It hurts and I don’t know why.
The first time he marked me, it didn’t hurt so why now? Groggily, I open my eyes and I gasp when I see violet, not purple eyes staring back at me.
“Sycamore?”
He smirked. “In the flesh.”
I sat up, eager to put some distance between us, mostly because of what happened the last time I was around him. “What did you do to Sia?”
“Me? What makes you think I did something to him?”
“He…he has never acted that way around me before. You probably had something to do with it.”
“Maybe he was just good at concealing his ugly side.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Believe what you want wolf. Not my problem.”
“Is it supposed to hurt?”, I ask softly.
“What?”
“Marking me. Is it supposed to hurt?”, I ask again.
“I’d have to mark you to find out princess,” he said with a wink.
Can’t believe this is the same man that once wanted to kill me. “None of this is funny Sycamore. Is it supposed to hurt?”
“No.”
“Then why does it hurt?”
“I don’t know. Your lover would.”
I am not so sure I can call him that anymore. “I doubt that. I know you know why Sycamore and I need you to tell me. Why does it hurt?”
He sighed. “I…need to get going,” he said, rising from where he sat beside me. I pulled him back. “Tell me.”
He sits back, wrenching his hand free from mine. “It hurts because you’re nearing transition.”
I blink. “Transition? What does it mean?”
“It means your body is changing and transforming.”
“Into what? A vampire?”, I ask him.
“No, even better. A hellhound.”
Now I’m confused. “What’s a hellhound?”
“Supernatural beings who breathe fire.”
I raise my brow. “You’re joking.”
He laughed. “I am. We feed on blood and relish in other people’s death. Plus, we’re the only supernaturals who can kill other supernaturals without much work. We can also control the element of fire. You know, because we’re demons from hell.”
“The way you keep saying we, I’m guessing you’re a hellhound.”
He smiled. “Yes.”
“Is that all there is to hellhounds?”, I ask him.
He raises his brow. “Does the little shewolf want to know more about the big bad hellhound?”
I laugh. “You.. you did not just call yourself that.”
He laughed. “I did, didn’t I? There’s more to hellhounds Crinka. One, we’re undeniably sexy”, he said with a smirk. I resist the urge to laugh.
“Two, a hellhound bite can kill a werewolf, a vampire, and sometimes faes.”
I blink. “You’re lying.”
“I have no reason to.”
“If that’s true, then why am I still breathing?”
He looked at me. “Crinka, I bit you with the intention of changing you, and not with the intention of killing you.”
“How glad I am to hear that,” I say sarcastically.
“You’re so full of sarcasm today, aren’t you?”
“Oh sorry, would you rather I am full of spite? You did try to kill me once you know.”
“I didn’t try. I said I was going to, until I decided that you had far better use.”
“Lemme guess, becoming like you.”
“You say it like it’s a bad thing. Crinka, once you’re a hellhound we’ll rule the world together.”
“I’ll rather die.”
“That’s the thing Crinka. Hellhounds are immortals. We can’t die. We can only be sent back to hell.”
“And how do I send a hellhound back to hell?”
He chuckled. “Looking for a way to send me back, don’t you? Don’t bother yourself Crinka. I did go back, but even the devil didn’t want me.”
How…how sad. “Hmmm, I wonder why. Why would you bite me Sycamore? I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“And I don’t care. Crinka, you harbor my child in your womb and in order for you to give birth to that child, you have to be a hellhound so that you won’t die.”
“You could have told me,” I cry out. “You should have asked for my consent before doing this to me.”
“Hellhounds don’t ask for consent honey.”
“Get out!”, I yell, tears falling. “Get out! I never want to see you again.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I see how my child is doing.”
“My child is fine. Now get out.”
He simply stood up, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he put his hand in his pocket and brought out a black box with a red ribbon wrapped around it, before handing it to me.
“What’s this?”, I ask him, taking it from him.
“It’s my Christmas gift to you.”
“You’re…you’re giving me a gift.”
“You seem surprised,” he murmured.
“I am. It’s just that only nice people give gifts and you are not…”
“Exactly nice? I can be nice when I want to Crinka. You witnessed that firsthand when I let that Icelander prince live.”
“That wasn’t you being nice. That was you just being…you.”
He laughed. “If that was me being me, then maybe I need to go back on a journey of self-discovery. Open the gift Crinka.”
“And if I don’t?”, I ask, getting to my feet.
He chuckled. “Trust me, you don’t wanna know.”
“Actually, I want to know”, I say, approaching me. Dear moon, did he get taller? “I want to know what the big bad hound would do if I don’t open it.”
His nostrils flared. “Crinka…”, he warned.
“Would he kiss me? Or beat me? Talk to me Sycamore. I want to know.”
He exhaled sharply. “Crinka, open the box.”
“You’re no fun,” I say with a pout.
“Open the box Crinka.”
“Fine.”
I turned away from him then opened the box. It’s a small necklace or pendant or whatever, but absolutely beautiful. I take it out, throwing the box on the bed before turning to Sycamore.
“What is it?”
“It’s an amulet. I crafted it out of moonstone.”
I’m surprised. “You…you made this?”
“Yes.”
“That’s… that’s so…why moonstone?”
“It symbolizes the werewolves. I got it for you because I want you to remember your true self when you are now a hellhound.”
That makes sense. I held up the amulet before him. “Could you.. help me? Please.”
He takes the amulet from me, brushing our fingers in the process. This has happened before with Sia, and moreso, it’s his body, so why am I feeling giddy all of a sudden? Exhaling softly, I turn my back to him, gathering my strands so that I can hold my hair up. He stopped me.
“What…I want to…”
“Sssh. Let me.”
“But how would you…”
“Let me Crinka.”
He says my name gently and I turn my back to him, hands at my sides. Gently, he wraps my hair up in a bun. Not tight, but it would do for now. I handed him the amulet. The moonstone feels cool against my skin, and so do his hands and breath. Somehow, the feeling of his harsh breathing against my skin, turned me on. I am definitely losing it.
“Sycamore?”, I whisper.
“Huh?”
We stay in that position, my back to him, his hands on my shoulder. “Would I be a bad person for wanting you between my thighs right now?”
His fingers brushed the hairs on my neck. “Depends on your definition of bad honey.”
I spin around, facing him. “I’m not supposed to want this, but I’m so horny and…I just want you to take me. I know it’s wrong to be wanting such things but I can’t help what I feel or want. It’s like I’m no longer in control of my own body.”
“That’s normal, especially when you’re nearing transition.”
“Thank heavens because I was starting to think I am crazy.”
“You are crazy to be lusting after a hellhound trapped in your lover’s body.”
“I like crazy then. If it’s going to get you to bed me.”
He whistled. “You are so direct.”
“Sycamore come on. I mean, what do we have to lose?”
“A lot of calories…”
I shoot him a look. “Are you being for real now?”
He looked at me. “Honey, if we fuck, things are gonna worsen between you and your lover.”
“I don’t give two fucks.”
“But I do. I’m not going to fuck you Crinka.”
“Then make love to me. Just touch me Sycamore. I want to feel your hands on me Sycamore”, I say touching his chest.
“You mean Sia’s hands”, he said, pushing my hands away.
“Does it really matter? It’s you I’m with now. And when I’m nearing my high, it’s your name I’ll be screaming out.”
He eyed me. “Tempting, but no. I’m not fucking you Crinka.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t pull a Ruarc.”
He frowned. “A Ruarc?”
“You know, the brother that says I can’t fuck Sia’s woman, but goes on to rape her when she’s the most vulnerable.”
“Well, I ain’t Sia’s brother Crinka.”
“Prove it.”
“What?”
“If you’re not Sia’s brother then prove it. Take me to bed Sycamore. Right now, and right here.”
He gave me a look. “Is this how you behave to all the guys you’ve met?”
“I don’t understand.”
“What I’m saying is, is this how you behave to all the guys you meet? Ask them to take you to bed without barely knowing them? Without first finding out whether they’ve got STI?”
“What are you, my father?”, I ask, annoyed. It’s his fault I’m this way anyways! If he hadn’t forced me into transition, I would still be in control of my body and none of this would be happening!
“Ew no! I’m just a guy who wants to get out of this body. Not use it to satisfy a pregnant woman’s carnal pleasures.”
What the? Did he just call me pregnant? I know I’m pregnant but calling me pregnant is not so cool. “You know what? Go to hell!”, I yell, walking away from him.
He pulled me back and I crashed into him, holding his shoulders for support. He palms my cheeks, forcing me to look at him.
“I once told you this, princessa. Even the devil did not want me,” he said before claiming my lips with his. It’s the moment that I want to submit, that he pulls away, eyes ablaze. “Bed, now.”