Ahunter. It could only be a coincidence, right? That a hunter decided to murder an entire tie groupaftertaking a look at their Succubus.
“Did you happen to catch his name?” I asked innocently.
He shrugged. “Yeah. Not hard when there are only ten of them roaming the world looking to exterminate us.”
I paused, waiting for him to answer. But he didn’t.
“And?” I insisted.
“Massimo. Why?”
Massimo. Fuck. So he’sbeensearching for me after our deal.
“Remember that hunter I mentioned that time you told me about your tie group? That it was because of one of them that I—” I looked at the girls, listening intently and my throat bobbed.No more secrets. “That I had to leave my other mate behind? Pretend that I was dead?”
His eyes widened. “No shit. Was it him too?”
I gave him a tight nod. “Yeah. And I think he was looking for me when he murdered your entire tie.”
“You have another mate?” Francesca signed, confused. “How many men do you need?”
None, I thought as I chuckled. “Trust me, five mates is way too much. I’m not saying that I’m not grateful,” I corrected myself. “I just mean that—wella girl needs her fucking space, you know?”
Both girls chuckled, lifting their cup in a silent cheer.
I decided to continue, placing my cards on the table. They were my friends, risking their freedom and their lives to help me on my reckless quest. They deserved the truth.
“The issue is not that I have five mates,” I explained. “It’s that, when I sold my soul and became a Succubus, the demon I made a deal with took advantage andactuallystole my damn soul. So now, even if I find all my mates, I can’t bind my soul with theirs. Which is why Dimitri fell to his madness. Why I didn’t want Carter or Arc to get mixed up in this. Because, without my soul, it’ll only leave them disappointed.”
“Isn’t there a way to get your soul back?” Francesca asked.
I shrugged. “I haven’t had the time to really think about it, but Carrie thinks we can try and find a way.”
I turned my face to Marcus who listened without interrupting.
“Oh, and I’m the first Succubus.” I pushed my hair behind my ear to show them the tipped shape. Most of the camp must have learned about it by now, so it was time I actually told them myself. “And before I became one, I was an Astral. APhoenix. And it’s probably because I sold my soul that Astrals are basically extinct now.”
Marcus gaped but I wasn’t done.
“Last thing,” I said, wincing at the shock on his face. “Vladimir? His real name is Aghen. And he’s my twin brother.”
“Wh—Waitwhat?”
This was going to be a long talk.No more secrets.
Chapter 33
Carter
My bed was empty and cold when I woke up. I forced my eyes to open long enough to search for my phone on my bedside table.
Almost noon.
How the fuck did I sleep that long?
I dragged my tired ass to the bathroom and stepped under the warm shower stream. No way was I going to sleep all day and let Dimitri get Lola all to himself. They already snuck out of bed together yesterday morning, and I’d woken up hours after them.
Weren’t we supposed to all share the same amount of time and attention? Why was I always feeling left out? Maybe Kai could answer my question. Well, if the asshole actuallyfeltlike it.
