Page 19 of Broken Shadows

Purple embers shower the windowsill as I stab my cigarette out on the stone, the weak paper collapsing into a small, flattened circle. “I swear to fuck, Ezra. Stay on topic.” I narrow my gaze on the human rainbow as she hides a giggle behind her hand, point a claw tipped forefinger at Rosa. “You too.”

She salutes. “Yes, boss!”

Ezra bites his lip and groans. “Don’t worry, Sugar. When I get out of the Shadow Realm, we will play.”

Something twinkles in her irises as she rolls her eyes, then straightens her spine. “So, Asher. The distraction?”

“Right,” Ezra replies. “Thankfully, Asher is the simplest minded of our brothers. He craves everything in excess and will latch onto any opportunity to shirk his duties to fuck around.”

I snort. “That’s putting it lightly.” Perching on the edge of the Shadow Realm version of her bed, I smooth my hair back as I monitor them.

“Well, Asher sounds lovely,” Rosa states, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ezra laughs. “He’s actually a ton of fun, but that’s not the point.”

I roll my shoulders back, then stand and stride over to them, glancing at Gomez’s cage in the corner as I walk. I grimace when Gomez squeaks. Seeing him caged up like this reminds me of my time in captivity.

“This is taking too godsdamn long,” I interrupt. “Look, Human Rainbow, we don’t have time for pleasantries. Aiden confirmed that when the church bell strikes six, Asher will come and deliver dinner to you both tonight.”

Rosa smooshes her purple lips to the side. “That sounds, correct. The sky darkens around that time as well.”

“Even better,” Ezra states.

“You will work your charm,” I add. “I don’t give a shit what you do, but you must make Asher believe you intend to fuck him or suck his cock at some point in the future.”

Rosa laughs. “Easy.”

Ezra’s laughter booms, blending with hers. “Once he’s so aroused he can hardly see straight, he’ll be in a hurry to slink back to his room to watch porn and play with his cock.”

“Precisely. While he hands you your meal and drools over you, quickly slip something from that backpack you call a purse into the door jamb so the door remains unlocked.”

Rosa’s brow rises over penetrating dark brown eyes. “Even demons watch porn? It’s really as simple as that?”

“Yes,” I state.

“Hell, yes,” Ezra announces boisterously at the same time.

Rosa’s hands land on her curvaceous hips. “Okay, then. Well, I don’t need your instructions. I’ll do what feels right at the time, once I gauge him.”

I slide my hands into my pockets. “Fine. Just don’t fuck it up. After you get free, unlock Gomez’s cage and grab him, unlock Aiden’s room, and I’ll direct you through my servant bond with him to Evie. My brothers will never expect an escape attempt in the early evening. And when you get Evie, meet us back at my manor.”

“Thanks for mansplaining,” Rosa replies. “As if I wouldn’t grab Gomey and let Aiden out.”

Ezra growls and bounces on the balls of his feet. “You ready, Sugar?”

“As much as I can be.”

My thoughts turn to Evie, a thrill shooting through my blood knowing I’ll see her soon.We’re coming for you, Little Witch. I try to send the vow to Evie through our bond, but yet again there’s no reply. They must have her unconscious or drugged.

Godsdamn, I can't believe that stunt actually worked.

I watch the Human Realm through the compact mirror as Rosa sets it down to reflecting the most advantageous angle of the room.

Asher drags his tongue over his lips as he runs a hand over the erection forcing his navy-blue joggers to extrude.

“You know, our faces are squished into a mirror that’s shaped like a fucking eggplant,” Ezra whispers, his bearded face shoving against mine.

“Shut the fuck up,” I growl. “There’s no time for your idiotic antics.”

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