Page 36 of Her Tortured Beasts

“Serpent king,” I hiss. “Come to see his spawn.”

The king cobra stares at me from his great height, dark eyes flashing, nostrils flaring as he registers the scent that I have no desire to hide. Abruptly, like the cut of a sharp knife, he turns and leaves.

A dark, husky laugh leaves my lips.

“She is dehydrated,” the cursed dragon snaps at the serpents. “Put IV hydration in her stat.”

I feel death’s eyes on me and turn to regard the basilisk. He is theothercursed one. Two peas snuggled in a pod of darkness. “Come here, snakelet,” he says with a voice of ghosts and shadows. “Let’s make you better.”

Chapter 21

Ghoul

Though her head is downcast, her eyes remain staring forward, deep bags underscoring them. Her eyes might be full of darkness, but I know her thoughts are darker. Her raven hair is wild and loose about her face, the tight-fitting black dress hugging her sinful curves. I suppress a shiver as I feel her power.

There she is.

My dark goddess.

She has only become more dangerous than before.

I beckon to her. “Come here.”

Something in her recognises me and she comes forward, unblinking and serene, taking my gloved hand without question. I lead her towards the hospital bed the team had prepared for her eventual release. Two of the scientists hurry to set up the IV.

She has not washed for three weeks and smells like it. But it only makes her delicious heat scent stronger. My shadows surround me like a shield, and the only tell of my struggle is a slight tremble in my hand.

She notices it. A tiny, malicious smile curves her lips.

“Bring food,” I say faintly, unable to take my eyes off that sinful, tempting mouth.

I have been watching her on the screen for weeks now, so why does it feel like an age since I saw her? Why does it suddenly feel like I need her eyes on my skin? Need her mouth on it? My cock twitches, and my balls feel tight, begging for release. My hand twitches towards my groin.

“Control yourself, you fool,”Xander’s voice is like a draconian hammer in my head, and I close my eyes in irritation.

Suddenly, I am aware of the room again. Aware of the sweating team of scientists, the angry dragon and…the annoying little rooster rex parading behind me to settle himself at the snakelet’s side.

“Bastard,” I mutter.

“Who, me?”

I stare in surprise at the snakelet, who’d spoken so innocently in that husky voice, her blue eyes observing me with a coldness that makes me want to kiss her. She lies in repose on the hospital bed and licks her dry lips. That scent of her, like sweet darkness and summer rain, fills my sinuses.

Mace only ever hires mated serpents to be his scientists for this very reason. The others are aroused by the smell, but their thoughts will stray to their central mates or their nest. This is the only reason I do what I do next.

Which is leave.

Chapter 22

Aurelia

“Shut it off, you stupid girl.” Xander’s voice is a dragon’s rumble.

“When this is so fun?” I reply in turn.

In truth, the sultry coils of lust slide through my body like sexy dancers. I haven’t had all that many heats, and I’m still getting used to the sensation. That cold, calculating great white shark in me recognises that this feeling is heightened both because of the drugs and that I’ve been deprived ofanysensation for so long.

Everything is hitting all at once, and the only thing keeping my own self at bay is the shark currently holding me?—

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