Page 49 of Zodiac Monsters

Instead of backing down, I opted to press that point, just to see how he’d react.

“If it’ll help, I’ll take her out again the next full moon, and I’ll have her transform while I stay behind lunar glass. That way, I can study her with a sound mind. Trying to resist her pheromones while my own instincts are actively fighting the lunar pull is near impossible.” I mumbled the last line, not particularly proud of my own poor will power. She’d asked me if I’d been in control before I shifted.

I had been.

At least partially. Magic hadn’t forced me to touch her or prod her into more, but I hadn’t had much will to stop myself either.

She was truly dragging out a side of me that wasn’t supposed to be there. The passionate, driven side that went after what I wanted with ruthless intention was the dark prisoner who I locked behind mimicked emotions and professionalism. Every time I got a taste of it, it was as though someone was pulling one more bolt from the door of my cage. I didn’t need that kind of temptation. There were many reasons I didn’t have lasting relationships, and this was ranked high among them.

This girl would be the death of me.

“It’s actually vindicating to know it wasn’t just me.” There wasn’t even a hint of mockery in his voice, for once. Well, not until the added, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

“I appreciate that you think so highly of me.” I punctuated the statement with a sigh of pure dejection. “Now that that’s out of the way, are we done here? Or can we agree to be civil. The month of Aries is coming up, and that’s a volatile sign for both of us.”

“Civil.” Marcus scoffed, though the grin on his face seemed unusually good natured. “I love how you proposed ‘let’s be civil’ and ‘I’ll take her again this full moon’ in the same breath. If you think I’m going to just sit back and accept that, you haven’t been paying attention.”

“I’m trying to make this as painless as possible. Aries is a Fire sign. You’re going to be a mess this month.”

He was reckless, and I wasn’t. I didn’t have motives beyond that.

“You’re truly a martyr, brother.” Marcus’ eyes narrowed, but his grin didn’t falter. “And you know what, maybe you’re right. I’ll be lucky to keep my head about me even during the day under a Fire sign’s moon.” His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. “But the problem is, I’m not done with you yet. And I’m sure as fuck not going to sit through another night of you and Lila.”

“I don’t think you’ll have much choice. She picked me last full moon. I’m sure she’ll pick me again on this one.” Don’t provoke him. I told myself in my head, while I had no such restraint with my mouth.

“That’s more like it.” Marcus was good at blocking me out from reading his emotions, but the thrill that zipped through him was loud and clear in every inch of his body language. “I think I’ve pandered to your ego enough.” He mimicked the action of pulling off gloves and dropping them on my desk. “I suggest you set up an audience with the High Warlocks to sort out your Incubus Virgin problem sooner than later, because I’m going to make this full moon absolute hell for you.”

“Marcus—”

He wagged a finger between us, not entertaining another word. Then he turned on his heel, and I watched him leave.

I couldn’t blame him for being so standoffish, considering he probably lost his stomach knowing she was with me last month. I was used to being bombarded by unwanted emotions, so I could mostly handle the repercussions when the roles were reversed. I could easily take the hit, while he couldn’t.

Yet, it was hard to have sympathy when he was the one who made his bed in this situation.

It’s going to be a long month.