Page 12 of The Howl
“It’s safer if you don’t compliment anyone here. And by here, I mean the Academy and Uttira. We all have different natural lures to pull humans in. Appearances, our voices, scents…you name it, and one of us can probably do it.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know. How about you lead the way to your class, and I’ll follow you. Remember, eyes on the floor.”
“How am I going to know where I’m going?”
“Just do your best. If you’re late to class, the teachers won’t yell at you. They won’t look for you either. So try not to be late.”
“You’re making me nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. That’s a smell too many people here will like. Be cautious. It’ll keep you alive.”
I didn’t look up until he turned toward the door. When I did, my gaze caught on how his jeans clung to his backside. The hunger gripped me harder, and for a fraction of a second, I hesitated to follow him. But, there were too many like Belemina in the hallway to let him go alone.
Hurrying to catch up, I started for the door and noticed Lucas watching me. He nodded at me but said nothing. He didn’t need to. I knew he’d witnessed the change in my eyes, and Adira would know about all of this before the day was done.
Stupid hunger.
Out in the hallway, I kept my head down and trailed Eugene. The catcalls grated at me as did the comments. But, at least I was keeping most of the other students from focusing on Eugene.
I glanced up at the room numbers to see if we were getting close.
“Looks like someone put on her big-girl pants,” Eras said from nearby.
I blushed and refused to acknowledge the incubus who’d caused Megan so much trouble.
“She doesn’t just have her hot pants on,” another incubus said. “She’s got her feed on. That human doesn’t stand a chance. My eyes have never gotten that black. Have yours?”
Heat and panic flooded me. My eyes weren’t normal? Adira had told me that all succubi and incubi’s eyes turn black. Had she lied to me?
I quickly averted my gaze again and nudged Eugene to walk faster.
As soon as he was safely in his class, I hurried to the nearest restroom, needing a mirror. Staring at myself, I looked at the black voids that were my eyes. It wasn’t just the irises; it was the whites, too. They’d done this since the moment I hit puberty, though. How else were they supposed to look? I thought back to all of my peers who were like me and realized I’d never once witnessed another succubus’s or incubus’s eyes change. Was this not normal? What was wrong with me? Why was I the only one getting hit right between the eyes with the horny hunger stick?
“You’re pretty today, little bit.”
For a change, I didn’t startle at the unexpected sound of someone else’s voice. It might have been because of the smooth, low rumble in Emory’s tone. More likely, it was because I knew the gentle giant who’d once almost face flicked Megan.
Smiling at the memory, I watched some of the black fade and looked up at Emory.
“Thank you,” I said before realizing the wrongness of our conversation.
I looked around the bathroom and spotted all the urinals of varying height.
“Mother Mary’s biscuits,” I muttered.
Turning for the door, I face-planted into a spectacularly muscled chest that smelled like Grandma’s spice cake. My mouth watered, and I breathed in deeper without thinking.
“It’s best to avoid the blue biscuits if you’re hungry, right, Emory?” Fenris said, his hands steadying me.
I jerked back from his chest and stared up at him with wide-eyed shock. Of all the people I would run into, why him?
He smiled down at me.
“Not that I’m complaining about bumping into you, but what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?”
Chapter Three
