Page 62 of Nugget

Adam bounced at his side. “I love showing off my new home! Come on.” He dragged Stryker forward. He waved his hand, and the big heavy door opened. “I love being magical!”

Stryker snorted. He wouldn’t know. It was still pretty cool to be part of it though. And Gavin could fly! Stryker needed to remember to take him flying. Stryker had almost got his chance when they’d been in fae but Rainier had shown up to take them home before Stryker figured out how to ask.

“Minions!” Adam called.

Stryker stared at the massive but empty entry.

“Huh, where is everyone?” They stepped inside.

Immediately the difference in temperature was noticeable. Stryker expected the massive house of the most powerful demon in hell to be fancy and full of old expensive relics. Instead, Stryker loved how homey the place felt.

He turned in a circle to take in everything.

“Minions!” Adam hollered.

Wow, Adam was loud. Stryker didn’t know what he expected but it wasn’t the cute little bow tie-wearing demon that scurried in, holding a clipboard.

“Nasario! Where is everyone?”

The little demon looked up from his clipboard. “Adam! When did you get back? I thought you were returning to the human realm for the afternoon.”

Adam sighed. “I did. And I brought home a new minion!”

Nasario glanced at Stryker in confusion. “He’s human?” Nasario gasped. “Did you kidnap a demon? Master Mal is not going to like that. No, he won’t like that at all!” Nasario danced nervously in place. “This is bad.”

“I didn’t kidnap him!” Adam declared. “He came with me willingly.”

Now Stryker was getting nervous.

Nasario stilled. “Willingly?”

“Yes!” Adam stomped his foot. “And I don’t kidnap people.”

“Of course not.” Nasario snorted, releasing smoke from his nostrils. He scrunched up his nose, making the spikes across his forehead mor prominent. “You just call it adopting.”

Adam turned to him. “I’m the best at adopting! I promise to take very good care of you.”

Stryker rubbed the back of his neck. “You are planning on returning me to the human realm, right?”

Adam grinned. “Of course. Eventually.”

Maybe Stryker should have thought this through. “Gavin will be mad if I’m not back soon.”

That perked Nasario up. “You know the thunderbird?”

Stryker knew where his salvation lay. “He’s my mate. Or he will be my mate. It’s a long story.”

Nasario clapped. “We have another mated pair!”

Adam bounced. “Isn’t it exciting? Oh! We should throw a party!”

“A party?” Stryker repeated. “We haven’t mated yet!” This was getting out of hand. Gavin might have been right to have been concerned for Stryker. He did seem to find trouble.

Adam waved his hand. “It’s fine. I love parties. Where is Siezman?”

Nasario cleared his throat. “Furfell is on shift tonight. They’re…taking a break in the pool before Furfell has to leave.”

Adam leaned closer. “That means they’re having sex.”

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