“Every creature born above us has a soul. The ones missing a soul are born in the Underworld or the Abyss, no exceptions. This man knew nothing.”
It’s more like he knew a lot, and he chose what to share to keep Tristan in the dark. I shoot another look over my shoulder. How I wish I knew Tristan’s parents’ names. I could look for them here and tell them Tristan is fine. Well. At least I hope he’s fine.
We enter the forest on the other side of the city, disappearing between the trees. I chew on my bottom lip and watch as Oreo takes the lead, sniffing at the roots. Tall oaks and old pines, fallen leaves crunch beneath my soles. It reminds me of the place I first met Ren. A dimmer version of it.
“Is one of the shifters in your harem a gargoyle?” Zaki asks in a soft voice.
I curl my nose. “Yeah, but harem is a weird way to put it. It sounds like I only want them for sex when we’re much more than that. We’re family. We have each other’s backs,and we fight for each other’s sake. Harem doesn’t cover it.”
The corner of Zaki’s mouth twists into a small smile. “They wouldn’t mind if it was for the sex alone. No sane man would be upset with fucking you.”
I shoot him a warning glance, then elbow him, but it doesn’t mean much. Talking to Zaki is easy, and the things he says mean no hurt, even with the whole demon thing. “What about you? No relationships?”
“Hell no,” he says with a dramatic look on his face. “Keep that word away from me.”
I crack up. “Oh, are you allergic to relationships? Are all incubi like that?”
“No, some do relationships, and polyamory and harems are a thing. Some incubi go as far as having monogamous relationships. Marriages, children, the whole unfortunate package.”
“That’s... unexpected.” Sex demons with white picket fences, two kids, and a dog? Never imagined that.
“That’s blasphemous,” he says with a grin. “No, I never fuck the same person twice. It’s a good thing demons are being born all the time. It keeps it fresh.”
“Never fuck someone twice?” I arch an eyebrow. “What happens if you really enjoy the sex?”
He shrugs. “It’s just sex, with creatures who live hundreds and thousands of years. It’s always good.”
I cock my head, remembering all the different things I got to try with my men. How they respect me, and how they learned what I enjoy and how I enjoy it. “I don’t know,” I mutter. “There’s something different when it’s with someone you love.”
Zaki says nothing. He looks thoughtful as we leave the forest, turning onto a road. A dark figure takes form in the distance. A reaper is approaching from the other side, clad in all black, a buzzing sword in hand. I halt and drop into a fighting stance. He hasn’t seen us yet. We have an advantage. Can we make a run for it?
The incubus grips my arm and pushes me back into the woods. He presses my back to a tree and stands close, watchful eyes on the road. Oreo growls, ready to attack the reaper, and I shush him.
“Oreo! Stay!” I hiss, gaping up at Zaki. “What are you doing?”
“We don’t have to take him on,” Zaki whispers back. “Hellhounds have a presence so strong,his is concealing you. If we stay here, the reaper won’t see us.”
So, I was right. It’s Oreo’s presence that’s concealing me. I wait, heart beating in my throat as I keep my gaze pinned to the reaper. “He’s carrying a sword,” I point out.
“Yeah. So?” And he glances at me, yellow eyes burning. It’s only then I notice he’s standing too close. Zaki has a delicious but strange scent clinging to him. He smells like sulfur and burning wood,and it makes my insides all warm and fuzzy. Curling my hands into fists, it takes everything in me not to bury my face in his neck. This has to be the influence of his powers or something. Zaki’s yellow eyes glint as he waits for my answer.
I clear my throat. Shit. How long was I staring? “I thought reapers had scythes. You know. Like in the movies.”
He blinks. “Really? You’re taking your knowledge from movies?”
“Where do you expect me to take it from? What about all those reapers close to the gate? They had scythes, so are they taking the knowledge from movies, too?”
He shushes me. We turn and watch the reaper from between the trees, ambling up the road without a care. He doesn’t seem to notice us. I relax against the tree bark. Zaki shifts his weight between his feet, his leg brushing mine.
He turns to face me, his yellow eyes like lanterns in the dim light. “Let’s stay here for a moment. I want to make sure that the reaper isn’t guarding the path. If he is, we’ll see him coming back.”
I nod, and the proximity to his body is making me uncomfortable. Not in a bad way, but in a squirmy way. In an I-need-to-take-my-clothes-off way. Zaki keeps his face half-turned away, ears preened at the sound of the reaper’s steps, but his body moves. It’s like every passing second brings him an inch closer. He hovers over me, chest brushing mine, thighs touching, his warm breath coasting the side of my face... My heart thunders, but not because of the reaper. For a moment, I even forget what we’re doing here.
Licking at my lips, I gape into the woods and try to think of a new subject. “So,” I start in a whisper. “About going back. We go to the Abyss and cross a portal there. Simple like that.”
Zaki sways his head from side to side. “Not simple, of course. It’s not close by. I’m avoiding teleporting so my father won’t trace me, so we’ll have to walk. The portals are protected. And when you get there, your body better be gone, or you’re screwed.”
That makes me stop. I shake my head. “What?” I narrow my eyes. My body better be gone? Gone where? What does that mean?