"Spark..." Craven's voice made me tense in my sleep.

I could feel his presence closing in. Winding through time and darkness to reach me.

The incubus could always find me when I slept.

I felt him drawing nearer and I couldn't fight my way out of the peace of slumber. Another of Craven's talents.

I was suddenly flipped onto my back. I opened panicked eyes. Straining to get out of the dream state and confront him. Feeling the usual terror because I knew I wouldn't be able to see him or touch him.

Or fight him off.

I was exhausted and could think of no way to fight him off right now. Just as I felt his weight climbing over me I opened my mouth to scream but couldn't get any words out. Only the merest croaking emerging. But the moment that weight drew up to my torso and prepared to settle into my crevice, Gray's arm snatched out and caught at air. Dragging something down to his face.

"I've told you, Craven."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Gray. I forgets!"

"Best not." Gray sat up enough to do an extremely violent movement. Gripping and twisting something before tearing it apart with a sickening slop. Then he tossed it aside. Making something heavy thud against the wall.

The bed shifted as Craven fled. His footfalls padding over the wood floor and the shutter flying open as he escaped.

Always having to do it in a more human way, after expending so much energy to find me.

"How do you stand that?" Gray hissed venomously. Flopping back to the bed in the dark.

I couldn't see him but could feel his aggravation. "I hate him."

"He is the slime of Ferus."

"He can't help it. It's what he is."

"Don't." He said viciously. "Don't you dare defend...That!" I could feel him pointing at the shutters.

There was a long silence in which I decided not to prod him further. Then I blurted. "What did you do to him?"

"Ripped his arm off."

I squawked in horror.

Gray rolled more onto his side to pull me back tighter against him as he murmured. "Don't worry about it. They grow back. Which is the last thing he needs."

"I'm surprised you haven't killed him one of these times."

"Can't kill him. Or I would've. Every time."

I didn't doubt the conviction in his voice. In truth, Craven was the worst of the monsters that came for me. He stole what little peace I could salvage.

My sleep.

And I could never see him. I had to fight blindly, and futilely.

I woke that morning before Gray. Peeking over my bare shoulder I verified that he looked like he was fast asleep. Dark gold lashes down and his hard face relaxed in a way that made him far more approachable than the fierce, unsmiling expressions he wore during his waking hours. I edged a few inches from him.

Feeling his arms tightening across my torso, ever so slightly.

I froze until they again relaxed. I scooted another tiny bit and his arms tightened in response. The more tension I put to get away, the tenser his hold became.

Like a coiling snake.

I huffed in frustration.

Deciding to start with my feet, I worked my legs over the edge of the bed until they hovered parallel the floor. Then my knees were able to bend over the edge and I turned onto my back, evading his hold a bit more as I flattened onto the bedcovers. Slipping sideways in painstaking inches to be beneath his grip. I was moving his bottom elbow further out, until it was straight out over my shoulder. Then I slid off the edge of the bed onto the floor. Twisting to squat alongside it.

Which was the first time I met his cool gaze. "Nice try, Baby Girl."

I groaned. Leaping to my feet and jerking at the wrap around my wrist and trying to get free of it.

"Oh, stop." He laughed in his chest before yanking me up over the bed onto him. Then rolling me over his chest and onto my back beneath him on the other side.

With us still tied together.

He was lying over me. His chest pinning me down and his fingers trailing over my forehead and toying with the tresses sweeping across it. "If you wanted to go, all you need do is ask."

I gave a long-suffering sight. "Can I go, Gray?"

"Absolutely." He surprised me.

I blinked wide eyes at him.

"As soon as I finish you again."

I felt my stomach sink. Unsure if I could mentally tolerate another round in Gray's bed.

He walked his fingers down my side and over my hip while I writhed beneath him. He gave me a challenging look. Daring me to stop him.

So, I locked my lips and went stiff as a board, but it only took him a few coaxing minutes before I shifted under him. Lifting one knee up as I tried to soothe the unholy ache he was building.

He took advantage of the opportunity and slipped a finger inside me again. Melting me until I was moaning in pleasure beneath him. He braced himself on his side and watched the effect. "Mmm."

"Gray, don't you want more?" I begged. Wanting to feel him.

"No." He shook his head slowly. "Watching you play into my hands is pleasure enough."

He was doing it again.

"Do you enjoy trying to prove I'm weak?"

He scoffed.

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Those dimples flashed. "Couldn't I merely be enjoying the sight of you softening at my whim?"

I lifted my head to glare at him. "I find that highly unlikely."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first thing you were wrong about me."

He began stroking two fingers into me alternately until I was panting with pleasure and my legs began to quake.

Unable to resist any longer, I put my palms to his heated, hard chest. Trying to push him a bit to get him to relent.

He was as unmoving as stone.

Bastard.

Royal bastard.

My back curved upward, my stomach tightening, and my body vibrated as a massive creature of pleasure unfurled within me. Taking control of my body and rolling my fingers into tight fists, making my nipples bud and a warm wash of heat dampen me between my thighs. I swore epithets as I gripped the bedding.

"Yes..." He purred. "That's my girl."

Not yours! I wanted to shout it, but my jaw was so tight that there was zero possibility of me uttering words.

"Satisfied?" I spat.

"Definitely."

"Isn't it theoretically impossible that you could be? Since you haven't been sated in over twelve hours. Isn't that a lifetime for your breed?"

"Eternus, you mean?"

"Or hound." I added. Seeing him tense in a way that was subtle enough someone else might not have known it.

The Wanton's Way Brothel, Feral Fey Country

Feral Fey Country was especially dangerous.

Because it was filled with Feral Fey...

Kareni, the Madam of the Wanton's Way Brothel knew well that there were a total of four kinds of fey.

Guardians.

Harbingers.

Gems, royalty or those who held lands or specific titles.

And the Feral. Which were the worst.

Everyone in Ferus knew that.

Especially, Kareni who'd once been responsible for servicing them.

They were vicious, lusty elves. With the long hair and especially square chest that marked their kind. Haughty aggressive males and diminutive obedient females. Males which tended to demand what they wanted rather than request.

But Kareni, the Madam of this brothel, knew the truth about all that too.

They bore of their obedient females and crave something more hearty.

So Kareni specialized in finding especially aggressive, rare females to stock her house of pleasure.

To keep them coming.

And it had certainly worked for several decades. But now she had a very specific target in mind.

And these two are going to help me get it.

Kareni was a robust, curvaceous woman with bobbing curls that framed a face which was still very beautiful for her advancing years. Only she knew how she managed that.

And it's not a secret I'm sharing.

The two men before her were nearly identical. Matching frames, white hair pulled back in similar tethers. The only difference was one had brown eyes and one had green ones. They stood shoulder to shoulder, with their torsos slightly tipped in toward each other. Making it clear that they did everything together.

And from the way they were looking at Kareni's wenches, she was fair certain they'd do any of them together, as well.

They'll want to have their feral way with her.

Kareni could almost pity whatever woman they chose for the night.

"I need you to collect-" She started.

"We know what you want." They said in unison. "The Spark."