Page 33 of The Paranormal Investigation Bureau
Nyx was always pretty fucking astute at reading company drama. Banshees weren’t clairvoyant, they didn’t do tarot or runes like some supernatural species. If they used mind-altering drugs, they didn’t get visions of the future, though some banshee stoners claimed they did.
Nyx still had this rare ability to understand petty bitches on a spiritual level, even if she hated drama. She couldn’t see the future, but she always knew when a shit storm was coming because of one simple word or action. This was no different.
“Arden told me what happened at rehearsal. Marsden should have kicked her out of the damn company, not just that rehearsal. She’s going to up her bitch game against Beyla. She doesn’t have backup in rehearsals right now. Arden has made it clear he finds her vile. Nicolai tried to bribe Marsden never to have to dance with her again. Merlin threw her on her ass in rehearsal once because she was being difficult. Bellatrix was Julian’s wingman when he was stealing Bevan’s boyfriend.
“She knows everyone in the room hates her, and she’s outnumbered. She’s going to try to take Bevan out hoping Julian gets his part. We already know she’s not above injuring people, so you both need to watch your backs… and your stuff.”
Arden let out a little growl.
“Neither of you are going anywhere without me.”
I understood wanting to protect Beyla, she was his mate, and I wanted to do that too. Why was I being included in that? Arden and I were friends, but I was closer with Nicolai and Merlin since we lived together.
I knew Arden could have very well torn me apart the other night, back when I said I was interested in her too, but he needed to know the truth. I was utterly crushed when I caught Julian blowing my boyfriend. We hadn’t exchanged rings, but we had talked about getting married one day. I guess the relationship meant more to me than it did to him if he was willing to let Julian blow him in my dressing room.
I hadn’t felt the urge or the connection to be with anyone else since then. I got my rocks off at the dungeon I saw Arden at, but that was a different kind of need. I could have sex without feelings being involved, any day of the week, but it hurt when feelings were involved, and that person told you they loved you back and cheated on you.
I felt that with Beyla. Maybe it was just because we danced so well together, but there was undeniably a spark there. I’d be stupid to ignore it, even if Arden were into her, and so were Nicolai and Merlin.
Plus, something had changed between Arden and me when he decided not to kill me for being interested in his mate. His gryphon totally retreated when he tasted my blood. That had to meansomething.
Gryphons weren’t even slightly into sharing, but witches were often polyamorous. Incubuses were, too, for that matter. There was far much conflicting mythology about skinwalkers to know for sure about Nicolai. They wanted it that way, and Nicolai certainly wasn’t about to clear it up because it usually helped him with the ladies.
Arden liked to punish. I had a need to be punished. We all liked Beyla. If Arden didn’t hate Nicolai and Merlin with a passion, I didn’t see why she couldn’t have all of us.
Chapter26
Nicolai
Ididn’t have a private lesson with Madame Lucinda today. I was cursing myself for not taking Bevan’s obsession with a podcast more seriously, because he got himself invited to Beyla’s apartment to talk about it, and had brought his famous moonshine, too! Fuck me. I didn’t know a thing about ballet conspiracy theories, and she was clearly into that. I also didn’t know the first thing about making magical moonshine.
I already knew Beyla wasn’t going to be at the studio early. I knew she was dedicated to her craft, but I’d also sampled Bevan’s moonshine several times. It fucked you up and put hair on your chest.
What made things even worse was, I was still going to go to the studio early to warm up and practice, like I always did. So, I was there when Bevan got invited to her apartment for a hangover cure. I was jealous, but I wasn’t mad at Bevan… I was fucking furious Arden was there, though.
I wasn’t used to this. Seeing me shirtless in tights was usually enough to impress any woman. A few sweet words, and they were mine, unless Merlin got to them first. Beyla wasn’t like that, I couldn’t use my usual tricks on her and I didn’t want to.
I had no intention of bedding her and discarding her when I was done. Most women fell into bed with me before we danced together, and I realized they weren’t the one. Beyla wasn’t like that. She put Merlin and me in our place when we flirted with her, and we’d already danced together.
I knew she was the one. There were sparks every time I touched her during ourpas de deux.I wanted to do this right. I didn’t even care that she seemed to be into Bevan, either. Only Merlin and I knew how hard he took it when Julian seduced his boyfriend and that he had dated no one since. IwantedBeyla and Bevan to be together.
I just wanted in on it, too.
Merlin was just as frustrated about it as I was. He rarely came to the studio early, but we both needed to dance out our frustrations. We were lying on our backs, sweating and panting, when the rest of the company started trickling in. I felt better after dancing, I always did, but I still needed to see her.
Beyla was with Bevan, just like I suspected. Nyx was with them, which wasn’t odd since they were roommates and Bevan and Nyx were good friends. Nyx ripped Julian a new asshole for what he did to Bevan, and I gained a whole new respect for that banshee, even if she could be rude and a little too liberal with her shriek.
What pissed me off and made my blood boil was that Arden was all up Beyla and Bevan’s ass. He was practically humping their legs to claim his territory! All was fair in love and war, but he’d better not be fucking with Bevan. I’d fight him over Beyla, but I’d make sure his body was never found if he hurt Bevan.
Merlin came and stood next to me.
“I don’t like this new development. Bevan is into her, too. You know what that means… he hasn’t wanted to be with anyone, not since the dressing room incident. If Arden is using him to woo the witch, I’ll kill him.”
“I’m okay with sharing her with Bevan, but not him,” I said.
Merlin poked me in the side.
“What about me, asshole? I’m an incubus. I’m fine with being a part of her harem if you and Bevan are in it. I don’t think we should let Arden join.”
