Free Darkness Burning by Delilah Devlin

surprised you’re out here. Erika seems to have plenty to go around.”
    He didn’t have to pretend a shudder. “She’s a slut.”
    The woman snorted. “Plenty of those here, that’s for sure,” she said, her voice smaller.
    Hearing the soft self-recrimination in her tone, he canted his head and reached over to lift a strand of hair stuck to her sweaty cheek. “Did anyone do something they shouldn’t have?” he asked, tucking the strand behind her ear. “Something…uninvited?”
    She glanced away, her lips twisting. “No, but it’s not like they play fair.”
    Alex found her confiding in him as though he were just a harmless stranger—a human stranger—amusing, as well as refreshing. “Their allure can be overwhelming,” he murmured.
    “Exactly,” she said, her agreement emphatic. She turned slightly toward him. “I just can’t believe—”
    “You can’t beat yourself up just because a few of them got to you. It’s not your fault.”
    “Not a few,” she said hotly, her body stiffening. “What do you take me for?”
    He lifted his eyebrows in mock horror. “More, then?”
    A scowl drew her dark brows together, and her lips pouted in a bullish moue.
    “Sorry. A couple?” He knew even before her curt nod thatNicolas had fed his hungers; his scent lingered in the air around her body. Made his own tighten with jealousy. Had Nic done it on purpose when he’d scented Alex’s musk on her skin?
    “I haven’t gotten even one bite tonight, but I’m finding it harder to resist them. I think they spiked the drinks. They do that sometimes at these gatherings,” he suggested to draw her out even more.
    “Not anything I can help you with, buddy. Gonna have to take care of it yourself.”
    “Will you watch?” he asked innocently.
    Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Uhhh… no !”
    He grinned. “Sorry, I was just teasing. You seem a little tense. Thought I might lighten your mood.”
    The corners of her lips curved upward, and she ducked her head. When her gaze returned to his, a solemn expression replaced it. “Is it always about sex?”
    “Can’t help it. I drank too much.”
    “I don’t mean you. Those…creatures…inside.”
    Alex waggled his eyebrows. “I hate to break it to you, but when there are men and women in proximity of each other—whatever their species—it’s usually about the sex.”
    “I knew that, in a sort of intellectual way,” she said slowly, “but tonight’s been damn confusing.”
    “Get your first bite tonight?”
    She nodded, a blush coloring her cheeks. “I kind of wish it had stopped at that.” Her legs crossed, then uncrossed. “I met a man tonight. He was my…first bite. It blew me away. Which is why I don’t get them spiking the drinks.”
    “The ‘drug’ they use serves a couple of purposes. It lowers inhibitions—”
    Her brows drew low. “They have those special pheromones, why would they need more?”
    “It also helps to keep the details of what happens tonight a little fuzzy.”
    “I only had a sip of a mixed drink. I stuck to the bottled water.”
    Alex sucked in a breath. “You drank the Perrier?”
    “Yeah.” She must have seen his wince. “Spiked, too?” she asked, her voice rising. His solemn nod pulled the corners of her mouth downward. “This is so not fair. All I wanted was a little information.”
    “Curiosity brought you here?” he said, finding it amusing to pretend he didn’t already know.
    Her head nodded vigorously, flipping hair against her cheeks. “Should have known better. Alex said my questions would be answered here, but Malcolm couldn’t disappear fast enough with his girlfriend.”
    The vehemence in her voice intrigued him. “What questions?”
    “About them,” she said, pointing toward the house. “Where they come from? What they can do? How they’ve managed to keep hidden so long?”
    “Why the burning interest?” He widened his eyes and dragged in an exaggerated breath. “Are you a groupie? Or here