Page 34 of Demonic Division

My throat goes dry as his features sharpen. Canines lengthen, slicing into his lower lip, and a thin river of black liquid flows down his pointed chin. The color bleeds from his skin, contrasting sharply with the pitch of his eyes. Lir’s claws scrape the stone as he crawls to me on all fours, his muscles shuddering with each small movement. Something tethers me to the floor, making it impossible to move or scream, even as Lir draws nearer.

He’s on top of me in the next breath, one clawed hand positioned on either side of my head as he lowers his body onto mine. His face presses to my neck, nuzzling the pulse point as a deep growl builds in his chest.

“You just can’t keep those pretty hands to yourself, can you?” The voice that enters the room is not Lir’s. It's deeper, distorted, and far more menacing, yet it thrills me all the same. “You should do something useful with them,pet.”

A sinister grin tips his lips as he grabs my hand, feeding it between our bodies and resting it on the hard bulge between his legs.“Do you feel what you do to me? What only you can?”

“I don’t understan?—”

“Shh.”He leans down, brushing his lips against mine. “You don’t have to. Just let metaste.” He crashes his mouth against mine, tongue swiping over my bottom lip, demanding entrance. When I deny him, I’m rewarded with the sensation of razor-sharp teeth slicing into my flesh.

Lir’s hand snakes around the back of my neck,holding me in place as I cry out, but it only makes Lir bite down harder. A low moan rumbles in his throat as he nibbles and sucks at the throbbing wound, his clawed hand tightening around my throat, cutting off my oxygen.

Despite my fear, a desperate fire courses through my veins, warming my skin, filling that endless, insatiable void I’ve learned to ignore. I arch my back into the floor, pushing into his touch, wanting more of it. Needing that last shred of sense to snap so I can finally succumb to this bliss. My heart is in my throat, beating a violent tune that has my ears buzzing and my legs quivering. I can’t think; I can’t breathe.

Something in the back of my mind demands I stop—to remember where I am, andwhois kissing me right now—but as soon as the thought forms, it vanishes in a wisp of smoke. The thing in my chest purrs in content, urging me to go further, to let him claim me fully.

Lir peppers chaste kisses across the corner of my mouth and cheek. He works his way down to the base of my shoulder, placing his lips there for several long moments. A pleasant warmth builds in that spot—the same one the bear, Honey, had touched earlier—and I close my eyes as the restless thing beneath my skin begins to quiet.

“That’s much better,” he murmurs, nuzzling the area with his nose. “My sweet little pet.”

Satisfaction vibrates in Lir’s chest as I reach a hand to his face, caressing the snowy skin. I push my fingers through the thick blue hair at the top of his head, raking my fingernails lightly against his scalp. Lir closes his eyes, a moan-like growl pouring from his open mouth.

I’m so lost in the moment, I don’t realize the sound woke Cyprien. Not until his voice echoes across the room.

“I felt something down the bond. What’s going on?” he demands, looking from Lir to me and back to Lir. His eyes go wide as he focuses on the glowing blue brand mark on my shoulder.

“Ohfuck.”

18

Lir

I gaze downat the little human, my mind a fog ofwant.

Dagny mewls beneath my touch, the silver ring around her iris glowing molten as her fingertips caress my skin. My chest aches, a cavernous pit splitting me straight down the center, waking thatthingthat's been locked in the darkest corner of my mind.

“Mine.”My voice is not my own—more demon than man—and I know in a few moments, I’ll lose hold of that last thread of control I’m clinging to. “My… mine…”

A whimper explodes from my throat as I blink, desperately trying to clear my head, to fight against the insatiable pull to burrow beneath her skin. I’m so gone, I don’t notice when Cyprien crouches next to us, nor when he pulls Dagny’s hand from my face and rests it on his own.

His mouth is set in a wide smile, eyes shining with hunger. Turning his head, he places his lips in the center of her palm, a low purr rumbling in his throat.“Bad, Lir,” Cyprien taunts. “Trying to keep her all to yourself. How selfish.”

“Cyprien… what are you doing?” she whispers, the fog of delirium slurring her words. “What’s happening?”

“Exactly what’s supposed to, little one.” He places kisses down the inside of her wrist and arm, stopping at the crease of her elbow. He gazes at her through hooded eyes, a lazy smile tipping the corner of his mouth. “It feels good, doesn’t it?”

Dagny swallows thickly, her hazy eyes flitting between our faces. Cyprien nuzzles his nose against her arm, the sound rumbling from his throat deepening to a possessive growl.

“That’s what I thought,” he whispers. “It’s okay to give in, bunny. It’s what the bond wants.” His smirk turns devious as he makes eye contact with me. “What weallwant.”

I slide my hand around her neck as Cyprien leans in, his voice lowering to a seductive whisper. “Isn’t it?”

Dagny’s breath quickens, a cloud of vapor collecting in the air and lining her silhouette.

“Yes,” she whispers, her voice holding a hint of desperation. “Gods, yes. But…” Her gaze clears for a split second, waking to the alarm bells ringing in her mind. “Kaebl...”

“Forget him,” I growl, my palm tightening around her neck as the beast within me rears its head. “I can’t stop… I can only think of you, little one. I need you. I’ve needed you since the moment I laid eyes on you in the throne room, and I’m tired of fighting it.”

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