Page 1 of Moonlit Alexandrite

Chapter One

Lex

Something was missing.

I scratched idly at a spot of green paint on my forearm as I surveyed the canvas before me. The subjects were entwined in a passionate embrace that made my heart twinge. Love, in technicolor. Maybe I should have chosen a different medium or subject, but the acrylic gave a beautiful dimension to the piece.

“Lex!” The voice of my best friend and roommate, Colbie, broke through my analysis and almost caused me to overturn the jar of buttons lying on the table by my elbow. Carefully as I could, I pushed them further onto the table amidst a mishmash of fabric, paper, and paints. I had more space now that I lived in this apartment, but I had still managed to fill it with my craft supplies.

Colbie moved to Moonlit Falls two years ago, after we finished college, and had spent the intervening months begging me to join her. At month twenty-three, I finally agreed.

My home situation was… complicated, and it had taken me far too long to stop trying to be someone I wasn’t, and start living my own damn life.

“Babe, are you ready to go?”

“Yes,” I called, swiping a strand of auburn hair from my eyes with a wrist before turning back to my work. Maybe there was some shading needed beneath her breast...

“Lex! This is not ready. We’re supposed to leave now.”

I looked guiltily down at my painting overalls, then over to my bestie, where she stood, holding the cocktail dress I promised to put on... an hour ago? I thought with surprise, as I spotted my wall clock leaning against the footboard near the door, atop a pile of bodice-ripper novels that Colbie had bought me in the hope I would ‘educate myself’. Unfortunately, even looking at the covers made me blush. Oops, clearly I got side-tracked again.

“It’s fine, I’ll put it on now.” I waved for her to hand over the dress, but she didn’t move.

“You have charcoal on your nose.”

With a put out sigh, I went to shower. Colbie had promised to take me to Flare, the local underground nightclub, so my succubus could feed. I knew I needed to feed, but there was no fun in it for me. Give me scissors and glue any day. My alter ego and I usually got along quite well, but she had been antsy lately. Any other succubus, or incubus for that matter, would just go out and get laid. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done for me.

Shower, makeup, hair. Fates, this sucked… dresses were not comfortable. They made it easier to blend in and get a good meal though. So unfortunately, I had little choice.

If we were any other species in the animal kingdom, it would be the male who had to primp and look pretty for the female.

The night before, I had been up late watching a fascinating documentary about animal mating rituals. Nothing new there, I loved Animal Planet almost as much as crafts, but even I had to wince when they focused onpraying mantisesandblack widow spiders. Ugh.

Although, maybe that was because it reminded me of the predator I was supposed to be.

* * *

Down a narrow laneway,in the back streets of Moonlit Falls, there was a wooden door, etched with a red flame. The entrance to Flare was inconspicuous, unless you knew where to look, cut as it was, from the surrounding rock. Colbie had described it to me earlier when she was trying to convince me to go out and feed. The idea of a secret entrance had piqued my curiosity, but as we turned the corner, the mystique was ruined by the large bouncer lounging either side of the doorway.

I admired the rustic simplicity of the potted plants hung over the doorways on either side of the lane, as we approached the hulking figure. The guy looked like he had stepped from the pages of a Harlequin paperback. Like he should have been staring at me from that pile of books I was still working up the courage to read. Pirate chic, I thought as I cast my eyes down his tucked but unbuttoned shirt and leather pants.

He grinned at me in a way that had me very aware of my nipples. I didn’t think there was much to be aware of, but those suckers were suddenly trying to punch out of my slightly padded — to highlight my assets — bra.

My succubus rushed to the front of my consciousness and took control before I could register her interest.

“You have a horse face. Can I ride it?”

I slammed a hand over my mouth, mortified, as the painfully handsome man before me chuckled.

“I might be able to arrange something. You partying tonight?”

“There’s a party in my pants, VIPs only, and yours is a Very Important Penis.” I cringed and cast desperate eyes to Colbie. What was happening to me?

Colbie was less than useless. In fact, I was slightly concerned as her face had turned puce from the lack of oxygen. Taking pity on me, the bouncer opened the way in with a grin. “Take it easy tonight, girls. Ren’s inside, big guy, lots of braids. If you get into any trouble, just give him a yell.”

I ducked my head and dragged my snorting, wheezing, used-to-be best friend behind me. My face still flaming, we made our way down a dark stone staircase, and across an anteroom painted black with a beautiful gold chandelier, discrete booths, and tables and chairs off to one side.

Colbie turned in the direction of the bar, as I gravitated toward the railing at the other side of the room. Two floors below, bodies gyrated on the dance floor in erotic waves, this mating dance a newer version of that, which had existed for time immemorial. Without conscious thought, my body caught the rhythm, and my succubus began to steer.

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