Page 20 of Escaping Monsters

His gray eyes met mine. “Declan said it well. Grayhaven has a magic to it that makes you overlook its oddities.”

We turned into town and headed straight for a two-story brick fire station. I assumed we were going to keep walking when Jasper climbed onto the front stoop and grabbed for the handle.

“You live here?” I asked as I leaned back and looked into Declan’s golden-brown eyes.

He grinned down. “We do.”

“What happens if there’s a fire?” I asked.

He chuckled. “We put it out.”

He said it like it should be obvious.

Chad Jameson had told me he was a firefighter. At the time, I’d chalked it up to being just another one of his pick-up lines.

“Wait, so all of you guys are firemen along with being a hunter, vet, rock star, bartender, and…” I waved at Jasper, “Whatever he does?”

“Fire Chief,” Jasper growled over his shoulder. “We live in a city full of demons, witches, and fae. If the pack didn’t take over the fire station, there would be no Grayhaven.”

“You all wear a lot of hats… or suits,” I said.

“Yeah, we do a yearly Christmas charity calendar with all our hats and fire suits and such.” Declan sounded completely serious. “It’s for a good cause.”

“Really? I need to see proof to know you’re not joking.”

“Ah, can’t. I’d show you proof, but they sell out in about a minute.”

“Damn it. I honestly might’ve paid some of my last dwindling dollars to get one—to show my support for a good cause, of course.” I was pretty sure Declan was joking, but after I saw the American Flag briefs, I wasn’t entirely sure.

Jasper opened the firehouse door and peered inside. “Stay here. Chad is in the living room. I’ll check that the coast is clear.”

A minute later, Jasper reopened the door, holding it open as three gorgeous women strolled out. They had a tough look in their eyes, and I couldn’t help but wonder what type of supernaturals they were. My first guess was the human-like witches, but I honestly didn’t know shit about it. They were mismatched in an almost comical way.

Declan covered my ears with his hands and said, “Fuck-buffet is closed, ladies.”

I rolled my eyes because I was an adult and Declan had to know I could still hear everything.

“Fuck you, Declan,” a tall brunette growled. She had full-sleeve tattoos and piercings on her lip and nose. “Go ride on Jasper’s rusty cock. We didn’t come out here not to get off.”

“I wore my favorite human, and now the night is wasted.” The curvy blonde said with an exaggerated pout. Her favorite human brought Playboy Bunnies to mind with big lips, wide eyes, and a turned-up nose. Her clothes were pink and fuzzy. Everything about her outfit and expression screamed soft and sexy whereas her tatted companion had a fuck-you smile on her lips.

“I know you.” A third woman said, grabbing my attention to her. She was in a black cat-suit with a dark pixie cut, and for some reason, I got the distinct feeling that she was the one to be reckoned with. Her orange, tiger-striped eyes were fixed on mine. “Teagan Shipman. You probably don’t recognize me. Last time you saw me, I was wearing your body.”

“The succubus,” I whispered as her words registered.

My eyes shuttered, and the world swept away as memories flowed in. I could smell the chemicals in the carpet as I laid under the bed. The bedsprings screeched above me as Kane fucked the succubus. When she pulled my essence, she’d looked like me in every freckle. The scent of my own arousal filled the bedroom.

Without my essence, I was as immobile as a corpse. Lying stuffed under my bed, panic thrummed through my heart and screamed in my head. Any minute now the succubus would strike, and the pack would kill her.

This trick had worked for one reason and one only, I had never, not once, in my ten years of being married to Kane, given in to his desire for me. There were moments where I’d been tempted. It had been so long since someone touched me, and each time Kane dominated me, I felt his passion for me through our connection. But I’d never consented to sex, and that was the one way he didn’t violate me.

Kane Shipman had imprisoned me. He made it so no one but himself could touch me. I lived in terror of his mind-fucks where he’d tear down my defenses and terrorize me. He’d forced me to do monstrous things. But Kane had never raped me. And, when the succubus shape-shifted into my body and face and gave in to Kane’s attempts at seduction, my captor had wanted to believe it so much, he fucked her.

Kane growled long and low in pleasure. “You are mine, Teagan.”

There was a cry and then a loud wet sound. Blood splattered across the floor. A roar erupted from the bed and the bed shook so forcefully, the mattress banged into my back, pressing the air from my lungs. The motion continued as someone choked and gurgled. Then, silence.

My body ached and tingled like blood was returning to my limbs. A burning sensation filled my lungs, and I swallowed a gasp. I curled my fingers into a fist. The succubus had returned my essence, meaning Kane had killed her, and she’d been sent back to hell.