Page 56 of Quintus

“No she didn’t but that’s what I’m saying. I felt nothing, but then for a split second…it was dark. I wanted to resist but then I started to feel aroused.”

“Yeah, that’s kind of how it works, Quint. A pair of titties generally does that kind of thing. What the hell did you expect?”

“No, that’s not how it works when you’re not bonded with someone. Right now, all I ever crave is Gabriella. Like I’m seriously looking forward to spanking her ass later and…”

“Hold on there, bro. If there’s spanking involved, I’d be happy to lend a hand.”

“Not fucking happening, Viktor. Just stop talking…let me finish.”

“Fine.” Viktor rolled his eyes and sighed. He strode over to a leather desk chair and sank down into it.

“She did something. And before you ask, no I have no idea how anyone could practice dark magick in my house even if I invited them here. I’ve got this place warded tighter than a nun’s panties. No way is any demon crossing through. I’m worried that whatever changed her broke the bond, and it’s part of her now. It doesn’t make sense, but my instinct is telling me that woman upstairs…she may look and talk like Mao, but that’s not her. At the same time, I can’t let her go until I do right by her.”

“Okay, let’s just say she’s wielding some dark mojo. She could have already done some damage.” Viktor shrugged. “She looks the same. It’s just that smell. But she was down there a long time.”

“Yeah, she looks like Mao. Talks like Mao. The magick was subtle but it was there for sure. I wasn’t going to touch her…”

“Maybe we ought to be callin’ on Thorn to pick her ass up,” Viktor suggested.

“That day she went over the cliff…” Quintus plowed his fingers through his hair.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’ve thought about that day a million times. I couldn’t see her. I couldn’t sense her. She was gone. But she told me she shifted. She’d never shifted while she was with me. She says a demon, one who she doesn’t know the name of, picked her off. Sold her to Hell.”

“It’s possible.” Viktor nodded.

“I tried to get her to go to California to meet Kai but now I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. Maybe if she wants to go back to China, I should just let her go. The very least I can do is get her set up monetarily.”

“Again. Maybe we just ship her back to Thorn.”

“Maybe.” Quintus released an audible exhale, his emotions torn.

“So what are you going to do with Mao?” Viktor asked.

“I want you to stay with her for a couple of days while I go to Paris,” Quintus replied. “Maybe if she has time here on earth, in our realm, she might be different. I don’t know.”

“Well fuck. You go to Paris and I get stuck with your ex?” He laughed. “You’re just going for the croissants, aren’t you?”

“Croissants are delicious.” Quintus gave a smirk. “I hate to ask you to do it but you’re the only one besides me she knows. I was going to ask Hunter to take her out west, but she refused to go with him. Like I said, I’m starting to think it’s best she go back to her homeland. It’s far away from New York. There’s no way she can stay here. As it is now, Gabby is freaking out.”

“And the Alpha?” Viktor raised a questioning eyebrow at Quintus.

“I’m going to ask him to come with us to Paris. I might need an extra pair of hands.”

“Fucking wolf. If you need any extra hands with Gabriella, I thought they’d be mine.” Viktor gave a devious smile.

“Not this time.”

“This bonding shit is cramping my style.” Viktor scrubbed his shortened beard with his hand. “I’ll watch Mao, but the second she pulls any dark magick shit on me, she’s going back to Thorn. I’ll have his ass on speed dial.”

“Fair enough. My suggestion is that she stays in her room, but in case she thinks to go snooping, I’m locking the door to my bedroom and my office. Your room is protected, as always.”

“On any other occasion I’d be thanking you for leaving me alone with a hot chick, but this is like the ultimate in sloppy seconds.”

“I said watch her, not fuck her. Jesus, you’re sick.”

“Got ya.” Viktor smiled, cocking his head. “As if I’d do the love of your life.”