Free Soul Seducer by Alicia Dean Page A

amusement. Her full, silky lips pulled back in a sneer. “You think I’d trust you?” Her eyes shot to Dimitri, then back to Gaylen. “Either of you? You’re reapers , for God’s sake.”
    “Yes, but that doesn’t mean we’re evil.” Gaylen took a step toward her and she backed up.
    “Stay away from me. Both of you.”
    She panted, her breath puffing like smoke in the chilly wind. Gaylen’s chest tightened. He met Dimitri’s eyes. He’d seen it too. Had also been affected by the urge. Cocking his head, Gaylen licked his lips and winked at Dimitri. Dimitri started toward him, but Gaylen moved closer to Audra.
    “Hey, now. You don’t want anything to happen in front of our new friend here, right? She’s frightened enough as it is. Look at how her chest rises and falls as she struggles for air. She’s panting so hard you can literally see her breaths. Sorry, Audra. The grouch and I have a history. We go back a long way, and we weren’t all that chummy then.”
    She snorted. “Why not? Did you fight over who was going to club the women over the head and drag them into your cave?”
    Gaylen howled with laughter. Even Dimitri’s mouth twitched. Perhaps a sense of humor lurked somewhere beneath all that rage after all.
    “Cavemen,” Gaylen said. “I get it. No, Audra. Not that far back, but it was a very long time ago. Hundreds of years.”
    Her brow furrowed. “Literally hundreds of years? You two have been alive...” She shook her head. “...Existed, for hundreds of years?”
    “I think tonight has held enough surprises,” Dimitri barked. “We’ll leave you alone, Audra. We have no business interacting in your world. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to make sure he doesn’t—”
    Dimitri halted in mid-sentence, and a pained expression crossed his face. He lifted a hand to his chest.
    Fucking A . He was being summoned. He shook his head in a quick, vigorous motion, like that would make it go away.
    “You’d better go,” Gaylen said, trying to keep the satisfaction out of his voice.
    Dimitri glared at him.
    “Or...” Gaylen cocked a thumb over his shoulder and lifted his brows. “I could go for you. How about that? Want me to go in your place?”
    A sound between a growl and a snarl came from Dimitri. Gaylen couldn’t make out what he said, but would have guessed it was something other than, ‘Sure, it’s very kind of you to offer.’
    Dimitri’s expression darkened, reflecting his internal battle. Stay or go? Perform his beloved duty or rescue the damsel? Gaylen knew what he’d choose. For a conformist like Dimitri, not going would be unthinkable.
    Predictable as always, Dimitri let out another frustrated growl and turned to Audra. He moved close to her, so close Gaylen thought he was going to merge with her.
    “Be careful,” he said quietly.
    “Careful? How the hell am I supposed to do that after you two death mongers have entered my life?”
    Dimitri stared at her, but didn’t speak. After all, what could he say?
    He slowly backed away, shooting Gaylen one last, parting look. “I’d tell you to stay away from her, but I know how pointless it would be.”
    “So, don’t bother. Just run along. Audra and I want to get acquainted.”
    Dimitri scowled, but continued to retreat. He made his fingers into a vee, pointed them at his own eyes, then toward Gaylen. The message was clear. I’m watching you... And then he faded into the darkness.
    Gaylen turned back to Audra. “Alone at last. Thought he’d never leave.” Her lips parted and a puff of air escaped. Excitement surged in his chest. “Now, where were we?”
    ~*~
    Audra skirted around Gaylen, keeping an eye on him, but maintaining a safe distance. She didn’t trust either of them, but she damn sure didn’t want to be alone with this one.
    “Are you leaving?” he asked in an injured tone. “I thought we were having fun.”
    “Listen, I don’t know what either of you want and I don’t care. You stay the hell away from