Page 7 of Zodiac Beasts

She chewed her lower lip, sinking her teeth into my mark, consequently sending a shiver down my spine. “So you watched the video?”

“That’s irrelevant.” Not going to talk about it. “What’s relevant is that I should be on my knees begging you for forgiveness for putting you in this position in the first place. The idea that you, in any way, took advantage of me is not only ridiculous, but it’s an insult to your entire person. I’m an Incubus, Lila. I’m not a blushing, confused virgin. Whether or not your blood and pheromones baited my monster, I knew exactly how close I’d been getting to the sun every time I consciously stepped out of the safety glass and into the lunar light.”

My heart was pounding at a furious speed, and I was dam near grinding my teeth smooth, Why was I even having to explain this? It was shameful that I could have ever put in her head that she was in the wrong in this fucked up situation. Not only was I older than her, but I had more than a lifetime of experience in this realm, more knowledge, more magic, more prowess, more everything. I was a professor, and she was a student in every sense of the word.

“I see.” She said, her voice little more than a somber squeak. She closed her eyes, and we stood in silence for several seconds.

Several ominous seconds, before that distraught expression creasing her brow instantly smoothed, and her frown was replaced by a smile. “So you admit that you wanted to sleep with me, then.”

I… what?

“That’s such a relief. I’m so glad you could clear that up for me. I’ve just been beating myself up about it, but if you knew what you were doing and purposely put yourself into a position to shift, just so you could be with me again, then we’re okay.” Did she just… “For the record, I’m okay with it too, and I have been since the beginning. But I would have felt awful if you weren’t. Thanks, Professor.” She shook her head. “Thanks, Adrian. Sorry, I’ll make more of an effort to call you by your first name when we’re alone. I get so caught up in the silly formalities of our relationship, and I’m still getting used to using it more.”

“You…”

She was, in fact, much too smart. This whole apology was a trap, and I’d been completely oblivious to the metal jaws that had been creeping ever closer, until I’d stomped on the trigger hard enough.

“Oh, darn—our half hour’s up.” She stood without breaking eye contact. Without even the slightest waver in that ‘gotcha’ grin. “I don’t want to disrupt your next class. I guess I’ll see you Monday then. You have my number if you need anything before that though. Have a good weekend, Adrian.”

And just like that, she turned on her heel, and she was gone. I heard the door shut before the image translated through my eyes.

What the fuck just happened.

That girl is a fucking psychopath.

If there was ever any question as to whether or not Lila was a daughter of the devil’s design, I was not asking it now.

Chapter 4

My phone rang five times, went to voice mail, rang five more times, went to voice mail again, then rang twice, and I decided I’d communicate. I picked up my device, I placed my thumb on the large red icon, and I hung up.

I didn’t have to look at who was calling. I’d personalized Adrian’s ring tone a long, long time ago. I’d nearly forgotten what it sounded like, it had been so long since he had the heart to call me, let alone repeatedly. I wondered what had him in such a tizzy?

No I didn’t. I knew exactly what he was freaking out about.

But unlike my emotionally challenged brother, I saw no reason to panic. No, I was handling everything just fi—

“Let me go! I don’t want to die. Please—”

I shoved my fangs into the man’s neck, and I barely bothered to taste him before I ripped out his jugular to shut him the fuck up. Humans were so annoying. I thought a good old fashioned hunt with a deplorable, random scum bag would satiate me. I thought watching this pathetic excuse for a murderer run for his life through the forest that surrounded Graves would actually take my mind off this whole debacle for at least four seconds.

But he tasted like shit, and he ran even worse. A fucking sloth would have tripped over him in a stampede. At least at the blood bank there was some sort of quality control. Not that it was much better.

Lila had somehow ruined my ability to enjoy the flavor of human fear.

Worse yet, she’d ruined me for the hunt itself, as nothing was giving me a thrill that compared to simply being in her presence.

With an aggravated sigh, I spit out the vile fluid, shoved his limp body into a bush, and I leaned back against a tree. I tipped back my head, until the bark tugged at my hair, and I stared up into the densely packed leaves of overhead branches.

The weekend had come and passed. Days were just ticking by, one at a time, and for the first time in my still short life, I found myself at a loss for how to approach such a situation. I dragged my extended fangs over my lip, cutting a shallow line on each side, and tasting the hints of Lila that still lingered in my veins. By the time Astrology Club came around, my vampire heart will have pumped and purged her completely from my system, and I couldn’t figure out if I wanted that flavor to fade or remain forever.

I glanced casually at the corpse whose disgusting blood was soaking into the forest’s rich soil, and I frowned outwardly.

This was not sustainable.

It didn’t have to be. I was just here to blow off a little steam. It had been a long, long time since I participated in such socially destructive behavior.

My phone rang again, and I rolled my eyes all the way before I pulled it from my pocket. This time, I hit answer, switched to speaker, then tossed my phone into the leaves. Within range of the call, I shifted, fully, into my Leo form.