Page 44 of Accidentally Summoned an Incubus

“C’mon. He’s right. Probably best not to turn up to my parents’ house all hot and bothered.”

I took a deep, blissful breath of Lex’s lingering desire before I choked my senses once more. “Senses dampened,” I confirmed as Lex took my hand in hers and guided me toward her parents’ house.

A moment later, the house came into view.

Priscilla, arms crossed and a scowl on her face, stood on the porch, her foot tappingirritably. Jake had a hand clasped on the door handle, rattling it, but to no avail. “C’mon, House! Please?” he pleaded. “Priscilla didn’t mean it.” He rattled the door handle a few more times, but the house still refused them entry. Finally, he turned to Priscilla. “Pris,pleasejust apologize?”

Priscilla scoffed. A moment later, she clicked her tongue irritably and finally said in her most sarcastic tone, “Fine. I didn’t mean to say your house was ugly. I’m just used to a more clinical aesthetic.” The insincere apology seemed to be enough for the house, as it finally swung the door open.

Priscilla charged in, ignoring Lex’s mom, who was waiting for us in the hallway. Ms. Cole seemed to have expected as much, because she dutifully ignored Priscilla too.

“It’s a good thing the house is too innocent to sense sarcasm,” Jake whispered to me. He made his way inside and gave his mom a peck on the cheek before following Priscilla.

Lex gritted her teeth as if she were trying her best not to scream at her brother exactly what she thought about his choice of companion. Thankfully, her look of disgust faded as she stepped through the threshold and into her mother’s embrace.

Ms. Cole, having finished with her daughter, pulled me into a motherly hug before ushering us to the dining room where everyone was already seated, their food cooling in front of them. The dinner soon settled into an animated conversation with everyone except Priscilla. Occasionally, Lex’s dad or grandfather would go quiet, the shadows swirling around them, which were soon settled with a gentle touch from Lex’s mom and grandma. As Jake finished his final bite, his brows knitted into confusion once more. It seemed to be his signature look.

“There’s something Billy said that’s been bothering me.”

“Seriously, Jake?” Priscilla’s chair screeched as she pushed it backward, looming over Jake. “That wolf bitch again?” She threw her napkin at his head and stormed out. The house evidently didn’t like the fact that she’d thrown something at Jake, because a moment later, the sound of plates shattering in the kitchen was swiftly followed by Priscilla’s scream of frustration and subsequent slamming of the back door.

“Thank Hecate she’s gone,” Ms. Cole said. “Honestly, Jake. You know I would never dream of telling you who you should and shouldn’t date, but Priscilla really—”

Jake, lost in his own world, continued, “Billy said the taxi was only thirty minutes away.”

“So?” Lex said through her final mouthful of potato.

“Well, why would a taxi be so close to here? The nearest town is, like, an hour away.”

“Your point being?”

Jake shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“Riveting stuff,” Lex said. She turned to me. “While Sherlock tries to figure out what his point is, why don’t you help me with the plates.”

I took Jake’s plate from under him as he remained staring stupidly off into space, pondering his taxi dilemma... or, more likely, pondering why he was now overanalyzing everything the wolf shifter he was getting fuzzy feels for had said and done.

I followed Lex into the kitchen, the back door rattling in the breeze. “Fucking Priscilla,” Lex seethed. “Can’t even storm out properly.” With a flick of her wrist, the door gently closed. Lex rubbed her wrist, grinning sheepishly up at me. “I had meant to slam it shut. It might takea while for my magic to fully return, but Goddess, how I missed it!” With another wave, the sink filled with soapy water. Pleased with her effort, Lex prodded a peak of bubbles.

Fuck, I loved this witch.

I had expected to like my mate, of course. But I assumed it would take a while to fall in love with her. But here she was, perfect, brave, and holding a handful of suds...

“Don’t you dare, little witch,” I said. “Or I may have to punish you later.”

“Is that a promise?” Her voice was soft and seductive. A split second later, I was wiping suds from my face, unable to hide my smile.

My soapy fingers clasped around her ass, and I pulled my giggling mate closer. Heat surged through me, my stomach growling in need of just a taste...

I let out the smallest kernel of my power, my nostrils filling with her seductive Samhain scent, laced with something foreign and putrid. Just as my shadows coiled around my mate, the pantry door swung open.

“I’ll fucking kill you, witch!”

Chapter 22. Lex

In a split second, Lochran’s entire demeanor changed. As he spun on his heel, shadows rippled out of him, latching onto his back, his wings spreading out to protect me.

My momentary confusion was replaced with consuming fear as a familiar voice rasped, “I’ll fucking kill you, witch!”

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