Page 54 of Midwinter Night's Prince

Alexius clasped his hands. "Excellent use of deduction. We'd have to test, of course, but it's likely you'll feed on either emotions or sexual energy." He tilted his head. "Centuries ago, there were plenty of succubi and incubi who did just that, but they were hunted almost to extinction. I can do some research."

Seth's mind went back to the labyrinth, remembering how Blair had teased him, seductive energy rolling off her.He didn't need any research to confirm her theory, and from the look she gave him, she knew it too.

He had to admit he was relieved. Finally, an explanation that made sense. He didn't truly want her; she'd just been changed into a creature that naturally demanded his desire. She wasn't a weakness. He could live without her.

Why did it feel like he was attempting to sell himself a load of bullshit?

"Look on the bright side. I'm about to be served on a platter to Aveka, who's likely to chew me up and spit me out, so I don't have to worry about that specific mess for a while."

"That's the bright side?" Alexius asked.

He took some more blood samples, inviting them to wait for Greer if they wanted to. Then Alexius left, and they were alone.

28

TO DIE FOR

It suddenly was too hot in the underground dungeons Alexius had converted into his lab. She should have listened to the ancient and kicked Seth out of here, to keep her humiliation to herself.

A succubus. She was a succubus, or something like it.

Thanks so fucking much, Aphrodite.

Never mind the fact that without the change, she would have been dead already.

“So that explains a thing or two, right?”

“Please don’t. I already want the ground to open up and swallow me whole.” She hid her face in her palms. “I hate your sister. The old one,” she clarified.

“Because you’re going to be forever young and irresistible? I see how that could be a burden.”

She started again, suddenly horrified. “Oh, gods, you think she gave me pheromones or whatever to make people want me?”Fucking hell!“That’s why you kissed me, isn’t it?” She wanted to die on the spot. “I made you do it! Oh, fuck.”

That was it. She was going to spend her life in a hut, on top of a secluded mountain, alone. She’d have a moat with crocodiles in it to make sure no one reached her.

Seth joined her, kneeling on the floor right in front of her to be at her level, and grabbed her wrists, drawing her hands away from her face. “I won’t repeat this, so you’d better pay attention. I wanted you last year. I wanted you a month ago. I wanted you yesterday. The reason I kissed you back was because for once, you showed me you wanted me too.” Seth shrugged.

“But if that’s what I feed on…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, because Seth’s lips were on hers, swallowing what was left of her sanity. He caged both of her wrists in his left hand and wrapped the other around the back of her neck, supporting it as he kissed her deeply, demanding, his maddening tongue at the edge of her lower lip.

Blair abandoned all reason, all inhibition, unleashing the desire she’d wrapped up and shoved at the back of the closet. Who cared if he was dangerous, and cold, and emotionally unavailable? He tasted like sin and lust and heaven covered in abs.

She couldn’t get enough of his tongue, of his scent, his heat. She needed more. So much more.

So she took it.

Blair twisted her wrist in his hand, expertly breaking his hold, and pushed back against his chest until he was lying down on Alexius’s floor.

All right, so maybe he let her move him, but it felt good to pretend she was in charge.

She straddled him, before undoing the first button of his black silk shirt, then the second, and a third. She leaned over, kissing his neck, and lower—his collarbone.

“I certainly appreciate your dedication to research, but perhaps another venue?”

Oh, fuck.

Blair lifted her gaze to find Alexius smirking from his door, an openmouthed Greer just steps behind him.

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