Chapter 354: First Claim

Lucifer entered the private upper chambers of the Origin Palace beneath the crimson moons already waiting. Visions of the past danced through the wide-pane windows long shadows from the twin red moons painting long strokes of red along the carpeted floor. Ella leaned against the wide table with her arms crossed loosely in front of her watching him with the same calculating gaze she had worn for years. Luna sat on the edge of the low couch with her hands folded in her lap, tension coiled in her relaxed posture, waiting. Vina stood almost against the far wall, stance straight, blades already cleared away, her dark eyes locked onto Lucifer with a focus that had no purpose remaining to hide behind obligation.

A pause seemed to stretch in the charged silence, heavy with the weight of the caldera, the loss of Selene, the years of absence pressing down on Lucifer’s shoulders before Ella pushed away from the table to take a slow measured step toward the immortal.

"You finally made it in one piece," she murmured, eyes taking him in once he was close enough. "We could feel the spike when you went through with her killing. The whole realm felt it. Lucian along with others is looking into the surrounding reports. We decided that none of the three of us wish to stand in the halls while the reports come rolling in. The debriefing won’t come while I’m waiting," she added, her searching glance going up his chest, her calculating eyes studying him before meeting his gaze. "You look heavier, stronger," her smile was soft and approving, "and like someone who’s been holding in far too much."

Lucifer’s crimson eyes swept from Ella to the expectant Luna and held on the silent Vina noting the tension in the air and the lingering distrust between two of his oldest allies that still had not mellowed with the years. It had been an issue once, one that Ella had urged him to end before he’d stepped out with Aélria on his own path. Vina did not look away as Lucifer’s red eyes regarded her.

"I’m not here for the reports," his voice was as smooth and placid it had been in the void but there was a roughness beneath it, the years of pressure and restraint gone with the lifting of the seals and months of constant training. "I came to see the three of you. The board can wait until morning."

Luna pushed away off the low couch and came to stand beside the table before speaking. If the young woman tone was gentler than Ella’s it did not lessen the resolve with which she spoke. "We weren’t sure how long you’d be holding court in the palace before the next fire would call you back, or if you’d stay in one place long. Vina has become quiet and withdrawn since the news from the werewolf ranges and the Dragon Caldera arrived through the channels, or at least since we’ve all felt the change in her." She looked to Vina briefly before returning her regard at Lucifer. "If you’re going to stand there worrying that the entire weight of your sealed domain is pressing on your shoulders tell us and we’ll remove some of it for you, just for a few hours.’

Vina moved away from the wall, her slow walk halting a pace in front of Lucifer and close enough that his True Divine touch brushed against her skin before she spoke. "I have waited," Vina said, her voice stripped of all its past deference when dealing with the man before her. "Through the years of your seclusion, through the reports of Selene hunting the new seats and the final moment where we all felt you cross back into open view and kill the woman. I told myself that it was enough that I could stand as your shadow keeping the realm safe while you grew, and became something of worth and power beyond measure. I am done telling myself that," she held his gaze unerringly, "if you don’t need this then tell me and I will not come again. But don’t take the chance to run from this room without giving me an answer beyond the board and your next problem. ’’

Lucifer regarded the woman for long moments, his own control slipping as it never had while training or keeping to his duties. If Ella had reached out to touch him then perhaps she would understand what surged inside him as he reached out this time. He let his thumb trail up the soft curve of Vina’s cheekbone feeling her lean into his touch instead of stiffening as she always might against his skin.

"I want this," he said, low and rough, "I have wanted this a lot longer than either of you knew while Aélria and Nyx still watched my back."

Ella chuckled and stepped past Vina to press soft affectionate touches to her friend’s waist while tilting her chin onto the other woman’s shoulder. "I’m glad to hear that because the two of us aren’t going to leave this room any time soon. We’ve made that clear already if you were wondering just what the two of us would do if you actually took the time finish pulling back with her. You might consider this a claim from all three of us for the night." ’’

Luna came to lean against his other side, fingers sly against his arm as she murmured, "There is no reason for us to rush off, now is there. The realm holds, the hunter is dead and for the next few hours it seems as though nothing else holds any interest for those of us in this room."

Vina had already inhaled, deep and slow, against Elya’s hold and Lucifer’s fingers that still traced her cheek as he leaned in pressing his mouth firmly against hers. There was no delicacy to it, the kiss, or the way Elya’s hands slid higher under the fabric of the younger woman’s top while Luna’s busy fingers unfastened the clasps at Lucifer’s coat, and then the next steps of peeling away clothing until the all met in the wide bed, skin slick with the residual heat of the night’s fight.

The movements were slow and unhurried as all three of them peeled away dark battle gear, lighter more comfortable night wear, all marked with signs of wear and, in Lucifer’s case, still tinged with the ash and scent of the Dragon Caldera. As Vina finally lay reclining against the sheets her hands found Lucifer’s arms pulling him to settle over her. When he hovered for a second he looked into her eyes.

"Tell me if anything is too much."

Vina’s fingers curled around his upper arms anchoring him. "I have endured more than you could possibly give me this night so don’t insult me by pretending I am fragile."

Lucifer drove into her in a slow deliberate thrust drawing a low moan from her throat as Elya stretched out along his other side taking Vina’s breast in her mouth, her fingers sliding lower to stroke the length of Vina’s slit as she kissed across her collar bone, while Luna took a chance against her own fingers rubbing the woman’s stomach. When Lucifer slowed his rhythm she met his touch. "Harder," Vina murmured, "I am not going to last and I don’t want it to be gentle.’’

Lucifer obliged her, the next thrusts harder, faster and louder. Her gasps echoed in the chamber. Vina’s hands curled against Elya’s shoulders. "That’s it," the older vampire murmured against Vina’s skin, "let him feel how long it’s been. We’ve got you."

Luna moved her fingers down from Vina’s belly to cup the women’s breast, her thumb brushing the sensitive nipple as she watched Lucifer’s face. "She’s close. I can see it in that tight grip she has on you. Don’t stop."

Vina’s back arched, her knees falling to either side of Lucifer, an aching keening from deep inside her chest as he drove into her again and again. Lucifer held her close working her gently. Then, as if the sensation wasn’t enough, Elya’s fingers moved in slow measured circles against Vina’s sensitive spot and the woman’s heels pressed against either side of Lucifer’s knees as her climax rolled through her and he followed. Harder, faster Vina’s hips bucked against his. The next one hit her and the tight squeeze of her muscles sent him over too. He buried himself fully and emptied deep down inside her as the final climax sent a shudder up her spine and Vina’s hands tangled in his hair.

They held on through the shudders and Luna ran slow idle fingers up Lucifer’s spine while Elya cupped Vina’s face up for a lingering kiss that ended up catching the taste of both women. When at last Lucifer eased out of Vina she let out a sound, almost of disappointment at the loss of his weight before they repositioned. Elya guided Vina up onto her hands and knees before settling in front of the young woman’s so that Vina could suckle at her breast. Luna maneuvered behind Lucifer pressing against the small of his back, her fingers circling his cock as he re-entered Vina from the new angle. When he drove into her the deep groan that left Vina’s lips vibrated against Elya’s flesh.

"Good," Elya murmured, fingers tangling in Vina’s hair. "That’s perfect. Just like this; no one could hold this for the three of us."

And then, perhaps because of the tight hold she had around the younger woman’s muscles and the pleasure she brought, or maybe it was the sensation of Vina’s mouth as she took her fingers into her hot depths or even the feeling of Luna’s hands moving up his back but somewhere deep inside that control slipped in place as Vina drove him deeper again, grinding out a series of soft mews of his name. ’’ harder, again," she urged, her thighs clenching at the weight of him

and this time, louder, the sound of his skin slapping against the sensitive core of her. ’’That’s it," Elya encouraged, nipping lightly at the side of Vina’s throat, "show him how long that’s been building." ’’ She’s already close," Luna noted, watching the flush creep onto the young woman’s cheeks. "I can feel how much she’s holding."

The second climax was more violent than the first tearing a breathless cry from Vina’s lips as she pressed the heel of her hand against the center of the table and the feel of that, of how she took him made him come as well. Vina’s muscles flexed and tightened holding his cock deep inside her as he emptied into her with long steady pulses.

They held on through the aftershocks as Luna’s fingers danced down Lucifer’s back and Elya’s arms pulled Vina’s head up for a lingering kiss before Lucas eased from her. Vina made a frustrated noise at the loss before Elya and Luna pulled her down to lay between them on the bed. Lucifer stretched out along Vina’s other side, an arm draped over her stomach, the smell and feel of their combined sweat still thick in the air.

Vina turned her head to meet his eyes, the guarded look stripped away from her expression. "Stay the night," she said. "All of it. Don’t slip out for the reports of new threats until morning."

Elya laughed lightly against Vina’s collarbone. "I think she’s speaking for all of us on that score.’’

Luna’s hand curled lightly around Lucifer’s resting in the crook of Vina’s stomach. "The Realm will still be here at dawn. We won’t."

Lucifer looked at the three of them in the red light of the moon, Vina still warm between the other two, Elya’s lips curved, less serious than normal but no less strong while Luna kept her watchful gaze trained on him and he felt the last of the long vigil that had kept him watchful of duty ease away.

"I’m not going to leave."