Page 5 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

The Cat Gets Cornered

DELILAH

Iawaken, turning to look for Taurus and only finding Aradia. She yawns, her large head butting up against me as she purrs. Stretching my legs, I sigh. His absence is probably work related, but disheartening.

“Well, love, it’s time for us to go home and get cleaned up. Uncle Leo will feed you and we can find out what madness is going on today. Maybe you can check on Rafe, eh? He’s been quiet since the traitors stopped coming around.”

She dips her head as if she is nodding, then tugs her blanket off the couch.

“Let’s go see what the crazies have for us.”

I push the button on the phone and pop into my bedroom, watching as Aradia pads off to find her meal. Peeping around in my room, I frown. He’s not here. Time to head downstairs.

“Hellooooo?” I call, heading down the stairs to find my family.

~In the studio, love. Good night? ~

I wrinkle my nose, hiding my worry for my mate in case anyone sees me.~Okay, darling. It was an exceptionally good night. Come find me when you’re done. ~

He sends me an affirmative, but it’s half-hearted and I feel his depression. Losing Alistair and being left with the terror twins is making him even more internal, more insular, and all I can do is support him. I tuck that thought away as I head for the fridge, needing caffeine and fuel to deal with whatever the hell is coming.

“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in—literally.”

I blink, turning my head at the voice. Why didn’t Rafe warn me that he was here? Does he not know? Where is everyone else? Damnit, I wasnotready for a fucking visitor this morning. “Hello, Constantine. What are you doing here?”

What I mean is ‘what in the fuck are you doing at my house following me to my kitchen like a fucking stalker?’, but I don’t say it. Where the hell is everyone? Leo, Hex, and the gang are usually hanging out; they would have warned me that the lovesick droid I can’t seem to shake is haunting my halls.

“I came to see you because I haven’t gotten much of your time lately. It’s making me sad, Twinkles.”

This is my fault. I let him in when I was hurt by the stupid four way mating thing. It was a mistake, and I let it happen because I needed comfort. I slept with him for a while, but most people know that doesn’t mean that it’s serious for me. At a spectacularly low point—prior to Taurus’ arrival—he managed to use the high point of sex to get me to say something I wasn’t ready to say and didn’t actually feel. It’s never good to show weakness, and this passive aggressive courting that he’s done is why.

Afterward, I couldn’t bring myself to cut him loose. So I didn’t make a big deal when he did the creepy ‘sneak in my room’ thing on my birthday. I continued to let him hang on like a puppy because I felt bad that I said something I can’t take back. I do care about him, but I don’t love him, and the guilt of leading him on—even if it was forced—eats me alive. So I can’t kick himto curb, especially with the hurt I can feel radiating off of him. Amanda’s stupid quest must be taking its toll on him as well.

Now I struggle with feeling guilty for leading him on and angry because I can’t get rid of him.

“I’ve been out and about, working on my project and the ritual. Amanda’s probably told you about that. Besides that, I’m just trying to keep everything on an even keel. You?”

“It’s hard times, pet. My woman’s lost her mind, everything’s in a mess, and I’m adrift.”

Crap. He’s here for comfort and support. I definitely can’t tell him to fuck off now. Damn my soft heart. “What can I do to help you, dear?”

“I’m feeling needy, cast off, and I wanted to spend some time with you, Twinkles.”

I don’t have an excuse, and I have no idea how to back myself out of this. I’ve been trying to get out of this for a couple weeks without hurting him and I haven’t come up with anything yet, so I’m stuck. “Maybe we can go out for lunch?”

“I don’t feel like being around people, pet. Can we stay here and watch a movie?”

Shit. That’s not going to end well. I’ll end up trapped and I’ll do something that I don’t want to do because he’s hurting. Where in thefuckis everyone when I need them? If I use the bond to call Rafe, I have no idea what he’ll do in his current state. He’s never liked Constantine, and he doesn’t even know about the coerced confession. It’ll start a huge fucking fight if he tosses him out on his ass.

I sigh, realizing that no one is going to save me. I’m going to have to take one for the team, so that I can keep the peace. “Okay. Let me feed Aradia and I’ll meet you in the living room. Pick something and I’ll be in soon.”

I swear to Christ, my inability to say ‘no’ because of guilt is going to get me in alotof trouble someday.

I’m absolutely certain of it.

I finally managed to get rid of Constantine, after what felt like hours of his incessant moping and a supremely unsatisfying liaison. The thought makes me frown as I head for the shower, eager to rinse off the uneasy feeling that has been simmering beneath my skin since he left.

This is not how it’s supposed to be, I tell myself, trying to shake off the lingering sense of discomfort that settled in my bones ever since I gave in to his pleading demands. It’s not that I regret being with him - as a succubus, physical intimacy is as natural to me as breathing. No, what bothers me is the fact that for once, I didn’t do it because I wanted to show him affection or comfort him; instead, I felt like I had no other choice.

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