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What had Syrus been feeling so testy about, anyway? The truth was, no matter how bravely or admirably Luke had accepted the existence of other deadly creatures, it was only Syrus with whom he was allowing such…liberties.

And given time, what else might Luke allow? What might he welcome?

Syrus’s cock jerked at the thought, and he held a hand to himself and pressed down firmly to ease the ache.

“What about you?” Luke asked, noticing the gesture.

Syrus looked down at him thoughtfully. The human looked so delectably vulnerable like this, laid back in his seat so docilely, all ripe for the plucking as Syrus hovered over him. He was nothing at all like the sharp-toothed breeders Syrus had been raised to believe he would court.

What would it feel like to find relief with such a soft, willing specimen?

But no, it simply wouldn’t do. Not now. The space was too cramped, as Syrus’s twinging neck reminded him, bent as he was to avoid banging his head on the car’s ceiling. There wasn’t enough room for what Syrus would like to do. What he’d like to take.

He would have to resign himself to being patient.

Syrus smiled his most charming smile. “Later, sweet Luke.”

For some reason, that had Luke frowning up at him, although the severity of his expression was marred slightly by his sated, heavy-lidded eyes. “You never answered my question from before, did you?”

Of course Syrus hadn’t. He’d had much more important things on his mind.

Luke motioned for Syrus to move back, and Syrus obliged with a put-upon sigh, returning fully to his own seat so Luke could raise himself back to an upright position.

Luke did, and then he watched Syrus, seeming determined to wait for an answer.

Syrus pouted. “What question would that be again?” he asked.

“Are you using your…vocal abilities on me?”

Syrus stiffened. It was one thing for Luke to have suspicions after that creature Sybil’s insinuations, another for them to be festering in light of what they’d just shared. Syrus spoke lightly to hide the odd rush of anger that ran through him. “Why, Luke, do you really think I’d need to?”

Luke took his time answering, and Syrus had to fight to keep his charming smile in place and not clench his jaw in irritation. He hadn’t used the slightest hint of suggestion to seduce Luke into a mating dance. It wouldn’t have been appropriate. Luke wasn’t prey. He was…

Well, he was something quite different.

True, Syrus knew Luke liked his voice, and the low, crooning way Syrus spoke to him, but Syrus could no more help his lovely voice than he could help his impressive form or beautiful face. Was he really to be punished for being so alluring?

If anything, Syrus should be suspicious. It had been alarming, that first kiss with Luke in his kitchen. The hunger it had awoken in Syrus had been…unexpected in its intensity. But perhaps this was how all creatures felt when they found the one they intended to protect. A covetous desire that urged them to pounce and devour. Syrus had never expected to find such a thing with a human man smelling of wood shavings, but life was apparently full of surprises. Luke called to him in a way that couldn’t be denied.

So then who was really the siren here?

Syrus waited for more accusations to come, preparing himself to keep his anger deep within and not take it out on his confounding human. But eventually Luke shook his head, that flush still high on his cheeks. “No, I don’t think you’d need to.” He gave Syrus a sideways glance with those pretty green eyes. “But a straight answer every now and again would be nice.”

Syrus huffed. Straight answers were so tiring. But Luke was asking so sincerely, and he was doing Syrus the courtesy of offering his trust when others had already tried to sway it.

Syrus crossed his arms and settled back in his seat. “I haven’t used suggestion on you since the beach,” he admitted. He cleared his throat delicately. “Although, my…lullaby might have been one to promote sleep.”

“The beach…,” Luke muttered thoughtfully.

Syrus frowned. “It was, if you remember, a matter of life or death.”

Luke waved a distracted hand. “I’m not offended. I just don’t remember it feeling much different. I couldn’t tell.”

Syrus studied the new furrow between Luke’s brows. “And that upsets you.”

Luke only shrugged, but Syrus wasn’t fooled. “I was very weak,” Syrus told Luke grudgingly. “And it was only suggestion. I couldn’t have forced you if you hadn’t already been inclined.” Syrus reached to caress a wayward strand of Luke’s overgrown hair. “I told you, Luke. You’re brave, and you’re kind. My voice couldn’t change that, not in the state I was in.”

Luke nodded, his gaze turned to the window. “But the song I heard. The reason I came to the beach…”