Page 73 of Broken Shadows

“So, yeah, Bro Demon. There was even a hot pizza in the oven. This house is, like magic or something!”

I rub the nape of my neck. “You all are consuming food from some magical source, without a thought that it might be tampered with?”

Aiden laughs. “Well, yeah, we’re so, so,sooo, hungry. What’s that saying? You don’t look a gift whore in the mouth?”

“It’s gift horse, Aiden.”

“Oh yeah, that’s it. Anyway, this whole kitchen is stuffed with food! Like, seriously, the whole thing: the pantry, the cabinets, the fridge…”

I tune him out as my eyes dart over to my witch.

She lifts her nose and sniffs lightly, then fucking moans. “Is that coffee?”

“Hell yes, girl,” Rosa replies, lifting her mug heaped with whipped cream.

The sense of wrongness treads on my senses. I have to figure out what’s causing this damn unsettled feeling. I slip a hand into my pocket to extract my lighter, and turn it end over end between my fingers as Evie undresses me with her eyes, sultry, desire drenched heat licking over my body.

I smirk, then wink. “Eat, Little Witch. I’m going to look around.” My boots hardly make a sound as I tread over the hardwood floor. Placing one hand on the swinging door, I pause. “Have fun with your heathen misfits.”

There's a breath of silence before Ezra’s booming laughter shatters it. He laughs so hard, hacking coughs shake his body as he chokes on whatever food he shoved down his gullet. “Ah, fuckity-fuck! I love it, Brother.”

I run a tattooed hand through my hair, careful to avoid my mask, then walk over to the counter and cross my arms. “I don't see how that statement is humorous.”

The others burst into laughter, joining Ezra and startling the bat.

Gomez beats his wings, flying toward the counter I'm leaning against, and hangs by the intricately shaped metal handle of the upper cabinet. I glare over at the bat, and he glares back, but neither of us move. My gaze narrows, then I roll my eyes and look away. As long as Fluffy Fucker leaves me be, I’ll allow his proximity. Although, I have no fucking idea why he'd seek my company of all the people present.

A hum of excitement vibrates our bond as Evie notices where her familiar flew off to.

I shake my head.Leave it alone, Little Witch.

She bites her lip and a delighted squeee skips into our bond.I can’t help it. This is the first time you’ve actually gotten along.

I pin her with a glare, but my witch just grins.

The group’s laughter quiets down when Aiden clears his throat and gestures with a beer bottle in his hand, looking just like the drunk frat boy I made a bargain with. A moment of nostalgia waves through me… selling his godsdamn soul for a red mustang.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I donotthink fondly about my soul bargains.

“You know, Bro Demon is right, we’re definitely heathen misfits,” Aiden says, then smooshes his lips to the side. “Well, you all are, but I'm a good boy.” His eyes widen, then he covers his face with his hands.

Gideon visibly stiffens in the seat across from Aiden’s.

Evie laughs. “It's okay, Aiden. We understand what you mean. Go on.”

Aiden lowers his hands, chugs the rest of his beer, and a sheepish smile unfurls across his face. “Yeah, so, uh, first of all, we have two witches, three demons, an amazing frat boy.” He pauses and arcs his thumbs toward himself. “Oh, and our favorite fuzzy buddy over there,” he expounds, nodding at Gomez next to me. “But one of those witches does some dark shit, and the other is a sexy therapist. No, a sex therapist. Well, she’s really hot too.” A rolling growl rumbles from Ezra’s throat, but Aiden ignores it, probably not realizing the warning was meant for him. “I don't even want to analyze what's wrong with you two.” Aiden wags a finger between Ezra and I, then turns glazed blue eyes in Gideon's direction. “But I haven't figured you out yet,” he mumbles and looks away.

Ezra claps his hands and the humans jolt in their seats. “We are the heathen misfits, here to crush the fuckity-fuckery that is the trials.”

An annoyed growl issues from my throat. “Why do you have to make everything into a godsdamn thing?”

“Because that's what fun people do, Lorry.” Ezra winks with exaggerated slowness. “So, obviously, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Yep,” Aiden agrees and swigs his beer.

I trail my gaze to Evie and dig my claws into the underside of the counter as the primal urge to take her sears through my veins.

My witch quirks a brow.What?

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