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I almost yelped when the figure wrenched and twisted, as if pulled by an unseen force. Its body trembled, its gaze locking on something beyond the cars lining the graveyard’s drive.

Jerking to face my direction again, the figure angled its head back and screeched, its mouth gaping wide, revealing its decayed tongue covered in a tar-like substance.

I winced, resisting the urge to cover my ears and draw the attention of those around me.

The echoing whisper before became a wail as the figure once again reached for me. “Ananeva!”

The oppressive air grew suffocating until the figure halted mere inches from my face.

15

TEMPTATION

CYN

When Ash suggested we follow Raelynn to keep an eye on her, I didn’t think it was necessary. Attending a human ceremony for the dead held no interest for me, and I wanted nothing to do with the woman we now lived with.

But Ezra agreed with Ash, if only to ensure she didn’t run from us. So, on his orders, we loaded onto a crowded bus that reeked of sweat and cheap perfume, headed to another unfamiliar town.

I needed to keep my distance from Raelynn.

From the moment I laid eyes on her, a tug formed behind my ribcage that only relented when I was near her. Whatever brought us to Earth had to be connected to the alien pull.

Whether someone wanted to destabilize the council or sow chaos between the planes, they were using a human to do it, and it was already affecting my brothers.

Ash focused too much on her. His laid-back attitude didn’t hide his interest half as well as he thought. Ash wasn’t interested in people outside of Ezra, Zeke, and me. He did what Ezra’s dad demanded and never let anything distract him.

But I noticed the way he wanted to step in whenever she challenged me.

Remembering how she tested me… How my hand felt wrapped around her throat the first time she stood up to me. The way her rose and plum scent slid over my tongue without even tasting her.

I shuddered.

My chaotic emotions tangled until I couldn’t make sense of my body’s reaction to her, and I didn’t know why.

I couldn’t look deeper into the part of myself that demanded more than pinning her to the wall and fucking her until she passed out while I gorged myself on her blood.

I growled, and Zeke glanced over. I shook my head, and he relaxed against the seat.

Even her blood called to me.

It called to the others too, and none of them made a habit of drinking blood. Ezra and Ash drank a glass occasionally, but nothing like I did. We didn’t bite our donors, but I often played with them beforehand, which made it easier to find willing donors and satisfy two hungers at once.

Ezra and Ash didn’t have the same appetite as I did, nor were they haunted by desires for someone they couldn’t have. Other than him, I’d never wanted to bite another living being until her.

Raelynn was a threat.

Zeke was smitten with her, and it infuriated me. How easily she stole his focus. I never thought anyone outside our circle would reach him.

I was a selfish bastard to deny him anything more, but I never claimed to be one of the good guys.

Something soft bumped my shoulder.

I glanced down at the icy strands of Zeke’s hair, and the dark lashes fanned over his cheeks. He’d fallen asleep.

I knew people suspected I felt something for Zeke—something stronger than I felt for my other brothers. But to be transparent enough that even a human noticed left me raw and exposed.

I turned my head and buried my nose in his soft hair, breathing in his comforting scent.