Descending (The Rising Series) by Kelly Holly

Author:Kelly, Holly [Kelly, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Published: 2014-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Kyros had Gretchen on his arm as they staggered into the office of a tiny, sky-blue, clapboard motel in Somerset Village. Gretchen leaned heavily on his arm, with dark circles shadowing her eyes. She looked exhausted. Still, she gave a friendly smile to the man at the desk.

A hefty, middle-aged man with a shiny, bare head stood as they walked in. Curly, grey fluff stuck out from his collar. Kyros was never so glad he didn’t have to worry about the effects of aging.

“Good evening,” the human greeted.

“Good evening,” Kyros answered. “I would like a room with two beds.”

The man smiled. Kyros was taken aback at the gaping spaces between the man’s teeth. “Now why you be needing two beds with a girl as pretty as that one on your arm?” He gave an exaggerated wink.

“Are you always this rude to your guests?” Kyros scowled.

The man blinked back in surprise. “I, uh… No, sir. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Gretchen ran her hand down Kyros’s arm and smiled at the uncouth human. “Don’t mind Kyros. He’s had a really bad night.”

The man avoided Kyros’s gaze as he spoke to Gretchen. “Yeah, he needs to lighten up.”

“Don’t I know it,” she said. “Listen, do you have a room with two beds? Or two adjoining rooms would be fine too.”

“Yeah, I got adjoining rooms.” He kept his eyes on Gretchen. “You paying with card or cash?”

It looked like this man didn’t want to deal with him anymore. “Cash,” Kyros said, forcing the man’s attention.

The man looked at him briefly while completing the transaction. “Okay, sure. Follow me.”

The rooms were much smaller than the rooms in Xanthus’s home, but they looked clean, well tended, and each had a wide window. Through the dark pane, he could see a few yellow flowers lighted by the glow from the room’s lamp.

“This is perfect. Thank you,” Gretchen said.

“Well, pretty lady, just dial 3 if you need anything.”

Pretty lady? Kyros scowled. Finally, the human left. “Is that normal behavior?” Kyros asked.

“What behavior?” Gretchen looked baffled.

“Human men calling you nicknames when they don’t know you?”

Gretchen shrugged and sank into the bed. “I guess. But not every man is that friendly.”

“Friendly? That was friendly?” Kyros stood, too angry to sit.

Gretchen smiled and nodded.

“When would you say they’ve crossed the line?” he asked.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She lay back on the bed and turned toward him on her side. “It depends on the culture.”

Kyros raised his eyebrow.

“Oh, all right.” She sat up. “I guess if he touches me too much, or in an inappropriate way. Or if he starts calling me baby, honey, or ‘ooh la la woman.’” Gretchen’s smile broadened as his frown deepened. “Or if he looks me over like he’s undressing me with his mind. And a guy looking at me like that while licking his lips…” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Then there’s pinching my butt, grabbing my—”

“I get it,” Kyros snapped, interrupting her. He had the insane urge to crush his fist through the human’s face.

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