Chapter Six #2
Sera’s temper and dislike of Gill were one of the many reasons he hated her.
Though, Sera didn’t let him weasel his way between her and Katarina.
Some bonds couldn’t be cut, even with rose-colored glasses and a pair of scissors.
They met in college, both working at the same coffee shop.
Between horrid customers, sleep deprivation, and several back-to-back clopens, they became inseparable.
Katarina looped an arm around her gnomish doberman and hugged her tight. “Love you.”
“Mean it,” Sera exhaled, squeezing the succubus tight. “And, hey, how goes it on the feeding front.”
Katarina grimaced, which only made Sera groan. With a whine, the succubus put a hand to her own grumbly stomach. “I’ll figure it out.”
“No, no, I’m booking you an appointment for Luca in the morning. We’re taking the kiddo in to school and then you’re getting something to eat.” Sera snatched her phone off its hook on the dash.
“School?” Isabella squawked from the backseat.
“Tomorrow, baby,” Katarina flashed her kid a smile, before returning to Sera. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Somebody has to,” Sera spat, looking up at Katarina. “You’re not eating.”
“Mommy eat!” Isabella chirped from the backseat.
“See!” Sera flippantly motioned at the child.
“It’s not that easy! I…I…I…” Katarina trailed off as her gaze trailed up the front of the car to the townhouse sat in front of them. When will I even find the time. There’s so much I need to do…and I’ve been hungry for a month now, what’s a few more days?
“Babe,” Sera whispered, a hand to Katarina’s bicep. She didn’t even realize she’d welled up tears until Sera pulled her in for another hug.
I’m just so fucking hungry. Katarina inhaled sharply, digging her fingernails into Sera as the angry voices wrapped around her skull and dug in their talons. I shouldn’t have dated that fucker. Shouldn’t have married him. Shouldn’t have gotten pregnant. All the signs and I ignored them!
“Stop it,” Sera whispered in her ear.
“What?” Katarina whimpered, trembling in Sera’s arm. She wanted to rip back and swiped the tears before Isabella realized what was going on. But the gnome holding her hostage in the hug was like a boulder. She encased Katarina and kept her there.
“Stop being mean to my friend. I know that’s what you’re doing.
You always wear this mask of confidence, but I can see it slipping.
And you’re being mean to my best friend.
Remember the last time Gill made the mistake of insulting you in front of me?
” Sera rubbed Katarina’s back, nuzzling her face into her shoulder.
Katarina sputtered, laughing through the tears that soaked her cheek. “You gotta stop biting people, Sera.”
“Not a chance,” Sera snorted.
Katarina exhaled heavily, finally forcing herself out of Sera’s hands. She swiped the tears away and cocked her head back as if to soak them back into her skull. Once they were gone, she was able to finally swallow. “I’ll make the appointment.”
“Good, and if I don’t get a picture of you licking your chops after, I’m driving your butt to that resort myself, missy, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Katarina retorted, winking at Sera.
“Damn straight. Now, go on. I gotta go roust a vampire from her coffin.” Sera nudged Katarina with her elbow before looking up into the rearview. “See you tomorrow, munchkin.”
“See ya, Aunt Sera!” Isabella capped all her markers and set them aside.
Katarina popped out of the door and rounded the back.
Isabella was already unbuckled and free of her restraints before the door was even open.
Katarina stopped so that Isabella could kiss her palm then slap it against Sera’s, who then slapped it to her cheek.
Isabella made an exaggerated ‘muah’ kissy sound before bounding out of the car.
Katarina gave her own palm a kiss and did the same, that Sera put to the other cheek.
A habit they’d started ever since Isabella was born and was addicted to putting her palms on people’s faces.
Katarina took her kid by the hand, and they walked steadily up the steps, the light beams on them until they were through the front door.
As it clicked shut behind them, Katarina exhaled heavily.
Sinking back against the door, she let go of Isabella’s hand.
The alluring scent of garlic and lots of butter only reminded her how hungry she was. Actually hungry.
“Yum!” Isabella squealed, rushing down the front hallway toward the kitchen at the back. Katarina laid her head back against the front door. It took all her strength to flip the deadbolt. The hungry spins were beginning to get to her. Her world was twisting and chills ran down her body.
“Hey! Welcome…you good?”
She peeled her eyes open to Jessie, caught on the last step of the stairs.
He was still dripping from the mop of hair on his head, his horns nicely shined to match the shimmering of his hooves.
The shop owner wore a pair of gray sweatpants but nothing above the belt. Katarina’s whole stomach clenched.
“Uh…yeah!” she lied, trying and failing to push off the door.
It only made her stumble into the front closet.
Jessie rushed to her side. Large, burning hot hands cupped her sides as her back hit the small crook between the front door and the closet.
Jessie caught her in the halfway fall, where if she moved, she was either pressed against him or on the floor.
That’s when she finally saw it. His aura.
Most people had them. Gill’s was a murky green with flashes of yellow.
Jessie’s was red, her favorite shade. Like ruby roses, like her best lipstick, like the most delicious thing in the realm and she wanted to sink her teeth into him.
“Momma! Dinner!” Isabella broke the freeze on time and Katarina went to put her hands to his damp chest and correct herself.
If I’m not careful, I’m going to eat this guy alive.
Cherry, like a tart with a crispy crust and a sugar glaze over the top of it, filled her mouth as she inhaled once.
He tasted of summertime sweets and her fingers curled around his fur.
What…what is… Katarina leaned in closer to him, his aura doubling around him.
She inhaled again, eyes rolling back. Her fangs popped out as she pushed up on her toes, their noses brushing against each other.
Jessie’s mouth was half a breath away, his fingers tugging her close.
Her toes curled in her sneakers as crackling energy ran up her spine.
Kiss me, please, kiss me. However, the second she felt a hefty cock pressed against her stomach, the alarms went off.
Not actual alarms, the internal ones that said a little girl was rushing down the hall at top speed. She can’t see this.
“Shit,” she hissed, stumbling out of his hands. “I’m—I’m.”
“Momma! Come, now!” A tiny pair of hands snatched her and tugged fiercely. She almost didn’t realize her stomach hurt less. You fed off him, you asshole! She was whisked away and fully missed the minotaur sinking against that wall, fists clenched and back tense.