Sarcasm or Suckage

From: Revelation





Jensen must have dozed off because he startled awake when the sound of the engines stopped.

“We’re here, “Sitri’s announcement made Jensen blink.

“Where exactly are we?” he asked.

“Mastema’s mother has graciously offered sanctuary.” JD stood and hit a button at the cockpit door that sent all the straps that had been holding them in back into the ship’s walls.

“Oh yeah,” Jensen also remembered JD’s cryptically worded statement about Misha’s mother being pissed at him for something his father had done. “She’s not going to be too happy to see me, right?”

Misha looked at him, blue eyes blazing. “We’ve been friends for a few years now, Jensen. I’ve always liked you. Don’t disappoint me now.”

“Don’t be a dick, Jen.” Jared whispered as he followed Jensen out of the transporter.

“I’m just so sick of everyone judging me because of my DNA,” Jensen whispered back. “I’m not the Leonard Abaddon just because I share his genes.”

“That monster killed a third of the population of this world without stopping for a breath.” A new voice caught Jensen’s attention. The woman who had spoken, her double voice like a chime and a gong, was tall, regal-looking and her eyes were very direct.

“Mother!” Misha brushed past Jensen and raced into her wide open arms. Victoria, with West in her arms was close on his heels.

It felt like they were intruding on a private moment so Jensen turned away when he saw the woman’s cheeks grow wet with tears. Jared’s hand on the small of his back kept him in place, knowing his tendency to bolt when emotions ran high.

Eventually they stepped back from each other and Jensen could see the resemblance in their smiles. Misha took her hand and tugged her towards them. “Jen, Jay. This is my mother, the Lady Orias Corson, First of the family of Corson and still the most beautiful woman on Asar.”

The lady flushed a little, but appeared obviously pleased with her son’s introduction. She came towards them with her hands outstretched. “You are welcome to my home.”

Jensen held out his hand and she took it. A moment later it felt like he was downing. He tried to shout in pain but the only sound he made was a gasping breath as his lungs filled with water. She clung to him, eyes blazing with anger.

“Mother!” Misha came up behind her and tried to pull her back but her skin seemed fused to his.

Jensen stopped trying to get away and glared at her. “I am not my father,” he growled and sent his robur screaming through the link of their hands. The power of carnem met ignem and where flesh crisped and burned it now melted and curled.

Orias screamed and yanked her hand away, cradling the mess of skin and bloodied flesh in her other hand. “You are more like your father than you believe,” she spat.

“Mother!” Misha shouted and she spun to look at him. “You are shaming me!” Victoria raced up and placed her hand on Orias’ and soon her hand was returned to its normal state. Victoria shared a glance with Misha, shook her head and went back to where she’d placed West.

“You leave your home for almost three thousand years, leave me to the mercy of the Abaddons, return with their spawn and expect me to be gracious in my welcome?” She straightened up and turned to JD. “Welcome home, Dantalion. I am hoping that your return means that Leonard Abaddon will soon be a hateful memory.”

JD bowed to her. “Lady Orias, I thank you for your hospitality.” Jensen hoped it was irony he heard in his tone.

“It’s about time you came back,” she told him. “What took you so long?”

JD shrugged. “The time was never right, until now.” He looked at Jensen. “The son of Leonard Abaddon gives us an advantage. We have several Firsts of several families and many of the Seconds are willing to join the fight.”

“We don’t want it to come to war though,” Orias cautioned.

JD nodded and patted Jensen’s shoulder. “That is why Samael has come with us. We are hoping that Leonard will not try to kill his son.”

Orias snorted. “That snake will not hesitate to cut off his own arm if it was a threat to his throne.”

Jensen chuckled despite himself and that cobalt gaze veered back to him. “You find this amusing, son of Abaddon?”

“No, ma’am,” Jensen shook his head. “I find it overwhelming and insane and I really just want to get this over with so that I can go home.”

She looked startled. “But you are home,” she said.

“No. I’m not,” Jensen refuted. “Earth is my home, not Asar. When I’ve helped JD here get rid of the guy who gave me half my DNA, I’m getting on the first ship out of here.”

Before she could say anything more, JD stepped in. “Perhaps we should take this inside, we’re slightly conspicuous out here and Sitri needs to activate the cloaking device on the transporter.”

Without taking her gaze from Jensen, Orias nodded. “Of course you are right.” She held out her hand to Jensen once more. “Would you like to accompany me into my home?”

Jared looked worried but JD’s mouth curved in a smile that told Jensen he’d passed some kind of test he hadn’t been aware he was taking. “I’d like that, ma’am,” he offered his arm and she placed her hand there, allowing Jensen to walk inside with him at her side.

Orias sent a girl to get them refreshments and Jensen got his first look-see at an Asarian home. It looked almost Mediterranean with big windows and white walls. Several walls were covered with what looked like intricate tapestries and the furniture seemed fairly basic.

“This doesn’t look like a planet that conquered interstellar flight,” Jared murmured in his ear. Jensen could only nod his agreement.

“Our advanced technology has made us appreciate the simpler things in life,” Orias told them as she gestured to a large space that consisted of several divans, massive cushions and multi-coloured carpets. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Jensen lowered himself carefully onto a divan and relaxed into its plush softness. Jared flopped down next to him, a solid and comforting presence in this increasingly bizarre situation. “You think I’d have gotten used to the weird by now,” he muttered.

Jared snorted. “Dude, you just melted Misha’s old lady’s hand. You are pretty much the king of weird at the moment.”

Jensen looked at Jared. “I want to go home.”

“Click your heels three times, Dorothy,” Jared joked and wrapped his fingers around Jensen’s.

Orias sat on a divan opposite them, West on her lap. “You are mated to this one?” she asked Jensen.

“Hey!” Jared protested. “I’m not just his mate, we’re equals in everything!” Jensen reached out and took Jared’s hand, letting him feel his support. “Well, maybe not everything,” he muttered and Jensen squashed his smile.

Orias looked to JD for help. He smiled. “I apologise, my lady, Jared is a resident of Earth and is Samael’s intended.” Jensen wasn’t sure how he felt about that particular statement but let it go.

“He will die long before Samael,” she told JD.

Jensen sighed. These Asarians kept discussing him like he was deaf or invisible. “Excuse me?” he leaned forward. “That is none of your business and I’d thank you to keep it that way.”

Orias narrowed her gaze. “You are not careful with your speech, Samael.”

“I prefer Jensen, and I really don’t care what you think.” Jensen was done with playing nice. “I know you’re my friend’s mother but all you’ve been is hostile and judgemental and quite frankly, I’m tired of all the crap.”

Misha stepped in. “Perhaps we should eat something, clean up and get some rest, then reconvene at first light,” he suggested. “We’re all pretty exhausted.”

Orias considered this for a moment and then inclined her head. “That is a wise suggestion,” she agreed. “I will send your night beverages to your rooms.” She waved a hand and several people came forward. “They will show you to your chambers.” She stood up and propped West on her hip. “Mastema, Verin and Vetis will come with me to my rooms. I have need for them to stay close tonight.” Misha and Victoria followed her.

She stopped at the doorway. “I bid you welcome and good night.” She turned and left the room in a sweep of skirts. Jensen felt Jared give the same huge sigh of relief that he had.

A tiny girl smiled carefully at Jensen, and indicated for him to follow her. When Jared came with him, she frowned. “I have instructions to show Samael to his own rooms.”

“Honey, where Jen goes, I go.” Jared put a possessive hand on Jensen’s shoulder and Jensen grinned.

“You heard the man,” he told their guide. “Where I go, Jay goes.”

The frowned remained fixed. “It is not customary for unwed couples to share quarters,” she told them.

“We’re not really the normal sort of couple,” Jared confided. “In fact, we’re pretty special.”

Jensen shook his head. “Please just show us to where you were supposed to take me tonight,” he asked. “If the lady has any objections in the morning, I’ll tell her that I bullied you into doing it.”

She considered his offer for a moment and then nodded. “Very well, follow me.” She headed down several passages until she reached a large door made of dark wood. She pushed it open and indicated that they enter.

“Holy shit,” Jared breathed. “I think this is better than any hotel we’ve ever stayed in!” He turned in a slow circle, taking in the high ceilings and the skylight above the huge bed.

“Thank you,” Jensen smiled at the girl and closed the door on her uncertain face.

“I hope she doesn’t get into trouble for this,” Jared was already hanging out of the window, trying to see out into the darkness.

Jensen went into the small bathroom and started stripping. He was tired and felt grimy and just wanted to get into bed. It was hard to imagine that only a couple of hours ago, they’d been in the ship, heading for Asar and now they were here and preparing for war.

“Jen?” Jared came into the bathroom and his eyes went wide when he saw what Jensen was doing. “What’s up?”

“I want to shower and sleep,” Jensen told him. “I’m going to worry about all the political bullshit tomorrow. You okay with that?”

Jared nodded, eyes still big and then he seemed to realise that Jensen was naked. “Do you need someone to scrub your back?” he asked and waggled his eyebrows.

Jensen laughed. “It’s not the same if it’s hot air, Groucho.” He stepped into the cubicle, expecting the short bursts of hot air that he’d become used to on the ship. The fall of hot water took him by surprise. He was a little embarrassed about the yelp when the water hit his skin. “What the hell?”

Jared was next to him a moment later, his big body crowding Jensen in the small space. “I guess we should be conserving water or something,” he stroked his hands down Jensen’s back, calluses slightly rough against the skin.

“You are such a perv,” Jensen teased but his mouth was already against the soft skin of Jared’s throat.

The water was a luxury Jensen hadn’t known he’d missed and his hands took a leisurely path over Jared’s body, reacquainting himself with how Jared’s skin felt when he was wet and slippery and hot.

Jared took the same liberties, tongue and fingers moving over Jensen’s skin, finding spots he’d missed when they were lying down. His hand trailed down the length of Jensen’s spine and then back up again, fingers playing the arpeggio of Jensen’s vertebrae.

Jensen sucked in a breath when Jared tugged at his hair and turned his face up to his. “We’re not married, Jen, not in the eyes of the law, but I feel like you’re my husband. I know that you’re my everything.” He leaned down and kissed Jensen, soft and slow, tongue sweeping into his mouth, owning him.

Jensen pulled back and lifted a hand to Jared’s cheek. “Fuck the eyes of the law,” he told Jared, voice a little shaky because this was important. “In my eyes, we’re already married.”

Jared grinned, that huge, happy grin that never failed to make Jensen respond in kind. “I love you so fucking much, Jen,” he said and kissed him again.

“The feeling is, I swear to you, completely mutual,” Jensen assured him and then Jared’s arms were lifting him, pushing him back against the smooth shower wall.

“I want to fuck you, Jen. Can I?” Jared’s voice was gravel-rough and Jensen knew that it meant he was right on the edge of coming.

“I haven’t got anything with me,” Jensen gasped when Jared sucked a hard bruise into his collarbone. “Do you?”

Jared lifted his head, looking disgusted with himself. “No,” he muttered. “I really wasn’t thinking that we’d get the chance to have sex, you know?”

Jensen nodded. “Blow job?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Sixty-nine?” Jared suggested and Jensen’s cheeks went a little pink. “God, you are so fucking cute when you blush, you prude.”

Jensen gave him a half-hearted kick and winced when he stubbed his toe on Jared’s shin. “You are such a shit sometimes.”

“Good thing you love me, right?” Jared stepped back and out of the shower, dragging Jensen with him. They wandered into the main room, wet and horny and Jared’s hands were all over Jensen.

They tumbled onto the bed together, arms and legs wrapping around each other until Jensen didn’t know where he ended and Jared started. Lazy kisses and wandering hands ratcheted the tension up until Jensen thought he was going to explode.

“Enough,” he ordered Jared and started pushing at his shoulders. “Come on, Jay, I don’t want to come like this.”

Jared glared at him for a moment and then turned so that his face was at Jensen’s cock. “Suck me,” he told Jensen and then Jared’s mouth was moving into a hot, wet slide down his dick.

Jared’s cock waved in front of Jensen’s face and he tried to concentrate on lifting his hand so that he could grab it and hold it in place, but Jared was doing something with his tongue that was making Jensen’s eyes roll back.

The head of Jared’s cock hit him in the face and he hurriedly got with the program before he got a concussion. He opened his mouth and filled it with salty, silky flesh and he moaned around it. He felt Jared’s answering moan and shuddered. This wasn’t going to last long at all.

He ran his tongue along the length of Jared’s cock, tongue slipping into the slit and tasting Jared at his most basic. He pursed his lips and sucked and used his free hand to cup Jared’s balls and roll them between his fingers. He bucked his hips when Jared pressed a finger between his own ball sac and hole and made an undignified noise when Jared’s tongue did something wicked to the head of his cock.

He wanted to return the favour but he felt Jared’s balls tighten in his hand and he moved his fingers to the base of Jared’s dick and squeezed. He was rewarded with Jared’s shout of release and come flooded his mouth. He swallowed as best as he could and pulled off when he felt his own body shake into release.

They were a mess by the time Jared turned back up to him, come running down their chins and making their mouths shiny.

“You’re disgusting,” Jared grinned at him.

“And you’re a sexual deviant,” Jensen told Jared and his mouth curved into a smile.

“We’re fucking perfect for each other,” Jared declared.

“That we are, babe,” Jensen agreed and allowed Jared to wipe him clean(ish) with a corner of the bed sheet. “I wonder if no sex before marriage is one of the rules for non-married couples.”

Jared flopped down next to him, throwing an arm across his chest. “Eh,” he told Jensen’s shoulder, “we’ve probably broken several laws and possibly will be sentenced to death.”

Jensen gave a tired snort. “Or they could force you to marry me,” he suggested. “Misha’s mom is one scary lady.”

Jared opened one eye. “Nobody would have to force me to marry you, Jen.” His voice was soft. “I’ll do it with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I’m so fucking stupid in love with you.”

“I know, Princess Leia,” Jensen teased and then sobered. “I love you more than anything, you know that right?”

“Yeah,” Jared’s mouth curled. “Now get some sleep, Han Solo, we’ve got a planet to save. And I’m not a fucking princess, bitch.”

“Yes dear,” Jensen pressed a kiss against Jared’s temple and was out before the fucker started snoring.



Orias was waiting for them in the living area the next morning. Her severe face was made even more angular by the stern line of her mouth.

Misha, Victoria and West were already awake, West laughing as Victoria poured him a cup of a bright purple liquid. Jensen didn’t bother to look around at his surroundings. All his attention was on Orias.

“I have done something that I am quite sure some of you will not understand.” Orias’ announcement caused all noise to stop.

Misha stared at her. “What is it that you’ve done, Mother?” Jensen’s stomach did a somersault and he sucked a few quick breaths in stay calm.

Orias lifted her chin but kept her gaze on Jensen. “I do not answer to you, Mastema. I am the First of our family and have been making decisions for all of us alone for the many generations that you have been in exile.”

JD stepped into the room, fists clenched at his side. “What have you done, Orias?” he demanded.

Jensen somehow knew what she was going to say before she opened her mouth. “I do not regard this as betrayal, Dantalion. I have invited my cousin for a visit.”

Misha blanched. “You invited Nicor Abaddon here, knowing that our lives are forfeit and that Samael is under our protection?”

Sitri stepped forward and slapped Orias hard across her face. “You are a disgrace to your people and from this moment, you are dead to the family of Merihem.” She was white and furious and JD took her hand and pulled her away.

“We all should just take a minute,” Misha suggested. “Calm down and work out what our next move is.” He stared at his mother and Jensen could see the sadness in his face.

Jensen sat down on the nearest seat, suddenly dizzy. Jared crouched in front of him. “You okay, Jen?” His hazel eyes were concerned and a little afraid.

Jensen could totally relate. “My mother is coming,” he announced and Jared’s big hands rested on his knees, warm and comforting and the only thing that was preventing him from falling apart.

“Did you tell her that Samael was here?” JD’s voice was calm but his eyes were blazing with rage.

Orias shook her head, Sitri’s palm print bright red on her pale cheek. “Of course not!” She sounded offended. “I merely extended an invitation to come and spend some time with me.”

Misha paced the room. “They will put it together.” His gaze went to JD. “They know that there was an unauthorised entry last night. They are aware that I fled Asar with you and am in opposition to Abaddon. It is only a matter of time before they figure out that Samael is here.”

JD pursed his lips, thinking. “Perhaps this can be a good thing for us. If Nicor does come here then we can assess her commitment to Leonard. If the love for her child supersedes that for her husband then we could gain a powerful ally at the heart of the Abaddon camp.”

Victoria spoke up for the first time. “And if her loyalty is to Leonard?”

JD’s face darkened. “Then we take her out and we have one less enemy to worry about.”

Sitri nodded but her gaze was fierce when she looked at Orias. “This absolves you of nothing,” she warned. “Once we win this battle, you are dead to us.”

Orias shrugged. “I honestly don’t care what you think of me. The survival of my family is the only thing of value to me. I have done and will do what I must.”

“You’ve changed so much, Mother. I don’t even know who you are anymore. I am ashamed to be of your blood.”

Misha’s words made Orias’ face go white and her lips trembled. Then she straightened her shoulders. “I have done whatever I had to do in order to survive.” Her mouth firmed. “You left me, left your family and therefore you have no right to judge me. You weren’t here to see what happened. I have an obligation to my family.”

“You chose to side with the man who is responsible for the near extinction of my family!” JD roared and his hands opened and closed as though he wanted to wrap them around her neck.

Orias took a step back and lifted her chin. “You. Were. Not. Here.” She pointed at JD. “You escaped the slaughter, not once, but twice and fled to the sanctuary of a planet near a distant star. You left us behind to deal with the devil.”

Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “I am no martyr, Dantalion. I did what I had to in order to keep the rest of my family alive.”

Misha’s face was half sorrow, half hatred and he shook his head. “I brought them here, expecting sanctuary. Instead, you betray me.”

Orias looked at Misha. “Think what you will. I’ve always done what I thought was best for our family.”

Jensen felt sorry for her then. He stood up and went to her. “I’m sorry for what you’ve been through,” he told her and she stared at him. “I’m not my father’s son. All I want to do is help my friends get rid of Leonard Abaddon and go home with my boyfriend and live out the rest of my life in peace.”

Her eyes were searching. “You are not like him at all,” she noted and then sighed. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Nicor Abaddon will be here within the hour and you will have to either kill your mother or persuade her to betray your father.”

Jared dropped his arm across Jensen’s shoulders, offering his silent support. “Jen’s a good guy, ma’am, you’re judging him on the actions of his father. A father he’s never actually met.”

Jensen relaxed against Jared’s side. He felt able to deal with anything as long as Jared was with him and if that made him a sap, well fuck it.

JD rolled his shoulders. “Okay, all this talking is getting us nowhere. I think we need a plan for when Nicor arrives. Let’s figure out how we’re going to handle this.”



Jensen’s skin itched. He and Jared were in their room, waiting for his birth mother to arrive. JD had told them to wait there until he called them.

“What do you think’s going to happen?” Jared was doing push-ups to work off some of his excess energy.

Jensen shrugged and tried a half-hearted chin-up in the bathroom doorway. “I just want to get this over with and go home, Jay.” He sounded as hopeless as he felt.

Jared stopped and looked at him. “Have you thought about what will happen if you come back home with me?”

Jensen frowned. “Not sure what you mean.”

Jared sat on the ground and crossed his legs. “Your race lives way longer than us humans,” he explained. “I guess that’s why you seem so young even though you’re practically an old man in Hollywood years.”

Jensen flipped him off. “Bitch.”

“Jerk,” Jared grinned and then sobered. “Seriously though, I’ve been thinking…”

“Don’t strain yourself, babe,” Jensen warned with a smirk.

“I’m being serious, Jen!” Jared’s frustration was evident and Jensen shut up.

“Fine, you’ve been thinking…”

“JD and Misha talked about their ‘essence’ surviving after their human bodies died and being transferred and shit. If you come back to Earth with me, I guess that’s what you’re going to have to do.” Jared watched him.

Jensen hadn’t even considered this. “Oh fuck,” he muttered and went back to feeling sick all over again. “God, this is like one of those nightmares that never ends and you just want to shout at someone to please wake you the fuck up so that you can stop dreaming.” His voice rose with each word.

“Jen,” Jared was in front of him, hands on his face, “calm down, you’re freaking out.”

“Of course I’m freaking out!” Jensen yelled. “My life is a fucking alien soap opera!” They stared at each other for a moment and then both of them started laughing.

“God, you’re such a drama queen,” Jared dropped back on his heels and wiped his eyes.

“Hey!” Jensen protested. “This is one time where I think you can give my drama a fairly valid pass.”

A knock on the door startled them and Misha came in. “Nicor has arrived.” He looked worried. “I don’t know how she’s going to react to seeing us but I’m hoping that maternal urges kick in once she knows you’re here.”


He left the room and Jared stared after him. “I don’t really like the Mastema version of Misha,” he said.

“You and me both, babe,” Jensen agreed.

There was shouting from the living area and they both jumped up. Jensen heard JD’s voice and then Orias’ and then another voice he heard often in his head. “Nicor,” he whispered.

Victoria came running in. “We need you!” she gasped and her face was white with fear. “Now!”

Jensen and Jared raced after her and stopped dead when they saw the scene in the living room. Sitri was unmoving on the floor. JD was struggling against invisible bonds, hands and arms wrapped tightly against his body and mouth gasping for air. Orias was lying on the ground, chest heaving and eyes bulging as she sucked in breaths. Misha was the only one who seemed ok but he was surrounded by a huge blaze that kept flickering out.

“Fire needs air to breathe!” Jensen looked at the woman who spoke, her voice a bell and a breath and felt his heart stop.

Nicor Abaddon was beautiful and terrible, her hazel and crimson eyes promising death. “If I take away your air then your flame will die out.”

“Do something! She’s your mother!” Victoria told him and he stared at her in confusion.

“What the hell am I supposed to do?” he demanded and Nicor’s head snapped around.

“Samael,” she breathed and her focus was all on him.

He gulped and said, “let my friends go.”

She glanced at JD and Orias as though she’d forgotten them and with an idle wave of her hand they were free. “There, I have done as you asked.” She held out her arms. “Can a mother request a hug from her son?”

Jensen felt Jared’s fingers touch the small of his back as he stepped forward into her embrace. He allowed her to hold him, too tightly, for a few moments and then pulled back. “I’m Jensen,” he told her.

Her eyes narrowed. “You are no Earth child. You are Samael Abaddon, Prince of Asar and it’s about time you returned home.” Then she smiled. “Your father will be so happy to see you.”

“I’m not going to be staying,” Jensen said.

“What?” She sounded as though she was hearing things. “Of course you’re staying. You’re home.”

Jensen shook his head. “No, I’m going back to Earth as soon as I can.”

“I will not allow it!” Nicor declared.

“You can’t stop me,” Jensen stepped away and stood next to Jared. “I came here to help my friends, not take my place on the Asarian throne. There is nothing in this world that I want.”

“This is your home!” Nicor’s face went a little red and her fists clenched. “You will stay!” Jensen realised that she was quite mad and that reason was never going to work with her.

Nicor was suddenly surrounded by a wall of water and Orias held out her hand to Misha “Help me,” she ordered. Misha obeyed, taking her hand and adding his power to hers.

Nicor laughed. “You would try to hold me with aquem when aerem will just blow it away?”

“We only need to hold you for a moment,” Orias told her and she looked at Victoria. “Now, Verin!”

Victoria moved to stand in front of Orias and Misha. She held out her hand and her smile was very unpleasant. “Your husband will not be able to help you after this.”

Jensen watched in horror as the skin of Nicor’s face started sliding down, melting over her flesh and bones. Nicor began to scream, struggling in the water that bound her.

“This is fucking nuts!” Jared’s voice was ragged and Jensen looked at him. He was pale and shaky and Jensen couldn’t blame him. Victoria was taking Nicor apart, cell by cell.

“Samael!” Nicor called to him, hand held out to him and it was bone and sinew, and Jensen turned his head refusing to acknowledge her plea.

As the flesh hit the floor, JD ignites a fire that burnt it to ash. Nicor’s screams faded as layer after layer of her flesh was flayed and burned. The smell of scorched flesh pervaded the house and Jensen concentrated on breathing through his nose.

“You need to watch this,” JD told him and Jensen’s gaze snapped up to his. “This woman killed thousands, lifted their bodies and threw them off the cliffs so that the Beast of the Fell could feast for months. She did it because she likes to kill.”

Jensen shook his head and looked again at what remained of Nicor Abaddon. There was nothing but a standing skeleton and then fire of ignem moved in and engulfed what was left.

“I pronounce judgement on Nicor Abaddon, First of the Agares family. For the deaths of Laban Merihem and Ipos Merihem and thousands I have no time to name, the sentence is death.” JD looked at Misha, then Orias and Victoria. “Do I have a second?”

“Second,” Misha said, mouth hard.

“Third,” Victoria added.

“So it is passed,” JD said and the fire that had turned Nicor to ash disappeared.

Jensen staggered to a chair and sat down, head between his knees. He was vaguely aware of Jared doing much the same.

“Are you okay?” Misha’s hand pressed between his shoulder blades and the same hand that had just made Nicor vanish was a warm comfort against Jensen’s skin.

“Was that really the only action you could take?” Jared asked.

Jensen lifted his head again and looked at JD. Sitri was standing by him now, blood running down the side of her face from where she’d hit the wall when Nicor had attacked her.

“Yes,” JD rubbed his eyes. “She would have returned to Leonard and told him that you were here and refusing to come back to them. And then he’d have brought an army and it would have become very messy.”

“Messy?” Jensen jumped to his feet and pointed to the spot where Nicor had stood. “You just melted a person, JD! That was fucking messy!”

Orias fell to her knees suddenly and she clutched her chest. “Mother!” Misha ran to her side. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to one of the divans. Victoria and Sitri pushed him out of the way and ran their hands over her.

“I can find no wound,” Sitri announced.

“I am not wounded,” Orias told them. “Nicor’s bonds of air crushed something, burst something inside. The bleeding will not stop.”

Misha’s eyes were frantic. “Do something!” he begged his wife.

She shook her head. “I’m finished, there’s nothing left,” she admitted and her shoulders drooped. “Killing Nicor took everything from me.”

Misha’s gaze moved to Jensen. “Help her?”

Jensen exchanged glances with Jared and he stepped closer. “I don’t know what to do,” he said.

“I’ll guide you,” Victoria told him.

Jensen focused on his hands, felt the heat of carnem thrumming through his veins and he nodded. “Okay, tell me.”

“Place your hands on her chest,” Victoria instructed and Jensen obeyed. “Now, slowly send some of your robur into her body, focus on healing not harming.”

Jensen stared at her. “How the fuck do I do that?”

“Hush,” Victoria ordered. “Concentrate.”

Jensen closed his eyes and immediately felt more in control of his robur. He could feel it coiling over his hands and fingers like a living thing. Suddenly, he could hear the laboured beating of a heart, the sound of lungs shredded. He opened his eyes again and looked at Orias. “I’ve got this,” he declared and sent the tendrils of carnem into her body, sliding through her veins like a snake.

He thought about healing and fixing and his robur obeyed. It moved through Orias slowly, pushing bones back into place, sewing torn flesh together. He heard her breath even out, the choppy and pained quality easing back until she was breathing normally again. When he stepped back from her, he fell over, Jared catching him moments before he hit the floor.

“Whoa,” he said, feeling dizzy and a little high. “That was fucking intense.”

Jared’s arms were tight around him. “I think I’m going to get him to lie down for a while,” he told the others.

Misha grabbed Jensen’s hand. “Thank you,” he said. “I will never be able to repay you for this.”

Jensen waved a hand, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “A threesome might be nice sometime in the future.” Jared’s sputtered protest was covered by Misha’s relieved laugh.

“Careful, Jen,” he teased. “I just may take you up on that.”

Jared pulled Jensen’s arm across his shoulders and wrapped his other arm around his waist. “Keep your hands off my guy,” he told Misha and half-carried Jensen out.

“Wouldn’t want to do it anyway, Jay,” Jensen assured him. “You’re the only one I want in my bed. The only one I need.”

“You’d better remember that, babe,” Jared laughed and helped him onto the bed. “I think Misha thinks he might be in with a chance.”

“No chance,” Jensen was asleep before Jared could reply.

To: Salvation