“You really don’t mind the forked tongue?” Milo asks, interrupting my internal thoughts. I glance over at him, the demon wiggling his tongue outside his mouth. The forked edge teases me with memories from moments before, the Beta laughing when my scent goes sweet. “I guess that answers things. It just came out and now I can’t put it back but Vesper’s tail is out so I can’t get into that much trouble.”
I shrug, staring at the leather wrapped around my leg. “I like it. In the moment, it didn’t really hit me but these aren’t your real forms, are they?”
Vesper tightens his hold on me. “Not really, no. We’re also not really Alphas and Betas or whatever. It’s just what fit when we came to Earth.”
“And what’s Duske? He feels like an Alpha but…”
Milo tilts his head to the side, obviously mulling over his answer. “He said he’s basically an Enigma but I think Duske just likes fancy words.” His gaze drops to Vesper’s tail around my thigh, his fingers moving to graze over the leather. “He explained it like he’s an Alpha’s Alpha.”
I just stare at him, wondering how in the fuck this is my life. An Enigma? It explains things but I’ve never actually met one. They’re more legend than fact, a wild strain of Alpha that doesn’t quite mesh with the biological hierarchy I learned about in school. Being Death would make him a bit more of an Alpha than any of the Alpha’s I know and he’s definitely got the brooding down.
And yet, my Omega more than wants that kind of dominance in my life.
And the darkness.
And more of Vesper’s tail.
Which reminds me. “Milo, do you have a tail too?”
Chapter 7
Esme
I stand in front of my closet, staring at the clothes Milo pulled out for me. New pants that still have the tags on them, a soft gray shirt that's probably Vesper's based on the size, and a black beanie to hide my very recognizable orange hair. Milo helps me tug the beanie over my head, stuffing my hair up into a bun first so nothing peeks out.
"There," he says, stepping back to admire his work. "You look like a completely different person." A wild grin spreads across his lips like he put me into some high end brand and not whatever he just pulled together.
I catch my reflection in the mirror and frown, despite the urge to smile at how goofy I look. "I look like I'm about to rob a convenience store."
Vesper snorts from where he's lounging on my bed, his tail still visible and swishing lazily behind him. "You look fine, princess. No one's going to recognize you."
"That's the point," Duske says from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. He came back a few minutes ago whenMilo insisted it'd be okay if I went to the store with them. I just don't want to be in the house anymore. "We're not trying to make a fashion statement. We're trying to keep you from being seen by anyone who might ask questions."
I turn to face him, my hands on my hips. "I know, I know. But can we please go out now? There's nothing in the fridge, and I've been stuck in this house for a week. I'm going stir-crazy."
Duske's expression doesn't change, but I can see the reluctance in his dark eyes. "Esme, it's really not safe." His shoulders fall a little as he sighs, about to say something else but I cut him off.
"Nothing about this situation is safe," I counter, stepping closer to him. "But I'm hungry, and I want to feel the sun on my face. Just for a little bit. Please?" In all the movies I've seen, ghosts are tethered to the place they died so I'm hoping that's not the case.
No ghost powers AND not being able to leave? That would be bullshit.
He sighs, dragging a hand down his face before offering me a tight smile. He throws out his arm and I step into his chest, melting against him in a way I never used to. "You're impossible,” he mutters against my hair.
"I know," I say, grinning. "So, what do you say? Can we go out?" I snuggle tighter into his hold, loving the way his hand moves to settle on my hip. And when his fingers squeeze just a little…
Nope, not thinking about that.
Duske looks at Vesper and Milo, both of whom are watching the exchange with barely concealed amusement. "What do you two think?"
Vesper shrugs, his tail curling around his leg. "I think she's got a point. We can't keep her locked up in here forever."
Milo nods enthusiastically, bouncing on his toes. "And I want to see her eat something. She's hungry, and we should feed her."
Duske's jaw tightens again, and I can see the internal battle playing out on his face. Finally, he lets out a long, resigned sigh. "Fine. But we're doing this my way. Rock, paper, scissors to see who stays with her at all times."
I blink, confused. "Rock, paper, scissors?"
"Yes," Duske says, his tone flat. "Winner gets to stay with you. Loser has to deal with the consequences if something goes wrong."
