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38 - Loopholes in the Story
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MAD END'S DECEPTION 39 - About Having Kids
GILDEONJust when he thought he’d dodged a bullet with the witch business—at least for now—Harlan Durante added to the complications Gildeon had to deal with. The disappearances the agent mentioned earlier plagued him. How many victims had already been reported?He gripped the knife tighter, slicing through the nearly ripe Indian mango. He imagined the fruit as the heads of those pesky witches screwing things up on this island. He might need to break into Arah’s studio to get the records of all the clients she’d given her Clover Wish tattoo to.The sooner, the better.Arah's voice from the living room cut through his thoughts. “You think Agent Durante suspects something?”“He might, but whatever he finds out won’t harm us,” he replied confidently, setting down the knife and lifting the platter of mango slices. “Besides, our families have always been careful at covering their tracks.”He crossed the living room in a few long strides and found Arah lying on her side, her blue curls sprea
MAD END'S DECEPTION 40 - You're Worth It
GILDEONHe waited for her reaction, but she simply leaned her head against his chest again. One arm slid across his back, the other snaked along his abdomen, making his muscles taut. It was deliberate but hesitant, testing his reaction. He pulled her closer with a firm grip, showing it was all good—that he wanted to feel her soft body against his too.“Was he good to you?” she asked again. He could barely concentrate with her breasts pressing against his side. He wanted to rip off her bra and feel their fullness through her blouse. “Your adoptive father—Haemos?”Hearing the name made him pause, a familiar twist in his gut. “I used to look up to him,” he said, voice steady but strained. Memories flashed, but he forced them back with practiced control. “Even when the family did violent things, he lived by a code. He treated captured enemies with decency.”“Used to? What happened?”He sighed, masking his frustration and resentment. His fingers traced along Arah’s arm to distract himself,
MAD END'S DECEPTION 41 - Let Me Forget
ARAHShe barely had time to breathe. Gildeon caught her off guard in the most titillating way. His lips were fierce, his fingers tangled in her hair. Her heart thumped loudly as she melted under him. His tongue demanded entry, and her lips parted instinctively, their mouths melding. The taste of the Indian mango they’d eaten lingered, sweet and tangy, contrasting with the raw, assertive way he kissed her.Her mind swirled with faint memories and sensations. She'd been kissed before, but it had never felt like this. At least, that was how it seemed. This was unrestrained, wild, making her pulse do somersaults. The thought of how intensely Gildeon must've missed her all this time made her belly flutter. Their breaths mingled, hot and rapid, their heartbeats a frenzied duet in her ears. Even the air itself seemed to hum with a gentle, electric charge.Arah mimicked the movement of his tongue, savoring every bit. Her skin tingled with the thrill of not knowing what to expect. Her trembling
MAD END'S DECEPTION 42 - She Was Wrong
ARAHShe sat frozen on Gildeon's lap, her throat clenched tight, trapping the words inside. What did he mean they needed to stop? She didn’t move, didn’t breathe—even as he reached for the blanket and wrapped it around her in silence.Her cheeks tingled with embarrassment. “Are you serious?” she muttered, her lips quivering, unsure how to react.He didn’t respond. His steady, serious gaze made her feel so small. She was shrinking by the second.Her eyes locked onto his, searching for something, anything, that would make this make sense.“Isn't this what you've always wanted?” she said, confusion in her voice.He held her shoulders, his hands sliding up and down her arms. His touch wasn’t warm anymore. “You're not ready,” he said with finality as if he had her completely figured out.She let out a laugh of disbelief, her eyes burning at the corners. “What do you mean I'm not ready?” Her voice nearly rose a note, her hands clutching the blanket. “Do you think I’d let you kiss me if I wa
MAD END'S DECEPTION 43 - One of His Deepest Regrets
GILDEONThis was too much of a coincidence—if it even was one. Did this guy know Arah worked here?Durante cracked open his cooler, grabbed another beer, and strolled over. Gildeon caught a glimpse of a gun in the agent’s waist holster, partially hidden by his jacket.“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Gildeon said, keeping his tone casual.Durante waved his arm vaguely. “This is a public beach, isn’t it? I’m having some downtime.” His movements were looser, probably from the alcohol, less controlled than when they first met. His face gave no indication though. No red cheeks, no glassy eyes. He didn’t even stagger one bit.“Alone,” he implied, adjusting his glasses. “You're too far from where most people hang out.”“Too loud over there,” Durante said, nodding his head toward the distance. “I prefer the quiet.” His friendly smile looked unsettling in the dim light. “How about you, Mr. Ayadi? What brings you here this late?”He handed him a beer, but Gildeon quickly put up a hand to decli
MAD END'S DECEPTION 44 - Crucial to the War
Many Years Ago (Part 1)GILDEON“When have I ever been wrong, old man?” He smirked, tasting the salt in the misty air.Commander Haemos let out a guttural chuckle. The others backed Gildeon up, pledging their faith even as their words danced with jest. A few threatened to break his dragon’s spine if he led them to nothing after disturbing their good night’s sleep.“Hey, I didn’t force all of you to be here,” he shot back, and they groaned, continuing to tease him.Ten of them were on this boat, handpicked by Gildeon and the commander. More had volunteered back at the outpost, but there wasn’t any space left. Besides, this was a side mission meant to be carried out in stealth. The smaller their group, the better.“I don’t know about you cunts, but I’m not sitting on Gildeon’s dragon ass,” said Aktaeon, their trailhound, tugging at a rope securing the rigging.Another round of laughter rang out.Gildeon shook his head, grimacing at the mist spray clinging to his face and clothes. The pr
MAD END'S DECEPTION 45 - To the Ends and Back
Many Years Ago (Part 2)GILDEONHe averted his gaze, feeling the weight of the crew's laughter and jeering like a rock on his shoulders. Crude remarks flew through the air, and even Ghulik sputtered obscene taunts beside him.Gildeon scratched his head, trying to find a way out of the mess he'd walked into. But unless he jumped off the boat right this moment, he had no choice but to face their trailhound’s wrath.Before he knew it, the crew was restraining Aktaeon. His loud curses could probably break the silence spell cloaking their boat. The vessel rocked slightly, and Gildeon had to maintain a steady maneuver on the helm—otherwise, they would hit one of these rocks.“I’m going to kill you, Gildeon!” Aktaeon snarled through clenched teeth. The muscles in his face looked like coiled springs ready to snap.“Hey, your sister wanted it too,” he replied, but his attempt to pacify the situation seemed to be failing. “She said she wanted to feel the world, so I let her ride me.” He meant i
MAD END'S DECEPTION 46 - For What Purpose
Many Years Ago (Part 3)GILDEONAs the boat slowed, he steered it toward a large outcrop nestled in the heart of the branching inlet. He aligned the vessel alongside the rock face, hiding in plain sight. His movements were steady and certain, just as how Haemos had taught him long ago.Two of the crew shifted into their beast forms, anchoring the boat with their tails wrapped around the outcrop's protrusions.The inlet offered several paths to the open sea. They had to stay close to where the sylph ship would turn, ready to strike at the right moment. Gildeon began brewing different battle scenarios in his head, assessing possible escape routes. Sylphs should never be underestimated. They'd all learned that the hard way.“Camouflage!” Commander Haemos barked. The crew, including Kohina, melted into the hue and texture of the black rock behind them. As they gripped the gunwale, the camouflage extended to their ship, blending it into the landscape.Gildeon left the helm to help, shiftin
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