Page 185 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Six

Keika

“ T hey are taking far too long. I should have just gone up there myself.” I grumbled, a frustrated little grunt as I kicked a small pebbled on the floor of the estate’s lower hall.

“In the rain?” Kenta snarked, and I answered him with a nasty sneer, clenching my jaw.

“If necessary, Brother.” I stifled a shiver from just being down here in Rune’s little hideaway. “I came down here, didn’t I?”

He shrugged, turning away and posting up against the wall. Kenta propped his foot against the wall, making his knee stick out, and I was quick to jab my knuckles into the meat of his outer thigh so that he’d get a muscle cramp.

“Ah! Bitch!”

I smirked at him as Kenta yelled. “Oh, toughen up, darling. You know you love me.”

He rolled his eyes, but then both our ears perked up at the sound of footsteps coming from down the hall.

“Finally.” I relaxed, leaning against Kenta. “What took you so long up there, Baltz?”

As he came around the corner, Aki walked in front of him, and Baltz only answered with his patented glare. Aki, of course, was drenched, and she was shivering to boot. That would not do.

“Sweet pet, you’re positively soaked. Let’s get you upstairs into the house proper. We’ll warm you up so very nicely.”

I couldn’t keep myself from sidling right up to Aki and burying my nose in wet strands of her hair. Despite the chilled water, she still smelled so blissfully good—a blend of rose and incense. Ugh, I could go into a frenzied heat from just the scent alone.

And no doubt Kenta is fighting a swollen dick as we speak.

Chuckling lightly, Aki pulled into herself, trying to track me as I circled her, too fascinated by our new toy.

“Umm, okay, whoa!” I pulled my hand back from her ass, giggling. “Jesus, you’re very…”

“Curious? Yeah, it’s part and parcel to the kasha type.” Kenta had snuck his way to Aki’s other side, also getting a good long sniff of our sweet little mate. “And myself, if I’m being honest.”

We were all over her, and I knew that the poor thing probably wanted space, but I just couldn’t help myself. Dear brother was no better. To her defense, Aki didn’t immediately pull back. However, I had a feeling that may have had to do with two cat yokai purring at her. It did have quite the soothing effect—among other things. Best of all, those tasty little gifts would be even better on her since she was our mate.

“Umm, what…” A hint of intoxication colored Aki’s voice. “Are you doing that?”

Kenta and I giggled in unison, his malicious and dark, while mine was amused and playful. I nuzzled into Aki’s neck, feeling Kenta take her elbow so that we could walk her upstairs.

“Yes, pet. It’s soothing, no?” Aki nodded sloppily. “And it’s so much more effective on a mate.”

“Keika!” Rune shouted out, and I sneered at them—full of bratty delight and snark. “You have zero fucking chill. Ugh.”

“Mate?” Aki asked, her tone a bit steadier, and I noticed that Kenta had backed off on the juice, so I relented some as well.

“Yes, that’s why we’ve been protecting you all these years, watching over you. You belong to us. We just…”

I looked to my brother, silently asking him to finish the statement for me. He smiled like the little prick he was before focusing on Aki.

“We didn’t think that we’d be able to ever claim you properly. You are a human, after all. Our kinds don’t mix often. But the subway was…we don’t blame Rune for stepping in. Still, the blocks are crumbling. Your mind is strong.”

Rune suddenly appeared in front of Aki, their shadow essence swelling with that delicious depravity of theirs. I could sense the desire in our bond; even a tiny blip from Aki was noticeable. I smiled, smoothing my fingers down her arm as Kenta lavished attention on her other side.

“I’m going to take down the walls in your mind, Aki. I won’t keep the truth from you anymore. It’s the only way to do this quickly. It will…not be pleasant. But there’s no other way to answer all your questions. The yokai will help ease the strain.”

“Rune, let us get her upstairs first,” I whined, and they rolled their eyes before nodding. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Our shadow demon rolled their eyes as I grinned from ear to ear like a child who’d gotten her fill of ice cream and sweets. Baltz growled behind me, and as we all turned to bring Aki up, I noticed how tensely they stood. While that wasn’t necessarily news, the fact that he couldn’t look away from Aki most certainly was.

“Alright there, slippery?” I batted my lashes at him, which only made Baltz’s spines puff up.

“Fine. Go on, Keika. You’re getting your wish.” He eyed me for only a second before looking back at Aki.

“Aren’t you?”

I nudged him in the stomach with my elbow, swishing my extinguished tails beneath his nose. Baltz snarled again, grabbing hold of one tail and yanking enough to make me stop short.

“Ow!” Eyeing him, I tugged against his hold. “Come on, cutie. You know you can’t lie to me.”

He breathed deep, his grip on my tail relaxing. After flicking his stare to Aki again for just a moment, Baltz regarded me with an expression that could only be described as awestruck.

“She remembers me. From when I…” He clenched his jaw, his stare going distant. “It’s not supposed to be a human, Kei. But I…I can sense it.”

Reaching up on my tiptoes, I planted a gentle kiss on Baltz’s cheek.

“I know.” I looked over my shoulder at the others, who were getting Aki up the stairs. “She’s what’s been missing. We’re finally whole .”

Desperation and raw need powered through the bond that I felt with Baltz. It had been several decades since I’d felt it that strongly. He needed Aki just a bit more than the rest of us did.

Only she had the power to heal him fully.

And hell, who knew? Maybe she’d be the only human in history to be able to withstand the full force of Rune’s desire. Because Aki, indeed, was perfect for each of us, and she was about to find out just how delicious that could be.