Red can indicate anything from emotional stubbornness to physical strength. The second would make sense considering his species, but it’s so bright that I almost wonder if he’s mixed with something else.
I can’t always tell just by reading someone’s aura, especially if one side is more dominant than the other. I’m also working at like forty percent capacity since I can’t feed as I normally would. It’s a blessing that I’m able to siphon the extra lust off Annex, but I’m starting to wonder how long that will last.
My monster hasn’t been satiated since Zephyr came to Black Cove, and I’m afraid she’ll snap at some point.
The other man, Kai, is a bear shifter with shaggy curly brown hair and an easy smile.
I have devoured a bear before, but I have no plans for a repeat tonight, even if they both smell delicious on a level that’s hard to comprehend.
We do introductions, and the three of them talk among themselves while I try to determine why they smell so freaking good.
“Anyway, I know you two are excited to join the festivities, so why don’t we do this?” Annex pats my hip, and I tilt my head, studying his face.
What exactly are we supposed to be doing? We already made introductions. If he wants me to win his friends over with how fun and social I am, we’re all fucked.
“Give us just one second,” Annex says to the men before dragging me over near the door to exit the office. “I probably should have warned you, but I didn’t want you to get cold feet.”
My eyes widen, and I study his handsome face. “I have no idea what’s happening.”
“Of course you don’t, silly.” He chuckles, booping me on the nose. His clawed fingers lift my hair, tossing it behind my shoulder. He gets very close to my ear and whispers, “Could you do the time thing?”
I nod. “I can, but it will leave me starving.”
“We’ll handle that, I promise.”
It’s so easy to believe Annex, and it feels a little like he needs to see that I do.
My eyes fall shut, and I raise a hand, snapping. The time stop bubble is large enough to encase the office, and that’s about all I have to spare.
“That’s such a fancy trick.” The incubus chuckles, thumbing my lower lip. My eyes pop open, and his dark void-like gaze stares into mine. “I trust them. When I killed my previous owner, it was a bit of a rash decision on my part. Very little prior planning and all that. Blaze and Kai offered me a safe place to stay. They kept me hidden when it would have been easier and more lucrative to hand me over, and they never asked for a single thing in return. I’d like to believe I’ve paid back their kindness over the years by helping around the club, but that’s neither here nor there.”
“If whoever summoned you wasn’t dead, I’d devour him for you.”
“Aww, baby doll. I know you would.” He bends, brushing his lips over mine. “But that brings us back to not allowing you to needlessly suffer. I’ve been there. Starving is no fucking fun.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Annex
“Istill don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hazel says, tilting her head and blinking up at me with her big blue eyes.
“I know.” I sigh. “There was a time I trusted Blaze and Kai with my life, and now I think it’s time we trust them with yours. Just don’t eat my only friends. It would be hell on my social circle.”
“What?” Her forehead wrinkles, and I realize it’s about time I stop beating around the bush.
“Blaze is half wrath demon. The other business they run is an illegal fight ring for monsters.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “Blaze made sure to gorge the last two days. He’s stuffed full of wrath, and all those sins are just waiting for you to siphon them off.”
Hazel’s head swivels, and she takes in Blaze and Kai. “It feels wrong to feed off him without permission, but Gods, no wonder my mouth is watering.”
I chuckle and pull her into my chest with a hand on her arse. “He’s already given consent, but I may have bragged a little about how you’re the scariest monster they’ll ever meet…” I shrug unrepentantly. “Hey, I’m really digging the wholemy girlfriend could eat your girlfriendthing. But anyway, theywant to see your monster. In return for that, and us heading downstairs to get the party started, you get access to a second flavor of sin with no worry it’ll tip off Zephyr.”
“What?” she whispers. For an entire agonizing second, I worry I made a very bad call, but I exhale in pure relief when her face softens. “You made a deal to feed me?”
“I did. Is that okay?”
She scoffs, stretching up on her tiptoes to kiss me. I weave my hand into her hair and give in to the naughty meeting of our mouths. I fucking love the way she melts into my chest the longer the kiss goes on.
Hazel pulls back, smiling dangerously. “You feed me, and I’ll make sure you enjoy it while I feed you.”
