Page 57 of Quiet Burn

The bright red flush on his cheeks tells me he’s embarrassed, but I have no idea why. A last minute visit to the doc concernsme, but I’ll check with X to see if they know more. Maybe he mentioned it to my lover before the dance and it got forgotten in the frenzy of the day. “You’ll have to deal with Salem coming along. He won’t want to leave when he hears that Kit’s seeing Dr. D.”

“Guys… no one is coming in that room with me. I’m awake this time.”

I chuckle, giving him an amused expression. “Don’t want a crowd of clowns looking down at you like last time, mmm?”

“Fuck no.” Kit actually smiles at me this time and I feel my gut clench. “I’m trying hard to accept help, but I’m not letting you idiots smother me to death.”

Ahhh, the spunk is back. I like it.

O turns, walking backwards up the stairs so he can look at us. “Dottie can stay with me and Salem while you visit the good doc. I solemnly swear we won’t spoil her dinner.”

The kinkajou chitters from her perch on Kit’s shoulder and I chuckle. “We really should take Kit to meet that weirdo in the bestiary.”

“Wait. What?” Our progress stops as Kit pokes me in the shoulder. “What bestiary?”

“Oh, shit, nobody told him.”

I nod at Oriel as I realize the same thing. This is going to be fun as hell. “There’s a bestiary out in the Wastelands. Some species of demons have better animal affinities and they send the third years to see if any attract a familiar when they visit. You, however, can bring yours for the Keeper to look at.”

“Why have none of you jackasses mentioned this before?” Kit frowns as he starts moving again. “It feels important.”

“Not really,” Oriel replies as we head down the hall, stopping at Kit’s classroom door. “It’ll be fun, which you’ll like, but it won’t tell us anything new ‘cuz you have Dottie.”

Kit sighs, still looking annoyed, but jabs his finger at me. “Talk to X and figure out when we can go. Now get lost before you guys are late to shit and somehow, Prince Pricklypants blames me. We know he can’t be nice to me more than once a day and lunch used that up for the week, probably.”

It’s fucking scary how well he knows us.

The two of us watch as he goes in, bee-lining for the back corner with his familiar, then Oriel closes the door. As we head back downstairs, the thief scratches his chin and looks at me carefully.

“Soooo… you and X, yeah?”

“Not this again. We all agreed that we like Kit.” I shrug, not knowing how to explain it. “Xerxes hasn’t been interested in adding to the dynamic before and neither have I. That’s why, if you’re going to ask.”

“Mmm.”

“It’s not like youeverseemed interested in anyone beyond a hook-up, either, emo boy. Jasper and Slash have been the most actively pursued and they haven’t exactly been… celibate all these years. But you’re no angel. Zav and Salem are honestly the cleanest hands, I’d think.”

The crow shifter smirks at me, his eyes glittering with mirth. “You know, I think our sleepy sloth might actually be the onlypure one among us. He doesn’t talk about it, but girls don't exactly flock to the guy who falls asleep mid-evening and prefers the kitchen to a dance floor.”

“Zav wouldn’t be experienced if it wasn’t for Jasper. He’s almost as jumpy as Kit,” I shoot back.

Neither of us are being shitty about our friends, but this fake dating with someone we actually like makes it important to consider all the angles. Getting Kit to feel comfortable and safe with us is the first step to exploring that, though Jasper and I got to take short cuts. If I were to rank everyone, I’d say Oriel and Salem are closest to being able to give it go, followed by Slash. Kit’s really taken to the big guy of late. But that leaves the rest of us floundering for ways to connect.

I'll get X to arrange a visit with the Keeper and we can take him together—that would be good.

“Agreed,” Oriel says and I have to tune back into what he’s saying. “What do you think this doctor thing is about? I don’t remember him mentioning it before.”

“I don’t know, man. He didn’t seem harmed, and even though I’m pretty sure Slash is going towreckthe dumbasses here who attacked KK on social media, he wasn’t having a panic attack, either.”

The evil smile that comes over my brother’s face almost makesmeshiver. “Then I’ll be the one to deal with those girls. I’m fine with that; I can fly.”

That can’t be good.

Let’s Talk About Sex

Kit/Kat

“Why are you going to see Dr. D again?” Salem asks on a yawn. “You seem like you’re all better.”

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