Marked By Lies: A Reverse Harem Series (The Marked Series Book 1) by Paige Orr (the red fox clan TXT) 📗

He kisses my neck before strutting his way up to the house without a backwards glance, leaving me stunned with my mouth hanging open. I turn to Zaphyr, not expecting the glee in his eyes. Clearing my throat, I walk around the car to get in the driver's side, having to squeeze past an unmoving Zaphyr. Once I slide into the car, he takes his time walking around to the passenger seat, leaving me waiting. What am I going to do with these guys?

Chapter Twenty

Zaphyr

I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed seeing the heat in Melissa’s eyes as Morpheus crowded her against the car. I wouldn’t say that I’m a jealous guy, but when I’m interested in someone, I usually like being the only person they have eyes for. I watch Melissa’s face as she works through the emotions that Morpheus caused in her, and I have to admit to myself that every little nuance just draws me deeper into her orbit.

I’m not exactly surprised about that though, there’s just something different about how I feel when I’m around her. Even though she is an enthralling woman, she doesn’t seem to realize the hold she has over all four of us, which is rather refreshing after years of women throwing themselves at me for even a little of the prestige they would receive for being connected to my name.

It’s not easy to only be wanted because of what you are and not who you are as a person. It got to the stage where I closed myself off completely from women, only taking the occasional partner for the night who I could trust not to brag about bedding the Prince. I can see Melissa’s attraction for not only me, but the others too.

Even though humans are becoming more open to the different types of relationships that people can have, they are still far more judgy than Fae. we are taught that love doesn’t know gender or race, and that if we happen to have feelings for more than one person, then it’s completely natural. My mother would say that we have plenty of love to go around, and I would have to agree with her. So even if Melissa isn’t interested in a relationship, the fact that she doesn’t only want me, doesn’t bother me at all.

Not wanting to lose this fucker because I’m too busy day dreaming about the ravishing woman beside me, I turn in my seat towards the window. I open the window, wanting to make sure that I can catch the scent of the person we are following, and begin to give Melissa directions.

We follow on the trail of our mystery suspect for a good fifteen minutes before I have to get Melissa to pull over so that we can follow the trail on foot. The fucker must know that they are being followed because they have cut through a wooded area behind the row of houses on the street we were driving down.

Whoever it was is obviously smart, since the scents of nature are almost overwhelming, making it difficult to find the trail again. Luckily, I manage to find a small trace of their scent, and begin to guide Melissa along the right track. I hate the fact that we don’t know how far they could have gotten before we started following them, but I can’t waste any time dwelling on that now.

We walk on endlessly through the trees, making sure not to make too much noise, and eventually we come across a clearing where all traces of our culprit vanish. I curse under my breath, pacing back and forth where the trail disappears, feeling my frustration building to a whole new height.

I can feel the darkness calling my name, wanting for whoever has crossed us blood to spill, and it takes every bit of remaining strength I have to hold it at bay. This shit is not good. If I don’t find who is responsible soon, who knows what the darkness will cause me to become. I’ve never been denied a hunt for this long, and I hope in future that I’ll never have to wait this long before.

Just as I reach the edge of the clearing, a hand lands on my arm, startling a growl out of me as I spin around, grabbing the person and pinning them against the closest tree. My eyes widen in shock as I meet Melissa’s stunned gaze, and I curse myself for losing control like this around her. I let my vice like grip on her arms loosen, bracketing her body with them as I rest my head on her shoulder.

“Shit! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have blown up like that around you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Her arms come up hesitantly before wrapping around me, and I feel some of the tension easing at her touch. She rubs gentle circles on my back, and I just enjoy the feeling of her embrace.It’s been such a long time since anyone has tried to comfort me, that I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do, so I just wrap my arms tighter around her.

“It’s alright Zaphyr, you didn’t hurt me, I was just surprised. I can understand your frustration though. I only approached you because I was worried when your eyes turned Black.”

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that, my magic has been riding me hard to find who is responsible for hurting my people, and it lashed out.

“These things happen, no harm done, so don’t beat yourself up about it.”

I lift my head from her shoulder, staring deep into her eyes, as I bring my hand up to cradle her cheek. I thought that my reaction would have frightened her, but instead she’s trying to put my mind at ease. This