I had been given a chance. Kassie accepted me for what I was, and here she was doing it again for this… fox.
I growled, the sound rumbling from deep in my chest as I turned back to Kassie. "Fine. We'll help him." My wings flared wide behind me, casting us both into shadow. "But you," I jabbed my finger so close to her face she flinched, "you are NEVER to go anywhere alone again. EVER. Do you understand me?"
She swallowed hard, pupils dilating as she nodded. "Yes, Atlas." I slammed my palm against the tree trunk beside her head, making her jump. My body crushed against hers until I could feel her heart hammering against my chest. "And your punishment," I growled, my teeth grazing her earlobe, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that made her shiver, "will make you remember this lesson for a very, very long time."
Her breath hitched, her pupils blown wide as the scent of her arousal flooded my senses, making my wings tremble with restraint. I forced myself to step back, though every cell in my body screamed to claim her right there against the tree. I seized her hand, my grip possessive, unyielding. "Alright, fox," I snarled, baring my teeth at the naked intruder. "Let's get you some damn clothes, before I rip your tiny dick off and feed it to whatever's hunting in these woods tonight."
He stomped his foot as my wings fluttered, ready to take flight into the air.
“It isn’t my real dick, you flying blinking light!”
***
Once we arrived back at the cabin, I found out the fox’s name was Fenwick. I still didn’t like the creature. My female had seen another male’s dick. I didn’t like it, no matter how much smaller it was than mine.
I’d never felt this much… jealousy.
The jealousy churning in my gut turned molten. I glared at the fox, wings twitching with irritation. "Why exactly does he have to follow us home? Can't he just shift back into his furry form and scamper off to whatever den he calls home, in town?"
“I think you have lost your ability to keep your thoughts to yourself, Atlas. You know he can’t go back to his apartment; they know where he lives.”
I huffed and landed in front of the door. Fenwick had already shifted back, keeping his tail unshifted and in front of his cocktail weenie.
Kassie wiggled out of my arms and ran inside through the open door. I assumed she was grabbing some clothes.
We stood there awkwardly until I stepped toward him and pointed straight at his chest. “If this is a trick, and you mess this up, I will destroy you,” I warned. “I’ll scream so loud yourears bleed. Then I’ll claw out your heart and drain you with my tongue.”
Fenwick’s eyes widened, and he shook his head. “I—didn’t think that moths drank blood.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “We don’t, but if you break Kassie’s heart and lie to her, I will make an exception!”
Fenwick nodded, and Kassie held out a pair of shorts and a large t-shirt. "Here," she said, her expression deliberately neutral. "So, we can all stop staring at your unfortunate anatomy situation."
Fenwick yanked on the shorts, his eyes fixed on Kassie. "Good thing there's absolutely nothing between us," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wouldn't want to make the moth-man jealous."
Shadows stretched long across the clearing as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the treeline. I glanced at the fox, then at our cabin's single door. No way in hell was I letting him curl up inside with us tonight. I needed to find somewhere else to stash him—preferably somewhere with a lock.
I tilted my head toward the night sky, searching for answers in the darkness, when a piercing screech tore through the air. A violent gust of wind followed, knocking me back a step. Beside me, Fenwick let out a sound that I'd only heard from dying prey—high-pitched and primal. His body thrashed wildly, all flailing limbs and animal panic, as if every instinct in him recognized death swooping down from above.
My arm shot around Kassie's waist, yanking her behind me as something massive crashed to Earth before us. The landing was nearly silent—a predator's approach. Only one other creature moved through darkness with such deadly grace. My antennae vibrated with recognition before my mind could process what my instincts already knew.
Another of my kind.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kassie
The scream shocked me. I froze in Atlas' arms. It hit me… Fenwick was in pain. I squirmed against Atlas' grip, desperate to help. After all, Fenwick hadn't been shy about reminding everyone just how defenseless he was.
“Let go!” I mumbled into Atlas’ body.
Atlas grunted, his arms like iron bands around me as he dragged me backward. The screaming cut off abruptly, and my heart plummeted.
Gods, they killed him.
“Atlas!”
Atlas' grip eased as he laughed, allowing me to fully see what had happened. On the ground lay Fenwick, pinned by Lucien, who had somehow managed to flip him onto his back with limbs tied helplessly in the air. Most ridiculous of all, an apple had been shoved between Fenwick's teeth like some kind of roast pig. I couldn't help but gape at the absurd, horrifying scene.
