Page 49 of Hunted By Darkness

Ryker bounced in place. “Did you hear that, sweet girl? He gave me a nicknameandhe wants to explore females. I’m such a good influence.”

I heard Salvator snort, but the shifter glowered when I smirked at him. “I don’t know about a good influence.”

“What, you’d deny my big loveable bear here the pleasure of a female’s touch that’s not brought on by instincts? That’s justmean,” Ryker complained, leaning against Tometi in a way I could only describe as cutesy.

Tometi didn’t seem to return the affection because he eclipsed the wolf’s entire face in one hand and pushed the offensive blonde away.

Clearing my throat, I leered at the blonde. “You realize I’d have to touch you guys the entire time for you to do anything with someone, right?”

As if the idea had only just occurred to him, Ryker perked up, and I could’ve sworn I saw wolf ears. “Oh! There’s an idea. A threesome is on my bucket list. Four-P, even? What a way to celebrate this new body. Wolves aren’t exactly the sharing type, but I’ve always been open to things other wolves aren’t.”

That tracks.

I tried not to laugh. I wasn’t clear on what four-P was, but I could hazard a guess. Either way, I didn’t want him to think I was on board, but the wolf had a way of making me smile.

“Sorry?” Silas asked next to me, visibly disgruntled. “What’s this about you touching those head-squatting wankers while they’re with someone else, love? That a joke? It better be.” He glared at the spot he thought the two unseen men were, but he was looking in the completely opposite direction.

I giggled and shook my head. It tickled me that an infamous assassin with skills that put the fear of death into anyone who heard his name had met his match in two phantoms he couldn’t see or hear.

“It is a joke,” I promised, patting his arm. “I don’t have any intention of helping Ryker get laid.”

Lev chuckled and moved forward with the line of humans, eyeing the club bouncers who’d gotten closer over the last fifteen minutes. The two of them were talking and looking our way. “You have the worst luck with perverts, Niks.”

“Tell me about it,” I said, casting a glance at Silas.

My pervert’s grin was impish, his silver hair falling around his eyes in the sexiest way possible. Because, of course. “I don’t know what you mean, love. I’m the picture of innocence, I am.”

“Sure you are.”

“Okay, no sex, but dancing should be fine, right? I want to test out how good I am at moving this body on the dance floor.” Ryker swayed his hips with a wink, stopping himself from touching me when Tometi snarled at him.

“You promised,” the bear warned. “Only if she touches you first. She’s not your female. You don’t get to touch her without asking.”

I offered the giant a grateful smile. “I appreciate that, Tometi. Consent is very important.”

I didn’t mention the fact that if they suddenly became visible, the humans would run and screamaway fromthem, not toward them. But I was interested to see if they could change their clothes or lift weapons. It’d be worth testing. We’d only tested their initial physicality with a punch, but if they could use weapons, then it’d be smart to carry more for them to use.

Rilas and his minions could attack at any moment, especially if Bones betrayed us. I wasn’t convinced we were in the clear. We weren’t sure what power my grandmother sealed away, or what the demon could initially do. What I did know was he’d wait for us to get comfortable before striking, so I’d never be comfortable.

“What’s the giant troll said now to get that smile out of you, little rebel?” Silas pouted. “I don’t like it.”

“I’m a bear,” Tometi repeated for the nth time that day. It was quickly becoming his catchphrase, not to mention it was often said to people who couldn’t hear him. “For an assassin, he’s not very smart, is he?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, and Silas’s pout only deepened.

Ryker made a sound with his lips and pushed Tometi aside. “We’ve gone off topic. One dance, pretty girl. That’s all I ask. It’s not fair that your overprotective boyfriend calls all the shots. He’s been a massive tool all day. He hasn’t even let us touch you once.”

“Tool? Shots? You’re speaking in riddles again,” Tometi bemoaned, huffing and coming closer without touching me.

It was difficult to deny the wolf anything, I was quickly discovering. “Okay. One dance.”

Silas’s eyes shot over. “Sorry?”

I ignored him and looked over at Salvator. The shifter’s jaw clenched, and as if he’d decided something, he came closer. “He only wants a reason to put his hands on you, woman. You’re better off ignoring him. Give the wolf an inch, and he’ll take a mile.”

“Well, I never,” Ryker cried out in ghoulish horror. “And if we’re going to be sharing secrets—”

“It’s not a secret,” Salvator growled.

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