Even with monster tech, we still have to deal with bullshit insurance and property taxes and rising rent costs. There arestill homeless people who can’t afford even the most basic necessities.
They came with peace, but not a cure for humanity. And we are who we are.
“Well, that’s nice for you, but it doesn’t work that way here. You’d have to jump through a shitload of financial hoops and red tape to build me a house.”
He hums that melodic purring sound again, then reaches for me. I’m so startled that I don’t move away as his fingers make contact with my jaw. They trace my heated skin, dancing over my parted lips like he’s feeling my breath, then down my throat, pressing gently against my hammering pulse.
“You aren’t afraid of me.”
I swallow. Am I not? No, this feeling inside me isn’t fear. Annoyance, yeah. Confusion—more than I’ve experienced in my lifetime.
Want, but there’s no point in denying that.
And there’s something else humming beneath my skin that I can’t quite name.
“You’re not very scary.”
He huffs something like a laugh. I realize I’ve never seen him smile, and I know he can because Quilliyn smiles at Zane all the time. But right now, Rathyn’s lips turn up at the corners.
“You may be the first creature to say those words to me.”
I don’t know if he’s being honest or trying to intimidate me, but his words rob me of my own.
After a beat, he sighs. “Where can we go that is private?”
It takes me a second to realize what he’s implying. “Oh no. Hell no.”
“Little human?—”
“Everest!” I snap. “My name is Everest. Ev if the full thing is too complicated for you.”
His eyes flare, and his ears twitch dangerously. “Nothing about you is too complicated for me.”
I swallow heavily. “We are not doing that here.”
“Why not?”
My eyes go wide. “Are you serious?” He can’t be serious. He knows exactly how loud I get when he, you know, does his thing. “Everyone will hear.”
“And?”
“And,” I say, throwing up my hands. God, do they just fuck in public on Erethar? I wouldn’t be surprised if they do. “We’ll get arrested for public indecency.”
This time, he fully smiles, but his amusement is a little terrifying with his fangs digging into his lower lip and his rainbow eyes practically glowing. “Monsters do not get arrested, Everest.” He says my name like he’s singing it. Like it’s a hymn.
My toes curl in my shoes, and I barely manage to bite back a moan. “Well, I don’t have bail money, so I’m not taking the risk.”
He hums, and it’s then that I realize he still has his hand around my throat. “Where do you live?”
“Nope.” Zane will literally murder us both. Or, well, he’ll try and then end up dead by the hands of a monster, and that’ll spark a war, and… “My roommate isn’t registered yet, so technically he can’t be allowed near any of the, you know, dick sucking.”
He lets out a small sigh. “I have quarters here.”
“I—oh.” I’m running out of excuses to say no. “That’s not allowed…is it?”
“There’s very little I’m not allowed to do, Everest.”
“Stop saying my name like that.”
