Page 9 of House of Malice
Blaze walked up to them, planting a hand on Andro’s shoulder. He shook it off and gave Blaze a mean look.
“Do you ever wonder how we managed to stay alive and even participate in the Game when it seems that all we ever do is argue?” Jolene asked. She sat down next to Alecto on the bench carved out of ivory bone.
Alecto smirked, her eyes on Blaze, who was trying to soothe the argument getting more and more heated between Val and Andro.
“If you look at the alumni, it seems that it runs in our blood,” Alecto said and glanced at Jolene.
Jolene’s gaze was distant. “I hope that’s the only thing that runs in our blood.”
Alecto could only hope.
“So, Leigh is leaving Darly now that the murder investigation is over?” Alecto bumped Jolene’s shoulder with hers. “Are you going to miss her?”
Immediately, Jolene’s face lit up at the mention of Leigh. Her gaze dropped to her shoes, and she smiled. “I know Avalon Hills isn’t that far away, but I will miss having her around here at Darly,” she said. “It’s been so convenient to go see her whenever I feel like, and it has been nice.”
“Well, more excuses for you to go to Avalon Hills, and with everything that’s been going on, maybe it’s not a bad thing,” Alecto said.
Jolene nodded. “Yeah, I’m lucky my family has a place in the city so I can stay over whenever I want.”
“Are you staying over at your family’s brownstone? I thought you were crashing at Leigh’s when you’re in Avalon Hills.”
Jolene shrugged. “It depends. Sometimes we’re at hers, but she lives with a friend, so when we want to spend some time alone, we crash at my family’s place.”
“Is this serious?” Alecto asked. Jolene looked at her. “I mean, do you think you and Leigh will last?”
Jolene smiled. “It is as serious as it gets, Alecto. And we sure will. I—I want to propose to Leigh.”
Alecto was so shocked, she gasped and then clasped a hand over her mouth.
Jolene giggled at her reaction. “Come on, don’t tell me you’re surprised,” Jolene said, tilting her head to the side.
Alecto shook her head. “I mean…I don’t know. I’m very happy to hear that you’re so serious about her. I just didn’t expect it, I guess… How did you know it was time?”
Jolene pulled Alecto into a sideways hug. “Listen, when your heart chooses, the only thing you can do is go with it. Look at you and Blaze—you’re the best example. Clearly, both of you are driven by your hearts and not your heads. Well, at least Blaze is driven by one of his heads…”
Alecto laughed and poked her friend on the side. “Fuck you, Frone. Nobody likes a smart-ass.”
“That is debatable,” Jolene said, laughing.
The door on the side opened, and Rogue walked in, Leigh in his wake.
Jolene immediately went over to Leigh and kissed her. Then Leigh turned to them, pointed a finger at Rogue and said, “This is a demon.”
Alecto snorted. “He sure as Hel is.”
“Why do you have a demon?” Leigh asked. She seemed to be seriously concerned. “Demons are dangerous. How do you even have one here? And how does the Dean allow this?”
“Nobody knows he’s a demon,” Val said. “He’s supposed to lie low and play a witch.” She glared at Rogue with her arms crossed.
Rogue stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and shrugged. “I am,” he said. “But this little witch was so insistent on knowing more about me that the best way to get her to shut up was to tell her the truth.”
Val sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Just in case you were wondering, I was never a fan of this idea,” Andro said. “Playing with forces we do not know and can’t control is dangerous. Especially in our situation.”
Val threw Andro a glance but didn’t say anything. She turned to Leigh and jerked her chin. “We have to talk before you leave.”
Leigh nodded, taking a seat on one of the benches. She looked around the church. “Tell me what’s up.”
