Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 17 The Intrusion

“Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do?“– Bret Easton Ellis

Kiya

Well.

This is one hell of a hickey!

My fingers graze on top of the blotch of broken blood vessels on the junction of my neck and shoulder, exposed proudly against my dark skin. I didn’t know what to think as I stare at it from my bathroom mirror. I prefer the hickey to the other red bruise on my neck. At least it’ll heal overnight.

Around me, I feel the lingering presence of Neron–or rather, Onyx. His scent is mind–numbing, and I embarrassingly feel the powerful tingles on my lips and the moist heat between my legs.

In my mind, Artemis hides her eyes shamefully behind her paws, whimpering in sadness. “I’m sorry, Kiya! I

went too far!”

I didn’t respond. The fear in Artemis‘ voice is palpable; she thinks I’m angry with her. She continues to apologize for her actions in weighty remorse, her voice breaking away for her tears. Sighing, I grip the rim of the sink and started giggling.

Artemis growls in confusion. “Why are you laughing?”

“You thought I’ll be mad?”

“You aren’t?!” My wolf yells, aghast. It saddens a part of me because she thought I’d be angry. I mean, I can see why she thinks so. “But…I used your body selfishly, Kiya. The arousal you’re feeling is mine, not

yours.”

“I admit, it feels weird. It’s like an ocean between my thighs.” Stripping out of my clothes, I hop into the shower and lowered the temperature. “But Artemis, we share a body. I share yours as a wolf and you share mine as a human. We work together as a solid unit. I’m not mad at you. I’m happy for you!”

“You are? Why?”

“Because you’re happy. And if you’re happy, I’m happy.” I grab my loofa, squirt some body wash, and started. scrubbing. “So, tell me about the run and the k*ss!”

“O–Oh.” Never in my life have I heared Artemis stutter. We’re two sides of the same coin; she’s calm and collected and I’m the walking disaster. “Honestly? It felt amazing. I don’t know what it is, but running with Onyx…I never felt more like myself. Around him I was playful. Mischievous. And it felt great. If I can describe the run in a color, it’d be true blue.”

My heart warms. In her voice, I can sense the honesty and endearment she felt. This was more than a run to her. It was a night where she channeled the raw truth of her identity. For so long, she had to hold herself back and I blame myself for it. Artemis always put me first and herself on the back–burner. She’s not only my best. friend; she’s my guardian angel. That burden was lifted tonight. For the first time in her life, Artemis was in tune with her beastly instincts.

1/5

“And the k*ss…I don’t know how to describe it. I felt like I was on fire, but in a good way. So many sensations rolled into me and I was falling. Fast. I felt…”

“Felt…?”

“Desired. Sexy, even. Like someone wanted me for much more. But I got scared. Onyx almost marked me, and I could’ve ruined things for both of us. The worst part of it all was that I didn’t want it to stop. Goddess, I wanted to continue. The passion and lust! I wanted to surrender.”

I ponder on what Artemis revealed as the water hit me. Judging by her voice, she’s feeling a plethora of emotions, not just for herself, but for me. There are so many things she wanted tonight, but not even the haze of lust was enough for her to ignore the boundaries I’ve set. I’m elated that she felt wanted by someone for the first time. She deserves to be coveted because she’s a beautiful soul.

thing, Artemis. It’s okay to feel a little selfish, sometimes. Thank you for respecting my boundaries. You didn’t cross

been together since you first shifted. Nothing can separate us. I was

shut off the shower and wrap myself in a towel over my breasts. “Never compare yourself to that monster. What you did tonight will never compare to what that gourd did to me those

But-”

Ever. That bastard abused me in the most heinous of ways. He’s evil. Artemis is

how this story should be. Buried and forgotten. No one will

for taking away this burden from my heart.

as you protect my heart, I’ll protect

ruined the fuzzy moment with that accursed

wrong with it?!”

so undignified for a wolf like me!”

red bottoms that hugged my hips and a matching tank top. I trudge my tired body to my bed Anward s

my mood Eaterske a pancake. “T told Onyx that we’ll speak to them tomorrow

no problem. And you’re right. I have to tell them. I just

–

“It’ll be okay.”

you speak or think of a devil’s name, they’ll appear. And my devil arrives on time in a billow of black smoke. Red eyes pierce mine

that mutt like a needy whore?” Osiris snarls at me. “Have you learned nothing from your experience under the hell this place put you in?!”

thickening black. Without thinking, I summon a ball of moonlight to attack, but immediately the beast clamps his harsh hands on my own, forcing

He teases. “The more you’re enamored by this Alpha, the closer you trudge to disaster. Watching you surrender to the

the darker side of me. The rising fury in the hybrid’s voice brought forth a new sensation of terror. One I haven’t felt before since my dark days. The body is amazing at adapting to

hands away, I bolt to the door. My fight–or–flight response chose flight. Swinging the door open, I nearly made it over the threshold when Osiris violently jerks me backward. A scream tore through my throat right before the door seals my fate,

heard me…

into hell, Little Moon. It takes a single word to sway the weak heart of a rejected woman to make her think she’s truly loved. Do you think the fool changed?

I snarl

in and whispers in my ear. “We’re

world dropped into a

is an avatar? No! He’s

the other side call out for me. I cannot see my enemy’s mouth, but his red eyes did all the smiling.

closes again, and I knew for a fact, Neron can see what I see: my darkened bedroom with an even darker billow hovering over the both of us.

this?!” He demands, holding me tighter.

Osiris in “where’s your

3/5

“It’ll be okay.”

arrives on time in a billow of

that mutt like a needy whore?” Osiris snarls at me. “Have you learned nothing from your experience

are cloaked in thickening black. Without thinking. I summon a ball of moonlight to attack, but immediately the beast clamps his harsh hands on my own, forcing me on my feet.

Watching you surrender to the seductive thralls of

the darker side of me. The rising fury in the hybrid’s voice brought forth a new sensation of terror. One I haven’t felt before since my dark days. The body is amazing at adapting to high–pressure situations because my sympathetic system is on overdrive. I

open, I nearly made it over the threshold when Osiris violently jerks me backward. A scream tore through my throat

someone’s heard me…

to split skin. “You should rethink your stance before you send yourself back into hell, Little Moon. It takes a single word to sway the weak heart of a rejected woman to make her think she’s truly loved.

you?” I snarl at

in and whispers in my ear. “We’re more alike than you know. We are

dropped into a pit of darkness.

avatar? No! He’s bluffing! That can’t