Chapter 11 Ramsey #2
“Nice to meet you,” I grit out, and struggle to let her go.
I need to get the fuck out of here before I embarrass myself any further.
“I should get back—” I begin, but then the scent of arousal permeates the air.
I snap my eyes to her before realizing it’s coming from someone else, but she’s a witch, so of course she can’t smell it.
It’s soon followed by a thump and a masculine groan of satisfaction coming from around the corner—that gets her attention.
Her eyes widen and dart to where the increasingly fervent noises are coming from and her plush lips part in shock.
Just a taste, the dragon pleads.
“Is that what I think it is?” She raises her eyebrow, and I see a spark of humor in her eyes as I shrug. It’s certainly not the first time I’ve heard people fucking in the stacks.
“I didn’t think that actually happened in real life,” she whispers, and then she’s grabbing my wrist and pulling us farther into the shadowed corner to eavesdrop. I’m glad she’s spying around the corner instead of noticing my own cock hardening, surrounded by her scent.
Is this Hell? Did I die somehow?
Whoever’s getting pounded right now yelps, and once more the dragon bombards me with a highlight reel of how I could make her scream instead.
“She’s not very convincing,” she whispers, and I barely manage to cover my chuckle with a cough before remembering I’m a big scary dragon-man who doesn’t hide in corners listening to other people fuck.
“I mean, right?” She looks back at me, and my neurons aren’t fast enough to think of a response before she turns away again.
The thumping and slapping sounds speed up and the girl's moans become muffled, probably because the dude covered her mouth to shut her up, thank fuck. Soon, it becomes apparent that he’s about to finish.
Just when he starts to groan, the heavy scent of Nyx’s arousal taunts me, and I slump against the wall to hold myself up, momentarily delirious as my head spins.
Murmurs come from around the corner, then a giggle and fading whispers as whoever just got railed in the stacks departs.
I need to get out of here before my dragon forces a shift and tries to actually kidnap this poor girl.
But then Nyx turns to me, cheeks slightly flushed and holding back laughter.
“Does this happen often?” she asks, following me when I practically sprint back to my table.
Why is she following me? I groan, but the beast practically preens.
See? No kidnapping needed. Just don’t fuck it up for us.
“That was PG compared to what I’ve seen,” I answer gruffly before slouching in my chair again when we arrive at my little corner.
“Mind if I take a seat?” she asks, seeing her bag down on the table in front of me.
“Yes, actually.” I snap, and she freezes.
Fucking moron, the dragon hisses.
Is this what a conscience is? When you feel like shit for making someone else feel like shit? Because that’s what happens when I see the warmth in her eyes evaporate instantly. She stiffens, and the small smile that’d blinded me moments ago fades away into nothingness.
“Got it,” she deadpans, turning to leave. And that’s when we both notice Killian-motherfucking-Hastings has entered the chat. There’s no mistaking the scent that follows him. His mussed hair and smug smile only confirm his recent activities.
“You’re a hard one to find, shy girl.” He grins, stalking forward, his previous conquest forgotten. Wait—do they know each other? “Where’ve you been hiding?” he asks, biting his lower lip and invading her space.
“Not hiding, just not interested in walking around with a target on my back. Thanks for that by the way,” she grounds out, but despite the steel in her voice, both of us hear her heart rate quicken.
“I can fix that, you know,” he says with a shrug.
“Come on—I’ll introduce you around. I’m sure everyone just needs a chance to get to know you.
Just like I want to,” his voice deepens as his eyes lower, and a surge of fury rushes through me.
Neither me nor my dragon want Killian-motherfucking-Hastings anywhere near this girl.
“Killian,” I growl, and the bastard looks up, flashing a condescending smile before reaching out to brush a lock of Nyx’s hair that’s covering her eyes.
I stand so fast the chair crashes backwards, intent on stopping him, but Nyx slaps his hand away before I can intervene.
And I freeze—because while I could easily crush Killian where he stands, she’s defenseless.
Any other Heir would have her on her knees, pleading for forgiveness, but the bastard’s eyes light up in triumph, like he’s just gotten what he wanted all along.
Bile churns in my stomach as I realize the wolf is fucking toying with her.
“No fucking touchy,” she says, deceptively calm and full of false bravado.
“You and your little besties need to get it through your deranged heads that it is not okay to keep touching strangers,” she admonishes, and we’re both dumbstruck: me, in shock that she’s just called Killian and the other Heirs—arguably some of the most powerful demons outside of Hell—“little besties”; and Killian because I doubt anyone’s ever turned him down.
“Who touched you,” I growl out, and she whirls around, suddenly remembering that I’m still here. Her eyes are full of fire, and for a split second I think she’s going to tell me, but then she closes her mouth and the blank mask falls over her features again. Serves me fucking right.
“Doesn’t matter,” she mutters, and adjusts the backpack on her shoulders, but Killian blocks her as she turns to leave.
“What can I do to convince you to give me a chance, Nyx Byrke, twenty-year-old to-be-determined witch who was raised human?” She crosses her arms, which maybe wasn’t the best idea because it makes her tits look fucking fantastic through the gap in her shirt.
“Congratulations, you convinced Tori to rat me out. What powers of persuasion you have,” she deflects in a deadpan voice. Did she just make a big bad wolf joke? It grates, not knowing half of what they’re talking about.
“Wasn’t Tori, actually,” he shrugs. “Perks of being the son of a Councilman,” he says with a predatory smile.
“You say that like nepotism isn’t just as gross as coercion.” She scoffs. He licks his bottom lip as she stares him down, despite easily being a foot shorter, and with a heavy sigh he turns his body to let her pass.
“Can’t hide from me forever,” he calls out after her.
“I don’t need forever. I just need long enough for you to move onto the next shiny object,” she clips back, flipping him off without looking back. He chuckles as she disappears around a corner, and turns to me with a victorious grin.
“You smell that, bro?” He inhales deeply, tapping his nose. “Seems like she liked the free show. Coulda tracked that a mile away.” He narrows his eyes , leaning toward me, and his savage grin widens. “Seems like you did too, you dirty bird.”
Fury ignites in my chest. “I’m not your fucking bro, and she doesn’t deserve whatever game you’re playing,” I ground out, glaring when the prick only smirks in response.
“She’s gotta learn somehow.” He shrugs. “But don’t worry, she’s in good hands. Or at least, she will be.” He smirks and my eyesight suddenly changes as the dragon makes himself known. Killian puts his hands up and takes a step back in capitulation.
“Looks like you need to cool off, bro,” he taunts with a devious smile before putting his hands in his pockets and sauntering away. Heavy silence descends, but in my head the screaming storm of emotions and feelings—ugh—is deafening.
What the fuck just happened?
Why did she smell so goddamned good?
I hate that she’s on his radar.
Why do I hate that? I don’t even know her.
But I do know Killian and the rest of those fucks well enough that my stomach drops with dread when I think of what they might do in the face of her brazen disdain. Despite my strength, my power as a moratus, even I would hesitate before challenging them so openly.
And that feeling—this anxiety and foreboding twisting my insides, my chest, scares me more than the Heirs ever will.
I need to get out of here.
If I can fly fast enough, far enough, maybe I can outpace these thoughts before they follow me into the skies.