Page 14 of All Your Bloody Lies

The rough push from her is surprising, and she separates us. “Get your hands off me!” Gods, even her voice is a dream. She sounds of the night, like a symphony of delicate whispers carried by a breeze. The gentle hum of the city, the rustling of leaves.

“Go find your own treat.” The male, a mere Mundane who smells of whiskey, grabs her around her waist and pulls her back to him.

Her lips part, but before she can get a word out Mathas speaks. “I think we could show her a better time than you,” he says impatiently. “Mundanes are so boring. Beautiful, why not have some fun with a few Dylox?”

I groan, momentarily taking my eyes off her to look at Mathas.

“Fuck off!” the Mundane shouts, and I shoot my glance back to him. The woman is being pulled tighter to him, as though he is ready to run with her as his property.

Her scent shifts, and my eyes widen. She notices my change in demeanor, and her carefree expression disappears. A hardened one surfaces because she knows I can smell it.

The Amoro.

The Mundane shouts and rips his hand from around her. A twitch of her nose comes as she steps to me, her chest pressing against mine. Her chin lifts as she mutters, “Fuck... Off.”

This is no damsel.

“Sorry,” I say with a coy grin. “Can’t do that. You see, Miles has requested a few words from you.”

I’m taken aback that she doesn’t flinch. The Mundane behind her is shouting at Mathas, but my ears are open only for her. She’s the target, and all that matters in this moment.

“Doubtful.” She lifts up toward me. “I’m sure that even in the Beyond, Miles is too choked up to talk.”

That’s enough confirmation for me, and I wrap my arm back around her neck, pulling her flush against me. “Let’s take this outside, hmm? I’d rather not have an audience.”

There’s no smile accompanying her quip. “I enjoy making a spectacle.” she takes one long intake of breath through her nose. “Achille dog.”

I may have found my match with this one.

“Woof.” I don’t know enough about her dwindling kind, and for that, I won’t allow for those lips to touch me. “I’m not asking. Let’s go.”

With a rough jerk, I begin walking us through the crowd. She’s smart not to make a scene, but I can feel her anger. The tremble in her arms as she fights to keep from lashing out. I keep it impossible for her to swing for my head in this position, but selfishly, even if I didn’t fear her running off, I’d still force her to stay under my arm.

Her scent is intoxicating, and I can only imagine her taste being just as delightful.

It’s unfortunate that Achille will kill her—or at least try to. I don’t know how you kill a Succubus, but it’s not my job to care. Maybe I could at least get a single night with her. I’d usually ask for a big payout for this kind of trouble, but I think a twelve-hour session with this delight will suffice.

“Filthy,” she whispers, “I can smell your desire seeping through your jeans.”

Leading us out the door and turning away from the main street, I chuckle. “It’s quite the compliment. I was imagining giving you your final meal.”

She scoffs, and I look down at her.

“What’s your name, Succubus?”

A bored expression accompanies her silence.

“Oh, don’t be boring. We can share if you would like. My name is—”

As if perfectly timed, just as my name is about to slip from my lips, we turn the corner, and I am slammed against the concrete wall. My spine breaks in several places, and I instantly crumble down to my knees.

“I do not give a fuck.” I hear feet rushing, Mathas is immediately in front of me and wrapping his hand around her throat.

My healing kicks in nearly immediately, and I slowly get to my feet. “Let her go, Mathas,” I hiss. Unfortunately for him, he is too slow to hear my command, and with a single swipe of her hand, his forearm separates from the rest of his arm.

He shrieks and steps back, grabbing his bicep right above where his arm has been severed.

Watching as her nose twitches, she lifts her bloodied hand. “You ruined my night,” her tone shifts, and I know it’s the demonic side of her race peeling out from behind the layers of her human form. It holds a seductive, dark allure that I would be lying if I denied didn’t make me crave to bend her over and punish her for thinking she could talk to me in this way. “Fucking Vampires.”