10- Incubi and intimidation


    Bemy, once again offers me his arm. I take it and allow him to lead me out to the front of the building


    where a Shifter man waits patiently. He is dressed in jeans and a dark shirt, much like Shaun and


    Aaron. He is quite tall and bulky, if he weren’t so p


    polite he would probably be intimidating. He has chocte brown hair. His eyes are brown too but


    seem tinted orange so they don’t quite look human. He is well built and if I do say so myself, quite


    attractive. “This is Darrien, Megan’s guard.” Bemy says quietly. The guy is cute, but what really


    catches my attention is the red thread connecting his heart to Megan’s. Interesting. I go out of my way


    to smile at him and shake his hand.


    “Hi, I’m Ryann Gale. You’re Darrien right? It’s nice to meet you.” The man smiles kindly and mumbles a


    quiet greeting. I can already see that he is the gentle giant type. Although I wouldn’t put it past him to


    be seriously scary if someone threatened Megan. He assesses met with his eyes, as if determining if I


    am a threat before shaking my hand. He then steps back. to allow Megan to say her farewells. I notice


    his eyes follow her. So theck of interest is not on his end then. I figure Megan is the oblivious one in


    this rtionship. Orck of rtionship as it may be. My thoughts are interrupted by shock when


    Megan grabs me and pulls me into a quick hug.


    “I have my engagement party in a week, I n to go shopping tomorrow morning. Want toe with


    me? It will give us a chance to get to know each other a bit better and I can start answering any


    questions you have about Shifters.” I eagerly ept her offer.


    “Cool, I’ll text you details after ss. See ya!” She hops into the passenger seat of the car and. waves


    out the window as she and Darrien drive away.


    “Well that was interesting.” Iment to Bemy. He raises an eyebrow. I shake my head.


    “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He


    groans.


    “You’re going to be like this a lot aren’t you? It’s going to drive me crazy keeping those promises I


    gave.” He sighs.


    “Well, there’s not really anything else to be done today and it will be getting dark soon. Can I give you a


    ride home?” he offers. I hesitate before realising that I don’t exactly have any other options. I nod.


    Bemy offers me his arm yet again. I stare at it.


    10- Incubi and intimidation


    “Why do you keep offering me your arm like that? Shaun did it too. I can walk on my own.” I point out.


    Bemy seems surprised.


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    “You don’t know a lot about Shifters do you?” I shake my head. He takes my hand and ces it over


    his arm.


    “When a Shifter offers their arm to escort you, it is also offering protection. It is an assurance that you


    have nothing to fear and you will be protected as long as they are apanying you.” He exins. I


    frown.


    “Why would I need protection?“I question. Bemy shrugs.


    “You probably don’t, but the gesture means that if you should need it, you have it.” he points


    out.


    “Why does Megan have a guard? you seem to walk around without them.” I ask.


    “It would seem weak for an Alpha to walk around needing protection. But it also seems weak to not


    provide protection for one’s family. Megan has only one guard and honestly she can take care of


    herself. Darrien knows this, he is more for show than anything else.” I think for a


    moment.


    “I’d still bet he could do some serious damage if you made him angry.” Iment. I can feel Bemy


    shake as heughs.


    “You would win that bet.” We reach the end of the street part of thepound and there seems to be


    an area that has been designated as a parking lot. He pulls keys from his pocket and the lights sh on


    yet another fancy looking car. A dark blue one this time. I hop in the passenger seat as Bemy takes


    the wheel. Bemy reverses out of the park and heads to the gates. We have just reached the main


    road when it urs to me how hungry I am and that I have nothing to eat at home. I probably have


    enough to get a cheap takeout.


    “Hey, can you drop me at that diner down the street from my house? I got kidnapped and missed my


    lunch break.” I say pointedly. Bemy groans again.


    “You’re not going to drop that are you?” he questions. I shrug. We drive in silence for a few minutes


    until Bemy parks the car in front of the diner. I climb out the car and am surprised


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    10- Incubi and intimidation


    to see him doing the same.


    “What are you doing?” I question.


    “I’m hungry. Besides, I promised to see you home. So that’s what I am going to do.” he informs me. I


    roll my eyes. He steps forward and once again offers me his arm. It seems a little more significant now


    that I know what it means and I appreciate the gesture as more than just typical politeness. I ce my


    hand on his arm and let him lead me inside. The diner is a small ce. It is owned by some rich


    Sorcerer who is never around, so for the most part it is run by his niece. It is for Magics only (his rule),


    but despite the racism which really can’t be avoided in a city like this, it’s not a bad ce for a


    reasonably priced meal. Bemy and I sit across from each other in a littleer booth area. It’s the


    kind of ce where you choose what you want, then go up and let the counter know and tell them your


    table number. The ce is too small to justify hiring waiters and waitresses so there aren’t any. I decide


    on a pasta dish and an orange juice. Bemy wants a steak. I go to stand but he waves me off.


    “I’ll order, you sit.” I roll my eyes. He’s nice to me now that I’ve agreed to help him. He makes his way


    up to the counter.


    “Ryann?” I hear a male voice from somewhere to my left. I turn and see a man, someone I vaguely


    recognise from the orphanage I grew up in. Harrison? I haven’t seen him in years. We spent time


    together as kids but lost touch as we reached our teenage years, it’s a pretty typical urrence with


    Iubi. They don’t tend to have a lot of friends as teenagers. Women either date them or hate them


    and men are either jealous or they’repetition. Since I never wanted to date Harrison and didn’t


    want to grow to hate him, I distanced myself. I’m not sure he even noticed.


    “Harrison?” I stand up to greet him and as he drags me into a hug I am reminded of how touchy feely


    Iubi can be. He runs his hand up and down my back gently until I pull away. Harrison is the typical


    tall, dark and handsome guy. He looks like a movie star and is used to women falling at his feet to


    please him. Silly girls, while it’s true that Iubi are into seduction, what they enjoy is the chase.


    Giving an Incubus what he wants is a sure fire way to make sure he never calls you back. Resisting


    Iubi is something that most girls struggle with, the same way men struggle to refuse a Subus.


    Their magic is geared towards seduction. They can make you rx or feel excited on a whim and often


    do. Having grown up around both Iubi and Subi, I am pretty much immune to them at this point.


    Seeing their threads helps. Even they have a soul mate. It is much easier to resist their seductions


    when I can see they’re meant for someone else. As I pull away from Harrison he gives me an


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    easy grin.


    “You haven’t changed Ry. Still keeping everyone at arms length.” He observes. Iugh at him.


    “I know better than to taunt an Incubus Harrison.” I remind him. He sighs.


    “Don’t I know it.” I return to my seat. Harrison decides to sit where Bemy had been sitting only a


    moment ago. He reaches across the table to hold my hand. I don’t pull away, it would only encourage


    him to chase after me.


    So, how have you been, Ry?” he asks. I open my mouth to respond when Bemy returns. He looks


    angry and is ring at Harrison with his arms crossed over his chest. I pull my hand.


    away.


    “Bemy, this is Harrison. Harrison, this is Bemy. He’s Alpha of the feline Shifters.” I introduce them. I


    am forced to move over a little as Bemy slides himself into the booth beside me since Harrison is in


    his seat. Harrison looks bemused.


    “Running with Shifters now are you Ry? I have to say that’s unexpected. Too good for us Iubi.


    now?” he jokes. I roll my eyes at him. Bemy leans over to speak in my ear.


    “Is the Iubi. bothering you? I can make him leave.” He offers. I shake my head.


    “Thanks but no thanks. I’m used to Iubi. Besides, Harrison here is like the older brother I never


    wanted. Aren’t you Harry.” Harrison copses back in the seat in fake shock.


    “Brother? Oh you wound my pride. How will I ever face my fellow Iubi knowing I have been friend–


    zoned, no brother–zoned if there is such a thing.” he whines. I giggle.


    “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Harrison catches Bemy’s re and stands from his seat. He pulls a card


    from his pocket with his number on it and hands it to me. I slip it into my phone case to keep it safe.


    “Well, I know when I’m not needed. So I will be on my way.” he eyes me spectively.


    “I might have been wrong before, maybe you aren’t keeping EVERYONE at arms length. Not. that I


    me you, he is a bit of a cutie isn’t he.” He nces pointedly back and forth between


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    myself and Bemy. I open my mouth to object but Bemy speaks before I can.


    “Have a nice evening… Harrison.” he grinds out awkwardly.


    “You too Alpha kitty. Take care of Ryann for me!” Harrison gives a cheeky little wave before leaving us


    be.