This is Cin. The last brother. The unhinged one.
Before I can do or say anything, Cin leans down, stopping when his face is at the level of mine. The corner of his eyes crease in the barest of smiles, and he presses forward, a forked tongue slipping through the slits in the mask.
Before I can react, his tongue lashes out, dragging up my cheek—tasting me.
“Agh!” I try to jump back, but Cin’s arms snap around my waist, holding me in place. He gazes downward, his strange eyes swirling with fascination as he studies my expression.
“Serafyn.”
The sound of his voice makes me freeze. I gaze up at him, my brow furrowing in confusion.What?
His palm reaches up to cup my face, his touch so gentle that I think I might be dreaming.
“Mysweet Serafyn.” His voice shivers through the air in a low, sinful rumble. “What are you doing so far from home?”
12
Willow
My mouth opensand closes soundlessly. I’m too stunned to form words.Serafyn? Far from home? Afourthhot demon brother? What is happening to my life?
Thankfully, I don’t have to say anything, because at that moment, there’s a commotion near the exit.
I whip my head, and my eyes land on Rhune’s massive frame taking up the doorway. His chest is heaving, and his eyes are flared wide with shock and jealousy.
“Hey!” he growls. “She’s mine!”
I blink, and Rhune is halfway to us, his canines bared in a snarl. By the next, Rhune has his hands on me, and I’m ripped out of Cin’s arms.
“It’s okay. I have you,” he murmurs, holding me tight to his chest. Velvety wings wrap around my body protectively, covering all but my eyes and forehead. “There. You’re safe now.”
Cin steps toward us, his eyes fixed on the exposed portion of my face. “I want to taste,”he hisses.
Rhune grips me impossibly tighter. “This human isnotfor eating, Cin.”
“Not human. Other.” Cin tilts his head upward as he scents the air. He nods, as if confirming his statement, then fixes those strange eyes on me once more. “Just a bite…”
“No! Bad, Cin.” Rhune takes a step back, matching each one of Cin’s predatory movements. “What has gotten into you?”
Instead of answering, Cin lets out a low, hissing growl. It slithers through the air and beneath my skin, causing every hair on my body to stand on end.Bad. Danger.
“Nyx! I need you!” Rhune takes another step back, his muscles tensing as Cin closes in. “Nyx!”
Nyx rushes into the room, stopping at the doorway, his chest heaving. Cunning eyes sweep the room, taking stock of the situation with a single glance. He manages to sum it up with a single phrase.
“Fuck.” Nyx drags a hand over his face, his gaze fixed on Cin’s shuddering frame. “Hey, Cin? What’cha doing?”
In response, Cin releases another unearthly growl, which prompts Nyx to let out a string of curses under his breath.
“Come on, Cin,” Rhune says, his voice holding a plea. “Snap out of it.Please…”
Cin takes another step toward us, his eyes glowing and fixed on my face with an all-consuming hunger.
“I don’t think he’s going to listen to us,” Nyx says with a sigh. “Okay. Only one thing to do…”
Wordlessly, Nyx hurries to the opposite end of the room. There’s a length of shimmering blue chain coiled in the corner like a snake, and when Nyx drags it across the floor, it makes an ominous hissing sound.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
