Page 21 of Incubus with Benefits
Ah! That explained Nathan’s reaction.
“Who do you think might be responsible then?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But I heard both missing women helped contain that weird ass portal that opened up last month that was mind controlling and swallowing wizards.”
He meant The Breach. The thing put the entire city on high alert. I hadn’t even thought it could be related.
“Huh! Really? I was there too.”
Flint raised a brow, and a wisp of smoke curled from his head. “And you got hit by a spell that knocked you out yesterday.”
I nodded grimly.
“Shit! I knew that the EA should have closed that portal when they had the chance. I heard they sent some expert on portals to research it.”
“They did,” I said. “And I agree with you. I hope it’s just a coincidence and not related.”
“Either way. If someone’s using Delerium as a launching pad to kidnap innocent women, they are going to regret it. I’m going to scorch their asses.” Then he looked pensive. “You’re not heading home alone tonight, are you? You shouldn’t be alone. If you wait till the end of the night, I can drive you.”
Flint tried to hide it, but I couldn’t help but notice the hopeful look in his eyes.
I was just about to let him down lightly when a large, angry shadow—could shadows be angry? This one certainly was—descended on us.
Julian stormed toward us like a thundercloud, his broad shoulders tense and jaw tight. The power rolling off him showcased the difference between a full-fledged demon and an imp.
Julian’s voice cut through the muted beat of the music like a blade. “She’s going home with me,” he growled, stepping between me and Flint. “And if you ever offer again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
The fire imp raised his hands, backing off. “Easy, boss. Just being polite.”
Julian didn’t even glance at him. His focus was locked on me, jaw clenched, voice low. “You don’t need anyone else watching over you. You have me.”
I arched a brow, lips twitching. Was Julian jealous?
I sent one more look of thanks to Flint as Julian guided us back inside the club. “You always this dramatic when your staff flirts with the patrons?”
“You’re really entertaining offers from my staff now?”
“He was being polite.”
Julian’s jaw ticked. “He was being stupid.”
“You sound jealous.”
He snorted. “Of Flint? Oh, please. I just don’t like my employees being distracted. Witches are going missing, remember?”
“Ahh. I’m sure that’s all it is.”
Julian didn’t answer as he guided us up the stairs. To my surprise, he didn’t stop on the second floor, which I now saw had a separate sign with wordsUpstairsover the set of double doors and its own bouncer. Instead, he continued to the top floor and entered the code to get into his home and guided me inside.
Chapter 10
Julian
Ifeltmytensionease the moment we stepped inside my home. Considering we still didn’t know who, or what, was behind the missing witches, I hadn’t wanted Lily downstairs on her own doing her sleuthing. But I knew better than to tell her so. Modern women were independent, and telling her no would only make her want to do it more. So I’d let her do her investigation while I kept an eye on her.
And everything was fine until Flint offered to drive her home at the end of the night. Jealousy crept in, even though I knew she wasn’t interested. I didn’t like the feeling. It meant I cared, and that wasn’t supposed to happen.
I was an incubus. Getting attached wasn’t part of the deal. Feelings like this were a problem, and I didn’t want them. I kept my dalliances with mortal women, and even with others like me, shallow. Love them and leave them, that was the rule. With the founding of Delerium I’d gotten into a rhythm, and my life was in perfect balance.
