ra

I carefully studied the h

wed at him, and he tended to curl near the win

s to his moods, crafting

eard the spirit wo

class, sanitized perfumes," he compla

arving. I just want

ed my

ld fruit that grew in the

arth, copper, and o

ciety feigned a hatred for it, call

ts secretly craved its

the coins into the grimy palm of a kitchen boy who ran deliveries to the outer territories

om, the pungent, heavy scent

iced it open right in

feet, his tongue lolling as he

amazing," he whined, pacin

ate it myself, letting the rich,

picked up Kaelen's la

e palms and thick knuckles

he spirit w

ffed, the sound a low vibration against the floorboard

eep, rhythmic pressure,

is translucent tail began to

beside the bed began to beep

and the physical touch were trigge

wing the first real signs

ceful face and deci

bling slightly. "This is the first tim

agging his tail and looke

e scraps left by Betas," I conti

ment if I so much as looked at Selena's

e heavy weight in my ches

, I get to sleep in a warm room an

let out a heartb

e, ghostly head against my lap, tho

," the beast growled, his eye

those Betas limb from limb fo

ifted that day, growin

of reading, massaging, and

was pressing my thumbs i

ndex finge

spasm. It was a deliberate, v

dropping

he bed, staring at his own ph

oared in triumph. "I felt

cheeks. I slammed my hand o

rs! Come quickly!" I y

ut it was not the Heal

as S

he room, her face

y arm, her nails digging into my sk

ac

y cheek, the sharp report

y Omega!" she hissed, her ey

g up, and she intende

ing his massive jaws, but his teeth

lpless rage as Selena pu