Lincoln slips up behind me, the firm contours of his chest brushing against my back in a way that’s most distracting, especially for someone who’s supposedly demonstrating household appliances. He firmly grips the countertop on either side of my body, and then speaks into my ear, his voice all low, slow and growly. “Almost every group in the after-realms has magic users. Thrax and the House of Striga, Furor and the Hexenwings, even humans. Any one of them could place different hexes and spells on each of the buttons here.”
“Why is it that everything you say sounds sexy?” My voice comes out a bit husky, as well. “This is a mixer.”
He nuzzles into my neck, sending pleasant shivers down my torso. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. As I was saying. My Alchemists know how to detect that magic, and then undo it. For you, they could change it. Make it do whatever you want. Even find the Orb.”
“Whatever I want? That could work.” I grin and lean backwards, allowing my body to press more tightly against his. Damn, that feels niiiiiiiiiiice. “We have to be careful, though. After the ghouls, my people freak about outsiders doing anything major in our government.”
“Walker has his secret portals in and out of Antrum. No one would ever have to know.”
“There could be other problems, too.” My mouth starts talking without any conscious direction from my brain. “Quasis have inner demons. They can be hard to control. Maybe even frightening.”
“I’m not worried.” He leans in closer, his voice turning growly voice again. “Inner demons are rather intriguing, don’t you think?”
I pause, a realization appearing in my mind. “We’ve stopped talking about Alchemy, haven’t we?”
“Yes. I believe we’ve begun discussing your inner lust demon.”
Crap, I think he’s right. Somewhere between Walker’s portals and the words ‘don’t you think?’ I totally segued onto my adjustment issues with my inner lust demon. As in, I’m actively avoiding dealing with her presence.
Lincoln nuzzles my ear. “You haven’t shown her to me since the night of the ball in Purgatory.”
“Yup.” For a reason. That was the night of the infamous ‘hedgerow maze incident’. Whenever my inner lust demon gets out, she makes me go nuts and do crazy stuff. On that fateful night, I almost stripped down naked and tackled Lincoln in a hedgerow maze, with all of thrax nobility hanging out at a Ball nearby. That sure was classy.
Lincoln shifts his weight, so his upper thigh presses between my legs from behind. “I’d like to see that part of you again, when you’re ready.”
And, yow, that feels good. I start to reconsider my avoidance strategy. Maybe my lust demon and I only need to spend more time together. After all, Lincoln and I see each other so rarely, and then mostly in public. Not a lot of bonding opportunities, there.
From across the mansion, I hear the unmistakable sound of the front door opening.
Someone’s home. Huh. Can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
“Myla, is that you?”
I cup my hand by my mouth. “Yeah, Mom. I’m in the kitchen.”
Dad’s voice sounds next. “We brought pizza!”
Lincoln nips my ear with his teeth, sending one last shiver of desire down my belly. “We’ll have to continue this discussion later.” He steps away and leans against the opposite counter. We share an awkward smile while my inner lust demon coils and fumes inside my soul. She isn’t happy about this situation. Not one bit.
But for now, there’s nothing either of us can do about it.
Chapter Five
My parents, Lincoln and I sit around the kitchen table, polishing off our second pepperoni pizza. Dad nibbles at his slice for show; the rest of us chow down.
Mom positively beams at Lincoln. “It’s such a treat to see you.” With her auburn hair, curvy body, and long dragon-scale tail, my mother looks like an older version of me, only in a purple suit.
“Good to be seen,” says Lincoln.
Mom glances at the wall clock. “Aren’t you usually back in Antrum by now?”
“Yes, but I’d like to stay for a while, if that’s alright with you.”
“Of course,” says Mom. “It’s kind of your parents to spare you.”
“Mother will have her price, as always.”
I stop mid-chew. If Queen Octavia has a price, I’m probably not going to like it. “What is it?”
Lincoln stares at me out of his right eye. “You know what she wants, Myla.”
Oh, crap. Now, I remember.
There’s one thing Lincoln’s Mom has been going on about for weeks: a Ball of Welcome in my honor. So far, I’ve been dodging her, saying that a Ball would take me away from Purgatory for too long. But now that Lincoln is MIA from Antrum to help me, I can’t really say I won’t leave Purgatory for her. I make my yuck-face. “Yeah, I know what she wants, alright.”
Mom’s eyes sparkle with hidden laughter. “She already contacted me about it. Requested that your father and I attend as well.”
Dad leans back in his chair. “You’re not alone, Myla. Formal events aren’t my favorite thing, either.”