Page 24

I took advantage of her distraction, tugging her toward me and nuzzling my face against her belly.

“So much for keeping your distance,” Marv commented.

Miko's breathing hitched as I wrapped my arms around her waist, sliding my tail around one of her legs. “Sometimes,” I explained, the words muffled against the fabric of her top, “there is no explanation, especially when it comes to magic or supernatural beings. Sometimes, we just are.” I drew back far enough that I could observe her face, only to realize what I was doing and released her, a growl chasing my actions.

Miko stumbled but thankfully tumbled into the armchair she previously occupied. The tension loosened from my muscles as I walked to the mantle and leaned against it.

My eyes narrowed as Huff became visible, pacing on the back of Miko's chair, ears crossed on the top of his head, drawing my eyes to their downy baby pink undersides. Miko's lips curled downward, her upper body turning slightly in Huff's direction as if she could sense him.

Impossible.

Proving me wrong a second later, a roar shattered the peaceful calm within the stacks as she reached behind her with both hands and grabbed Huff. How the fuck did she manage that? I took two steps forward, my wide stride already halfway across the distance before she…smiled?

Huff gurgley-growled and sat willingly in one of her palms. My hands dropped to my sides, and I exhaled sharply through my nose. This is why I said she can't be trusted. She could've really hurt him. I wager that damn cute puffball did it on purpose, risking his life to prove to me that I'm wrong.

“What are you?” she asked the Heechu, the wonder evident in her voice. He growled playfully, hugging her thumb with all three of his tails, rubbing his face against the pad.

It's then that I realized I'm fucked no matter how much I tried to hate her, she was worming her way into me no matter what I tried to stop her.

“Like a tapeworm,” Freddy snorted.

Maybe.

Miko glanced away from Huff for the first time in several minutes, meeting my stare, delight shining in her irises. “What is it?” she asked, the biggest smile I've seen yet growing on her face.

I wandered over to the chair next to hers and sat carefully on the edge, mindful that my heavy stone frame could easily break it. My quads tensed, readying to stand as the wood groaned, but the sound soon settled. “That's Huff,” I explained, reaching over and running a knuckle down his fuzzy back. “He’s a Heechu.”

My not-mate raised a manicured brow, then smiled sweetly at my best friend, lifting the hand holding him closer to her face. “Can I pet you?” she asked him. I tilted my head. She wouldn’t be able to understand him, even if he were to respond. I appreciated the effort she’d made to speak directly to him. Huff, seeming to understand the predicament, gurgle-growled excitedly, tucked his tails around himself, then rolled in a tight circle around her palm. Miko giggled and he stopped, blinking up at her with his singular eye wide with a trust I’ve only ever seen him give the Heechus and I.

“I'm going to take that as a yes,” she said

I couldn’t help but snicker. “You've done it now, lass,” I accused, laughter my voice. “He'll never stop begging for cuddles and pets.”

She stared at me with an expression that could only mean she thought me insane for thinking that was ever a bad thing. “That’s perfectly okay with me. But what is he?” she asked again.

“As I said, he’s a Heechu. It's a species of magical creature.”

“I've never heard of them before.”

Lacing my hands behind my head and leaning back, I replied, “Not many have.” My eyes hooded with satisfaction as Miko’s eyes dilated and her tongue poked out to lick her bottom lip.

“See something you like?” I asked her once more, rolling my hips in a blatantly lude gesture.

Her pupils spread further, and I swore the corner of her lip twitched as pink bloomed over her throat and chest. “Yes,” she replied deadpan, “but it doesn't mean I have to act on it.”

“All true. I'll never force anything on you unless you want me to. Or unless you beg me properly.”

Miko set Huff on her lap, and something ugly boiled up within me, noxious and singularly irritating. I've never been more jealous in my life of such a fluffy fucker. What I wouldn't give to have any part of my body touching those thighs.

A huff, no, two huffs, ones I suspected were heavy with amusement, sounded from Miko and my Heechu. “I looked over at them. “What?”

“Nothing, Bane,” Miko replied, covering her mouth briefly with her hand. “You're very easy to read.” She shrugged, then resumed petting Huff and playing with his tails, starting at their blue bases and curling the black tips around her fingers.

I scoffed. “That cannot be accurate. I’m made of granite. How expressive can a rock be, hm?”

She stared at me, her face void of emotion, then waved a hand as if in dismissing my perfectly, and not at all fabricated, statement. “Time enough to debate that at another time,” she expounded, emphasizing the last two words. “We are well off topic.”

The Hell? “We are?”