Page 105 of A Fury Of Shadows

Mae and Nikolai navigated the neighborhood in companionable silence, Brimstone padding silently beside them while Alastair flew overhead. The streetlights blinked off with every block they passed.

They had gotten into the habit of an early morning walk ever since they’d showed up at Mae’s parents’ house, on the night they’d returned from Europe. Vlad hadn’t said a word when Mae had told him she wanted to be home with her family. She’d kissed his cheek and left him standing on the tarmac in the rain, where they’d just stepped off theDante 3. Cortes had stayed by the incubus’s side as he’d watched her drive off.

Yoo-Mi hadn’t batted an eyelid when Nikolai declared he’d be staying at the house with Mae.

All the sorcerer had done in the long nights since then was hold Mae in his arms. They had not spoken about the horrible things they had lived through or the wound festering inside Mae’s heart. A wound she feared would never heal, unlike the one on Brimstone’s face.

Ye-Seul was making breakfast when they returned to the house.

“Is mom still asleep?” Mae asked tiredly.

She brought the fresh pot of tea brewing on the counter to the kitchen table and sat down. Nikolai took cups out of a cupboard and got milk and sugar.

“Yes.” Ye-Seul stopped by her chair and kissed her cheek. “How are you doing today?”

Mae gazed into her grandmother’s wise eyes and knew she couldn’t lie. “Not great.”

Ye-Seul patted her shoulder. “Accepting what you have lost is the first step toward finding a way to regain it.” She paused. “Incidentally, the bags under your eyes could sink a ship. You should put some cucumber slices on them.” She placed a couple of steaks on Brimstone’s plate. “Chow’s ready, foxy.”

Mae stared at her grandmother and pondered her cryptic words while Brimstone jumped up on a chair. The fox’s tail drooped as he gazed at the empty spot beside him. It was where Hellreaver would normally sit. She stroked his back.

Murmurs sounded on the landing. Ryu and Noah came downstairs. The doorbell rang.

Ryu headed to the foyer. “I’ll get it.”

Mae heard the door open and her sister’s surprised, “Oh.”

She sighed. “Let him in, Ryu.”

She already knew who it was. Judging from Nikolai’s faint frown, so did he.

Vlad came into the kitchen. He looked as worn out as she felt and was carrying two boxes ofVetriano’s breakfast pastries. The smell stirred her practically non-existent appetite slightly.

He met her gaze, his face impassive. “Hey.”

“Hi,” Mae said quietly.

Nikolai studied him coolly. “Who invited you?”

Vlad narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I did.” Yoo-Mi walked in behind the incubus. “Hi, Vlad. Want some coffee?”

“Hello, Mrs. Jin. Coffee would be nice.”

“I thought you guys could do with some cheering up,” Yoo-Mi said blankly at Mae and Nikolai’s stares. “Besides, ain’t nothing like some competition to get things moving,” she muttered under her breath on her way to the coffee maker. “At this rate, I’m never gonna be a grandmother.”

Mae blinked. Nikolai furrowed his brow.

A beatific smile stretched Vlad’s mouth. “Looks like I have the full blessing of the lady of the house.”

Nikolai’s frown deepened.

Ye-Seul removed a tray ofHoeddeokfrom the oven and set them on a serving dish. Everyone sat down. An awkward silence descended as they ate, Mae and Brimstone picking at their food. It was broken by Ye-Seul’s bombshell announcement.

“I’m thinking of getting a sex transplant.”

Nikolai’s eyes bulged, his fork midway to his mouth. Vlad dropped his pastry in his coffee. Yoo-Mi looked like she’d turned to stone.

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