Page 90 of A Drop of Anguish
“As you were,” he says to the group still watching. When they remain still after another moment, he flicks one brow and they all scatter.
I barely hold back a laugh at how quickly they move. The truth or dare group is back outside, chatting wildly, presumably about me and Jarron. The other pockets of supernaturals inside go back to what they were doing before. A group of fae girls dance by the bed. Two wolf shifters wrestle in the corner.
“Welcome,” a smooth voice says. I turn to Laithe, still with that same blond boy on his lap.
“Yeah,” the boy purrs. “It’s about time, Candy.”
My face morphs into an expression of disgust, and I slowly turn my attention to the boy. Terror drops over his face, like he’s facing a rabid bear. Good, that’s what I want. “Call me that again, and I’ll gut you.”
There’s a pause, and then Laithe and Jarron both start howling with laughter at the same time. The blond boy hops up and flees into the darkness around us.
I cross my arms.
“Next time, make your threat about potions or poisoning,” Laithe says as his laughter dissipates. “You’ll have the entire school shivering with just a look in no time.”
I roll my eyes, but then I sigh. “Sorry for chasing away your boyfriend.”
“Not my boyfriend.” Laithe shrugs. “It is too bad though; I was getting hungry.”
I tilt my head. “Hungry?”
Laithe smiles, showing off his elongated canines. The breath catches in my throat. Oh. That.
“But I thought—” I glance at Jarron, who looks entirely at ease, his eyes lidded as he watches me. “Jarron said that wasn’t something demons had to do. Just something they… enjoyed?” I barely squeak out the last word. Warmth has crawled its way up my neck. Realistically, Jarron implied biting for a demon was erotic.
Bea compared the pleasure a bite brings to an orgasm.
Laithe sniffs. “Ahh the ease of being a royal,” he drawls. “Not all species from our world have the luxury of being able to choose how and when we eat. Though I only feed every week or so, I will grow weak if I don’t.”
“Oh,” I say stupidly. So, it’s only an optional act for the royal line?
“Don’t feel sorry for them,” Jarron murmurs. “Though it’s an act of sustenance, it’s still enjoyable for both parties, and there is no lack of students that would gladly allow Laithe to feed on them.”
Laithe reclines back. His expression smug.
Well, all right then. I suppose Laithe is vaguely attractive, despite the two-inch horns sticking up through his long dark hair. There are probably plenty of people attracted to that anyway. Plus, his relationship with Jarron puts him pretty high on the influence chain.
“So, Laithe is popular, got it.”
Laithe smirks.
“Would you like me to call someone over for you?” Jarron asks with a cocky tone. He scans the room. “Lucinda would be here in a second.”
Laithe scoffs. “Not my type.”
I don’t know who Lucinda is, so I have no idea why she wouldn’t be his type. “Because she’s female?” I ask uncertainly.
He shakes his head. “Gender is meaningless to me.”
Jarron brushes a few strands of hair off my shoulder. “Technically, Laithe’s species are genderless.”
“Oh!” I say too loudly. If he’s genderless… that would mean Laithe himself isn’t male? Or female?
“So, should I not call you he?”
Laithe shrugs.
“They/them is more correct. Laithe just doesn’t particularly care.”
