Shards: Book One of the Anderian Series

Chapter 16: Disappointed

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence after Cian left the room. Uncomfortable because it made the turmoil in my brain deafening, not because I was concerned for the Andarian brute. He had clearly managed Kohl well enough last time. The memory of Cian's rage upon finding out Kohl bit me only fanned the flames of this twisted desire coursing through me, and I shoved it as far back into the recesses of my mind as possible.

There could be no repeat of what happened between us. Unless, of course, that's what it took to save my life... I shook my head no as I situated my clothing. Under no circumstances would there be a repeat of this despite what my lady bits demanded. It wasn't like I could trust him to keep his word after he took what he wanted from me.

But what a way to go out.

I groaned, unable to disagree with the wanton whispers. "Definitely a sex demon."

Rumbling voices bounced off my door, unable to penetrate the thick wood completely, leaving me to debate the wisdom of creeping over to eavesdrop. That would require pressing my ear against the wood, and there was quite a strong echo there.

I took stock of the room and myself, noticing for the first time that my gloves were on my hands. That door was the only place in the entire room that had any kind of echo at all. The bedsheets were crisp and new, likely just removed from the packaging. The frame itself didn't even spark anything. Beds were definitely hotspots of energy. Many emotions played out between the sheets—lust, love, rage, hate. I grew warm as visions of Cian and I adding our own spark to the bed filled my thoughts.

Shaking it off, I went back to the task at hand. Even my clothing was new, as evidenced by the tag biting into the tender flesh of my neck. Had Cian somehow learned of my ability? Why else would everything be new and without enough energy for echoes?

Something shattered and the menacing growl Kohl released was strong enough to reverberate through the door. What the hell was I doing, listening to Cian and staying put. I should have been looking for a way out of this room because he would eventually give into Kohl's demands. They shared loyalties. And in the end, no matter how much Cian seemed to want me, he wouldn't put me over his people.

I jumped out of the bed and tiptoed to the window, one shaking hand inches away from pushing back the curtain, when I heard something that sent icy terror ripping through my veins.

"I told you, I don't know!"

"June," I gasped, pivoting at once and rushing out of the bedroom. Cian—the idiot—didn't lock me in. Or maybe I was the idiot, since he likely assumed I wasn't stupid enough to reveal myself.

The beautiful succubus and my only real friend in the world lay in a crumpled heap at Kohl's feet. Red tears trickled down her cheeks, and a giant bruise marred the left of her once perfect face. Kohl's gray eyes widened before they swung toward Cian, who only just caught me around my middle before I launched myself at the other man, determined to claw the skin off his face for daring to touch June.

"What a liar you've become, Cian," Kohl purred, circling us as his fangs descended over his bottom lip.

"I didn't lie. I told you the girl was not yours to worry about."

"I am a Shard Hunter," the Andarien shouted, lashing out with a booted foot and catching June in her middle.

"You bastard," I screamed, squirming in Cian's iron grip. "She has nothing to do with this."

"You may be a Hunter," Cian said, ignoring my outburst the way a parent ignores a child's tantrum. "But I am the one who Retrieves them. You have proven repeatedly you cannot control yourself."