“It’s really not.”
Devan let out a quiet growl that came from deep within. Deep and low, it resonated through Zio’s every nerve, adding fuel to the fire he was finding harder and harder to ignore.
“I didn’t like it when you were fighting,” Devan said. “Not just that you were in danger, but how you felt when you killed. You expect to enjoy it, but you don’t.”
“That’s what you’re telling me to stop?”
“No, I want you to stop throwing out waves that make me want to jump you so we can talk about something real.”
Real. Another kick to the gut. Was Devan seriously implying that the attraction between themwasn’treal? That it was a heady mix of booze, post-fight adrenaline, and shifter horniness? And if he was, why did Zio care?
I don’t care.
But again, it wasn’t true. “I don’t want to talk about fighting. It’s done for today, but there’ll be more tomorrow. Leave it alone.”
Devan set his plate on the bedside table, slid down the bed and onto his side so he was facing Zio. His hypnotic scent was stronger than ever. Zio swallowed thickly but held his ground, not blinking as Devan’s soft fingers grazed his cheek, his jaw, his bare shoulder. “I want to leave you alone. I wish I’d never met you.”
“That hurts.”
“I know. That’s why I wish it so.”
Zio didn’t understand and suspected he wouldn’t even if Devan explained it. He was a soldier, not a thinker or a student of the mind. He knew what he needed to know to survive, and surviving had become less important recently. Hidden away with Devan, nothing except his gentle touch seemed to matter, not even his ominous words. A contented rumble escaped Zio before he could catch it, and he gasped.Did that come from me?In all his supernatural existence, he’d never heard such a sound.
Devan chuckled. “How old are you, Zio?”
“You don’t already know? You seem to know everything else.”
“I read the cover of your file. It had vague circumstances of your change but not when you were born. I assumed your human backstory would be inside.”
“You didn’t look?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t want me to. I didn’t look at your unit at all, as it happens. I didn’t think it was fair when you were so openly hostile to me.”
“Fair to who?”
“You, obviously. Would you want someone you perceived as an enemy to know intimate details of your life?”
“There’s nothing intimate about my life. Danielo’s might make you blush, though.”
Devan laughed again. “I don’t doubt it. I can sense the... uh, connection he’s had with all of you, even Varian.”
It was Zio’s turn to chuckle. “Yeah, that’s Danielo. I’m pretty sure he’s in love with Michael, but he’s pretty free with, um, well, you know, the rest of it. He says love and sex aren’t always connected.”
“Interesting.”
“Is it?”
Devan shrugged. “He’s right, obviously. But if he’s in love with Michael, I think he’ll know that having sex with him is very different to experiences he’s shared with the rest of you.”
“He’s never had sex with Michael. Everyone else, but never Michael, and don’t fucking say that’s interesting too. You’re not here to dissect us or to pretend that your Shadow Clan lot don’t get up to some freaky shit.”
“Tell you what.” Devan’s ghosting fingers stilled, and he cupped Zio’s face with his warm palm. “I won’t speculate on Danielo’s sex life if you tell me how old you are.”
“In wolf terms or human?”