Page 79 of The Slayer Seduction

“This one is liquid, so you have to be really careful tossing it at someone. It makes you feel like your blood is on fire. The effects only last a few moments, but it would be enough time in a pinch.”

“The potion is pink,” I tell her, watching as it changes.

“Lift it off the heat, now.”

I do as my witch says, removing the potion from the heat easily, though the cauldron is ridiculously heavy.

“Place it here,” she directs and I do, watching as she pours sand into the mixture. Instead of absorbing like it would on a beach, it’s like the sand is sucking the potion into its very particles.

“You should work on some stakes,” she says, not looking at me.

“Iris,” I say her name softly and she shakes her head.

“We need to be prepared this time. We can’t just stroll into the fucking Texas desert and act like this isn’t a big deal. Please make some stakes. There are some pallets out back.”

How would I like to be comforted right now?

Without asking, I grab Iris, pushing her into my chest and squeezing her into a tight hug. She smells amazing, and it’s giving me naughty thoughts, but those can wait.

“We will prepare. This time will be different. There’s nothing in this world that will stop me from having the most monumental cycle with you.”

I expect her to push me away, but she doesn’t, her body going pliant in mine.

“I’m so sick of being afraid.” The words are a light whisper, and I kiss the top of her head, still hugging her.

My Iris has a hard exterior, one that shows strength and efficiency, but beneath that she’s soft, and she’s letting me see that part of her.

“I’ll make my stakes and we’ll have a better plan this time. Together we will defeat them. This I promise.”

She nuzzles against my chest and somehow this feels even more intimate than my tongue deep inside of her warm⁠—

“Dude. Place and fucking time,” Adam scolds me and I will myself to not think about how amazing last night was.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Just this. It’s nice,” Iris says.

I hold her for a long time, loving the way her cheek rests on my chest as she seeks strength and comfort from me. I’m going to bleed those motherfuckers for ever making my sweet Iris ever feel afraid.

Eventually, we part and I start making different stakes. I sit on the couch with Scarlett; she told me I was ready to watch more risque movies and I’ve got to say, I’m learning quite a bit as each movie goes on.

I’ve fashioned a utility-like belt, so that I can hold as many stakes as possible; the more weapons, the better. Runes won’t help me regarding a slayer. They only help with vampires, at least the ones I know.

Iris’ friends have come and gone, the plan is set for tomorrow. It’s not too far of a distance. I believe I should be able to teleport there and back as long as nothing goes wrong. We have a back-up plan in place, yet this sinking feeling in my stomach plagues me.

There are moments I can’t stop thinking about the way he grabbed her and dragged her through the tunnel, or the way her tear-filled eyes looked at me in fear.

Iris shouldn’t be coated in blood and fear, she should be covered in gold and sparkles.

When my witch comes back into the apartment, she looks worried and I wave a hand at her for her to come and sit with Scarlett and I. There isn’t any hesitancy in her features as she approaches and I grab her waist, planting her on my lap.

I can’t get enough of all the small touches I’m now blessed with. Scarlett scampers on top of her mistress and my two favorite girls are seeking comfort from me.

I hold Iris tight as she strokes Scarlett’s fur. She clearly already knows the right way, because she does it perfectly.

She glances at the coffee table, looking at my plethora of stakes, and she nibbles on her lip.

“Should we bring some stronger weapons?” she asks and my brow furrows.