I awoke to the sounds of twilight, the nightingale only now starting her mournful song. I’d slept poorly, toiling over what I’d learned about Lilah but unable to come up with the answer of why she’d sought me out. I had no special favor with Artemis—she was well known among the gods for her prudery. Definitely not my type. So I couldn’t get her back into the goddess’s good graces.

I stretched and rose from bed, the incubus waking and urging me to get into Lilah’s bed. Want her.

“Can’t have her,” I said out loud and headed for the shower.

Want her, the incubus insisted.

“Too bad.”

I soaped up and ignored my protruding shaft. The incubus was up to its old tricks, doing whatever it could to get its way, but I was having none of it. I needed all my energy for the outing I’d planned for Lilah this evening.

I knew where I wanted to take her and the story I would tell, but dreaded the trip. I’d never revealed my secrets to anyone and didn’t understand why I’d chosen her to confide in. But, I had to admit, there was something powerful about sharing my past with her. Something I’d never felt before, for any woman.

Once the bathroom was good and steamed, I got out and toweled off.

Corinne’s voice drifted through the milky air. “Want company?”

Yes!

“No.” I silenced the incubus.

“Going to make me get mine from Anne?” Corinne pouted and sidled up to me. She reached out to stroke me, but I backed away.

Need her. The incubus was huffy, as if she were medicine it didn’t want to take.

“Looks like it.” I dodged her searching hands, dressing quickly.

“Are you going out with that tramp again?”

In an instant, my hand was around her throat. “Don’t call her that ever again. Understand?”

Corinne’s eyes went wide with surprise and changed to the color of smoldering coals, signaling her displeasure. I relaxed my grip, not wanting to hurt her.

“Fine. But once you’ve had her, I know you’ll be back in my bed.” She gave me an acid look before leaving.

I pitied her and despised her at intervals, but Corinne was a necessity for me. The only thing that kept me from bedding every female in the city, no matter the consequences—something I swore long ago I would never do again. Her demon was far more possessive than mine; the succubus had staked its claim on me from the first second she saw me. And, though I wasn’t fond of the arrangement, Corinne had been with me ever since.

The incubus was getting restless, hungry for a dose of sexual power, but I was foolishly denying it again. For her. I couldn’t bear the thought of bedding another while the one I wanted was so close. Of course, I was fooling myself to think she would ever want me in return. But I’d made up my mind. I didn’t want anyone else and wouldn’t take Corinne or another female until I absolutely couldn’t stand it any longer. Even so, I wouldn’t make the same mistake as the last time I’d starved the demon. Couldn’t risk it.

I finished getting dressed and walked into the hall, readying to knock on Lilah’s door. Before I had the chance, she swung it open.

“I’d hoped you’d be up.” She was wearing a pair of tight jeans, boots, and a button-up shirt that was open at the collar and unbuttoned to reveal the pale swells of her generous breasts. Had I ever wanted anyone so badly? Definitely not. But I couldn’t charm her and could only have her if she came to me. The incubus protested my gentlemanly resolve, but I shut it out.

“Shall we?” I held out my arm for her.

“Wait.”

“Inviting me in?” I smiled, and the incubus clamored for a yes.

“Um, no.” She hurried out into the hallway. “But I did want to show you something.”

“Pray tell what that might be.”

She drew in a deep breath and, before my very eyes, conjured a bow and quiver from thin air. It was as if these things were always a part of her, though not visible to the naked eye.

“So that’s how you brought down the fury.” I’d been wondering what tricks she had up her sleeve. The bow gleamed an otherworldly silver and bore ornate etchings. Such a masterwork of arms and magic was never lightly given. It was fit for the gods themselves. I whistled at the sight of her with it. Deadly.

The bow disappeared as quickly as it had come. There was a slight smile lighting her face, the instrument and her skill with it plainly points of pride.

She brushed past me in the hall, heading to the stairs. “I have the feeling you’ll be wanting to take me on another one of your ‘field trips’ tonight, and I’d like you to know up front that unwelcome advances will be met with an arrow through your tender places.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that threatened to overtake me. She was utterly irresistible, standing there and challenging me to touch her. Making me want to so badly. The incubus itched to feel her melt to its will, and, unbelievably, the demon and I were in total agreement.