Chapter 17

The moment Selene swept past Pydiana, the Harpy let out a celebratory whoop. Selene looked back and saw her shooting up into a blue sky. The ominous clouds that had rumbled down at them were now gone.

Selene felt a mixture of happiness and relief. She couldn't hold back a smile as they passed under the stone archway that announced their official entry into Iriswood.

Mission accomplished.

Sam, on the other hand, didn't seem to feel so enthusiastic. He was looking at her like she was an alien.

Selene ignored him at first, but then asked, "What?"

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You just… " The corners of his mouth tightened as he trailed off.

They walked in silence for several moments until Sam said, "I asked you to follow my lead on this journey."

"And?"

"That was all I asked, and what did you do?"

"Got us into Iriswood," she quipped. She hadn't realized how many tricks she had picked up from breaking up fights between her parents—staying calm, practicing empathy, asking questions. Yet, instead of the fight ending in slammed doors or broken dishes, her efforts had actually diffused the situation this time. It felt quite satisfying.

Sam frowned. "That may be, but—"

"But what?"

"I thought humans didn't possess magic."

"What magic? It's called talking."

"No. You charmed her. Made her bend to your will. How?"

"It was no magic." The packed dirt of the trail was giving way to gravel. Selene kicked a large stone marring her path. "I figured not many people had been nice to her. So I tried talking to her like a person. It felt like that was what she needed."

"But that song. How did you create it?"

"I didn't! It was the birthday song!"

"And that is?"

Selene frowned. "Sorry, I guess you don't have that here. It's a song we sing in my world to celebrate the day a person was born."

"For what purpose?"

Craning her neck to watch the Harpies of Iriswood flit from one elevated building to the next, she said, "There's no purpose. It's just a custom to honor someone once a year. It was the first song I could think of with someone's name. We got lucky, I guess."

Sam was quiet, seeming to mull over the concept of birthdays and songs. Then said, "You did something to me too. Restrained me somehow."

"Now you"re talking crazy."

"When my instincts to… to punish arise, it"s difficult to stop them. But I felt different there. More calm. What did you do?"

"Nothing! I don"t know what you mean."

"Hmm. Regardless, you didn't need to intervene back there. I was in full control of the situation. She could have easily killed you, stolen everything we had, then ripped off strips of your skin until—"

"You don't have to be so graphic."

"Look what she did to your arm!"

"It's nothing. See?" Selene held out her arm. The red scratch from Pydiana's talon had bled a little, but was already closed over.

Sam made a disgusted noise. When they entered into the main part of Iriswood, he commanded, "Pull up your hood. There could be vampires near, readying to emerge."

Selene obeyed, suddenly self-conscious, and fearful of rogue vampires. She tried to keep her head down as she watched the inhabitants of Iriswood go about their business.

Although Harpies seemed to be the dominant population, the village wasn't without other Aurelian races. Most of the buildings in Iriswood were built high on stilts or nestled into tree branches. She watched a Drago emerge from an elevated red house and use the small claws of his toes to climb down a rope. A Nereid splashed her feet in a puddle. Two Lycahs circled each other like wolves, before embracing in a hug.

They seemed harmless enough, but Selene could tell from the way Sam kept rubbing the back of his neck he was growing nervous. When they reached the end of the main road, Selene spotted the only building in Iriswood built at ground level. It was a narrow brick structure with a faded sign that read The Golden Gust. Underneath the letters were a painted mug of beer and a crudely drawn bed. She pointed to it. "Look, is that the inn?"

Tension branched from Sam's eyes as he looked down at her, then the inn. "Yes. But… " He tugged at one of the leather bracers encircling his forearm.

Selene's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Really?"

"My… feelings have changed," Sam spoke hesitantly before his words came out in a rush. "Perhaps we should just pass through Iriswood and keep going. Not stay here tonight."

"I thought you said we needed to stay at the inn."

"The woods will be safe. I think."

"You think?" Selene asked. "Oh. I was so looking forward to a real bath. In a tub. Why the sudden change of heart?"

Sam shrugged.

"Is it too expensive?" she asked. "I'm sorry I didn't think about that."

"I am not lacking for gold!" he thundered as a rowdy-looking group of Lycah men pushed past them to enter the tavern, followed by a Harpy with glossy emerald wings.

"Well, if you don't think it's safe, then let's not stop."

Sam stood silent for so long Selene feared he hadn't heard her. But then he muttered, "Very well. We'll stay the night."

The Golden Gust was larger than it appeared from the outside, but the myriad of junk tacked to the walls made the space feel cramped. Corroded horseshoes, faded paintings, rusted utensils, and taxidermic creatures occupied every inch of vertical space. Even the wooden beams running across the ceiling had things tacked to them. Most patrons were hunched over their drinks at small wooden tables, but others played cards or talked with animated gestures.

Selene could tell from Sam's concentrated expression that he was scanning the room for threats as they entered. He seemed to be sizing up every person in the tavern, but no one paid them any notice. When he placed his hand on her lower back to guide her toward a stool at the end of the bar, Selene slowed her steps to make the contact last.

The tavern was warm from the large fire crackling in the back. The green-winged Harpy they had seen outside stood in front of it, and began to sing.

Selene took in the small jarred candles burning at each table and the mostly elderly clientele. It was a cozy little place. Sam's forehead was creased, but she didn't see any reason for alarm.

"Do you want a drink?" he asked.

"Sure."

"Ale?"

"I'm not a huge fan of beer, or ale… whatever. Do they have wine? Preferably red?"

"We only have rose thorn wine, my lady," a deep voice intoned from her right.

Selene turned to see a huge creature covered in brown fur emerging from a doorway behind the bar. He gave her a shy smile with big, crooked teeth and wiped his hands across a green apron.

Selene's scalp tingled as she realized she was looking at Bigfoot. No, a Sasquatch. No… that wasn't right. What were they called here? The Vowa! Her first sighting of a Vowa in the flesh! Most Aurelians looked vaguely humanlike to her, apart from the animalistic features indicative of their race. But this guy looked like he had come straight from a cryptozoology book, maybe with a bit less fur.

"Rose thorn wine sounds good," she said, trying not to stare. Or let on that she had no idea what rose thorn wine tasted like.

"And I'll have an ale," Sam said. "Do you have any rooms?"

"We have two available."

"With bathtubs?" Selene asked, hopefully.

"I'm sorry, no. They share a bathing chamber with the other rooms on the second floor."

Sam's face clouded into a scowl. "Unacceptable. The lady wants a private bath—"

"It's fine," Selene interrupted.

"If it's a bath you want, then you shall have it."

The bartender looked nervously at Sam. "The other rooms are occupied. We can bring a tub and buckets of hot water to the room if you like—"

"That would be perfect," Selene said quickly. "Thank you so much."

The bartender nodded, then tilted his big head toward Sam before taking a step back. His voice quavered as he said, "I know who you are. You're that demon—"

Sam slammed a fist down on the bar so hard a crack formed in the wood. "We're still waiting on our drinks."

The bartender gulped, then rushed to pull two glasses hanging from the ceiling with shaking hands.

Selene turned to Sam. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," he snapped.

"You're being rude."

"Yes."

The Vowa placed both drinks before them and quickly headed for the other side of the bar. He retrieved two keys from a row of hooks, then slid them down into Sam's waiting palm.

Selene took a sip of the pink liquid and was surprised by how sweet it tasted. Minty, floral, and fresh—almost like drinking liquid springtime. Sam was not one to savor his drink, apparently. He tipped back his mug to swallow the entire contents. Then his eyes continued to dart back and forth throughout the room.

"I… I need to excuse myself for a moment," he said. "Keep your head down and don't talk to anyone."

Selene nodded and watched as Sam traveled through the room, seeming to size up every Aurelian he passed before disappearing through a doorway at the back. He was thrumming with tension, and Selene wondered if the Harpy incident had bothered him more than he let on.

She still couldn't believe the birthday song had saved her. She mentally proposed a toast to herself and took a sip of wine. Already her limbs felt pleasantly warm, and the knot between her shoulders was loosening.

It was nice to have a moment to herself. There was no buzzing phone in her pocket, no emails to check, no deadlines looming. Being in another dimension wasn't exactly a vacation, but it did have its perks. She could just be in Aurelia.

Gazing across the bar, Selene caught a reflection of herself in a mirror tacked to the wall and lifted her chin to examine her profile. Not bad for no make-up and a one-step cleansing routine. It was dark in the tavern, but the woman staring back wasn't what she expected. The Nereid disguise made her skin glitter, but there was something more. This version of her looked confident and capable. Mysterious and interesting. Almost like a secret agent.

Dressed in black, with a hood that cast mysterious shadows on her face, she didn't stick out nearly as much as she expected. Honestly, she looked quite comfortable in The Golden Gust. And then a thought came to her: I can be whoever I want to be here.

Tilting her face, she looked into the mirror again, and a smile appeared on her lips. No one knew her in Aurelia or had any expectations of who she was supposed to be. She was free. She didn't have to play Simpering Selene to suit her insecure boss, Therapist Selene for her friends, Manager Selene for Kevin, or Peacekeeper Selene with her family.

After swallowing another gulp of wine, her mind raced with possibilities. She scowled menacingly at her reflection to become Secret Agent Selene. The one who travels through strange towns unnoticed and unseen.

Fluttered her eyelashes to be Charming Selene. The one who ingratiates herself to queens and Harpies.

Lifted her chin to be Badass Selene. The one who faces her fears and overcomes all obstacles.

Puckered her lips to be Temptress Selene. The one who propositions her sexy demon lover.

Wait…what?

Abruptly, her game turned sour, and she dropped her gaze from the mirror. It was a stupid idea. Ridiculous even. He was a demon. They wouldn't work on so many levels.

But then she paused to reconsider. What was the harm in a little fantasy? It wasn't a crime to wonder what being with Sam would be like. This was the new and improved Aurelian Selene. His deep voice skimmed over her nerves like a caress, but what would it be like to run her fingers through his inky black hair? Or snuggle her cheek against his broad chest? Lose herself as he kissed her senseless?

She rubbed her temples. It was official—she was attracted to him. Big time. It wasn't a schoolgirl crush, Stockholm syndrome, or even a weird fetish for horns. This was legit. A grown-up, big-girl attraction to the ultimate bad boy. Except he wasn't that bad. Sure, he could be grumpy and gruff, but not all the time. Underlying that bluster was a tenderness she found irresistible.

The large group of Lycahs playing darts began to howl like jubilant wolves. Selene looked over her shoulder, worried Sam might come back before she got a handle on herself. She traced her fingertip over the crack in the wood that Sam had made with his fist. Yes, he had a soft side, but he could be volatile too. How would that work in bed?

He was all muscle and menace. Would he be violent? No. She didn't think so. Passionate? Yes. Wild. Maybe a bit rough, but not from aggression. He would take care with his size and temper his strength. And what he might lack in finesse, she imagined he would make up for in enthusiasm. The man would be thorough, of that she was sure. His smoldering gaze seemed to promise it.

She shifted her position on the barstool, trying to ignore the ache growing deep in her belly. The phrase demon in the sack had to come from somewhere, didn't it? The thought made her shiver.

Oh God, I don't just want to kiss him—I want him to fuck my brains out.

Wet heat flared between her thighs, and she quickly took another drink of wine, scandalized by her thoughts. The tavern suddenly seemed unbearably hot, and she fanned herself, bracing for a wave of guilt for the thought of cheating on Kevin.

But hang on, was it cheating? When Kevin told her he wanted a break, he had certainly made it clear that he was free to see other people. Wasn't she free to do the same?

As she pondered this, it surprised her to realize that there was nothing about Kevin she missed. Since coming to Aurelia, he had barely crossed her mind outside of the times Sam had mentioned him. She felt a little guilty at first, then angry. It was time to face facts. Kevin wanted to "press pause" so he could sleep with anyone he wanted on tour. She had always known that, deep down, but the reality was too painful to face.

She sighed, thinking about all the other times Kevin had hurt her, and she had brushed it aside. All the texts and calls he ignored, the little insults he made "as a joke," the way his attention drifted when she spoke, Selene had grown used to it, really. He was the complete opposite of Sam, who looked at her like she was some rare, exotic flower and listened to her as though nothing else mattered but what she was about to say. Traveling with someone as capable as Sam had also made her realize how much she did for Kevin, yet what did he do for her? She thought hard and could only come up with that time he'd brought flowers on her birthday.

Enough was enough. It was settled. Once she got back home, she was ending it with Kevin for good. He would be free to "explore" in every sense of the word, and so would she.

She felt strangely liberated by this decision but also troubled. Now one of her main objections to being with Sam was gone. The thought of being in his big, strong demonic arms felt very right, disturbingly so. And it wasn't just because she suspected he would be scorchingly good in bed. It was because of who he would allow her to be. How he would want her to be.

Unrestrained.

Selene closed her eyes as desire pounded through her. Absorbing the full implications of the thought made her insides scramble.

In her experience, most men talked a big game about wanting a sexually liberated woman—a partner who didn't hold back, one that was willing to explore and knew what she wanted. But when they actually got one?

It intimidated the hell out of them.

Selene had learned that quickly with her college boyfriend. After they had sex, the first time for them both, she felt like she had found a missing piece of herself. It wasn't spectacular, but she loved the sensations, the connection, and the release it brought. She didn't have a lot of baggage or guilt around sex—as long as it took place between consenting adults. And so, being the curious but committed girlfriend that she was, she had dived into this new side of herself with gusto. She checked out the Kama Sutra from the campus library, picked out lingerie at the mall, and even bought some basic sex toys online.

And what had it gotten her? A happy boyfriend and a flourishing sex life? Nope. Dumped, that was what it got her. And called a nympho.

So she had toned it down with her next boyfriend. She waited for him to make all the moves, and responded as she thought a nice, normal girl would. Never made any demands, never asked for anything she wanted. But she was so bored. When a magazine advised leaving out a bookmarked manual of sex positions to spice things up, she had tried it. He hadn't even bothered to crack the book open.

And then there was Kevin. Once when she had tried to initiate sex twice in one week, he joked that she was "insatiable." It had hurt, and she wasn't sure why she had even bothered. The waterproof vibrator she kept hidden in the bathroom gave her more satisfying experiences than he did.

Being with someone as fierce as Sam could be… interesting. Definitely illuminating. Was she bold enough to make the first move? She knew if he were going to initiate anything, he would have done so by now. He seemed far too honorable to ever to give her cause to mistrust him. So it was up to her. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and looked up to meet her reflection.

What would the newly single Aurelian Selene do? It was almost as if they had just met, so she wasn't sure. Instead, she thought of the women she had met in Aurelia and what advice they would give.

Queen Thema would tell her that the Malkina took pleasure wherever they could find it, so she should do the same. Hollen's advice would be to tell Sam, point-blank, that they were going to sleep together. And Arkaya? She would scold her for being so indecisive and question why she would want to speak of anything but her own truth.

Selene swallowed. What was her truth? When she cut away all of the noise of propriety and obligations and what she should want, what remained?

Only desire. For Sam.

And so it was decided—no more overthinking. No more asking for permission. This was happening. It didn't have to be forever, and it didn't have to make sense.

She was going to tell Sam they needed just one room.