Page 86 of Quiet Burn

“Tell me what happened immediately,” I demand when I’m close enough that they can all hear me.

Kit looks up at me and my entire body freezes in place when I see the rips and tears in his baggy uniform. There’s blood on him, though I am unsure if it is his, and he looks completely drained as he hefts a long sigh. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

My eyes widen as I look to Anton for confirmation. He nods a little from where he’s kneeling next to X, and I have to take a moment to let it sink in. Once I assimilate that information, I turn to walk over to him, sitting on the bench and putting my arm around him. He doesn’t shrink away and my shark is very pleased. Looking down at his tired, confused eyes, I say, “Whether you intended to or not, we should keep that information to ourselves for now. I do not believe it is a good idea to give those who are plotting against us this kind of information.”

A loud caw precedes Oriel shifting back to human form, his body looking remarkably unharmed. Kit squeaks and buries his face into my side, and I chuckle deeply. “O, please find your clothing. You’re making the little demon turn into a tomato. I think.”

“Sorry,” the little guy says, his voice muffled by my chest. “I’ll get used to it eventually; I promise.”

Oriel grins and I see the wickedness glittering in his gaze, even if Kit cannot. “Oh, you will, Kit Kat, but today is not the day for that conversation.”

Anton snorts, shaking his head. “Stuff it, Oriel. Not the time for that shit.”

He’s not wrong, but Kit is not curling smaller, so he must be okay. Otherwise, I’d smack the crow myself.

“We need to call Doctor D,” I announce. “Does anyone have their phone? Mine is probably somewhere in this stadium, but reining Jasper in was not as easy as I hoped when I arrived.”

A hand holds a phone up from the ground and I chuckle. Of course Xerxes is prone on the grass with a stab wound but managed to keep his phone safe. I should have known before Ieven asked. I lean forward and grab the device, frowning at the small size. My phone is at least twice the size of this thing; I am not a small demon.

“Give it here,” Kit says and I sigh in relief. He scoots closer to me, then looks at it for a second. “How do I open it, X?”

“Code is 26866548,”Xerxes says. His voice is thready and I am concerned that he is more injured than he is letting on.

I look at Anton, who frowns, and then turn back to the little demon. “Hurry. I believe our brother is misleading us about how injured he is. That will be addressed later, but it is more urgent to get the doctor here.”

His eyes widen and he hurries to unlock the screen, then fumbles around until he finds the contacts. Luckily, the Doc’s number is programmed in—as it is in all of our phones—so he’s able to get the line ringing quickly. Pushing the speaker button, he waits for the raspy voice of the elder demon to answer and then speaks. “Dank, something bad went on at the stadium. I can’t talk about it on speakerphone, but Xerxes is injured. I’m… I have issues, too, but um… yeah. Oriel and Salem shifted to help but maybe they need checking and…”

I shake my head as he babbles on for another minute, relaying everything in a high, anxious tone at light speed. He’s still going when a dark green portal opens up in front of us and the masked doctor strolls out with a phone to his head. It’s clear Kit has never seen him do this before, so once again, he shrinks into my side reflexively. Frowning as I feel him tremble, I pick him up and sit him on my lap so I am able to comfort him better.

“It is okay, little demon. The doctor is here and we will take care of everything in time. Do not be afraid.”

His head turns and I’m worried he will jump up, but instead, he nods as he bites his lip. I pull him close and sit my chin on his head, letting him feel the safety he obviously needs as Dr. D immediately heads for Xerxes. The old demon makes an annoyed sound behind his mask, then looks at me.

“We will need to adjourn to my office. I will handle the snake if you will help Kit.” The doctor looks at Anton, then at Oriel as he returns. “Bring the bear and the crow with you. One at a time, I will help you. Is the Prince secure?”

Nodding, I shift so I can stand up with the little demon in my arms. “Jasper is handling the other injured demons and the dead. His dragon is under control now, so he can find us when he has been released.”

“Dottie!”

Blinking, I remember the tiny creature when Kit tugs on my collar as he yells. “Oriel, please locate the kinkajou. The portal will close behind us once we are all inside, yes?”

The plague masked doctor nods, waving his hand to magic X off the ground and heads for the shortcut to his office. Anton follows, and I bring up the rear with the little demon in my arms. He must be very worried about his stadium antics because he’s shivering now, and I think perhaps he’s in shock.

That is okay. I will keep him safe until our brothers and the doctor are all together—it’s my duty, after all.

Comfortable

Kit/Kat

“Ididn’t know Dank could create portals,” I mutter as Slash carries me through the bright magic. “I figured the one he brought me here with was… static?”

Slash’s laugh is a low rumble against my face. “No, little demon. Those of his species who live to be as old and powerful as the doctor are able to do many things younger demons cannot. Dr. D has innumerable talents you are unaware of.”

“It’s really unfair that I’m working so hard and I’m still so fucking behind. I’ll never catch up.” Frowning, I quiet down and stay buried in the comforting strength of his arms as he follows the others to our destination. I should complain about not being allowed to make it on my own, or protest his wordless assumptions, but… I’m so damned wiped from whatever I did in the arena that I can’t be bothered.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

The hand on my back pats lightly. “You will be fine. Stop expecting to master everything immediately; it is not possible, even for someone as determined as you.”

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