Bechora narrowed her eyes at me, her hand instinctively moving to Gabriel’s mark on her neck. “How?” she hissed under her breath.
I leaned toward her, sweeping her hair over her shoulder to whisper in her ear while keeping my gaze on the vampire. “Rumors can be useful.”
“Can we get to work?” Vallynn snapped, pausing briefly. “Please.” The word sounded like it pained him.
“Starting with the gods is a good call,” Dante spoke. “Their function and worship tend to influence culture, and it evolves from there. If I recall correctly, most of them were based on supernaturals as well.”
Bechora’s eyes widened in shock. She clearly hadn’t expected the gargoyle to have anything nice to say. “Thank you,” she said, disbelief laced in her tone.
“Right, we’ll start there,” Vallynn agreed, taking a seat near Dante.
We turned our focus to discussing various myths and comparing them to information in the books Bechora hadbrought about modern Greek culture. I’d practically forgotten my desire to taunt Gabriel as we dove deeper into the work. It wasn’t until Bechora started shifting uncomfortably, crossing and uncrossing her legs, that I noticed something was amiss.
Bechora shifted again, her thighs pressing together as if even she didn’t understand the strange pull rolling off her in waves. The air in the dorm seemed to thicken, heat rising until it felt like we were breathing through honey.
Vallynn’s pen slipped from his fingers, clattering uselessly to the table. His jaw tightened, a faint shimmer of shadows sparking in his irises before he dragged his gaze away from her. Dante shifted in his chair like he couldn’t quite get comfortable, stone-hard composure cracking with a rare flicker of need etched across his face. Even Gabriel’s stillness betrayed him, his eyes narrowing to slits as his knuckles whitened around the edge of the book he held.
It hit me next, the power writhing uselessly against my skin. Realization snapped into place like a lock clicking shut. Bechora was emitting succubus allure, drowning herself and the other three in pure desire. I cursed under my breath and frantically looked around the room for somewhere secure. I couldn’t leave the dorm with Bechora, lest the allure snare anyone else. The others seemed to rise to their feet in unison.
Vallynn was the first to move, his usually careful grace abandoned as he circled the table, eyes locked on Bechora like a starving man offered a feast. Dante shoved to his feet, moving with slow, deliberate steps toward her. Gabriel was the most direct, fangs bared, pupils blown wide. He lunged toward where we sat with one hand shot out toward Bechora—possessive, desperate.
I snatched my Dilectus into my arms, noting the dazed expression on her face. Her lips parted on a needy whimper; her face flushed with desire. Bechora’s hands moved to my chest, tugging at my shirt as the other males snarled. Snapping my shield into place, I moved, racing toward the nearest bedroom, grateful that I had the rare gift of impenetrableshielding.
“Please, Zypher… I need you.” Her voice was breathy and pleading.
“I can’t. Not like this,” I murmured softly, working to free myself of her roaming hands and sit her on the bed.
“Give her to us,” Dante demanded, pressing against my shield as he attempted to force his way into the bedroom.
“No.”
“Please, Zypher. I ache,” Bechora sobbed.
I clasped her hands together between mine, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “If you still want this after the allure has worn off, then I will give you all of me. But I cannot take advantage of you in this state.”
The moan that left her lips at the small amount of contact told me the allure was in full effect. Carefully, I pushed her away from me and walked backward to the door. Dante was standing in my way, his chest heaving as his fingers gripped the doorframe. Gargoyles, on a good day, were difficult to move. They could be as heavy as stone when they wanted to be, without ever shifting to their stone form. Behind him, Vallynn and Gabriel snarled and hissed, pressing against Dante’s back and adding to his unmovable weight. I needed help if I wanted to last the night protecting my Dilectus.
There were only two types of supernaturals immune to a succubus’ allure: demons and dragons, and I wasn’t keen on calling another demon for assistance after our encounter outside the library. Instead, I cast an illusion, seeking out Thrackborne and praying to the gods he came to my aid.
The three males before me slammed themselves against my shield, causing me to wince. They were mindless, seeking out the female who snared them with allure. I widened my shield to ensure the entirety of the doorway was blocked and worked to shove them back. I can’t say how long I worked to keep them away from Bechora while she begged for relief at my back. It was long enough that my body physically sagged with relief when the angry dragon professor stormed into the dorm.
“What is the meaning of this!” he bellowed.
“She’s leaking allure,” I called back, just as Thrackborne’s nostrils flared.
The dragon’s pupils dilated, and scales erupted along his arms. His chest rose as he scented the air, and then he moved, shoving the other three males across the room with enough force to slam them into the opposite wall.
“Mine,” he snarled. Bechora whimpered behind me, but I refused to take my eyes off the dragon. “Let me in,” he demanded, his voice rough and unsteady.
His reaction didn’t make sense. It was as if he’d fallen under the allure as well, except that shouldn’t have been possible. Thrackborne roared, slamming his fists against my shield to punctuate his demands. I shook my head in disbelief. This shouldn’t be possible, couldn’t be possible. Not unless he was hers.
“Gods,” I breathed. “This is going to be a long night.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Bechora
I woke up in an unfamiliar bed. My memory was hazy as I sat up in the puddle of silk sheets draped over my body. Zypher was sitting on the floor, slumped against the open door. I carefully climbed from the bed and moved toward him, peeking into the room beyond, recognizing Vallynn’s dorm room. Except it wasn’t nearly as put together as it had been when Zypher and I arrived the evening before.
