Page 38 of Quiet Burn

“How the fuck are demons better at this than humans?” he mutters. “I mean, it seems ass backwards, right?”

“It’s not about species, necessarily. It’s about being a goddamn asshole, and you’ve been surrounded by huge ones, it seems.” His laugh makes my chest tighten and I have to set my tablet aside and stand up. “You’re right about Salem, though. Especially becausehethinks you’re a Fae.”

Kit rolls his eyes. “Hardly. I’m not delicate, pretty, colorful,orglittery.”

“Ah, but you could and will be,” I say with a wink. “Don’t discount your ability to pull off the look.”

The new guy ducks his head, shrugging as he gets to his feet and scoops up Dottie. “We will see. It’s totally new for me—even for up there—so you’re going to need to help me do all the things.”

“I promise,” I say as I open his door and we head into the main room. The smells lingering there are delicious and I spin to look at Jasper. “You ordered Damnation Pies? Seriously? Holy shit, Kit Kat!”

He stops on his way to his big chair, eyes wide. “What’s the big deal about… pizza?”

Oriel comes over to us, grabbing Kit’s hand and tugging him to his spot. “Because Damnation Pies is a demon owned shop fromyourlands and it’s a goddamn trial to get them to deliver despite the fact that their owners are portal-capable demons.”

“So it’s… earth… ingredients?”

I stroll over with my tablet in hand, plopping down on the floor at his feet so he can see while I work. “It’sboth. And Jasper probably pulled some serious royal mojo to get those fuckers to bring it.”

Kit looks around the room, his face confused. “Why?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, shrimp. Just say ‘thank you’ and let Salem bring your shit over.” His grumble is irritable, but there’s something that sounds like regret underneath the ire.

I think he’s sorry about the class bullshit; his eyes have been tracking the slow movement and how the rest of us are helping Kit get from place to place.

“Don’t be pissy,” Slash says as he walks over with a tray of options for Kit to try. Salem is following with one his Fae fizzy drinks he makes, and I shoot a knowing look at Annie. He shrugs, grinning back at me.

“His legs work,” our leader mutters as he flops into his chair, followed by Zav carrying their food. “You’re all acting like Furon crippled him.”

“Dr. D said to rest.”

The shark shifter doesn’t have to say much more before Jasper sighs and tips his head back to look up at the ceiling in supplication. “Fuck, it makes meinsanethat even you are entranced like this.”

“Ah, Jasper. The last man standing on a roof hoping the tidal wave doesn’t hit him in a disaster movie. So tragically obtuse,” Oriel snarks before sitting down next to Salem. “Keep holding out, man. It won’t make everything harder later.”

I’ll be damned; the crow is always salty, but that was a direct hit. Battleship sunk.

“Fuck off, thief,” he retorts.

Oriel’s eyes widen and he grins. “Shit. Speaking of that…” he shoves his hand into his pocket, rummaging around and Kit stares in fascination as it expands. “…I found the perfect thing when I was… uh, doing my thing.”

“Is his pocket like Mary Poppins’ bag?”

I nod, watching Oriel continue to grope the big, bulging cloth. “It’s this weird pocket portal he stores his temporary horde in. No one has a damn clue how the corvids hybrid demons do it. He shoves stuff in there until he finds the perfect place to put it in his room.”

“I’m scared to ask what his room looks like,” Kit says, still watching in fascination.

“You should be.”

Kit grins at Slash, then picks up one of the Vampire Repellent Cheesy Garlic Knots to take a bite. The sound he makes should be illegal and not one person is looking at Oriel’s fidgeting afterward. In fact, everyone is damn near on the edge of their chair when he wipes his mouth and looks sheepish. “This is fucking amazing. Fuck me.”

The room is silent until Oriel pulls his hand out and holds up a shining platinum crown. “Ah-ha. Here it is. Would it work for the dance, X?”

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention the headwear our caliphate will have to don—that’s going to get me in trouble.

This Is Not An Apology

Kit/Kat

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