Page 83 of The Devil's Trials

I send Blake a quick text to let him know I’m on my way, and shrug on a jacket after noticing the overcast sky outside my window. Rain is almost guaranteed on any given day. Such is living in the Pacific Northwest.

When I get to the bar, I find it surprisingly busy for a Monday afternoon. I ruffle the bit of rainwater out of my hair as I step inside and approach the bar, where one of Blake’s employees is pouring a tall glass of beer.

“He’s in the office,” she says, barely giving me a glance. She’s human and she knows the man she works for isn’t, but that’s the extent of it.

I offer a nod as I move through the patrons waiting to get their drinks. Walking down the hallway, the sounds from the bar quiet, and I tap my knuckles on the door before letting myself into Blake’s office. He’s lounging on one of the couches with his computer on his lap and a small cup of what smells like espresso in his hand.

“Nice of you to finally get your ass out of bed, you royal sleepyhead.”

My lips twitch as I cross the room and drop onto the couch across from him. I nod at the laptop. “What are you doing?”

“Well, you see, I do run a business when I’m not defending your ass.” He sips his espresso before setting it on the coffee table between us. “My accountant has been asking for a bunch of shit and wanted it last week.If I put her off any longer, she’s going to think I’m committing tax fraud or something.”

I arch a brow at him. “Such human problems.”

He snorts. “You’re telling me.” Blake sits up, closing his laptop and facing me. “What’s going on with you, though? You never sleep in.”

I scratch the back of my neck, genuinely unsure how he’ll respond to what I’m about to tell him.

“Oh, fuck. I know that look, mate. What did you do now?”

I exhale a humorless laugh. “My council is gaining another, potentially controversial member.”

Harper hasn’t officially accepted the position, but it’s only a matter of time. I may not yet have all the skills of a royal, but persuasion has always been a strength of mine.

“Don’t keep a bloke in suspense. Who is it?”

There’s a moment of hesitation before I tell him, “Harper.”

A look of disbelief crosses his features. He sits back. Rubs his jaw. “Are you sure about this?”

I nod. “You won’t convince me otherwise.”

“I won’t try. I just want to make sure you’ve considered every angle. I’m only looking out for you.”

It’s moments such as these where it’s all too easy to forget Blake is a demon. Some of his mannerisms—his genuine concern for me—feel so damnhuman.

“I appreciate that and I understand. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly. But with such an already complicated relationship, there wasn’t much else I could do if I wanted to continue building something with her.”

“So, you do, then? Want a relationship with her?”

“She’s…family.” The word tastes odd on my tongue and sits heavy in my chest as I replay it a few times in my head. I’ve never had anyone Iwantedto explore a familial relationship with, and I can’t let this one go without attempting to make it work.

“Fair enough, mate. So long as she doesn’t get in the way of anything—your trials, for example—then I’m all for bringing the little hunter on board.”

I catch the subtle look of hunger in his gaze and exhale a deep sigh, leaning back against the throw pillows. Blake has made no attempt to mask the attraction he has toward Harper, and I don’t have any right toplay the protective big brother, so I clamp my jaw shut against the warning that sears my tongue.

“Have you decided how you’ll tell the others?”

“Provided Harper agrees—”

My words are cut off by a loud crash from the bar, quickly followed by heavy footfall and screaming.

Blake and I barely exchange a glance before we’re moving, though he tries to stop me at the office door.

“You should—”

“You’re not telling me to stay put,” I growl at him, ripping the door open, and then we’re both moving down the hallway at breakneck speed.

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