Sixx and the Incubus: The Sidekick Chronicles
Page 1
The Sidekick Chronicles:
Sixx and the Incubus
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 Becca Vincenza
Cover: Covers by Christian
Proof Reading: Dawn Yacovetta
All rights reserved. The book may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The books are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author‘s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Books by Becca Vincenza
HEXED SERIES
Hexed Hearts
Hunter’s Heart
THE REBIRTH SERIES
Stolen
Damaged
Healed
Burned
Drowned
Tamed
MERCENARIES FOR HIRE
Freelance
Hired
Contracted
Authorized
CURSE BREAKER SERIES
Art of Death
Secrets of the Dead
Dance with Death
THE SIDEKICK CHRONICLES
Sixx and the Beginning (Prequel)
Sixx and the Hellhound
Sixx and the Fae
Sixx and the Incubus
Sixx Saves the World
Dedication
To my friends who helped me through my bout of covid in the middle of writing this book
Chapter 1
My heart slammed in my chest, rocketing to my throat. How did I, Sixx Reynolds, Sidekick Extraordinaire, get into this situation? My palms sweated something fierce. Swallowing, I wiped my free one against my jeans. The other clutched my mate, who stood next to me with a slightly amused smile on his lips.
The chuckle made me turn my ire to the massive male beside me.
"Brat, how is your fearless priyatel so scared of this?" Timur asked.
"Yeah, Sixx. You've faced incubi, vampires, humans, and High Courted fae, but this scares you?" Roman laughed from the other side of Olezka.
I gave them both my best glare before staring ahead again. "You guys suck," I pouted.
"Nyet, vampires do. Or maybe Olezka. What you two do in the bedroom is between the two of you," Roman replied.
"Ugh, enough from you, Peanut Gallery."
"Your human humor is odd." Timur poked my cheek.
I rolled my eyes, slapping his hand away, then peeked up at my mate. "You're quiet."
Olezka's eyes were fixed on the door in front of us. I knew he had a lot on his plate. We both did. A stab of guilt hit me. It had been eating at me since I returned to the Dark Fae Land and was only exacerbated when Ana sacrificed her freedom so Cyril and I could escape.
"Well, yes, if my Mama and Papa do not accept you, I'll have to leave you forever."
A choked noise escaped me as my entire world crumbled on its axis. Based on what unfolded on the other side of this door, the male that I told I loved not even a week ago would leave me. During my time as a captive of the Dark Fae, then the Light, I realized how much I’d come to care for Olezka.
"Syn, that is not funny. Look how pale my new, poor doch' is!" a new voice said. Distracted by Olezka's announcement, I didn’t realize the door had swung open, revealing my maybe soon-to-be mother-in-law.
"Was he serious?" I asked, my rounded gaze flicking between the gorgeous female in the doorway and the male at my side.
"No, he is only cruel to you so that we will be nice." A male joined her at the open doorway. He looked so much like his sons I would have mistaken him for another brother if Olezka hadn’t warned me. Hell, I had a hard time believing the woman in front of me was his mother. She looked so young; I couldn’t imagine her boys ever being small, but dang, her body bounced right back.
I gulped again. This was my first time meeting my boyfriend's parents. My hands were still slick, and though it was the polite thing to do, I didn't want to give them a handshake with a sweaty palm.
"Stop, you are scaring her! And the way these other idiots are going, she is my only chance at a daughter. And eventually, vnuki!" Olezka's mother stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. She had luxurious, shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair styled in relaxed curls and eyes that shone a brilliant amber. Like her children, she stood tall and strong. Next to her, I felt dumpy and very, very human.
She exclaimed a few more things in Russian too quickly for me to decipher if she was even trying to string a sentence along. I had been learning Russian in secret to surprise Olezka, but my lessons came to a screeching halt when Key kidnapped me.
"English, dear. The poor child looks lost," her mate, Olezka's father, reminded her gently. He seemed very soft-spoken, considering his sons were very much the opposite.
"Da, I apologize. I get so excited and start speaking in my native tongue."
"Well, not your native tongue." Their dad's voice dropped an octave.
"Gross, Pa!" Roman yelled as he shoved past his parents. I was surprised when he’d arrived at Erebus's palace the day before. Olezka had been itching to get away from the palace and, quite frankly, the Veil. Timur explained that with Key on the loose, not to mention Cyril, everyone was on edge. Cyril bothered Olezka the most because of how the incubus’s powers affected me. I decided it'd be best to wait and tell him about our bargain at a later, less stressful time.
Timur suggested a weekend away to visit their parents, and I'd been nervous about it ever since. To the point where I even offered for them to go without me. Olezka gave me his downright scariest scowl, so that was a hard nope. Then Timur must have gotten word to Roman. Once he arrived, we took the Dark Fae's version of a spiorad called an olam. I'd say they most closely resembled a manticore, but they weren't quite the same. Their heads were larger than a normal lion, but their bodies melted into a thick, scaly, barrel chest with legs that looked like they belonged to a dragon. Curiously, they had no tails.
Joining us on our journey to their parents’ quaint little cottage was my favorite canine pal, Anubis. Well, Anubis two-point-oh. He had turned extra-large on this side of the Veil, including sharper, deadlier teeth and claws, but he still acted like a sweet puppy to me. A shower of puppy kisses was enough to give me a hint of normalcy, of which I was in desperate need.
The only missing part of this family get-together was Ana. Rubbing at the hollow pain in my chest, I willed myself to push it away. Later, in private, I could melt down, but I didn't want to disappoint Olezka or his parents.
Timur cleared his throat while Olezka nudged me. Crap, I missed something.
"Sixx, would you like to move this inside?" his mom asked politely again.
"Sure, absolutely."
"I’m sure our son has already told you, but my name is Marisha, and my darling husband is Sol.”
“He has, and I’m sure you know too, but I’m Sixx.”
“A beautiful name,” Marisha said with a smile. “Gods, you are so tiny! I cannot wrap my head around it.”
I choked. Olezka slapped my back helpfully while I gave him the evil eye.
“Come, come. Dinner is almost ready, and you’ve all had a long trip.”
“What about…?” I turned back to the giant beasts that brought us here.
“Timur will take care of the olams. Do not worry, my priyatel.” Olezka wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me close. That was another change that had sprung up in the last few days. Olezka wasn’t afraid to be affectionate. Or maybe it was his way of reassuring me that I was safe here.
“It smells divine. And, yes, I eat meat.”
Roman snorted somewhere farther in the house. From the outside, it looked like a small, cozy lodge surrounded by dense forest, fitting perfectly within its surroundings. But inside, it more closely resembled a dark, modern, industrial house, boasting exposed beams coupled with dark woods and clean, sleek furniture. And yet, it all somehow worked together.
“Your house is amazing.”
“Thank you, that’s very sweet of you. Please make yourself at home. Our home is yours now.”
Her words made me feel strange. Almost disappointed. Even in my parents’ house, I didn’t feel as welcomed, which made me feel horrible to think of my parents that way, especially since I hadn’t been able to say goodbye when I was stolen. Thinking of my parents only reminded me of my other missing family member, Ana. Wracked with another wave of guilt, I needed a moment to collect myself.
“Bathroom?” I muttered to Olezka, hoping he wouldn’t catch on to my almost-meltdown.
“Da, come.” Olezka wrapped his arm around my shoulders and steered me away. Roman was already pawing through the kitchen with his parents as Timur stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him as we walked through a small hallway. Olezka opened the door to a black marble bathroom.
I stepped in slowly, momentarily awed by the features. The bathtub resembled the ones from the palace. A shower stall stood nearby with no glass walls or even a curtain; instead, the floor gently sloped to a drain situated in the middle of it. There were no discernible faucets and I wondered idly how one would even turn on the water.
“Holy crap.”
“Da, it is a step up from mine or even yours in the human realm.”
My back straightened. Darned hellhound moved like a ghost. I thought he had left me. I peeked over my shoulder at him where he stood against the door with his arms folded over his chest.
“Um, this is usually done in private.”
“Da, I’m well aware. But I’m also aware that you are upset, and when you get emotional, you get headstrong and don’t often make the best choices when it comes to Ana.”
“No windows,” I offered with a shaky smile and a shrug. I turned around to face him, ready to try to push him out of the bathroom if I must. There would be no way I could, but I’d try.
“Da, but I see you are still in distress, and I cannot stand when you hurt.” Olezka reached forward and brushed away an errant tear.
I tried to swallow around the lump in my throat. “I just…”
“You worry about your sister. I understand.”
“Shit, I’m a jerk. You must be worried about your brother.” I hung my head in shame. It was easy to let that slip my mind since Olezka didn’t talk about him.
“Nyet.” Olezka gripped my hip with one hand then gently nudged my chin up with the other. My eyelids dropped as I savored his touch. His presence brought a sense of peace and safety with it. “My Sixx.”
His heat wove into my blood, caressing and addictive. I leaned closer. His breath brushed over my lips, and I peeked up at him. Hunger filled his gaze. Feeling brave, I closed the distance between us, capturing his lips with mine. I tugged my hand through his hair and held onto his shoulder for better leverage.
Olezka dominated the kiss, wrapping his arm around my back and lifting me. He grabbed my thigh, wrapping it around his hip, and brushed his tongue along the seam of my lips. I opened eagerly for him with a contented sigh.
Then he did something naughty as all-get-out with his tongue and I rocked against him, unable to control my body. Desperate for more, I arched my back, which had my peaked nipples brushing against the thin material of my shirt. I never thought I’d miss t-shirts as much as I did in this moment. At least, the cotton fabric gave a little; these leather pieces, not so much.
“Olezka,” I whispered as he tore away from my lips, trailing kisses over the curve of my cheek.
“Sixx,” he growled, sounding out of control, which made me feel radiant, powerful. A shiver of delight went down my spine. Olezka nuzzled the crook of my neck before trailing his nose down the sensitive skin of my throat. I remained still as his teeth scraped gently.
Bam! Bam!
I jumped in Olezka’s arms as someone pounded on the bathroom door. He pressed his forehead against my collar bone while keeping me close.
“Go the fuck away, Roman,” he growled.
“Mama said you need to release her new daughter before she comes in there and pries you two apart.”
My cheeks burned, and my eyes widened with embarrassment. Olezka had made it very clear that his senses were better than a human’s. Of course, his entire family could hear us.
“Oh my God, how am I going to face your mother now?” I hissed and slapped his shoulder. His chuckle vibrated against my chest, but he still didn’t release me.
“Do not fear; she will be proud her son is so fervent with his mate.” He nuzzled my neck again.
“You did not just say that,” I muttered, wriggling in his hold.
“You move as if you don’t mind my words,” Olezka said playfully. He seemed more relaxed here, which was a relief. The week after my return, he was on edge, rarely leaving my side. I couldn’t say I minded, but he also didn’t talk to me. There was another shift about him here, something that emerged the further from the palace we traveled. He seemed more like the man I knew before.
“Because you’re not playing fair,” I mumbled.
“Do not fear, my pchelka. My parents would not judge us. They have done far worse, I’m sure,” Olezka said, pulling back. Heat simmered in his gaze, hot enough to melt any girl’s panties.
“You’ll tone it down, mister. I want to make a good impression on your parents,” I scolded.
“You already have, Sixx. Do not fret. Be quick in here. It smells like dinner is done.” Olezka set me down and walked out of the bathroom. I used the facilities quickly, finally distracted from my thoughts.
Chapter 2
Kotleti, a Russian dish akin to meatballs, was the main dish, but not the only one by any stretch of the imagination. Each of us had a steak; plus, Marisha made potatoes and pasta. Along with that, there were pickled vegetables, though I was the only one to eat any. The meal was hearty and utterly divine on its own, but the company took it to the next level. The brothers seemed to revert to their youthful selves, joking and being playful with each other, and I got a glimpse of what it must have been like to grow up in this home.
Olezka took the time to pick out what he thought I would like best, but I was willing to try everything since Marisha went to the trouble of making it all.
Marisha and Sol peppered me with questions throughout dinner, Marisha pausing every so often to scold her sons. I found myself sitting back, enjoying the chaos with a small smile on my face, contentment filling me. Olezka leaned over and grabbed my hand under the table as Roman and Timur cleared away the plates.
“I apologize. It has been a while since we have been home. Mama’s cooking is unmatched.” Olezka looked relaxed and happy, which made me even more content.
“Don’t apologize. I loved it. My family life was much different.”
“How so, dear?” Sol asked. He was the quieter of Olezka’s parents while I saw the flash of Marisha’s temperament in all of her boys.
“Oh, um…” The entire family was looking at me now. “Well…” I tucked my hair behind my ear, fidgeting nervously. “My parents aren’t the most affectionate type. We didn’t have boisterous dinners filled with laughter like you guys had tonight. Come to think of it, most of our family dinners were on holidays and only the important ones. This was a nice change of pace.”
Marisha stood and came around to where I sat. Then she bent down and hugged me.
I tried to wave off her concern, fighting the tears that pricked my eyes. “Oh, my parents
weren’t bad. It was just how I grew up.” Truthfully, they weren’t. They just showed their love differently.
“You will find that we are far too affectionate in this family,” Marisha said with a wink. After that, there was light teasing again, but the room's mood changed when they brought out dessert. It was a medovik cake, which was a layered cake drenched in honey. It was fantastic, but I noticed Olezka became silent after my revelation. I touched his leg to get his attention, but he stiffened at the contact before meeting my gaze.
“Mama, there is something I need to tell you and Papa,” Olezka said.
“Olezka, we talked about this,” Timur growled.
“They deserve to know, too.”
“If you are talking about Illarion, we already know he is missing. You boys think that just because I have been released from the King’s Guard that I’m not kept informed?” Marisha asked, seemingly annoyed by her sons.
Timur and Olezka looked ashamed. Sol stood, grabbing the last of the plates and passing his mate.
“Go easy on them, dear. Remember Sixx is here, and this is the first time she is meeting us,” Sol said with an easy smile. He was the calm in the middle of a storm. That was a piece of Olezka I quickly recognized. While Olezka could be playful and rowdy, he had a profoundly severe side, the one that scolded me often but also offered support and strength when it was needed.
“You are right, my love.” She turned her attention back to her sons. “I suspect after you get Sixx’s adoptive sister back, you will return to the human realm to find your brother?”
“I will begin my investigation, yes,” Olezka said, not looking at his mother, who seemed to calm down with his admission.
“I apologize, Sixx. Illarion is my problem child, and I worry over him more than these idiots because I know they can handle themselves. Olezka is a master over his beast and fires. Roman has absolute control over his fires, thanks to his father. And my Timur’s beast has always been very tame. Come, we will get you settled in,” Marisha said.