Page 95 of Of Flames and Crows

“Might as well make it official.” Yoo-Mi took a deep breath. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Itou Fusanaga, my new, er, boyfriend.”

Vlad’s elbow slipped off his knee. Nikolai’s cup crashed to the floor. Bryony’s jaw dropped open. Miles swallowed a pastry the wrong way.

“Holy crap,” Violet mumbled.

She slapped her choking cousin distractedly on the back.

Mr. Fusanaga’s expression turned glassy as he found himself the focus of a battery of shocked and confused stares. “Hmm, hello.”

“I’ll go make some more tea,” Yoo-Mi said, like she’d just spoken about the weather. “And get a mop and a dustpan for that.”

She indicated the spillage by Nikolai’s feet.

“I’ll grab them!” The sorcerer jumped to his feet and dashed awkwardly out of the room.

Mr. Fusanaga followed him. “I’ll help.”

Yoo-Mi made to leave. She paused on the threshold of the living room, turned, and narrowed her eyes slightly at Mae. “By the way, do our new guests have anything to do with the incident in that city you went to? You know, the one that made the news?”

Mae squirmed under her probing stare. Her mother could read her like an open book. “Er, maybe?”

Yoo-Mi muttered something under her breath and left.

Silence ensued.

“What was that about?” Ludmila said.

Mae explained.

Ludmila’s expression cleared. “Ah. I see. I’ve had five husbands myself.”

“You say that like you’re proud.”

“I am,” Ludmila grunted. “They were all filthy rich and,” she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper, “well endowed.”

Roman flushed. Budimir frowned.

Bryony’s expression grew pinched. “Really, Ludmila.”

“My Enrique is well endowed too,” a voice said spiritedly.

Cortes flinched. Mae blinked. Her gaze found the Colombian’s stony face before dropping to a covered birdcage by his feet.

She hadn’t noticed it before.

Brimstone trotted over and sniffed the cover.It’s a familiar.

Mae brightened. “You found a familiar?”

Cortes clenched his jaw. “He’s on probation.”

Vlad’s shoulders trembled. Mae realized the incubus was trying not to burst out laughing. Her puzzled gaze swung to Cortes.

“Where did you meet him?” she said curiously.

“In a pet shop, in the Bronx,” Nikolai muttered as he returned with a mop and a dustpan.

He gave Cortes a look of pity and cleaned up the broken cup and spilt tea.

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