Welcome To My World

“I had one as well,” Shyne said.

Lil held back shivers. His voice sounded too much like a demon’s. He wasn’t a Dira. He was the male who had taken care of her when she was a child. Shyne crouched beside her and rested his hand on her back.

All Bête Noire had rich chocolate skin. Shyne’s had paled over the years. The person she grew up with was only half of Shyne. He didn’t know where the other half was. His expression, the way he held himself, bled anger. He didn’t know where he came from.

He looked at children and they cried. When those eyes met a vicious animal, the beast wets itself. He was skilled at being cruel. Women… human women fed on that fear. Shyne was their daily dose of adrenaline. Even he had fears.

“Every one of us living in the city had a demon visitor.” He massaged the back of her neck.

She fought not to withdraw from his presence. Shyne’s voices sounded frightening and empty.

“How do you know that?” she asked.

He shrugged.

“Were any humans hurt?”

His hand went still. His eyes frowned.

“Why do you care?” he asked.

She put her annoyance in her stare.

Amusement lightened his rough eyes.

She held her expression.

“No, they’re oblivious as always.” His hand messaged slower.

The creature had fallen out of her sight. Humans in the apartment below slipped back into denial. They partied, chatted and ate as though a demon’s carcass hadn’t fallen through their floor.