‘I’m sure he’s fine,’ I tried to assure him as much as I could with the curse gagging me from being more specific. If I could have told him I knew that for certain, I would have.
His amused snort was not the reaction I had expected, however.
‘I’m sure he is. He’s been dreaming about that girl for years now, believe it or not. Fell in love with a figment of his damn imagination. Imagine my shock when he tells me he’s gone and fucking found her.’
I almost choked on my tongue. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
He let out a small noise of agreement. ‘I’m happy for them, don’t get me wrong, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Humans are real.’ He gazed pointedly at the tunnel they had come through, his nose wrinkling in a sneer. ‘And not just Humans.’
I barked out a laugh. ‘Yeah. Tell me about it.’
‘What are you two gossiping about over here?’ the stunning red temptress of a Daemoness that had stood up for Junie asked as she rounded the stalagmite and perched her perky ass against the wall.
Abaddon jerked his head in her direction. ‘Can you understand her, too, or is it just me?’
‘I heard her.’
She blinked at me in shock, her long, thick red lashes fluttering seductively with the movement. ‘Well, that’s new. I can understand you, too.’
‘Do you think once you understand one, you can understand them all?’ Abaddon asked me.
‘Only one way to find out,’ I said, then moved back to join the others, both Daemons following close behind.
I clapped my hands and whistled sharply to get everyone’s attention, and the quiet murmurs of conversation died down immediately as all eyes latched onto me. ‘Who here can understand me?’
When I received nothing but blank stares from the Daemons and confused mutterings from the Humans, I got my answer. I shared a look with the two Daemons Icouldcommunicate with, an understanding passing between us.
‘I’ll explain things to my people while you go to yours, yeah?’
‘Indeed,’ Abaddon agreed, though he seemed faraway, lost in his thoughts as he meandered into the throng of his people.
The Daemoness turned to me, eyeing me up and down as she bit her lip in appreciation. I wasn’t about to admit that her finding me attractive was the biggest ego boost of the century, since I was sure she got that a lot, but I was definitely mapping out in my head how I could see how far that appreciation went. She seemed to catch onto the direction of my thoughts and stepped into my personal space, her fingers reaching up to trace patterns on my forearm.
‘I’m Qarinah, by the way.’
I cleared my throat so I wouldn’t squeak when I spoke, relieved when my voice came out steady and strong. Manly. ‘Nice to meet you.’
She hummed, the sound sending all the blood rushing from my brain straight to my cock. ‘You didn’t tell me yours.’
‘Huh?’
She smiled knowingly and looked up at me from beneath half-lidded eyes. ‘Your name.’
‘Oh, right.’ I cleared my throat and did my best to push down the blush inching its way up my neck. I was better than this, dammit. ‘I’m Oz.’
‘Short and sweet.’ Her fingertips brushed teasingly against my hard cock through my jeans, and she leaned in close until I could feel her warm breath coasting against my ear. ‘I’m glad it’s the only thing that is.’
Fuck me. If I didn’t get away from this woman soon, I was about to embarrass myself.
‘Right,’ I said, stepping away and clearing my throat again. This time, my voice was deeper, hoarser, full of sexual promise. At least I wasn’t squeaking like a little boy. Small blessings.
I pointed my thumb over my shoulder in the general direction of my own people. ‘I should…’
‘Only if you come find me when you’re done,’ she smirked, her full red lips tilting up at one corner before her smooth, pink tongue poked out to lick them.
I didn’t bother saying anything as I tried to make it look like I wasn’t running away. I was, in fact, running away. That woman was Dangerous with a capital D.
Any lust fled my body as soon as I saw who I was inadvertently heading right towards, and I almost turned on my heels and fled. Unfortunately, Kendra saw me coming and shot me a flirtatious smile that had once worked wonders on me. Now, however, I just saw the girl who kept talking shit about my sister because she thought we were fucking.
