Page 29 of Hellish Witch

“You mean politelyaskthe nicehealers,” Zoella muttered under her breath.

Rex’s lips twitched in mischief, lifting some of the heaviness in his expression, but he continued like his mate hadn’t huffed at his natural inclination for violence. “It will give us enough daylight to get through the worst of the Bloodwood, and I can put Briar and Grell in charge while we’re gone. Maybe I’ll ask a few of the guys to come with us, though Kill isn’t in my good books since he offed that merchant last week without even telling me why.” He trailed off before pinning me with a flat stare.

I knew that look.

I couldn’t even process the fact that Killian had taken the fall for my murdery littleaccident.

“Speaking of our feathered friend… Why is he waiting outside for you like some lovesick pup?” Rex quirked a brow at me, suspicion gathering in his red eyes like storm clouds.

“Um.” I bit my lower lip, thoughts scrambling for something to say. “He walked me over this morning.”

Somehow, he arched his brow even higher. “It’s the arse crack of dawn. Has he been following you? Was he at your house? Did he stay there last night?” His voice rose slightly with each question, hitting that incredulous warning octave that had me fighting a wince.

Zoella’s gaze bounced between us, glee tugging at her lips. She was seconds from bursting into giddy applause.

Rex held up a hand as I opened my mouth to explain. “You know what? I’ll go ask him. I knew I should have put a stop to his bloody hobby.”

I had no idea whatbloody hobbyhe meant, but if a pit of hell-fire could open up and swallow me, that would be a mercy.

I ducked my head as he sauntered out of the room, a casual pace that belied the sharpness he was ready to wield.

Zoella’s wide eyes met mine.

We leaped for the window at the same time.

Pressing our faces to the glass, we watched Rex stalk up to Killian, who lounged outside the house, thick arms folded and huge wings tucked.

He eyed Rex’s approach, a grim sort of acceptance on his stunning face.

“Why were you at my baby sister’s house this morning?” Rex’s lightly muffled voice reached us through the thin pane. He put his hands in his trouser pockets, all casual like.

I hissed at him through the closed window. We weren’t actually blood relatives, but we’d always had a sort of brother-sister relationship and I loved him like family.

I usually called him my boring old uncle, butbaby sisterwas laying it on a bit thick.

Zoella practically vibrated beside me, valiantly trying to hold back a laugh.

Killian stood his ground. “She got hurt at a party last night, and I carried her home, put her to bed”—Rex snarled at the word, but Killian didn’t pause—“and then slept on the couch to make sure she was okay.”

Rex nodded, almost a thoughtful, wise king for a second.

Then he blurred, and his fist smashed into Kilian’s face. The incubus’s head whipped aside.

He spat blood before straightening.

My jaw dropped, but irritation blazed in the next beat.

“Oh my goddesses.” Zoella finally let her laughter out with a snort. “Men.”

The insane dolts stared at each other, then wide grins replaced hard expressions. Killian had a mouthful of bloodied fangs and a split lip he was only worsening with his unhinged mirth.

Nothing was said, and yet something had passed between them regardless.

I shook my horns with a dramatic sigh. “Yup.”

Chapter 10

“What in the holy fires are you doing?” Dayla frowned, a bemused expression on her matronly features.

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