Chapter One
Chapter One
Sulessta
U gh. It’s so hot.
I wave a hand in the air in an attempt to cool myself, but it does no good.
My heat is coming and there’s not a damn thing that will help me except getting dicked down for three days and being filled with cum.
Shaking my head, I slither across the parking lot and into the grocery store, letting out a sigh of relief as the air conditioning hits my overheated skin.
Heads turn in my direction as I continue into the store. I do my best to ignore their stares and their mutters of disgust, but it’s hard when my hearing is so keen.
“Maska,” a woman hisses, her distaste clear. “Her parents should have let her die.”
Biting my tongue, I take hold of a cart and push on.
I’m used to people’s abhorrence and their comments. It doesn’t mean I like them, but I can’t do anything to change how they think of people like me, can I?
Maska is just another word for half-breed. The realm of Mheann’s population is largely monsters of different kinds—or at least that’s what the humans call us. While there are a few other races living among our people, the second largest portion of the population is human, who are treated better than the Maska are.
There’s a lot of prejudice in our world. Most people, no matter their species, frown on cross-breeding.
My mother is an Alphest, and my father is a human. He was the only one to answer her mating call during her first heat. From the way they tell the story, they fell in love instantly, and she never needed any other mates.
Life wasn’t easy for any of us as I grew up. My parents are looked upon with just as much disgust as I am, but they are the best damn parents I could’ve had. They did their best to shield me from the prejudices of others, but I’m all grown up now. There isn’t anyone to protect me but myself—especially now that I’m having my first heat.
I don’t really want to be at the grocery store right now, but I had to come to town before my heat hits for two reasons. The first is to make sure I have enough food to keep myself and my future mates fed over the course of my three-day heat. The second is to entice said mates to my home.
While we have many species of monsters on Mheann, we all have one thing in common—all females have their first heat in the year following their twenty-first birthday. When females go into heat, they produce a special pheromone to call their mates to them. Our instincts send us out of our homes to spread the pheromones around as much as possible to give us the best chance to call forth our mate or mates.
I wasn’t sure I would even have one since I’m a half-breed and humans don’t go into heat, but here I am, spreading my pheromones as I shop for groceries.
“Ow,” I cry out as something runs over my tail. Spinning around, I glare at the human woman who just ran her cart over the tip of my tail. “Excuse you.”
She scoffs. “You’re an abomination.”
That’s all she says before stalking away.
What a bitch.
I don’t mind being a Maska, and I sure as hell don’t give a shit what anyone thinks of me, but sometimes I think it would be easier if it wasn’t so clear that I am a Maska.
If I wanted to, I could attempt to pass as a human since I do have a fully human form, but my hair would give me away. It’s one of my favorite features, even if it discloses my half-breed status.
Falling straight to my hips, my hair is a beautiful combination of silver and white. The only humans I’ve seen with a similar color are their elders, and with one glance at my face, they would know I am not that old.
So I don’t bother hiding what I am.
In my usual form, I appear human from head to hips. From there, I have a long snake-like tail that tells of my Alphest blood. Like my hair, my scales are in shades of white and silver—which is not a color Alphests ever have.
Basically, I’m a freak of nature.
Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I remind myself that fighting everyone who hates me for what I am is a waste of my time.
I steel myself before starting back down the aisle and grabbing everything I think I might need.
It’s hard to shop for future mates when I don’t know if anyone will even show up for my heat. And if they do show up, I don’t know what they’ll like.
I decide it’s best to just get extra of what I would usually eat and hope they’ll like the same things.
I’m in the store for about thirty minutes before I’ve gathered what I hope is enough food and move to check out.
The woman working the register is another Maska. She’s likely half-human, but I’m not sure what other breed she is. She’s covered from head to foot in short, coal-colored fur, but her entire body is that of a human. If it wasn’t for the fur, I would think she was human. Unfortunately for her, humans don’t have fur, so she doesn’t have a chance to hide what she is.
“Good afternoon,” she says quietly, eyes down as she rings up my groceries.
“It’s afternoon, alright,” I say with a giggle, hoping to get the other woman to glance up at me.
While one corner of her mouth turns up for a moment, she never lifts her eyes.
One would think that the Maska of the world would come together—either to protect one another or in an attempt to combat the prejudices against us—but we mostly keep to ourselves. I’ve tried on more than one occasion to befriend other Maska, but they’ve all rejected my attempts. I hate it, but there isn’t much I can do to change their minds any more than I can change that of the full-blooded species.
With a sigh, I pay for the groceries and lift the bags into my cart.
One day, there will be people who will accept me for who and what I am. Who will love me in spite of my half-breed status.
Hopefully, my heat brings them to me, because I’m so tired of feeling alone.
Holding my head up high, I ignore the whispered remarks and sneers aimed at me and walk out the door. I don’t make it very far before a man steps in front of my cart, bringing me to a complete stop.
“Mine,” he hisses, almost animalistic.
I cock an eyebrow as my eyes roam over his body. He’s clearly human, but like most humans who are born on Mheann, he likely has a smidgen of monster in his blood—many generations removed. It’s the only way he’d answer a mating call. If he was fully human, he might have thought I smelled nice, but he wouldn’t have claimed me as his.
He’s close to six feet, making him shorter than my body length, but I usually hover around five foot six, as it’s what’s most comfortable for me. His shoulders are wide, tapering to slim hips. While I haven’t said anything, his jade green eyes haven’t left my face. My smile only grows as I take in his long, black hair that’s pulled into a messy bun on the top of his head and his bearded face. He’s insanely attractive.
I lift my head, sniffing the air to see if I can pick up his scent. As a human, his scent isn’t as strong as Maska and the monster species, but when I get a whiff of it, I almost melt.
Leather and sandalwood. What a combination.
Not only does he smell amazing, but it confirms his words—I am his.
“Yours,” I agree, and only then do his shoulders lower. “I’m Sulessta.”
“Who hates you so much that they gave you a name with so many S’s?” he asks with a grin.
Rolling my eyes, I return his smile. “That would be my father. He’s human, and he thought it would be hilarious after seeing my tongue.”
My tongue also reveals I’m more than human, as it’s a serpent’s tongue, no matter what form I’m in. That also means that S’s come out more like a hiss, and I can’t make them as short as they should be. Just another thing that makes me unique.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sulessta. I’m Aryx, and I’m only a little sorry about rushing over and claiming you.” His grin turns self-deprecating. “Clearly not my finest pickup line.”
I wave him off. “It’s the mating call. My heat will begin tonight, most likely.”
“I will be there.” There’s no hesitation in his voice, and that makes my smile grow.
“I would like that. I can give you my number and address—”
“No,” he says, cutting me off. “I will go with you now.”
I stare at him for a moment before agreeing.
Aryx shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I wasn’t aware that humans could be affected by the monsters’ heat or mating call, or whatever. The idea of you leaving my side makes me want to rage.”
“That’s quite alright, Aryx. Full-blooded humans aren’t affected by our mating calls. Like many humans born here, you have some monster blood in your ancestry. It’s why you’re reacting the way you are. I’d love for you to join me now. You can help me with the groceries.”
He glances down at my cart, as if he’s just realized it was there. He steps away, gesturing for me to go ahead of him. “Right. Yes. I can do that. Lead the way, Sulessta.”
I shoot him a wink as I pass him. He walks beside me, his hand going to my lower back, and I shiver at the touch. Heat radiates from that small touch, and it makes me want to shift to my human form so I can take him right here in the parking lot.
Instead, I walk to my truck and open the back door. Before I can load the groceries inside, he nudges me away.
“Let me do this. Why don’t you get the car started? It’s hot out today, and while I might not know much about heats, I know enough to know that you’re likely roasting.”
I shrug. He’s not wrong. It’s hot as hell.
Boosting myself into the driver’s seat, I coil my tail inside before shutting the door and start the truck. The air that rushes through the vents isn’t exactly cold right now, but it won’t take long to cool down.
It takes less time for Aryx to load the groceries and return the cart than it would have taken me. By the time he climbs inside, the air is already cooling.
“So you can drive with your tail?” he asks as I pull out of the spot, heading toward my home.
Glancing at him, I smile. “I can. I actually have a human form as well. I can drive in both. Going out in my human form feels like hiding—especially with my heat coming up. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’m a Maska—of two breeds. Everything about me is different.”
“The human half kind of gives you away.”
I hum. “And that doesn’t bother you?”
“Should it?” He sounds confused, and I glance at him once more. He looks just as confused as he sounds.
“Many humans agree with the monsters that there should be no cross-breeding. That all lines should remain pure.”
Aryx snorts. “Yeah, my family doesn’t agree with that. I have a sister who married a monster. Plus, it would be hypocritical if I did. As you said, I must have monster blood in my ancestry.”
I shrug. “That doesn’t mean much to the purists, but I’m glad my mate isn’t one.”
“Do you have any other mates?” he asks hesitantly.
“As of now? No. I have spread my scent throughout the town, so we’ll see if more answer my mating call or not. Does that bother you?”
I catch him shaking his head from the corner of my eye. “No. I don’t have a problem with polyamory.”
I hum once more, surprised. Most of the humans believe in monogamous relationships. It’s yet another reason they frown upon the monsters. Most of us are polyamorous.
“I think I’m going to like you, Aryx,” I finally say.
He’s grinning again. “I hope so, since we’re going to be stuck together for the rest of our lives.”
We fall silent for the remainder of the drive until I pull into my driveway and park the truck.
“This is where you live?”
Turning to him, I see his eyes are wide as he stares up at my home. While large, it’s nothing overly special. When I had it built, I was hoping I’d have mates and children eventually.
“It is. My parents are well off, and I’m an only child. I have a job, but it’s working for my mother. I try to be as independent as I can be, but I’m lucky to know that if I need something, they will provide it.”
“My parents would do the same if they could, but they’re not exactly well off. We never wanted for anything growing up, but there was never extra money.” He shakes his head. “Enough of that. Let me carry the groceries in so we can put them away.”
Which is exactly what we do before I lead him into the living room, where we stand awkwardly for a few moments.
“I have no idea how any of this works,” he admits eventually. “You’ll have to help me along.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You’re a virgin?”
I’m not sure of his exact age, but he has to be in his late twenties, if not early thirties. How would a man this hot have remained a virgin for all these years?
Aryx snorts. “No. I’ve had sex before, but I don’t know anything about how heats work.”
Now, it’s my turn to laugh. “I don’t think you’ll have any issues figuring that out. All you need to know is that I’ll need to have as much sex as I can over three days. You, and anyone else who answers the call, will fill me with cum until I’m overflowing. Then I’ll beg for more.”
“Fuck,” he curses, his hand dropping to his cock. He squeezes it through the fabric of his pants, and I lick my lips. I want to taste him.
“While it hasn’t kicked in yet, there is something I’d like to do.” I slither closer until he has to take a step back and then another until his back hits the wall.
He clears his throat. “How do you have sex?”
Another laugh spills from me. “In my human form. I don’t have the ability in this form, so it will be like your other experiences, for the most part.”
My hands trail over his chest as I lift myself until my face hovers in front of his. My tongue snakes out, tasting the air and his need.
Yes. I need his cock in my mouth.
He leans in, brushing his lips against mine. My tongue rubs along his, and he pulls back.
“That’s different.”
I tilt my head. “Different bad?”
“Not at all.” He shakes his head, leaning in to kiss me again. My hands slide beneath his shirt and push the offending material up his torso.
Aryx breaks the kiss to pull it off as I reach for the strings of my bikini top.
Yes, that’s right. I went grocery shopping in a bikini top. Judge me all you want, but with my heat coming up, I wanted as little coverage as possible.
He hisses as the top falls away, revealing my generous breasts. His hands lift, fingers running over the slopes before brushing across my nipples.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.
“As are you.” My hand reaches for the button of his jeans, tearing it open before yanking down the zipper. “You can play with my tits later. Right now, I need to taste you.”
Aryx attempts to protest, but I’m already moving back down his body, taking his pants and boxer briefs as I go. They get shoved down to his ankles where they sit on top of his shoes, but I don’t care if he takes them off. All I care about is the hard cock staring me in the face.
I run my tongue along the length before wrapping it around his girth and sliding up and down him.
He tastes delicious.
Unable to help myself, I lower my head and take him into my mouth. His taste is stronger this way.
I bob my head, my cheeks hollowed as I take him completely into my throat. Glancing up at the choked sound he makes, I grin around him.
His eyes are wide, his hand tangled in my hair as he stares at me as if I’m the best thing he’s ever seen.
The lack of a gag reflex is probably what he’s so shocked about.
Turning my attention back to the task in hand, I lift off him before gliding back down.
This is just what I needed.