“I’d like to file a motion to extend for further discovery!” Beaumont glared at me then Malarthe and pursed his lips.
“I grant you thirty days to find a neutral party recommended by the court to verify your claims and conditions. I would like to reenter discovery at that time. I’m setting the docket for one month and canceling all other sessions for you, Mr. Lymmings, until such time as you present adequate evidence. Court dismissed.” Judge Torsten hammered the gavel and stood, shuffling off the stand with a slow pace.
Beaumont and Malarthe practically fled the room as I caught Gre’s sheepish gaze that shifted into his human form. “Apologies… I—from my angle—”
“I get it. Let’s just get home. Father is panicking, and Malarthe shot himself in the foot demanding you shift.” I packed up my things and gestured for him to follow me.
“Can’t say it’s the first time I’ve had good luck giving someonehead.” Gre kept his expression neutral as he said it, and it was all I could do not to laugh.
We rushed out of the courtroom doors, my hand finding his as we made our way toward the elevator.
The moment we got out of range of the exiting crowd, I stared at the elevator doors and the people filing in. “Stairs.”
We bypassed them and pushed through a fire door before running into a lingering Malarthe.
Malarthe was old blood, a long family line with touted line to the fae and old money. His claim, likely legitimate, didn’t reflect in his stringy brown hair and dull blue eyes. Nor did the slight overlap of his lower teeth as he sneered. Had he any significantamount of fae blood, his ears would be pointed and teeth far more sharp. “What the fuck was that in there you pulled, omega?”
I halted mid-step as Malarthe cut me off from backing out of the door. Gre, for his part, fisted his hands and kept still, ready to snap forward. The split-second judgment call of not acting was fantastic. Malarthe wouldloveto out a conflict of interest.
“Sir, I’d like to implore you to not speak with me as this is unethical and highly illegal.” I stepped to the side, but Malarthe slammed his hand against the wall, trapping me. His wild eyes raked me from head to toe as my shadow spread along the floor, tendrils curling. Lights flickered, but Malarthe didn’t seem to notice.
“I don’t intend on discussing the case. I want to discussyou.” Malarthe took a deep breath, eyes hooding. “Succubus? I smell it on you. Hellspawn has no place in this country. What magic you cast in there on me waswayout of line. I’d go as far as to say it wasassault.”
“I am not a succubus. I am the son of a lesser prince, grandson of the fallen. I possess the spirit of a fallen as my shadow. I am a daeva host. Your reaction to me was organic.” I pressed myself farther back against the wall, willing Ausmius to not strike against the litigious freak. Though, he had every right to.
Malarthe inhaled again, leaning closer with a shudder. “Make a fool of me and pay the price, little demon. Watch your back, because I will have your head on a platter or your ass on my dick before I deal with your little freak of natural law. He’s declared war on The Church, you know?”
It was all I could do to hold back, stifling my power. In truth, I had some succubus magic in me. I could ensnare and enrapture, but I never did unless in self-defense. Ausmius flared up the wall, Gre’s shadow joining him as their vivid smilesstretched wide and toothy. As Malarthe caught a glimpse of them, his eyes widened and he stiffened long enough for me to duck under his arm and pull away, stepping down the first stair with a shudder frozen in my chest.
Gre stepped between Malarthe and myself in an almost-coincidental gesture, but I didn’t mistake his flat gaze for anything other than murder. Every inch of him had coiled tight, and his magic hummed in the air, screamingtouch my mate and die.
Hot.
“In what way have I declared war with The Church? I largely do my best to avoid them at all costs. They’re inconsequential to my practices.” Gre shifted his feet slightly to keep Malarthe from gazing around him.
“I know what you are. I can’t do shit against you, but trust me, we’ll burn the world down around you.” He made a comical gesture across his throat that reminded me all too soon of the scar across my neck.
“Mage Hawthorne. Come. We have no business here.” I grabbed Gre by the wrist and tugged, ushering the male away.
Malarthe stared us down, his wild eyes with too much white showing, following us around the curve of the steps as we descended. “You can’t hide from The Church.”
“Don’t intend to!” Gre spoke up, and I hissed under my breath, sweeping away as our shadows protested, Ausmius giving a feeble middle finger gesture as the last word.
“Don’t be a dick,” I muttered beneath my breath, but I couldn’t put any energy into the lame comment. I couldn’t wait to be back in the car. The situation with Malarthe left me feeling itchy, my body desperate to rid itself of another male’s presence. My bond was too new and wanted Gre—even more so when our shadows clutched to one another and coalesced into one mass before falling into place.
Chapter Nine
Greginald
The moment the car pulled up, I opened the door for Esmeray and followed him in as he slid into place and watched me with wide flame eyes. When I shut the door, he threw himself against me, mouth seeking mine.
I held onto him with chaste hands at his back, rubbing with an almost-soothing gesture. “It must have bothered you so much.”
“Shut up and kiss me. Hold me.” Esmeray nuzzled into my neck and breathed me in, nose nudging at a scent gland as if trying to take me in at my most base core.
I remained silent as he wanted, but I didn’t kiss. He didn’t really want that. He was triggered by a threat to our new bond and needed reassurance. What I could do was easy, searching out his hand to bring to my face. I rubbed my cheek against his new marking, the claim of Bastet and Diana.
I shushed him ever so gently and took in his omega scent, showing him that I, too, desired him. The gesture reassured his omega nature that I did not reject him, and his frantic clutching eased.
