A Shift in Night [PAPERBACK]

“This is bullshit,” I tried to growl, but it came out more like a frustrated whine.

In my four hundred years of existence, the universe has mostly been a giant dick to me. It clearly forgot about its standard operating procedure though when it blessed me with a gorgeous mate and a hot daemon girlfriend.

Recently, Pele—the hot daemon girlfriend—had been spending a lot of time in the daemon realm. Our relationship had been going on for centuries, but it’d always ebbed and flowed. Given that Pele was soon going to be taking over her father’s role as Head of the Daemon Assembly, her scarcity hadn’t been a surprise.

What was a surprise was her suggesting that Mikhail crash our playdate.

So after checking with Mikhail to see if he was cool with it, I gave the only reasonable answer to such a question.

Sign. Me. The. Fuck. Up.

Neither of them had even the slightest interest in each other, which meant I would be the center of attention. In my head, I assumed the way it would play out was Pele would tie me up and Mikhail would go down on me, then maybe they’d switch places and Pele would break out some toys.

I may or may not have spent a lot of time coming up with multiple scenarios while sunbathing in my feline form, but there was a fatal flaw in all of this that I failed to take into account. If Pele was the queen of edging, Mikhail was the fucking king.

“Something wrong, shifter?” Mikhail taunted from between my thighs as his tongue flicked around my clit, but not touching. He’d been doing that for the past ten minutes while Pele kissed and licked my neck and collarbone. The two of them had been getting me worked up for hours, and there was fuck all I could do about it because Pele’s stupid magical ropes were holding my arms above my head and my ankles were loosely tied to the floor.

Thanks to some unfortunate events in my life, I tended to panic when I was bound, but Pele had been helping me work through it over the past few years. On the surface, it looked like just fun, sexy times, but underneath was a trust that went both ways.

I trusted Pele not only to bind me but to know how far she could push, and she understood the enormity of that trust and never abused it. She trusted me to be honest about how I was feeling at any particular moment. The first few sessions had been intense, to say the least.

Being bound still brought on an initial panic, but I was able to work through it now instead of my mind just shutting down. Pele had planned ahead for tonight’s event and had made sure there was some give to the tie-downs to make me more comfortable.

How thoughtful of her.

“You are both the absolute worst,” I hissed. “As soon as I’m free of these ropes, I’m punching both of you in the face and burning your houses down!”

“My house is fireproof.” Pele snorted and her breath tickled my right nipple, which was something she clearly noticed because she breathed on it again and then laughed at my squirming.

“And my house is your house,” Mikhail pointed out, his damn head still between my thighs. “And while you still might do it anyway just to spite me, you wouldn’t risk damaging your weapons.”

I let out a long growl and then began listing all the ways I was going to get even with them once I was free. It was a long list and very detailed. I was still going when the door suddenly swung open. Unsurprisingly, it was Asmodeus. We were in Pele’s personal playroom beneath The Inferno, and they were the only one who would have strolled in so casually.

What was surprising was the way Pele stiffened for half a second before forcing her posture to relax as she watched Asmodeus stride across the room. She and Asmodeus had been working together for well over a century, and during that time, it’d been a not-so-secret secret that Asmodeus was in love with her. Pele, in all her stubbornness, had been denying her feelings for them because she’d been worried about not being able to protect them. Her list of enemies was almost as long as mine.

It wasn’t that I didn’t sympathize; I had the same concerns about Mikhail, but some things were worth it, and Pele was one of the people who’d convinced me that my friends and loved ones make me stronger. The fact that she wasn’t taking her own advice when it came to Asmodeus was something I found incredibly frustrating. I could only imagine how Asmodeus felt about it.

Mikhail and I just worked out our issues by stabbing each other. I didn’t care what Elisa said. That was a totally valid and healthy way to deal with disagreements in a relationship.

Asmodeus didn’t even bat an eye at me tied up naked in the center of the room. As always, they looked professional . . . and hot. Their long black hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and their lean frame was wrapped in a perfectly tailored black suit. Turquoise eyes met mine, politely staying above my neckline. “Apologies for the intrusion, but there is someone here to see you, Nemain, and I’m afraid it can’t wait.”

Mikhail said something under his breath before rising from between my knees to stand behind me, slinging an arm around my stomach and tugging me against him.

“Please tell me it’s not Unseelie business,” I pleaded. “I thought I made it very clear that I was taking a two-week break from all their bullshit.”

Mikhail’s chest rumbled against my back as he let out a raspy laugh. “I don’t think anyone is doubting your declaration after the tantrum you threw yesterday.”

“It wasn’t a tantrum!” I raised my foot as much as I could with the ties and slammed it down, aiming for his foot, but he moved away just in time and tweaked my nipple in retaliation. Heat flared throughout my body, and I swallowed the moan that tried to escape.

He hadn’t let me come once in hours, so the asshole didn’t get to hear me moan.

“You set half of the Seelie Court fae on fire,” Mikhail mused as he continued to tease me with his fingers.

Asmodeus arched a dark eyebrow. “Really, Nemain?”

“The vampire is being overly dramatic,” I hissed and tried to kick Mikhail away, but he just chuckled and moved to my other nipple. “I only set their clothes on fire. Maybe some hair.”

“How responsible of you,” Asmodeus replied, a hint of amusement flickering in their eyes at my explanation. “Tonight’s interruption is not fae-related. It’s . . . your business. He’s waiting for you in the meeting room on the third floor, down the far right hallway. That one has the least amount of furniture to break.”

“Quit being cryptic, Asmodeus.” I scowled as the barest amount of a smirk appeared on their full mouth. “Who is he?”

“You’ll find out once you get dressed and go upstairs like a good little shifter.”

“Looks like playtime’s over.” Pele sighed from where she’d been standing off to the side.

“This wasn’t playtime.” I glared at her. “This was torture. Untie me.”

“Now who’s being overdramatic?” She glanced at her nails and frowned, holding her hand out so she could further examine the gleaming black polish.

Fuck this. Blue flames sprung to life along the ropes over my head before frozen ash rained down around me.

“You know I hate getting that in my hair,” Mikhail growled as he quickly let me go and moved back.

“I’m not talking to you,” I said in a sing-song voice.

“You just did.” He snapped his fangs at me before shaking some of the ashy flakes from his shoulder-length black hair.

Asmodeus simply stood there with their hands neatly clasped in front of them. They hadn’t so much as looked in Pele’s direction once since entering the room, nor had she acknowledged them.

“That was my second favorite set of ropes, Nemain.” Pele dropped her hand and gave me an annoyed look.

Half a thought from me had the ropes hanging to the far left on the brick wall igniting in crystal blue flames. Pele’s glare deepened, and I smiled. The red ropes hanging next to the currently burning ones went up next.

It was still hard for me to use my flames like this, but I was getting better. I used to always funnel the devourer fire through my body and then direct it from there. My father, Kalen, had been working with me on that. Although he hadn’t been super happy about me using my newfound skill on the fae gathered in the Unseelie Court the other day.

Badb, my mother, had found it hilarious.

“Not the purple ones,” Asmodeus said evenly. “Those are my favorite.”

Pele’s head whipped so fast from me to the daemon standing in the center of the room that I was surprised I hadn’t heard a snap. “And who exactly are you using them with?”

Asmodeus’ eyes flicked to her. “As you stated last month, we have a work relationship and nothing more. What I do in my personal time is none of your business.”

For a split second, hurt shone in Pele’s bright eyes, the same turquoise shade as Asmodeus’, before she hid it. “Fine,” she ground out. “But this is my playroom. Find your own.”

“Of course.” Asmodeus bowed their head, not a hint of emotion showing on their beautiful face. “If you require nothing else of me, my shift is over. Also, I compiled a list of replacements for my position on your desk. Let me know who you would like to speak to, and I’ll arrange it.”
Without another word, they turned on their heel and left the room.

“Pele,” I started, pulling my magic back to me and snuffing out the remaining blue fire.

“Don’t,” she snapped, her tone low and dangerous, before deep orange flames surged across her vibrant red skin as she flung a hand towards the purple ropes Asmodeus had pointed out. Within seconds, the ropes were nothing but ashes.

Then she closed the distance between us, the flames dancing along her skin winking out of existence a second before she wrapped her fingers around my throat and squeezed. Instantly, Mikhail was at my back again, but he didn’t seem concerned about Pele’s hostility. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me snugly against him while his fingers dug into my flesh.

“We’re not talking about it,” Pele snarled before thrusting two fingers into my hot and aching center. The two of them had worked me up so much that she slid in easily, even as my pussy clenched around her slender fingers.

“Fuck,” I said on a strangled moan. “Okay. Not talking about it. Just keep fucking me please.”

“Look at that.” Mikhail laughed as his fangs dragged across my neck, causing me to shiver. “She said, please. Is there something else you want, my violent little mate?”

“Touch me,” I pleaded, not having it in me to be my normally bratty self. It was like my mind and body were wholly focused on my building climax. “Bite me.”

Apparently, Mikhail was done playing because he sank his teeth into the space between my neck and shoulder as one of his hands dipped lower to roughly rub my throbbing clit. I screamed, arching further into him.

Every muscle in my body tensed, and it felt like my skin was on fire. Pele curled her fingers, thrusting them harder into me while Mikhail’s clever fingers created the most delicious friction. Neither of them pulled back, leading me up to the edge and letting me fall over.

My hips bucked forward, and they both fucked me through the orgasm, not slowing until I slumped against Mikhail, my legs on the verge of giving out. His arm around my waist was all that was holding me up as his fangs popped out of my neck and he raised the hand he’d gotten me off with before licking it clean.

It took me a second to realize I was whimpering as tremors still coursed through me.
Pele finally slid her fingers free and used them to grip me by the chin, smearing the evidence of my desire across my skin.

“How are you feeling, Nemain?” Her eyes bored into mine, searching.

“Slightly less mad at you,” I panted.

“Good.” She smirked. “Now let’s go find out what trouble has come your way.”

I sighed but set about grabbing my clothes from where they’d landed on the floor hours ago and pulled them on. When I started walking towards the door, Mikhail stopped me and ran his fingers through my hair, a smirk on his lips. “Can’t have you going into a meeting with hair that says you’ve just been fucked.”

“Heavens forbid my reputation take a hit like that.” I leaned into his touch a little.

“Come on, you two,” Pele ordered from where she stood at the door. “You can do your sappy mate bullshit later. I’m leaving tomorrow for the daemon realm, and I’ll likely be gone for at least a month… maybe longer. I’d like to know what this is all about before I depart.”

The hazy satisfaction I’d been reveling in at Mikhail’s touch vanished, and I looked worriedly at my fiery friend. “You’re going to be gone for that long?”

Pele’s expression tightened. “My father is officially stepping down in six months. Most of the factions back me taking his place as head of the Daemon Assembly, but there are others using the transition to make a bid for power. They need to be dealt with sooner rather than later.”

“Do you need my help? You’re more important than whatever is waiting for us upstairs.” I knew she’d say no, but I hoped she’d say yes because I hated sitting on the sidelines while she struggled through this on her own.

Pele shook her head, confirming my fear that she was too damn stubborn to accept help. “You are fantastic at killing but shit at politics, Nemain.” The corners of her mouth quirked up into a faint grin.

“She has a point, love,” Mikhail snorted.

“Right now I have a lot of support,” Pele continued. “But that will wither and die if I have the Unseelie Knight swooping in and waving her pointy murder stick around.”

“Rude way to talk about my sword,” I mumbled.

The amusement fell from her face, and Pele gave me a tired smile. “I need to handle this myself as much as I can. The Assembly has always respected my father, and most of them respect me. Others doubt my ability to lead and fully step into my father’s shoes. I have to prove them wrong.”

I knew Pele could handle herself, but this still felt like leaving her to fight all on her own. Wanting to prove herself made sense, and I could appreciate that, but still . . . What if some of her enemies just happened to meet unfortunate acciden—

“No,” Pele interrupted my murderous thoughts and stalked towards me. As soon as I was within reach, she gripped me by the chin and forced me to look in her eyes. “Bad shifter.” Then she slammed her lips against mine, kissing me hard before pulling back. “No killing my enemies before I say so. Understood, Nemain?”

I stubbornly clenched my jaw, but she continued staring at me unrelentingly. After a tense couple of seconds, I sighed. “Understood.”

“Good.” Pele released my chin. “I’ve got this. The second I think I don’t, I promise I will let you know.” Then she turned and headed up the stairs.

I let out a long, frustrated breath and started after her, Mikhail falling into step behind me, snickering. I stopped suddenly, slamming an elbow back, and was rewarded with a gasp of pain. “Quit laughing.”

“I’m allowed to be entertained by Pele scolding you.” He slapped my ass. “Now get moving so we can see what this is. The sooner we deal with it, the sooner you can have your thighs wrapped around my head.”

My mind short-circuited as a parade of lusty thoughts marched through it, causing my foot to freeze midway to the next step. There were several meeting rooms on the floor we were heading to . . . Maybe we could dart into one real quick and—

“Don’t even think about it, Nemain,” Pele called from the top of the third-floor landing. “Work first, play later.”
I sulked as we finished making our way up the stairs. Pele waited until we reached her before striding down the hallway, then she went through the last door on the right, leaving it open for us.

Multiple flippant responses were going through my head as I stomped into the room, ready to verbally and maybe physically eviscerate whoever had disturbed my sexy fun times.

Okay, it had been an epic edging fest, but sooner or later, they would have started fucking me.

My fingers pushed open the door that had fallen halfway shut, and I froze as my gaze connected with a pair of beautiful hazel ones. “Andrei?”