Chapter Six
Jealous
Nollix
Her humming grates on my nerves with every mile that treks by. The gentle sway of her body skims her arms against mine with every step the beast takes. I don’t remember the name she gave this one, Carl or Chris or fucking Cameron for all I know. We just need to get there already. And be done.
I left this place because nothing is as it seems. Everything is a deadly game. No one, including my childhood friend here, is as kind as they seem.
I hate it here.
The Demon side of me relishes the heat of the world. The Fae side of me starts to become this quiet and forgotten voice within my mind.
My gaze shifts to the stiff way Flint’s arms are held around Violence. He’s old. He’s old as shit, and I know he has zero interest in all of this let alone the pretty woman held between his arms.
This set up is best for everyone. My gaze skims to my other side to find Cameron awkwardly holding his arms against himself to avoid touching the big arms of the man wrapped around him. The Demon is pressed close, his chest against Cameron’s back. The Warlock tries to shift forward a little on the beast but the Demon presses his palm against Cameron’s stomach and settles him right back into place where he wants him.
A shitty smirk pulls at my lips when Cameron shifts uncomfortably once more. Link is somewhere behind me, riding with the man Tantra called Sev. None of them are particularly kind souls, but they know me. They know I wouldn’t ask for help if I didn’t need it.
And they live for the blood of newcomers. Usually, they’d make a game of hunting someone who wanders down here. And I know that’s what they’re doing with Vi’s sister and Jeriko.
Even if they won’t admit it.
I have to be careful because it’s probably what they’re doing to us too.
The ground rumbles beneath us, and Tantra’s hands grip mine as if she’s a frightened woman. My jaw clenches as I shove my hands away from hers and gather the creature’s dark mane in my hands again. Once more, a groan shakes beneath us, and her gaze skims along the land. My attention traces the curving hills as well before shifting back to Vi. Her eyes darken, holding low on the way my body’s wrapped around the woman in front of me. I swallow hard as she meets my gaze.
My chest is tight. I want to say something to her. I want her to know I put us all into this weird fucking position because I was jealous. I was jealous of the thought of Tantra touching her.
Hours pass and all I can do is let the guilt twisting my stomach consume me from the inside out.
Houses that lean against the strong winds with piles of sand creeping up their sides start to come into focus. The Core is something like a city. A tormented city. These houses out here are more like shelters for the dwellers making their way to and from the Core. The Core filters souls into a final ‘resting’ place. Demons relish in souls. It energizes us just from being near them. So we make a habit of visiting the Core often even if it is too insufferable to stay long.
“Let’s stop for the night over there. We’re getting too close to the Core, we don’t want to sleep without shelter out here.” Tantra points to a house. It’s dark of course. Black paint seems to seep right out of every square foot of the home, down to every single shingle lining the roof.
If her sister is within the dweller territory, she might have taken shelter in this area as well. With a gentle tug against the creature’s fur, I guide him toward the house Tantra pointed at. The slow steps of the beast bring us over to the steps.
Without warning, I leap down the moment we’re near. Tantra stares down at me, but I don’t look back at her as I make my way toward the Carcass Creature that the beautiful Huntress sits upon.
My gaze is unblinking as I stare up at her. A soft smile tilts her lips, as if she doesn’t want to smile at me but she can’t help it.
She shifts, bringing her legs to one side and Flint steadies her by her elbow. Slowly she slides down the beast’s side, and my fingers dig into her hips the moment she’s near enough. I make slow work of pulling her body down against mine. Every single inch of her melds against me as her palms rest over my shoulders. The honey color of her eyes gleams with a crimson shade from the fiery skies reflecting within her gaze.
Her head leans in, her lips coming so close to mine I can’t seem to reach my breath. Just another small move and her mouth would be against mine.
“Don’t ever fucking touch heragain.” My lips part and I have to force the traitorous smile from touching my features.
She’s jealous. Just like I am.
I hum a sound of a response. I’m so irrationally turned on by her jealousy that it’s just safer for me not to speak right now.
She pulls back from me and strides away, leaving me hard and staring after the confident sway of her hips.
Fuck, why do I love it when she’s mad?
I should say something to her. When I can think straight, I should say something to her. I don’t want her mad at me. But I know I need to give her a few minutes to calm down. I feel her anger. It shakes through me, colliding with my magic in a pushing and pulling way.
“We need to get inside.” Flint’s gaze shifts over the horizon as another low growl shakes the ground, clattering the rocks together around my feet.
