Page 124 of Our Sins in Shadows (Coven of Sin 2)

My fingers trailed to his raven tattoos, tracing their inky wings as he got to the section on familiars.

“So, the raven is your familiar?”

A strange expression stretched his facial features, as if surprised where the conversation had suddenly turned. “Yes.”

“What does that mean? How does a dark fae get a familiar?”

“My kind are considered adults when they make their first shift. It’s said that the first animal form we take on is our familiar. A creature to guide us through our life until we part from it. It’s usually something small that doesn’t need any pain to fuel the shift. Mine was a raven.” His gaze hardened. “Ironic, isn’t it? That a creature widely recognized as a guide to the afterlife will never lead me to it. I’m stuck.”

“You’re not stuck. The afterlife can’t be better than here. Especially since it sounds like Satan is real?” I decided not to dwell for too long on that one. “You know, there was once a time I wanted to die just because I thought Hell would be more entertaining than my bedroom.”

The expression on Vin’s face almost made me laugh. “Well, demons are more fun than cable TV. Especially the ones that feed on sexual energy.” His chest rocked with a gravelly laugh while he tugged playfully at my hair. My heart squeezed as I stared at him, almost stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor from last night.

“So you can visit people’s dreams?”

“Mhm. But it’s exhausting. Can only do it in my full form.”

“Will you go back to your home again?”

His forehead creased with a V. “I’m hesitant after last night’s shitshow. And I don’t have the power to go back unless I’m fully charged on fuel, anyway. But...I have thought about taking you there. That’s really just a fantasy, though. It’s too dangerous for several reasons. Still, I’ve thought about…” His voice trailed off, and he broke eye contact with me. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say Vin was nervous about the direction the conversation had taken.

“Thought about what, exactly?”

“By now, you know how much my people value family. Children. Continuing the family line.”

I thought back on our deal. My pulse pounded so hard I felt it in my temple “Yeah. Kinda picked up on that.”

“Remember on the stage, I told you that in fae culture, a couple is considered a mated pair at the first pregnancy?”

“Aren’t there gay couples in your culture? Seems kinda old-fashioned that same-sex couples can’t be considered mates.”

Vincent chuckled. “We’re shifters, Princess. It’s common for beta males to take on a female form to carry their alpha’s child. And female alphas can shift into a fully functional male.”

He held up the page, pointing to the next section of text he hadn’t covered yet as reference.

“So what you’re telling me...” I stroked a finger down his chest, grinning maniacally “Isyoucan carry our baby?”

He growled so loud that Eros stirred beside us with a grumble, but didn’t wake. “I said beta males can carry a child. Have I given you the impression that I’m a beta?”

“Um, is that a trick question?” I teased, tonguing the corner of my mouth.

He snorted, tugging me back into the crook of his arm.

Biting back a giggle, I settled against him. ”Anyway. You were saying.”

“When a couple is pregnant with their first child, there is a ritual to bless the couple, the grandparents of the couple, the baby, and the bloodline. It’s the closest thing to a wedding our people have.”

I sent him a dubious look. “Your fantasy is for me to marry you once you knock me up? On a different plane filled with creatures who eat mortals?”

Vincent considered my question then nodded, a strained smile lurking at the corner of his mouth. “Yes.”

“What if the deal is off, Feral? What if I don’t want to have your kid?” I was almost too afraid to ask. My voice came out threadbare and was so soft I almost didn’t hear my own question.

His half-red, half-green eyes darkened with shadows, and his brow carved with a scowl. “You made me a promise.”

“Yeah, well, when it comes to the real estate of my womb, I have the right to invoke the law of takesies backsies.”

“What in the fuck is takesies backsies?”

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