Page 57 of A Moth to the Flame (Utopia #1)

She shrugs beneath her hands. I just treated my body the way I always wished someone would treat me during the red wave. Besides, I didn’t want you to wake up to blood-soaked sheets after you’d been so recently drained.

I lean down to nuzzle our heads together and whisper, If you’re a good girl and get out of this form, then we can get back to our normal bodies tonight.

I swear, I’ll treat you the way you’ve always wanted to be treated every single month without fail.

I’ll change blood-soaked sheets. I’ll go to the store to buy whatever supplies you need.

I’ll hand-feed you grapes or chocolate or whatever you want for a whole week.

How long does your period last anyway? They’re usually about a week, right?

Her laughter fills my mind while my body makes a disturbing chuffing noise.

Cornelius peers up at me. “What are you doing? Why is she…laughing?”

I straighten and grin at him. “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Cordie chuffs again. She flares my wings a little.

“This is not working,” Cornelius hisses, then rubs his furry little head all over my chest. “Fret not, my terrifying darling. We shall not concede defeat.”

He climbs back to the book, then turns a few more pages with his paw.

“Why did you make me your little page bitch if you can turn them on your own?” I call to him.

He lifts his left paw toward us then extends a single middle claw as he continues to read.

Cordie laughs harder. I sort of love this whole frenemies thing you two have going on.

I think we should adopt a dog to bring him down a few pegs.

Her laughter cuts off.

I pull my hands away immediately. Did I massage too hard?

No. She shakes my head. It’s just…I didn’t realize when you said that we’d figure things out together that figuring out how to blend our lives together was on the table. Adopting a pet seems like a big step.

I bite my tongue instead of asking her whether she thought I was lying with all those promises I just made.

If I put myself in Cordie’s shoes, I’d have a hard time believing anything out of my mouth, too.

It’s not like I have any practice at relationships.

Didn’t have to worry about big steps when sex was the only thing I had to offer.

Cordie’s flying blind as much as I am. She flat-out told me that not a single guy she’s been with ever wanted another chance to be with her.

That still baffles me, shrouding spell or no.

We’re in this together for the long haul, Gingersnap. That was something we agreed to. I think. Even if the mates thing turns out to be a load of bull, we have a ways to go if we’re going to learn everything else they’re hiding from us.

True. She cranes my neck until she’s peering up at me with those glowing red eyes. They don’t look so scary just now, not when I can see Cordie looking through them. This might sound unbelievable, but I’m glad you’re with me in this.

I chuckle. Because this is the best revenge you never imagined getting on me?

She furrows my furry brow. No. Because I trust you.

Her words have me thinking up all sorts of plans—vacations, holidays, random Tuesday mornings, getting ready for work side by side. I can see them all playing out in those glowing red eyes like a movie.

A future. We could have a future together.

She’s not ready to hear that, and frankly, there’s so much in our way that I don’t want to get her hopes up. Hell, not sure I want to get my hopes up.

You don’t trust Wallace?

She tips my head to its normal position. I do because Granny told me to. I don’t know his motivations, though. I know yours, and that makes a world of difference.

I want to ask her what she thinks my motivations are, but now isn’t the time.

After psyching myself up, I pick up the tail that’s been swishing against Cordie’s feet. It’s covered in the same velvety down as the rest of my fae body, with a tuft of longer, black fur at the end.

“Be a good little tail and don’t do anything I’m going to regret,” I mumble to it.

It kind of reminds me of snake handling when I wrap her palms around it.

Oh , she groans. Maybe—yeah. Don’t do that. Not with Cornelius here.

That did not sound like a groan of pain. I lean over my shoulder and sure enough, my monster cock is standing at attention between my spread thighs.

Do you like that, Cordie ? I say with a grin that just as quickly slides off my face. Shit. Do I like that ?

Cornelius turns his attention toward us and catches an eyeful of what’s going on.

Cordie moves quickly to cover me with dangerously clawed hands.

No! I yell at her. You’ll shred my dick!

I might not be happy about my monster cock, but slicing it off isn’t the answer, especially if that might remove my regular one, too.

She damn near knocks me off her feet when she moves my wings to spread over my legs.

Cornelius sighs. “I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but it seems that was futile on my part.”

Did he find another option ? Cordie asks.

“What do we need to do?” I grit out.

My poor little witch. She must be really freaking out right now.

I’m really freaking out right now.

“A release,” he says flatly. “Physical release is the most tried-and-true method of reverting from feral form.”

I swallow as the full implications of that settle on Cordie’s shoulders.

I’m gonna have to jerk off my own monster cock.

Cornelius twitches his whiskers, leaping off the bookshelf. He calls over his shoulder as he heads toward the steps, “Make haste. We haven’t much time until the others return.”

Fuck. I don’t even have time to give myself a mental pep talk as I slowly walk around my huge body to face Cordie. I crouch in front of her and stare at the pulsing knob at the base of my dick—the one that’s never been there before.

Duke?

I forcibly drag my gaze up my body until I meet Cordie’s gaze. “Yeah?”

She grins at me with sharp, long teeth that make me shudder. You were right about me, you know.

I wrinkle her brow, trying to figure out what I was right about.

The scary grin on my face grows wider. I have fantasized about fucking a demon.

Despite it all, I laugh .

That was what I told her the first time I saw her again after ten long years.

I raise her eyebrows and match the grin on my face. “Well, let’s get this show on the road then. The sooner we get back into our bodies, the sooner you can fuck me in whatever form you want.”

Her husky laughter actually makes me excited to be a monster.

Her monster.