Denounce

by Alex Dafney

  Glancing over to Eri, I see a look of conflict on her face, but her eyes never waiver from Eldora’s. She begins to move her fingernail lower, tracing along the top of my jeans before slowly trailing for my crotch. “I claim him! Dammit, Ellie! I fucking claim him!” Eldora’s lips pull up into a full smile, a wicked one, but a smile nonetheless, as she curls her finger into her hand, slowly lowering it to her side.

  She steps back in front of Eri, placing her hands on her shoulders. “You have your work cut out for you. Bringing a claimed Demon into a house full of Enchantresses.” She makes a tsk noise, before pulling Eri into a hug. Eri is forced to give her a one arm hug because there is no way in hell I’m letting go of her hand after that little game.

  They pull away from each other, Eldora’s eyes landing on my own. “What is his name?” I push down the urge to roll my eyes, opening my mouth, but Eri beats me to it. “His name is Ashley. And I claimed him. Hands off.” Her eyes travel along my body, a seductive smile on her lips as her eyes return to mine. “A pity. I could’ve had a grand time with this one. I could smell him before you two reached the house.”

  She steps back to the door, looking over her shoulder at Eri. “I’ll be on the veranda with my sisters. Feel free to join us when you please.” She steps inside, the door closing behind her. “Fuck. Quadruple fuck.” I glance over at Eri as she curses under her breath, my eyes wide. “What the fuck was that?!”

  She shakes her head slightly, closing her eyes and dropping her head down. She pulls her hand from mine, placing both hands to the side of her head, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Fuck.” I stay planted firmly in my shocked spot on the porch, not knowing what the hell just went down.

  After a few seconds she lifts her head, her eyes finding mine with a slight scowl on her face. “You do not leave my sight. Understood?” I nod my head robotically. Not that I had any intentions of wondering through the witch house alone. She rakes her hand down her face, a growl coming from her as she turns her back to me.

  I watch as she slips the hair band that has been on her wrist all day from it’s place, lifting her hands and combing her long hair into a ponytail that she quickly twists in a series of spins before piling it on the top of her head and securing it. Turning back to face me she places her hands on her hips, her lips a thin line.

  “I cannot believe I just claimed you.” She drops her eyes to the floor between us, her brows drawing together. “What does that mean?” She lifts her head, her fierce gaze on me. “It means I just claimed you as mine, and mine alone.” She shakes her head as her eyes drift toward the car. “Any of the sisters can challenge me to take you as theirs.”

  I step toward her, stopping once I’m directly in front of her, looking down at her. “No one can claim me, except you.” I give her a cheeky grin as she moves her eyes back to mine. Unfortunately, my cheesy line has no effect on her this time if her scowling face is any indication. She bites her bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth as she looks up at me.

  “I know you’re new to all of this.” She flips her hand around in a circular motion a few times, still staring up at me with a hard gaze. “But this is bad.” Turning away from me she walks across the long porch, placing her hands on the railing at the side and dropping her head between her shoulders, her face jutted upward.

  I hesitate for a brief moment, wanting to go after her, but also wanting to know that she wants me to go after her. My long strides carry me across the porch in a second. Stepping behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her small frame against me as I lower my face into the crook of her neck. Trailing my nose along that area behind her ear, intermittently placing my lips along her skin.

  She shudders as my lips graze her ear lobe. “We can leave now.” She turns her head toward mine, giving me the smallest smile. “We need their help.” She twists her body so she’s facing me, reaching her hands up and placing them behind my neck. I stare down into her green eyes, as she gazes up at me. “What does claiming me mean?”

  A groan escapes her, but she keeps her hands locked behind my neck, looking up at me. “I just claimed you as mine. Meaning I’m not willing to share you.” Her eyes drift away from my own, focusing on something over my shoulder. “While we’re here, we follow the rules of the Coven. If one of the sisters decides she wants you as her own, she has the right to challenge me.”

  I pull back from her, keeping my hands on her hips as I look down at her with pinched brows. “What do you mean by challenge?” Her eyes wander back to mine, her lip lifted ever so slightly at the corner. “Exactly what it sounds like. Witches and Demons have a long, sorted history with each other. Ellie said she could smell you before we arrived. She was talking about the Demon within you. Always stay close to me. Try not to make eye contact with any of the sisters, and whatever you do, don’t end up alone with any of them. If one of them challenges me, I’ll fight for you.”

  “Why would you have to fight for me? I’ve already said I’m yours and yours only.” She tilts her head to the side, giving me a sympathetic smile. “In our world, we don’t have that choice. If one of the witches wants to claim you, she can challenge me. Just know that you are a hot commodity here, and if you want to make it out of this house, you’ll stay by my side.”

  I nod at her mechanically as I try to wrap my mind around all of this. Sliding her hands down my chest she grips my left hand, starting for the door as I quickly fall in step with her. What the hell kind of crazy have I gotten myself into?

  Chapter Nine

  We step through the front door of the home into a large sitting area that looks like it came straight out of the Civil War era. Eri walks through the room, me at her side, toward the doorway in the far corner. Through the windows I see Eldora sitting at a table on the porch. Two women at her side. My heart rate instantly picks up. If they’re all like Eldora I might not make it out of here alive.

  Eri squeezes my hand between us. “Keep your eyes down, your breathing normal. They love a Demon, but a scared Demon is a challenge they won’t be able to resist.” I take a deep breath as the door swings open. Trying to dispel my nerves before we make it outside.

  I keep my head lowered, my eyes along the porch floor, but I can feel every eye in the area turn on us as we stop just outside the door. It slams shut behind us, causing me to jump slightly. A round of feminine giggles flows through the air. “Oooo. He’s a jumpy one. I like them jumpy.” I look up slightly, finding a woman with long red hair walking toward us. She wears a green dress that drags along the floor.

  “Stop, Georgiana. He has been claimed.” She stops a few feet from us, turning to Eldora who stares at her with zero emotion on her face. The red headed woman lets out a low growl. “Is that so?” She turns back to us, cocking her head to the side as she begins making her way toward us. Toward me. Eri’s hand tightens on my own as the woman stands before me, my eyes still cast down, not meeting hers. She steps into my space, pushing up on her tiptoes to look me in the eyes.

  I flit my eyes to the side without moving my head. She takes in a deep breath, returning to her normal height as she drops back to her feet. “He smells absolutely divine.” I feel a hand trailing along my arm, another woman having joined around us. “It’s been so long since we’ve had a new Demon in the house.” Another set of hands join them. This time on my back. “I simply must have him.”

  I feel Eri’s hand slipping from mine. Looking over I find her being pulled away from me by Eldora. Her eyes lock on mine, a look of concern on her face as she shakes her head lightly. I glance around me, finding six women running their hands along my body, their faces against me, inhaling my scent.

  They all wear the same flowing, long dresses. All different colors, along with their waist length hair. A hand lands on my belt buckle, quickly undoing it as my jeans slide down my legs, pooling around my ankles on the porch. “Oh! Look at his butt!” I feel hands land on my ass as one of them reaches up, gripping the collar of my T-shirt and pulling. I
hear the ripping noise as my shirt leaves my body. “And his chest!”

  This could be any man’s fantasy, but not mine. As a hand cups my crotch I stumble backwards with short steps. Trying not to fall to the floor with my jeans around my ankles. “Stop! I’m claimed! Doesn’t that mean anything to you women?” My back presses against the wall as I heave breaths. They all giggle like a bunch of teenage girls as they look at me with seductive smiles. I bend down, jerking my jeans up and fastening my belt with a scowl on my face. At least they didn’t rip my jeans off of me.

  “He’s feisty too.” I glare at the woman with long, purple hair. “That’s enough. Everyone have a seat. Lunch will be served soon.” My eyes move over to Eldora who has a hand on Eri’s shoulder. The women groan in disappointment as they turn away from me, stepping back over to the long, wooden table in the middle of the porch. I watch as they each take a chair, talking amongst themselves.

  Eri walks toward me, a small smile on her lips. “Are you alright?” I glare down at her angrily. “You could’ve fucking warned me!” I whisper yell at her. She drops her eyes to the floor, her lips pulled up at the corners as her shoulders bob with her suppressed laughter. I want to be angry with her, damn I do, but I find my own scowl turning into a small smile.

  She looks up at me through her lashes, the most adorable smile on her lips. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” Reaching for me she places her hand on my bare chest, trailing her fingernails along lightly before dipping her hand just inside my waist band, pulling me to her. “You don’t even have any scratch marks.” She places a kiss to my chest, my jeans becoming uncomfortable between us as I wrap my arms around her, my hand gripping the back of her neck.

  Dipping my head to hers I run my lips along her neck. “We can change that later.” She moans softly as her eyes close. “Eridanus, new Demon, come and sit.” I look over Eri’s shoulder, my brows pinched as I glare at Eldora. “My name is Ashley.” She raises one eyebrow, a look of annoyance on her face as she gestures her hand across the table from her to the two empty chairs.

  I look back down to Eri, dropping my lips to hers in a slow kiss. “Now!” I pull back, looking at Eldora with annoyance on my own face. Eri grips my hand in hers, pulling me toward the table. I pull her chair out for her, waiting until she’s seated to push it forward before taking the seat next to her.

  A string of men begin to file out of the house from a different door than the one we came through. All are shirtless and carry covered dishes in their hands. They begin to place the food in the middle of the table as the women run their hands over their arms and chests. Leaning into Eri’s side, I whisper to her. “I don’t feel so out of place without my shirt now.”

  She chuckles lowly turning to me and I notice her eyes glowing lightly. “Your eyes.” She gives me a small nod. “The men are Demons. My eyes only brighten when I’m around a Demon.” The Enchantresses begin to pass the dishes of food around in a family style manor. Eri and I filling the plates in front of us. “So, what brings you?” I glance across the table at Eldora, clearing my throat.

  I open my mouth to speak, but Eri places her hand on my thigh under the table. “As you already know, Ashley is a Demon. Sort of. We’re trying to find a way to stop his transformation.” Eldora’s brows draw together, as the other women mumble. “Why would you want to stop the transformation?” I glance over at the barely dressed men standing along the wall with their hands behind their backs like waiters.

  “I don’t want to become a Demon.” She makes a tsk noise before picking up her fork and beginning to eat. Eri and I do the same. I feel another hand land on my thigh under the table, slowly making its way upward. Reaching below the table I grip the blue haired witches’ hand, shoving it back toward her.

  She gives me a devious grin as I sigh. After a few minutes her hand starts to slide up my leg again. I push my chair back, standing from the table and glaring at her. Eri looks at me over her shoulder, seeming to guess what’s going on as she picks up both of our plates, switching seats.

  I sit down at the chair she was seated at, picking up the red, glass goblet in front of my plate. What I thought was water, turns out to be some sort of sweet, white wine. As I set the glass back in front of my plate a hand runs up my chest. I tilt my head back, looking up at the roof of the porch as I sigh loudly. “That’s enough, Georgiana.” I feel the woman’s hand slowly slide from my chest.

  “While Eridanus and the new-“ I drop my head, staring across the table at Eldora with an irritated scowl. She raises one eyebrow at me, her lip pulling up ever so slightly at one corner. “Excuse me. While Eridanus and Ashley are staying in our home, I expect you ladies to be on your best behavior.” The red headed woman next to me, Georgiana, grips my chin in her hand, turning my face toward her roughly.

  “I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior.” She says with a seductive smirk. I jerk my face from her hand, inching closer to Eri who glares around me at her. “That’s the last pass you get on putting your hands on him.” Eri and Georgiana glare at each other across me. “Go and get some more wine, Georgiana.” She moves her eyes from Eri’s to Eldora’s, her brows drawn together in a scowl.

  “The servants can get it.” She sits back in her seat, folding her hands over her chest with a defiant look on her face. The dishes on the table begin to rattle as the table shakes. Georgiana’s red hair begins to blow behind her with a breeze I can’t feel. “I asked you to get more wine.” Her hair flitters back to its rightful place as she pushes her chair back with a huff, turning for the entrance to the house.

  Eldora glances around the table at the rest of her coven who look down at their plates. “Now, as I was saying, you are to be on your best behavior. Eridanus and her claimed one are guests in our home. There will be no talk of challenge for the claimed.” The blue haired witch that sits next to Eri lifts her head quickly. “But-“ Eldora’s fierce gaze lands on her causing her to drop her eyes. “Yes, Eldora.”

  Everyone resumes eating quietly. I finish off my wine just as Georgiana returns with a crystal decanter, walking around the table and filling everyone’s glass. Her breast press into my back as she reaches across me, lifting my glass to fill it. She replaces the glass in front of me, trailing her fingertips over my shoulder as she steps away. I shudder involuntarily before lifting my glass and drinking half of it quickly.

  Everyone goes back to their meal, quietly chatting. I lift my wine goblet, tipping it back to take the last drink. As I set it down my head swims. I must be becoming a lightweight having this head buzz after only two glasses of wine. “What kind of wine is this?” Eldora looks over to me with a puzzled look before turning her gaze to Georgiana who she had moved to the end of the table. “You didn’t.”

  I look over to Eri at my side, my jeans becoming tight as I simply look at her. My lip pulls up at the corner as I move toward her, running my hand along her thigh under the table. She reaches under the table, stopping my hand when I’m within inches from her core. Her eyebrows draw together before turning her eyes to Georgiana. “You did NOT dose his drink!”

  She pushes her chair back from the table, it topples over and slams to the porch as she faces Georgiana who wears a cunning smile. I reach out, gripping both of her ass cheeks, sinking my fingers into them. I’ve never been this turned on in my entire life. She swats my hands behind her, but I stand, reaching around her and cupping her breasts with both hands as she stays facing Georgiana. “I did. I needed him ready for when I challenge you.”

  “You fucking witch!” Eri yells at her as she pushes my hands away from her. My hands slide back to her ass, cupping her cheeks as the women at the table begin to yell loudly. In my aroused state I can’t seem to care. “Silence!” The table quiets as I drop my lips to Eri’s neck, sliding my arms around her front and lifting the hem of her shirt as I snake my hand upward toward her breasts.

  She turns to me, gripping both of my hands in hers. “Sit down, Ashley.” I shake my head quickly, the movement e
nhancing my inebriated, aroused state. I start for her, my hands going straight for her breasts when I’m suddenly paralyzed. I stand with my hands suspended in the air as Eri turns her head toward Eldora, tilting her head to the side with a raised brow. “Was that necessary?”

  Eldora gives a small shrug with an indifferent look on her face. “I can leave him like that, or-.” She picks up the knife next to her plate, piercing her finger and dipping it in her wine glass. If I weren’t so turned on, I might gag at the site. She lifts the glass, swirling it in front of her before sticking her finger in her mouth.

  She offers the glass across the table toward Eri who tilts her head up, a growl escaping her. “This isn’t what I came for.” She drops her head back down, looking over at me with a slight smirk. “Dammit, Ashley.” Shaking her head, she reaches for the glass, taking it in her hand and lifting it to her mouth.

  Once she’s drunk the entire glass, she places it on the table, giving me a coy smile. “You know where the guest room is, Eridanus.” She gives Eldora a smile, walking backwards toward the door as her eyes stay trained on mine, a devious smile on her lips. “Keep him here until I get upstairs. Otherwise we may not make it that far.” She spins away, stepping in the house as the women at the table laugh.

  After a few moments my arms fall to my side. Without a second thought I start toward the house in search of Eri. I have to have her. Now. “Up the stairs. Last door on the right.” Once inside I set into a jog, traveling up the stairs as quickly as I can and flinging the door open to the bedroom. As soon as I step inside Eri crashes into me, our hands roaming each other’s bodies. She reaches behind me and I hear the sound of the door locking.