Page 49 of Tricky Magic
Bile crept up her throat as she tried to remember the slightest thing she knew about demons. All she did know wasn’t good.
“I’m half,” Ros said, stepping toward her. “Half witch, half demon.”
“Demon princes,” Belias added. “That makes it better. Right?”
“No,” she said in a harsh whisper, a whisper that quickly turned to a shriek. “That is not fucking better, Belias.”
Fucking demons. Demon fucking princes.
Oh, Hel.
She was going to be sick. She had fantasized about fucking a demon. When she looked at Ros and only concern showed in his eyes, she still wanted to.
“I’m going to be sick,” she said, swaying toward the cabin. Ros followed after her. “No! Both of you fuck off. I don’t know what sick demon game this is, but I don’t want you here.”
Hurt flashed across Ros’ face, and Belias was still grinning. She scowled at both of them before heading inside.
26
Ellea
Ellea’s throat burned after the endless screaming into her pillow. Demons were the scariest of supernaturals, the boogie men of monsters. The three she’d heard of through whispers would only crawl out of Hel for important council meetings. Apparently, two others had been strolling around her realm like it was nothing. One of them was a half-demon prince she had wanted to fuck; the second was a fucking liar, and she had trusted with her magic. There had to be stages to deal with finding out you had spent time with demons, but she only felt two: rage and stupidity.
Was she so lost that she hadn’t even seen the signs? How could she be so trusting and stupid?
Yeah, Ellea, let’s leave our simple life in the city to rough it in a cabin. Oh, how about we befriend a couple of demons while we’re at it? Because trying to figure out what to do with your magic while fantasizing about the big one was so fucking smart.
She wanted to scream again, and of course, Billy was nowhere to be found. Now the day was gone, the moon high, and Ellea found herself needing air. Grabbing a small blanket, she headed out of the cabin. The nights had always been cool here, and it was only September. Maybe the moon and the stars would have some insight into what to do now—they had been so talkative on that first night.
Standing at the edge of the dock, she waited and waited, but no whisper came, only the crunching of footsteps. She knew they were Ros’. He couldn’t even stay away for a day. His heavy steps sounded on the dock and stopped right behind her. She didn’t need to turn to see the anger radiating off him, she could feel it, but he had no right to be angry.
“I need to know,” he said, breathing heavily, “what you were doing with Belias.”
“I think you need to sit down, old man.” She didn’t bother turning. “You sound a bit winded, and that isn’t good for a man your age.”
How dare he come here asking questions? She should be the one asking questions.
“You don’t know him. He could have manipulated you into doing something, and you wouldn’t even know.”
Ellea turned sharply and glared up at him. The moon was so bright that she could see all of his features, his heavy brow, those beautiful eyes, and that handsome face. She scowled at herself inwardly.
“I may have been dumb enough to not realize that you both were demons,” she said, trying to keep herself calm. “But I was not manipulated into anything. I asked him for help.”
“Why the fuck would you do that? You could have come to me!”
“Come to you?” She couldn’t believe it. “Why would I come to you? When have you ever offered me help?”
“I offered plenty of times.” He stepped closer to her.
“Which time?” she said, losing her blanket as she poked a finger at his hard chest. “Was it the time you said you didn’t trust me? Or the time you offered yourself to me, saying I could have done anything to you?”
He didn’t respond, only glared at her.
“Or was it one of the times you mentioned killing me?” She was breathing hard now. “That seemed really helpful. Were you going to make it quick and easy, or toy with me before you did it?”
“I hadn’t thought that far. It was only an idea; I wanted to see if your magic would finally explode.”
“Wait,” she said, raising her hands. “You’re serious? I thought it was a joke.”
