Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Eighteen

We don't go to the pool to bathe, rather, we go for a walk along Dark Ninth's trail from the prison.

I mentioned I'd like to go to the clear water pond that Neptune originally introduced me too.

So, I now sit in the clear water of Dark Ninth. The water provides a soft, cool kiss for my skin and cleans me quickly. Mars agreed to keep me company, he didn't want to swim.

The prison looms, while the three moons – their three mothers, gaze down at us with artificial light.

I float through the water, on my back, even though the water is not very deep.

I stare up.

Mars switches from pacing along the edge, to stripping from his suit. He changed his mind after all; or perhaps I was too tempting to continue gazing in at from a distance... when he could just join and put aside his Kor patience.

I am not trying to seduce Mars, however.

Right now, I am reflecting, absorbing, and growing into the role of Fey Empress... and I'll admit, I was also recovering from Pluto's venom. What a ride that was.

Mars finally dips into the water, he is naked at the corner of my eye but I don't stare.

I love how his green velvet skin matches the Dark Ninth nature. I look up and Mars dunks his head in and comes up with wet midnight curls and dark eyes focused on my position, as he wades across to sit in a corner of the clear water and keeps me company.

I sit up in the water and kneel, then I paddle toward him.

"When we go home, we will all take a bite of you," I repeat his threat to me on Earth, "Your blood," I try to mimic his threatening tone, teasing him.

"Your blood is ours," Mars states his fact and blinks slow, however, he doesn't seem amused by my teasing. His dark eyes remain half closed as he watches me place a hand on his knee. He slowly looks up at me, floating in front of him, closer and closer, a curious look in my eye.

"Well it's not all bad," I shrug, "Nine bites. That's nine gifts of venom. I've had Pluto. I'm guessing you'll take me now–" I whisper.

Mars puts a hand on me.

My belly.

His hand splays across it, warm and gentle, while my hand stays on his knee.

We are connected like this, skin to skin.

"...you won't rush that punishment into reality, no matter how nervous you are, you'll wait little one... be quiet and listen to me," Mars shakes his head, "We hunted human women a long time ago. But not like this. Out of pure menace – we just lived by our drives. We're experts at that. This is the first time we are choosing different... you changed us... you are the first time that we are living beyond our darkest instincts," I open my mouth to ask why, but I don't have to, as Mars explains, "...we didn't plan it this way... Diana... we didn't plan on agreeing to share a female... we didn't plan on keeping you around... we have always been exclusive. Always. Females are not beneath us, they are simply not a part of us, we don't integrate well with social species, hence the prison the Feys confined us within," he reads my expression deeply, and I wonder if Mars can tell I'm getting used to this, leaning down so his eyes are level with mine, "Female mates are every male's greatest weakness. Your mere existence is your greatest strength. We are weary of such weakness, we are creatures of concentrated power – that is why we watch you closely. We watch all others closely. What is important to us, is gold to others. Even so, we all have our limitations. For one, we can't twist the fate of us. I never wanted to fall in love with you – barely knowing anything about you, other than your need to be free, a Dark Nine on Earth... but when I saw you for the first time... it must have been what Venus felt for Cinta – the kind of poison to drive a man insane..." he trails off and every part of me comes alive like fireworks.