Page 22 of Shannon in Sombra

CHAPTER10

THE RED MOON

SHANNON

Sierra waves one hand in front of her face, the other cradling her small baby bump. “Goddamn, I thought New York in summer was hellish. This? This is actual hell.”

Tandy makes a small sound of agreement. Sierra completely pretends that she didn’t hear it.

Half of me wants to tell them to cut the shit and just figure it out. Considering Billie already has and has decided to stop acting like an intermediary so that they do, I feel like it would be better if I keep my trap shut.

Besides, their decade-long beef is between them. Tandy wants Sierra’s forgiveness while Sierra insists that there’s nothing to forgive which is, well, horseshit basically. Tandy fucked her man behind her back. I’d hold a grudge over that, too.

Luckily, this is the first time they’ve been in the village together. Unluckily, the obvious rift between them got old when we were chatting earlier. I’d figured that, after the feast, either Tandy would leave with her twin mates or Sierra and Hope would announce that they were heading back with Dagon and Sammael. No way would they want to torture us all again with this awkward small talk.

Nope. Tandy mentioned that Damien and Lucian were here because they saw they were supposed to here so they weren’t leaving anytime soon. As for Sierra and Hope, they might’ve wanted to go except Sammael and Loki took off for ‘mage’ business after dinner. They foursome came together and planned on leaving together, so with Sammael missing, they were also sticking around.

Kennedy had been resting earlier during our first chat. She’s with us now, trying her best to hide how excited she is to be hanging out with the members of Thr33peat, while I excused myself to check on Alana.

Now my baby is fed, changed, and sleeping for the night. I’m still parked in front of the window in case she wakes up and I can hear her moving around, but staying outside of the house while she’s sleeping inside is perfectly safe in a village of Nuit.

Hell, we don’t even lock our doors and windows here…

It is hot, though. Everytime I think that I’ve gotten used to it, it’s like some higher beings—the Sombran gods, maybe—decide to crank it up another degree or two.

For some reason, it’s even worse tonight. But I’m thirty-two in a twenty-nine-year-old’s body. No way should I be having hot flashes, but ever since I slipped outside to join in with the girl talk, it’s like I’m on fire.

Hope is talking now, with Kennedy nodding eagerly, but I’m barely listening. Then again, she’s kinda not talking anymore, either. Her voice trails off as she looks behind her, as if searching for something.

Or someone?

Me? I’d be lying if I wasn’t distracted by staring at Malphas. Unnf. It forever turns me on that his outfit of choice is a pair of leathers—or shadows—that cover up the cock that belongs to me and me alone, and then nothing else. From the moment he had my name tattooed on his chest with silver ink, he shows it off every chance he can. His hair is long, thick, and luscious. His features masculine and strong, and I’ve gotten a certain weakness for his horns.

Nothing like a built-in handlebar when I want to ride his face, am I right?

He has his back to me, standing over there with Glaine and Dagon.

I feel a tiny twinge of guilt for sending him out there earlier, like a mom shipping her kid off to a playdate with the neighborhood boys. He must’ve enjoyed himself since, like the human women, he returned to talk to them after dinner. I almost wish I could hear what they’re saying, but since Dagon is staring off into space and Glaine is staring over here at Glaine, he’s probably as bored as I am.

No. Not bored.

Horny.

That’s what this anxious, distracting feeling is. Shit. I try to discreetly rub my thighs together, giving my throbbing pussy a little relief, all while mentally undressing my mate from across the square. Damn. The curve of his ass and just how tight it is… he has me licking my lips in desire.

I remember how there were stages in my early pregnancy where I honestly thought I would die if Malphas didn’t fuck me. This? I don’t know where it came from, as sudden as this need is, butshit. It’s, like, ten times worse.

Hm. Would cutting the others off mid-sentence and saying, “Sorry, need some shadow dick,” be too much? Probably. If it was just Amy standing here, I would. Kennedy? Definitely. If Lilith had joined us, she would laugh; she thinks I’m an amusing human who talks too much, and she isn’t wrong at all. I’ve gotten to know Billie enough to consider her a friend, but this relationship with Sierra and Hope is too new to blow them up to get my back blown out.

Same with Tandy?—

Whoa. Hold on. I blink, then do a double-take. A second ago, Tandy was standing right there, twirling a strand of vibrant red hair around her pointer finger, trying her best not to look as awkward as she obviously feels. I didn’t even see him coming, but one of the doppelseers—hell if I know which—just scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder before striding away from her.

Their path is taking them out of Nuit. Makes sense. The psychic twins own this enchanted cabin that reminds me of Howl’s Moving Castle. It drifts all over Sombra, going where they’re needed. They would’ve parked it just outside of Nuit’s borders, and that’s where he’s taking her now.

“Guess we’re not the only ones feeling hot,” remarks Billie. “Would be nice if Glaine remembered I existed, but nope. Look. They’re all staring up at the sky.”

My head swivels back over to the guys. The other twin is there with them, talking to Malphas, Glaine, and Dagon, and Billie’s right. They’re watching the moon?—

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