy on the breeze for hours afterward. I didn’t want to know what she’d killed.

“Ugh, I hate this place,” Jayce grumbled. “That shouldn’t make me hungry.”

“You’re not the only one,” Kingston said with a sigh. “Let’s make camp and eat.”

Jayce frowned, but didn’t argue. He knew he didn’t have a choice. I squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.

“I’ll buy you all the tofu you can eat once we’re back on earth. I promise.”