“You weren't too rough.” I drew his face down for a kiss. “I like some savagery every now and then. I just wasn't sure it was you.”
“I am whoever you want me to be,” Viper dropped his voice to a dangerous tone. “Whatever my star commands. Isn't that right?”
“Don't do that,” I chided. “I don't want to command you.”
“No?” He lifted a dark brow and grinned at me. “Then we're equals? Lovers?”
“Are you asking if you're my consort now?” I countered, something rising inside me in a glittering wave; a feeling of... possession.
Wasn't that what Viper had just said he needed? The thought flit away, replaced by cool determination and fiery lust. This man was mine; mine alone. Yes, he would make a good king, but I had no intention of sharing my crown with him. The Star Gods may have been made to complete me, but I was the top point; the Dark Star. I would rule.
“Consort?” Viper frowned. “Not equals. You do want to command me.”
“Viper,” I purred as I stroked his jaw, “you're my lover and maybe, someday, I'll even marry you. I won't command you in the bedroom, I won't force you to love me, but out here, I will rule. I won't give my power away to a man, not ever again.”
Viper's eyes went soft as he bent his head to touch his forehead to mine. “I understand, Dark Star. I will lead your forces for you and stand by your side if that's what you need. But I need you to be my star when we're alone.”
“I'm your star whether we're alone or not,” I whispered then kissed him; deeply, tenderly, and then roughly.
I grabbed a fistful of his hair and used it to drag him away from my lips. I turned us so I could push him back against the wall with my body. Viper's eyes filled with lust, his lips parting on a pant. I gave his hair another pull just for good measure.
“I'm your star,” I said again. “You may claim me as such in front of anyone you like. Because I will claim you, my vicious Viper. You are my consort; the chosen lover of the Supreme Goddess. Find satisfaction in that.” I let go of him to trail my hand down his throat, and he stared down at me intensely. “Find pleasure in that. For now, you are my only consort, but one day that will change. So, delight in these days as I will and take what I offer... what I can give you.”
“I'll take everything you are, Vervain,” Viper vowed as he angled his head down to mine. “You may have other lovers eventually—I've accepted that—but I will be your brightest star. I will be the light you keep closest to your heart. Do you understand me?”
I smiled and took his hand. “I think we understand each other perfectly. Come now, my consort, let's greet our guest.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Vervain.” Qaus got up from his seat at the dining table to meet me halfway across the room.
Snake and Storm, who had been waiting with him, stood up as well and moved to stand next to Viper.
“Qaus,” I said as I reached out to shake his hand, “it's good to see you. How have you been?”
“Well enough.” His gaze slid to the men and back to me in question.
“This is my consort, Viper, and his brothers; Snake and Storm. They are three of the Star Gods who lead my armies,” I introduced them. “Commanders, this is Qaus of the Arabs, God of Weather.”
The Star Gods nodded crisply to Qaus, but Qaus only frowned at Viper before looking back to me.
“Your consort?” Qaus cocked his head as if to get a better look at me. “Where are your husbands, Vervain?”
“I've left them. They didn't support me as they should.” I swept past Qaus to the dining table. “Good; I see that they've brought you food while you waited. Shall we dine together? Viper and I have yet to break our fast.”
“Break your fast?” Qaus followed me to the table. “Who the fuck are you? Where's the snarky, movie-quoting woman I met in the mirror?”
I paused behind a chair and then turned to face him. “She's still in here somewhere. But I need to be better now, Qaus. Stronger.”
“You've always been strong, Vervain,” Qaus said soberly as he took my hand. “The strongest woman I know. You've been through hell, and you cracked jokes the entire way. I love that about you.”
Viper made a low hiss, and Qaus looked over at him in surprise.
“I'm not interested in your...” Qaus looked back at me. “What are you to him; his girlfriend?”
“She's my star,” Viper said proudly. “And you will remove your hands from her immediately.”
Qaus lifted his hands in the universal, okay, I'm backing off gesture. Then widened his eyes at me. “Damn; this one's worse than your wolf.”
“Things have changed, Qaus.” I took my seat at the head of the table. “Sit down. Tell me why you're here.”
Viper took the chair on my right. He gave Qaus a look that said he'd better choose the chair beside him and not the one on my left. Qaus, the smart man that he is, took the chair next to Viper's, allowing my consort to sit between us. Snake and Storm took the seats to my left.
“Why do you think I'm here?” Qaus shot back. “The entire world is talking about you; the God Realm included. I came to find out exactly what you were up to and to see if there might be a place for me in your ranks.”
“You want to join me?” I asked in surprise.
“Why does that shock you?”
“The last time we spoke you told me that we weren't friends.”
“You weren't trying to rule the world then.” Qaus smirked. “Now, you have my attention.”
“And your friendship?” I countered.
“Tell me your plans,
