A/N: This takes place 2 1/2 years forward; its safe to assume Lev has become the Meowth of Team LoliRocket and Deinos amd Kakos have joined them as well; also safe to assume Nat is aware of Ephedia by now...

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"Please tell me you're joking."

"Not even a bit."

"Dude, nobody could ever pull this off!" Mephisto whined, a pleading look in his olive eyes.

"You brought this on yourself, dude! You should've prepared yourself before you came at me with a game involving dares." Lev smirked, a look of achievement on his face. He knew he would win. Mephisto was easy to entertain and gullible enough to take on any challenge. The teal haired twin boys chuckled from next to them, with Prax grinning at her brother's misery, taking a pause from filing her nails.

"Next time somebody gives you the option of playing Truth or Dare, say no." Praxina smirked as Mephisto glared at her from his seat below her.

"Not helping, sis!" He growled and she rolled her eyes.

"It's not my fault you let the secret of your now uneventful sex life fall into the hands of a thief who gets moment's highs off a child's game." Praxina shrugged, ignoring the mutual glares of the boys.

"Prax!"

"I resent that...But a dare is a dare." Lev grinned.

"I am NOT going to sleep with one of the princesses. I'd be dead before I even land! Also, isn't there, like, a law against this or something?" Mephisto blushed, pouting at his latest dilemma.

"Oh, so you'll blow up a factory in the name of Gramorr, betraying your own planet, but you can't get laid? I'm starting to see the problem here." Lev crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah, and how's it going with Iris? Hm?" Mephisto shot back, smirking as the platinum blonde Ephedian paled, his smile falling. The Infernal Twins laughed and jeered at the teen, earning a silencing glare.

"Alright, big man, just for that, I'm gonna make a few rules." Lev smirked again, causing Praxina to perk up in attention. This was gonna get even more entertaining than before.

"Oh, thank good-!"

"Any one but Iris and your favorite princess."

"...Prax..." Mephisto squeaked, turning red as the twins and Lev laughed at his embarrassment.

"What? He made me." Prax went back to filing her nails, a satisfied smile on her lips.

"How could he possibly convince you to tell him that?!" Mephisto bellowed, throwing his arms out dramatically.

"He said, 'Hey, does Mephisto have a crush on Auriana?' and I said 'Yeah.'"

Mephisto crossed his arms, his tone deadpan, "You're the worst."

"Thanks. I do my best." She smiled, admiring her handiwork.

"That's gotta be against the rules! Right?!" Mephisto cried, standing and turning to Lev.

"The only rule I know of is if you chicken out, you lose. And that makes you the weakest link." Lev smiled a toothy grin, and Mephisto wanted to break his perfect teeth.

"But that only leaves me with, like, three choices! Three terrifying, deadly, also, TERRIFYING choices! Did I mention deadly?!" Mephisto rambled.

"True." Lev tapped at his chin, "But if you don't go through with it, not only are you the cave chicken, we get to put the blame on you if we lose the next oracle gem, aaaand you're on cave cleaning duty for the rest of the month."

"I like where this is going." Praxina chuckled, landing next to her brother.

"Hate you. Hate you both." Mephisto gave a half lidded glower.

"So what's it gonna be?" Lev grinned as he stood.

Mephisto's frown deepened as they waited in anticipation for his answer. The last thing he wanted was to be the weakest link. Hell, he was more powerful than the twins and much more skilled then Lev, but he had made a fool of himself more times than he'd like in front of practically everyone and losing an oracle gem was worthy of the dark lord's wrath more than anything else. Also, cave duty for almost a month? It was a never ending mess! Seriously, it was never clean! So. Many. Corners!

"Fine! I'll do it. But what do I get in return?"

"Other than laid?" The tan twins joked, finding spots to lounge on now that the show was over.

Mephisto glared at them, "I hate you two the most."

"Goal achieved!" Zeinos and Deinos high five each other, laughing.

"Then I'll take the fall next time and the twins will get cleaning duty since they never clean after themselves." Lev glared at the boys who shrugged him off.

"Deal!" Mephisto grinned, shaking Lev's hand, "You're gonna wish you never made a deal with the Great Mephisto!"

"We'll see about that." Lev smirked, crossing his arms as he followed the violet haired teen to the cave opening.

"And bring proof! I know when you're lying!" Praxina jumped in, leaning on Lev's shoulder as she pointed accusingly at her brother.

"Fine! I will!" The boy disappeared in a flash of black and green light, leaving his older sister and their blue eyed teammate at the cave edge with amused, half-lidded smiles.

"He's gonna die." Lev smirked.

"Yup." Praxina checked her nails, bored now that her brother had escaped their clutches.

)0(

Mephisto was relieved when he came upon the seaside home of the princesses. The sun was setting behind him as evening set in, the sky now a concoction of orange and pinks melting into a deep blue. He pondered his choices through his head. Iris and Auriana were off limits to him, which left Talia, Lyna, and Carissa. He scratched at his chin, sitting in midair as he thought over his options.

Carissa was a definite no. On the upside, they hardly knew each other and they could easily act as if nothing happened. Downside, she was the most loyal to the Royals' cause and would probably crush him faster than he could say 'Ateruina'. She was terrifying. He wasn't to big on blue eyes anyways and her strength was beyond his comprehension. He'd pass on the broken bones.

The other option was Talia. Cold, calculated, uptight, and probably the most dangerous of choices. While taking on the princesses' leader would be legendary, she was extremely intimidating and strict, and would probably neuter him with her staff on the spot. On the upside, she was familiar, and while not his type, had an unusually tempting persona that seemed almost untouchable. And he'd rather leave her untouched for his own safety.

Lastly, there was Lyna. She was new to him, flirtatious, and very pretty. She was more his type with her openness, but off putting with her high standards. He didn't really know what to expect from her, but open was what he needed at the moment. She's do. Or rather, he'd do her.

He gulped as he flew over the building, rounding the corner to the bedrooms. He opted for the only lit room with a set of windows parted at the center and next to a bed. It was large enough to fit through, more so than the others, and he used his magic to lift the latch. He slid in awkwardly, taking in the silence of the home. He could hear his own heart pounding against his ribcage and his body shook with adrenaline. With their little, beastly creature nowhere to be seen, he took it upon himself to investigate his whereabouts. The large bed was covered by gold bedding and rows of shimmering tulle hung from the ceiling. The wooden floors glimmered in the light and he had to take to walking to avoid the lantern light at the center of the room. He gave the room a once over, taking in the vases and plants, the organized closet and the even more detailed violet desk covered in earthly technology and books. A lone instrument laid against it, but it didn't look like it would fit in the more rounded case across the room. Turning about the room, he was amazed at the endless amount of books in the glass cases on the walls. He wondered if there were spell books hidden in there. His curiosity beat him to the punch, his hands prying open the latch with a click. He snatched up the first book he could find, and found himself enthralled by the mystical beings, gods and monsters, lessons and lore. He was much too distracted to notice the brunette behind him, gaping at her unwelcomed visitor. She used her magic to shut the doors, causing him to yelp and drop the book on his foot. He turned abruptly, instinct taking over as he prepared to fight. His eyes widened as he came across Talia looking much less regal in her blue and white sleeping shorts and draped red tank. Her hair was wrapped in a towel all kinds of silly on her head, but she looked more than ready to attack. And it made him laugh harder than he expected. She stared at him baffled at first, but went back to her icy glare, "What are you doing here? Where are the others?!"

"Oh...oh God, your face was hilarious!" He laughed, wiping his eye theatrically.

"You've got five seconds." Her eyes narrowed as her hands began to glow with a familiar crystal blue.

"Calm down, calm down, I'm not here to fight!" He replied, his breathing returning back to normal, "Is Lyna here?"

"What? Lyna doesn't live here! Why are you here, and what do you want with our friend?!" Talia demanded, still on the defense.

"She doesn't? Bummer...Now what am I gonna do?" He groaned, pushing back his bangs in exasperation.

"How about telling me what's going on?" Talia's scowl deepened, "Before I give you a crystal smack down."

"Wait. Y-you could help me!" Mephisto paused, realization dawning on him. He was to far into this hole, might as well dig one that was six feet under.

"What?" Talia looked nearly offended at the idea.

"Just let me explain, okay!" Mephisto winced, blushing a deep crimson, "I, uh, kinda have a dare to complete..."

"What kind of dare?" Talia raised an eyebrow, finally letting her guard down a bit.

"Well..." He gulped, "Lev dared me to, how do I put this, be with one of you princesses."

"Be?" Talia's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Y'know...Be." Mephisto grimaced as a wave of understanding passed over her features, her nose scrunching in distaste.

"Not on your life." She gave a deadpanned stare, crossing her arms.

"Yeah. I saw that coming. Dammit. Where are the others?" Mephisto stood, scratching at his head.

"Aunt Ellen went to the farmer's market downtown and Iris and Auriana took Amaru to the park. They're meeting up with Matt there." Talia moved passed him to pick up her fallen book. He paused as the aroma of cinnamon sugar and jasmine tingled his senses, and he almost inhaled deeply before realizing it would not help his case in the slightest.

"It can't be either of them." Mephisto frowned, his cheeks reddening, "Iris is off limits and it can't be my crush either."

"Of course not, they're not legal on thi...did you just admit to crushing on Auriana?" Talia froze, eyes wide as she paused in placing the book on the shelf.

"Uh...no?"

Talia snorted in response, followed by an irritated eye roll, "Why did I think that you'd be any different?"

"So...who's Matt?" Mephisto looked to the floor to hide his face before catching her hard stare.

"Auriana's friend."

"Oh?"

"Auriana's good friend."

"Oh..." He flushed, ignoring his own disappointment, "So the other two..."

"Live elsewhere." She closed the doors shut.

"Then I'm screwed." Mephisto sighed, falling back to sit on her bed, "Gramorr's gonna have my head sooner than my own embarrassment. Yippee. Word of advice, don't trust the pretty boys. They're assholes. And immature thieves."

Talia smirked, "Look whose talking."

"Not me, Le- did you just call me an asshole?" Mephisto's eyes widened.

"Indirectly, yes."

"So...you indirectly also called me pretty." He grinned, enjoying the astonishment in her look.

"I most certainly did not!"

"Yeah, you did. Maybe you want me after all, princess." Mephisto chuckled, leaning towards her and grasping at her chin.

Her eyes widened and something he couldn't pinpoint flashed through them, but she quickly backed away, crimson playing on her features, "Maybe I want you to leave."

"Maybe you want me to stay." Mephisto raised an eyebrow. He liked this game.

"Get out!" She huffed, hitting him with a pillow.

"Okay, okay! Geez, Talia! I was kidding. I wasn't intending on asking you anyways." Mephisto bit back, shielding himself.

"Excuse me?"

"What, like you're surprised? No offense, but you're not the most open and understanding person in the galaxy. Nobody gets a good lay out of the cold prude." Mephisto stated as her jaw dropped.

"I am not-"

"You are."

"I am not! Just because you haven't seen me that way because you're too busy drooling over everyone else doesn't mean that I don't have that kind of capability. You're just like everyone else, you make assumptions about me! I'm sorry I can't be like your unreachable fantasy, but in case I wasn't clear, Auriana's not interested, and she's practically into every guy she meets. Just not you. Quit acting like you have room to judge!"

"It could happen!" He argued back. How dare she! It could totally happen if she saw him in a different light other than...Oh. Damn, she got him there.

"It literally couldn't. Get over it." She crossed her arms, glaring at him with a sneer.

"Wha-well...you know what, fuck you and the high horse you fly around on!" He snapped, standing to face her, pine baring in on gold.

"How dare you! Don't get upset because you got the truth, and your dumb ass, handed to you!" Talia growled back, stepping forward to confront him, her face burning at his close proximity. The absolute nerve of him, barging in on her, asking for a quick lay, and offending her the way he did. She was a princess for the queen's sake! And he was, he was a madman's minion! A damn traitor!

"And you don't like it when someone returns the favor, huh, Talia? I'll say it again!" He sneered, "Fuck you."

"A peculiar choice of last words!" She gritted her teeth, blood ringing in here ears.

"Fuck Xeris!"

"You've got five seconds..."

"Bull. Those five seconds ended a while ago, so without further ado, Your Royal Jerk-face, FUCK YOU!"

"THEN DO IT!"

They glared at each other with fiery tension, their chests heaving from screaming. Mephisto was the first to register her words, his lips parting as his cheeks colored. Talia's face flushed as her eyes grew wide and she bit her lip in embarrassment, "Mephisto, I-!"

He didn't give her much time to finish before he closed the distance between them, rough and bruising, but she made no move to part ways. She could feel the blood rushing to her face as his hands knocked off the towel on her hair, damp, chocolate tresses falling to her shoulders, cool against her searing skin. His gloves hands combed through it, as he pulled her in deeper, and she felt almost guilty as she pressed her lips to his hungrily, falling into the kiss. He parted from her then, his legs hitting her mattress as they fell into it. He stared at her with a bewildered daze, emerald pools glimmering brightly as they battled between confusion and excitement. Her breath shook as she exhaled, and her hair fell over her shoulders as she hovered over him, eyes glowing, a mix of lust and resistance within her.

"N..no take backs? Right?" His voice was smaller than she expected, and she tensed as he pushed her hair behind her ear, releasing a shiver at the gentleness of his touch. She silently berated herself for leaning into his touch, and even he, himself, seemed bewildered by the way he could soothe her. This could be a trick. A really sick, twisted, amazing trick. But they way he took her breath away was too real, and she found herself unable to recall why this was a bad idea. She bit her lip, and he raised an eyebrow, and she realized he really was unsure of what was going on. She mentally cursed him for being so readable and, as usual, oblivious. He was almost innocent. Almost. For an evil twin, he wasn't the best at hiding his thoughts. Using her magic, she shut the door, sealing it off.

"Fine. No take backs. But not a word to the girls and if you're lying to me, if this is a trick, I will destroy you with my bare hands." She glared, her voice at a dangerous octave. He responded with a boyish smile, nodding enthusiastically.

"Deal! As long as we're both game! Oh! And I have to get proof." He looked thoughtfully as she sat up.

"Don't worry about that right now." She murmured as she pulled her tank over her head and dropped it to the floor, "I'm...It's been a while, so I may require your assistance. I'm your main focus from now on, understood?"

He nodded, whatever he had planned to say dying off as his eyes raked over her. She was much more toned than he expected, with years of training and dancing paying off in every way he could imagine, and he made a mental note of just how voluptuous the Xerian was under all those jackets. His hands trailed over the curves of her waist to her hips, and he found himself removing his gauntlet and gloves as soon as possible. He swallowed hard as she popped open the latch of his cape with a curled finger, pushing it off his shoulders as she lowered herself to met his lips and he couldn't help but admire the way the satin, baby blue fabric of her bra stood out against rich café au lait skin. He let out a shaking breath as her inviting lips grazed his, and outright moaned as she kissed him, her slender fingers running through his hair and dragging across his scalp in a graze, making him melt into the sheets. Her skin was like velvet, her full lips sweeter than Ephedian Zingleberries and the more he sucked on them the more delicious they seemed; his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer, dragging his tongue over her lips to lessen the distance between them. It had been so very long since he had been this close with a girl, and he was eager to remind himself of every way her body was made differently from his. She mewed in response, parting her lips as his tongue grazed her own. She was hesitant at first, and he could feel the muscles of her body tighten before loosening under the attention of his now bare hands. He was definitely wrong on calling her cold; Talia was hot, and he was getting seriously heated under her touch.

Kissing her was almost similar with physically fighting her. She was a quick learner, making calculated and may he just say, extremely effective, moves against him, attentive in the way she'd egg him on when she dragged her teeth across his lips, and powerful in as she clearly dominated him in their tongue tied stupor, but she still kept him guessing. He gasped as she began to grind her hips against him, pulling from her lips. She laughed, and he bit back a moan as she swirled her hips over him, and he let out a deep hiss. She stifled a laugh, "Did you really just..."

"What of it?" He rasped, struggling to keep her gaze as he darkened a deep cherry.

"I thought it was just a fashion statement or an obsession but you're actually..." Her eyes widened.

"It's a family thing, okay!" He growled, pouting a bit.

"Well that explains the tongue..." She said thoughtfully, tilting her head.

"I was born with it that way, I didn't go chopping it up if that's what you're thinking..." He scowled, already embarrassed enough. Most black crystal magic users were born with traits resembling their magical emblem, such as Prax's long lashes and slender figure like a buttery or Lev's white hair like an eagle. He just happened to get more physical traits than others. His tongue, teeth, and eyes being the most prominent. It also didn't help that he had some instinctual traits either.

"I'm not implying anything. I was just thinking it'll come in handy in a bit." She smiled playfully and his excitement grew at the very image. A playful Talia was very new to him, and he was sure that it would be the very death of him if she kept looking at him like that. She rolled her hips over his growing bulge like she rolled her tongue over the fork in his own and he growled in response as he rolled over to top her. She seemed surprised, but welcomed his advances as he descended upon her, grazing over the caramel flesh between her breasts as he pinned her down by her wrist, grinning at the shudders that wracked her body as she whispered his name in his ear. That was a sound he could definitely get use to hearing. His heart sped as he recalled the excitement and curiosity shimmering in her luteous orbs a moment ago, and he planned to give her more than just that. Guaranteeing she would be unable to flip them over, he quickly moved to unbutton his jacket, grinning as gold trailed over his porcelain skin in a near trance. His ego grew, being able to be admired by a princess, especially one from a kingdom known for being proper and professional. And yet even she couldn't deny the way she ogled his body as he let it fall to the floor, completely forgotten. She chewed at her lip as she waited, her brows turning upward in concentration, and he let himself slip in admitting she was by all means alluring. She was capable of being both cute and sexy without even trying and he thought that maybe she should've been his first choice after all. Not that he'd ever let her know that. She was proud enough already.

She raised an eyebrow and a devious glint in her eye made him swallow hard as she stood abruptly, aiding him it unbuttoning his undershirt. With his chest bare to her, she seemed almost shy, but immediately shook it off as she pushed it off his shoulders. He cocked his head to the side, a cheeky grin on his lips, "What? Better than you expected, princess?"

She glared at him, a deep ruby dusting her nose marking the silent truth. She was definitely more attracted to him than before. Saying he looked good was an understatement and telling him he was 'alright' wouldn't suffice. He was no longer the string bean teen she had met years ago, but lean and toned, even a little scarred from their previous encounters. Her touch was feathery and he trembled at the delicacy of her hands that roamed over his body, articles of clothing falling to the wooden floor boards with light thumps. He jolted back at a flash of blue, only to be pushed from behind onto the bed. He sat up, his mouth parted at the sudden roughness, but Talia let out a string of laughter and he could only respond with an impish grin. She was much more fun then she let on. A sultry, confident smile made the hair on the back of his neck rise in attention as she sunk to her knees in front of him, sliding off the remainder of his clothing. He aided her in removing it, his mouth dry as he watched her ponder where to start.

When Talia told him she was new to this, she wasn't lying. She had never been with anybody and she had hardly allowed herself to get too close to past boyfriends due to her mission. Now here she was with, of all people, her enemy's throbbing cock in her face and unsure of how to win this battle. She let out a deep breath and he tensed at the chill. Her curiosity sparked, she decided to test his sensitivity and go through with her plan; she enjoyed a challenge anyways.

Her fingers wrapped around his shaft, soft and firm, and as she began to stroke him, he threw his head back with an aroused groan, his eyes squeezing shut. Amused, she began to apply more pressure, occasionally picking up speed in a mix of patterns and running her thumbs over the head, threading the precum in slow circles, earning encouraging thrusts against her. The way his chest heaved and his breath hitched became addictive and she wanted nothing more than to overrun his senses with pure pleasure. Needless to say, she was doing exactly that. His eyes shot open in surprise and he blurted out her name as she ran her tongue up the side of his erection to the tip, her lips parting as she took him in, her tongue swirling to taste his salty flesh, his flavor new and slightly overwhelming. He panted above her, his eyes closing as she took more of him into her mouth, using her hands along the base as she sucked harder, driving him closer and closer to the edge. Her tongue coated his dick as she searched every inch for weak spots, paying special attention to when he jerked into her or let out a string of curses in a language not even she could recognize. She relished in the control and seeing him writhe against her, his hand balled in her chestnut curls, tightening with every graze of her tongue and every flick of her wrist. It was empowering. His eyes fluttered open and his eyes were dark, lost in the way the hot cavern of her mouth felt as she devoured him. He was getting so close, but he didn't want her to stop. He was trapped in a sweet torment, unable to tear his eyes away from the smoldering golden orbs, glowing like fresh embers, daring him to stop her. She felt so good around him, but he didn't want to end anything before it started. Sensing his predicament, she smiled around him, dragging her tongue over him as she released him, giving the head as lasting drag before smirking triumphantly at him. He was pretty sure he died then and there.

"Too much for the 'Great Mephisto', am I?" She giggled, and he adored her for it.

"I-I don't think t-they teach you that in X-Xeris..." He chuckled, and she blushed.

"Practice makes perfect." She grinned, getting back to her feet, "Or in this case, beginner's luck." She winked at him and he gaped at her before laughing, "Well, Princess, allow me to be the first to show you what practice can lead to."

"Now you're just being cocky." Talia rolled her eyes as he pulled her in for a chaste kiss.

"Talia...did you just slip in a dick joke?" He looked at her incredulously.

"Oops?" She covered her mouth, stifling laughter.

"Oh my god, you did. I'm totally rewarding you for that atrocious masterpiece." He sighed, groping at her sculpted thighs as he nuzzled against her flat stomach. It should be against the law to have an ass so defined, shame on her.

"A reward? What could you possibly give me?" She bit her lip again, and

he recognized it as a habit she seemed to have when her curiosity had been sparked.

"Let's put these magic hands to work. And if you sing for me, I might show you just how talented this tongue of mine really is..." He grinned, leaving a trail of bites and kisses down to her hip bone as he dragged her shorts to the floor. She quickly kicked them to the side before he guided her onto the bed, making room for her to lie beside him on the sunny satin. He thumbed at her jawline, and her eyes fluttered shut at his touch. He watched her as her lips parted slightly and goosebumps built along her buttery skin from his touch. Her thick lashes were dark and a rosy hue kissed her skin as he touched her. Her lips were a bit swollen and reddening from her work on him and her damp cocoa tresses stuck to her skin in a mix of fresh water and sweat, the evening light from outside creating a warm glow over her lingerie clad body. He wanted to memorize every inch of her near angelic frame, but right now, there were a couple of things in the way.

His hands fumbled with the hooks of her bra, and she chuckled at the low, impatient growl he released before unhooking it herself. He continued his attentions as she pulled it off, fondling her breast slowly as he ran his teeth over her earlobe. She moaned at the sensations, her hands tracing over his own as he played with her, guiding him to where she wanted and needed to be touched. He ran his thumb over her peaks before circling one with his tongue and she felt lightheaded as the burning between her legs grew. She could feel his fangs grazing her skin, and she was thankful that he was carefully trying to keep them from digging into the supple flesh. She had never wanted to be closer to him than now and she hated him for it. His usual countenance was loud, selfish, and reckless, but everything about the way he pleasured her carried the idea that he was passionate, considerate, and playful. He even seemed to enjoy pleasing her specifically. It was definitely not what she expected, the whole scenario was ludicrous in its own right, but it was everything she wanted and more. Her self control was disappearing as he suckled at her, pinching and tugging, biting at the bruising flesh and making her release such obscenities it would put all of Ephedia to shame. Her fingers tangled in his wine locks and she shouted out his name as he swirled his tongue around her perky nipple, arching her back to release the tension between them. She bucked her hips against him, the glossy fabric caressing his throbbing member. A throaty moan erupted from his lips, and his eyes flickered to hers, flashing darkly. A toothy grin sent chills down her spine and she was pretty sure he would devour her whole if given the opportunity.

"Getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren't you, Talia?" He husked, his voice like hot gravel as he hovered over her, ringing with a whirl of sexual desperation. If she kept moving like that, he'd fall apart. The princess blushed, a sheepish smile on tugging on her lips over her impatience.

"As much as I enjoy the attention, I don't think it's right to withhold my reward." She could feel her heartbeat rising as he tilted his head, licking his lips as he slid down to settle between her legs. She tensed as she watched him, his eyes locking hers with his as he hooked his fingers around the delicate, creamy lace, pulling it down the legs he hoped to have wrapped around his waist later on. She swallowed hard as he laid them to the side, gripping her thighs and parting her legs. She colored quickly, closing them as he laughed in amusement.

"A little late for that, don't you think, princess?" She glared at him as she slowly relaxed, distracted by the way his lips pressed against her skin as he created at trail of light kisses across her inner thigh. His name played on her lips as her eyes fluttered closed and he found her adorable in that moment. She seemed much more innocent than before. And he would have none of it.

His thumb glided over her slit, and he hummed at how wet she was; he felt his pride growing, being capable of bringing the Xerian warrior to her knees and causing her river to flow just for him; it was unreal. He loved it. His breath on her was like static and she whimpered in response, biting on her knuckle as he toyed with her. A part of her was afraid he'd actually go through with his threat, but she wanted him inside her more than she wanted to breathe at the moment and his withdrawal was downright maddening.

The feeling of his tongue glazing over her folds caused her to scream, and she quickly moved to cover her mouth out of shock and embarrassment. He grinned against her, running his tongue over her clit as her legs pushed into his sides. He wrapped his arms under them, trapping her in place and sucking at the sensitive nub as she lurched beneath him. She tasted heavenly, and the way she reacted to him was enthralling. She was unhinging already, but she was putting up a fight. Typical Talia.

He drove his tongue into her, lashing with a new found speed as she bucked her hips, her face flushing as her body trembled. He grazed over her clit in lazy circles, replacing his tongue with his fingers. She sobbed into her hand and he glared at the action. She couldn't hide from him forever. He added a second finger, pumping rapidly into her as she gasped, squeezing her inner thighs around him as she took fist fulls of her sheets.

He peered at her, and frowned as she bit down on her lower lip as she prevented another echo of pleasure from escaping her.

"Scream for me, Talia."

"Never." Her tone was strained, her glare faltering.

"You know you want to..." He chuckled, thumbing at her in a steady rhythm.

"You can't make me."

"Wrong choice of words, princess." He grinned wickedly as he gave her lips a long drag, making sure to flick his tongue over her clit at a powerful pace. She all but sobbed out his name in response and he repeated the gesture, shamelessly delighted in the sensual moans that echoed off the walls. Oh, could she sing, but only for him. She would scream for him and never tell a soul. It was their little secret. Her form shook with the rippling bliss that overcame her as he lapped up her juices, and he couldn't deny her when she begged for him, a pleading gleam in her eyes. It was a new look on her, but he decided he was a fan of every look that graced her perfect features. He kissed up her form, tasting the sweat slick curves of her body until he found himself eye to eye with the spellbound beauty. His hand drove faster into her, and all she could do was cry out as she spilled over. It was a near magical sight watching her unravel, her brows furrowed and her lips parted as low whimpers escaped her in uneven breaths.

"And that's just the beginning." He grinned, mounting her, pinning her wrist by the sides of her head. He cocked his head to the side, loosening his grip, "You...you're sure?"

"If you stop I'll kill you." She rasped, and he let out a husky laugh before kissing her, positioning himself at her entrance. He nuzzled her neck as he pushed into her, taking it slow. By Zaterra, she was tight. He paused in surprise, "Talia? Are you a-?"

She let out an annoyed growl as she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in completely. The sound he made was a mix of a startled scream and a gurgled moan at the overwhelming heat as she enveloped his length. She hissed at the spark of pain that shot through her before sending him a determined glare, "No."

He laughed outright, kissing her neck affectionately as he tried to catch his bearings. He pulled out slowly, whimpering quietly as she coated him in her nectar, her fingernails grazing at the nape of his neck as she nibbled at his ear. This woman was driving him crazy. He thrusted into her and she mewed in such a melody he was afraid he'd come undone then and there. She began to raise her hips to meet him, working over in her mind how to match his frenzied pace as her nails left ruby trails along his back. Her entire body felt like a hot cauldron about to boil over and the fluttering build between her legs left her in an intoxicated haze. The more he moved the more she was desperate to feel every inch of the milky skin, now slick with sweat. She was beginning to become engulfed in his very being, his scent eloping with her own and clouding her senses as his sheen body became entangled with her own in a lustful mess of a masterpiece. The way he hissed in her ear and made promises of making her lose control only drove her to tighten her grip on him. She almost groaned at the way he dominated her, and she couldn't handle the idea of giving into him completely just yet. She was going to lose herself to him, she couldn't deny that, but she wanted to come out on top.

She mustered up her strength, sitting upward and hooking her legs around his waist. He eagerly compensated her for the new position, marveling in the way she moved in his lap. She shut her eyes tightly at the sensation, gasping as he penetrated her deeper, her hands grasping at his shoulders in an attempt to steady herself. She bounded against him, riding out waves of stimulation in its rawest form, forgetting her split moment of control to shout his name into the oncoming night, her nails dragging down his shoulder blades.

"Fuck, Talia...you feel amazing..." He hissed, nuzzling and nipping at her breast as they bounded with her movements, his hands caressing the small of her back. He pulled at her wrist, pulling her closer to him with a sinful grin, "How do you like it? Having a snake in your garden, princess?"

"S-stop teasing me, Mephisto, it's not funny!" She panted, her glare weakening as the pressure between her legs began to build with every time their bodies met.

"You're not playing fair, Talia." He whispered, before licking at her cleavage with a seductively slow lag, "That's not fair when you feel so good. So hot and wet, I can't hold on much longer, but...I don't ever want this to stop."

"Mephisto..." She blushed at his admission, flattered that she made him feel so wonderful, and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. It was different than before, sincere and passionate, and as lovely as it was appreciative. She sucked on his bottom lip before kissing at the crook of his neck. She made sure to moan his name into his ear, telling him everything he wanted to hear and anything that fell from her lips, her coo, thick as honey, earning an animalistic growl as he pounded into her. His grip tightened on her body as their hips rolled against each other, leaving her dizzy from the rippling ecstasy that coursed through her every being. She felt her adrenaline rising and she cupped his face, her tone gentle but all the same direct and assertive, "Stop holding back. I need all of you."

He nodded as his ragged breath tickled her skin, laying her back on the bed as he pulled out of her. She gave him a confused look as he mounted her from behind, raising her just enough to take her breath away. Her choice of words as he slid inside her were less than ladylike and she was borderline incoherent as he thrusted into her throbbing sex, his fingers dancing over her most sensitive peak as he used the wall for support. She was thankful the house was empty. There would be no way to explain the way the wood of her bed squeaked or her desperate screams of curses both earthly and otherworldly. Mephisto's hot breath against her ear and his pleading whispers sent her reeling and she did her best to muffle her voice as she clench at her pillows that had managed to keep their place on her bed. She was so far gone, lost in the way his voice played in her ears and craving every thrust like an aphrodisiac.

"Oh god, T-talia, I'm so close! Fuck, I'm almost there..." He groaned, fangs dragging along her shoulder as he planted frantic kisses across her skin. Her best response was a nod as she tightened around him, her body quivering as she spilled over, muffled sobs drowning out his vocalizations. Her blood felt ablaze and her skin prickled as she lost focus, jolting as her orgasm racked her figure. He let out a vicious growl as he bursts inside of her, his fangs sinking into the crook of her neck and eliciting a scream from the Xerian princess as her earthy strands burst into icy blue tresses. He trembled against her as he eased himself to a stop, the dark prince licking at the freshly punctured skin in an attempt to soothe her. His lips played against her neck as she caught her breath. He pulled out of her cautiously as she turned over and he rolled to her side, pushing his bangs back to relinquish the heat rising to his face. His mouth was dry and his throat burned and he realized he had been much louder than he thought.

He stole a glance at her, eyes widening at the iridescent sight before him. The moonlight cast a pale glow over her features, her frosted locks radiant in their natural hue. That's never happened before. He wasn't sure if it happened because of his bite or because of her own actions, but he loved the way she looked in that moment. Blue was slowly becoming a favorite color of his. He gulped as he thought of all the other expressions he had seen on her that evening, and found himself loving each of them, but none more beautiful than the way she looked now, content and satisfied as her breathing returned to a normal pace. She met his eyes and smiled lazily at him, and he felt grateful for the chance to see her in a window of sweet serenity.

He took on a smug countenance, "Enjoy yourself, princess?"

"Oh my god, shut up." She laughed softly, stretching a bit before relaxing into the sheets. She yawned and pulled over the covers to wrap herself in. He took that as his cue to head out, sitting up.

"You're leaving?" Talia raised an eyebrow, her voice low as she watched him stand and head over to find his scattered clothing.

"You're going to bed, aren't you? Besides, I'm more tired than that time we battled Iris in Shanila and its dark out now." He shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Oh." She turned with her back to him. Silence began to pass between the two, before she spoke up again, not bothering to turn over to face him. She was blushing brightly and she bit her lip before coming to a rather risky decision, "You can stay if you want. Until morning. You still need proof, right?"

He was genuinely surprised by her invitation, his shirt hitting the ground after he dropped it from shock.

"Uh, yeah, I guess. But what about Auriana and Iris? Won't they be home soon?"

"I sealed the door with magic, you dork. This is why we always win, you don't pay attention." She smirked, turning over to look at him.

"You know this is technically treason." He grinned, crossing his arms and raising an amused brow. It was a risk on her part, but it felt wrong to her to make him leave after such an erotic and exhilarating experience on her part. He needed proof anyways. Him being there to warm up her and her bed was a bonus to their deal. She chewed on her bottom lip as he went over the idea before pulling back the covers.

"You've got five seconds."

)0(

The morning was cool and breezy when he woke, but he was warmer than he had been in years. He rubbed at his eyes as he woke, stirring a bit under the weight on his chest. He froze, looking down at the young woman laying against his side, her arm tucked beneath her and the other draped over his stomach. Her hair had returned to its vibrant brown and coated the scattered pillows around them. She breathed lightly, barely making a sound lest he move to abruptly. He careful slid out of bed, using his magic to redress himself as soon as possible. It was already noon by now, and he could only imagine his sisters panicked state if Gramorr called on them.

"Mephisto?"

"Hm?" He looked over to Talia, who yawned as she stretched her body like a Persian cat before picking up something from the floor. "Yes, Princess?"

"Until next time." She tossed him the balled up object before smiling and turning over, snuggling into her bedding. He gaped at her gift before grinning, placing a chaste kiss on her temple before teleporting away in a swirl of green and black.

)0(

The cave was as cold and damp as ever, and he immediately wished to be back with Talia in her bed snoozing the day away. As he came across the waterfall, he found Lev lounging and his sister paving angrily. The twins were no where in sight. Knowing he had to make a show, he began to twirl his 'proof' around his finger, strolling up to the pair.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't the man of the hour. You've been out all night, dude." Lev smirked, sitting up and leaning against his knee with his arm.

"Where the hell have you been?! We had to lie and tell Gramorr you were out looking for food or some other nonsense! Where the hell have you-?!" Praxina froze mid sentence as her stormy eye caught the flicker of white and blue, immediately recognizing the type of garment.

"Talia's bed." Mephisto smirked, crossing his arms and catching the lingerie. Lev and Praxina's jaws dropped as they stared at him.

"You mean, you actually did it?!" Lev slid off the rock to walk up to the twin.

"Yep."

Lev gaped and Praxina looked both horrified and nauseous. Of all people, he had to pick her.

"Dude! How are you even alive?!" Lev grinned as Mephisto stuffed the garment back onto his jacket, reminding himself to return them in his free time. That and he didn't want anyone to touch them. Talia was his and his alone, and she'd literally beat him to a pulp if he let the boys get a hold of them. And he'd have to be dead, cold, and buried before he let that happen.

"That's fucking gross. You two are disgusting." Praxina groaned, gagging dramatically.

"Hey, you asked for it." Mephisto laughed, before he grinned mischievously, "Well, more like she did."

"GET OUT OF THE DAMN CAVE, MEPHISTO."

The green eyed sorcerer laughed as Lev questioned him and Praxina obnoxiously tried to shut them up. He was home now and it was back to business as usual, but more often than not, his mind wondered to that night he spent there, and was startled by the revelation that he had a new favorite out of the princesses he was meant to destroy, and he was almost certain that he was her favorite arch nemesis now too.