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“Fuck,” he said again, just because.
“If you’re suggesting that I would be nothing more than a liability, or that I won’t be up to the task, then at least have the fucking guts to say it to my face.” Amber-flecked eyes turned to him. “You are a liability,” Zidan Malekh said, as easily and as calmly as if he’d been discussing the weather.
Xiaodan turned to Malekh next. “And you. If you dislike the thought of Remy joining us, it would be best if you speak now or forever hold your peace.” “I said he would be a liability—” “That’s not the question, Zidan.”
Their gazes locked, clashed. It was Malekh who gave in, almost sounding bored when he replied, “He can do whatever he wants, and I shall make no protest.”
Cheerfully cremate my remains, if you’d like. Pour your little augmented coagulant whatsit on my bones and give me a rousing send-off at daybreak. But if I stomp on inside and prove I can take on any infected and vampires within, then you owe me. Even if the vampire arse I beat winds up being yours.”
didn’t need your help,” Remy said. “I’m sure you didn’t.” Malekh
was hoping to find Malekh, but you’ll do for now. You must be his newest plaything—he always did have an itch for the brunettes.” The vampire swooped closer, but Remy’s chain kept him at bay.
Might have to punch a priest if things get too heated, and I’d likely have to spend the rest of the day doing ablution for it.”
The easy answer was that Malekh was still, in his very passive-aggressive way, trying to goad him into irritability. Unfortunately, it was working.
“I thought you didn’t want me along,” Remy muttered. “I never said that I didn’t want you.”
“I’ll go where you both go,” he found himself saying, feeling strangely at peace with the words.
It wasn’t fair for them both to be this attractive, he thought sourly; one was his ideal woman if she wasn’t spoken for, the other a Lightdamned shitpouch even if he was the best-looking man Remy had ever seen.
“There is more to a familiar than just being a vampire’s pet.” Malekh
The beautiful girl in Malekh’s arms trembled, her lips leaving his neck briefly. “Yes,” she groaned, eager and filled with need. “Yes. I want him, too.”
“The problem, Pendergast, is that neither Xiaodan nor I look at you as a child,” Malekh whispered; guttural, coldly furious, and, Remy realized, stunned, thick with desire. “I saw you. I could smell your lust from where we sat. She thought you might join us. She is feeling your rejection most keenly.”
“We’ve argued over you many times.” Malekh’s hands were warm. They were wrapped around Remy’s neck, light enough not to injure, but it hurt all the same. He didn’t know how to defend himself against this. “She believes that any overtures toward you would make her no different from the other woman. I disagree.” One of Malekh’s hands drifted higher so he could grasp the side of Remy’s jaw tightly, forcing his head up to meet his own dark, heavy-lidded gaze. “I said you would be open to both our advances if we’d expressed our interest much more clearly.” He leaned in closer. “And Xiaodan is not
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“Tell me you don’t want this, Pendergast. Tell me you wouldn’t want Xiaodan here with me, either. All three of us.”
“Fuck you,” Remy said. “Perhaps one day, Pendergast. Now, shut up and strike me.”
“But I do.” Malekh’s hand was on the side of Remy’s face again, turning it so he could continue with his examination. “I worked you too hard during our sparring. If there were any lapses in your fighting just now, then I am to blame, am I not?”
to meet his. “You are an infuriating human who constantly tries my patience,” Malekh said, “but I’ve never pretended.” And slowly, without breaking eye contact, the man pressed his fingers against the small wound, tongue briefly flicking out, and Remy’s breaths spilled out of him in soft, jittery waves.
You are alone and defenseless in Aluria, and I doubt Yingyue would rouse from her stupor to defend her own daughter, much less you and your human lover.” “I would really fucking appreciate it if someone actually corrected him on that,” Remy said.
It’s a… a twatty thing to do.” “Xiaodan,” Remy said wearily, “that is not how you use that word.”
“Why do you keep turning someone else’s compassion into a favor that you owe, instead of accepting that you are worthy of it?”
We’d already decided that the next bed you tumbled into would be ours, if you were willing.
He was horrified that the thought excited him.
“I’m not going up there on your back,” Remy said stubbornly. “And you can’t bloody make me.” “FUCKING HELL,” Remy said not five minutes later, clinging on to Malekh’s back for dear life.
want you. Both of you. I still don’t know why you actually want me back, but I’m here, and I’m all I’ve got.”
I love her, Remy thought, surprised by the realization, insignificant amid everything else. Her and Malekh.
“You better,” he said. “Everything I touch seems to wind up dying on me, and I’d like to improve those odds somewhat.” The smile on Malekh’s face was clearer to see. “Fortunately for you, I am already dead.”
Malekh smiled, wide enough to reveal the points of his fangs. “You’re still human, Pendergast. You’re the most vulnerable of us, and also the most hotheaded in a fight. I already thought you dead once—let us not make it a habit.” “I know you’re saying that because you’re worried about me, and I appreciate it,” Remy said. “But the way you express this shit still pisses me off.” “Will both of you scallops please condescend not to talk for the next hour or so that it will take the army to arrive?” Xiaodan snapped.
“I don’t think so,” Xiaodan said. She was an incandescent ball of sun, shining so brightly that her face was nearly obscured by the light. Her hands were raised, pointed at the Night Empress. “Eat shit, you scum-sucking cuntrabbit!” she yelled, and fired.
The only true power within Elouve, it seemed, lay with old men who should long ago have been relegated to obscurity. Change only occurred when they allowed it, according to what they considered proper, never for those most affected by it.
