Page 24 of Wicked Magik
“Let’s talk about what you eat because it looked like you ate all those humans back there. Am I on the menu at all? Like in the slightest bit?”
Oryx huffed and raised his head above mine. “Never, I would never eat you. You are special and my body wouldn’t allow it. I am more clear minded with you, not even my Lord can get into my head with you around.”
My eyes darted back and forth, looking everywhere but him. That doesn’t sound insane at all.
“Right, okay, so no eating me right?”
His breath, hot against my skin, sent a shiver down my spine, and it wasn’t unpleasant. My body reacted like it shouldn’t and my breasts felt heavy and the ache in between my legs grew.
My body has gone nuts. No way I would be—attracted to this.
Personality maybe, not his skull.
While it was devoid of any emotion, he could show it well through the rest of his body. I mean, his torso was that of a man, gray but very well sculpted and I wouldn’t mind seeing that part of him and thinking of…
I gasped and tried to wiggle from his grasp.
“No, no. Pet Vesper, I will not eat you. Besides, I only drink blood. I have vampire fangs, they are connected to my digestive tract and go straight to my stomach, which is also from a vampire.”
That did not make me feel better.
“I cannot bite. Well, I have not learned to master it,” he said and laid his giant head on my chest. “I usually take my serpent's tongue and lick it into my skull. My fangs take what I need to fill my belly.”
I swallowed. “My scrape didn’t cause you to want to eat me?” I whispered.
“No, no. You taste delicious but I want to keep you too much. I will hold off any craving just for you. If you…offered, I would be happy to take your gift to fill my belly.”
If Oryx could flutter his eyelashes at me, he would have. Instead, he purred and rubbed himself on me like a cat.
Again, I should be scared, but I wasn’t. I ran my hand down my face and shook my head. This monster was something else. I found him endearing when I should run and he had been the most honest with me, even more than any other person besides my mother.
“We can talk about that later, I suppose. As for right now, I’d like to get out of these pants that are around my ankles. Are you going to take the chain off?” I raised a brow and whined.
“Please, don't leave. I can’t have you leave.”
The patheticness in his voice tore at my heart once again. I’m too nice, it is my downfall. Too much trust, too much…everything.
Or maybe I was just as excited to have someone to talk to other than a crazy cat named George that was eager to just be with me, because I was just me.
It wasn’t like I could go anywhere, anyway. A month until the next full moon until I could go back across to my world. Playing nice, well, I wanted to be nice and then we can discuss things as the month goes on.
Unless we both become attached to each other.
What is the saddest part of this was that he was actually my first real friend, too.
“I promise not to leave.” I petted between his horns. “If you can tell me why you have chains in here that are stuck to the wall and why there is more than one.”
Oryx’s massive jaw opened and closed with a snap. His voice lowered somberly. “I don’t want to tell you that.”
Chapter 9
Veylor
With a steady hand, I carefully aligned the needle with the last piece of skin and pulled the thread through, securing it in place. The once smooth neck would soon be a tapestry of pink and white scars, a testament to the ordeal it had endured. But knowing Benedict, he was never one to fuss over outward appearances. He had always prioritized substance over style, and I was confident that even now, he wouldn't spare a thought for the marks left behind.
He forced me to do this quickly, I wasn’t ready for his spirit. All I wanted was to confirm if his spirit still lingered in the UnderShadows, but he surged forth with alarming speed before I could slam the spirit portal shut.
He was waiting for me to pull him out.
