Page 22 of Marked By Night

Do. Not. Look. Down.

I totally look down.

I glance back up at their faces, thinking maybe they didn’t notice. No such luck. “Fuck, I like dicks, okay?”

Am I going through an awakening period in my life or something? Because holy hell. I mean, I’ve always had quite the appetite. Considering I have at least ten different vibrators at home, but this is different. These men are flesh and blood and they’re lighting me up from the inside out like no one else ever has.

Dante straight up loses it. I’m talking full-on bent over while hyperventilating, slap your knee kind of losing it. Kaos smacks him upside the head, but he can’t stop the little peals escaping his lips too.

That’s it. I’m hanging up the hat and becoming a nun.

Yeah, right. You would burst into flames if you walked into a church.

In desperate need of a distraction, I turn around to watch the show but it’s no use. I can’t get the image of their two huge outlines out of my mind. All I want to do is find somewhere quiet and say to hell with everything.

As I let go and let the song control my movements, feather-light touches caress my hips, burning into my skin. Technically, it’s not the best music to dance to, but who cares? Dante moves like he’s communicating with his body instead of words. Like he’s made to move like this. The girl from the throuple earlier pops into my mind as I wrap my arm around each of their necks and bring them in closer.

Maybe I’ll get my threesome after all.

10

Elian

My pocket watch clicks as I close it and tuck it back into the front of my leather jacket with a sigh. Those fucking assholes are late.

Again.

Dante would lose his head if it wasn’t attached, and Kaos follows along with his little schemes too easily. Therefore, I’m not surprised they got sidetracked. I only hope they’re not out trying to find some blonde bimbo to fuck. That’s the last thing we need right now with the goddamn Elders breathing down our necks to choose a mate.

What a fucking sham. There hasn’t been a true Link in so long and these little fake pairings that the Elders like to force upon us are a fraud and a disgrace to the Night Goddess.

But Weavers can’t reproduce without their true mate, and female Weavers are scarce as it is. Before the pairings stopped, the males outnumbered the females five to one. Now people are desperate and we’re slowly dying off. Though, the Elders claim they’re close to a breakthrough on the fake pairings they produce.

This is partly why I considered having our Circle choose that awful red-haired snake so badly, even though she’s not our mate. She’s powerful, and at least we’d have one, which is more than some of the others could ever hope for, but I’ve never cared for her. Our Circle happens to be the product of some of the last true pairs. The decline in mates started with the generation before our parents. Only a handful would meet their Link until they stopped finding them altogether.

Then there’s the issue of the Elites stalking the woods outside of the festival. Another one of the Elders’ ploys they think we can’t see through, but I know that it’s no accident they’re here tonight. Their presence taints the scene and permeates the air with their dark metallic energy and hatred. It ruins the vibe of the show completely. Though they’re not stupid enough to step out of the shadows.

So, I’ll hunt them down myself. Because the night, the shadows, and the darkness are all my playground. I crack my inked knuckles in delight. Yes, blood will be spilled tonight. That’s for certain.

Now, where did those fuckers head off to?

My eyelids flutter closed as I begin to picture the silvery threads that connect us as a Circle until they’re bright enough to lead me straight to them. The crowd parts for me with ease, like the humans can sense there’s something strange about me and they need to steer clear. It comes in handy.

There they are. Against the fence line.

The last of the patrons step out of the way and I almost call out to them, but the sight before me makes my frozen heart seize, then crack, threatening to shatter the ice I’ve carefully been building around it for so long. Goddess, no. This can’t be. Her aura is so strong and vibrant she might as well be the fucking sun.

And she’s my mate.

The girl stands out while she dances, shining more brilliantly than the most beautiful galaxy. Her aura is equal parts darkness and light with a mixture of grey in between. It beacons me to her like a siren’s song lures a sailor to his death.

Moons above, she’s even blonde. But this girl is no ordinary blonde bimbo that the others are looking to play around with and fuck for a night. No. Those assholes are smitten with her. I can tell by the star-struck looks in their eyes as they gaze down at her like she’s the last woman on earth.

My jaw clenches in icy fury. This girl will be a distraction we don’t need, that we can’t afford. My plans are so carefully concocted, even the slightest deviation will throw the entire operation off balance. I can’t afford to let it happen because I value our lives. As much as it pains me to do so, I must save our own asses to protect every single one of the people we know and care about.

Or that’s what I tell myself, anyway. Because Links only amplify powers and the Elders already have us on their radar. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is practically their motto.

I can’t afford to bond with her.

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