Chapter Four

Dakata

His skin hummed with the vibrations of the words even after Silas had left the stage. His presence affected both Dakata and his demon.

In all the years he’d worked as a producer, he’d never heard a raw talent like Silas’s. The innate goodness inside the dryad spun like a sparkling net he cast out to capture the hearts of those around him.

What the hell was he thinking?

Dakata scowled at the whimsical nature of his thoughts even as his dark gaze swept the room, noting the expressions of those who cheered for the man who slipped silently from the stage. Hunger. Desire. Lust. Want. Greed. Enjoyment. Contentment. Love.

He processed them and gave a death glare at the man projecting love tucked into the back of the club.

“Why are you killing someone with a look? Seriously, did you not just have an out-of-body experience listening to Silas? You can’t be that hard-hearted, brother!”

Never one to explain himself and particularly when it came to feelings—something in the pit of his stomach he struggled to name felt extreme—they were not up for discussion. Dakata wasn’t about to change the way he acted now, despite how much the performance affected him. “Christa, I listen to artists all day long, why would this be any different?”

Her eye roll said she didn’t believe him. “Whatever. Are you just going to sit there, or are you going to go and chase that gorgeous, talented tree nymph and get his number? Or better yet, give him yours because he’s bound to call you back.” Christa laughed. Amusement danced in her eyes as she picked up her champagne flute and sipped at the sparkling wine.

“Do you know how annoying you are?” he snarled, even while he rose to do exactly as she suggested with a sense something dramatic would change when he did.

Dakata became distracted by his demon choosing that moment to voice what it wanted. He’s yummy, and I want a taste.

He ground his back molars together at what that meant—for him—for them.

“Of course, you and Rahart tell me daily.” Christa’s laughter tinkled like a dozen tiny bells as she pulled him from an argument with his demon side. Only the sound did not match the withering look, which could have made a human curl up in agony and beg for forgiveness, that she gave him.

She, being the only girl in the family, somehow felt she could escape being told she was a pain in their ass most of the time. They were demons, that would never happen.

The sultry smile returned in a flash. “But then I’m the youngest and it’s my job to be annoying.”

Wasn’t that the truth!

Long, dark, silky strands flowed over the silk of her dress when she tilted her head towards the side of the stage. There was a door there that led to the back. “Stop delaying and pretending you aren’t interested.”

He towered over her and pinched her chin. “One of these days your meddling will get you into trouble.” He let go and stalked off towards the door, hearing her laughter follow him.

Accessing the backstage wasn’t an issue, Branson actively encouraged him to interact with the performers. The club manager was an anomaly—Branson wanted the acts that performed at his club to succeed as it continued to encourage new talent through his door and keep the crowds flocking back. A win-win situation all-around.

Through the door, Dakata’s demon led the way to the backstage room Silas used. At the open door, before Dakata even searched the room, he sensed Silas wasn’t there. The band, who’d been on stage before Silas, lounged around drinking beer.

“Where’s Silas,” he demanded, having no time for pleasantries at the crushing disappointment that came from his demon— and you.

He blocked his demon.

“Yo, man,” the guy on the couch pushed against the back wall said, raising his beer bottle in salute. “You just missed him. He skipped right out after his performance. He always does.”

Go after him.

The growling his demon was doing made it hard to be civil, so instead, Dakata nodded his thanks, then headed for the sign that said ‘exit’ in the opposite direction he’d come from. He burst through the door into the side street, his nose twitching, but there was no sign of Silas or his scent.

He bent at the waist and sucked in greedy breaths, doing complicated math in his head to prevent his demon from breaking free. Doing math always pissed off his demon enough to the point he’d usually recede. This time it wasn’t working, and his demon’s mocking laughter set his blood to boil.

We want him. Now.

“Fuck, wait at least till we are in the car! We don’t need an audience or to be reported again because you can’t control your urges.” Despite his demands and concerns, his demon fought for freedom. One sweeping look around, the emptiness of the side street working in Dakata’s favor as he stripped off his jacket, tie, and shirt in record time. His slacks were fine left in place, he had them specially designed to accommodate his cock when his demon came forth. Naked and showing exactly how enormous he became had caused one-to-many riots in the past.

The air shimmered around him, and Dakata’s awareness merged with that of his demon. Crimson skin stretched across his massive bare torso, rippling with power and extreme strength. He stretched another half-foot taller, black, silky hair flowed down his back as his horns emerged and curved back, the silver tips gleamed in the moonlight. Coal-black eyes took in their surroundings.

When the two sides merged, every sense became enhanced. Dakata’s vision could detect the motes of dirt dancing in the air regardless of the moonlit darkness. He could distinguish between sounds miles away in the distance and scent immediately that Silas was nowhere near.

He roared in frustration, a sound that silenced the voices within a mile radius. Dakata understood there was no controlling what happened now. His demon wasn’t in any frame of mind to be sensible.

They headed to the main street, and Dakata was only a passenger as his demon stalked out, clutching his clothing as folks screamed and scuttled away like ants frightened of being trampled on. If they got in the way, they probably would be.

They went towards where the SUV had parked and stopped behind it where Silas’s scent lingered. He growled ominously when his head tilted back and he inhaled the air, getting nothing but the smell of gasoline. Clearly Silas had gotten into a vehicle, but to chase all the smells would be fruitless and exhausting.

He’s gone.

“ Find him for us !” his demon insisted angrily.

Then give me back control, and I’ll try.

“ Do you not think I can feel your reluctance? There will be no trying. Find him or else…”

“Do you know how crazy you look talking to yourself, Daks? I thought that was you I heard roaring like a savage. I can’t leave you alone for a single minute.” Christa tutted and took hold of his elbow, guiding them to the waiting SUV. “Get in before you scare the world and his wife.”

His demon didn’t argue, he was always a little wary of Christa because her demon side, when she made an appearance, was a screecher and hurt his ears.

“Good decision,” she said, patting him like one would a toddler when he got inside the car. She shut the door and twisted on the seat, holding up a piece of paper, smiling. “I’ve a contact number for Silas and an address.”

He reached to snatch the paper out of her hand, his claws tearing the corner as she tugged her hand back, shaking her head. “Nope. You need to go home and calm your ass down because in this state you’ll frighten Silas.”

She looked at the driver as his demon gave her a perplexed look. “Miller, let's get Dak’s home, please.”

“This is our true self, he will not fear us!” his demon rasped huskily, believing it fully. “He will want us as we want him.”

Christa slapped his chest. “You have a lot to learn about attraction. What do you think is going to happen? You’ll beat your chest and show him your massive organ, then demand to fuck, and this will seduce the tree nymph?” She cackled as the car drew smoothly into the traffic.

Glowering at his sister, Dakata focused on getting his demon to recede. Exhausted and sweaty by the time he shifted, he sank back against the leather seat and ignored the woman at his side, who was still eyeing him with continued amusement.

He willed Miller to put his foot down to avoid the continued lecture he could see coming from a mile away. He wasn’t wrong when Christa tapped a tattoo on her leg.

“This is what happens when you don’t let out your demon, Daks. Maybe you should pay a visit to our realm and pick up a willing fuck—”

“Don’t,” he snapped, his skin tightening at the very idea of being naked with someone who wasn’t the chocolate eyed nymph. It unnerved him that it wasn’t just his demon half feeling that way.

For a second, he contemplated whether a visit to his realm was exactly what he needed…

You do that and I’ll go on a rampage of the kinds you’ve never been party to before.

Give the fuck over and don’t threaten me.

It’s not a threat, it’ll be fact.

They often had spats, but this time Dakata knew it could intensify beyond that. Keep your horns on. When do I ever go to our realm for sex?

A heavy silence fell between them, and Dakata sensed a headache brewing when Christa held the piece of paper in front of his face and waved it at him. “Call him tomorrow and invite him out for a coffee, or whatever they drink in the forest.” She kissed the side of his sweaty face. “And for once, try not to be yourself.”