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2022-04-05 20:10:27The sky was already brightening with the advent of dawn when Hux came back. And if she hadn’t already known she was in trouble with him, the way her every female instinct sat up at attention at the sight of him, the prickling of delight running through her veins when he smiled at her sure did the job. Something restless inside her settled as soon as his energy brushed hers.
He walked Max around the block in record time to avoid the first light of day, then whipped up a delicious omelet, and sat down at the table with Cara.
“Have you slept at all?” he asked while she cleaned her plate.
“Nope. Was too wired.” Although now the lurking exhaustion caught up with her, and she stifled a yawn.
He nodded, his silver-gold eyes trained on her. “I think it’s best if we catch some sleep during the day and then start the search for the agastopia as soon as the s
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Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 51
Hints of daylightglowed around the heavy-duty sunblock panel over the window, casting the bedroom in a dim twilight. Not that the gloom had done Huxley any good. He’d tossed and turned for what felt like hours already, his mind and body too restless to driftoff.He flopped onto his back and stared at the ceiling, silently cursing hishonesty.Why did he tell Cara about the signs he’d read on her back? He should have just kept that info to himself, for several reasons, not least of which was that the less she learned about the details of her turning, the longer it would take to eventually change her back—if that was even possible. He had his doubts, but in any case, he shouldn’t share clues with her which could point her to the one thing that would destroy any future he could have withher.Plus, him telling her that little tidbit was one hell of a mood killer. All that lust satur
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 52
“Ireally don’t knownothing aboutit!”Cara watched the alp struggle against Hux hold. He held the tiny nightmare-inducing demon pressed to the wall of the tunnel, one of many that apparently ran underneath Kinland, used to travel hidden from witch eyes. To say she’d been surprised when Hux led her down into the vast system of underground passageways was an understatement. All this time, she and her family and friends had patrolled the city for demons, and they’d been right under theirfeet.As a requirement for taking her along, Hux had made her vow to keep the passageways a secret from the other witches—a binding oath of power. As much as it grated on her to be unable to tell her mom or Marga about these tunnels, she understood why Hux insisted on her silence. Many of his friends or family were demon, and, given the current climate among witches, if knowledge like this leaked t
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 53
Hux madeit back home just as the blue-gray of predawn gave way to the rose blush of impending morning. He quickly walked Max around the block, eying the daylight crawling closer andcloser.Once back inside, he pulled the shutters down and locked them. He expelled a breath of relief. That had been close. Not that the daylight would have burned him to a crisp in seconds, but he’d rather not lose any more quire.Speaking ofwhich…“Carachka,” he said, catching her attention as she put away her cereal bowl. “I’d like to show yousomething.”A saucy grin quirked up one corner of her mouth, and she wiggled her brows while she sauntered over. “Is it big? Will it shock my delicate female sensibilities and make me gasp and clutch mypearls?”She slid her arms around his waist, her hands stroking over his ass and up to the front, wh
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 54
“But I’m hungrynow.”At Cara’s whine, Hux stifled a grin and ushered her to the front door. “It’s just a few minutes. I promise it’ll be worthit.”Halfway across the living room, she made an attempt to lunge toward the kitchen, so he caught her around the waist and dragged herfarther.She flailed in the direction of the fridge. “But there’s actual, real food in thereright now. I can’t wait a fewminutes.”“Yes, you can.” He patted her butt and kept hauling heroutside.“Max!” she cried with an air of over dramatization which caused carefree amusement to bubble up inside him. “You need to get a message to my people. I’m being kidnapped and denied food. Be a good boy and run forhelp!”Hux threw a glance over his shoulder to see Max curled up o
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 55
Ahot thrillshot through Draco’s veins. He’d found heragain.Finally.As soon as the sun set, he’d gone out searching the city for any trace of Cara and the male she’d been with. Too bad he hadn’t caught the bastard’s name, or he could have found them both much sooner. He wouldn’t have had to waste hours upon hours quietly asking about anyone seeing a blond male agastopiaaccompanied by a female agastopiawith long black hair. Digging for information like that without arousing suspicion and drawing too much attention to oneself was sadlyundervalued.He was pretty proud of himself, especially since he also managed to avoid getting caught by Jacob and his guys, who were undoubtedly combing the town for him. By now, Jacob would have figured out it was Draco who stole the vial, and he was coming after him with a vengeance, of that Draco was sure. Jacob wo
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 56
“Wait a second.” Cara gaped at the black velvet walls, which were drenched in atmospheric red lighting, while Hux closed the door to the stairway leading up from the tunnel. “Is thisNudiustertian?”“Yep.”“And it has its own connection to the undergroundgrid?”“Yep.”“That is socool.”Huxley grinned over his shoulder at her, the jarring flickers in his aura belying his nonchalant façade. That male had a dressing down coming, thinking he could pretend he wasn’t hurt in front ofher.Approaching a demon waitress, Hux said something to her, and she nodded to her right. He steered Cara toward one of the more secluded corner booths, his hand on her lower back sending pleasant shivers to her core. The background music twined around her senses, the beat low, its rhythmseductive.
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 57
“So,” Hux said, while he and Hunter walked out of the club’s back door into the dimly lit alley behind the building, directing the two human males whom they’d chosen as prey to follow them quietly. “How is Cara?”He’d tried not to pester his brother with questions about her, even though he was going crazy wondering how she was doing. Several times over the course of the day he’d been close to calling her, his finger hovering over the call button. He’d typed ten texts, then deleted every one without ever sending itoff.She wanted space. And he’d hack off his own arm to give it toher.Hunt checked his phone. “Wow. You made it to one hour and three minutes before asking about her. Held up pretty well there,Shay.”Hux glowered athim.“She’s…” Hunt huffed out a breath. “She spent mos
Forbidden Desire CHAPTER 58
The stenchof fear permeated the air, so acrid it turned Draco’s stomach. Never mind that it was hisown.Above him, the single bare bulb hung from the basement’s ceiling, every now and then swinging with the vibrations of the people walking on the upper floor. Sometimes, when someone banged a door above, fine dust would drizzle down on his sweat-slick, blood-encrustedskin.I’m fucked.That realization should have been a given when Seth’s men grabbed him, but he’d held on to the sliver of hope that maybe he’d be able to escape later. He looked again at the magic-infused manacles shackling his arms and legs to the metal table.Yeah, not verylikely.The door to the basement opened, and warm light spilled in, before a shadow blocked the view of the hall beyond. The agastopiamale closed the door, and his heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs while he desce
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- Forbidden Desire
THE FINALE BOOK 3: EPILOGUE
“Bye, Uncle Shay! Bye, Aunt Cara!”The door closed, shutting off the kids’ voices and their franticwaves.Cool night air stroked over Cara’s skin as she and Huxley descended the front steps to the sidewalk. Twining her fingers with Hux, she stole a glance at her mate—mate—and smiled, her heart ready to burst. She’d never get used to thisfeeling.“So,” she said, “howdidyou get to be scared of spiders? You never told me thestory.”He shot her a look from behind narrowed eyes, the silver in them catching the moonlight. “Won’t let it go, willyou?”“Like a dog with a bone. Nowspill.”He grumbled something incoherent, and she nudged him with herelbow.“Come on, Mr. Quire-orgy.”“Agastopia.” His smile made her belly fl
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 65
Sounds and lightfiltered through the darkness blanketing Huxley mind. His thoughts disentangling from a web of images and sensations, he became aware of his current surroundings. A pillow beneath his head, a mattress underneath his back, a soft sheet coveringhim.And two warm bodies pressed against hisown.Eyes flying open to semi-darkness, he looked to his legs, where Max snored softly, snuggled up to him. Hux turned his head, silky black curls brushing against his jaw. The scent of lush flowers and rain teased his nose, let him draw in a breath that threatened to burst hislungs.Cara.Her head resting on his shoulder, hands tucked between their bodies, she lay curled against him, one leg thrown over his. Eyes closed, her black lashes fanned out over her cheeks. Even though he hated to disturb her sleep, he couldn’t help brushing a lock of her midnight hair from her face, his fingers
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 64
“Huxley. Look at me.”Her vision swam, her throatraw.His aura had faded to all but anember.She stroked his cheeks, her lips trembling. “I love you. I’ll mate with you, quire-griffin style and all. I’ll fucking mate with you. But only if you holdon.”Her breath hurt, going in, going out, from her aching throat all the way down to her chest, to the epicenter of a pain so cutting it might annihilateher.“Please,” shewhispered.His lips parted. Silver-gold shimmered as he opened his eyes just a slit. Breath rattling in his throat, he met her anguished stare. “Holding…on.”She choked on a sob of relief. Her fingers tender on his skin, she caressed his jaw, histemples.Raising his hand, he touched her lips. “Tell me…” he rasped. “Need to…hear&helli
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CHAPTER 63
“Cara, no.” Venina cowered against the door, her face tear-streaked. “I’m not worth it. Don’t let—” Jacob’s raised arm silenced her without evenstriking.Trembling, Cara met Venina’s red-rimmed eyes. And saw something she hadn’t noticed before. There was steel in that emerald green, a courage Cara hadn’t reckoned with—no one had reckoned with, judging by how carelessly Jacob turned his back on Venina, his focus on Cara.Away from a threat he’d clearlyunderestimated.It showed in the surprise in his icy eyes when Venina wrenched the dagger from his hand. In the moment of shock when his features slackened after the young witch-turned-demon slit her own throat. In his gasp when she managed to slice through both femoral arteries on her thighs as well before she collapsed. Her blood gushed onto the floor, ruby red on the whitecarpet.
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CHAPTER 62
Forcedinto a glittering black and red nightmare of a dress that was as tacky as it was ridiculous, Cara walked down the hall in front of Jacob, otherwise known as Leading Asshole, her hands tied again, this time behind herback.“Tell me,” she said, flicking a glance over her shoulder and indicating the hideous dress, “did you ask Mira’s permission before you raided her 80swardrobe?”Jacob shoved her, making her stumble and crash down face-first on the carpeted floor. It still hurt like hell, since she couldn’t break her fall with her hands, and the recent wound from when he’d slashed her with his dagger started stinging again.Cara should have kept her mouth shut, but when it came to sadist bastards like him, she couldn’t resist the compulsion to poke athim.“How’s your side?” he asked with a sweet smile while she struggled to her
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 61
They should be herebynow.Staring at the digital clock on the nightstand, Cara clenched her jaw, her heart pounding in her chest. Her hands and feet were tied, the rope also fastened to the headboard of the bed the brutes had thrown her on after dragging her into the house, so Cara had no way to get free. It had surprised her how normal the house seemed, with nice if bland-looking furniture straight out of a catalog, and a level of cleanliness suggesting that either whoever lived here had some OCD going on, or this was a model home in a newcommunity.She tried—again—to loosen her bonds. To noavail.Honestly, where were Marga and the others? They shouldn’t need this long to trackher.Sounds of movement in the hall. She snapped her head up, her body tensing for whatever—whoever—was coming. The door to the room opened, and two demons slipped inside—fem
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 60
Shakingthe water from his hair, Hux jogged back to his truck, the cool night air seeping through his soaked clothes, his wet skin. When he reached his vehicle, he set the tanzaniteon the pickup’s bed, opened the tool box, and pulled out the towel and change of clothing he always kept there for visits to Lucas. With speedy efficiency he stripped, dried himself, and put on the fresh set ofclothes.Tanzanite securely tucked in his jeans pocket, he hopped into the driver’s seat and checked his phone, which he’d stored in the glove compartment for his audience with the Demon Lord. His heart jumped into his throat. There were several missed calls from Cara as well as Hunter, and text messages from both, asking him where hewas.Cara’s face before he left flashed through his mind, the utter despair, the tears glistening in her eyes, the hurt confusion when she saw him back out the door. She&rsquo
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 59
An audiencewith the Demon Lord always involved some form of humiliation. Like being forced to take the scenic lake route, and then showing up before Lucas dripping wet and chilled to thebone.Huxley waded out of the lake and trudged up onto the shore. Pausing for a moment, he shook his head, then peeled off his soaked tee and wrung it hard. Water hit the sand with a muffled splash.Ten years.Ten damn years of working for the son of a bitch, and he’d never figured out another way to reach Lucas lair. And there were other ways. Those closer to the Demon Lord traveled back and forth without arriving soakingwet.He eyed the crumpled, soggy lump in his hands and grimaced. He’d rather have the cool night air assaulting his bare skin than put that dripping wet T-shirt back on, but appearing topless before the Demon Lord was not an option. Not that Hux had any problem with showing some skin, no. Lucas s
- Forbidden Desire
CHAPTER 58
The stenchof fear permeated the air, so acrid it turned Draco’s stomach. Never mind that it was hisown.Above him, the single bare bulb hung from the basement’s ceiling, every now and then swinging with the vibrations of the people walking on the upper floor. Sometimes, when someone banged a door above, fine dust would drizzle down on his sweat-slick, blood-encrustedskin.I’m fucked.That realization should have been a given when Seth’s men grabbed him, but he’d held on to the sliver of hope that maybe he’d be able to escape later. He looked again at the magic-infused manacles shackling his arms and legs to the metal table.Yeah, not verylikely.The door to the basement opened, and warm light spilled in, before a shadow blocked the view of the hall beyond. The agastopiamale closed the door, and his heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs while he desce
