Page 98 of Quiet Burn

“You might be, but not for that reason,” Zavida says with a tiny grin.

I really enjoy how she brings everyone in our family out of their shells; it’s refreshing as fuck.

“Bad Zavvie!” she scolds and a low, dark growl echoes in the room. The emerging demon whips her head to follow the sound and frowns at Jasper. “What the fuck is your problem now? Even X said we were doing well, and now you want to spoil it?”

Jasper’s dragon flashes in his eyes as he drops a hand to the kitsune’s head and ruffles his messy hair. “You do not get to call him that, nor scold him. That isnotyour place, shrimp.”

I blink, realizing Kit knows fuck all about BDSM roles and definitely not as they work between demons like us. Jas is going to rip her a new asshole because she inadvertently crossed a major boundary. Before he can pounce, I cut in. “KK, you know how some of us share your nickname?”

“Yeah, but Salem bitched at first.”

Salem coughs and has to cover his mouth, so I continue helping. “Well, there’s a reason why our animals or demons don’t like that concept. It might be a bit much for you at the moment, but it’s pretty unnatural for such a moniker to be shared. They prefer their own personal term of endearment, so to speak.”

Her eyes narrow and she squints at Slash. “Is that why you always call me ‘little demon?’ That’s yours?”

He nods then cocks his chin at Jasper. “He uses shrimp.”

“Huh. So you two suck at sharing and the others have evolved? That tracks.”

Jasper growls again, and this time, Annie jumps in. “No, their animals are the bigger predators and therefore prone to being… demanding. It’s very likely everyone will find their own eventually and Salem will feel much better. But the point hereis that the name you used is very personal for the Prince for a multitude of reasons that you may learn some other time.”

“Not fucking likely,” Jasper mutters.

“Maybe.”

Everyone but Kit looks at Zavida in surprise and his face flames immediately, sending him back into his tails fast enough to be a red blur of motion.

I’ll be damned twice now—even the most submissive dude in our group just defied the Prince for the girl who has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.

This is going to be so very, very fun to watch unfold.

Trustfall

Kit/Kat

The rest of the night went awkwardly, to say the least. I did my best to describe what happened to me in the arena step by step—as best I could. Salem and the others filled in their accounts of the magic in the air increasing their rage, making the worry and fear inside of them explode in powerful reactions. X and Zav were spared because of their injuries, and Slash swears he wasn’t any more angry than normal. Jasper had already lost his shit, but he admitted that perhaps it helped his dragon stay in control longer.

By the time we bedded down, I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. Oriel and Salem curled up by my legs instead of their chairs, making Jasper get even grumpier as he finally shut off the lights. I honestly didn’t get all the weird looks and growls being traded around me, but boys are fucking weird.

If they’ve got something shoved up their asses, it’s not my responsibility to help pull it out.

However, the way they’re all violently getting ready in the bathroom this morning tells me I was right. Jasper is brushing his teeth like he’s going to scrub off the enamel. Oriel and Salemhave been jerkily fussing with the gel in their hair for much longer than normal. Slash is quieter than ever, but he’s flashing his teeth occasionally as he looks in the mirror. Poor Zavida keeps ducking in and out of his tails as he does his morning self-care, while Anton is grunting in irritation as he helps Xerxes get cleaned up and pretty. The wings on X’s eyeliner are T. Swift sharp for certain.

Clearing my throat, I look around as I step out of my stall. I have my remaining uniform on, but it’s messier than usual because I refuse to tighten anything against the healing wound. “So… what’s the plan for today?”

Seven heads whip around to pin me with their gaze and the intensity makes me back up a bit. Salem’s face lightens as he smiles at me, his gorgeous torso on display all the way down to a very defined pelvic V above his pants. “There you are, Kit Kat. I thought you’d drowned for a second.”

Ha, ha. I was hoping you assholes would get dressed so my tongue wouldn’t feel too big for my fucking mouth, but here we are.

“It’s harder to get my shit on with the shoulder.” Plus, I had to use the ACE bandage I swiped from our medicine cabinet to bind myself until I can get X alone to chat. “Don’t fuss at me.”

A snort makes me turn to look at Jasper and I swallow hard as my eyes take in his broad shoulders, muscled back and the dragon spikes he always wears. He looks dangerous as fuck, even half-naked. But despite my mixed feelings about the spicy Prince, my whole body feels hot when he finally looks at me. “Someone has to. You take far too many risks, even when they’re with good intentions, and you don’t seem the least bit concernedwith the fact that someone is actively instructing people to kill you.”

“Of course he’s concerned.”

My eyes swing to Slash when he speaks, and my mouth gets dry. The enormous shark shifter is using some kind of moisturizer on his thick biceps and boy, does it make my stomach flutter to watch. I push out a slow breath, hoping to calm myself before I speak. I’d prefer my voice not come out like Minnie fucking Mouse, and I’m not sure it won’t right now.

Anton saves me as he leads X to a bench to sit down. “You’re both right. Kit cares, but he’s unable to let any of us be harmed. That’s part of the caliphate bond and you all know it.”

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