“She could only pierce it?”

  “Her electricity separated the Light but it took all her strength and only made a pinprick,” Darc explained. “Only you, wielding your Light could break the orb.”

  “And my Light is trapped by your Darkness,” I said and huffed. All this time Lucifer had been trying to teach me to control my magic so I could get it back, when I'd actually never be able to. “The Darkness you don't have anymore.”

  “We are stuck with the repercussions of our decision. But I am more than content with it.”

  “Me too,” I whispered.

  Darc moved to kiss me, but I held a hand up between us.

  “Ellie?” Darc asked in surprise.

  “I just threw up.” I grimaced. “After the Devil went through me, my stomach turned from his evil. I don't want to kiss you with puke mouth.”

  “That's our girl, all right!” Cerberus shouted in relief. “Fucking A! You seriously gave up your bad side for her, Star-Man?”

  “She is an amazing woman,” Lucifer said softly. “But I did it for me. I have battled my devil for far too long. It was time to be rid of him, and Elaria took him without destroying me.” He looked at Raphael. “The promises I made you were real, and they stand. Not the ones about Elaria, but those concerning our people. I want to guide and protect my children; be the god you need me to be.”

  “Then I'm in.” Raphael held his hand out to Lucifer, and they shook. “But if you ever try to mind-fuck me again, I'm bringing Elaria back here to sing you in your place.”

  Lucifer laughed but sadness lurked in the sound. “That's not a threat, Raphael. Giving her up cost me more than sacrificing my devil.”

  I cleared my throat as my men looked from me to Lucifer and back. “Nothing happened; stop staring at me like that.”

  Lucifer grimaced. “More happened than should have. I'm deeply sorry, Elaria. Much of what I showed you was real, but a lot of it was orchestrated by the dark part of me. The Devil made me do a lot of things. He deceived you from the beginning; tricked you into thinking he was good. The Demons attacking me, the way I withdrew my courtship, even that conversation you overheard about stopping wars on Earth; it was all planned by him. But when I held you last night and took those liberties while your mind was under my control, that was all me. I beg your forgiveness.”

  My men tensed, Darcraxis' hand filling with magic behind me, but most of them waited to see my response before they reacted. Most, but not all. In the seconds it took me to open my mouth to speak, Slate acted. Suddenly, he stood before Lucifer; or rather, where Lucifer had been standing. The Morning Star now sprawled on the ground, rubbing his jaw as Slate loomed over him.

  “I don't give a fuck if you cut your bad self out,” Slate snarled. “You touched Elaria without her consent and that means I have to kick your ass.”

  Slate yanked Lucifer to his feet—that in itself impressed me, what with Lucifer's massive wingspan—and proceeded to do exactly as he vowed. Lucifer took the beating. He didn't lift a single feather to stop Slate.

  “Are you all really going to stand here and just watch this?” I snapped at the rest of the men.

  “Yes, they are, Elaria,” my father said sternly. “And you are going to watch with us. That feathered dickhead deserves more than a beating, and it looks as if he knows it. Let Slate do his worst; I'm sure Lucifer will recover.”

  My Uncle Eilener chuckled and nodded in agreement.

  I looked over and met Lucifer's glittering stare. He smiled softly at me with his bloody lips just before Slate's fist cracked into his jaw again. Atonement could be a bitch... or a gargoyle, it seems.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Slate beat on Lucifer until the god lay in a crumpled heap, and the Gargoyle hunched over him panting for breath. I hung back even though I wanted to rush forward and make sure that Lucifer was all right. My dad was right; Lucifer deserved it, even after the sacrifice he'd made. And my men deserved to see it.

  “I don't want to know exactly what he did,” Slate growled as he stumbled up to me. “But if he ever tries to touch you again, I will tear his fucking wings off and shove them up his shiny ass.”

  “We will handle it if Lucifer ever threatens Elaria again,” Darcraxis said. “Today, you struck for us but in the future, we act together.”

  “Shit; the God's back,” Gage huffed.

  “Yes, but this god has always been good,” I said as I took Darcraxis' hand. “You didn't need a piece of yourself locked away. There are no devils in your soul; no fire waiting to become an inferno. Your Darkness is pure and good and safe.”

  “You were not a devil either, Elaria,” Darc said gently. “You were in pain, and you lashed out.”

  “But I slaughtered while you tried to stop me.” I held up a hand when he tried to say more. “Lucifer helped me to see my past with detachment. I accept what I did and harbor no guilt over it anymore. But I also see myself clearly now. My goddess magic needs to stay in that orb; I don't have the will to resist it. In that much, Lucifer and I are alike.”

  I finally went to Lucifer and helped him to his feet. His wounds were already healed, and he smiled softly at me as he brushed blood away.

  “Are you okay?” I asked him.

  “Better than I've ever been,” Lucifer said steadily as he straightened. “As far as your threat, Gargoyle, I accept what Elaria is to you and allowed you your vengeance. But come at me again, and you will be the one lying in the dirt.”

  Slate narrowed his eyes at Lucifer.

  “Oh, enough!” My mother snapped and rushed forward to hug me. “You're okay and that's all that matters. Leave the Angels to their god and let's get the hell out of Heaven.”

  We all laughed, but Lucifer looked panicked.

  “You're going to be okay,” I said to Lucifer as I moved out of my mother's embrace and into his. “You have nothing to hinder you anymore.”

  “Nothing but a broken heart,” he said with a sad smile.

  “That will heal too.” I squeezed his hand as I eased away from him. “It may just take a bit longer than the rest of your body.”

  “Goodbye, Goddess of Fire,” Lucifer whispered.

  “Goodbye, my Morning Star.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  “Your Morning Star?” Torin growled as I brushed my teeth.

  We were back in Kyanite, and I had never thought to be so damn happy to see my home. I rinsed, spat, and dried my mouth with a towel before I headed into the bedroom to confront my furious men.

  “He loves me.” I shrugged. “I thought I'd throw him a bone.”

  Torin sighed deeply. “Just come here and kiss me, little bird.”

  I went to my fiance and kissed him with all the sorrow our separation had built inside me. He matched it with his own painful passion; hands grasping me tightly and tongue lashing over mine. His rich, masculine scent enveloped me and clenched things low in my body. Before I could move away from Torin, I was eased back into Declan's arms. Then Banning's, Gage's, Slate's, and, finally, Darc's.

  When the kissing was done, I looked up into the eyes of the god I loved. “So, electricity conquered my light?”

  Darc frowned and then blinked in understanding. “Are you feeling threatened by the witch?”

  “Did she touch your magic before she released it?” I lifted a brow and glanced at Slate. “Because if she touched you without your consent, I may be forced to kick her ass. It's evidently some unspoken rule.”

  The men groaned; Slate, in particular, making a face at me.

  “I won't apologize for what I did, El,” Slate growled. “That jackass deserved far worse than what I gave him. Even when I had you at my mercy, I never pushed you into being with me, and I certainly wouldn't have touched you intimately when you weren't in control of your own mind. That's pretty damn close to rape.”

  “I know,” I agreed. “Despite what he said, I know the Devil manipulated him into doing that. Still, he found the strength to stop himself. You can't understand, Slate; you've never had to fight a demon inside your soul. I hate what he did to me but at the same time, I saw him overcome that evil enough times to know that he is worth forgiving. He'll be good for the Angels now. As far as the Demons go, however, they won't be so happy.”

  “I don't give a shit how much evil lived inside him,” Slate stepped up to me to say. “Touching you like that is unforgivable. I don't need to understand fighting darker urges to know that. Releasing you saved his life, but he still needed an ass-whooping.”

  “Okay.” I kissed Slate to banish the anger in his eyes.

  I knew he'd never understand, but telling him so wouldn't help. Even Darc wouldn't be able to fully comprehend why I felt so compassionate toward Lucifer even after his despicable treatment of me. As I said; Darc never had a devil to fight. Perhaps that was what drew me to Lucifer; the bond of a shared struggle. He'd never hold my heart, but he understood what I had been through better than any of the men I loved.

  I still had faith in Lucifer.

  Because he has given you faith in yourself, Kyanite said gently. I understand, my love. I'm glad you didn't take everything from him.

  Thank you, Kyanite.

  Always.

  “Aw fuck,” Slate growled.

  “What?” I asked in surprise.

  “I have to fuck you now, Elaria,” Slate growled. “Which means; I have to share you with them while I do it.”

  “Why did we let him into our group?” Torin asked Darcraxis.

  “Fuck if I know,” Darcraxis muttered.

  Before Slate could grab me, Darcraxis swept me up and carried me to the bed.

  “Lesson number one, Gargoyle,” Darc said as he laid me down carefully. “There is a time for fucking and a time for making love. You had better figure out the difference if you want to make my fiance happy.”

  Darcraxis kissed me sweetly as he joined me on the bed, and I drew him to me eagerly. Slate snorted as he headed over to the bed with the others, shrugging out of his clothing as he went. Then he grabbed my ankle and yanked me out from under Darcraxis. I ended up with my ass on the edge of the mattress and knees bent over to touch the floor. My silver skirts had ridden up with the movement but Slate pushed them even higher, tore off my silk panty, lifted my legs onto his shoulders, and slammed his cock inside me. I cried out in bliss as he began to violently pound us together.

  “I know the difference,” Slate growled at Darc as he tore the front of my dress apart down the center. “And right now, my woman needs to be fucked.”

  The other men chuckled as they shot Darc an amused look, and then they closed in around me. Lips and tongues and clutching hands added to the savage surge of Slate's thick cock. I held Banning's head to my breast as I reached between Torin's legs for his shaft, and simultaneously kissed Gage.

  But then, suddenly, the men were gone. Correction: I was gone; moved from one end of the bed to the other by god magic. I laid beneath Darcraxis, his shaft already inside me as he ground in deeper. His lips covered mine in a body-shivering kiss and then his mouth moved down to suck in the tip of my breast. I cried out in ecstasy as his pelvis moved against my clit and his sex stroked mine expertly.

  “Wrong again, Gargoyle,” Darc spared a grin for Slate as he brought me into a screaming orgasm. “She needs to be made love to. Stop thinking like an overlord and act like a king.”

  Darc kissed me again, and I had to admit; it was majestic. There was definitely a time for every form of love, but both of my men had been right; I needed that rough slam of Slate and the sensual grind of Darcraxis. Not only that, but I also craved the slide of Torin on my tongue, the feel of Declan filling my hands, and the sound of Gage's masterful commands. I needed them all. They didn't need to learn a damn thing to make me happy; they were already experts in that.

  And I knew our happiness was only beginning.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  My father escorted me down another wedding aisle. This one had an arch of white roses and silk forming a canopy above it. The runner we stepped rhythmically over matched the pale decorations but the floor beneath it shone black; onyx black.

  I kept my gaze on Torin, where he waited at the end of the aisle. Sara, my maid of honor, already stood to his far left and Darc stood to Torin's right. Yeah; it was strange for one fiance to have another as his best man, but Torin and Darc had gotten close recently. Their similar looks made the situation seem even odder. Although, Darcraxis shone with god power no matter how much he condensed his form.

  But today was all about Torin and me. I clutched my fragrant bouquet of pearly peonies and drug my heavy train behind me determinedly. Torin had insisted on extravagance. He said our wedding was just as much for his people as it was for us. And Shining Ones loved drama. So, my dress swirled around me in glittering, opalescent glory, and my train extended ten feet behind me in a dizzying display of craftsmanship; heavy with embroidery and jewels. One jewel actually; onyx. My white wedding gown was sprinkled with tiny, faceted onyx beads. So was my veil, for that matter. The image of my soon-to-be husband had an overlay of black dots. I couldn't wait to fling it out of my face, but the way Torin stared at me made it all worthwhile.

  I didn't even spare a glance for our guests; the hundreds of Shining Ones who filled the seats to either side of the aisle. I did smile at my mother, my consorts, and Torin's family who sat in the first row. But then my father helped me up the steps of the low dais to Torin and kissed my cheek through the speckled veil.

  “Here we are again,” Dad whispered to me. “Hopefully, this time we'll make it to the cake before monsters descend.”

  I grimaced at my father as he hurried to sit beside my mother. Sara—wearing an elegant, black dress—took my bouquet, giving me a more confident look than my father had. I turned back toward Torin. He looked every inch the Shining One King in his wedding finery. A black and silver tunic hung to mid-thigh on him, black leather pants beneath that, and a low-slung belt held a gleaming sword against his left leg. A cape of ermine draped his broad shoulders, held on by a silver and onyx brooch. His hair laid in loose waves over the fur, framing his serene expression and striking features. Torin had witch blood in him; it made him larger than most shining one men and gave his face a rougher edge.

  I loved every inch and rough edge of him.

  “Hello, little bird,” Torin's deep voice penetrated the veil to caress my face.

  “Hello, Onyx King,” I said as he took my hands.

  “Thank you all for being here on this most joyous occasion,” Maon, Torin's father, said as he stepped forward to stand to my right and between us. He was our officiant. “I'm delighted to perform the ceremony today that will bind my son in marriage to this amazing woman who has done so much for our world and for several others.”

  Maon's speech continued, but I stopped listening, lost in looking at his son. Torin smiled knowingly and brought my hands up to his lips to kiss adoringly. It took us a few minutes to realize that the room had gone quiet around us. Torin finally glanced over at his father in confusion.

  “Your vows, Son,” Maon said and chuckled. “You're supposed to repeat them.”

  Torin laughed. “I'm afraid I didn't hear you, Father. I was too busy contemplating my future with my bride.”

  The Shining Ones laughed in delight; a perfect soundtrack for my joy.

  The rest of the ceremony went by in a similar fashion; carefree and beautiful. We made our vows and exchanged rings; Torin's slim, black band sliding up against Banning's crimson one. I felt it settle over me then; forever. I was going to spend eternity with Torin. This would be day one of the new us; the married us.

  When Torin kissed me at last, I sank into that forever with him and wrapped it around me. This was just another lock on our cage; another prison that set me free. I clung to his shoulders, my fingers sinking into the fur, and pulled him even closer. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough; not a thousand locks or a thousand eternities. Torin's love kept me wanting and reaching for more in the most glorious way possible.

  Maon had to clear his throat to get us to stop kissing, which set off another round of laughter in our guests. We finally broke apart and faced the assemblage to be announced as man and wife, and then we strode down the aisle as the roses burst above us, raining petals down on our heads.

  “It shall only get better,” Torin made one more vow to me as we headed toward the reception hall.

  “I know.” I smiled smugly at him; my husband.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  We left the reception early to a round of cheers and several knowing looks. A carriage waited outside Onyx Castle to take us to one of Torin's manors. Yes; he had several; it's good to be King. The particular home Torin chose for our honeymoon was nestled within the Onyx woods. We snuggled together in our carriage as we sped through the dark forest toward it. Luckily, it wasn't too far from the palace or I would have been tempted to have our first sexual experience as man and wife in the back of a coach.