Page 39

REMY

The sharp scent of venom pours off of Iris’s skin.

It warps her decadent passion fruit punch into a vodka cocktail.

“ Yrr mrrn mrr-mrr-mnnr ,” she mutters through the shadow safeguarding her lips.

You weren’t invited.

“And you’re drunk.” I press my cold hands to her flushed cheeks as I release the gentle gag.

“I’m not—” she gasps for air.

As she breathes, conflicting emotions twist her face; a parade of bad decisions almost made.

A shadow smooths the sweat from her brow, then feeds me a taste of her salty sweetness. “You were about to beg for more venom.”

Beg me.

Not him.

Her jaw drops. Then Iris huffs. “Godsdamnit. I am drunk.”

“Shall I cure you?” I lift her upper body away from the devil. He thrashes against his shadow muzzle as I cradle her to my chest.

Iris gasps at the shift, clutching my forearms as tremors ripple down her legs. Her desire drips. Her heart pumps.

My throat tightens.

I want to rip her away. Claim her as mine.

But Trezzoran has her locked on the primitive pegs of his devil cock.

Shall I cut him off at the root? I ask myself, intending him to hear.

Trezzoran snarls. Put one claw near my dick and I’ll flatten your pelvis into a frisbee.

So focused on my pelvis. I wish I could gag his soul as easily as I can block his mouth.

“There’s a cure?” Iris asks, trembling against my chest. “What is it?”

I swallow the bladed temptation of her scent. My voice roughens. “Take my bite.”

“You would say that.” She grips my shirt too hard and pops the upper buttons. Her muzzy gaze drags to my clavicle.

“I would. It’s the only solution.”

Iris combs my silks even as her lips purse.

She can’t help helping me any more than I can stop ripping myself apart just to be closer to her. “I can filter his venom. That’s why the Trezzorans still pay tribute to Azrid. They begged us for an alliance.”

Bullshit, Vhex mentally spits.

Luckily, I’ve covered his filthy mouth.

Iris squints into my eyes. “Any memories about the monster buried in our backyard?”

I don’t dare dig that deeply.

We’re having such a pleasant dream.

I wouldn’t want to ruin this moment by becoming my true self.

The former Remington would slaughter the monster I’ve become.

“I can’t remember that far,” I answer honestly. “Only scattered events have started to return.”

“Doesn’t help.” Iris fumbles belligerently at my buttons. “At least help by taking this off. No one else is wearing shirts.”

Dear oh dear.

She’s an adorable drunk.

Next time, we’ll skip the venom, and I’ll feed her sips of cognac laced with my blood.

I shift across the bed, giving her access to any part of me she wants.

As Iris strips my hardware, I smother Trezzoran in shadows. I can’t disconnect their souls— yet —but reducing the contact between their bodies seems to clear her head.

Her fingers steady.

By the time my shirt is gone, she blinks at my bare chest, then looks down at the fabric rumpled in her hands. “What the hell?”

I hope I’m half as cute when I’m out of my mind.

I tease a shorn-off clump of her hair. “Let me clear your head with a bite.”

“It can’t be that easy.” She rubs her reddened throat.

My instincts read the innocent motion as a provocation, begging me to strike.

I suck in my lengthening fangs. My voice strains. “Easy? Imagine crawling into the Azrid crypts with that delicious pulse and your sapphire soul, asking the vampires to purify your blood. They’d devour you.”

“Why would I ask anyone else? I meant that it can’t be easy for you . What’s the cost?” Leaning half-drunk and sleepy, she bumps my chest with her forehead. “There’s always a cost.”

Whether from the feather of her silks or the soft lashes beating against my skin, something warm crawls into my heart. “It’s nothing I’m not willing to pay.”

For you.

Whatever the effects, they’re cheap compared to the value of these lucid moments with her.

The only human moments in the flashes of all my past lives.

“You can try,” she finally sighs. “Release Vhex first.”

“We’re having such fun on our own.”

“Alone? Yeah .” Iris tremble-laughs, skating her hand down her stomach. Her shoulders curl as she lands at her mound. “Just you, me, and this disembodied devil cock. Lose the privacy screen, Rem. I don’t trust either of you to bite me without a chaperone.”

Rem?

All right.

“Just for you.” I banish the shadows. Vhex’s body returns to the light along with the hamster-cage-and-sulfur reek of his skin.

“Take out his gag,” Iris insists.

“Very well.” I remove the rope from between his teeth and brace my ears.

“What the fuck !” Vhex bellows and jerks.

“Stop moving,” Iris shudders, grabbing his hips. “Let Remy try to filter out your venom.”

“Won’t work. My venom is different.”

“Isn’t it worth trying?” she asks much too softly.

I reluctantly shoot him a thought. Cooperate. For her.

Fuck, no. I don’t trust you.

I can’t trust myself. To him, I lift my nose. Then watch. Learn, if you’re able. I’ll show you the secret your family never wanted you to know.

Like I care? Fuck all those inbred monster-fuckers.

I shake my head. Then watch me do it for her, and keep that fang in your mouth.

“Let me show you, Iris.” I move slowly, fighting to stay in control so close to her perfect pulse. “One bite. I promise to be gentle.”

A vampire may be a cursed creature, but we have our benefits.

The Trezzorans know them well.

Only a vampire’s bite can cure the hypnotic addiction of a devil’s venom. In every era I can remember, we’ve been called to lift their loved ones out of thrall.

If Vhex Trezzoran lacks the knowledge?

I almost pity the devil.

Neither of us was treated like a son.

“Just be fast,” Iris finally sighs. “Make this itching stop.”

Her silks wind around mine, welcoming us home as she tilts her chin and opens her throat.

Beautiful.

If I were being a gentleman, I’d lave her skin until she’s purring in my arms.

I lick once. A long stripe, tracing the path of her jugular.

Passion punch.

My stomach claws up my throat.

Can’t wait.

I bite.

The taste of rich, sweet fruit floods my mouth.

Instinctively, my fangs lock on to the other flavor mixed with her heady blood. On her skin, the venom scents like alcohol.

It tastes like syrup in her veins.

Her made-for-me flavor is already perfection.

Yet… Trezzoran’s cursed venom sweetens the package.

I groan, lips sealing to her throat.

How fucking deplorable .

My suddenly inch-long nails claw at her coat.

More.

Not just her blood.

Her blood mixed with that venom .

“Remy!” she gasps.

My vision spins and my thoughts crackle.

This taste.

This power .

Did I forget?

Or did the records fail to mention this effect?

It feels…

Too good.

I suck deeper. Now, I only need drops of blood. Instead of draining Iris, my fangs drain the devil’s power.

Venom strikes my soul in thunderclaps of honeyed lightning.

Its power lashes at my inner darkness.

I feel my withered life essence stir.

When there’s no more venom, my fangs naturally retract.

I don’t have to pull away. I come unlatched.

Woozy, I lick my chin.

Iris pants. She’s not pale with blood loss.

She’s flushed with lust.

I only took the smallest sip, leaving her healthy and whole.

My sluggish heart thumps.

My dormant cock stands, pumped full of blood and devil magic.

She touches her healing throat. “The venom’s gone?”

“It’s gone.” I laugh and stroke my hardened shaft.

Gone to here.

I’d best not remember anything more.

If I ever return to reality, I’ll have to drain my own veins.

Savoring devil venom?

I laugh.

I may as well enjoy the buzz.

There’s nowhere deeper to fall from here.