Page 21 of Hazel’s Choice (A Monstrous World: Next Gen)

Chapter Twenty

Hazel

S omething is off with my system, and it physically pains me to admit that, but I only have one course of action.

I call my mother.

She’s a great mom, even if she’s kinda embarrassing. It’s probably a universal thing, though. Like, once you have children, it becomes your responsibility to mortify them on a regular basis.

Keeping things super basic, I tell her about Annex and Zeph while purposely leaving out the fact Zephyr is the angel hunting me. My family is big on honesty, and my mom would be so disappointed if she could see me now.

Honestly?

I’m a little disgusted with myself.

There was a time I would have been brutally honest about my part in Levi’s passing. Only, I have a big crush on Zephyr, and I don’t want him to hate me.

My mom asks several questions, and we spend a bit talking about my system. Some sixth sense takes over, and I can tell where the conversation is headed.

I brace for impact, frowning and wondering why I called at all when I know I won’t actually allow her to check me over.

“You could stop by and see me,” Mom says. “I can give you an exam to see if my magic senses those genetics.”

I grimace.

Dammit.

She means well, but I’d pretty much rather gnaw off both my arms than to have her give me a check-up.

And I know it makes me an asshole.

My mom’s grandmother delivered my sister and me. Midwifery runs in our family, and it’s completely normal for a family member to help deliver babies or give an exam.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, trying to keep the horror from my tone. “I love you, Mom. I have to go. Annex is taking me out tonight.”

“A date?” Mom makes a weird cooing sound. “That is so exciting. Send me a picture of the two of you.”

I snort.

“Talk later. I love you, Hazel.” And with that, Mom hangs up on me.

Zephyr does not seem pleased in the least when Annex informs the angel that he’s taking me on a date tonight.

“Have a night off. Go have a beer with your mates. Hunt for the creature. Whatever tickles your fancy.” Annex smirks, wrapping his forearm around my lower back. “I will keep Hazel safe.”

The incubus winks at me, and while it makes my stomach flutter, it also feels a little like leaving Zeph out of the inside joke, which makes me feel even more like an asshole than normal.

“I don’t see why I can’t come and simply guard for threats—” The angel’s words distort as Annex siphons us from the house.

“Have fun,” he says, but I’m unsure if Zephyr catches it.

We land in the foyer of an unfamiliar house. No, the loud pumping music indicates this might be a club. Or a house party.

Honestly, I have no idea where we are, but before we left, Annex helped me dress in a shimmery, silky cream-colored dress that’s so thin I had to forgo my bra and panties.

The heels tonight are a slightly more reasonable height, but watching the sexy incubus kneel as he strapped me into them might be my new personal weakness.

He’s dressed to impress in some type of tight black leather pants with a collared white shirt and black horseshoe suspenders. On anyone else, it would look ridiculous, but Annex manages to pull off the edgy style with very little effort.

He’s in full demon form, complete with both rows of horns, his tail, and his wings out.

He’s regal and sexy.

It makes it very difficult to understand why he likes me.

I’m mousy.

At least in humanoid form.

I’ve heard all my life that I’m pretty or cute, but that doesn’t mean much when my twin is gorgeous. For basically my entire life, any time a guy flirted with me—which was rare enough—it only lasted until they set eyes on Violet. And I’ve never begrudged her happiness or the spotlight.

I much prefer not to be the center of attention, especially in a crowd.

That doesn’t apply to Annex, though.

I would literally devour my sister without a second thought if she batted her long lashes, and he looked at her like every other male in her vicinity does.

“Whatever you’re thinking about is giving off killer jealousy vibes,” Annex murmurs, stretching a clawed hand down to palm my ass. “It’s making me rock hard.”

I snort, shaking my head.

“Can I ask where we are now?” I ask to change the subject. He kept his plans for tonight a secret, and it feels a lot like my first real date.

“We are having dinner and going dancing.” The sexy smile that crosses his face makes my damn knees weak.

“And I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce you to a few of my friends. We’re in Starlight Springs.

I considered taking you to my home, but that felt a little…

” He chuckles, wiggling his eyebrows. “Presumptuous.”

Yep, I would literally murder anyone he smiles at like that.

Dammit.

Maybe I am a menace.

“Kai and Blaze own Lucidity,” Annex says, guiding me down a long hallway that we were only able to access after two security guys recognized him and let us access a set of stairs.

“It’s a lot like Chaos, except they do parties that tip a little closer to the ambiance of Rut.

Basically, rather than having a separate part of the business run as the sex club, they have the occasional party that’s more along the lines of a night at Rut. ”

“And you work here?” I ask, fighting the terrible knot in my stomach.

I really need to get a handle on my monster before she devours some poor soul who hooked up with Annex once and had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

He needs sex to survive, but I’m hungry and hormonal.

Rational sense is not currently one of my strong suits.

“Not really. More like I pop in from time to time to help out my friends.” Annex stops in front of a door and knocks with the backs of his fingers.

Someone yells for us to come in, and an overwhelming pang hits my stomach.

I’m about to meet Annex’s friends. That’s exciting and scary all at once.

What if they don’t like me?

What if they think I’m weird and plain and not good enough for him?

Annex has no mercy, dragging me in the doorway as I try to dig my heels in.

Blaze is a bull shifter, which is one of the few species that I’ve never met in person. That must mean they’re generally good-natured beings because I’ve devoured a variety of different kinds of monsters.

He’s huge, even in human form, and I would not want to run into him in a dark alley.

I squint as I try to figure out what the red tint to his aura means.

Red can indicate anything from emotional stubbornness to physical strength. The second would make sense considering his species, but it’s so bright that I almost wonder if he’s mixed with something else.

I can’t always tell just by reading someone’s aura, especially if one side is more dominant than the other.

I’m also working at like forty percent capacity since I can’t feed as I normally would.

It’s a blessing that I’m able to siphon the extra lust off Annex, but I’m starting to wonder how long that will last.

My monster hasn’t been satiated since Zephyr came to Black Cove, and I’m afraid she’ll snap at some point.

The other man, Kai, is a bear shifter with shaggy curly brown hair and an easy smile.

I have devoured a bear before, but I have no plans for a repeat tonight, even if they both smell delicious on a level that’s hard to comprehend.

We do introductions, and the three of them talk among themselves while I try to determine why they smell so freaking good.

“Anyway, I know you two are excited to join the festivities, so why don’t we do this?” Annex pats my hip, and I tilt my head, studying his face.

What exactly are we supposed to be doing? We already made introductions. If he wants me to win his friends over with how fun and social I am, we’re all fucked.

“Give us just one second,” Annex says to the men before dragging me over near the door to exit the office. “I probably should have warned you, but I didn’t want you to get cold feet.”

My eyes widen, and I study his handsome face. “I have no idea what’s happening.”

“Of course you don’t, silly.” He chuckles, booping me on the nose. His clawed fingers lift my hair, tossing it behind my shoulder. He gets very close to my ear and whispers, “Could you do the time thing?”

I nod. “I can, but it will leave me starving.”

“We’ll handle that, I promise.”

It’s so easy to believe Annex, and it feels a little like he needs to see that I do.

My eyes fall shut, and I raise a hand, snapping. The time stop bubble is large enough to encase the office, and that’s about all I have to spare.

“That’s such a fancy trick.” The incubus chuckles, thumbing my lower lip.

My eyes pop open, and his dark void-like gaze stares into mine.

“I trust them. When I killed my previous owner, it was a bit of a rash decision on my part. Very little prior planning and all that. Blaze and Kai offered me a safe place to stay. They kept me hidden when it would have been easier and more lucrative to hand me over, and they never asked for a single thing in return. I’d like to believe I’ve paid back their kindness over the years by helping around the club, but that’s neither here nor there. ”

“If whoever summoned you wasn’t dead, I’d devour him for you.”

“Aww, baby doll. I know you would.” He bends, brushing his lips over mine. “But that brings us back to not allowing you to needlessly suffer. I’ve been there. Starving is no fucking fun.”