Page 88 of Quiet Burn

“Zavvie… where are you hurt?”

I don’t often get to see the Prince behave like he’s not a psycho, so I tilt my head, watching closely. Slash leans in, his cheek next to mine as he murmurs, “Jasper is a good man. He struggles more than the rest of us because his father is… worse. But with Zavida, you see the man and not the demon he was raised to be.”

“I’m going to start calling you Yoda if you don’t stop that.”

His chuckle tickles my back and I sense another smile. “Yoda was very small. Zavida made us watch those movies once. I liked the small furry beings best. Very direct and without guile.”

Turning to look at him, I grin. “You like Ewoks? No one likes Ewoks.”

“I do not care what others like or do not like. They are cute, small, and aggressive. I enjoy all of those things, so it does not matter what anyone else thinks.”

“He’s not lying about that.”

My nose brushes Slash’s as I whip my head to look at Oriel. “Oh?”

The crow shifter smirks at me. “You haven’t been to his room. It’s very calming, but there’s a cabinet you should check out.”

“Uh… I don’t…”

“Notthatkind of cabinet,” Oriel chortles, then coughs, holding his ribs. “Kit Kat, Iwishyou could have seen your face! It was priceless.”

“Oriel, I’m going to smash you flat.”

I pat the big guy’s arm lightly. “It’s okay. He’s being silly, and it doesn’t bother me like it used to. I’m getting… used to that kind of banter.”

“Really?”

Zav’s voice comes from down the hallway where Jasper is still kneeling in front of him and I nod, shrugging slightly. “Yeah. I mean, for some reason, I still look like a fucking tomato and like Anton says, I’m an awkward turnip about it…. But it doesn’t make me spiral or anything.”

The kitsune grins for the first time since class started, his eyes shining with a magical light. “That’s progress, Kit Kat.”

I’m about to reply when the dragon himself turns to me with his golden eyes, his expression intense. There’s a scale pattern on his neck that must mean he’s struggling to keep his animal in check—likely because he’s worried about Zavida and Xerxes. Jasper studies me like he’s trying to ferret out how truthful I’m being and so quickly I think I imagined it, a long, forked tongue flicks the air then retreats. He grunts, then shifts in his spot.“The shrimp is being truthful. He’s getting more comfortable with us.”

With them, you spiky-backed jackass—you still piss me off like no other being on the planet.

“Why the hell would I waste the energy to lie right now?” I grumble and Slash chuckles behind me. “I’m so fucking worn out that I’m letting someone carry me, you dipshit Thatshouldbe a clue as to how blown I am.”

Oriel smirks, looking inordinately pleased, then turns back to the Prince. “That’s a fair point, Jas. The last time he was conscious and injured, he wouldn’t let anyone do that. KK isdefinitelytoo wiped to make shit up.”

“Thanks, man,” I mutter gratefully.

Something in the tone of my voice must trigger Jasper because in a flash, he’s up and stalking over to where I’m sitting with a dark look on his chiseled features. He’s chewing on his lip ring, which means he’s thinking, and within seconds, he’s squatting down to get eye level with me. I frown, unused to him being this direct without saying something snarky. “Are you injured, shrimp? Is that why you are uncharacteristically compliant?”

“Do not accuse me of mistreating him, Jasper.”

I blink, tearing my eyes away from the dragon to gaze up at Slash. “You’re not. And as much as it pains me to defend Prince Prickface, I don’t think that’s what he meant.”

The shark shifter narrows his eyes then looks at our leader. “He knows what he meant.”

I’m missing something important here and I don’t have the foggiest clue what, but I don’t want any fighting.

“Calm down, big guy. I can handle his pissypants questions, promise.” Even though it’s pushing my limit a little, I squeeze him with the arm I have trapped behind him. I’m surprised to get a warm, tight hug in return and for a moment, I simply revel in the security of it. No wonder people are so into this shit; if most people are as good as this guy, I see the appeal more than I used to. Though, I suppose part of it might be how big and strong he is and some primal instinct; either way, Slash hugs are fucking #goals.

A low rumble echoes in the room and I realize it’s coming from the bastard himself. I loosen my grip on the demon I’m perched on, then squint at the dragon curiously. “What the fuck is your problem? I said I’m not hurt. Hell, I even defended you. How didthatmanage to piss you off?”

Jasper just glares and I’m ready for him to say something mean when the door opens. Dr. D glides out, nodding silently, and I know it’s time for Zavida to go in. The Prince rises to his feet, stomping back to the smaller demon determinedly.

Looks like I’ve been saved by the Plague Docyet again.

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