"Us lay with a reptile? Insulting.”

  Diems eye twitched at the volume of Dee's voice. His bones ached, fur prickling beneath his skin, some forcing its way through, sprouting grotesque patches. Behind the lying tramp, one of the other rushed forward. Diems’ spine cracked stretching unnaturally, until the deafening sound of a shotgun blast cut his roar short. The cluster of beads travelled between him and the group, grounding them both to a halt.

  His gaze snapped to an elderly woman, a white sleeping gown that bunched over her feet. The shotgun shook in her frail arms. Ruby red eyes looked at them with irritation and her bat-like ears twitched.

  This bayou is full of demons.

  “I done warned you, Eloise! Quit swindlin’ my guest! I let it slide last month cause y’all were strugglin’. Keep it up! Kaelridge and the others will catch wind!”

  “Oh, c’mon nao, Miss Judith. You know we would never take it that far.”

  Eloise rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, a smug look lighting up her face as she stared at Khalia with amusement.

  “I don’t give a damn if y’all take it an inch! Don’t do it on ma property, ya hear?”

  She cocked the shotgun again. They stepped back uneasily, but Diem remained locked on one of the males. His scent was Kirma, and skin matched that of Eloise's, sporting worn jeans, bucket hat, mud-stained undershirt, and no shoes. His shit-stained gaze lingered on Khalia. The bastard gave a shallow bow, the tattered hat tumbling off his head, exposing his pointed fur-covered ears and coily hair.

  “Our apologies Miss Judith. Times been hard since that law passed. The name’s Brenton. We don’t see many other outside Kirmas.”

  Brenton stepped closer and extended his hand towards Khalia. Glaring, he smacked it away, relief spiking through him when she didn’t object. He stepped in front,

  “So, you scam couples and hope they’re stupid enough to pay?”

  Brenton chuckled, which sent venom to Diem’s tongue, but he held in his insult.

  “You’d be amazed at how many don't know the feeling of a Fated. Desperate folks are quick to empty their pockets to never see us again. You two a couple?”

  Brenton leaned by him, his eyes assessing Khalia once more. He wasn’t sure why felt the need shield her from the other Kirma. Reaching behind him, he found her hand and pulled her to his side, ignoring the stiffening in her body.

  “Yes, newlyweds, and if you don't mind, we're late checking in.”

  Judith hopped in place, a grin on her face.

  “Oh! That makes y’all my last guest! Come on nao! Get your bags, I’ll show you to your room. You lot better get going! I mean it Brenton, Eloise.”

  She shook her shotgun in their direction before heading up the lit path.

  “Yes, Miss Judith.” Eloise pouted, giving Diem a slow once-over as he gathered the bags from the truck.

  “Let me know when you tire of the mutt! Lycans are my specialty.”

  He curled his lip at Eloise and the others retreating backside. Brenton smirked.

  “Don’t mind her, she takes her role too seriously. Any Kirma and their…partners, are always welcome. I’ll be seeing you Miss….?”

  Diem watched Khalia’s mouth open, and a surge of panic rose at the thought of her giving out her name.

  “Miss....I’ll beat your fucking ass if I see y’all again. I promise you. Especially SS Swamp Skank over there. Have a good night, ol Ratigan lookin-ass.”

  Brenton eyes wided a fraction before he barked out a laugh.

  She snaked her hand around Diem’s wrist. He didn’t mind being dragged up the lit path to the grand house. The only thing he minded was the smug chuckle that followed them into the night.

  *~*~*

  “Newlyweds?”

  Khalia scoffed as he dabbed softly at her cut with an alcohol pad. His hand cupped her chin firmly as he played doctor. The steady sound of wildlife filtered in through their screened balcony door.

  “Rather brother and sister? Surprise them with a bit of incest? Besides, someone wasn’t too vocal out there.”

  She swatted his hand away.

  That stings, and I got attacked; you got gawked at. Why would I mince words with people like that? Also, brother sister? Really?”

  He chuckled, watching the full body stretch she did with her yawn. His gaze lingered a little too long on the curve of her waist as she turned toward the king-sized bed, flopping face-first into the pillows.

  Judith had thanked them for disclosing their kind previously for booking.

  “It always helps with the room setup. A happy guest is what we strive for.”

  Their room was the last down a quiet hallway, set apart from the rest of the house. It suited him fine. Less company, fewer interruptions.

  Khalia’s action sent a breeze of citrus and jasmine through the room. If only she knew she smelled as sweet as she looked. Soon, he frowned.

  Citrus? That’s new. Lemons and…tangerines?

  “New body wash?”

  “Yea, Caleesi bought it for me. She was tired of me smelling like you.”

  Peeking over her shoulder, she gave him a sleepy grin. For a moment, Diem forgot what they were here for. His mind suddenly clouded by the glowing individual in the purple t-shirt dress. It hung off her shoulders, concealing the brown short underneath, leaving her legs on display.

  “Don’t we need rings to make this more convincing?”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  She scrolled through her phone, squinting at the brightness. He walked closer, until his knees collided with the mattress.

  “I can find other convincing ways.”

  She tensed when he lowered himself on top of her, nuzzling the shell of her ear.

  “Should we pick up where we left off?”

  She opened her mouth…then yawned again, cursing softly.

  He laughed, rolling off her.

  “We’ll find the right time.”

  “Now is the right time. I wont pass out. Unless that’s what you’re into. This would be a perfect time to experiment with that one.”

  Diem grimaced while quirking a brow and going through 5 stages of grief.

  “I prefer my women awake, freak.”

  He snatched the pillow she was cuddling before chucking it at her, smirking her sleepy curses. Heading to the balcony he inhaled the warm damp air as it stuck to his skin.

  “Where are you going?”

  "Quick run. Get a feel for the territory, see if there’s an Alpha we should be aware of, or who runs this Dominion. That won’t be the last time we run into that group of Kirmas. Best to know who is in charge before we get tangled into shit. We’ll head into Bathale around noon. Mavi said Beatrice works at--and she’s asleep."

  Scoffing, he ran his hand down his face before heading back to the bed. His shirt hit the floor first, then his jeans. Khalia’s breath was steady, rising and falling slowly. The bonnet she wore clung on for dear life as her hair busted through. The square bandages on her cheeks were fresh, and he could only make out the tail ends of her scars. From her parted lips, light snores escaped. He let his fingers skim her arm and sighed at the rising goosebumps that bloomed.

  “You’re being goddamn unsettling. You should have released me when we got to the room."

  Dee mutters, a bite to his tone.

  “And subject her to what? Your methods of consoling?”

  “I’ve never met a woman who didn’t enjoy my methods.”

  “Demon women, Dee. Not human.”

  “She’s a Kirma. Not human. She survived fucking the last Alpha. I’m sure-”

  His jaw tightened. “He wasn’t her Alpha. He wasn’t fit to be an Alpha. Don’t compare us to him.”

  The room was too quiet, the memories too loud. He exhaled sharply, shaking the thoughts away. His gaze finding her hands; where her phone nestled between them. The screen was dimmed, but he caught the name and looked at the long paragraph, yet to be delivered.

  “Running from our past, it hasn’t turned out well. She’s the living proof of that.”

  “I’ve accepted the past for what it was and will remain. I’ve suffered and I made him suffer. Vengeance completed. Accept it and move on. Life will return to normal.”

  “You’re arrogant to think vengeance is enough to satisfy.”

  “You’re the arrogant one.”

  Wriggling the phone out her hands, Diem set it on the nightstand.

  BZZZZZZ BZZZ BZZZZZ

  The screen came aglow as the rectangle danced. Picking it up, blue eyes stared back, and the bright smile from the blonde woman felt warm, even for a contact photo. His throat tightened and his gaze flicked to Khalia’s sleeping form. His thumb hovered over the green icon before he dragged it across the screen.

  “…Khalia?”

  *~*~*

  Trinity dragged her red tongue up the lollipop she was holding. The wall she leaned against vibrated with the bass thumping inside the club. She cradled her phone to her ear, narrowing her eyes at the soft ripple of breaths on the other end. She took another lick.

  “Is that a man I hear?”

  She mused, tilting her head as she pushed off her resting place.

  “Funny. After the pages you were texting me, I figured you must be struggling…like me…devastated by the loss of us…the loss of Jay.”

  Her heart spiked at hearing the change in breathing pitch. She could hear it, faint, but ever present…

  “But no, you’re still the same…same old Lia. Was Alexa right then, in the park? That your nothing but a cum-”

  “That’s enough.”

  Got ya.

  The voice was deep, filled with quiet warning, the words clipped and controlled. Her gaze narrowed as she watched two men stumble onto the balcony, their leathery wings almost striking her as they tousled.

  “Who might this be?”

  “You seem like a know-it-all cunt. Figure it out.”

  Silence passed between them and she, before dark amusement slithered into her tone.

  “Challenge accepted. Let’s start with the obvious, is this Theo? I promise if it is, Lia isn’t going too-”

  The line went dead.

  Trinity rolled her eyes while the bat demons behind her unfurled their wings. The gust of air from their departure swept across her face, ruffling loose strands of hair as they vanished into the night.

  “Blood-pops! Two for one!”

  A server’s shout rang from the club’s balcony entrance, drawing buzzed patrons outside. Trinity barely spared them a glance, her focus settling on the server. He himself was ghostly pale, his skin, stretched, over sharp cheekbones, making him appear more corpse than man. Obsidian eyes landed on her as she raised two fingers. Wordlessly, he handed her two suckers.

  She plucked them from his grasp and casually dug through her purse.

  “I’m new here,” she said, voice light but laced with poison. “Who’s in charge, and where does she stay?”

  The server flinched, his bony fingers twitching as it drew back. “I-I can’t-”

  Trinity stopped rifling through her bag and looked up.

  She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to.

  Her gaze locked onto his, and his breath shuddered. The dollar bill dangled lazily between her blackened claws, but the weight pressing against the server wasn’t from the money. A chorus of whispers coiled through her mind, a familiar chittering stirring in the recesses of her thoughts. Qwen flickered there, just for a moment.

  He swallowed hard, and she watched Adams’ apple bob.

  “F-forgive me, Lady…”

  “Trinity,” she corrected smoothly.

  “Lady Trinity,” he mumbled hastily. His lips trembled before he bowed his head.

  “J-just let me run this back. I’ll return shortly.”

  She nodded, her irises swirling with fluid, unnatural hues. Without breaking eye contact, she unwrapped both suckers, slipped them between her lips, and turned away.

  She approached the balcony railing, gazing over the eerie beauty spread before her. What once would have made her faint now tugged at something, almost nostalgic. Colossal trees ancient and gnarled, cradled homes and shops within their trunks and branches. Wooden bridges connected them, weaving lamp lit paths that crisscrossed one another. Murky bayou waters churned far below. In the distance, atop a stretch of solid ground, a lone statue loomed. The bear’s face on it worn, yet still ferocious from this angle.

  Then, for a single breath, the world around her glitched. A flash—buildings made of glass and steel, the loud hum of electricity, and the sharp odor of car exhaust.

  Civilization.

  Then it was gone, swallowed by the bayou and trees.

  “I’m ready, Lady Trinity.”

  The server returned, standing with his arms stretched before him. His expression, carefully hidden.

  She tilted her head, studying him for a beat before offering smile.

  “Thank you.”

  She placed her hand in his and he scooped her up bridal. His back split open with a sickening crack, thick membranes slithered out, unfurling as wet leathery wings. His face split down the middle, his skin peeling back unnaturally, exposing something bare and inhuman beneath.

  Then, with a powerful thrust of his wings, they were airborne, ascending into the suffocating dark, toward the large home lurking within the highest branches above.