Page 10 of Reptile Dysfunction
“Most of the time?”
“Strong emotions can trigger it accidentally. Anger. Fear.” His voice drops lower. “Other… intense feelings.” His eyes flash amber for just a moment, pupils narrowing to vertical slits before returning to normal.
That look along with his words makes my pulse flutter. I clear my throat and focus on my notebook. “So, intimidation and truth compulsion. A formidable combination for an enforcer.”
“It was effective,” he agrees, moving back to his original position by the window.
He pauses for a moment, looking out at the silvery shimmer rippling on the lake. It gives me a moment to take him in.
The moonlight casts dramatic shadows across his muscled frame, highlighting the tribal snake tattoo that winds down his left arm like ancient runes. At about six-foot-four, he towers over most humans, but it’s not just his height that commands attention. There’s a raw power in the way he moves, a predatory grace that his worn leather jacket and faded jeans can’t disguise.
His snakes create an ever-shifting crown of sparkly scales, some dark as obsidian, others gleaming with hints of emerald, jade, and copper. They frame a face that’s all sharp angles and masculine beauty—strong jaw darkened by perpetual stubble, high cheekbones, and those intense coppery eyes that seem to see right through my practiced façade. He’s nothing like the polished men my father prefers for me, and that makes him all the more magnetic.
“FYI, I didn’t just use my ability with humans. Curiosity and bad judgment go both ways. There were many times my powers helped me keep my fellow Others from wandering where they had no business. I was particularly effective because I can control the level of fear. Just enough to deter, not enough to cause panic.”
“And if deterrence didn’t work?”
His eyes meet mine, flashing that fascinating amber. “You really want to know?”
“Yes.” The word comes out breathier than intended.
He moves closer, and suddenly the temperature in the room seems to spike. “There were ways to make people forget. Others of what you call monsters handled that part. My job was making sure it rarely came to that.”
One of his snakes—a particularly bold one with an iridescent sheen—stretches toward me. Before I can stop myself, I reach up toward it.
“Careful,” Thad warns, but he doesn’t pull away. “They’re not always friendly to strangers.”
The snake flicks its tongue against my fingers, then butts its head against my palm like a curious cat. Several others follow suit, creating a gentle swaying frame around Thad’s face.
“You have some co-conspirators already,” he mutters, but there’s an undercurrent of amusement in his voice.
“I’m not the enemy, you know.” I spear him with a serious look. “They’re beautiful,” I say honestly. The scales feel like warm silk against my skin. “Do they have names?”
“They’re part of me, not pets.” But his expression softens slightly. “Though some have… distinct personalities. And I might have named this one Sterling.”
The iridescent one currently nuzzling my palm seems to approve of the name, giving a pleased little hiss.
“That one’s particularly shameless,” Thad says. “Like someone else I know who shows up at public pools in designer shoes.”
Laughter bubbles up unexpectedly. “Are you ever going to let that go?”
“Not likely.” His eyes crinkle at the corners in a way that nearly makes me lose focus. “It was a bold choice. I respect bold choices.”
“Like living in a converted water tower?”
“Like asking questions no one in Harmony Glen wants answered.”
The moment stretches between us, charged with something that has nothing to do with interviews or articles. My hand is still raised to his snakes, and he’s standing close enough that I can smell soap and leather and something spicier underneath.
My phone buzzes, shattering the moment. Thad steps back as I check the screen.
Dad: Where are you? Bradley stopped by for an after-dinner drink.
Irritation spikes through me. “Unbelievable.”
“Problem?”
“Just my father’s continuing attempts to orchestrate my social life.”
