Orion brought the knife to my flesh in a clean slice that stung and sent my blood flowing into the chalice. It hurt, but when staring at him and readying my own energy, the sting felt—good.The good kind of pain where the reward that followed sweetened the blow. What was the difference between a cut and a caress, just one sharp edge, and they seemed pretty close at the moment.
This wasn’t how I pictured getting closer to the incredibly sexy incubus in the circle with me, but doing a spell like this together still came with a certain amount of intimacy. I couldn’t help it as a moan slipped from my lips.
His pupils expanded and darkened, the sexual energy on the other side of the circle really roaring to life now. I was no stranger to desire, but damn, his sure packed a punch. Him and his burgundy energy made me feel tipsy.
My blood mingled with his in the chalice. Not his or mine, it belonged to both of us now. First the blood, then came the magic.
The magic inside me sprang to life with barely a thought, buzzing like bees or jumping beans under my skin, excited and unable to relax just like me. I held my breath as our energies drew closer to each other. Right as our energies spilled over into the chalice, hurtling towards each other and about to meet and mingle with each other and our combined blood—Whoa!
I rocked back on my feet, nearly falling over, as my magic ricocheted back towards me. Orion’s own energy slammed back into him too. He staggered out of the circle.
As soon as he left the circle, we were blocked.
Holy shit. A ring of fire sprang up from the circle, keeping us and our energies apart. The ring blazed to life with a roar, a bright flame burning so strongly it warmed my skin and creating a wall that nearly reached my waist.
The fire circling me only lasted a few seconds, then it vanished, leaving only a mark on the floor.
An unseen force struck me and turned everything dark. It felt like someone reaching into my chest and tugging on my insides.
You’re mine, little Robin,a cruel voice purred right into my mind.
Oh God. Oh no. I never thought I’d hear that voice again.
This was who Orion searched for? This was who was hurting people? And this was who had his hooks into me.
Orion was right. I’d been wrong.
I did have a connection to the incubus he chased. An incubus responsible for the death and disappearances of multiple people.
I’d wanted a connection, a tether to someone else besides myself, and I had one. A monster and I were connected. Be careful what you wish for.
This guy was a demon and an incubus, but I knew him as a ghost. Someone who destroyed my life once before and nearly destroyed me too. Guess he’d come back to finish what he started.
5.You, Me, and Murdering Incubus Makes Three
Orion
So much for my security deposit. The ring of fire that erupted and burned my floor saw to that. Only a black mark on the floor remained.
Losing money was a small price to pay to confirm this lead. Rob’s connection here hadn’t been a trick or mistake. A familiar energy, powerful and dark, hung onto him. Lex’s energy.
I knew who was responsible with the first casualty. The targeted victims and MO were too unique for this to be coincidence. So few demons possessed the necessary skills and I always feared a return. Apparently, the lengths I’d gone to in order to prevent such a thing were all in vain.
Whispers of Lex’s energy lingered like smoke in places where he killed, taunting me and giving me little to work with. Then came Rob. Now I was closer than ever to ending this. This was the break I’d been waiting for.
Only a stunned mage stood in my way.
Rob still remained inside the charred boundary ring, sitting on the floor with his knees pressed to his chest.
"Rob, are you still with me?" I crouched down next to him.
“This isn’t happening,” he murmured to himself. “This can’t be happening.”
The other man barely paid me any attention. He’d only been humoring me before when I asked for his assistance, assuming this was a dead end but not about to talk himself out of easy money. Something had obviously been jarred loose for him during our ritual.
Over time, some sex demons became very skilled at reading people and connecting with them on a personal level. Not me. A lifetime of one-night stands and only reading people for basics like compatible desires and sexual preferences meant that I sucked at comforting people.
I did the only thing I could, summoning enough patience to wait until he finally processed enough to shake off his stupor and look up at me.
