Chapter 25: Greer

Chapter Twenty-Five

Greer

S omething happened the last time I bit Novak. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I initiated a matebond, but those necessitate intent, something I didn’t have.

The two tiny fang marks now marking his olive skin say something happened, though.

I push my lips against them in silent apology for scarring his skin, and a shiver runs down my spine.

Oh shit, yeah...that might be a permanent bondmark, based on the tingle that flows through my system when I touch them.

Um, do vampires not require intent when initiating a matebond if it’s placed on the neck? Someone really should have told me that.

That must be why he gave me a stern lecture about not biting anyone on the neck. Come to think of it, Cole always went for other arteries, but it makes me feel silly and a little self-conscious that I didn’t know any better.

Novak spins me in his lap until I face the room and walks me through feeding from each of the humans. I barely take a few sips from each, but Tristan and Courtney seem nice enough. They’re attractive, for humans, and it’s convenient that they’re in a relationship, especially because my venom sends them into a hypersexual state that makes my face heat.

“Well, we’ll need to practice a bit more with the venom control,” Novak says, standing with me in his arms. “But that’s a problem for another day. It’s already almost five. I’m sure you’re getting sleepy to prepare for your daytime slumber.”

It is getting hard to keep my eyes open.

Novak steps over the couple and strides toward the door. “Tomorrow night, we have a meeting with a colleague. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I will need you to recount your turning to the best of your ability.”

“What?” I choke out.

“I had no choice but to declare you to the paranormal council. We’re not in trouble, but they need to verify that the details I gave them are true.”

“About Cole?” I ask and gasp. “Holy shit! I said his name, and I’m not in agony.”

Novak squeezes my ass and stretches out a hand to open his office door. “That is an excellent turn of events, indeed.”

Reign and Seiran join us on our way out of the club. Novak didn’t text or call them, not that I saw, so I’m baffled how they knew it was time to leave. Maybe they head out every morning close to five. I don’t know, but I’m so exhausted, I don’t give it more than a passing thought.

The cool night air hits my skin as Novak totes me out the back door.

Something in the energy changes. My head flies up, and I try to scan to see what that feeling is.

My jaw falls when I spot the old woman from the magic shop. Okay, she has her hood up, so I don’t recognize her, but the cane gives it away.

“What the hell have you done now, Novak?” Lisette asks, gesturing at me and him with her cane.

“It doesn’t matter. They’ve done enough that my magic feels comfortable taking action.” It’s Hazel’s voice. She’s a friend from Haven, and her magic is…

Oh, shit!

Novak locks his knees, likely to keep from hitting the ground like Reign and Seiran do.

“What the bloody hell kind of magic is that, woman?” Reign growls.

My head turns to the side just in time to see him attempt to turn to smoke, but he rematerializes in the same spot.

“Hazel, no!” I squeak, stretching my legs and climbing down Novak’s front. “They saved me. No doing the thing .”

The thing would be her devouring their souls, but I don’t want to say it aloud because it’s a very closely guarded secret.

Hazel is the offspring of a blood witch, a sin eater, and a reaper.

Yeah, there are three parts to her recipe. Each one more dangerous than the last, and when they combined, they formed a devourer—a type of demon that can devour souls rather than reaping them for rebirth in the pit in Hell. When she feeds on someone’s soul, they simply cease to exist.

I stomp toward her with zero fear. Mostly because I babysat her and her sister when they were little, and also, those are my mates she’s trying to munch on.

“Stop, or I’m going to punch you in the boob,” I hiss, jabbing a finger at her chest.

Seiran and Reign release agonizing sounds that make my insides ache. Seiran’s misery floods the bond, along with Novak’s. He’s just much better at internalizing pain, I suppose, which makes me think of what he told me about his maker.

“I’m not messing around. Don’t hurt them, Hazel. I’ll never forgive you!”

Her huge, void-like eyes blink repeatedly as her head tilts. “You’ve changed.”

“Yeah,” I whisper, and my eyes ache like I might burst into tears. “Thank you for coming to check on me, but please stop torturing my mates.”

I exhale in pure relief when her more humanoid appearance takes over her face. The size of her eyes shrinks by half, her horns disappear, and she gains a bit of color to her otherwise deathly pale cheeks.

“Ember called me seven times.” She huffs, shoving her straight black hair behind her shoulder. “You’re lucky I refused to siphon her and all three of her mates. She was dead set on coming with me. They were not keen on allowing her to come solo. We settled on them staying behind.” She shrugs. “Actually, I purposely left without mentioning where I was headed.”

“Mates?” I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth. Ember is a dear friend. She’s the shifter I told Seiran about when I mentioned we went on a daytime hike on my last birthday. “Last I knew, the only mate she had was Veryn.”

“A lot seems to have changed for you in very little time too.” Hazel’s eyebrow quirks.

Yeah, I guess she’s right about that.

“As lovely as it is to meet a friend of Greer’s,” Novak says in a clipped tone. “Sunrise is coming, and I need to get my progeny somewhere safe to slumber.”

“Yes, you do.” Hazel appraises the sky and nods. “I’ll accompany you.”