Page 36 of Deceived

“He’s being well taken care of at the hospital. The supernatural equivalent of child services is with him. We let them know his Grandma wasn’t there. They’re still going to try and find her, but we all know it’s unlikely,” Felix tells me.

My anger swells. How many lives is Killian going to ruin?

“Let’s go for a run. We’ve been cooped up here for too long. It won’t hurt to get out and exercise,” Felix suggests, probably feeling my anger through our bond.

Griffyn groans, tugging me closer to him on the couch.

“I wouldn’t mind a run,” I admit. I’ve been working out less since coming here but it’s a routine that grounds me.

Griffyn looks at me like I’ve betrayed him. “You two go without me.”

Felix laughs. “Come on, it’s safer if we all go. You need to exercise too, even if you hate running.”

I give him puppy dog eyes and a sweet kiss. He grumbles but gets up to join us.

After quickly changing into running clothes, the three of us head out.

Thankfully it’s uneventful and exactly what I need. I clear my mind and take in nature around me while surrounded by my two favorite guys. Griffyn doesn’t even complain that much.

We have to do this again.

“Anna, can I talk to you about something?” Griffyn asks as we slow down for our cool down.

“Of course, what is it?”

Felix falls back, giving us space but still watchful.

“The ball.”

My anxiety spikes. He sounds really worried.

“You weren’t raised in our world, so you wouldn’t know, but incubi and succubi aren’t always treated with the most… respect. I wanted to warn you before we got there, it’s best to just ignore them.”

“Griffyn, if someone disrespects you, I won’t ignore it. You don’t deserve that just because of what you are. Why would people look down on you?”

He looks away, avoiding eye contact with me.

“It’s more that we are seen as only having one skill or purpose. To seduce and bring pleasure.”

“But you’re more than that. Even if you didn’t believe me saying that, you’re on the Alpha Team for the council. You’re a skilled agent or you wouldn’t be here.”

Pink creeps up his neck. An actual blush spreads on my incubus’ skin.

“It was difficult proving my worth and getting here. Despite my position, people will still make comments at the ball. Try not to kill them, okay? It would be a mess to clean up.”

He tries to lighten things with a joke. His hunched shoulders tell me he’s uncomfortable, so I let him.

“Alright, I’ll only lightly maim. As long as you know you’re so much more than that Griff. You’re funny, smart, devious, and yes, sexy as hell.”

He nudges me as we turn the corner to the house.

“If you say so.”

I see Griffyn look back and Felix comes up by us. It was nice of him to give Griffyn space for that conversation even though I’m sure he could hear every word with his shifter hearing.

I want to kill everyone who has ever made Griffyn feel like he was less than them. My promise not to when we are at the ball doesn’t extend outside of it. If someone disrespects him, I’ll deal with it.

I see a blood-red envelope sitting on the porch when we get close enough. I stop in my tracks as soon as I see it.

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