ArayasAddiction Read online

  Her heart already mourned the loss, knowing she had to let him go, knowing she’d never experience that same depth of emotion again. Maybe she could see him again one day. No, it would be more difficult to let him go a second time but she would always carry with her the memory of what they’d shared tonight.

  His breathing slowed and evened out, and she realized he’d fallen asleep, his arm still draped across her. She imagined falling asleep with him like this every night and her body hummed its approval. She stroked the light stubble on his cheek, careful not to wake him. She could easily get used to this intimacy and her heart ached knowing it was doubtful it’d ever happen again.

  It was time to let him go.

  She carefully slid from beneath his arm and off the bed. She picked up her robe from the floor, walked to the intercom and quietly requested her mother’s presence.

  Chapter Six

  As the guard opened the door to Araya’s room, she shoved past him and stood before her mother. She hadn’t stepped outside her room for more than three months. It felt odd and exhilarating at the same time.

  “What’s the urgency dear? Is everything okay?” Talith looked her up and down. “I can feel your strength. You’ve fed again.” She smiled and stepped forward then hesitated.

  Araya needed to sell this if she wanted her mother to agree to Kean’s release, so she threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tight. “Thank you. I feel better than I’ve ever felt.”

  Talith squeezed her tight then pulled back and stared. Araya kept the smile on her face. She knew her mother wasn’t stupid and she could tell Talith was searching her face for signs of disingenuousness.

  “Mother?” Araya said trying to keep her face from cracking from the plastered-on smile.

  Her mother relented and pulled her back into her arms for an enthusiastic hug. “Oh Araya. I am so happy for you. Happy for me.” She pulled back and Araya was surprised to see tears in her mother’s eyes. “I’m sorry for the… You do understand don’t you? I couldn’t bear to lose you. You are my daughter and I love you.”

  As pissed off as she was, she couldn’t help but warm at those words. Her mother’s methods had been ridiculous and dangerous but yes she did understand she’d been trying to save her child’s life.

  “I’m still a little upset by your methods.” Araya admitted honestly. “I mean, an Incubus, Mother? Really?”

  Talith had the decency to look abashed. “It was a desperate move, yes.”

  “Well, the end result is this,” she twirled around, “so no harm done. Plus, he was fantastic.” Araya wondered if she was laying it on too thick.

  “Come on,” Talith grabbed her hand, “let’s surprise your sister.”

  “Wait.” Araya didn’t know how long she could keep up this happy pretense. “Let’s release Kean first.”

  Talith’s gaze narrowed.

  “No sense keeping him here longer than necessary. He’s served his purpose. Besides, have you smelled him? I’m afraid if he sticks around much longer, I’ll take him again and again. I’d really like to avoid addiction.”

  Talith nodded, seeming to buy her reason. “Good point, however, we’ll need to make certain you’re not already suffering addiction before releasing him.”

  Oh crap. “How can we tell?” she asked, trying to keep her voice from wavering.

  “You’ll need to feed from another. If addicted, you won’t be able to. No one else will work for you.”

  Oh. Hell. No. Think, Araya, think. “I’m already drooling just thinking about the males Valia told me we’d scout out together. I don’t think the mixed-breed is an issue for me. Yeah, he was great but I have nothing to compare him to. I’m sure there’s better.” Araya almost gagged on those words. She’d probably never have such a beautiful experience again and to demean it, even in jest, made her queasy.

  Talith studied her for a moment and then agreed. “That train of thought tells me what I need to know. You’d be very reluctant to let him go if even slightly dependent on him. This is such a happy day for me. You will make a wonderful Sempire.”

  Araya forced herself to mirror her mother’s jubilant gaze. “Thanks. Let’s get him out of here and then find Valia and have a celebration.”

  * * * * *

  Kean had been disappointed to awaken to an empty bed, which wasn’t the norm for him. He didn’t typically stick around for a hell of a lot of cuddle time. A little, now and then, but not much. He told himself his disappointment was more because he figured the waking up together and cuddling would be part of Araya’s fantasy. He only wanted to play it out to its fullest for her benefit. Yeah, that was it.

  He’d thought maybe she’d slipped off to the bathroom when he heard a door close but that particular door was wide open. Then he’d heard the voices in the hallway. Another benefit of his demon DNA—better than human hearing. He strode to the door and concentrated on the voices.

  He couldn’t believe his fucking ears. “I don’t think the mixed-breed is an issue for me. Yeah, he was great but I have nothing to compare him to. I’m sure there’s better.” Wow, talk about an ego crusher. And talk about a change in the once romantic female’s attitude. Apparently, he’d done his job and done it well. Her Sempire nature must have already obliterated her human side.

  What did it matter to him? Hell, he’d be released soon and could get back to his life. He should be ecstatic. So why did his gut feel like he’d been punched in it?

  He jumped back a couple feet when the door handle turned. Araya stepped inside the room. He would swear her face lit up when she saw him standing there but that look was quickly replaced with a cool detachment.

  “Kean,” she said, no emotion laced her voice. “You can leave now.”

  Just like that, she dismissed him.

  Talith stepped inside the room. “Darcon,” she indicated the guard behind her with a wave of her hand, “will escort you outside the veil, remove the collar and then you’re free.”

  Kean looked back and forth between Talith and Araya. Damn, he felt a little dirty and not in a good way. Used and dismissed. He needed to get the hell out of this place. He was turning into a girl.

  He shot one last glance at Araya but she still showed no emotion. Fine. This was what he wanted, right? “Great,” he said tersely, “it’s about time. I’ll need my clothes.”

  “Of course.” Talith motioned to the guard and he disappeared. “Darcon will return in a moment with your clothes. Thank you for your service mixed-breed. Come Araya, let’s find your sister.”

  Araya turned to leave with her mother. “Wait,” Kean said.

  She turned back to him and raised a questioning eyebrow. He had no idea what to say or why he’d stopped her.

  “Nothing,” he muttered.

  Her expression softened a bit and she said, “Thank you.” She hesitated and he thought he heard her voice hitch, “For everything.” Then she quickly exited the room.

  Kean still stood staring at the door when the guard entered the room a minute later. Darcon handed Kean his folded clothing, shoes and keys and he quickly dressed, eager to leave this place and these unwanted feelings behind.

  “Follow me,” the guard grumbled.

  He followed the guard down the hallway then down the massive staircase almost running into Valia at the bottom.

  “Hey, Incubus!” She greeted him with a laugh. “Where ya goin’?”

  “Home,” he answered tersely.

  Valia’s face turned into a picture of surprise. “Oh. I thought you’d be staying longer. Where’s my sister?” she asked.

  “Looking for you.”

  “Darcon, are you taking him through the veil?” He nodded in answer.

  “I will take him,” she volunteered then looped her arm through Kean’s. Darcon stepped in front of them blocking their path but said nothing.

  “Chill out. He’s collared and I’m much stronger than him anyway,” she told the guard.

  That irked but he was man enough to adm
it it was probably true with her being full-blooded demon but his male ego whispered to him that he could take her if push came to shove.

  Kean wondered what the hell she had planned. As gorgeous as she was, after the night he’d spent with her sister, he really wasn’t up for feeding her. He needed to get back to women who wanted him solely for the pleasure he could provide them, not because they needed to feed off him.

  When the guard didn’t budge, Valia rolled her eyes. “Fine. Come with us but follow at a distance.”

  They walked through the grand foyer, the intricate fruit patterns etched into the polished concrete floors shone in the bright light streaming through the large windows on either side of the massive mahogany doors. The guard rushed ahead of them to open the door and held it open as they stepped outside into the veil. He’d never journeyed inside it before. The thick air enveloped him and seemed to push at him but like on Araya’s balcony it wasn’t unpleasant just different.

  Valia let go of his arm and turned to face him. “I’m really surprised you’re leaving so soon. Were you given the choice to stay?”

  “Why so concerned about me leaving?” he asked.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Just curious.”

  “Bullshit.”

  She laughed. “I like you, Incubus. Have I mentioned that?”

  He folded his arms across his chest. He didn’t know what her game was and wondered if she knew something he didn’t.

  “I just got the feeling you’d want to stick around. That’s all.”

  “Why the hell would I want to stick around? I didn’t want to be here in the first place,” he said.

  “True,” she agreed. “But I thought maybe Araya would convince you to stay.”

  “Araya couldn’t wait to get me out of here,” he ground out. That still burned even though he didn’t care.

  “What makes you think that?” she asked.

  “I overheard her say so to your mother.”

  “Ah, I see,” she said, pursing her lips. “Where is home, Incubus? I’ll port you to the closest location possible. I assume you can’t do it yourself.”

  Why did these females keep pointing out his undesirable characteristics?

  “Anywhere near Texas,” he answered. He didn’t want to be too specific in case they ever decided to come after him for any reason. He had no idea why they would but he didn’t need any demons knowing where he lived. Period.

  She laughed at him. “Texas is a big state. You need to be a little more specific.”

  He opened his mouth to give her a destination at least one hundred miles from his home. He could take a cab once they parted ways. But she punched him, playfully, in the arm and spoke before he got the lie out.

  “No need to be evasive. If I want to know where you live, you can lie all you want, I’ll still find out.” She laughed again. “And the more evasive you are, the more I want to know.”

  Fine. “Do you know Club Raze in Dallas? The one your mother abducted me from?” he asked.

  “Actually, yes I do. I’ll take you there,” she said. She touched his hand and within seconds, they stood in the parking lot of the club. Darcon came forward and removed the collar from Kean’s neck with, what seemed to be only a brush of his fingers, then he distanced himself again.

  Kean forced his body to steady. Teleporting wasn’t his thing. He’d only ported a few times in his life with the assistance of some full-blooded demon associates of his father’s. The porting didn’t sit well with him then and it obviously still didn’t because his stomach roiled and he had to fight the urge to puke. Luckily, his car was still here. It surprised him it hadn’t been towed. Finally, something was going his way.

  “Here we are,” Valia said. “So, uh, any parting words?”

  “Bye,” Kean answered as he walked to his car.

  “Funny. Any message you’d like me to deliver to anyone?” she prompted.

  He stopped and turned to face her. “What’s up, Sempire? If you have something to say, say it. If not, I’m getting in my car and going home.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Such a difficult Incubus,” she sighed. “My father was a Sensus demon—an aura reader and manipulator. I retained the ability to read, a little anyway, after my transition.”

  “And?” Kean asked.

  “I can read yours,” she said, giving him a pointed look he didn’t understand and then she disappeared.

  He shook his head and got in his car, sitting there a moment, trying to figure out what Valia saw in his aura or whatever. When nothing registered but frustration, he jammed the keys in the ignition, put the car in gear and sped away toward home.

  * * * * *

  “There you are,” Araya said, as Valia stepped into the dining room. Talith and Araya sat at the massive mahogany table piled high with platters of fruit.

  “Where were you?” Talith asked. “We had to start the celebration without you.”

  “Flirting, groping. The usual.” She shrugged and grabbed a chunk of pineapple and popped it into her mouth. “I heard the Incubus is gone.”

  Araya’s chest tightened but she tried to keep her gaze level. She threw a handful of blueberries into her mouth as a distraction. “Yep. He’s gone.”

  “How do you feel about that?” Valia asked.

  Araya narrowed her eyes and shot her sister a look. She wondered if Valia was attempting to read her aura. “Fine.”

  “Good. You’re ready to hit a club with me later tonight?” Valia asked.

  What Araya really wanted to do was lock herself back in her room and pull the covers over her head. Or maybe drink a couple bottles of wine, then pull the covers over her head. She decided to keep up the pretense as long as she could though. “Maybe we can just hang out here tonight. Have a girl’s night in. Fruit, wine, music, a movie?”

  “What?” Valia asked, incredulous. “You’ve been stuck in your room for months. Let’s go out. Drink. Dance. Flirt.”

  “Tomorrow, okay?” She used her best pleading look.

  Valia’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Fine, party pooper.”

  “Araya,” her mother’s concerned voice cut in, “are you certain the Incubus isn’t an issue?”

  “Yes,” Araya said quickly. “It’s just… I’ve gone from half dead to this,” she indicated herself with her hands, “overnight. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed. I need a night to let it all sink in. An adjustment period.”

  Talith smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “Understandable. You’ll be fine, dear.”

  “True. I didn’t even consider that,” Valia said. “Okay. Meet you in the theatre room in ten minutes. You pick the movie—anything with eye candy. I’m going to change my clothes.”

  Chapter Seven

  “It’s been four days, Araya. You’re weakening. You have to come out with me tonight or… Fuck it. Or I’m going to tell Mother what’s going on,” Valia said, placing her hands on her hips defiantly.

  “No! Valia, you can’t tell her. I’ll be fine.” Araya tried to convince her sister.

  “I haven’t said anything yet because you’re my sister and I love you. I know this whole thing is harder for you but I’m not going to watch you go downhill again. It’ll be faster and more painful since you fed.”

  “I’m sure it’ll pass in a day or two—” Valia cut her off.

  “Tonight, Araya. You’re going out with me tonight or I’ll tell Mother and she’ll hunt the Incubus down, collar him and drag him back here. I’m tempted to do it myself.”

  “You wouldn’t,” Araya said, alarmed.

  “Try me. Get dressed. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She stopped short of the door and turned, flashing a playful smile. “Wear something sexy.”

  She knew Valia meant what she said. Her sister didn’t often get so pissy. She’d have to go with her tonight. No more excuses. Unless she wanted her mother to drag Kean back here. Which, of course, she didn’t want that at all.

  She dressed and applied a bare minimum of m
akeup. Her heart wasn’t into to this. As promised, Valia returned in exactly thirty minutes.

  Valia chose a club that skirted a thin spot in the veil in Texas. Valia told her clubs that closely skirted the thin spots were her favorites because they attracted demons as well as the more adventurous humans. Nice variety.

  As they walked to the door, Araya’s stomach knotted. She smoothed her hands down her dress. She considered making a run for it. But no, she could walk in the club, have a drink or five and wait for Valia to disappear with her male of the evening. Then, Araya would get the hell out of there.

  “You look great, chick. Don’t be nervous,” Valia encouraged and grabbed her hand. “Look. I thought maybe you’d talk to me about it but you haven’t. Maybe you’re in denial. I don’t know. But I know you care about—”

  “Stop,” Araya said. “I…” She opened her mouth to lie but instead said, “I need to forget about that, let it go.”

  Valia squeezed her hand and said, “Okay. Put a smile on your face. You never know what the night may bring.”

  The thumping music and pulsing lights assaulted her senses. Valia dragged her along behind her, weaving through the gyrating crowd, to the bar. She expertly maneuvered them into position to order drinks. As soon as the bartender caught sight of Valia, he ignored the patrons who’d been there ahead of them and made a beeline for her.

  She ordered for both of them, and when the bartender delivered their drinks he slid Valia his phone number on a napkin. She leaned over the bar and whispered something in his ear that lit up his face as if he’d just won the lottery. Araya supposed he had won the sexual lottery if Valia picked him for the evening.

  Valia handed her a drink and then she followed her to the back of the club where there were fewer people gyrating and more places to sit and relax. Valia hooked a chair with her stiletto-clad foot, pulled it out and sat. Araya followed suit.

  “Whatcha think?” Valia asked.

  Araya looked around then looked back to Valia. She had to speak loudly to project her voice over the music.