Page 330 of Halfblood Deceived

Aroth met Kerian’s gaze, crossing his arms over his chest. “I, of course, volunteer to help with the hunting.”

Zeydan’s brow furrowed. “I’m still not sure why you’re so willing to help us.”

Kerian gave him a warning look.

Aroth merely smiled at Zeydan. “The Underworld was… unkind to Araiah and me. Our blooded family rejected us. We have built a home here, Duke Zeydan, and we will defend our home. Not to mention, we are loyal to Princess Kamilla.”

“Only to Kamilla, eh?” Kerian asked with faux suspicion, lips tilted in a teasing smile.

“Are you the jealous type, Kerian?” Aroth asked, tone sultry.

“No,” Kerian said with a perfect poker face.

Aroth chuckled, uncrossing his arms to place his hands on Kerian’s hips. He leaned forward, running the tip of his nose across Kerian’s jaw and whispered “liar” into his ear. The blond’s pupils went wide.

Zeydan held back a groan. “You realize you’re eye-fucking each other in a room with a dead body, right?”

A cloudy spiral of dark power later, Hudson’s body was gone.

Aroth and Kerian continued with the aforementioned eye-fucking as if Zeydan were invisible.

He looked around, but there were no stairs or doors in sight. “Would you please be so kind as to take me back to the manor before debauching Kerian, Aroth?”

“Don’t be a prude, Zeydan,” Kerian said without taking his eyes off Aroth.

“I had no idea you had exhibitionist tendencies, Kerian,” Zeydan drawled. “And, flattered as I am that you want me to watch, I’ve got better things to do.”

Kerian laughed, canines flashing. “The faster we get rid of him, the faster we can be naked,” he said to Aroth.

The demon let out a frustrated little sigh and made an impatient, beckoning gesture at Zeydan with his hand.

Zeydan decided that pretending offense would only delay things, so he slid his hand inside Aroth’s.

A dizzying flash of dark energy later, they were in the hallway of the second story of the mansion.

Aroth let him go at once, and all but hauled Kerian to the door of his room. Kerian pinned the demon against the door and kissed him soundly.

“You are still in public,” Zeydan reminded them.

Kerian flipped him the bird.

Aroth turned the knob, pulled Kerian inside the room, and locked the door after them.

Zeydan chuckled.

The blood bond he shared with Aella led him to a room on the third floor. Evan’s room was also on this floor. And Andreas’.

Zeydan opened the door of the second room to his right and peered inside.

He found Aella deeply asleep on the bed and Kamilla, still wearing her black armor, slouching on a chair.

The females had changed Aella into a nightgown and cleaned her too. She smelled like coconut-lavender soap and her natural scent. Her red hair spilled across the pillow in thick waves.

Zeydan’s stomach flipped in that now familiar way it always did in Aella’s presence. He closed the door behind him and approached as if pulled by gravity itself.

“You should wash and change,” Kamilla said in a low whisper.

He flicked a glance at her. “And you should feed. You are deathly pale.”

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