Misery Happens (28 page)

I opened and shut my mouth a few times, at a loss for words. But my heart hammered. “So you no longer need addicts.”

It was probably the wrong thing to focus on when confronted by Lucen’s information. From the point of view of a Gryphon or even other preds, the potential here was amazing if someone smarter than me could figure out this mystery. But the only part I cared about at the moment was the implication for us.

I’d been resigned to needing to share Lucen; he was worth it. But if this were true, if I no longer needed to share him… I meant, assuming he was okay with that, which was making a big leap.

Lucen could certainly figure out what was causing my tumultuous emotions. “I no longer need addicts for now. I can’t promise this will last forever.”

“I know, but what does it mean for you?”
What does it mean for us?
That was the question I wanted to ask, but I was doing my best not to be selfish. “Isn’t your position in the domus dependent on your addicts?”

“Yes and no. My position is determined by how useful I am. Normally, usefulness depends largely on the addicts I can acquire, but they aren’t the sole factor. I’m sure Dezzi and I will have lots to discuss when I tell her. But really, this probably makes me so much more awesome that Devon might have to watch his back or I’ll steal his favored spot.” He laughed and pulled me close again. “Now ask the question you really want to ask.”

I winced at the reminder that I was so easy to read. “Fine. What does this mean for us?”

“It means I’m all yours if you want me.”

“Really?”

“Really, little siren.” Lucen bent down and took my lips in his, and I melted at the taste of him. A crazy, happy desire rose in me, sweet yet hot, and it wasn’t going to be satisfied with this tease. I wanted to tear his clothes off and dance with joy on the bar with him.

Temporarily forgetting we were in the middle of a crowded room, I slid my hand lower down Lucen’s body, chasing the length of him beneath his jeans. But a familiar laugh caught my attention, reminding me where I was and prompting more questions. Sheepishly, I pulled away and made sure to keep some distance between us. Across the room, Devon winked at me.

My love life was way too complicated, but I’d thought I’d at least been getting a handle on it. I’d had a plan. Two nights a week I stayed with Lucen, two nights with Devon, and the other three were mine to do with as I pleased, whether it was sleep alone or host a party in my bed. I kept my independence that way, and I didn’t have to run into anyone’s addicts because the men could damn well deal with that part of their lives on their own time.

Now though? If Lucen was willing to be monogamous, it seemed like I should be too. Except I was going to feel awful explaining this to Devon, and damn it, I’d miss him. I’d gotten used to the idea of my nontraditional relationship. Of thinking two incredibly sexy men were a good consolation prize for not being able to have a single one to myself.

Lucen followed my gaze and again guessed what I was thinking. “Why do you expect this changes anything? I’m the same person, little siren. My tastes in our naked proclivities are no different.”

I snorted at the naked-proclivities euphemism but pondered his words. “Oh. So this is all good with you?”

“Well, I might want to negotiate for one more night of the week since I don’t have to worry about other company. Or you could just move in and call my place your home base. That would make Potato happy, I’m sure. But we don’t have to rush things. We’ll figure it out.”

Screw keeping my distance from him. I buried my head against his chest, laughing with confusion and amazement. “You mean it would make Sir Francis happy, but you’re right. No rush. Isn’t that a nice change? If I get to keep you both, I think I’m getting the better part of this plan though.”

“Oh, don’t be so sure.” Lucen kissed the top of my head. “Besides, this way, you have to introduce both of us to your mother one day. You’re still a loser there.”

I groaned, some of my giddiness draining away at the thought. “No rush there either.”

I’d seen my mother once since returning, and it had been interesting. It was the first time we’d gotten together since the news about what I was broke, and much crying had been involved. Mostly, they were happy tears. Whatever I was, she was thrilled I was alive, and I was thrilled that she was as accepting of everything as she was. I suspected, however, that accepting what I was might be a touch easier than accepting my relationship choices, but who knew? Maybe she’d surprise me.

“No, no rush there either.” Lucen signaled to Paulius that he was ready to return to working the bar, because the poor bartender was getting overwhelmed by the crowd. Then he turned back to me. “You deserve to be happy for a while.”

I grinned. “I am happy, and you’re very right. Instead of little siren, maybe you should start calling me little Miss Sunshine.”

“No.”

“Little Miss Positivity?”

Lucen’s expression was appropriately comical, and he whipped my butt with a towel as he went back to work.

“Fine.” I plopped on my favorite stool and pushed my empty beer glass his way. “Then pour me another drink. I have more celebrating to do.”

About the Author

Tracey Martin grew up outside of Philadelphia, the lucky recipient of a drama-free childhood, which is why she spent so much time reading about other people’s lives. It was while she was working on her doctorate in psychology that she had an epiphany—imaginary people are way more fun than real ones. And so she began writing. Never able to choose just one of anything, she currently writes both urban fantasy and sci-fi for adults and contemporary stories for teens.

She likes her coffee simple, her music epic and her movies to contain explosions. A city girl at heart, she doesn’t understand how she and her husband ended up living in New Hampshire, but writing keeps her off the mean, small-town streets. To learn more, you can visit her website at
www.tracey-martin.com
, or say hi on twitter to
@TA_Martin
.

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What the mind forgets, the heart remembers.

RedZone,
Book 1

Alone in a train station bathroom, Sophia Hernandez has no memory of who she is or how she got there. All she’s certain of are three things: her college ID is a lie, bad people are coming for her, and no one can be trusted.

The only clue to her past is the fellow student who finds her. Although Sophia’s gut tells her Kyle is lying when he claims he can’t help her, his touch makes her heart race. Is it because of a red-hot natural attraction, or a missing memory of something far more dangerous?

As two mysterious, menacing men chase them from the station, Sophia’s memories return in frustrating fragments. So do deadly skills she didn’t know she had. In the next forty-eight hours, a loved one’s life will be on the line as she sifts through a mounting tangle of secrets and lies.

Including the most heart-wrenching secret of all. Not only isn’t she a normal college student, she isn’t even a normal human.

Warning: Contains one girl who is more than she seems, one boy who knows more than he’s telling, and enough twists to give you whiplash. Expect explosions of all kinds.

Truth is a powerful weapon…but explosives never hurt.

RedZone,
Book 2

Sophia can run but she can’t hide. RedZone is on her tail and those of the six tech-augmented soldiers who escaped its clutches with her. If she could only focus on fighting her way to safety, she might live long enough to disappear. But it’s not just her own backside she needs to watch out for.

At her side is her boyfriend, Kyle. He’s the reason she found the courage to escape, and she’ll do anything to keep him and his secrets out of RedZone’s hands. Only problem is, since she was once sent to capture him, he has good reason not to trust her.

In fact, there’s not much trust to go around. RedZone keeps finding them, suggesting someone is a traitor. And if that’s not enough to recapture the group, the organization has a backup plan. One that will force Sophia and Kyle to choose between safety and risking everything one more time.

Warning: Contains killer robots, mutant college students, and dangerous super soldiers. And those are the good guys. It’s enough to make a rogue assassin wish she were taking her philosophy final instead.

It’s all quasi-legal fun until somebody gets framed for murder.

Miss Misery,
Book 1

Jessica Moore thrives on misery. Literally. Thanks to a goblin’s curse, she gets a magical high from humanity’s suffering. A shameful talent like that could bury a girl in guilt, so to atone, she uses her dark power to hunt murderers, rapists and other scumbags—until one of them frames her for his crimes.

In desperation, Jessica seeks refuge with the one person she trusts to not turn her in—a satyr named Lucen. Like every member of his race, Lucen uses his lusty magic to control Boston’s human population, and Jessica isn’t immune to his power. But the murder victims belonged to a rival race, and when they discover Lucen is harboring Jessica, dodging the cops becomes the least of her problems.

With only five days to find the real killer, Jessica faces a danger far more serious than the brewing magical war. The danger of succumbing to Lucen’s molten seduction.

Warning: Contains a heroine with a lust for misery, creepy murders, and creepier goblins, satyrs so hot you’d sell your soul for one, and scaly sewer rats masquerading as dragons. Who said magic was all sparkles and tiaras?

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

Misery Happens

Copyright © 2016 by Tracey Martin

ISBN: 978-1-61923-352-2

Edited by Sasha Knight

Cover by Kanaxa

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: March 2016

www.samhainpublishing.com