Page 40 of Quiet Burn

His lips curve a bit, and he stays silent for a moment, then finally says, “Apology accepted, shrimp.”

I sigh, a weight lifted off of my shoulders as I collapse into my chair. “Fuck. Being an adult sucks ass, for the record.”

“Ah, but you’re quite skilled at it, Kit Kat,” X says fondly. “I doubt any of us haveeverhad such a direct and heartfeltapology in our long lives. It’s not really a demon thing to admit wrongdoing.”

“Makes you weak,” Jasper grunts as he looks at his tablet.

That explains a lot, but it doesn’t let him off the hook.

Dottie stands taller, waving her fist at them as if to challenge that claim and I chuckle. She’s not a wilting flower, even if she isn’t a hulking predator. I pat her on the head before I respond to X, “Thanks. That wasyearsof therapy speaking and as you said, demons aren’t into that.”

Slash shifts in his chair, looking at me closely. “How are the injuries from yesterday?”

Of course he’s not going to say anything back in front of the rest of them.

“Doing better. Overnight, most of it seems to have healed. Is that… normal?”

The big guy nods. “It is, as far as I am aware.”

“Definitely,” Oriel says as he stands up and stretches. “Want a drink, KK? I’m up.”

Something tells me he wasn’t planning to be, but I just admitted I don’t take help well and I probably will want one soon enough. Hell is fucking dehydrating, and I didn’t notice until I didn’t have Slash poking me every time he saw me with a water. “Yeah, that’d be nice.”

“Hecanlearn,” Salem says playfully and I glare at him. “Don’t be salty, Kit Kat. I’m teasing you because you’re one of us.”

My chest constricts and I’m left with my mouth hanging open as the most intense ache pulses within me. I’veneverreallybelonged and with one simple, throw-away remark, the panda demon just put a huge band-aid over my pain. It doesn’t heal me, obviously, because that takes time, but… the balm his words put on my foster kid ‘Fisher King’ wound is palpable.

“Um, thanks,” I mumble as I tuck myself into the chair to let that realization flow through me without a big show. “That’s… cool… of you to say.”

Oriel comes over, handing me both my books from my roomandthe drink with a smirk. “Thought you’d want these, too, since we’re all studying and shit.”

Damn him for being able to read my fucking mind somehow.

“Double thanks?” I say in a gravelly tone. I’m still recovering from the brick to the face from Salem’s acceptance and the lack of protest, even from Prince Pissypants so I’m not very verbose.

“You should probably wear the crown while we work this weekend. You know, to get used to it.”

My eyes whip to the damn dragon, shooting daggers his way and regretting my appreciation from earlier. “I certainly will not.”

A chorus of agreement with him, followed by explanations of why it makes sense wear me down without a fight. I promised to be an adult, and I guess dumbass royal cosplay is part of that.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.

A Little Less Conversation

Slash

The rest of Saturday and the following day were oddly calm in comparison to almost every other day this semester. Kit’s well-timed belly up pacified our Prince in a manner I’ve not seen before, and his graceful acceptance of our courting overtures changed everything. I seriously doubt that he understands what those gestures mean, and no one is eager to explain it, but allowing us to do so has been soothing.

That’s why he’s walking to class with me and his little animal with a relaxed posture rather than bristling.

“Slash?”

I look down at him expectantly and he wrinkles his nose. “What, little demon?”

“Are you staying with me in this class like… forever?”

Arching a brow, I counter, “Would that upset you?”

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