Page 27 of Accidentally Summoned an Incubus

I only ever blocked my senses when I was in the shadow realm. It was an odd sensation to do it here, especially when my mate was so close to me. Not having my senses to pick up emotions made me feel vulnerable, but Lex assured me that the chance of an axe-wielding serial killer picking us off in the ten-minute walk to her parent’s house was slim.

The walk was a rather pleasant one, and thoughts of homicidal murderers on the loose were soon pushed to the back of my mind. I’d only seen the town in the daylight, and there was something magical about it at night. We followed the cobbled path that skimmed the outskirts of town, the glittering town on one side and an ancient forest flanking the other. Old-fashioned lamps scattered the path, each illuminated by witchlight, which cast a warm lilac glow across the path—light enough that we wouldn’t stumble, dark enough that if Lex were to let me pull her into the woods and press her up against a tree, no one would know.

The image was quickly doused by the vise I’d put on my senses. On the cusp of meeting her family formally for the first time was not when I should be thinking about how accessible her pussy was in that dress.

As we walked, Lex talked animatedly about her childhood growing up in the town, many of the stories I’d already heard from her mom. I listened intently and tried to curb the excitement that I might one day also have a daughter who would experience as magical a childhood as my mate. I wondered if my mate wanted children too. I presumed that being an active succubus, Lex had been taking the standard contraceptivepotion most magical creatures consumed annually. The sex ban meant that I hadn’t bothered to take it for a few years. I made a mental note to try to slip that into a casual conversation at some point. The way this witch drove me crazy, I didn’t think I’d have the mental capacity to remember to tell her if she suddenly decided she wanted a more intimate relationship.

Finally, we reached my in-laws’ house. Clad in black wood slats, it looked like something from one of those renovation shows, where the owners were aiming for a well-beloved log cabin with a modern twist.

Lex’s grin widened as the door opened on cue.

Her mother was standing in the hallway, fixing her hair in the mirror. It took her a moment to realize the door had opened before she spun on her heel to face us, a squeal of delight issuing from her. “Alexis!” she cried, lunging forward and enveloping Lex in a mama bear hug. “I seem to remember a certain little witch saying she would never, ever partake in the Samhain summoning. And look at you now! I’m so happy for you, dear.”

“Ididn’tpartake in the Samhain summoning,” Lex huffed. “You sent me to live in a very overbearing house that tricked me into it.” The declarations should have hurt, but Lex’s tone was more humorous than regretful.

Ms. Cole’s eyes widened in surprise as she let go of her daughter. Her eyes narrowed in on me as the next target and, sure enough, a split second later, I was engulfed in a near bone-crushing hug too. “Lochran! You didn’t tell me that you were an accidental summoning when we had tea!”

“Nice to see you again, Ms. Cole,” I said down to her. “And, yes. I can confirm I amindeed an accidental summoning.”

“There was nothing accidental about it,” a honeyed voice came from a room beyond.

Lex groaned beside me as a witch with a gray bob, sparkling eyes, and a knowing smile clicked her way into the hallway, her serpentine cane’s ruby eyes boring into me.

“Lochran, this is my grandmother, Lily Cole. Grandma, this is my m—” Lex coughed.

She’d almost said the forbiddenMword! I couldn’t help the smile that tore from my lips. Something primal swelled in my chest.

“... my... um.” Lex looked me up and down, unsure of what to call me. I didn’t care what came out of her mouth next, because what shereallywanted to call me was mate. “My... um... roommate,” she finally settled on.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Cole,” I said. I bet I looked like a lovesick fool in this moment. If this were a cartoon, I’d have little love hearts for eyes and birds would be singing. And I didn’t care that my mate had reduced me to this gooey pile of mushy love.

A cough brought me back to my senses, and all three witches were staring at me. Lex rolled her eyes. Her mom brought her clasped hands to her cheek, gushing like a schoolgirl, while her grandmother eyed me up and down.

I found myself straightening under the scrutiny of the oldest Ms. Cole. She might dress like a doting grandma, but there was a steely presence to her. Finally, she said, “I think he’ll survive.”

“Survive what?” I asked, but quick as a viper, Lex’s grandmother had already looped Lex’s arm into hers and was directing her granddaughter to the living room, asking Lex toexpand on the circumstances of my summoning.

I made to follow, but Lex’s mom put a finger out. “Ah, ah, ah. You’ll be going in there,” she said, pointing to the kitchen, “while we catch up with Alexis. You’ll find all three generations of males in the kitchen, dear, each waiting to size you up.”

Oh, goodie.

Ms. Cole made to follow her mother and daughter before turning, her face pained. “Just... don’t mention the upcoming trial. Lex’s father is still a bit raw over the whole thing, as I’m sure you’d understand.”

I felt the color drain from my face. I was two dueling halves. Part of me wished my mate already trusted me enough to tell me what had happened to her. The other part hoped she didn’t.

That was perhaps a bit selfish of me. But, by this point, I’d realized that she had most likely been attacked by a man, and probably one that she’d been with to satisfy her succubus. The longer I lived in ignorance, the longer I had to gain Lex’s trust. Because the moment I found out who he was, Lex would be witness to a very different side of me. A side I wasn’t sure I could control when it came to protecting my mate. It would kill me if Lex saw that side of me prematurely and it scared her.

I drew in a deep breath as her mom made her way into the living room. I pushed all thoughts of the journal and the trial to the back of my mind as I wandered toward the kitchen.

Three sets of eyes narrowed on me.

Even though my senses were dampened, the three males in front of me made the hairs rise on the back of my neck. Shadows threatened to spill from me, but I willed them back.

These males wereLex’s family. There was no threat to my mate,I reminded myself.

Lex’s father stood over the kitchen island, draining potatoes into the sink. His lips were tight, his eyes narrowed as if he were considering flinging hot potatoes in my face for defiling his daughter.

Her grandfather was leaning against the counter, arms folded, beer in hand, looking me up and down. While Lex’s dad dressed like he had just walked off the set of a fifties suburbia movie, her grandfather looked like he belonged at a punk festival. He wore a white tee-shirt, covered by a leather vest with metal studs on the shoulder and embroidered band logos, tight black jeans and well-worn black leather boots. His hair was shaved to the skin on the sides, a blisteringly white mohawk on top. I resisted the urge to rub my eyes, for surely this man wasn’t the partner of the eldest Ms. Cole, who wore a frilly apron.

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