Page 107 of Quiet Burn

My hands fly to my face, covering my eyes and the bright red color of my cheeks when I realize I just made the snake… happy by looking for its dick.

Of which it has two…. I amsoin over my goddamned head.

Shake A Tailfeather

Anton

My head jerks up and I blink when the surge of emotion slams into me like a wave crashing into the shore. Schooling my features so Slash and the rest of our Supernatural Law lecture don’t know what’s going on, I struggle to assimilate everything flowing into me. Xerxes shifted, and as his first mate, I canfeelhow excited he is.

Literally.

I grit my teeth to fight off whatever the hell he and Kit Kat are doing, plus the rush of jealousy from knowing I’m not there with them. X and I discussed the strange, softness we’ve developed for the new kid, so I’m not upset that he’s exploring it. But I’d like tobethereto join in, not sitting at this fucking desk hoping I don’t smash my dick into the desk by the end.

Leaning in, I murmur to the huge shark shifter, “I’m cutting out. I think X needs me, but you can stay and get the rest of the notes, right?”

Slash eyes me suspiciously, but very few people can read me when I choose to keep my counsel. Finally, he grunts, then nods his head. “Fine. Check on the little demon for me.”

Man, that guy is so far gone and I have no idea if he knows it.

“Will do,” I reply as I gather my shit. Once I get it, I scurry out the back of the classroom before anyone notices. There’s no way I can survive whatever vibes KK is causing in their room in public. I don’t want to be a party crasher, but they’ll have to accept that I can’t stay away.

I frown, wondering if there’s anything quick I can do to soften the intrusion for the delicate guy. Jasper’s edict pissed him the fuck off; maybe I can work with that. If I’m creative, I won’t be defying a caliphate order, but I’ll buy myself some credit. Luckily, this damn class is right where I need to be to make my plan a reality.

Into the stacks I go.

It only tookme a few minutes of zipping around the lower levels of the library to find what I was looking for, and I exit the building with a small smile on my lips. I’m not usually a gloomy fuck like Oriel or an angry one like Slash and Jas, but I’m not nearly as smiley as my other half. But I’m pleased with my mental gymnastics, and I think both Kit and X will be happy to see the books I’m bringing.

That is, if I don’t walk in on something more interesting…

As I hurry across the quad toward Canto IV, I look inside myself to see if I’m still feeling that intensity. It’s still pretty hyped up, but maybe not quite as hungry and sharp as before. I don’t know what the hell that means, but I’m going to find out soon. Hopefully, my peace offering will be enough to smooth over the intrusion.

When I jog up the steps of our dorm, I realize I’m moving faster than I normally would outside of an emergency. I’m far more invested in seeing what they’re getting up to than I’ve ever been before. Xerxes and I have discussed inviting people into our bed in the past, but neither of us was ever that into making it reality. Kit is the first dude we solidly desire, both separately and together, and I’m strangely looking forward to figuring it out.

Of course, we’re not the only ones jockeying for his favor—though we’redefinitelythe ones with the most experience inhealthysame sex relationships. I’m fairly sure Zav and Jasper would have never survived their roots if they hadn’t been perfectly matched in the dominant-submissive roles. I havenoidea what the hell O and Salem get up to, and Slash has always seemed disinterested in everyone, even when Jasper lined up easy shots.

I’m not saying any of my brothers are inexperienced sexually in general; some are just pretty secretive about the people they take to their boudoirs.

This is not the direction I saw things going when we split off this morning, nor the one I assumed our caliphate would take after the Prince made his stupid decree. When he texted his pissy orders to the rest of us, I figured we’d all spend tonight with Kit and the dragon hissing at one another from their respective corners. Exhausting, but not entirely unexpected lately as they have this deep seated need to bait one another.

Pushing through the crowd in the entry, I head for the elevator and glare until the other demons leave me to the car alone. As I head up to our floor, I wonder when I’ll be able to share one of my forms with the spunky dude and if he’ll think it’s too feminine, like my family. Raking my hand through my rainbow locks, I sigh and shake my head. This isn’t the time for my well hidden insecurities; it’s the time to be supportive, no matter what I find when I open the door to Salem’s lair.

The ding of the elevator reaching our floor pulls me out of my intrusive thoughts, and I step out, trying to keep control of the excitement and worry zinging through me. Salem’s door is closed, so it only takes a moment for me to reach the large door and stare at the keypad. Shaking my head, I punch in the code then turn the knob as if my gut isn’t churning in anticipation. And what I find…

This isnotwhat I expected at all.

Kit is curled up in his usual chair with Dottie sitting above his left shoulder. There’s a drink beside him and… a huge fucking cobra coiled at his feet with it’s head resting in his lap. He’s gently running his fingers over the wide hood as the TV plays one of the human movies he loves. The scene is so surreal that I almost can’t even comprehend it as I slip inside and close the door behind me.

“Anton,” the dark haired dude says softly, his eyes surprised as he meets my gaze. His fingers don’t stop petting the smooth reptile skin and a lazy hiss fills the silence as I watch. “Is something wrong?”

My mouth feels dry as I shake my head wordlessly. I’m having trouble processing this—not because I’m angry or upset, but because I’mamazed. Xerxes drips self-confidence and swaggermost of the time, but they’ve always been sensitive about their animal. As much as my family thinks my shift is too feminine, especially because of my sexuality, theirs was furious at the manifestation of the snake.

I suppose it proves that our parents don’t even conform to the most rudimentary level of loyalty to their families or spouses. Demons aren’t really picky about monogamyexceptwhen it comes to lineage and heirs—my bird and their snake puts our ascension to heads of our houses in question, should anyone want to challenge it. They probably will eventually, but the lifespan of demons being nearly as immortal as the Fae has kept that intrigue off our doorsteps.

It won’t hold forever, though, and our shitty ass parents know it.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Kit’s murmur brings me back to reality and I lick my lips, trying to form words with my scattered thoughts. “I… X has never been comfortable with being fully shifted. I’ve tried… But…”

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