Read Eban for Free Online Page B

curve of the demon’s thigh, the soft roundness of her bare buttocks. Though she preferred to destroy, she didn’t turn her eye away from beauty.
    The succubus’s long red locks fell around the lamia’s face, obscuring it from Rosemar’s sight. The succubus moaned as the lamia sank his pointed teeth into her neck, but she wasn’t in pain. Her expression betrayed her rapture. Painted red lips parted, revealing her gleaming white fangs. From across the room, Rosemar imagined the sound of the moan filled with want. No one else noticed the amorous couple, too consumed in their drinking and gambling.
    She held her breath when the lamia’s hand caressed the sucubbus’s folds. Her borrowed body thrummed with aching desire. It remembered being touched, both in good and bad ways. Certain customers had been gentle, or at least pleased with her efforts. Beryl hadn’t minded them so much, but others had delighted in her pain. A tiny part of Beryl’s spirit that wasn’t unaware of what was happening shrank back at the memories.
    Rosemar quieted the spirit with another sip of whiskey. Beryl would never remember any of this. If everything went according to plan, one day Rosemar would snuff out the woman’s existence and become the only mind in this form. She’d walk among the humans again, spreading joy and misery just as she’d done in days of old.
    The succubus arched her back, her mouth open, fangs extended, though she bit nothing but air. Rosemar leaned forward, gripping the bar behind her hard. A hot rush of pleasure surged through her, satisfying in a way that blood whiskey never could.
    A hand wrapped around her arm, jerking her away from the bar. She looked up at Tell, whose expression showed only fury.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing here?”
    His grip was painful and meant to be. She had no doubt he knew Beryl wasn’t in control. She lifted her glass.
    â€œEnjoying Berner’s finest. What are you doing—oh, don’t bother with the details.” Rosemar nodded behind him.
    He didn’t turn, but he didn’t need to. Another succubus was coming down the stairs from the cribs, her brown curls rumpled, her face flushed with pleasure. Tell’s forays to the saloon were no secret. Like most of the other creatures here, the succubi couldn’t hurt him, which made them perfect sporting women.
    He didn’t react to her words or look at his latest conquest. “Does Eban know you’re running around loose?”
    â€œOf course not. He’d have a fit if he knew I was bringing his precious Beryl here.” She curled her upper lip. “Though it’s hardly the roughest place she’s ever been. Except most of the demons she knew were better disguised.”
    â€œYou’re saying Beryl was a—” He looked shocked. “You dug her out of a brothel.”
    â€œBetter than that. I saved her life when her boss dumped her in an alley for dead.” Rosemar shrugged. It hadn’t been done so she could receive the glory of saving a human. “It was convenient.”
    â€œStill is, from the look of things. You need to let her go.” He released her arm, but leaned closer. “Seere can get you another body.”
    â€œI chose this one. I like the way it feels. She’s passionate, but she hides it well.” Rosemar ran her hand over one breast. “I’m keeping it.”
    â€œOver my dead body.”
    â€œSo be it, Har—”
    â€œShut up.” He looked as though he wanted to slap her, but didn’t dare.
    The space around them had cleared and several sets of eyes turned their way. The tinny piano music died and silence reigned in all but the farthest corners of the saloon. Rosemar glared at Tell. She didn’t intend to use his real name and bring out the demon part of him that could easily kill this body and her, but she liked threatening him with it. The thrill was almost as