Kayn’s eyes stay on her as I step closer, and I can’t help but wonder why he doesn’t pay me any mind.
Xera stops a foot or so away from me. “How’d your shopping trip go?” She crosses her arms under her chest, pulling at her black button up shirt.
“It was good, got what I needed and confirmed the information for our date this evening.”
Her eyes widen. “Date?”
A chuckle rolls from Kayn’s throat. “I don’t have two helmets, by the way.”
I’ve ridden motorcycles for years, only recently learning to appreciatethe comfort of a closed vehicle. But for tonight’s trip, speed and freedom will be perfect.
“All good, we won’t die.” I shrug, and with Xeraphine looking up at Kayn, I take advantage of her distraction and grab her wrist. Tugging her to me, she gasps. “You good on a bike?”
She swallows and shrugs her shoulders. “Won’t know until I try. Never been on one.”
I’m about to let her go when she surprises me and wraps an arm around my torso. She looks over her shoulder, at Kayn, who places his hands behind his back and turns away.
Odd…
She rises onto her tiptoes, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. It’s fleeting, but as she steps back, I’m already studying her expression. Nothing seems off, even if she’s acting strangely affectionate.
“Do I need to get dressed?”
“I got you something to wear tonight. We will check into a hotel to get ready, so we can head out.” I give her a smile and brush a few strands of hair behind her ear.
I steal a glance at Kayn, noting how he respectfully averts his gaze, giving us space. I hope Xera will open up about the hours they spent together, but I’ll wait for her to provide it, and won’t push.
“You good here tonight?” I ask him, which does bring his attention to me. “We will be back in the morning. We just need you to keep Sydni safe, that’s it.”
“Want me to keep the Werewolf off her too?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I shake my head. “Leave it, she’s an adult.”
Xera grumbles. “Questionable.” That gets a laugh from Kayn and myself. “Give me a minute, I need to grab my phone and tell Syd to behave.”
She presses her lips to mine once more, quick and deliberate, before pacing back into the house. It’s not that we don’t kiss—because we do—but it’s almost always me initiating when we’re around others. Usually, I have to steal them from her, teasing or coaxing her into giving in.
So when I glance at Kayn, who’s leaning to the side with a knowing smirk, I narrow my eyes.
“What did you do?”
“I really like her.” He steps to me and shakes his head, his chin tucked as he chuckles. His mischievous eyes sear into me. “I explained what her Amoro needs, and she’s trying to see if appeasing it will have it giving her what she wants.”
“What does it need?”
“Love, nurturing, emotional attachment.”
I drone, “Oh boy. Did she attack you when you said the word love?” A nervous laugh slips, already knowing the answer considering he seems to be in one piece.
“Nah, but I can tell it makes her uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable is an understatement. Complicated little demon, that one is.”
With a thunderous laugh, he throws his head back, the sound echoing through the open space. I follow with a light chuckle of my own—not because I find it any less amusing, but because, in truth, it doesn’t matter to me how she chooses to show her feelings or whether she speaks them aloud.
I’ll love on her however I damn well please, whether she mirrors it back or not, is her own decision.
“Luce was different,” he says after getting himself under control. “He didn’t need that to satisfy himself, just acceptance and strength. Most of their kind have a natural instinct to embody what they are, but because she’s a Hybrid, it’s likely why she doesn’t have that pull to be what the other side of her needs.”
