Page 9 of Hunting for Acceptance

Dorian chuckles warmly, like this is just a regular walk in the park. Like this is some get to know you date. Fuck, why did I think the word date? This is absolutely not a date. Why would it be a date? Maybethose twowould wanna be on a date but not with me tagging along.

“I’m from a little city on the coast. My family and I have always lived near the water.”

“You have family? Any around here?”

Dorian’s smile fades and he looks away. He shakes his head. “Not anymore.”

My stomach clenches painfully. I wanna reach out and take his hand. I wanna soothe the hurt that’s so clear on his face. Why do I feel this way? Is this a spell or something?

“Can you cast magic?” I blurt out and immediately regret it. Of course I wanna find out more about Dorian but not like this. I should have just let Cooper handle this part.

Dorian tilts his head, that easy going smile back on his lips. “Not exactly. I do have magical abilities but I’m not a spark or anything like that.” A spark being someone who can harness magic they’ve been born with. “But I can influence people’s emotions, I can put them to sleep, and I can make people’s natural attraction to me come to the forefront.”

I open my mouth, prepared to ask him if that’s why I feel the way I do but he cuts me off, giving me a knowing look.

“Before you ask, no, you weren’tenticed. Or you, Cooper.” He makes a face that I don’t quite understand but it’s gone quickly. “And even if I did, like I said, it only brings your true feelings forward.”

So the feelings I’m feeling are real. My eyes dart over to Cooper, finding him looking at Dorian. I know my feelings for Cooper are real. They’ve been real for a long time. They were slow, building up inside of me over the time I’ve known him, watching him become a better hunter with each passing hunt. But these new feelings, these feelings for Dorian, they’re coming on hot and fast. Could both be just as real as the other?

Fuck, this is too much to think about right now. The most important thing is getting to the bottom of this case.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask what are you? You’re obviously not human,” Cooper asks tentatively, giving Dorian a little smile.

“I don’t mind. I’m a siren.”

Huh, we’ve never come across a siren before. I had a guess we were dealing with a succubus and if I’m honest, I’m glad that isn’t the case. Succubuses aremessyat the best of times.

“Interesting,” Cooper says, adjusting his glasses on his nose. Dorian watches with a fond look in his eyes. A tiny part of me burns with jealousy but I’m not sure if that’s because Dorian is looking at Cooper or because I wish his eyes were onmewith that fond look. “I haven’t done a lot of research into sirens, though I probably should have since we’re so close to the ocean.”

“We don’t necessarilyneedto be near the ocean but this is where we tend to feel most at home.”

“I want to ask you so many things,” Cooper admits quietly, “but that will have to wait until we’re more comfortable with each other. Right now I’d like you to meet Jeff.”

We step into our camp, finding a little fire going, three empty seats around the fire pit, and Jeff. He’s waiting for us. I know our camp is filled with the people we love, our little hunting family, but they’re all behind closed doors. It’s the tiniest safety measure but it’s better than letting Dorian meet them all before Jeff has properly vetted him.

“Holy shit,” Dorian whispers, stepping over towards the fire, his eyes glued to Jeff. “You’re the hunter leader? But you’re avampire?”

Jeff smiles, letting his fangs show before popping them back up into place. “We’re hunters but we run this ship a little differently,” he admits. Holding out his hand, he says, “I’m Jeff. And I hear you’re the one we’ve been hunting, Dorian.”

Dorian reaches out and shakes Jeff’s hand. “Umm, yeah, that would be me.” Once Dorian takes his hand back, he takes a step back. “Is this the part where you kill me and dump me in the woods? Because I gotta confess, I’d much rather my body end up in the ocean, please.”

Jeff sits down, sliding the cooler over towards us with his foot. “Have a seat,” he tells us, nodding towards the empty seats. “Let’s have a chat before we decide anything. My guys here, they wouldn’t bring just anyone to meet me like this. There’s a reason you’re here.”

“What?” Dorian asks, digging into the cooler and pulling out a beer. “Like Lady Fate crossed our paths?”

Jeff smiles. I grab a beer for myself and for Cooper, handing it over. Our fingers brush for a moment and my stomach flutters like it always does when I’m around him. His eyes meet mine and we share a look before looking back at Jeff. I wonder if we should even be here, listening into this conversation. It feels like the two are sizing each other up, trying to find each other’s true intentions.

“I’ve learned many things about Lady Fate in recent years,” Jeff says slowly. He picks at the label of his beer, his smile going fond for a moment before looking back up at Dorian. “I know there’s a reason you’re here, I’m just trying to figure out what that reason is.”

“Maybe it’s to meet a couple of handsome men who’ll have their way with me if I’m lucky.”

I snort beer out of my nose. It burns. It burns so fucking bad but I just sputter through it, pretending like everything is fine despite my cheeks heating and my insides turning to molten lava. Jesus Christ, could Dorianchillwith the flirtations for one second?

Jeff shakes his head, letting out an amused chuckle. “Nah, I think it’s more than that. Our group, we like to see a case all the way to the end. We ask questions, we investigate, and weonlyshoot if it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Okay?”

“So tell me your story, Dorian.”

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