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I groaned, sagging against the counter as the anger rekindled under my skin. “That psycho bitch showed up and tried to antagonize me. I had it under control until she put her disgusting hands on him.”

“Feeling possessive?” He slid into my space again like he couldn’t resist gravity and tipped my head back with a knuckle under my chin. “Don’t like her touching what’s yours?”

“No, I don’t,” I snapped back, magic flaring darkly. “No one touches what’s mine.”

Lucian lowered his face. “Your rage is the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.” The words brushed over my lips, riling the tempest already brewing inside me. The air grew thin, and I wanted him like he was my next breath. I needed him to touch me, all of me. He stepped in, eliminating the space between us and pressing his body flush to mine. A ragged gasp caught in my throat when I felt the clear evidence of his arousal.

“We chose well.”

I couldn’t argue with my magic’s smug satisfaction.

“I should go.” The abrupt words trembled as Lucian pulled himself away from me, displaying a discipline I wasn’t sure I had right now. My instincts screamed to chase after him, and I was begrudgingly grateful for his better sense. “Let me know if you choose bloodshed,” he said with a knowing smirk, the heartstring between us throbbing. “I’d love to be there.”

After another lingering look, he let himself out and for a brief moment, I found myself reconsidering murder, if only to bring him back.

22

LUCIAN

“Well?” I watched the screen on my phone as Cordie rolled onto her back, pulling a pillow over her face. This was our second video chat since the weekend. She hadn’t seemed surprised when I’d texted her, and she was more than willing to indulge me.

What I’d really wanted since the moment I got home from her apartment after she’d claimed me was to drive right back and claim her in return. The desire she’d kindled into a wild inferno was intense as it was terrifying. It had been a long time since I’d felt those carnal impulses, and nothing good had ever come from them.

For now, with her miles away and visible only on a screen, this was much safer. I could relax and get to know my little fury without the fear of losing control. Then I could take a cold shower and aggressively jerk off while remembering the lust that had glazed her eyes too.

“Come on.” My voice caught, and I cleared my throat. “You promised.”

She dropped the pillow from her face with an exasperated huff and rolled back onto her side to face her phone where it was propped. Her cheeks were cherry red, and I knew her answer was going to be delicious. She tried giving me one last pleading look, those bright blue eyes wide and sparkling. I just shook my head, a devious grin curling my lips.

“Fine,” she groaned and then covered her eyes to hide from me. She mumbled something under her breath, knowing damn well I wouldn’t hear her.

I tsked at her in mock disapproval. “Say it again, little fury.”

“Monster porn,” she repeated with a dejected sigh.

I blinked at the screen. Even though I heard her this time, I still wasn’t sure I’d heard her. “‘Monster porn’?” Gods, it was so hard to get the words out without losing it. “Like Frankenstein and Wolf Man?”

She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to contain her own amusement, her eyes shining with the effort. “No, like orcs and kraken.”

That was it. She’d killed me. My face nearly split as I choked on my laughter. “K-kraken??”

She whined about being teased, but she was laughing just as hard. And gods, was she gorgeous when she laughed.

I shifted my position just in time to catch Bellamy poke his head through the open doorway, drawn by the noise. The pain that twisted his face when he heard Cordie’s voice was like a knife in my own gut. I’d already told him I wasn’t going to get involved with the mess he made. He fucked around and found out, but it had been three days, and my brother was hurting.

Before he could disappear, I grabbed a pen from my nightstand and chucked it at him to get his attention back. When I had it, I waved him into the room behind the camera, pointing at the floor where he could sit. He hesitated only a second before slipping inside and finding a cross-legged seat in front of me, next to the bed. His face was bright like it was Christmas fucking morning.

“So,” I coughed out once the laughter had calmed a little. “Tentacles are what does it for you, huh?” Bellamy’s eyes flared wide, clearly not expecting the topic of conversation.

“It’s different in a book!” Cordie argued, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Less…slimy?”

We cracked up again, and Bel’s expression was three parts horny, one part horror.

“No, come on.” Cordie made a show of composing herself, sitting upright and squaring her shoulders. “Your turn. What about you?”

I gave her an innocent blink. “What kind of porn do I like?”

“Oh my god, Luce.” She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks went a shade darker. “What was the last book you read?”