“Lass, you can manage the hell out of me. In fact, I highly encourage it, even if you want to share with the broody old man.” I feel a tingle and a bright tendril of magic zips over my shoulders and down my arms before flittering away. “I’m very flexible. Truthfully, the big kitty is, too. If you just stroke his…”
“Rev.”
Turning my head, I grin broadly at the cuddly cat. “Stroke his what now? I’m intrigued.”
“Who the hell isn’t? That was verbal edging,” Khol grumbles before he hisses loudly. I assume Rev did something in the game that distracted him, but it won’t work on me.
“Tell us more, big kitty,” I say as I pretend to bat my lashes at him. “What did he mean?”
Dezi looks very amused as he leans into my side, his eyes doing that crimson thing as he listens. “I, too, would like an answer.”
Tiernan rumbles low, making the big cat yowl at the vampire before he shrugs at me. “I suppose you’ll have to experiment and find out. That’s what the shit out there did.”
Reaching up, I put my palms on his cheeks as I look into his big blue eyes. “If you think that will scare me, you’re very wrong. You just said we have a long time before we get to the first stop, my dude.”
“Finally!” The sound of the controller crashing to the floor makes me turn my head and I blink as Rev tears down the hall toward thebedroom. “I was about to spray Cubi pheromones in this fucking place. I call the headboard!”
Oh, shit. What the hell did I start now?
When you’ve been in this world as long as I have, it’s easy to forget that different species age in ways that are not like your own. Vampires who have made it to my age have survived based on either cunning and ferocity or being protected by powerful clans. Fae, however, live equally long lives and are not hunted the way we are. They can retain youthful demeanors without it putting their lives in danger, especially when they come from wealthy or connected family lines. My dragon friend comes from a similar place to mine as his people are also hunted, though for their material contributions rather than a belief they are inherently evil.
I imagine he is learning to deal with the impetuous young shifters, as I am the members of what will be the first personal coven I have had in centuries.
That doesn’t mean I’m not surprised when the Prince makes a dash for the bedroom like an excited teenager and the dark-eyed basilisk follows with similar enthusiasm. I arch a brow at the much calmer snow leopard and he chuckles.
“Being the adult in the room is a tough job, but it will grow on you.”
I snort as I follow along, watching the witchling carefully. “I highly doubt that, cat.”
His eyes twinkle with amusement as he bumps my shoulder in some form of shifter camaraderie. They’re always touching people and I’ll have to get used to it, I suppose. “I promise you will enjoy it, eventually. Revelin has an innate ability to bring levity and funto almost every occasion, even when it’s sad. I’m sure the snake has something to offer as well—even if it’s indulging our girl’s bloodthirsty leanings.”
Nodding, I wait for him to enter the Fae’s playroom, then step in behind him. To my surprise, the wayward rock star is already bound to the headboard by restraints that appear to have magic woven into them so he can’t just pop free. Fiadh is sitting on his lap, straddling his legs and whistling as she checks the buckles to make certain they are tight enough, but not dangerous. Khol is shirtless and rummaging through a large armoire full of interesting equipment.
I’ll be damned—again.
“Witchling, you know there must be a discussion prior to this…. adventure.”
She rolls her eyes at me as she scoots down his legs. “Gee, thanks, Dad. I mean, it’s not like I work at a sex club or anything.”
Her words make me pause and I simply stare at her for a moment as they process in my head. It’s a strange sensation flowing through me and I honestly have no idea how to reply. Luckily, Tiernan shuts the door and stands at the foot of the enormous bed with his arms crossed over his chest. The shifter looks at her, then at me, before he smirks.
“Perhaps we need to clarify before anyone gets too excited, Knuckles. The scents filling the air are getting thicker by the moment.”
Way to point out the obvious, cat.
“Fine,” Fiadh pouts a little as she sits back, and I’m surprised again.
She rarely shows emotions outside of fury and sass when I’m present, but this day has been a series of oddly endearing belly-ups on her part. It must be because he was the first mate to claim her. The leopard seems to coax her into opening up better than any of us.
She blows a hair out of her face before her lips turn up in a minxysmile. “It’s no secret I enjoy being in charge, but I can occasionally get behind a little fight for control if the right person is doing it.”
She’s going to make me look like a damn fool if I keep getting stupefied.
“That’s true,” Tiernan purrs. “While the aggression of my cat instigated our first time, she enjoyed the hell out of the struggle before taking control. In a totally consensual way, of course… Knuckles is more of an ‘enemies to lovers’ girl.”
The basilisk finally turns to face us, holding a blindfold in one hand and three cock rings in the other. “You’re going to need these if we want to play for long, mates. I can taste the hunger in the air.”
He flicks a forked tongue out with an annoying smug grin, and I have to hold a sigh back.Fucking shifters.“I highly doubt I need help to control my urges, snakelet.”
