“Run!” Sverik shouted and darted toward the archway.
We followed, sprinting through one of the canals. Water splashed beneath our feet.
The monsters growled. Spears and arrows flew past us. We dodged them effectively, though some missed me by mere inches.
“Nowhere to run!” I heard one Destroyer shout after us.
I saw Sverik pass through the archway, enveloped in darkness. Hansa went in second, followed by me and Draven. Spears and arrows hit the wall around it.
We ran as fast as we could. The sound of our footsteps through the water echoed around us as we headed for the light at the end of the tunnel.
The closer we got, the more my heart shrank and my stomach tightened.
I could see the distant treetops outside. We’d made it well above ground level without even noticing. The sun was rising, casting amber and pale pink light across the sky. We’d gone up a significant number of stairs and through many corridors. I’d clearly lost track of where we were headed.
I looked over my shoulder and saw the bulky Destroyers slithering through the tunnel like massive black shadows.
“We have to jump,” Sverik shouted.
He stood on the edge, where the water poured outward.
Hansa reached him first and glanced down. She gave me a wary expression.
“What?” I asked, my nerves stretched and patience running thin.
“We have to jump,” she said, visibly unhappy with the decision.
Arrows swished through the air.
We dodged them. One grazed my shoulder.
I gasped.
“Run!” Draven pushed me.
I did as he said.
We ran. We had no other choice.
Whatever waited beyond the end of the tunnel was likely better than what was moving toward us. I heard swords whistling as they were pulled out of their sheaths. They got closer.
Sverik jumped.
Hansa followed with a roar that split the air and echoed through the tunnel.
It was too late to turn back or do anything else.
Three more steps, and it would be over, or worse. It didn’t matter.
I ran.
I jumped.
The world opened up as I left the tunnel, flailing in midair.
The jungle sprawled below. A river flowed through it, thick and foamy. Water from the castle cascaded into it.
My mind instantly took me to Draven.
I fell.
Jovi
The feast was impressive to say the least. The Lamias had us seated at a large wooden table covered with a plethora of hot dishes, stews, fruits, vegetables and a multitude of nuts and dark breads. Pitchers of sweet tea and cool water with rose petals were being passed around, filling crystal chalices to the brims.
A bright red fire burned in the middle of the table, mounted on a marble plate filled with oil and supported by dozens of raw, unpolished emeralds. Young Lamias moved around, helping with food service. Two harps played nearby.
The sky was black above, sprinkled with stars. The moon was nowhere to be seen.
Anjani sat to my right, and Bijarki sat to my left. Both made me feel comfortable enough to relax, despite the Lamias’ lascivious smiles, winks, and air kisses. I was beginning to feel like prey during open season but also mildly flattered, as I had rarely been in the company of so many beautiful creatures. I remembered my night at the Red Tribe and the succubi and their advances. The memory of Anjani’s glowing reaction warmed my stomach.
Tamara sat across from us, listening to Bijarki as he told her about our mission, about the Oracles, and about our plan to defeat Azazel. Surprise lifted her eyebrows upon hearing about the existence of my sister and the rest of our group.
“I didn’t think there were any Oracles left alive. Or at least free.” She smiled, cutting a slice out of an apple and popping it in her mouth.
“We didn’t either,” Bijarki replied. “The last Oracle Azazel captured was careful to pass on her gift outside of Eritopia. They were raised in a different world, not knowing their true nature.”
My eyes drifted around the table, occasionally meeting the glances of Tamara’s sisters and the other Lamias seated with us. I felt Anjani’s hip pressing into mine, as she pulled herself closer to my side. I couldn’t help but smirk as I wrapped my arm around her waist and drew her in.
I looked down at her and found her shooting daggers at me.
“I’m only doing this to protect you,” she mumbled. “I’m not sure whether they’re all looking at you like that because they want to mate with you or eat you.”
I tightened my grip on her, a chill running down my spine as the realization sank in. Perhaps what I’d considered to be salacious gestures were nothing more than the signs of predators eager to drive their fangs into me.
My ego deflated at the thought of becoming someone’s dinner. I held Anjani close, thankful to have her with me.
“Tell you what, Bijarki,” Tamara said after a while. “I will meet with your Druid and discuss an alliance with him under one condition.”
Bijarki nodded, sipping his tea. “Name it. As long as it doesn’t involve anyone here eating me.”
The Lamias chuckled. Their forked tongues flitted through the air, and their eyes glowed with humor. Tamara grinned, her finger running along the rim of her glass.
“Nothing like that, I can assure you.” She sighed. “You mentioned a safe space where the Druid lives. I wish to meet him there.”
“That can be arranged.” Bijarki looked at Anjani and me.
“Are you sure?” I asked him, wary of the prospect of Lamias discovering our mansion.
“We need to show these fearsome ladies that we are willing to trust them in order for this alliance to work,” he replied, then turned his attention on Tamara. “Will that be all?”
She shook her head and snapped her fingers twice in the air. A young Lamia emerged from another table, where she’d been eating with her sisters. She was stunning, with long black hair and amber—almost yellow—eyes with narrow pupils. Her skin was white, adorned with charcoal scales growing up her arms and neck. A single large emerald clasped her red silk dress above her chest.
“My daughter, Eva, will come with us,” Tamara said as the young Lamia walked over to our table and sat next to her.
Both Bijarki and I were in awe of the girl’s beauty. I could feel the crisp night air filling my gaping mouth, which I instantly shut tight as Anjani’s fingers painfully dug into my hip. It took a while for the incubus to speak again. His eyes were fixed on Eva.
“Fine. She may come with us,” he reluctantly agreed. “But absolute secrecy must be maintained. No one can ever know where the Druid lives.”
Tamara nodded, a satisfied smile slitting her face.
“That’s perfectly understandable, Bijarki. Please rest assured that we do not kiss and tell,” she replied, then clapped her hands twice, addressing the Lamias. “We leave at dawn. Please have everything ready!”
A few servants shuffled around our table, disappearing into the nearby massive purple trees. I figured they were packing bags for Tamara and Eva. I nudged Bijarki, unable to smooth the frown on my face.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked.
“It’s not like we have much of a choice.” He shrugged. “We need their support. If she wants to take her daughter sightseeing, it’s fine, as long as we get our alliance.”
I sighed and gulped down my water. My throat felt dry. There were plenty of risks to trusting a Lamia with our safe location but none spelled doom better than the prospect of their species refusing to help against Azazel. With the Red Tribe nearly extinct and only a handful of Dearghs to support us, it felt like we had no chance of defeating the monster.
Later that evening, we were escorted to one of the purple trees a few yards away from the town square where we’d been greeted upon arrival. It was a beautiful giant with violet lanterns hanging from its branches. The interior seemed sp
acious, carved in two separate levels connected by a set of narrow stairs and lit with dozens of small candles. Fine organza was hung across the walls, ruffled at the top and flowing down in wide creases.
Tamara walked in first, and we followed. Two beds had been prepared on the ground floor, along with pitchers of water and a bowl of fruits. She waved around with a smile.
“You fellows will sleep down here. I’ve made sure that no one disturbs you throughout the night. The succubus can sleep upstairs,” she said, looking at Anjani. “We’ve left a few things for your consideration. Hopefully you will like them. Like I said, we do not make a habit of carelessly killing and eating your kind. Not anymore.”
Anjani’s eyebrows were raised in genuine surprise. She blinked fast as she processed the Lamia’s gesture of goodwill—a historically improbable event.
She left us there, waving at us without bothering to look over her shoulder.
“I shall see you three in the morning. Get plenty of sleep. The air is heavy with dark omens,” she said and disappeared into the night.
Bijarki was the first to fall asleep. I’d wanted to ask him a few questions about the Lamias, but by the time I put my head down and relaxed, I could hear him snoring. Anjani had already vanished upstairs. I couldn’t help wondering whether she’d drifted off as well.
Several thuds from above made me sit up. I looked over to see Bijarki still sleeping, his chest moving slowly, his breathing steady. I got out of bed and climbed the stairs, quietly looking around.
I reached the top floor and found Anjani standing in the middle of the room. A mirror leaned against the tree wall in front of her. She wore a long black dress with a deep V-neck that took my breath away. The smooth fabric poured down her body, outlining her curves beautifully. Her black hair flowed carelessly down her bare back. She saw me and stilled.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her skin glowing.
My heart twisted. Heat expanded through my body and filled my muscles. I felt my cheeks burning, and my throat dried up.
“Sorry. I heard noises. I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I replied sheepishly.
Neither of us said anything for a while. My eyes wandered down her body to a pile of colorful silk dresses on the floor next to her feet.
“I take it they left those for you?” I asked, clearing my throat.
She nodded. Her wide, emerald-gold eyes darted from the dresses to me and back.
“Their way of making amends for eating succubi?”
“Pretty much,” she replied. “Not that they can fix anything with silk garments.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t think so,” I said.
“But the dresses are beautiful.” She shrugged, clearly conflicted.
I stood there, gawking and unable to move. I needed another moment to put my foot down the first step, but my gaze was fixed on her.
“I’ll leave you, then.” My voice was weak.
“You can stay,” she replied.
Her expression puzzled me. Judging by our previous interactions, I knew she felt attracted to me as much as I was to her. Perhaps it was time to use a little bit of reverse psychology.
“It’s okay. I’d like to be polite and let you sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
She took a deep breath, drawing my focus back to her cleavage. This had a devastating effect on my senses. Tension gathered in my jaw. My stomach clenched.
“Please stay,” she said. “I’m really not comfortable with you out of my sight, especially with all the Lamias hanging around.”
“What about Bijarki?” I asked with a smirk.
“He’s a big incubus. He can take care of himself.”
“Take it you’re jealous they’re all into me, then?”
I had a hard time containing myself. She was such an easy target when it came to other creatures paying attention to me. Her inability to hide her discomfort was downright endearing and brought out the joker in me. I loved playing with her even when I knew I’d get scratched—like playing with a tigress.
A shadow passed over Anjani’s face. She raised her arms to her side in a gesture of exasperation. “Yes! Okay? Yes, I’m jealous!”
Her raised voice stunned me. My heart stopped.
“I can’t bear the thought of other creatures touching you or even getting close to you, okay? Is that what you want to hear? Well, there you have it! I don’t want you looking at them. I can’t get you out of my head, and I’m still shaking from your kiss! There! Happy?”
Her confession floored me. My mind suddenly put two and two together. The glances, the frowns, the way she got so defensive around me. Her whole play about influencing me with her succubus nature had been her way to prove herself strong. Whether she’d wanted to prove it to me or herself was still unclear. Nevertheless, it ignited something inside of me.
Silence fell between us as we looked at each other. My heart raced, frantically struggling against the constraints of my ribcage. She was so beautiful and fierce, and yet, in that moment, her vulnerability made my spine tingle. It must have taken great strength for her to tell me the truth about how she felt.
Anjani took a deep breath, then crossed the room in several wide steps. The closer she got, the faster my heart throbbed. She pushed me against the wall, and the next thing I knew, her mouth was on mine. Her lips beckoned mine to open, and I took her with everything I had.
My arms wrapped around her body. My fingers slid over the silk as our tongues met. My hands found her bare back, and I felt her quiver as my skin touched hers. She pushed her chest forward. Her arms coiled around my neck as I pulled her closer to me.
We were hungry and unable to stop devouring each other. I deepened the kiss, my fingers pressing into her flesh. She ran her fingers through my hair, building more tension in my lower body.
I felt her relax as her succubus nature unfolded, streaming through me like white fire and making my head light. I welcomed it all, everything she had to give, including everything she’d struggled to hide. I kissed her face and made my way to her ear, my teeth nipping the lobe. She trembled in my arms, and I instinctively pushed my hips forward, eager to make her feel everything that she was doing to me.
Our lips found each other again, molding perfectly into a kiss that nearly threw me off the edge. I ran my hands up her back and gently scratched my way back down. She moaned and abandoned herself in my arms, her heart echoing into mine.
There was no turning back from here. There was no way of pretending this kiss didn’t happen. Something had shifted between us, and it could no longer be ignored. Our bodies reacted to one another like strings plucked in unison.
And I couldn’t get enough of her.
Jovi
It felt as though it took us forever to regain control of ourselves. Anjani eventually pushed herself back, taking deep breaths as we looked at each other. Our eyes said what our mouths couldn’t.
I took her hand and guided her to the bed, on which I lay and took her in my arms. We were both exhausted, as the events of the day finally started to kick in. She fell asleep first, her body perfectly molded against mine. I drifted off slowly, listening to the sound of her breathing. Her hair tickled my nose.
As dawn cast its warm light into the tree, I ran my fingers through those seemingly endless curls, patiently waiting for Anjani to wake up on her own. I didn’t have the heart to trouble her dreams. I leaned forward, breathing her scent in. Meadows and sunshine flickered in my mind, along with the image of her dancing across the tall grass. Sunlight made her glow like a diamond.
She’d gotten me hooked without even trying. On the contrary, she’d done her best to keep me at bay. Unfortunately, her best was no match for the mind-blowing chemistry between us. It was as absolute as the sun rising in the east. The effect she had on me was undeniable. All I had left to do was ride that wave and prove myself worthy of her attention.
I knew, deep in my heart, that this was a creature who required someone as st
rong and fearless as she was. She was barely beginning her life as a succubus, and I wanted to show her that I was someone she could be proud of, someone she’d be thrilled to have near her.
I reached for the pendant in my pocket, pulling it out of its little pouch. I stared at the wolf’s head, its fangs clasping the strange diamond, the little flame still flickering inside. The old fae’s words echoed in my mind, making me wonder whether I’d already found someone to give this pendant to. She’d spoken of true love, a soulmate who would reveal what the pendant could do.
I lay on my back, Anjani’s body warm next to me. She’d fallen asleep in her black silk dress. The fabric glazed her hips and thighs. The pendant dangled on its delicate silver chain, loose between my fingers.
Should I give it to her?
My eyes wandered up and down her side. Despite my usually carefree attitude as far as people and emotions went, I seemed to take Anjani very seriously. I wanted to give her the pendant, but I feared it was too early, as I had yet to fully grasp the weight of everything she meant to me.
Was she my soulmate, or was she a passing challenge, someone who would leave her mark on me and make me stronger? Would she stay with me? And if she did, would she come with me back to The Shade?
I somehow didn’t see the latter happening. She was Anjani of the Red Tribe, after all. A silver-blooded Eritopian tasked with one day leading her sisters. I was but a wolf-boy who’d stumbled upon her, unable to walk away at the sight of her in danger. I was a stranger, an outsider who missed his home and old way of life and yet found himself fascinated and even thrilled by this new world.
There was a conflict brewing inside of me. How could I give her such an important gift, a pendant for which one day I’d have to repay an old fae with a favor, when I wasn’t even sure whether we’d last?
Would I be the one to stay here? Or would she be the one to be persuaded to follow me?
I decided to hold on to the pendant for a little while longer until I’d figured it all out. I needed to have a better picture of what lay ahead, of what she truly felt for me, beyond the explosive physical attraction. I needed more.