Page 21 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Sixteen

Laithe

I 'm lounging shirtless when Emerson comes into her bedroom.

“Why the hell are you in my room?” she hisses.

“I was waiting for you,” I tell her, studying her curvy form. “Rough night?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” she grumbles.

I almost laugh. I know Arsyn wouldn't hurt her, nor would he do anything she wasn't explicitly okay with. It's part of the benefit of knowing incubi can only gain energy from consensual sexual experiences.

“Why are you shirtless and holding my daughter?” Emerson asks, yanking her dress over her head. She's bare underneath it, and I swallow thickly.

My mouth is terribly dry all of a sudden. I lick my lips, but it doesn't help.

Now would be an extremely inconvenient time to get a hard-on, considering the small bundle of wolf currently drooling on my chest.

I stare into Emerson's eyes and shrug. “Mama Dread, that's Dread's mom,” I say, like she can't figure it out with deductive reasoning. “Anyway, she gave me some tips for bonding with a baby. She said skin on skin contact is important. It builds a connection.” I grin, swiping my hand over the toddler’s warm back.

Even the fabric of her pajamas doesn't block how hot her skin is.

I hope Emerson realizes I'm putting in effort here.

“Also, your deviant child failed to inform me her diaper was about to explode, so when I picked her up, we both ended up covered in toddler pee.”

“My life makes no sense anymore.” Emerson pulls an oversized t-shirt out of the drawer and yanks it on. The bottom of her hair is wet, like she showered before leaving The Den.

“I was quite offended until I realized shifters often urinate on things to mark their territory. Your toddler wolf claimed me.” I beam.

She frowns. “Skin on skin is important for newborns. Ember is, as you mentioned, a toddler. I'm not even getting into the diaper issue.”

“Yes, well, I'm trying here,” I grumble as she lifts her daughter off my chest. “Acknowledge my efforts.”

Emerson huffs, rolling her eyes.

The skin on my torso is red and angry. Her child runs extremely hot. I do not. My flesh is slightly swollen where her small face and arms rested on my skin.

Emerson leaves the room and comes back a few minutes later.

“Aren't you going to thank me for my effort?” I ask, batting my eyelashes and giving her an inviting grin. It always works. I have practically a one-hundred-percent success rate with this look.

Emerson is not impressed.

I frown.

I'd like her to forgive me now. Yes, I was moody the other night, but she hurt my feelings. I didn't realize she needed to rush home for her child.

“What happened to your date?” she asks, climbing in bed at my side.

I roll to face her. “Dread overexaggerated how much of a problem she'd be. She was quite docile for me.”

“Make sense when you talk, or don't bother. I'm too exhausted for riddles.”

“Other than the diaper incident,” I say, chuckling, “your offspring wasn't nearly as bossy or demanding as Dread made her seem.”

“You had a date with my kid?” Emerson sighs. “You know what, I'm not even going to explain how creepy that is.”

“A date to protect your child from any possible threats that might come nosing around? Yes, I did,” I say, stretching out and rolling to face her.

“Thank you,” she mumbles, burying her face in the pillow. “I locked the delusional incubus out, but if he makes it inside...” She doesn't finish her sentence. She shrugs a shoulder and snuggles into her pillow even deeper. “I actually have no idea.”

“Arsyn followed you home?” I ask with a laugh. She's quite a delectable little human, but I'm shocked the incubus is besotted. Incubi don't let anyone hold their attention for long.

“It's a whole thing,” Emerson grumbles. It only takes a few minutes of her softly breathing before she falls asleep.

The fact I cuddle up to her front like a total fucking creep isn't something I let myself focus on too deeply. Emerson doesn't seem to mind; in fact, her soft body snuggles close to my cool chest as I run a hand over the back of her head.

My nose twitches at her scent, and my fangs descend.

Arsyn is a motherfucking dead demon walking. He better be ready for the one-way trip back to hell.

I unlock the front door, and Arsyn has the audacity to smirk. “I knew someone would be around to let me in if I was only patient enough. Meena has this place locked down with?—”

I lunge forward, wrapping my hand around his neck. Using my speed, I spin us, slamming his back against the wall. His wings flutter out as he sighs.

“Do you have a fucking death wish?” I snarl. The monstrous side of me is envisioning thrusting my claws into his chest and yanking his still-beating heart right out of the useless cavity that will be left when I remove the organ.

Arsyn pops off the ground, pushing off with his heels. He hovers in the air, slamming his feet into my chest. I stagger back several steps. My claws slice through his throat as I'm shoved away, and his hand flies to cover his wound.

I pivot as I rise, slamming the heel of my right foot into his shoulder. He skids across the wooden porch, crashing loudly into the old swing. It gives a creak, like it might crack.

I cringe, because the old witch will make me pay if I destroy her home.

“You fucking dick,” Arsyn grumbles, swiping at the blood I spilled. “You're lucky I'm topped off.” The wound immediately seals, but black blood drips down his neck. “We're fucking bonded. If you severely injure me, it will hurt Emerson .”

“Shit,” I hiss. I hadn't fully considered that before acting. He'll draw on her energy anytime he's low. “You tricked her into bonding. How dare you? Is nothing sacred to your kind?”

Arsyn glares, his wings bristling behind him. “You're not thinking clearly, so I'm going to let that slide. This one time only . It's not something that can be forced or coerced. Which you know. You're pissed, I get that. As I told Dread, I'm very open to sharing.”

“Details,” I hiss, my head falling back as it shakes. “Explain exactly what the hell happened.”

“Emerson initiated the bond. I could've refused it, but I'm not entirely sure she would have survived it,” Arsyn says, swallowing thickly. “I wasn't going to risk it.”

“Fuck,” I growl, swiping my hair back from my face with my thumbs.

Arsyn is a high lord of Hell. He's not any normal demon. Emerson's a human; they're incredibly weak by nature. No, I can't imagine she would have lived through the experience.

“Did she know what she was doing?” I ask, spinning in a circle. Frustration pulses through my system, causing me to fidget.

“No,” Arsyn admits. “Dread has implemented a new policy that all employees must understand how each species bonds.”

“I'll bet he did,” I say, snorting a derisive laugh. “She's a mess, but quite alluring, despite that fact. Was she upset?”

“She allowed me to walk her home and promptly locked me out,” he says, chuckling. “I've devoured souls for less.”

I snort. I've also killed for lesser indiscretions. Yet, he looks strangely excited that Emerson had the audacity to lock him out.

“What do you intend to do now?” I ask, leaning against the porch railing.

“I've not a clue.” Arsyn sighs. “I'm guessing she won't want to leave Haven, so I've got to make other arrangements for my home.

The longer we're apart, the worse my hunger will grow. Without sex, the bond will draw on her life force. Meaning, I guess you motherfuckers better make up a room for me.”

“Well, that won't happen tonight,” I say, glancing toward the door that leads back inside. “She's going to be so pissed when she realizes I let you in.” I laugh. “Come along. You can meet the hellion in the morning.”

Arsyn frowns. “I was under the impression she's half shifter.”

“Indeed,” I say, chuckling. He thinks she's a demonling, and I’m not going to correct that assumption. I pat him on the chest and head inside. “Of old alpha blood.”

“Aww, yes. I can’t wait to see who blinks first,” he says, following me inside.

Emerson is an excellent cuddler. She snuggles between me and the sex demon and softly snores with no shame.

Arsyn eventually falls asleep, wrapped tightly around her front, but I don’t require much sleep, if any, really. After living for so long, it does help to pass the time, but Emerson is much more intriguing than a bout of dreamless sleep.

When the chattering starts, I'm well and truly confused. It takes several seconds of frowning across the room before I realize this day and age comes with baby monitors.

I carefully slide out of bed and head to check in on the vicious pup. “You'll not get me again,” I say, carefully lifting her out of her crib.

I'm unsure why Emerson hasn't moved her to a toddler bed. The pup is more than capable of climbing out on her own.

Ember wiggles in my outstretched arms. She gives a cheesy grin that reminds me of her mother. Her blue eyes sparkle as she chews on her finger.

“We'll change your soaked bottom before I hold you any closer,” I inform her. “You really should be toilet trained by now. We'll need to get onto Mommy about that.”

“Okay,” Ember agrees as I set her on the changing table.

“You're quite large to be using diapers. Do you need to use the toilet?” I ask, scratching at my jaw.

“Yes?” she asks, tilting her head.

“Well, that wasn't entirely convincing,” I mumble.

“Let me handle the wee one,” Meena murmurs, raising her eyebrows. “Never thought I'd see the day when Leifton Iverson was toting around a toddler. If I hadn't foreseen it, I'd never have believed it.”

“You will handle the soggy pup?” I ask, tossing a thumb toward the wolf. I'm suddenly a bit more hopeful. The prospects for the day have quickly rebounded.

“You need to make her care for you quickly. All of you do. Otherwise, she won't survive what's coming,” Meena says, bumping me out of the way.

I take a step back with my jaw hanging. It's well-known that Meena is a powerful seer.

“You've seen a future where Emerson loves me?” I ask, sputtering out the words.

She nods. “I've seen the one where she dies alone at the hands of that mongrel, too. Be sure you don't allow that one to come to fruition.”

“Tell me who the problem is, and I'll eliminate him at sunset,” I snarl. My eyes glow as my fangs descend.

Ember whimpers. “Dat scare me,” she pouts, crossing tiny arms over her chest.

I swipe a palm over my face, willing away the white in my eyes. I've heard it's unsettling for humans and possibly small wolf shifters.

“I'm sorry,” I mumble. I have no idea why I'm so drawn to Emerson. None at all, but it doesn't make what I'm feeling any less real.

“The vampire apologized,” Meena snorts. “My life is now complete. I'm a little concerned I might die soon. That was a once-in-a-lifetime scenario.”

I stare, blinking repeatedly.

“Go woo Emerson,” Meena instructs with a huff. “I'll keep the hellion busy for a bit. Until Nadia decides to grace me with a great-grandchild, this is all I've got.”

Ember stands up and yanks down her pajama pants.

“Isn't she old enough to use the toilet?” I ask, still baffled by everything that's happened this morning.

“Go win over Emerson's affections,” Meena says, steadying the child. “You've got an incubus in the house. Use that to your advantage.”

I frown. I don't like the sound of that. I don't need Arsyn ramping up Emerson’s lust for her to want me. I'm an ancient Viking warlord and a motherfucking vampire.

Meena grins, and I quickly realize that I walked into that one.

I shake my head, wave goodbye to the rug rat, and head to Emerson's room.