Page 10 of Incubus

I remembered the last I ever saw of my mother, a dazed wave good-bye and a tear rolling down her weathered cheek. And once again that day, my mother was forced to grieve the loss of her daughter. It was only now that I realized the memory of being torn from my true mother hurt worse than even Artemis’s stinging good-bye.

Though, of course, it was my own folly that got me cast out of my second family, the one I still mourned in my heart. I thought of all the times I had cried for missing my sisters, Elena and Iphi—hell, I even missed the coldhearted Lynxia. What I wouldn’t give to have another chance to beat her in Artemis’s archery competition.

There was only one thing I needed to get back the warmth of my sisters—the incubus with a high price on his head. Roth de Lis.

But how to catch him? I decided to mix a little truth with the many lies I was sure to tell in the near future. More flies with honey, I reminded myself for a second time that night. I took a deep breath and sewed the first stitch.

“It’s true.” I sighed for dramatic purpose. “I was in the service of a goddess. Then I was cast out. Now I’m what you could call a freelance immortal, serving no one except myself.”

He continued studying me with his penetrating gaze. Coolness radiated off him in the darkness. I lifted my eyebrows and tried to give off an innocent look that hadn’t worn true on me since my mortal days. Roth seemed to take the bait, relaxing the thick muscles of his chest as he considered me. I only then realized how poised to strike he’d been, as if on a hair trigger. A tingle went down my spine as I thought of the raw power he possessed.

“I don’t deny you lack the strength of an immortal in the service of the gods. The wolf would never have gotten the upper hand if you were still connected to a god or goddess,” he said thoughtfully. My stomach sank at the remark, and I lifted my chin ever so slightly to try and salvage what little was left of my pride.

“I meant no offense, carissima. That was a mark in your favor.” A smile played at the corners of his lips.

I remembered how they felt on my neck, so soft and warm. Gods! If I could have slapped myself on the forehead right then without looking like a total moron, I would have. Of course he knows what to do. He’s an incubus! It’s his life’s purpose to seduce fools like you.

“Why were you cast out?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“And who you served?”

“Also none of your business.”

He frowned again, the dark of his eyes shining like obsidian. “If you aren’t an assassin, then what do you want with me?”

Yessss.He was curious. I could work with curious. Second stitch, coming right up.

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