Valkyrie's Sacrifice (Academy of Immortals 3)

Energy hums between us—currents from outside this realm. I refuse to rush, wanting to take my time. I kiss down her body, licking her flesh, nipping at her skin. I unlace the front of her pants and she tugs against mine. Once I’m freed, I almost cry when her soft hand meets my hard, hot length. As she explores, doubt flickers in my mind.

Our eyes meet.

“You’re wondering how you compare?” she asks, while stroking from my tip to my balls. My jaw clenches as the heat and urge to invade her intensifies. “Because that’s not how this works, Luke. This is about trust. About bonding. It’s about solidifying our faith in one another.” She looks between my legs, a little smile playing on her lips. “But, I think you’re up to the challenge, in and out of the bed.”

A laugh ripples through me; this woman, gods she is just…well, I kiss her again, this time deep and throttling. I feel it from my lips to the ache in my balls. I dip a hand between her legs, feeling the warm, wet heat. Hildi’s back arches, her long, muscular leg hooks around my hip. I lift her off the ground, rocking into her, causing us both to tense in growing frustration. Another crack of lightning fills the sky and I push into her, just as the thunder starts to roll.

Warmth spreads through me—powerful and intense. I press my forehead to hers and we hold each other’s eye. All doubt is gone, because this feels…it feels otherworldly. The boat pitches to the side and I slam into her and she groans, nails digging into my back.

We move together and after a moment I can no longer feel the sway of the boat, just our bodies combined. The cord tightens between us, one I realize has been there for weeks, if not longer, and as my orgasm builds, I capture her lips with mine. I want to taste her as she comes. I want her breath to be mine. I want all parts of us connected.

Her body seizes, her teeth clamp down with vicious hunger. That’s enough. That’s it. The thing that topples me over the edge. I barely suppress a roar as fierce pleasure tears through me and into her. I feel it across my skin, deep in my belly, along the muscles in my back. I feel it long after I’ve pushed into her for the last time.

The sound of our heavy breathing fills the small corridor and sweat is the glue that holds us together. I open my eyes and see Hildi’s expression. Her jaw is slack, her eyes wide, confusion fills her gorgeous face.

“What?” I ask, barely a whisper. “Did I hurt you? Are you—”

Her finger presses against my lips. “Luke…”

I raise my eyebrows. Confused and bewildered, neither helped by the post-coital fog. It does wake me enough to feel the burning pain across my shoulder blades. I wince and look to the side, sensing the shadow arching behind me. That’s when I go on full alert, a surge of protectiveness for Hildi, alarm that I’d let my guard and weapon down. All of this must show on my face, because again the Valkyrie reaches for me, hand gripping my jaw.

“Where did you get them? How long have you been hiding it?”

“Hiding what?”

She twists my face, pushing it as far over my shoulder as it will go. That’s when I see them, pure white and cramped in the small hall.

Angel wings.

33

Hildi

The storm continues outside as we sit together at a long narrow table. The Immortals are all here, too big for the small space. Darius is awake and at the end of the table, sitting next to Elizabeth. He looks better, the color back in his face. I reach under the table and squeeze Luke’s fingers as everyone stares at him. Well, not at him, at the magnificent cloud-white wings jutting from his back.

“I didn’t know,” he says slowly. “They’ve never been there before.”

Marshal’s eyes have been narrowed in suspicion since he walked in and saw them for himself. He’d tried to walk over and touch them but I slapped his hand away. “How? Wings don’t just appear.”

“Do they not?” I snap, thinking of Agis. “We’ve all seen abilities and attributes develop since we arrived in the academy.”

“I agree that we’ve all experienced some changes, but what brought this on?” Armin asks. “And why now?”

“I have no idea. I’ve always had gifts from my father. I have increased speed and strength. My injures heal quickly. But my form has always favored my mother’s human qualities. I never, ever knew I had wings.”

Rupert stares at Luke, jaw tight, deep in thought.

“Well,” I say, looking at him. “Obviously you have an opinion.”

“If I had to guess, it happened once you consummated your relationship.”

Marshal barks out a laugh.

“What?” I ask, regretting it immediately.

“I knew Hildi had a magical pussy, but this is unreal.”

The speed in which I grab and fling my dagger at his head is faster than the blink of an eye. The knight snags it easily out of the air, which only proves to annoy me more. He places it on the table. “So seriously, he and Hildi had sex and now he’s a real boy.”