Page 24 of Enticing Monsters

“Can you still use Kian’s powers?” Foster questions.

Kian answers before I can. “I don’t sense any pheromones emanating from her,” he confesses. “I usually do when I’m around another incubus or succubus.”

“And it’s not like we’d even know if Sera was seducing us,” V mumbles, digging into his food with gusto. “She can walk around wearing a burlap sack and a clown mask, and I’d still be hard as hell.”

Xander scratches at the scruff adorning his jaw. Usually, the hair there is nothing more than a light shadow, but over the past week, it has begun to grow, turning into something that some may consider a beard. It looks sexy as hell on him and serves to emphasize his sharp, chiseled features.

“I wonder if, as our connections to each other grow, Sera will be able to utilize our powers as well.”

I know Xander is merely contemplating, but Foster tenses beside me. His grip on my thigh is almost bruising.

When I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, his face is pale, drained of color, and his freckles stand out starkly.

I remember the rage distorting his features as he attacked Hudson. The fire he wielded seemed to have a life of its own, rippling down his arms and swirling in his palms.

Is he afraid of what I’d do if I had access to his power? Is he afraid that my own temper will cause me to go berserk? No, I don’t think that’s it, but Foster’s tight expression remains impossible to read.

Devyn frowns, the way he always does when he’s contemplating something. “I wonder if that’s what happened with Gage back at the hospital. We assumed you were somehow amplifying his powers, but what if you were both using healing magic at the same time?”

“Does that mean she needs to be near one of us to use our gifts?” Kian’s brows furrow. “And what causes it to happen? Stress? High emotions? Proximity to us?”

“We can theorize until we’re red in the face, but frankly, we don’t know enough about mating bonds and skinwalkers to say for certain,” I say, changing the subject. I give Foster’s hand another squeeze, which he returns with a grateful smile. Turning towards Devyn, I ask, “Any updates on the case?”

I know it’s probably against protocol for Devyn to discuss his findings with me, but he’ll never keep it a secret, not when it impacts me and his brothers.

“Death and decay. Exactly the riveting dinner-time conversations I enjoy,” Xander mumbles dryly as he dabs at his lips with a napkin.

He drops it back to the table and takes a sip from his wineglass, frowning when he discovers it’s empty. Before he can stand to refill it, Tristan leaps out of his chair and races for the wine bottle, eager to refill Xander’s cup.

Xander frowns at his younger brother but doesn’t protest, knowing he needs this.

“This is just a normal Friday night for me,” V says in response to Xander’s quip. “Well, I don’t usually talk about death and decay. I just do it. Kill, I mean. God, I miss killing. I swear you fuckers are making me soft. It’s been a solid five hours since I stabbed anyone.”

He shakes his head with a forlorn pout.

Fortunately, Devyn has gotten used to zoning V out. My detective mate pinches the bridge of his nose—something I notice his twin does a lot as well when irritated—and heaves out a breath before answering my question.

“Unfortunately, we reached another dead end. We already know that the victims have been chosen randomly so as to not draw suspicion to anyone in particular, but other than that, we have nothing.”

“Is it possible there is more than one person involved?” I ask, a shiver rippling through me as I think of the dead bodies in Tristan’s backyard.

God, there were so many of them…

“That’s the general consensus,” Devyn agrees. “It would explain how fae from different regions of the country were kidnapped around the same time.”

He swirls his glass of bourbon and downs it in a single go. Tristan immediately jumps up from his chair to refill it for him, but Devyn holds up a hand, stopping his brother.

He keeps his eyes on me as he continues. “We looked into every lab in the area and talked to some of our best scientists to see if they know anything. I thought I had a lead with a money trail for new equipment, but…”

He forks his fingers through his hair.

“It led to another dead end?” Xander supplies, frowning.

“Yup.”

“Why would someone want to release a virus that can kill fae?” Tristan demands. It’s the first time he’s contributed to the conversation this evening, and my heart leaps in my chest. Baby steps. “Is it some type of supernatural hunter?”

“It could be,” Devyn agrees. “Perhaps a hunter somehow found their way into Faerie and was able to extract some of the virus…or however the virus works. Fuck, I don’t know. The FIB scientists are still trying to understand it.”

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