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CAMBION

Mercenary Stronghold

I thrum my fingers against the top of the table. Galmer sits across from me with a dark expression on his face, still silent after I brought to light what nearly happened to Eilish. We need Galmer and his followers as allies, but if Eilish isn’t safe here, I’ll leave immediately… taking her with me.

“While I fully understand the seduction of a succubus is hard to resist, I assume your men will take necessary precaution when around Lady Fulthain from here on out,” I say.

“She warned us that something like this was possible,” Galmer mutters. “I apologize, and I will extend that apology to the lady herself when she visits in the morning. Thank you for bringing this to my attention before anything worse could have transpired. Hemoteph and Draken may not be saints, but they are good men. But even good men make stupid mistakes. This will not happen again.”

“Thank you, King Galmer.” We bow our heads in simultaneous respect and I leave the Hall of Clans to return to the Vindication headquarters.

The night grows darker as I find myself standing in front of Eilish’s tent.

“Eilish?” I call.

I hear shuffling beyond the barrier between us just moments before the tent flap opens and Eilish stands before me. Her skin is flushed and plump as if she’s just stepped out from a bath. Water clings to her tresses and a faint fragrance of wildflowers tickles my nose, but it’s still not strong enough to hide her scent.

And her scent is stronger now than I’ve ever witnessed it. She needs to feed and she’s forsaking herself for not doing so.

“Eilish…”

“You should go. The hunger is getting worse and I don’t want to ruin this… new friendship between us.”

“This isn’t a friendship.”

“I don’t do this on purpose, Cambion,” she says with sad eyes. “Lock me away or tie me down far from the stronghold so I’m not a danger to anyone. I hate being like this, and no one else deserves to be lured against their will.”

I duck inside her tent and face her in earnest. “You’ll hurt yourself if you don’t feed, Eilish. The hunger and the pain will only get worse until the fever takes over completely.”

“It’s better than what will happen if I feed from someone who isn’t strong enough to handle it, someone who is innocent.”She shivers with revulsion and casts her gaze around the room. “If I succumb to this… hunger, then everything you once thought about me would be right. I’d be no better than Lamia and Morrigan.”

“I’m strong enough.”

She looks at me and shakes her head. “You still need to rest and heal, Cambion. You aren’t fully recovered.”

I move across the room in the blink of an eye. “Let me help you,” I whisper.

“Cambion…”

“I’m strong enough. You won’t hurt me.”

She pauses as she studies my face, trying to decide if I’m telling the truth. I’m not sure if I am but it no longer matters. I want her as much as she wants me. And we’ve both waited long enough.

“There’s still… animosity between us,” she says.

“There’s still animosity from you to me, you mean to say,” I correct her.

She nods.

“What better way to remove it?” I ask. “Let this be the way we start over. I know you’re still angry with me and I know I have to repent for the things I’ve done but if you truly meant what you said earlier—that we have larger enemies on which to focus, then show me by allowing me to quench your hunger.”

“I must feed soon,” she says on a deep exhale. “The fever and the need have been coming quicker now that you’re here. It’s as though my desire for you fuels my succubus appetite, or maybe it’s the angel’s appetite? I’m not sure.”

“It doesn’t matter, Eilish. This is your body telling you what you need. Listen to it.”

She hesitates maybe another few seconds but then she closes the distance between us. Her lips are on mine as I peel away the silk of her robe, dropping it to the floor as I thirst to see hernaked. Once I do, I take in the beauty of her curves as much as I can before she forces me down on the cot.