Page 108 of Quiet Burn

Another hiss escapes the languid reptile and Kit’s lips curve into a surprisingly soft smile. “Acceptance makes hard things easier.”

I nod, finally forcing myself to move closer to the pair. “I’ve always accepted them. Always.”

“Ah, but that’s because you grew up together and fell in love. I’m no one—an alien from another world with no knowledge of your pasts or heritage or any of the things everyone else brings to the equation. I don’thaveto accept them because of the rules, yet I do.”

Makes perfect sense, but I don’t understand what happened to makehimtrust my love.

“That’s a very simple answer for a complex situation,” I say as I finally get within range of X’s huge coils, noting the small shivers of pleasure in their tail. “You’re calmer than I would have expected, especially since…”

His face turns bright red and it confirms what I suspected—somethingdefinitelyhappened beyond just the full shift. “You mean for someone confronted with not one buttwovery interestingly pierced, giant cocks on accident?”

A bark of laughter escapes; I can’t help it. This guy waffles between spitfire, anxious penguin, and filthy mouthed little shit so much that it gives me whiplash. “Yeah… that. I felt them shift and I was worried, but then I realized it wasn’t bad—but I had to find out for myself anyway.”

“I’m not sure why I’m so calm, honestly.” His cheeks flush more and I note the color spreading down his neck. “Seeing O and Salem change didn’t involve…that…so I wasn’t ready for it. But, um, I guess I’m handling this well. I don’t feel trapped without air.”

You look as comfortable as someone who’s always been here.

I don’t say that, though, because I don’t want to trigger an attack if that truth hits too close to home. Instead, I walk around X’s thick body, facing Kit from the other side. Swallowing an uncertainty I rarely feel, I tilt my head as I ask, “Would you want me to… you know. I can, too.”

Kit doesn’t comment onmysudden journey to awkward penguin-land. His brows pinch for a moment like he’s thinking about it and my breath catches as I wait for his response.With his hand smoothing over X’s huge triangular head, the small dude looks even smaller than normal. I know it’s because my mate is in their largest animal form on purpose and most humans would look tiny in comparison. If they raised up on their coils, they’d be over seven feet tall and their body easily could fit KK inside it.

Yet he’s petting Xerxes like a stray cat he just took in without an ounce of anxiety to be found. It’s fucking astounding, and I keep waiting for something to ruin the picture. Kit finally pushes his hair out of his eyes and looks me right in the eyes. His expression is serious and I have to push the insecurity down to my toes as he sighs.

“Yes, I would. I mean, yes, I would like to see your animal, Anton.” I wait for the flush to happen, but it doesn’t, making my stomach twist in a knot.

Do I not affect him like X does? Like it’s obvious Jasper does and he doesn’t want to admit it? Am I not… enough?

Biting my lip, I clench my fists, feeling the warring parts of me in a way that is usually reserved for the disapproval of people at my court. I’m frozen in place, unable to do anything but feel all the emotions rioting inside of me. Xerxes and I are much less internal than any of the others, so we frequently have surges that overwhelm us. It’s one of the first things we bonded over as kids; while Jasper’s fury externalizes as ‘demon acceptable’ fits of rage, our outbursts are less threatening. And unlike Zavida, we can’t hide behind our cloud of tails when it’s out of control.

“I mean, that is… Unless you don’t want to anymore. I know X is your, uh… and I’m touching… Maybe I shouldn’t be, but they said it was okay,” Kit stammers and Ifeelhis sudden rush ofblue vibes in his aura. His colors are changing on a dime and it’s because I’m too fucking dumbstruck to speak.

“Wait!” I blurt when his hand stops stroking X and an irritated hiss rattles from the cobra in his lap. “That’s not it. Give me a moment.”

The guy frowns, looking confused as fuck. I don’t blame him. He’s seeing more of me thananyoneoutside of Xerxes ever does. “But you’re freaking out. It’s like I can smell it.” He sniffs delicately, looking even more puzzled afterward. “And X-snake smells super pissy now. Emotion-wise, not actual piss-wise because that’s…definitelya line for me, which I didn’t know until right now.”

His jumbled nonsense makes me laugh, breaking the tension in my body as I laugh. “Okay. Good to know, but no one in our caliphate has that particular kink, in case you were wondering.”

“I should make a list,” he mumbles. “Lists are good. Lists make brain happy.”

Uh-oh. I broke him.

“Hey,” I say, snapping my fingers in front of his face. “Come back, man. I don’t want you to miss this. I’m told it’s quite spectacular.”

His eyes widen as he looks up at me, then smirks. “Now you’ve done it. The anticipation is killing me. I don’t know how you’re going to live up to the hype.”

The easy banter makes everything calmer and I note his aura mellowing out. Sighing in relief, I back up slightly, giving myself room to do this without riling up my mate. I’m pretty sure Kitsaw enough of his hemis for today and my shift might get their snake antsy. “I never disappoint.”

“Less talk, more bird,” he says with a sly grin. “Stop edging me.”

Who the fuck taught himthatword? I’m going to punch Oriel Bloodstone, for sure.

“Dirty mouth.” I don’t wait for him to respond as I reach inside, allowing the peacock within to spread its wings. He’s eager, champing at the bit to burst from my skin for this guy and the only other person who got that reaction is languishing in coils on the floor. My eyes close as the wave of emotions, colors, and metallic tang fill my frame until feathers sprout.

It takes mere seconds for the rainbow to cover my humanoid frame, and in a blink, my shape reforms into the largest size of my bird possible. The plumes shake on my head as clawed feet walk forward, my bird eyes narrowing in on the ultraviolet color spectrum I can see in the form. Kit and X’s auras are even more vibrant, emanating emotions like miniature explosions as I stop centimeters from them. My vision darts to the happily shaking tail of my mate, transfixed by the movement, then dart back to the dude I’m shifted for.

As soon as our gazes lock, my tail pops open, fanning out as my head bobs. A soft call escapes my beak and I almost lose control of myself when I feel my feathers shaking. Kit grins a little, shaking off the shocked look on his delicate features. His free hand gestures for me to come even closer, and without questioning it, I do. Chittering makes me jerk my head up, glaring at the kinkajou as she hops around on the cushion above Kit’s head.

No. Stay away, monkey rat.

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