The Cambion's Hoard
Chapter 17-Rose

Patricia’s apartment was cozy. Lots of purples and blues in it. The couch, pillows, blankets, ribbons, banners, and scarves. It was like a textile mill had exploded in her living room. It smelled of lilac and patchouli. She sat across from me and stared dead-eyed past me.

Patti was searching in the void for me. Searching for the best way to understand what was happening. She blinked rapidly and shook.

“Well, it seems to be an easy enough thing, really.”

I nodded, urging her to go on. “Ok, that’s good.”

She slapped her knees. “Oh, right, right. The two of you are mates.”

I blinked and forced the irritation down. “Right, mates. What does that mean? I was raised, human.”

She lit a cigarette. “Oh, right.”

She quieted again. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth, but Thatcher’s hand stopped me. He squeezed my knee.

“Give her a second.” He scooted over and hugged me against him.

“That.” She pointed at us.

I looked up at Thatch. He nuzzled my hair. “You were getting agitated. So, I eased it, touching you.”

I rubbed my hands on my face. “I don’t understand.”

Patti leaned back. “You can sense his desire, and because you’re a succubus, you can fulfill it. Say he wants you to kiss him. You’ll feel that then you’ll do something to call him to act on it. If you’re sad, he’ll know and comfort you. Mating induces much more intuitive empathy between lovers.”

I nodded. “Ok, that makes sense, but why the whiplash?”

“That’s because you two aren’t together enough. So how often are you at home? And when you’re home, are you ever spending time together?”

We both shook. “No, we don’t spend time together. I asked to go slow.”

6 weeks still didn’t seem long enough to know someone to such an intensity.

“You don’t have to have sex, Rose. You need to replace a way to exist together. Watch a show together, read, cuddle, bathe, or even sleep. Do things a normal couple would do. Then the bond will level out.”

“She works so much and goes to class. I don’t do either.” Thatcher was frustrated.

My eyes went wide. “You could come to work with me. Like work with me.”

“I don’t need money, though. Dragons have an inherited hoard.”

“No, no. You could work with me to be with me. But, unfortunately, I have to work, but you could come to help me.”

He spread his hands out in front of me. “You work at a sex-demon club. I’m not immune to that type of power. No one is.”

Patti tabbed her ash out and tutted. “She’s your mate. Mate bonds render all other attraction nil. That’s why you broke up with Henson even though you love him. He cannot give you what you need. Neither can any other male or female of any species.”

She lit another cigarette. “Not only that, with her being a succubus, she laid claim to your sex. Mind you, hers won’t mess you up like a normal encounter. She’s feeding on your energy, but because you’re mates, she gives it back,” she took a drag, “mating to a succubus is some interesting shit.”

“We’re going to have to have more conversations, Patti.”

She laughed. “Yes, we are.” She turned to Thatch. “Start working with her at the club. It’ll do you both some good. Might speed things up a bit too.”

We looked at each other. Were we ready to speed things up? Guess we were going to replace out.