Demon Discord by M.J. Haag

Chapter Thirteen

“Do you read, Terri?”Azio asked.

I barely heard his quiet words over the pulse thundering in my ears.

“Terri, do you read?” he asked again when I didn’t answer.

“Yes,” I managed. “Why?”

“There are many books in our basement. Maybe you would like to read one when we get home. Cheri told Farco she finds them relaxing.”

One of the other fey snorted, and I saw him grin before he turned his head. Disbelief robbed me of some of my panic. Had Azio just made a joke about me relaxing? Now? Moments after hearing the howl?

I turned my stunned gaze on him. He, however, looked completely serious. And covered in gross bits.

“It was only an idea. Your heart was racing.”

Brownish-red smeared across his cheek, and his shirt was torn.

“You lost some color. Are you feeling faint?”

I slowly nodded but couldn’t manage to close my eyes.

There was a crescent of blood on his shoulder. A bite mark. He’d been bitten. That was why his shirt was torn. Torn while killing infected to keep them from chasing after me.

My heart stuttered a beat. The fey’s immunity to infection was the biggest reason to choose one to father my future children. Humans died when bitten. There was no saving them. No coming back from it. I hoped a half-fey child would be just as immune.

“Thank you,” I rasped.

He nodded. “I will find you a good book. Farco told me which ones to pick.”

That same fey from before made a sound again. Before I could glance his way, another motioned for us.

“We should leave.”

Groth grunted, jumped off the roof, and started to run across the field with the rest of the fey surrounding us. In two blinks, we made it to the trees. I turned my head into Groth’s chest after that and held on for dear life.

It was quiet, though, as we put distance between Warrensburg and us. Breathing got a little easier when we reached another house Azio said was about halfway. Like last time, two went in. Unlike last time, one of the fey carried a body out, and Azio joined the search of the house. It took longer to ensure it was free of infected, but I didn’t mind the extra caution since the sun was still high enough in the sky.

The heat was on inside, and the showers were running when we finally entered. Since Groth and I were clean, we gathered whatever I thought would fit the others. It wasn’t a great selection.

However, I couldn’t say I minded the view once the fey changed. The undersized t-shirts molded to every chiseled muscle they possessed on their upper halves, and the sweats and jogging shorts left little to the imagination downstairs.

While none of them minded my ogling glances, Azio’s ears grew darker each time my gaze swung his way. And boy, did it swing. Unlike that water bottle he had strapped to his inner thigh.

It was profane.

Terrifying.

Faint-worthy for sure.

Why couldn’t I stop staring?

I swallowed hard and forced my gaze away for the dozenth time but only managed a second before I was back looking at it.

It moved.

A twitch, then a stretch, the length crawling down his leg another two inches.

I dropped into a crouch, startling all the fey, and focused on breathing through my lightheadedness.

Pick the small one,I mocked at myself. He’s less terrifying. You should have checked his pants first!

“I will wait outside,” Azio said, his softly spoken words conveying his confusion and blame for my panic.

Guilt speared me.

“Wait. Give me a moment.” He paused beside me, and I took a breath, then another. When my vision didn’t tunnel, I looked up at him. “I’d like you to carry me the rest of the way. Please.”

That thing in his too-tight pants twitched again. I couldn’t not notice. It was eye-level. But I managed to maintain eye contact regardless of what was happening in his pants.

I wasn’t trying to play favorites by asking Azio to carry me again. But I knew I shouldn’t ask Groth since he’d just carried me, and I was far from comfortable with asking anyone else even though they seemed nice enough. I wasn’t entirely sure I was comfortable with Azio carrying me.

Liar! I silently yelled at myself. Perversely, what I’d just witnessed only made me want him to carry me more. My feelings about his size remained unchanged. But I also found the evidence of his attraction to me downright flattering.

He offered his hand and helped me to my feet.

“Are you warm enough?”

“Yep. I’m warm.” I was pretty sure my face was on fire and didn’t think I’d survive if he wanted to touch my butt, too.

“Are you hungry?”

He motioned to one of the other fey who miraculously had the backpack from Warrensburg.

“I’m okay for now. I’d rather wait to eat until we get home.”

Azio grunted, and the fey shouldered the bag. All of the muscles in his chest and side flexed with the motion. I turned my attention to Azio’s torso, mentally comparing the two. Azio’s chest was a bit narrower but far more defined under his formfitting shirt.

Realizing I was staring yet again, I focused on his face and noted how intently he was watching me.

“Will you tell me what happened back there?” I asked, hoping to distract us both.

“Yes.”

He held out his arms, a signal he was ready for me. I moved closer and looped an arm around his shoulder as he picked me up.

I didn’t miss the way he leaned in and brushed his temple against my cheek in the process of lifting me. It was kind of sweet, actually. All the subtle touches were little reminders that he cared about me.

Once we were outside and running, he started explaining.

“The infected are growing less stupid and better at hiding. I think the one in the house was older and knew to summon more to try to get to you. She was still weak and slow compared to us. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Will the infected be watching that area now? I heard from one of my housemates who goes on supply runs that the infected do that. They wait for us to come back.”

Azio shrugged, the move jostling me more firmly against his chest as he ran.

“That’s a yes, isn’t it?” I asked. “Nothing we’d gathered is that important. Don’t risk yourselves.”

He chuckled.

“Food is very important. We will return, and we will be fine. You will stay home.”

Like I ever wanted to leave again. The trip had served its purpose, though. I’d indirectly witnessed the carnage the fey could achieve and didn’t pass out. Every action today had been made to keep me safe. Why should I fear that? I shouldn’t. And while a little fear and doubt lingered, I knew I was one step closer.

Sighing, I turned my face into Azio's chest and lifted my hand to cover the place over his heart. It beat steadily under my palm, a reminder that he was a living, breathing person with thoughts and feelings like any other.

The trip home seemed to go faster than when we’d left. My butt appreciated it. By the time we cleared Tolerance’s wall, it felt like I had more ice flowing through my backside than blood.

“Can I walk from here?” I asked as soon as he landed.

He grunted and let me down. The fey carrying the bag handed it over to Azio.

“Thank you for your help today,” I said, taking a moment to look each of them in the eye.

They nodded in return, and each wandered off their own separate ways. In the growing shadows between the nearby houses, more fey moved. So many fey.

“Are you sure you want to walk?” Groth asked.

I took a calming breath and nodded, giving my two companions a small smile.

“I’m safe.”

I repeated that to myself every time my nerves tweaked on the way home and forced myself to look up as much as possible and either nod or smile to passersby. It was a relief when I was finally safely inside the house once more.

“If I ever want to do that again, remind me how much I didn’t like it, okay?” I said, removing my shoes.

“Did you find what you wanted?” Azio asked.

“I did. Thank you.”

“I will make us something to eat,” Groth said, moving away.

I watched him for a moment, feeling slightly guilty. I liked Groth. He was just as kind as Azio. After seeing Azio’s size today, I would be so much wiser to change my mind and make a play for Groth instead. But—I shifted my gaze to Azio, who watched me—Groth didn’t call to me. Something about Azio did.

“How is your shoulder?” I asked. “I saw you were bitten. Do you want Cassie to look at it?”

“No. It will heal.”

This was my perfect opening. A reason to get him alone and talk to him. My stomach twisted anxiously. I could do this.

“Come on.”

I held out my hand. His gaze swept from my face to my peace offering. He wrapped his hand in mine, taking a large breath at the contact, and waited for me to make the next move.

Trying not to tremble, I led him upstairs to the bathroom. The snick of the door closing sounded loud in the silence.

“I will heal,” he said when I pointed to the toilet seat.

“I know. But I’d still like to help. You were bitten keeping me safe. Take off your shirt and let me at least disinfect it.”

He grunted and sat. I collected the peroxide and gauze, then hesitated, glancing at myself in the mirror. Yes, disinfecting wasn’t really paying him back in kind for what he’d done. And I wasn’t sure it would send the message that I cared either since it tended to sting. I thought of the see-through shirt I wore under the blue one I was looking at.

I warred with myself for a few seconds before setting everything down and pulling the top t-shirt over my head. My nipples puckered at the lack of warmth, calling even more attention to my very visible chest through the transparent yellow top.

Azio didn’t make a sound when I turned, and his gaze remained locked on my breasts as I moved toward him.

“Put your hands on my waist,” I said. “It’ll loosen the skin on your shoulder a little.” The explanation hadn’t been necessary to obtain his willingness. He’d grabbed me as soon as I’d said waist. But I gave it anyway so he’d understand I wasn’t asking for a grope session.

He held still, not looking away once while I dabbed his wound and watched it bubble up.

“Does it hurt?” I asked.

“Yes,” he rasped.

“I’m sorry. I really appreciate what you did, though.” He didn’t respond, and I took a moment to pep-talk myself.

“I can’t thank you and Groth enough for taking me in and letting me stay with you. It’s clear you’re both hoping for something more with me. And I have to be honest. I’m hoping for something more too.”

His fingers twitched on my sides, and he jerked his gaze from my breasts to look up at me, his pupils narrowing to slits.

“I’ve dreamed of having a family of my own since I was little. I want babies, Azio. Lots of them. I know how dangerous that would be in this world with a human man. But today proved it might not be so dangerous with a fey. I mean, look at you. You were bitten and fine. I want to know my kids would be fine too.”

He nodded slowly.

“You won’t always fear us. When you are ready, you can choose. No single fey would refuse you.”

“I think I already know who I want to ask. But I’m worried about hurting someone else’s feelings by choosing.”

“Yes, many will be disappointed. But not sad. We will celebrate our brother’s fortune.”

“So Groth won’t be mad at me when I choose you?”

Azio stood suddenly, lifting me with him and wrapping me in a hug. The hand on the back of my head steered me to his unbitten shoulder as he pressed me close.

“You please me more than you know, Terri. I will keep you safe and fed and warm. You will want for nothing. I swear to you.”

His exuberance had the opposite effect on me. I started shaking.

He quickly released me and resumed his seat, eyes down on the hands he braced on his knees.

“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I know. It’s okay. I just need a little more time.”

“As much time as you need.”

I’d waited so long already and didn’t plan to stall more than necessary. My period was due any day. Once that started, the countdown would begin.