there, away from the majesty of the chapel itself, to the sight of Stavros scrambling off the altar and to the pulpit floor as he struggled to get his pants on.
“What the FUCK?” I bellowed, my voice reaching the rafters.
Oh and she was there too, darting off to hide behind one of the podiums as she quickly covered herself with a shirt—another borrowed one from Stavros, I couldn’t help but notice.
My mind reeled. I expected to catch them in intimate conversation, maybe some flirtatious touching, but not in the middle of the act.
“Zach, it’s okay.” Stav’s speech came out a strange cadence, his words almost slurred, as if drunk. He had just barely managed to get his pants on over his dick, but seemed to struggle to stand.
“No, it’s fucking not!” It wasn’t like me to swear so much, but every ounce of faith and respect I once held for Stavros was snuffed out like the flames from those candles. “How could you? How—” My fingers speared through my hair, tugging at my scalp at the sheer stupidity. “I mean, look at you! What has she done?”
“I’m okay. It’ll wear off.”
His bare chest, slick with sweat, heaved with ragged breaths like he’d just been mid-thrust. Or had just come, Christ almighty…
In my rage, I fixated on how the candlelight danced over his olive skin, shadows and highlights carving out broad, sinewy muscles like a statue.
“She’s been feeding from you,” I realized, fresh anger boiling up inside. “She’s been using you, like a parasite.”
“It’s not like that,” Stavros insisted, finally clamoring to his feet. “I offered myself to her.”
“Why?” I cried, incredulous that he would do such a thing.
“So she wouldn’t prey on you, or anyone else in Bethel.”
My jaw hung open and my gaze slid to her, Deyva. She claimed she wasn’t a demon, but this was obvious proof otherwise.
“You deceitful bitch,” I hissed.
“Zach!” Stavros shouted, stepping forward, swaying a little before straightening firmly.
Deyva slid out from behind the podium slowly, the shirt buttoned just barely enough to cover her, leaving a tantalizing v leading between her breasts that peeked open as she moved.
“Zach, I just got a little carried away this time, but I promise—”
“Like a promise from the likes of you means anything,” I snapped. “We only have your word on anything you’ve fed us and at the first opportunity you manipulated Stavros into—”
“Zach, she did not manipulate me. I’m a grown man, I can decide who I want to sleep with,” Stavros growled. His hand shot back behind him, reaching for Deyva, and I watched with a combination of disgust and jealousy as her hand raised and linked with his, her lips pressing flat as she stared back at me.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
Stavros groaned as I spun and found Kais dressed in his tactical gear and collar, a crossbow in one hand.
“None of anyone else’s business,” Stavros barked.
“She’s feeding on him! She lied to us!” I shouted, gesturing at the pair.
Kais looked between the three of his, eyes narrowed and face flat for a moment before huffing and rolling his eyes. “I fucking knew you were in too good of a mood lately,” he said to Stavros.
“I made a choice, on my own,” Stavros said firmly.
“You’re honestly surprised?” Kais asked me, head tilting.
“Yeah!” No. “I mean, aren’t you concerned?”
Kais frowned and looked at Deyva next. “Is this something you’re going to cultivate with others? Is he enough to sustain you?”
“No, and yes,” Deyva said, glancing briefly at Stavros before adding. “I can cut back too.”
“Dey,” Stavros murmured, leaning toward her with a heavy lidded gaze.
“What if it’s like, addictive?” I asked, arms flapping uselessly at my side. Was Kais really just going to...go along with this? We’d just let this creature devour our friend?
Deyva giggled and then swallowed the sound, but Stavros laughed full out, body shimmering with sweat and candlelight as his head fell back. His hair was rumpled with touch and his cheeks had gone from pale to flushed again. Already he looked less drugged and uneven and more…
Shit. Stavros looked really fucking happy.
“Zach, I hate to break it to you, but it’s definitely addictive,” Stavros said and then his smile settled and he pointed a finger at me. “Not like that, okay? I’m fine. This is the safest decision for everyone. This way Deyva won’t starve or pose a threat to anyone.”
Closer, standing in the light, I saw the shadow that passed over the succubus’ face, almost as if Stavros had