Page 8 of Enticing Monsters

He seems almost pleased by that.

“He’ll tell,” I admit, glaring at the slimy man where he is held hostage, weighing what to do. “But if we don’t release him, anyone who looks into it will instantly come for us.”

Kian puffs out a breath and rubs a hand through his hair, causing the golden strands to stick up in every direction. “I think I can help. But I need you to heal him first, Gage.”

“Don’t wanna.” Gage’s tone is sulky, but Xander smacks the back of his head, and he begrudgingly moves forward. “I hope this hurts, you bastard.”

He lifts his hand as though he is going to push healing into him but clocks him first. Only Xander’s shadow strands hold the guy in place as the right hook slams into his face.

“Not helpful, Gage.” Xander squeezes the bridge of his nose, though I notice he doesn’t sound too upset.

My necromancer may look like a straightlaced businessman, but I know he’s anything but. There’s a darkness inside of him that calls to me, makes him perfect for our twisted group.

“Helped me some,” Gage retorts, before his energy flares.

Slowly, the marks on Hudson fade.

“Just…hold him still.” Kian moves closer to Hudson, wincing slightly as he reaches out to touch him.

My heart breaks for him. Touch is basic to all of us, and Kian can barely handle it now, it seems. Not that I blame him.

“This will wipe me out,” he warns us over his shoulder. “I’ve been practicing, but it isn’t easy.”

His eyes meet mine, and the warmth and trust in them make me want to glow as bright as Foster did.

I feel his power hit me as his eyes glow, tickling and sweeping over me as if searching for something, connecting to something. The metaphorical shadows in me dance and twine, making Kian and I gasp in unison.

“Her eyes!” Gage exclaims, shock lacing his tone.

My eyes?

Xander quickly hushes him, stopping him from interrupting…well, whatever the hell this is.

Kian slowly nods, his gaze locked on mine, ignoring the others around us. “You want them all safe, right?” His voice echoes again, tingling over me. “You want them protected?”

“Yes,” I confirm with a nod.

V moans as my voice echoes too, though he makes no move to interfere.

“Keep wanting that. Want them safe. Want him not to be a problem. Want this to be fixed.” Every word feeds into Kian’s power, looping into me as well, and I gasp at the heady heat of it.

Only Foster’s arms around me hold me up as I nearly orgasm right there. I don’t have a moment to process that as Kian focuses on Hudson.

“You want to forget this,” he croons at the other man, stroking a finger down his cheek. “You wore old clothes to school today. Wanted to blow off class. Got lost in the woods. Fell. You were alone all morning, remember?”

Hudson’s eyes are glassy as he nods along. The shadows that cover his mouth dissipate, and Hudson smiles giddily.

“Yes, yes, I was alone. I wanted to relax. School is boring.” His words are nearly a moan as he tries to lean into Kian’s hand, only Xander’s control keeping him in place.

“You want to apologize to Serafina, don’t you? It’s the right thing to do. You lied to everyone for so long. It makes you feel dirty. You want to confess.”

Tears well in Hudson’s eyes and drip down his cheeks, and a sob rips from his chest. “I was so cruel. Such a liar.”

“It will feel so good to confess. So very good. To forget all of this. To lift that burden. You feel so burdened, don’t you, Hudson? Burdened by this pain. These lies. This guilt.” The echoes grow stronger, and a moan wants to work from my throat.

I squirm against Foster, my head falling back helplessly onto his shoulder as his lips trace my brow and the side of my cheek.

I don’t know how to describe what’s happening, at least not with words. It’s like… It’s like Kian’s powers are filtering through me before jumping back to him, stronger than before. I can feel the sunshiny glow of his gifts in every part of me, from my fingers to the tips of my toes. It’s almost as if my body is a vessel to enhance his powers.

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