Page 36 of Quiet Burn

“Do not apologize. It is not voluntary,” Slash says in annoyance. “We are a team.”

“He’s right,” Zavida whispers. I turn my head just a tiny bit to see him peeking out from his tails as his hand covers the fingers on my right hand. “You are one of us.”

Somehow, that’s more comforting than I would have imagined.

“Am I a freak or just plain old Kit?” My voice is still rusty from the clenching of my throat and silent screaming.

“We don’t know,” Oriel admits as he lifts his hand to brush hairs off of my face. “No one haseverseen that shit happen before.Zav’s been searching the demon and supe nets since you blacked out.’

“Just fucking great,” I mutter angrily. “I’m asuper freakthen. You jackasses better not tell anyone about this shit.”

“We have to tell Xerxes and the Prince,” Anton says reluctantly. “You know that, KK.”

The urge to smash my fists into my eyes and scream is huge, but I need to get myself off of this floor before it triggers something again. “Let me up, guys.”

They all move like lightning, sitting on the ground in the small semi-circle around me with concerned expressions. Slash and Salem look absolutely ridiculous here, and it makes the edge of my mouth quirk a tiny bit as I slowly rise to a sitting position. Oriel tilts his head in the avian manner, and I smile as I notice Anton doing the same. Zav is engulfed in his tails still, so it’s hard to read him but the sight of them all makes me feel funny in multiple places.

I am suddenly very aware of how attached I’ve grown to these guys and this life, despite its challenges.

“Okay,” I sigh as I look at them pleadingly. “Butno oneelse, not even Dank. I’m not ready to have even more reasons for random people to come after me. I think we’ve given them enough to be pissed about as it is.”

“Cross my heart, Kit Kat,” Salem says with a smile. “But um… doyouremember anything from when you touched the tree?”

Frowning, I shrug. “I’ve got a lot of not-so-great things floating around in my skull right now. Maybe… if we go back to the room and give me time to push out… the non-related things?”

That makes Oriel scowl as he nods. “We can do that, Kit. But you realize we’ll have to tell Jas and X while we’re there? They’re definitely blowing up our phones and none of us have answered yet.”

That’s absolutely fucking terrible news—the Prince is going to be angry as hell.

“Okay,” I finally say. “You guys are going to have to help me up, though, because the stuff Dank fixed is probably?—”

Before I can finish, they’re on their feet and the big shark shifter bends down to heft me over his shoulder. I smack the muscles of his back, protesting this method the only way I can when I’m too stunned to speak. Oriel winks at me, and even Zav looks pleased as Slash ascends the steps of the hall with me slung over his back like a sack of potatoes.

“Guys, no… my…”

Salem chuckles, grabbing my bag and reaching up to pet Dottie as she waves at me from his shoulder. “We got it, KK. Just enjoy the ferry service.”

If huge demons don’t quit trying to carry me places, I’m going to lose my fucking mind, guaranteed.

Build Me Up Buttercup

Xerxes

When Slash stomped in with Kit slung over his shoulder, my heart skipped a fucking beat. I looked to Anton immediately knowing that his expression would help fight off the panic of seeing our new member being carted like a sack of laundry.

Thank fuck his face told me everything was okay—mostly.

Once everyone settled in, they told the outlandish tale of Kit and the Bone Tree, and now... well, now everyone is throwing out theories about the odd reaction of the damn thing. I figure whatever it means will become clear, eventually, so I’m focused on how uncomfortable Kit looks as people are debating who or what he is. I’ve been there, and it’s no fun. Pressing my lips together, I stand up and hold my hands out.

“Wait.”

All eyes fly to me and I arch a brow. “This is definitely strange, I agree, but you guys are making KitKat shrink to a damn ball over there. How did you miss that?”

The guy flushes as I call attention to him sitting with his knees up and his chin on them, the tiny kinkajou perched on his head like a furry hat. It’s like he’s made to do the cutest fucking things possible without even trying and I have no idea how to react beyond wanting to just snuggle him until he feels safe. Anton gives me a fond look and I shrug slightly, not wanting to draw attention to how squishy I’m feeling.

“He’s fine,” Jasper says with an eye roll. “No one was being mean or insulting. Stop being dramatic, X.”

Zav pinches his leg, making the Prince yelp and look down with a narrowed gaze. I grin when the kitsune hides in his tails again, but doesn’t apologize. “We don’twantto make Kit uncomfortable, especially after he had an attack recently, right?”

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