Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
She noticed that?
I move closer to the bed despite myself. Really, Catalina is quite fetching for a human. She’s soft and pale with lovely dark hair. Her lips are also . . . No. Best not to think about her lips. I clear my throat. “One of his people killed my husband five years ago. The bracelet on your wrist was made by him, the last one he made if I’m not mistaken.”
“What?” Her eyes fly open. “Oh, Thane, I’m so sorry.”
I wave that away. I can’t stand pity. Enough of my people have it lingering in their eyes when they look at me. Escaping Brant’s loss is impossible, but the weight of it seems to increase the more time I spend in others’ presences. Embry is the exception, but ze is the person I’m closest to in this world. Ze knows the last thing I want is pity. “It was a long time ago, but Ramanu holding it made me forget myself.”
“Five years is both a long time and no time at all.” Something in her voice speaks to experience, but it’s flavored differently. She didn’t lose someone, but she lost . . . something. I’m tempted to ask, but I don’t want to give her a false sense of what this is.
“Yes,” I say simply.
“I don’t want kids.”
I blink at the sudden change in subject. “Excuse me?”
“Kids. There’s a clause in the contract that says if I get knocked up, my kid stays here.” She carefully sits up as the bubble of magic dissolves around her. “I don’t want to be pregnant. I had a shit show of a mother as an example and can’t guarantee I won’t fuck up a kid the same way she fucked up me. It’s not worth the risk. I won’t do it.”
There’s none of her defiant joy in the bleak words. Once again, I can only meet her honesty with honesty. “I don’t want children either. I never have. Embry is my heir, and I’ll do nothing to compromise zir position.”
Catalina narrows her eyes. “Then why is that even in my contract? Or is that a bargainer-specific thing?”
“The territories get their strength from their leaders. Our magic has been faltering in recent generations, and procreating with a human will provide a boost since humans are excellent conductors for magic. The other territory leaders no doubt intend to breed with their respective humans and create heirs that way.”
“That’s very nondemocratic of them. Are they all monarchies like you?”
It’s a mistake to linger in this room longer than strictly necessary. As we talk, the strength comes back into her voice, and she scoots to the edge of the bed, causing her dress to ride up to an indecent height. She doesn’t seem to notice, so I do my best to keep my gaze firmly above her shoulders.
I’m only partially successful. I make it to her chest, but each motion she makes has her breasts straining precariously against the fabric of her dress. Her generous curves look one tiny tug from bursting free.
To distract myself, I answer her question. “No. The incubi and succubi don’t follow bloodlines for who takes the leadership position. Rusalka likely intends to use some of her chosen warriors to breed with the human.”
“Kinky.” Catalina smiles slowly, life sparking back onto her pretty face. “Do you think they’ll line up and run a train on her? I only met her briefly, but she seems like she enjoys having a good time, and that sounds like a good time.”
“Is that something you’d be interested in?” I don’t know what possesses me to ask such an inappropriate question, but it slips free before my brain catches up with my mouth.
“Me?” She carefully gets to her feet. Without thinking, I move my tentacles out of the way as she steps closer. Her grin widens, and that strange look flares in her hazel eyes. Catalina reaches out and presses her hands to my bare chest. She meets my gaze, her touch scorching me. “I’m more interested in tentacles.”
I don’t understand why I lean toward her in response. She is infuriating and nothing like any partner I’ve had in the past. She’s certainly nothing like Brant. His charm was sunny and without the wild edge that lurks in the curve of her full lips. And yet . . . she draws me all the same.
It’s a feel beyond reason, beyond logic. That should be enough to make me turn around and leave the room and never look back. I even go so far as to silently command my body to do exactly that.
But I don’t leave.
Instead, I stand there and wait to see what she’ll do next.
6
CATALINA
There’s something wrong with me. I’ve been told this enough times over the course of my life to start to believe it. In this moment, there’s no other explanation for the fact I’m sidling up to a man with blue-gray skin and tentacles. I half expect his skin to be clammy, but it’s cool and pleasant. It almost feels a little rubbery, but not in a bad way.