He shook the thought away with a wince, his eyes coming up to his reflection again. His eyes, now very human and familiar, were brighter than he remembered, more energized–perhaps because of the new blood in his veins, perhaps because of something else–and his hair remained the same short, dark, lightly curled tangle it had always been, though he was sure it should have grown out a bit by now. Perhaps he’d stopped aging here…
He could ask Leviathan, he supposed, but would he even get the truth?
No, Leviathan would probably feed him whatever answer he’d like most. He was good at that. Good at making him happy. Making him smile. Good at making him like it in this dark, dreary place with its terrifying red sun and its deep caverns that promised death if he were to slip and fall. The smoke that poured in from the windows and the warm body that was constantly next to him, wrapped around him, inside of him–
“You look so handsome, Cullen.” He jumped at the voice, his face going red as he met Leviathan’s gaze in the mirror. He was dressed similarly again, his shirt a gleaming, flowy white and his pants dark, though not as tight as his own. He smiled at him in the mirror. “You look like you belong here now.”
Cullen pressed his lips together unhappily. “Stop dressing us both up like we’re a couple. It’s creepy.”
He chuckled, looking devious. “I could bring you to the party wearing nothing but a collar instead.”
His face went red and Leviathan stalked closer. Cullen didn’t turn to face him, watching instead as he came up right behind him, his chin just above the top of his head.
He was so ridiculously tall. Cullen wasn’t even on the short side but this bastard towered over him so entirely…
“Do you really not like it?” He asked softly, his hand coming up to rest on the top of his arm. Cullen watched the movement, his face growing warmer as he watched it slide down his arm. “I’d like you to wear this, but if it would make you more comfortable, you could wear your usual clothes.”
He bit back the question on his lips, not wanting to give in to the bait. Though if he didn’t, it only meant he wouldhave to…
“I…I like it.” He mumbled, unsure if it was quite a lie or not. “It’s fine. It’s just not…me.”
Leviathan smiled and wrapped a slow arm around his stomach, drawing him back into his chest. The warmth there made Cullen shiver.
“You like it?” He murmured, lowering his mouth to his ear. “What else do you like?”
He fought to keep his voice calm. “Is everything about sex with you?”
“Most things.”
He rolled his eyes, though if he were being completely honest with himself he knew a shit ton of things came back to sex for him. He had tried to hide it with Walker, that slightly too-far obsession with it all, with the need and the wants. But here, with Leviathan…
“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Leviathan asked softly, letting his lips brush his ear. Cullen swallowed hard.
“It’s nothing.”
“Liar.”
His teeth snapped together; he spoke through them. “Stop doing that.”
He made a soft, displeased sound and wrapped both arms around him, his hands running lightly over his stomach. Cullen gave an involuntary squirm as something tightened in his groin.
The snap of his ankle, he told himself again. Walker’s screams and the taste of acidic blood. Countless murders and massacres and thousands of years worth of stories of Leviathan being a calamity on the earth–
“We should go to the party now.” He burst out,shrugging out of his grasp and turning to face him, though he kept his eyes on his chest.
Leviathan studied him for a long moment, his eyes searching his face. Cullen said nothing, though his face burned and his body was reacting again under his gaze.
He stepped forward and Cullen heard himself gasp quietly as his hand came up, his fingers brushing gently along his cheek.
“As you wish, pet.” The whispered words sent a small shiver down Cullen’s spine.
32
This party was certainly…different from the last one.
Leviathan had warned him a bit as they’d walked through the palace. Had warned him that this party was not meant to welcome him, cater to him…this one was to celebrate Leviathan’s release from his mortal prison these last few hundred years. This party was for demons. And things would be different. The food, he’d told him quietly, would not be food he was comfortable with, though he was welcome to it. The music loud, the vibe…intense. And the drinks, he’d murmured, he should avoid the drinks. They were spiked, though he wouldn’t tell him with what.
Cullen had not realized how very…overwhelming it would all be. And how strangely human it still seemed.
