“Nah, even though magic still lives in the fallen, it’s hard to access in a clunky human body. I’d be more concerned about Thane being fucked to death.
“Your friend, there, is verdalora. Hell, you don’t know what that means. Um, the closest comparison is a nymph from Greek mythology. I mean, it’s tough these days to find someone who doesn’t have a bit of magic from an ancestor that was underborne, but Eve’s mother must have been a full-blooded verdalora, and a powerful one at that. She oozes a sexual energy most humans can’t resist. Shit, I was half in love with her within five minutes of meeting her in my human form,” Louie says dreamily, falling under the remnants of Eve’s wayward spell again.
Maybe I’m finally getting used to the supernatural, because honestly, Thane being a fallen angel doesn’t shatter my world … It’s just concerning.
And Eve? Well, that explains so much about her.
Plus, I always knew she was magical, verdalora or not.
“Well, I’m going to take a hot bath, then crawl into bed. I’m exhausted and I’m afraid if I stay up any longer, you’ll tell me the president is underborne.”
“Lizard peoplearetechnically underborne, so …” Louie’s gaze shifts away from me while she picks at the dirt under her thumbnail.
“Jesus fucking Christ. I’m done.”
“Really? It’s the lizard people that break you? Thought you was tougher than that,” Louie snorts, while fluffing her pillow.
She couldn’t name one London neighborhood, but she’s somehow perfected the nuances of sarcasm.
Priorities, I guess.
After hugging Louie goodnight, I gather my pajamas, step into the bathroom, and check my phone. Still nothing from Ezra.
I hope he’s safe. I need him to come home.
I’m getting out of my depth here, and while I don’t need him to hold my hand through this, it’d be nice to have him by my side.
When I think about what it might feel like to have him deep inside me, my body lights up, desperately begging my imagination for more.
I skip the hot bath and opt for a cool shower instead. I’m already overheated.
My safest bet right now? Shredding my V-card and claiming my power.
I’m done feeling weak.
Done feeling like a victim.
Sliding into bed, I silently beg the universe to bring my grumpy Grim home.
Soon.
Aurora
You’d think two days would be enough time to adjust.
Spoiler: It’s not.
Eve is verdalora. Thane’s a fallen angel. Louie’s a shapeshifting warrior hellhound. Iain is a wrakh whose powers include chugging whiskey and being an asshole.
And that guy at the bar with the glowing tattoos? The one who claimed flannel-shirt guy in front of the whole bar?
Yeah. Definitely not human.
Ezra is a 4-and-a-half billion-year-old shadow monster.
And me? Apparently, I’m Queen of the fucking Underborne.
And then there’s Lorewood.
