Chapter 8 There’s an App for That #2
The rut suppressant still wasn’t working properly, and real sex was the only thing that would help. Usually, I avoided it during a job, but in this case it might be necessary, and I needed to get it over with quickly so I could concentrate again. My time was running out.
But with who? And how? My dick wanted Sage, but that was obviously not happening. Cindralis, like all the city-states, had heat clinics for single omegas who wanted pre-screened alphas to help them out with their own needs, but I’d always thought the places sounded kind of depressing.
Besides, I wasn’t pre-screened, and that process took weeks precisely because they didn’t want rutting alphas coming in and accidentally hurting or taking advantage of someone.
No, I was going to have to do this the old-fashioned way, and after a quick sniff test confirmed I was fine not stopping home for a shower, I found my car and drove downtown, finding the closest bar and heading inside.
The place was packed, and I took off my fake ring before ordering an Appletini and scoping out the women. A pretty beta witch who reminded me of Sage caught my eye, but when she caught me staring, she frowned and walked away.
I must have looked like such a creep.
I sighed and turned around to face the bar, pulling out my phone. There were also dating apps for alphas like me—a skeevier alternative to heat clinics. Some Magiks were actually into ruts with anonymous alphas, so it sounded like my best bet.
Garrick had mentioned one he liked to use, and I downloaded it.
Just as I was about to start making a profile, a cute familiar plopped down beside me.
She had long, white-tipped red hair with two streaks of black framing her face.
Russet skin with warm, amber eyes, she ordered a vodka tonic and then turned to face me.
“Do those ever get in the way?” she asked, pointing to the top of my head.
I looked up, seeing the tips of my horns from where they jutted out. “Get in the way of what?”
She shrugged. “Hats?”
I choked on my drink as I laughed. “Hats? Really?”
“I don’t know,” she chuffed. She put a few runics on the bar as she got her drink, taking a big sip. “Just making conversation.”
I was a little surprised to see her by herself. Normally, familiars didn’t stray too far from their witches.
As if she read my mind, she pointed with her thumb behind her to two witches making out in the corner. “She’ll be busy all night,” the familiar chuckled. “I’m Kit, by the way.”
She held out her hand and I took it. “Ronan.”
“Ronan,” she repeated, like she was rolling my name along her tongue, trying to decide if she liked the taste of it or not. “Have you ever fucked a familiar before?”
I choked again. “Ravaric, you’re forward.”
She looked down at my phone. “You’re downloading Unleashed, so I figured I’d cut to the chase.”
My eyes darted to my screen and I groaned, quickly turning it off. “Sorry about that.”
She laughed, the sound somewhere between a wheeze and a squeak. It was cute. “Don’t be. I’m here to play, too, and you’re hot.”
Flattery was definitely the way to my heart.
Well, my dick at least, which was starting to stir.
I was relieved that the weird spell Sage’s scent had cast on me might finally be waning, because no, I’d never fucked a familiar before.
And while I wasn’t the one to have a sexual bucket list, it certainly sounded like it could be an interesting experience.
She downed the rest of her drink and then stood up, grabbing my hand. “Come on, there’s some good trees outside.”
I kind of liked that she hadn’t even bothered waiting for a response. Women who took charge were my thing. “Wait, outside?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m a fox.”
Made sense to me.
Once we were far away enough from anyone who could see from the sidewalk, she wrapped her arms around my neck and began to kiss me.
Her lips were warm and soft, and she tasted like vodka from her drink, but also summer berries and mint.
She moaned slightly as her tongue pressed against the seam of my lips, and I opened them to let her through. Her tongue plundered my mouth, forceful and hungry, and her hands ran down my chest.
It felt so nice to be touched, but that was all I was strangely feeling. Just nice. Not hot, not sexy. It was like a non-sexual massage. My rut was there, and my dick felt like it wanted to get hard, but this…
Wasn’t working.
No. No, no, no, I was too young to be having problems like that! Shit, how embarrassing. I grabbed her ass and ground against her, hoping the friction would stir me to life. I needed this. I wanted this.
I wanted…
Sage.
I pulled away from the kiss and sighed, resting my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”
Her hands landed on my shoulders, giving me a gentle rub. “Is it me?” she asked, a tinge of sadness in her tone.
“No, definitely not. You’re fucking gorgeous. It’s just… there’s someone else. I can’t have her, but my dick hasn’t realized that yet,” I admitted with a soft chuckle. “And then this rut started, and now the suppressant isn’t working… I’m a mess.”
She took a step back and gave me a sympathetic smile. “I get it. Sure, the rejection stings, but you seem like a nice guy, and I’m sorry we can’t help each other scratch our itches.”
I almost laughed again. If she only knew.
“By the way, are you using elf-made suppressant?”
I looked up and tilted my head in confusion. “Is there any other kind?”
She took out her phone and showed me the screen.
“Obviously. There are a ton of varieties made by witches that might be more effective. This app just came out, and we’ve started using it.
You can find a witch and order all sorts of tailor-made potions, charms…
whatever you want. I bet there’s someone who can make a great rut suppressant for you, and add in something to help with that complication of your unrequited love. Elf magic can’t do shit about that.”
… She wanted to make an app to connect freelance witches with other Magiks…
“You said this just came out? Who made it?”
“Why would I know that? Do you know who made Unleashed?” she asked, giving me a teasing nudge with her elbow.
“Good point,” I conceded. “What’s the name of the app?”
“Kaldrin. Oh, and if you ever want to order anything from us, my witch’s name is Brooke Fernsby. Her specialty is summoning charms for lost items and things like that.”
I paused. “What about lost people?”
She wiggled a finger in my face. “Nice try, buddy. Maybe you should move on, it sounds like she’s not interested.”
Damn, she was sharp. “No, but for real. Is there witch magic that can do that?”
She shook her head in disappointment. “No, sorry. Summoning charms and spells only work if the item or person wants to be found. If your princess doesn’t want to see you, you’re out of luck.”
“Well, you can hardly blame me for asking,” I said with a half smile. “But this is great. Thanks a lot, Kit.”
She patted me on the shoulder and headed back to the bar. “No problem, Ronan. And good luck. I hope you get through this rut and find whatever it is you’re really looking for.”