The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,15

head and studied the wall for a moment. I could see where someone had wiped something. The slight iridescent sheen barely caught the light, and had my eyes been normal, I would have never noticed.

“Hey,” Fenris said softly. “You don’t need to hide what you’re thinking or feeling from me.”

It was like he was waving a red cape. I couldn’t stop myself from turning the full force of my gaze on him.

“Don’t I?” Ignoring his hand, I stepped close and trailed a finger up his arm. “You want to be my friend, but succubi don’t have friends. They have food, Fenris.” I stalked around him, running my finger over his deliciously muscled shoulders. “Do you want to be my food?”

One second, I was behind him, and the next, I was bent over backward in his arms. He grinned down at me.

“If that’s what you need me to be, then yes. I’ll be your food.” He licked my nose from tip to bridge. The shock of it had me blinking at him stupidly. He chuckled, uprighted us, and playfully twirled me.

“You have no sense of self-preservation,” I said softly, not letting myself fall into his trap.

When he caught on that I wasn’t going to dance, he sighed and pulled away.

“I’ll get you to dance with me yet, and when you do, you’re going to wonder why you waited so long.”

“I doubt that.”

He only smirked in return and nodded to Yem before heading back downstairs. Without looking at the giant, I followed Fenris. Oh, I had no intention of joining the foolish furball on the dance floor. Down was the only way out of this hell. And, given how close I’d just come to feeding on Fenris, I desperately needed to leave.

That dark, dangerous thing inside of me disagreed, though. It made each step drag and each breath heavy. It demanded that I turn around and take what the wolf had offered.

Unable to help myself, I looked over my shoulder just before I reached the exit.

Fenris danced with his girls again, but his sad eyes were on me.

To save us both, I walked out the red doors.

Chapter Four

“My mom’s a drag queen.”

The squirrel’s random statement cut through the fog of pleasure clouding my mind, and I paused just before shoving another piece of cake into my mouth. The squirrel ran down a branch then stopped in front of me so that we stood nose to nose.

“She’s beautiful, but not as beautiful as you.” Its tiny paw reached out to touch my cheek, and as I watched, its fur flickered from tan to black and white.

I took a hasty step back and shoved the cake in my mouth, eating frantically even as I tried to wake up. While still in that fuzzy place between awake and asleep, I managed to sit up. Dream and reality blurred for a moment, and I didn’t immediately recognize my bed. The familiar taste of lemon cake lingered on my tongue as I looked around for what had ripped me from my favorite place.

On my pillow, a small female brownie gawked up at me. Our gazes met. Her eyes rounded further, and she launched into the air from her cross-legged position. Despite her speedy effort, I caught her around the waist before she could escape out the partially opened window.

“Who are you, and why are you here?” I demanded.

She let out a terrified little squeak.

“My name’s Merrifolds. Piepen said you were nice.” Her wings fluttered nervously as her eyes brimmed with tears. “Are you going to tear off my wings and eat them?”

“If I’m going to tear off anyone’s wings, it’s going to be Piepen’s. I’ve been more than patient with him. Why did he send you here?”

“He didn’t. My sister did.”

“Why?”

“Dewy wanted to know who her competition was.” Merrifolds gave me a sad look. “She knows she has no chance of keeping him if you want him, too.”

I wanted to groan. “Why me?”

“You’re beautiful.” Merrifolds’s little face turned wistful. “Even my mom isn’t as pretty as you.”

“So you mentioned while I was peacefully sleeping. How old are you?”

“Almost thirteen. I can’t wait until I’m sixteen like Dewy. All the boys want to be with her.”

This time I did groan and set the little brownie back on my pillow.

“Listen, Merri. Boys aren’t the be-all and end-all in life. There’s so much more out there.”

Her gaze filled with doubt, she looked up at me.

“Like what?”

I got out of bed carefully so I wouldn’t knock her over and went for