Page 20 of Entranced By the Nakken (Freedom, Love, Monsters #4)

“It was the most practical decision. This loincloth is much like the leathers worn by Glacia’s hardened warriors.

” Tsunis crossed their arms. “As such, it is most comfortable.” They glanced around at the stunned faces and scowled.

Must they spell everything out? “I’m a Glacisian warrior.

This is my natural attire. Though, our armor has a longer strip in front, and I feel bare without the weapons belt for my violin. ”

The room was silent. Glacia have mercy, being around humans was more disorienting than they’d expected. This was a bad idea. Tsunis’ gaze drifted to the exit.

Casimir crossed the room in two long strides. Their mate’s hands closed around their cheeks as he planted a kiss on their pursed lips then trailed soft fingertips down, teasing their flesh everywhere the sheer fabric interrupted the velvet pattern of the blouse.

Tsunis relaxed, watching Casimir’s green-flecked eyes admire every inch of their scantily clad body. Hunger and something else, something they knew was only for them, twinkled in Casimir’s gaze when it met theirs.

“Wow.” Casey dropped his hands to Tsunis’ waist, thumbs circling the divot of their hip bones. He leaned close and whispered, “I can’t wait to rip those fishnets off you later.”

Tsunis’ eyes narrowed. They barely bit back a retort, but of course, Casimir only chuckled.

“I’m so lucky to have the most beautiful person in the crowd to cheer me on,” Casimir said, louder, and kissed Tsunis’ again. “Thank you for agreeing to come. It really means everything to me.”

Emerald swirled in Casimir’s eyes, lulling Tsunis into a trance. They swayed toward him, drawn by the tide itself. Casimir’s palm caught their lower back, pressing their hips together so Tsunis felt the evidence of their effect on him.

A loud rhythmic pounding that ended with the trill of a symbol broke the spell, and Tsunis followed the sound to where Anna assailed the drums with the beat of Casimir’s song. Tsunis raised a knuckle to their lip and listened intently, their excitement growing with the rising tempo.

Anna stopped playing before reaching the intensity of the chorus. She ran a hand over her shaved head and cast Tsunis a bashful smile. “So?”

“The song Casimir discovered is transformative. Your energy and aptitude will serve the song well.” They didn’t feel the need to say she wasn’t playing with her whole spirit. It was Casimir’s spirit song, and it was enough that she was trying. “I’m glad it’s you performing beside him tonight.”

“Wow!” Anna released her breath with a whoosh. “Thank you. I’ve been worried, you know, Casey and Sophie used to make music together, but I’ve never done anything like this.”

“Do not worry, Anna,” Tsunis drawled, dipping their chin in a bow. “You will execute the rendition exquisitely.”

“The fuck?” Casimir glanced between Tsunis and Anna. “They’ve literally never complimented my shit like that.”

“Not true, pupil.”

“Okay, team. It’s crunch time.” Sophie announced. “Let’s take it from the top. Remember, our goddamn lives are on the line!” Tsunis’ eyes bulged. Sophie nudged them with her elbow. “AKA, the chance to open for Restless Villainess Revival.”

Casimir leaned close and whispered, “Our second favorite band in high school.”

“Pshh, they’re still my second favorite band,” Sophie tossed over her shoulder as she strapped on her guitar. “Yours, too, Casey. Deep down. Don’t lie.”

Casimir shrugged.

Noah took a seat on the couch and motioned for Tsunis to do the same. They did and were immediately glad for it as the song started up and their balance wavered like an anemone’s appendages at sea.

Anna set the mood with a resonating bass drum. Sophie joined with an atmospheric rhythm. Casimir’s gritty strings wove it all together.

Tsunis thought they were prepared. The concert hadn’t started yet, but the moment Casimir opened his tantalizing lips, Tsunis was lost. Disoriented, stolen by the freedom of Casimir’s spirit song billowing in the pulsing waves of the drums.

The band repeated the song multiple times before closing the session, and Tsunis could finally breathe without drowning.

“What did you think, Tsunis?” Anna inquired, shooting a pointed look to where Noah cheered, both hands cupped around his mouth as an amplifier. “It’s your song, too. Do we do it justice?”

“It is not my song,” Tsunis snapped. “I was merely the catalyst for Casimir to uncover it. I believe in his song like I believe in my next breath.”

“So?” Sophie implored. “How did we do?”

Tsunis closed their eyes, considering their words before addressing the captive audience.

“You are all skilled. Where I come from…” Tsunis floundered under the scrutiny.

Casimir smiled and nodded his encouragement.

“I come from a land passionate about music. A being’s spirit song is the most sacred entity, living inside oneself like a second heart, beating, evolving.

Some never liberate it, but the journey of discovery is half the magic.

” Again, their gaze drifted to Casimir’s.

“One would think my home is full of music. It is not. But listening to you all play,” Tsunis chuckled.

“I wish our destination tonight was Glacis, instead of…”

“Orlando,” Noah supplied when Tsunis trailed off.

Tsunis nodded. The room remained silent.

“Holy fuck.” Sophie broke the silence with a hardcore riff.

Anna laughed and joined in with a crack of the cymbals, the sisters grinning as Noah banged his head so hard his hair resembled a jellyfish.

“Shit, y’all,” Noah broke through the noise. “It’s getting late.”

Loud.

Since leaving the apartment, it was loud everywhere. Tsunis clung to Casimir until they reached their destination, when they were forced to release the safety of their mate’s hand.

“Stick with me,” Noah said, tossing an arm around their shoulder. “They’ll meet us at the bar once they’ve checked in.”

Tsunis jerked out a tense nod. There was naught else to be done.

Once at the bar, Noah ordered tiny, itsy-bitsy drinks for the two of them.

He assured Tsunis the shots of alcohol, an illicit human substance Tsunis had watched foolish humans partake in but never experienced themself, were entirely safe and tasted of cinnamon.

After two of the one-swallow cups, Tsunis eased into the strange environment but couldn’t help looking around for Casimir.

“Noah!” Sophie’s voice surprised Tsunis from the right. Relief was quickly followed by an alarming amount of lust that inundated Tsunis at the sight of Casimir close behind.

“Hey, sexy!” Noah shouted over the music.

Sophie smacked her lover’s arm. “You’re giving Tsunis alcohol?”

“They’re old enough!” Noah snatched her by the waist and dragged her onto his lap, sending Tsunis an exasperated look.

Tsunis reciprocated the human’s playful smirk and copied him, dragging Casimir down onto their thighs, which were bare where the skirt had ridden up, and the netting offered no real coverage.

“Well, hello there,” Casimir purred. He was so close to Tsunis’ ear that his breath ghosted over the fin. Tsunis trembled. “I see you’ve had some shots.”

Tsunis’ eyes rolled back. “The tiny sips.”

Casimir laughed and kissed their nose. “Do you have anything intoxicating back home?”

Tsunis took offense. They’d taken part in celestial blood before, but it never affected them like it did their cohorts. They’d witnessed comrades lose all control over their inhibitions, even losing the ability to shift forms. Tsunis liked to remain in control.

With a growl that was less threatening due to the smirk Tsunis couldn’t suppress, they sucked on the nugget of Casimir’s throat. “The only thing that intoxicates me is you, dearest Nymphaiia.”

“Fuck,” Casimir groaned as their make-out session with his larynx became heated. Glacia’s bosom, it vibrated against their lips, and Tsunis licked up to Casimir’s earlobe.

“Shit tits, how many of those did you give them?” Sophie’s voice was soft but scolding and accompanied by a light smack.

“They said they could handle it!” Noah tossed up his hands defensively.

“I’ve had two sipping cups,” Tsunis stated, voice firm but eyes trained on Casimir’s throat. “They are so tiny.”

“And full of alcohol,” Casimir said with a chuckle. His hand closed around Tsunis’ jaw, and he dragged their faces together, claiming Tsunis with a brutally soft kiss. “Dance with me.”

Tsunis accepted Casimir’s hand, watching the way his shoulder muscles rippled as he nudged past humans milling around the outskirts. He led them deeper, until their elbows brushed against the bodies swaying nearby.

The musicians on stage were not playing a spirit song, but the beat was pleasant enough, and Tsunis’ alluring mate held them close, encased by his scent and strong arms. An odd electricity hummed in the air of the dance floor, mixing with the scent of human bodies and the joy of the partygoers.

“You look good enough to eat,” Casimir whisper-shouted. “I might have to take a bite.”

Tsunis tried to glare up at him, but that goddess-blessed crooked grin and the delicious divot in his cheek melted Tsunis into a puddle right there on the dance floor.

Soon, Casimir’s friends joined them. Sophie passed a colorful drink to Casimir, who slurped it down while maintaining eye contact with her. She rolled her eyes and pilfered a darker drink from Noah’s hands. The whole exchange was so natural, Tsunis felt special for witnessing it.

Casimir’s hands were bolder after his pretty stolen drink. His gaze heated every time he glanced at their earfins, mouth, really anywhere on their body. Tsunis began to believe he’d meant what he’d said, and he would soon swallow them whole.