Page 17 of The Monster of Darkspell Comics

Pashar

I look up from my work as the smell of corn dogs fills the shop, my long tongue snaking over my lips.

My weaving pin, with which I stitch the nightmare to form the images into the paper, lifts from my current work, and I set it down as I turn toward the door.

Fanny gives me a sly smile, and I notice that she has a second bag in her other hand.

I give it a curious glance as she sets the takeout bag from The Good Char on the table beside me.

I dismiss the bag that she continues to hold as my attention turns fully to the large paper bag filled with mouth-watering food.

Besides, it’s not the first time she has decided to shop while on her break since giving her a little extra freedom.

The name of the clothing store is not one I’ve seen her with before since their signature brands are easy to spot, but I’m just glad she didn’t make me wait too long this time for my meal.

Fishing out my corn dogs, I shove the paper bag in her direction and promptly open the to-go cup of mustard before setting it beside my meal.

I’m salivating as I dip a corn dog into it and take a satisfying chomp.

I purr happily and close my eyes contently as I chew.

Dzik must have got a fresh batch rich with suffering.

It is delicious. My eyes crack open as I take another bite and I note that Fanny is watching me with a worryingly thoughtful look on her face as she nibbles on her own corn dog.

As much as I usually take considerable pleasure out of watching her eat the flesh of the damned—who knew it would be so erotic as well as incredibly satisfying? —I am put on alert by her expression.

“What’s wrong? Has that human approached you again?” I demand, my claws unconsciously shredding the paper napkin wrapped around the corn dog’s stick.

I barely even leave my shop anymore because of that damned male always sneaking around and watching.

What’s worse is that the council cannot even thoroughly investigate the male beyond inquiries through official channels since they don’t have the authority to organize a strike force to raid Deadman’s Inn outside of their local jurisdiction, and they lack sufficient evidence to convince the state to do so.

And I thought politics in Hell were bad.

“No,” she sighs. “Though I don’t know how much longer this stalemate is going to last. He appears to be waiting for something, but what that thing is seems to be just as much of a mystery now as it has been. It’s just that he’s just... everywhere.”

I nod grimly in response. “It appears that if anything is accomplished at all, it may require more direct—and not exactly authorized—action.”

Fanny’s lips purse. “That is what Ms. Kremble alluded to as well when I ran into her in the hall. I’m just not sure how we should go about ‘kicking over the rock.’”

I dip my corn dog in the mustard and take another large bite of it as I consider the best course of action.

“Jasper said that he was staying there at the Deadman’s Inn.

The town officials haven’t been able to secure any warrants with the state to search the premises, but it might be worth our while if I drop in tonight before the male returns from his nightly prowls around town. ”

“That may work,” she murmurs. “I will go with you.”

I drop my corn dog on my napkin to glare at her. “No, you will not. An inn inhabited by a ghoul is not someplace that is safe for you, however much other humans may wish to risk their lives. You will remain within the nightmare realm while I go.”

She stares at me as she makes a visible effort to stifle her laughter.

“What is so funny?” I growl.

“That you are sitting here making a case for the nightmare realm being safer than a run-down inn,” she chuckles.

My lips twitch reluctantly. “It’s more about the ghoul,” I gently chastise, but she shakes her head as she chuckles again.

“You’re a demon. I think I will survive the horror of being around a ghoul,” she teases.

“I will think about it,” I grumble and dip my head toward her corn dog. “Eat.”

She takes a healthy bite, but I notice that she’s still clutching the bag she walked in with. In fact, she has been hugging it strangely close to her chest ever since she returned. Noticing the direction of my gaze, she promptly drops the bag to the floor and kicks it under the cashier counter.

Like that’s not suspicious.

I pin her with a scowl, but she doesn’t cough up an explanation. Instead, she takes another large bite of her corn dog as if she hadn’t just acted peculiarly.

“What was that?”

Her eyes widen plafully at me, and I’m distracted by the wisps of hair teasing the soft curve of her jawline as she glances down in the direction of the hidden bag in surprise.

“Nothing. Just picked a few things up that I need.”

Giving me a particularly sweet smile, she dips her corn dog in her own little cup of mustard and takes another crunching bite followed by a delectable moan that makes my cock harden aggressively in my pants.

My eyes narrow at her, a soft growl starting in my throat.

With the threat of an unknown male lurking about, all of my instincts are going haywire with the need to mark and claim her, and she is here unwittingly playing with fire.

I know it’s illogical, but it was never claimed that demons were universally the most logical of species.

I promptly quash the sound and blank my expression when I notice the corner of her lips tilt.

So, it’s like that? Huffing, I turn back to my meal, refusing to be lured into whatever game she’s playing.

It has become apparent that living with Fanny is like living with another demon—the difference is that the sort of battle I want to have with her has nothing to do with territorial skirmishes, and everything to do with wrestling her into a mating hold with my corethi while I rut her senseless.

With some effort, I dislodge my brain from the route it’s eagerly going down and thrust my corn dog a little harder into the cup than is warranted, rewarding myself with a lewd splatter of mustard everywhere, several drops of which land on Fanny’s cheek.

Although the color is wrong, the sight of it sprayed on her cheek and neck makes my cock jump with interest at the vision it conjures of the little female dripping with my seed, sending a surge of lust that suddenly barrels through me.

It doesn’t get any better when she wipes a larger dab off with her fingertip and promptly sticks it in her mouth.

Hissing to myself, I hunker over my food and resume eating, refusing to look at her or make any more remarks or questions about the damn bag.

She will see that Pashar is not a demon she can play with.

Better to just give in and let her divert those energies elsewhere until I have an opportunity to secure her agreement to mate.

“Very well,” I grumble, pinning her with a hard look. “You may come, but you will obey my every direction.”

“You got it, boss,” she replies with another sweet smile that makes my cock jerk hungrily.

I want to hear her say that when I instruct her to feed my prick into her little cunt. I want to hear her say that when she offers me her heart and body just as she has gradually come to own all of me.

But I will take my time because, above all, Fanny’s happiness matters the most to me. No matter how my desires and instincts rage at me, I won’t push her any further than she’s willing to go.

“Just be sure to remember that,” I grumble as I take another bite of my food.