Demon blind, p.3
Demon Blind, page 3
I nodded, understanding what he wasn’t saying. Emily would be his even if she wasn’t. That was how Tor felt about June when she was Adam’s. June cried many tears when Adam released her. For Fallor’s sake, I hoped that Emily’s heart wasn’t already taken.
“Once I win Apryl’s heart, I will help you win Emily’s,” I said.
Fallor shook his head at me.
“You do not believe me? Look at how quickly Apryl agreed to live with me. Emily will do the same.”
“Focus on your female. Mya says that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.”
“Yet, she is growing Drav’s baby inside of her. Is that not too good to be true?” I scoffed. “Mom says Mya is trying to protect our hearts. My heart is fine.”
“Will it be fine if Apryl does not meet you, though?”
I laughed away his concern but felt the pain it caused. Apryl would be there. She had to be. She said she would.
The human guards on Tenacity’s wall noted our arrival with a glance but didn’t yell or spit at us. I would miss their old ways of greeting us, but June and Matt also warned all of Tenacity that fey mistreatment wouldn’t be tolerated any more than human mistreatment.
We knew spit wasn’t mistreatment, though. Drav shared how Mya kissed his cock so deeply that he felt her spit-coated tongue slide against the underside of his shaft. No fey would be foolish enough to discourage a female from sharing her spit even if she meant it for our faces. We knew where she longed to spit.
I was glad the males no longer spit, though, or Angel would have had to explain to them that they were showing their desperation. Although the men pretended otherwise, they understood they were losing their females, one at a time, to us.
When Apryl left with me today, perhaps Abi would hear of her wise choice and leave with Greyly after that. And then that other female with skin darker than Apryl, who Eitri watched, might leave as well.
All Apryl needed to do was look into my eyes and tell me to take her to her new home.
My happiness faded when we arrived at the same spot and Apryl wasn’t there. Fallor didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. I felt his doubt.
“I think we arrived early. We should wait.”
Voices drifted from the other side of the house. Humans speaking about living arrangements. What if Apryl was there, looking for a human home?
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Fallor.
He grunted and crossed his arms, settling in to wait.
CHAPTER FIVE
APRYL
Nervous didn’t begin to cover how I felt as I walked down the street while carrying my small bag of clothes. Fighting the urge to cry, I kept my head down and eyes on the road. I shouldn’t have waited around at the house for someone to show up. Because I had, I was running late.
Now, fear-fueled questions bounced around in my head. What if he wasn’t there? I hadn’t asked his name or his house number and had no idea how to find him. I could ask around. But I had nothing to go off of. No description other than he’d had a big hand and a deep voice.
I tried to tell myself not to worry. He’d been quick to offer. That meant he was serious, right? And if he was serious, he’d wait for me.
But what if he wasn’t serious? What if it had been a prank and I’d just given up my spot?
I tried to breathe through my fear and tell myself that was nonsense, but the feeling wouldn’t let go. So much was riding on this. Why hadn’t I asked him his name? How could I be so stupid?
For the millionth time, I wished I’d simply packed my bag and left. I could have let everyone know about the change after I made it through the first night. But no, I’d waited like a dumbass until Michelle showed up because I’d wanted to witness her reaction when I told her they could give my room to the people they had waiting. Some part of me had wanted to hear just a smidge of concern or remorse. I was an idiot. There hadn’t been any. Michelle had been audibly relieved that I’d found a place and wouldn’t be coming back.
I hit the end of the block and turned onto the final road. The urge to look up and scan for him tugged at me. But that would be pointless since one blur could look like the next at this distance. So I kept walking, placing one foot in front of the other.
When the low murmur of voices reached my ears, my steps slowed, and I risked lifting my gaze just a little. A tannish blur moved in the center of the road.
I breathed a sigh of relief and headed toward him.
“Have you been waiting long?” I asked.
“No.”
He sounded a little different, but maybe he was annoyed I was late.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to wait for one of my housemates to show up so I could let them know I wasn’t coming back.”
“I understand.”
But he didn’t exactly sound understanding or concerned like he had when I’d spoken to him before. He sounded uncomfortable now.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Are you certain you wish to leave your current home?”
Panic knifed through me. I was losing him. How? Why? Had he found someone else while I was gone?
I needed to fix this and only had one ace card up my sleeve. Mentally preparing myself, I jumped off the desperation cliff with arms wide open.
“I’m certain,” I said breathlessly.
I closed the distance between us, and he uncrossed his arms, an obvious invitation. Swallowing hard and knowing I needed to seal the deal, I closed my eyes, stood on my toes, and brushed my lips against his.
Only, I didn’t quite make it. He was taller than I’d realized, and my mouth only grazed his chin.
“Sorry,” I whispered, mortified that I’d missed.
He didn’t help me out by bending down even a little, though. Obviously, he wanted to show me I’d need to work for my place. Okay. Fine. I’d suspected the quick invitation would have some catches. Understanding didn’t stop my face from heating as I looped my hands around his neck for an assist. I reached his lips on my second attempt. And for half a second, it wasn’t horrible. His lips were warm and soft under mine before they firmed, and he turned his head.
“Not into public displays?” I asked. “That’s fine. We can take this back to your place, and we can do more there.”
“I don’t understand,” he said. “Do what?”
Asking me to say exactly what I was offering was a smart move on his part. If I didn’t offer what he wanted, he could walk away right now, which wasn’t something I could afford.
“Anything you want. Kissing. A blow job. Sex. It’s yours.”
I jumped at the sound of a growl behind me.
The man in front of me set his hands on my shoulders and slowly eased me away from him.
“Thank you for the offer, Apryl, but I am not interested in your kisses or pussy.”
My brain glitched at the use of that word. Normal people didn’t use it in conversation like he just did. Normal human people, anyway.
But other people did.
I lifted my head and stared at the grey blur-blob that was the man’s head and internally swore.
Oh my god, I kissed a fey.
No, I’d done way more than that. I’d propositioned him.
My thoughts had another hiccup when I realized he’d turned me down. A fey had turned me down. They never turned any female down. They were desperate for women. Any shape, color, or size. They didn’t care. Except for me, apparently. Sam had said they were watching me. Did that mean they knew I couldn’t see shit? Was I a reject? The first rejected female ever?
Worse than that was the realization that I hadn’t been offered a place in some other house here in Tenacity. A fey had offered to take me in. And now he’d changed his mind? He couldn’t. I had nowhere else to go now. I’d given up my house.
The tears I’d been trying to hold back for the last hour welled up.
“Please,” I whispered brokenly as the first tear fell. “If you don’t want any sexual favors, that’s fine. Just tell me what you do want.”
Another growl rumbled behind me, reminding me that we weren’t alone. Just how many of his friends had witnessed my spectacle?
The fey holding my arms abruptly released me, and I sniffled.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” I said.
“Live with me, Apryl,” another fey said harshly from behind me.
Wiping at my face, I ducked my head and partially turned toward him.
“Okay. What do you want?” I asked.
He growled again.
“Nothing.”
He sounded completely angry when he said it, and I didn’t blame him. He obviously didn’t want me living with him, but the fey had soft hearts when it came to females. Well, they usually did.
I regretted that the concerned one hadn’t wanted to take me in. Actually, I mourned the whole situation. I’d thought I’d said yes to a human housing arrangement, not a fey one. But maybe this was better. I’d heard that the women who housed with the fey didn’t have to go on supply runs. They didn’t have to do anything but spread their legs. But this one wasn’t asking for that. Why exactly did he want to host me?
“Okay,” I murmured. “If you change your mind, just let me know. I’m willing to do whatever for a warm bed and some food.”
He growled again and said something that sounded like, “I was a fool.”
“Why do you have nowhere to go?” the first fey asked. “Matt said there were enough houses for everyone to have a place to sleep at night.”
“I had one,” I said. “But now that everyone can choose who they want to live with, my housemates asked me to leave. I’ve been having a hard time finding someone else to take me in. Everyone is looking for people who have useful skills. Like experience going out for wood or supplies.” I gave a woeful shrug. “I don’t have those skills.”
“We can speak to Matt, and he will help you find somewhere else to live,” the first fey said. “You will not be forced to live somewhere you do not want to live.”
The tears fell a little faster as I realized why he was saying that. The other fey didn’t want me to live with him either. Knowing how the fey wanted to protect all women, the second fey had likely only offered because I’d said I had nowhere else. It sucked being the reject.
“Matt’s not really in a position to help me. If he tried forcing someone to take me in after telling everyone they had a choice, people would go crazy. And it’s okay if neither of you wants to house me. I understand that having someone underfoot who you aren’t interested in would probably send the wrong message to any woman you might be interested in. Do you know of any fey who might be?”
I knew I sounded desperate, but I didn’t care. The sun was high, and I needed to figure out where I’d be sleeping before it set.
“You will stay with me, Apryl,” the second fey repeated, sounding a bit resigned.
“I don’t want to mess up your chances with a girl you might actually want.”
Fingers brushed the underside of my chin, nudging it up. I closed my eyes so the second fey wouldn’t see my unfocused gaze as he turned my face toward his.
The long moment of silence that followed worried me.
“You won’t mess up anything,” he finally said quietly.
I almost felt bad for him. I messed up a lot. No doubt about that. How long would it take before he passed me off to someone else? How long before everyone knew I was deadweight? If one of them would just take me up on my blow job offer, I was sure I could at least be useful that way.
“All right,” I said. “If you’re willing to take me in, I’m all yours.”
“My name is Scath,” he said, his light touch brushing over my chin.
“Scath,” I repeated. “It’s nice to meet you.”
His thumb brushed over my skin again. It almost felt like a caress.
“Are you afraid?” he asked.
“No. Should I be?”
“No.” He released my chin. I ducked my head and opened my eyes again, nodding toward the other fey. “And what’s your name?” I asked.
“Fallor.”
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us, Fallor.”
CHAPTER SIX
SCATH
Fallor grunted and glanced at me. I stared at the top of Apryl’s knit cap.
How had everything gone so wrong? She’d agreed to live with me. Then she saw Fallor and kissed him. When he hadn’t returned her affection, she’d looked up at him and shed tears in her grief.
It was just like June and Adam. I thought I would only need to figure out a way to win her heart, but she refused to look at me. If it wasn’t fear, then what else could it be?
“Do I still need to ask for permission to live with you?” Apryl asked. “I remember the speech Mya gave a few weeks back when we were living in Tolerance.”
There had been so many females within the walls at that time. I wished I would have noticed her then. If she had seen my face first, would she have given me her kisses?
“No,” Fallor said. “We can choose who lives with us. But Mya will remove any females who do not have good intentions.”
“Okay,” Apryl said, hugging her bag to her chest.
She looked so lost and helpless, and I hated it. I wanted her in my home and in my bed, but not because she felt she had no other choice. And not when she was still yearning for Fallor.
I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck, frustrated.
“Can Scath carry you?” Fallor asked, giving me a hard look.
Right. He didn’t want to carry her even if she did seem to prefer his arms.
“Yes. Of course,” Apryl said.
She stepped closer to me, still not looking up at me, and I reminded myself to have patience. Fallor had been right. Her willingness had been too good to be true. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t still win her heart.
I lifted her into my arms and looked down at her face. She’d closed her eyes again.
“It’s a very pretty sky today,” I said. “Don’t you think so, Apryl?”
“Uh, yeah. It’s pretty,” she said without opening her eyes.
Before I could be disappointed, she rested her head against my chest. My heart swelled at the contact, and I shifted her weight to press her closer.
“Am I too heavy?” she asked.
“No,” I said, starting to walk. I could have held her for days and not grown tired. Definitely hard, but not tired.
Fallor kept pace with me, his gaze flicking between me and Apryl. I knew he had no interest in her but still wished he would go follow Emily for a while. His face would only remind Apryl of her desire for him. Before I could find a reason to send him away, Matt called out to us.
“What’s going on?” he said, gesturing to Apryl.
“Apryl is going to live with me,” I said.
“Apryl?” Matt asked when she didn’t look up at him.
“Yeah?” she said, turning her face to rub her cheek against me.
“Are you leaving of your own free will?”
“Yes. I am.”
Fallor and I exchanged a look. It would be right to tell Matt that people were being kicked out of their homes. But if we did, he might find somewhere else for Apryl to stay. And I didn’t want that. I also didn’t want to prevent any of my brothers from having the same opportunity I had.
“Okay then,” Matt said with a nod. “You’re in good hands, Apryl. Just don’t do anything to cause any trouble over there.”
“I understand.”
After a nod at us, Matt continued on his way.
“I doubt she is the only one,” I said.
Fallor nodded. “I will tell the others what to watch for.”
He jogged away as Apryl shifted in my arms. Need pounded through me at the feel of her hands sliding up my chest. She was touching me. Willingly. I swallowed and tried to think of something clever to say to show my appreciation for her mind.
“You don’t need to look for other females. I meant what I said. Blow jobs. Sex. Whatever you want,” she said. “I’m good with my mouth. I promise.”
My balls tingled and my shaft hardened at the same time my heart shriveled. Her touches weren’t real. She still thought she had to offer her body.
“I will not use your body in exchange for living with me,” I said, moving again.
She slowly withdrew her hands, and I struggled to come up with something to say as she exhaled heavily. Emily said we should ask females about their interests.
“Do you like to cook?” I asked.
“Uh, not really. I tend to burn things.”
“Oh. What do you like to do?”
Her breathing sped up. “Nothing,” she whispered.
I grunted, unsure how I was supposed to know her mind if she didn’t like to do anything. Perhaps she didn’t know what she liked doing because she hadn’t tried many things. I imagined bringing her to the melted dicks where the other women met for feight club. Apryl would be fierce and beautiful, shooting Angel’s bow. Or if she didn’t like that, she could go to Emily’s knitting circle. Or maybe Brooke’s sketch classes. My cock throbbed at the thought of being her model. Brooke loved staring at Solin’s cock. He has many sketches of it from her.
I would find something Apryl liked doing, and we would talk about that.
Liking my plan, I looked down at her. She shook in my arms.
“Are you warm enough?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I frowned, noting the way she continued to shake. Why did she not want to tell me she was cold? I considered her thin jacket as I approached the wall.
“It will feel colder when I run,” I said. “Hide your face against me, and tell me if I need to stop to warm you.”
“You won’t need to. I’ll be fine,” she said, turning her face toward me.
My frown deepened. Mom had said that fine doesn’t always mean fine. This felt like one of those situations.
Perhaps once Apryl saw the meal I had waiting for her, she would feel better. Food always made Angel happier.
