Page 364 of Evil Hearts

Studying me, she didn’t say anything, but I noticed her eyes tracing down the lines of the raised spines and fins on the back of my forearms. When she met my eyes again, Aki took a step forward, cautiously approaching me.

“I…I think I’ve seen you.” The slightest movement shook her head. “How is that possible? Why do I feel like you were there when I almost…The color of your eyes…”

Lowering my head, I stared down at her, genuinely towering over the tiny woman and somehow feeling small. Aki reached up, tentatively guiding her hand toward my cheek. I flinched back just a hair, but I didn’t retreat. I wouldn’t ever do that. The warmth of her fingertips found my skin, and it seeped into the frigid depths of my soul.

“I was there, Aki.” I’d never spoken about this to anyone, not even my mates. “You ran. Fell into the lake. You were scared. I…I should have eaten you right then and there.”

Aki held my cheek, holding my stare. “But you didn’t.”

“No.” I swallowed hard, her touch doing something to me. “I couldn’t.”

“You saved me from drowning. I think I almost forgot. Did you…”

I cocked a brow. “The mind whip? No, that’s Rune’s thing. You were just…young—and human.”

“I…I want to know more. I’ll…I’ll come down.”

I couldn’t move for a moment, and then I cleared my throat, pulling away and gesturing toward the door that led inside.

“Go. Warm up.”

She just nodded and then slipped past me. So, I followed her inside.My…mate.

Chapter Six

Keika

“They are takingfartoo long. I should have just gone up there myself.” I grumbled, a frustrated little grunt as I kicked a small pebbled on the floor of the estate’s lower hall.

“In the rain?” Kenta snarked, and I answered him with a nasty sneer, clenching my jaw.

“If necessary, Brother.” I stifled a shiver from just being down here in Rune’s little hideaway. “I came down here, didn’t I?”

He shrugged, turning away and posting up against the wall. Kenta propped his foot against the wall, making his knee stick out, and I was quick to jab my knuckles into the meat of his outer thigh so that he’d get a muscle cramp.

“Ah! Bitch!”

I smirked at him as Kenta yelled. “Oh, toughen up, darling. You know you love me.”

He rolled his eyes, but then both our ears perked up at the sound of footsteps coming from down the hall.

“Finally.” I relaxed, leaning against Kenta. “What took you so long up there, Baltz?”

As he came around the corner, Aki walked in front of him, and Baltz only answered with his patented glare. Aki, of course, was drenched, and she was shivering to boot. That would not do.

“Sweet pet, you’re positively soaked. Let’s get you upstairs into the house proper. We’ll warm you up soverynicely.”

I couldn’t keep myself from sidling right up to Aki and burying my nose in wet strands of her hair. Despite the chilled water, she still smelled so blissfully good—a blend of rose and incense. Ugh, I could go into a frenzied heat from just the scent alone.

And no doubt Kenta is fighting a swollen dick as we speak.

Chuckling lightly, Aki pulled into herself, trying to track me as I circled her, too fascinated by our new toy.

“Umm, okay, whoa!” I pulled my hand back from her ass, giggling. “Jesus, you’re very…”

“Curious? Yeah, it’s part and parcel to the kasha type.” Kenta had snuck his way to Aki’s other side, also getting a good long sniff of our sweet little mate. “And myself, if I’m being honest.”

We were all over her, and I knew that the poor thing probably wanted space, but I just couldn’t help myself. Dear brother was no better. To her defense, Aki didn’t immediately pull back. However, I had a feeling that may have had to do with two cat yokai purring at her. It did have quite the soothing effect—amongotherthings. Best of all, those tasty little gifts would be even better on her since she was our mate.

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