Page 24 of April's Fool
I hunched against the cold. Though I’d added a wool coat over my suit, it was hardly enough to keep out the bitterly icy February wind. Snow fell and swirled around us. Flakes landed in our hair and on Damon’s eyelashes. He was so beautiful with what I assumed was his real face.
In the harsh cold, his pale skin had taken on a rosy hue. I liked all the things he would likely consider flaws. The scars, the uneven light scruff on his faceshowing he hadn’t shaved that morning, the slightly off center nose with the bump that spoke of a violent past. His jawline wasn’t sharp enough to cut glass. He didn’t have model high cheekbones. His face was rather innocent and cherubic, though there was a shadow in those light blue eyes that told of a harsh life. Damon was… interesting to look at. Time and time again, my gaze was dragged to him. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.
“Park!” Damon yelled, his steps picking up pace until he was nearly running towards a man standing at the gate of the coven house.
The other man’s head lifted at the shout, and he ran towards Damon. They embraced tightly and words passed between them I couldn’t catch. Delight and relief were on both their faces.
“You’ve been safe? Did you move?” Damon asked Parker.
“I am, don’t worry. Staying in a hotel right now while I use other avenues to find us somewhere to go. None of the safe houses are a go, since both of our IDs on the forum have been burned.”
“What the fuck?” Damon’s face reddened further. I had the urge to wrap an arm around him, so I did, gratified that he relaxed into me.
“They figured out one of my IDs as someone who worked with you a few times, so they puta target on me and kicked me. Unfortunately for them, they don’t know how many other names I’ve got, so I’m still getting who has been interested in your hit.”
“Hit? You have a hit on you?” Gregoris looked ready to snatch me off the street and return to our realm.
“Calm down, Gregoris. We’re perfectly safe here.” Damon dismissed my bodyguard. “Mori, this is my brother, Parker.”
The man gave me a firm handshake. “Nice to meet you,” we both said.
Parker grinned. “You are everything he said.”
I had no idea what that meant, but I was pleased that Damon had mentioned me.
“Parker, this is Mori’s bodyguard and friend, Gregoris. He’s very unhappy about being here, but refuses to be left behind.”
Gregoris clasped hands with Parker. Both of them just stared at each other for a full minute. What the hell was happening there? Both of them took half a step closer to each other while Damon turned his head to catch my eye. “What’s going on?” he mouthed.
“You coming inside?” a witch called from the open doorway, breaking the spell they seemed to be under. “Everyone is waiting.”
Parker shifted his hand into Gregoris’ and led the way into the house.
The Coven
Damon
Mori kept his armaround me, the weight and warmth soothing as I wondered just what the hell was going on with Parker and Gregoris. Whatever it was, they were still holding hands as they walked into the coven house in front of me.
The house was an imposing building that housed only a few of the key members. Poppy, the Head Witch, her wife, the wife’s brother, and a few other key witches lived there. Usually, coven business was held at another building. Because the warding needed for a home interfered with spells, they conducted all their ceremonies and big workings off the premises.
I knew it was unlikely that we would see Poppy or Zinna, since the Head Witch had not long ago had their baby, and her wife was understandably protective. The magic that the pair held was impressive, yet it had drained them to create their child. They also had Poppy’s store to run.
“Come through,” Oak said, as he guided us into a large parlor. There were several deep blue plush sofasset around a large wooden coffee table laden with maps, crystals and other magical tools. The decor was understated, but classy. It actually felt like a home, with small touches that showed the personalities of the residents. I could see what I knew of Poppy in all the fresh flowers, soft furnishings and animal art. “Pops, Zinna, and Sage,” I’d forgotten the baby was called Sage, “are all elsewhere right now. We didn’t want them around for their safety while we were searching for Basil. Even I don’t know where they went, so it’s basically just a handful of us here right now. Take a seat.”
To my surprise, Parker led Gregoris over to a wide couch. The larger man took up so much space that Mori and I needed to take another sofa. I cast a look at Mori, wondering if he was going to say anything about what was going on. Parker avoided my eyes, clearly knowing I desperately wanted to speak to him.
What was this? Could they be mates? Was a simple touch enough to change his world view? I always thought that betas didn’t get true mates, except demons and shifters rarely interacted, right? Demons were so removed from supernatural society that we knew so little about them. I thought demons would only mate with demons. Could I be wrong and would I deny Parker and Gregoris their happiness just because of the things Gregoris had said about me and Mori?
No, I wouldn’t. I loved my brother too much for that.
Everyone just continued on like this was all perfectly normal. To outsiders, it probably was, since both demons were in their human guises. Gregoris’ human form had rich dark skin, deep brown eyes, and shoulder length wavy hair. He was wearing a frown, yet he still held Parker’s hand in his. I wondered what he was thinking. He didn’t glance once at me and Mori.
Was that just it for him? His heart switched that easily? Did he not see how fickle it made him? There was no way that he was good enough for Parker if he could go from unrequited to this in the matter of moments. Or was this just another example of me not getting the supernatural world? My human heart couldn’t understand a paranormal bond.
I caught myself frowning at the direction of my thoughts, then blanketed that expression. There was no way I was giving these witches any more information than they absolutely needed.
The demon beside me caught my attention once again. Something inside me was always searching for Mori if he was near me. Mori looked a lot like Cody did as a human. The same mid brown hair and eyes. Same pale complexion I knew would go red in the sun before taking on a golden hue. Mori was a lot bigger than Cody, though. Wider in the shoulders and likely over six feet tall.
