with us in weeks. Sure, your body makes its way back to the compound, but each time you are called to the Inbetween, more of your mind stays behind.”
Fear tightened Deryck’s gut. Did Wolfrik know the truth? “I apologize. I will try to be more attentive when we’re working out.”
Wolfrik sized him up. His gaze drifted to Deryck’s tattoos. “Is it true what the others are saying, have you taken a regular caller?”
Deryck shook his head. “I swore when I began this life, I would not and I will not break that vow. They may use my body, but no one woman will own me.” Inwardly, he cringed. One female in existence could make him break his vow. It was an impossible dream, though.
“You’ve been taking more frequent calls, then.”
The lie Deryck had ready stuck in his throat. Wolfrik had been his companion and guide in the compound for nearly three thousand years. True, he’d outgrown the need for a mentor early in his service, but occasionally he needed someone to go to and lay down all of his frustrations. He needed someone to give him a shake and remind him why it was useless to rage and argue against their nature.
“No. I haven’t been taking more calls from females on the Inbetween. Many times when I leave the compound, I’ve been . . .” Deryck took a deep breath. “I’ve been transported to the human realm. The reason is unclear, but I—” He was unsure if he should reveal Shayla’s part in things.
Eyes wide, Wolfrik grabbed Deryck by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to a vacant room filled with all manner of sporting equipment.
“Have you been drawn to anyone, a female you constantly appear around who pulls you to her no matter how far away you are?” Wolfrik whispered.
Deryck’s stomach dropped. He needed to know more. “Yes. I swear I did not try to go to the human realm. Will I be punished?”
Wolfrik shook him. “Yes, you will, but only if you are caught before you complete the ritual.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There is only one reason an incubus is called to the human realm. You’ve found her. She can free you.”
The world around them swam. Deryck couldn’t believe what he said. There was an out? Why hadn’t anyone told him before? He had a billion questions to ask. They all tumbled out at once in an incoherent mess.
Wolfrik hissed and rubbed his wrist. “Tell no one of this. I will tell you more when I return. Do not go to her until I return, Deryck. Swear it.”
Before Deryck could answer, Wolfrik vanished.
Knees like pudding, he sank onto the floor and leaned against the wall. After all this time of being used and uncared for, he had the chance to be free. Shayla was the key, but there was so much he didn’t understand. Namely, why didn’t anyone speak of this miracle? Surely the others would long, as he had, for a way to be able to live and love at their will.
None of it made sense.
“Holding up the wall, Deryck?” Garik stood in the doorway of the small room he’d taken refuge in. “What the hell are you doing in here?”
Startled, Deryck stood. His head spun, but he played it off by stretching his arms over his head and leaning against the wall until everything righted itself again. “I was looking for a basketball.”
“Oh man, we haven’t played in a while.” Garik ducked around a shelf full of all shapes and sizes of sports balls. “Got one. A game of one-on-one sounds good.”
Glad for anything to distract himself with, Deryck snagged the basketball from Garik. “Don’t cry when you lose again.”
Little birds swooped down to the patio. They hopped between tables, pecking at crumbs dropped by messy eaters or people suckered in by their teeny, tiny cuteness. A group of birds fought over a sizeable chuck of bread beside Shayla’s table. She dropped another down to them. The birds left the first piece of bread and flocked to the new one. A smart one broke off and doubled back to the original piece. It flew off with its
Fear tightened Deryck’s gut. Did Wolfrik know the truth? “I apologize. I will try to be more attentive when we’re working out.”
Wolfrik sized him up. His gaze drifted to Deryck’s tattoos. “Is it true what the others are saying, have you taken a regular caller?”
Deryck shook his head. “I swore when I began this life, I would not and I will not break that vow. They may use my body, but no one woman will own me.” Inwardly, he cringed. One female in existence could make him break his vow. It was an impossible dream, though.
“You’ve been taking more frequent calls, then.”
The lie Deryck had ready stuck in his throat. Wolfrik had been his companion and guide in the compound for nearly three thousand years. True, he’d outgrown the need for a mentor early in his service, but occasionally he needed someone to go to and lay down all of his frustrations. He needed someone to give him a shake and remind him why it was useless to rage and argue against their nature.
“No. I haven’t been taking more calls from females on the Inbetween. Many times when I leave the compound, I’ve been . . .” Deryck took a deep breath. “I’ve been transported to the human realm. The reason is unclear, but I—” He was unsure if he should reveal Shayla’s part in things.
Eyes wide, Wolfrik grabbed Deryck by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to a vacant room filled with all manner of sporting equipment.
“Have you been drawn to anyone, a female you constantly appear around who pulls you to her no matter how far away you are?” Wolfrik whispered.
Deryck’s stomach dropped. He needed to know more. “Yes. I swear I did not try to go to the human realm. Will I be punished?”
Wolfrik shook him. “Yes, you will, but only if you are caught before you complete the ritual.”
“I don’t understand.”
“There is only one reason an incubus is called to the human realm. You’ve found her. She can free you.”
The world around them swam. Deryck couldn’t believe what he said. There was an out? Why hadn’t anyone told him before? He had a billion questions to ask. They all tumbled out at once in an incoherent mess.
Wolfrik hissed and rubbed his wrist. “Tell no one of this. I will tell you more when I return. Do not go to her until I return, Deryck. Swear it.”
Before Deryck could answer, Wolfrik vanished.
Knees like pudding, he sank onto the floor and leaned against the wall. After all this time of being used and uncared for, he had the chance to be free. Shayla was the key, but there was so much he didn’t understand. Namely, why didn’t anyone speak of this miracle? Surely the others would long, as he had, for a way to be able to live and love at their will.
None of it made sense.
“Holding up the wall, Deryck?” Garik stood in the doorway of the small room he’d taken refuge in. “What the hell are you doing in here?”
Startled, Deryck stood. His head spun, but he played it off by stretching his arms over his head and leaning against the wall until everything righted itself again. “I was looking for a basketball.”
“Oh man, we haven’t played in a while.” Garik ducked around a shelf full of all shapes and sizes of sports balls. “Got one. A game of one-on-one sounds good.”
Glad for anything to distract himself with, Deryck snagged the basketball from Garik. “Don’t cry when you lose again.”
Little birds swooped down to the patio. They hopped between tables, pecking at crumbs dropped by messy eaters or people suckered in by their teeny, tiny cuteness. A group of birds fought over a sizeable chuck of bread beside Shayla’s table. She dropped another down to them. The birds left the first piece of bread and flocked to the new one. A smart one broke off and doubled back to the original piece. It flew off with its
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