He also knew she’d have a fit if she found out they might have bonded, likely blaming him for taking advantage when he’d had no idea they’d made that lasting connection. She needed time to be wooed. Time for him to bring her flowers and dead mages and maybe a kelpie’s head to prove he cared for her. Gifts a wolf often gave to court a female, some human trinkets to prove he could also provide for her womanly side.
They also had that lycan artifact to find, which would keep them in close company. But not if she feared they’d mated. And honestly, Kraft had no idea what had happened between them. Only that he wanted it to happen again. At the thought it might not, the raging beast inside him made an appearance.
Paz hissed and leaped back, his fur ruffled, his tail puffed up.Back off, nachzehrer, or I’ll eat your soul.Wings appeared out of Paz’s back, and the kitten darted away, hovering in the air.
“Sorry.” Kraft sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and fought the wolf’s fury back. He took a big whiff of Riley and his bonded scent and instantly relaxed. He sniffed his arm, his shoulder. Oh yeah. Their scents had melded to create something completely new.
No way she’ll miss that marker. And she won’t like it.
Unfortunately, Paz was right.
Kraft paused as another thought struck. What if she grew so annoyed with their bonding—which was really just a vampire term for mating—that she refused to have more sex with him?
Unacceptable.
“Can you fix this?” he asked the demon
Paz settled himself on the ground, and the wings vanished. He sneezed.Maybe.
“Hide this scent and I’ll...”
Yes?
“What is it you want? A favor? Tuna fish? Time with that sexy battle cat who follows Onvyr around the house?”
Paz smiled, and the cat looked positively demonic.I want your body.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
“What? No way.”Kraft could only imagine what the demon would do if in control of Kraft’s body and abilities.
Why not? I want to feel what sex with the lycan is like.
“Oh,hellno.”
Paz frowned.What if we make a deal that I can use your body in battle? Just one battle?the cat pleaded.I was stuck in Irkalla, the afterlife, forever, only able to experience real living through a sea witch’s dreams. Now I’m experiencing life, but it’s only through this feline form. I want to destroy things. I want to eat flesh and drink blood. Not just mice or birds, though I admit a preference for avian creatures.The kitten licked its lips.I want to kill with my bare hands again. To rend with teeth and claws.
“How do I know you won’t take my body and keep it? And while you’re rending with my teeth and claws, where am I to be stuck?”
In this form—in Shadow. Being a cat is fun. You’ll like it. And I would never keep your body, Kraft. I like you.
Kraft knew better than to trust a demon. Agreeing to any deal would be foolish, but a smart vampire made specific conditions before signing on the dotted line. As much as he wanted to bond with a true-mate, he needed time to understand. Amazing sex? To start a family before he’d reached ninety-three? A lot of responsibilities came from this new bonding, and Kraft needed to process it.
Fuck, he’d only just met Riley, though it felt like he’d known her forever.
Truth be told, I’d rather have sex using your body, since you seemed to like it a lot earlier.Paz cocked his head.You do realize you two were in here for three hours?
“Hold on.” Kraft lowered his voice when the shower turned off. “How do I even know you can do this magic to hide the bonding?”
Duh. Because I’m Pazuzu? And I have the former White Sea Witch’s magic. Remember, I ate her soul. With that came all her power.He licked his lips.She was a tasty, evil thing.
Kraft didn’t have much time. “Okay. One battle. Not with my kin or Riley’s pack, though. No killing anyone of the Night Bloode or Crimson Claw.”
What happened to the fun Kraft who used to eat people for breakfast?
“I never ate anyone. I drank blood, sure. But I’m no ghoul.” Kraft glanced at the open doorway, wishing Riley weren’t in such a hurry to clean up. “Time is almost up. Accept the deal, as worded, or we aren’t in agreement.”
Fine. I’ll do it. But it will hurt.
