Inevitable Moves (Untraceable Succubus #6)

Chapter 1

“This is nice,” Owen said as we walked with Mudbug to the dog park. It was unseasonably warm the first day of March and I’d decided to use the opportunity to talk to him alone.

“It is,” I agreed.

“But you want to talk about something that has you knotted up,” he muttered, sounding worried.

I sighed, hating I was already busted. “I’m not sure how to bring this up and—I’m not picking on or one of you over the other.”

“Okay, now you’re scaring me like you only want to be with Evan or—”

“No,” I said firmly, grabbing his arm and making him stop walking even. “Owen, no, please. I could have discussed this with either of you, but it just lined up that we could talk today alone.”

He nodded but seemed worried… Which was the last thing I wanted.

“I’m not good at meddling and I think I’m going to overstep. That’s what you’re getting off of me and a bit of confusion because I don’t get how you guys don’t know how the other feels,” I blurted like a goober.

Understanding filled his eyes. “Okay, I get it now. You sensed something off between us. Wow, okay—yeah, I—sorry.” He blew out a harsh breath.

“The truth is we don’t know. We’re not around other elves enough to know that answer or if it’s about our birth.

We should know and we’ve missed huge things about each other before. ”

I knew that and wasn’t going to poke at it, but it was hard not to wonder or be confused when they were so damn good at figuring things out about everyone else. Then again, nothing was easy. My powers weren’t always consistent, and sensing “desires” was way more complicated than people realized.

Again, like so much in life.

He leaned down and snuck a quick kiss to my cheek. “Please meddle. Don’t keep things inside and stress yourself out. If you—please do. I want us to have that type of relationship where we can’t stand by and watch the other struggle. I know Evan feels the same.”

That was what I needed to hear. I couldn’t even hide my relief and let out an awkward laugh as we reached the dog park. Evan opened the gate for us and I went to let Mudbug off the leash but picked him up instead when a deep growl hit my ears.

“Cato,” someone called off in the distance.

I handed Mudbug over to Evan and turned to square off with the threat… Only to find the most pompous looking dog I’d ever laid eyes on. It looked like it had stepped right out of an old-school cartoon.

Like it had pom-poms on its damn feet.

On. Purpose.

I really thought that was only for jokes or like mocking dog shows, but I was staring at a poodle who had one of those ridiculous cuts. It was mostly shaved besides a poofy chest, tail, hair, ears—and the damn feet.

“Are we in the 80s and a workout video?” I whispered as I stared at the shit still growling at me. I glanced at Owen when he snorted thinking to check this wasn’t just me, but then the dog made its move.

Except it wasn’t to attack.

No, it was to hump me.

My leg more specifically.

“Cato, no!” that same man yelled as a human walked towards us.

“At least the dog has good taste,” Owen drawled.

“Not helping,” I grumbled before focusing on the man not making enough haste. “Can you handle this mongrel?”

He seemed to trip over his feet. “Mongrel? Mongrel?”

“Yes, mongrel,” I snapped as I tried to push the dog off of me. “I can’t think of a better word for an ill-behaved dog that—could you call him off of me?”

“Cato is a purebred whose lineage dates back centuries and—”

“Are you for real?” I blasted, shoving his dog a bit rougher than I needed to. “You’re arguing that with me and not moving your ass while your dog is assaulting me. Fucking move and—”

“Don’t get hysterical when he’s just playing,” the man said with a huff but at least walked faster.

That was apparently the limit for Owen because he handed me Mudbug and ripped the poodle off of me.

“Don’t speak to her like that when you can’t control your fucking beast and apparently have the same manners.

Don’t bring your fucking untrained dog to a public space when it doesn’t have recall and won’t listen to you. ”

The man flinched and demanded Owen let his dog go.

“No, not until you claim him,” Owen drawled, snapping at the dog to shut up when it growled at Owen.

To which Mudbug gave cute barks to back up his dad. They were puppy barks still but totes adorbs.

“Cato was just doing what dogs do, and if you’re not ready to understand that sort of behavior, then you shouldn’t come into a dog park,” the man snapped right back.

“And women smack men who talk down to them and don’t know how to behave like they should,” I verbally volleyed. “If you’re not able to handle that then you shouldn’t be around women.” I glanced him over and snorted. “Though I doubt you normally are.”

Owen tried to squash a snicker and failed.

The guy bristled as he reached us. “That is battery and—”

“Yes, exactly my fucking point,” I drawled, gesturing to his dog. “Just because your mongrel has instincts doesn’t make it any less unacceptable. Our mixed-breed puppy has better recall and training than your supposedly impressive dog, so maybe that’s not everything.”

Owen did a double take, understanding this was about more than the dogs now.

I took a threatening step toward the man when he almost reached us.

“Look at our very calm and not aggressive mutt when your dog started all of this and came at me. Unprovoked. And you’re not apologizing but excusing the behavior.

” I snorted when steam about came out of the man’s ears at the way I was insulting him.

By telling the truth.

Yes, the truth was insulting when unflattering.

I took a few steps back because the guy was human and it would be Owen who ended up dealing with the loser since it was real life and not handled among supes… Actually, supes would be the same damn way.

“Purebred normally means too much inbreeding,” I added as the man leashed his dog. “And I find the same in men who focus on lineage and such cringe things as well. So clearly, you are the perfect match. But I hope you both get yourselves under control before you and your mongrel are locked up.”

I spun on my heel and walked towards a different corner of the park, chilling out more with each step and kiss from Mudbug.

“You’re my hero,” a woman said as I got within ten feet of her and her dog.

I glanced over and saw her grinning from ear to ear.

“That guy is such a fucking douche. He uses this place as his own matchmaking service like he thinks real life is a romcom and he’s the star.

Except—as you just saw—his dog is a fucking nightmare and he’s got the personality of—”

“Steel wool while probably thinking it’s the charm of Hugh Grant?” Owen finished as he joined us.

The woman chuckled as she tapped her nose. “But even funnier you picked that with your fancy British accent.” She frowned and I felt her desire not to be rude but was curious.

“It’s real,” I chuckled as I set Mudbug down. “Sexy, right?”

She held up her left hand. “I got my sexy voice and everything at home, but glad you’re happy, girl.”

“Love a loyal one.” I went to move on, but her dog let out a small growl now that Mudbug was on the ground.

“We’re working on it,” she sighed heavily. “He’s not like other chihuahua’s, but—honestly it’s more that poodle. My boy is pretty good, but fuck is he petty and never forgets.”

I nodded. “The poodle started shit with him?”

She snorted. “Yeah, and got his ass handed to him in seconds.”

I blinked from her to her tiny dog before glancing over my shoulder at the poodle still being dragged away. That poodle had at least eighty pounds on the tiny dog.

“Well done, sir,” I praised the chihuahua, much to Owen and the owner’s amusement.

We said goodbye and kept walking since she was obviously working on training with her dog. Owen picked up a stick and tossed it for Mudbug. We chuckled when he went and raced after it, pounced on it… And promptly laid down to chomp on it.

“Okay, so we need to teach him fetch and do dog parks more,” I teased.

“The vet said not to until he reached a certain age,” Owen reminded me. “And even now, we’re not bringing him close to other dogs. It’s just so he gets a vibe and quickly. That way he won’t be scared later or intimidated.”

“It’s so—you’re amazing.” I cleared my throat and headed towards Mudbug, quickening my pace.

“Thank you. I feel the same about you, but I’m rather confused as to why you just said that about me,” Owen muttered as he caught up to me.

“You take it so seriously,” I admitted. “Him. Adopting him and when you give your word. You’ve looked into so much and how to be a good pup parent. It’s—you’re amazing.”

“And?” he pushed, his voice getting deeper.

So clearly, he knew what I was feeling.

Fine, I wasn’t one to be shy, just awkward. I glanced at him and met his gaze. “It’s sexy. It’s really fucking sexy that you take things so seriously without taking yourself too seriously and becoming a know-it-all about the topic.”

The elf flushed as he glanced away first. “Thanks. I think I needed to hear that today more than normal and that I’m not a screwup.”

I slid my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “I know you’re struggling and wanting a change. I know you have for maybe longer than you want to admit but don’t want to upset Evan or let him down.”

“I can’t,” he whispered, squeezing my hand back. “I can’t again, and I can’t—”

“He feels the same,” I said firmly, hating to cut off his feelings, but I couldn’t even imagine how long they had both been pushing for something they didn’t want any more for the other.

Or how many times they had done this in their centuries alive.

He yanked his hand away from mine and turned to square off with me, anger in his eyes. “He does? No. He—how could he not tell me that?”

“Seriously?” I snickered. “Pot? Kettle? Black?” I snorted when he sputtered and went over to Mudbug to retrieve the stick so he wasn’t a lazy boy when it was playtime. I pretended to throw it and Mudbug went racing off and searched all over for it.

So cute.

Mean of me but… So cute.

“Fair, but—we really do need to work on our communication,” Owen grumbled as he leaned his head on mine.

I chuckled softly. “I find that of all men, love.”

“Pot. Kettle. Black, love,” he teased.

Yeah, fair. I couldn’t even deny it. “I would guess you both were tiring of the constant grind and stress before you even met me. I felt a few pangs—small ones—but I felt them almost as if I made you feel like you didn’t achieve enough because I was so young and more accomplished.”

He didn’t even deny it, which always impressed me with the twins. “It was more annoyance that we had to keep ourselves limited because we’re hiding than like jealousy of you. It was more seeing how you could do so much when supported.”

“I know. I know,” I promised him. I was glad when he took my hand again. “You are—at your very core—two different sides of the coin. I would bet your whole business model plays up to your strengths like that.”

“Yes, but—please tell me what he really wants and how to make him happy,” Owen begged me, his tone broken.

I swallowed the pain of his desires. Owen fully understood that he’d done too much damage to his twin in the past.

I decided to pretend to be more a boss in this situation than a lover and go with my assessment that way. Even if maybe it was betraying a bit of trust I would have done it the other way around.

It truly was that I could catch Owen first in this sort of setting, not one twin over the other. I made sure to tell him that again and was glad when he believed me.

“Evan wants to help me with training and making a safe place for those who we have protected and will need it like you both didn’t have,” I told him gently. “He wants to get more into the fight from behind the scenes.”

“And I don’t,” he breathed, sounding ashamed of himself.

“You aren’t a fighter like that, and there’s no shame in that, Owen,” I told him firmly. “None. Kiera isn’t either. So many of our people aren’t. They are still pivotal in all of this. Money is the only reason we can keep fighting. She needs the distraction and purpose.”

“But she swoops in and helps clean it all up and I can’t—”

I turned to square off with him this time.

“The fuck you can’t and haven’t. Do not—you have, Owen.

When you thought I was Arcadia and in trouble with that asshat club owner and his guys?

When I was dragged to ISLE and you had no idea?

You wouldn’t leave me, willing to risk yourself. You are fucking amazing.”

“Well, I am when you tell it,” he chuckled softly and brought my hand to his lips. The heat in his eyes that I saw that much of him was unreal and made me shiver. “Thank you for not judging me.”

“There is nothing anyone should have for you but praise, Owen,” I promised him.

“You guys talk and for real for once. Decide what you want. Decide for yourself what you really want and stop living for each other.” I grabbed both his hands and brought them to my lips this time.

“And stop trying to pay back wrongs of the past.”

“I don’t know how,” he rasped.

“Stop making the same mistakes is a good start. It’s the one I’m working on as well,” I told him to take the sting out of my words. “Talk to your twin and tell him what you really want after you think…”

I trailed off because his desires swarmed me when we were this close and that wasn’t how it went with elves. They were muted to me. It wasn’t much normally, but glimpses. This was a fire and that said a lot.

Not just about our closeness but also how much he clearly wanted it.

“I see,” I whispered, staring up into his pretty Egyptian blue eyes. “I would more than support that, and Kyria could definitely use the help. Good help. But… I won’t make the call or handle it. That wouldn’t be fair, and there’s already a lot in place.”

“No, that wouldn’t be fair,” he agreed, his eyes flashing shock. “And honestly, I would—I like—I’ll think on it more. I don’t think it would even be under Kyria.”

No, it wouldn’t. He wanted to be under Joshua with handling the inside of clubs and the restaurant aspects. He liked handling the distributors and more.

Better him than me. Either way, he now knew what was really going on and could handle it between himself and Evan. I could let them deal with their own everything and stop carrying the guilt around about knowing they were struggling.

Hopefully.

I had enough to carry already anyways.