Chapter 6
CHAPTER
SIX
We will start with the incubus, since he is the closest. I’m unsure how I feel about having a male of my species helping us.
I have never met one, but I have heard enough stories.
There is a reason succubi and incubi do not share courts—we are too much alike, fighting for power and position, and it only ends in death.
They are undeniably strong, however, and if this male is as well, then I will need him.
I also cannot be picky. I need every fighter I can get.
As we head out of the stone structure, Tate follows, catching Corbin’s attention. “Be safe,” she tells him. “Remember, you’re a hunter, and if you need our help, we’re here.”
He nods at her before following Frost through the tall flowers. I linger back, glancing at her as she watches him go. “Some pasts are best forgotten, leaving a stain so deep you can never get it out.” She glances at me with glowing, knowing eyes. “Do you understand?”
“I have my own, so I do not intend on digging up anyone else’s,” I admit.
She smiles. “I have a feeling he would let you. It’s strange how easily our determination to keep the world at bay decreases when we meet someone important.
” She nods again. “Stay safe, Elara. Your court needs you. Never forget why you fight and you cannot go wrong.” She wanders back inside, and I watch her go.
She’s a strange one. There’s power in her, though I don’t know what, but she’s offered help, and I can’t refuse it. Taking a deep breath, I turn forward to find Frost and Corbin waiting. I meander over, Corbin’s jacket hitting my bare thighs with each step.
Frost is still in his human form, but when I reach him, he lowers his head. “I know the city. We can fly to the outskirts and land there. It will take no time at all.”
“I will shift and run under you,” Corbin informs me gruffly, then he reaches for his shirt, making my eyes widen, but Frost scoffs.
“You cannot possibly keep up. I will allow you to ride with my little mate this once.” Frost tilts his chin up as if he is bestowing a great honour.
Only a dragon’s mate is permitted to ride one. I am neither, but he wanted something from me, so to allow Corbin to ride him as well is a privilege, but the man looks disgusted.
“Shifters do not fly,” Corbin snarls.
“It’s the quickest way,” I interject, and both heads swing my way.
“The quicker we get there, the quicker I can get to my home and the people who are suffering. Just this once, Corbin, could you fly?” Stepping closer, I place my hand on his arm.
“Please?” His eyes flare, so I drop my hand, not wanting him to assume I am trying to bewitch him like most supes would believe. “I cannot afford to waste time.”
His eyes close, and he releases a deep breath that causes me to shiver before turning to Frost. “If you drop me, I will rip off your scales and pick my teeth with them.”
Frost rolls his eyes as he steps back, and magic fills the air. He transforms before our eyes, his skin melting to scales as he grows taller and blocks out the sun. Then, standing in his place, is a giant dragon.
Corbin growls again, but when Frost lowers his wing for us, I waste no time clambering up his leg and straddling his ridge. This time, I grip the spikes as tightly as I can, and then warmth meets my back—Corbin.
His earthy scent wraps around me as he shields me from the cold air. Corbin’s hands settle on my hips over his coat, holding me as we sit astride Frost, who climbs to his feet, pushes off the ground, and shoots into the sky.
Corbin’s hands grip me tighter as I press back into him from the force.
His soft grunt reaches my ears, but we don’t slip, even as Frost soars straight up then levels out, gliding over the forest that stretches for miles.
I don’t remember how we got here, but I trust Frost to get us where we need to go, so I scan the sunny horizon.
“Can we trust this incubus?” I ask Corbin, having to raise my voice to be heard over the wind and Frost’s wings.
“You would be a fool to trust anyone too much, but he seemed sincere when he met with Fang, Tate’s mate. He looked . . . lost,” Corbin replies, his deep voice echoing in my ear. I fight back my body’s reaction to him and instead focus on the bright sky.
My mind works quickly. If I can appeal to the incubus, then I can find a way to use him.
I just need to figure out what he wants, but we cannot afford to waste time.
Frost must sense that because we speed up, and within thirty minutes, we land on the outskirts of a city. As soon as we dismount, he shifts back.
“We need clothes.” I sigh. “We don’t exactly fit in, and we cannot afford to be arrested by humans.”
“Clothes?” Frost repeats. “The bindings the humans wear? Why?”
“Because humans are ashamed of their skin,” Corbin scoffs. “She’s right. We’ll be arrested like this. There’s a road. Maybe we can stop a car and try to get clothes, though I don’t think anything will fit him.” He nods at Frost.
“No, we need a store.” Biting my lip, I recall what I saw as we travelled. “We flew over one not too far from here. I can handle this.”
We walk through the forest to get to the shop on the outskirts of the city.
It appears empty, but we wait for any cars to pass before heading inside.
Frost follows us since he refused to wait in the forest despite Corbin’s annoyance.
The bored man behind the counter spares us a glance and then does a double take.
“Naked!” he blurts. “Sir, you can’t be naked in here.”
“Why? My form is magnificent,” Frost replies as I sigh.
“Corbin, take him to get clothes.”
Corbin drags a disgruntled Frost away, and I smile at the worker as I prowl towards him. He gulps as he watches me approach, and when I lean over the counter, giving him a view down the coat, he drops back in his chair, his eyes locked on my cleavage.
Just to make sure he doesn’t call the cops or something, I imbue my voice with my power, the magic wrapping around him as I speak. “We have no money, but that’s not a problem, is it?”
“Of course not,” he stutters, blinking rapidly. Some can sense when they are being influenced, usually if they have some type of supe blood in their ancestry. Maybe it’s diluted in his genes somewhere, but it is not enough for him to resist.
“He can’t be naked here,” he blurts as Frost enters his vision, holding up a shirt in confusion.
I grip the worker’s chin so the man focuses on me, and his lips part as he moans. “You are allowing us to take these things for free. You are so kind.”
“Kind,” he repeats in a daze. Our powers work extremely well on humans, since their minds are weaker without the protection of magic.
“Very,” I purr, then I glance at his name tag. “Steve.”
“So beautiful. I want to touch.” He reaches for me, and when his fingers wrap around my arm, I try to push him away, but his grip tightens and he starts to pull me over the counter.
Panic courses through me. I would usually be able to handle it, but memories of others doing the same consume my mind.
My powers stutter, and I begin to panic in earnest. Suddenly, a hand bends Steve’s arm back, and he screams in agony.
I look at Corbin’s cold, furious expression.
“Get what we need,” he orders me without looking away from Steve.
Nodding silently, I slip into the clothing racks. I go to pick a dress then hesitate, and instead I choose some jeans and a jumper, wanting my skin covered. I glance down at what I am wearing and realise just how much the last week has affected me.
What was once my temple and mine to use and control has turned into a scar.
What was once my body now feels like an enemy.
I hate it.
I grab some boots and zip them up before glancing at my reflection in the mirror.
I look nothing like me. My face is bare and still healing.
The clothes drown my form, but they also make me feel safe.
I look so young and scared, and I hate it.
I try to transform my face to my normal expression, but it seems wrong, so I turn away.
It’s not important right now. My hands catch on the collar I am still wearing, however, and I do not hesitate to tug at it.
Grabbing a screwdriver from the shelf closest, I manage to wiggle it between the metal and my skin and crack it.
When it falls away, I spit on the metal and heal the wounds I feel underneath before taking a deep breath.
Walking down the racks, I search for Frost when my eyes catch on a mug.
World’s Greatest Mum.
I don’t know why, but seeing that makes me want to cry. My heart shatters, and I struggle to move as the memory of her final moment haunts me.
Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I find Frost at the back of the store amidst a rack of clothing.
“Did you get what you need?” It’s a shame that his peachy ass is no longer on display, but it will work out better in the long run.
I don’t think I’m ready for intimacy anyway, which is strange because sex has always been my comfort.
Right now, the idea of another man touching me makes me want to scream.
I can look, though, and I will. Frost is stunning. I’d have to be dead not to notice, even if everything in me is a confused mess.
Maybe I should never want to see another man again. I’m not sure, but I’m just trusting myself to know what’s right for me.
Frost turns to me, and my mouth drops open.
The deep blue shirt is a work-style one with a brand above the left pec and buttons down the front, but the size he picked is too small, or he’s too large.
Either way, the shirt ends midway down his impressive abs, leading to the deepest Adonis belt I have ever seen.
The sight leaves me gawking, unable to look away.
“The clothes are restricting,” he grumbles as he lifts his arms and the shirt rises with him, flashing more muscle.
“I like it,” I offer with a wicked grin. “I like it a lot.”
He blinks in confusion before staring down at his shirt while Corbin joins us. “Put your abs away, you weirdo.”
“Where’s Steve?” He just blinks, and I sigh. “The worker.”
“He’s a little tied up at the moment.” Corbin gives me a smile that flashes white teeth.
It transforms his entire appearance. His stunning, stoic face brightens like the sun, his eyes sparkling with mirth, and I can’t look away.
I’ve never noticed how devastating a smile can be, but his makes me weak.
He blinks, and it falls away. “Are you okay?” he asks me, concerned.
“Fine. If we are ready, then let’s go.” I turn away, embarrassed by my reaction.
What is going on? Heading down the racks, I don’t look to either side in case I notice anything again, and instead I focus on the door, but a noise has me glancing over to see Steve struggling behind the counter, his mouth taped and hands and feet bound.
He’s quite literally tied up.
I chuckle as I walk out, a dragon and a shifter following me.