Evan had the strongest urge to step back.
Max, the massive soldier, pressed his lips together as if trying not to laugh.
Adare took in the scene from his position near door. “I’ll leave you to it, then. You owe me, king.” Then he smoothly walked outside and into the breezy day.
“Say hi to Grace for me,” Emma called out, studying Tabi as strongly as she had Evan. “So. I was a geneticist before mating the king here, and I’m now the chief researcher for the Realm. Does anybody mind if I take a little blood?”
Evan snarled. “I have no idea what you’re all into, but nobody is biting me.” Did these wackos actually think they were vampires?
The queen frowned. “Biting? No. I brought syringes. Of course.”
Evan calculated the odds, and they weren’t good. There had been enough soldiers, fully armed, searching his house that it was possible the entire neighborhood really was covered.
Dage watched him. “Why is he so sketchy? If he agreed to mate, surely he understood the parameters.”
Tabi rocked back on her heels. “Well, he might not have truly understood the situation.”
Evan glanced at her, and her face turned a lovely pink. “You’re wrong. I most certainly understand what’s happening. You’re all in some weird cult, you drugged me, and you branded my hip,” he said.
The queen stood straighter. “Can I see?”
“No,” Evan snapped.
Dage pursed his lips. “Let me get this straight. First, we have an enhanced male human mated by a young demonness, and second, he doesn’t know about other species.”
Max looked them over. “I’d say this is a clusterfuck.”
Evan caught sight of the soldier’s left hand. “Is that pink fingernail polish with sparkles?”
Max growled and shoved his hand in his pocket. “I lost at darts. Don’t want to talk about it. Teenagers can be mean. Really, really, really mean.”
Evan caught his breath. They were all crazy.
Dage shoved both of his hands in his pockets. “All right. Let’s start small. Evan, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me.” He took off his glasses, and his eyes glowed an eerie silver.
“Nice contacts,” Evan said.
Dage smiled, and fangs dropped down from his mouth.
Evan swallowed. He reacted instantly, going tense.
Dage snarled and backed away. “Jesus. That’s some power. Everyone shield your minds.”
Tabi nodded vigorously. “I forgot that part. He could shield before I mated him, and he even shielded me from a demon mind attack. It appears he can attack, too. The guy is talented, I’m telling you.”
She actually sounded proud of him.
Evan’s ears rang. “I didn’t attack anybody’s mind. For Pete’s sakes, knock it off.” How did Dage get the fake fangs? Probably some sort of movie prop.
Dage apprised him, and those fake fangs went back into his mouth. How did he do that?
Evan looked at the so-called queen. “I suppose you have wild eyes and fangs, too?”
She tapped her fingers on her doctor bag. “Of course not. I’m an enhanced human. No fangs.” Her face lit and she jutted her head forward to stare at Tabi’s neck. “Did he bite you, too?” She turned toward Dage. “That’s interesting, right? Humans don’t usually bite. We need to find more records of enhanced human males—there’s so much we don’t know. Even you didn’t know there were any left.”
Dage frowned. “I’m sure I never thought about it. Although, now remembering, I believe they could often be a threat. Something about human nature being compounded into an immortal with the male of the species.”
Emma hummed. “Well, that might make sense. Enhanced females are probably more intelligent and adaptable than the male of the species. Any species.” The woman didn’t seem to be joking.
