Page 34 of Succubus Sins
She shook her head and pulled away, but I kept my hands bound behind her back. “No. Even as a muse, I couldn’t give you what you needed.”
“How can you say that? I starved myself for you. I almost died. That’s why David—”
She jerked out of my grasp. “I didn’t ask you to starve.”
Tears pricked at the edges of my eyes. “How else could I be faithful? By asking me to be exclusive, you were asking me to die. Even so, I tried…”
Pain and guilt warmed her pasty cheeks. “I thought you could feed off me. You acted like you could.” Trails of wet tears streamed down her face again. “Youlied.”
Rage heated my chest and my skin sparked to life like a flame. Sarah stepped back when I thrust a finger in her face. “You don’t know what it’s like to love someone but never be able to be faithful. You should have known what it’d take.” I pressed both hands against my chest. “I’m a succubus!”
Hurt spread across her features and no matter how angry I was, I knew I wasn’t truly angry with her. As always, I blamed myself for ever being born.
“Sonya, I lied to myself too, okay? I let myself believe I was enough for you. But I wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my rage evaporating. “I didn’t mean to mislead you.”
She smiled then, her features going soft. “Look. I understand now, okay? And that man, out there,” she pointed to the door, “he’s someone you’re meant to be with. Before I lost my powers, Ifeltyou inside of him, and now, I feel him inside of you.” She grabbed my arm and her voice turned urgent. “Don’t you know what that means? He’s a part of your destiny. You need to go find him.” Her fingers went lower, ghosting over my runes. “I didn’t want your tattoos to mean anything. I avoided it as long as I could, just like I knew you couldn’t feed off me. It’s time I stopped lying to myself and face the truth. I’m not the one you’re meant to be with, and that’s okay.”
I huffed a short laugh. “Seriously? And this guy you think is part of my destiny, or whatever, what do I have in common with him? He doesn’t know me like you do.”
Sarah flashed me a sad smile. “Maybe you have more in common than you think. You’ve both had your hearts ripped out.” And then she walked out the door without looking back, leaving me alone with the glowing monitors. I clutched my chest that ached with pain that confirmed her words.
Sarah had ripped out my heart, and left me to bleed. I sure hoped she was right, and that man I’d met was one of my four, because the gift of his powers was the only way my heart would ever grow back.
Public Transport
Sonya
I’d saved Sarah and it didn’t feel right to head to our cramped apartment and pretend nothing had happened. We were no longer together, no matter how much I wished it to be otherwise. There was a chasm between us and I couldn’t even focus on it. An aching need pulled me in two different direction. I’d met two of the men who were part of my four, but there had to be some sort of mistake.
Zack was waiting for me when I returned to Derek’s mansion. It should have startled me to find Sarah already in the living room drinking away her memories, which now that she was human, would be an effective means of treatment. But where else did she have to go? She needed help, and in Seattle, the Incubus King was where you found it.
Zack crossed his arms when he walked in. The tick in his jaw revealed he was relieved I’d come back, but he was still pissed off. “The King wants to talk to you two,” he snapped, then promptly led me to what I could only describe as a throne room.
Derek lounged in a red velvet chair complete with spires and jewels. He wasn’t just a king for show, but I knew this was a reminder of who I was… and who he was. I was just some random succubus he’d fucked, and now that he’d gotten what he wanted from me, he held my fate in his hands. The rune he’d activated on my ribcage was cold and silent. I slipped a hand under it and scratched at the smooth skin.
He might think he was done with me, but I wasn’t done with him.
Derek motioned for Sarah to approach him. He would be gentle and polite with a muse in the room, especially given who Sarah’s father was. One of three powerful male muses who held the fate of all supernaturals in their palms was a force to be reckoned with. “Tell me what has transpired, muse, and I will aid you with all the protection I have to offer.”
She flinched at the term. He hadn’t realized that she’d lost her powers. “Sonya thwarted a supernatural I haven’t come across before.” She paused, as if debating to offer up Detective Anderson’s unique power, but then continued. Wise girl. Don’t ever give the Incubus King everything he needed. “He was holding a prisoner,” Sarah continued. “I want Sonya to find the fugitive that has fled and I will return to my father and seek out the perpetrator.”
Derek rubbed his chin. “I see. Sounds like you have it all planned out. Well, I shall gladly offer my assistance. I have airlines and private jets—”
“I’ll take a private jet,” Sarah ordered and propped a hand on her hip. She did that when she wanted everyone to think she was confident, but she was actually about to fall apart. “Give Sonya public transport.” She glanced at me, but only determination and rage glittered in her eyes. “He’ll be heading to New York, so you best send her in the morning on the next flight out. We don’t want her to draw attention. The supernatural is skittish, but I want Sonya to find him and bring him back to me as soon as possible.”
I suppressed the growl that threatened to emanate from my throat. Public transport my ass. She just wanted to punish me.
“Very well,” Derek said with a nod. He slipped his hand over the arm of the chair and leaned, the folds of his shirt opening to reveal the hard lines of his chest. His gaze met mine and he grinned. “I’ll send two of my men to escort her, if that is permitted.”
Sarah glanced back at me and my eyes widened. No. C’mon, Sarah, no. He just wants to capture me like a toy and he’s going to send his goons to bring me kicking and screaming back to him.
“Very well,” she agreed.
Damn it.
First Class
