Page 111 of Demons In My Head: Exposing the Exiled
"Okay, open them!" Talon commanded.
I blinked my eyes open to find the table now covered in... rabbits. Dozens of them. Not real ones, thank gods, but every possible rabbit-themed item imaginable. Ceramic figurines in various poses, some cute, some weirdly elegant. A bundle of fresh carrots tied with a red ribbon. Three different rabbit vibrators still in their packaging, each progressively larger than the last.
"What the actual fuck?" Felix muttered, picking up one of the vibrators with curiosity.
"There's more!" Talon declared proudly, pulling out a collection of bunny masks in every color of the rainbow. Heimmediately placed a neon green one over his eyes. "For ambiance!"
"Ambiance," Rhodes repeated flatly, looking like he was reconsidering all his life choices.
I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as Talon dramatically pulled out the final item, and my jaw dropped when he revealed a silver butt plug with a fluffy white rabbit tail attached.
"For my little rabbit," he announced, presenting it to me with a flourish. "To complete your transformation!"
Misha covered his face with one massive hand, but I saw the way his eyes flashed. Big boy loved a good predator versus prey situation. Ashland looked torn between amusement and wanting to throw Talon through one of the crystal walls.
"This is a sacred claiming ritual," Rhodes started, his voice strained. "Millennia of tradition—"
"Boooring!" Talon sang the word this time, placing a hot pink bunny mask on Rhodes' face. "Now it's a sacred claiming ritual withstyle."
The mask lasted all of one point two seconds before it was hurled across the room. I couldn't hold it anymore, and laughter bubbled up from deep in my chest. The absurdity of it all, the earnest look on Talon's face, the absolute horror on Rhodes'... it was too much.
"I love it," I managed between giggles, picking up one of the small ceramic rabbits. It was surprisingly detailed, with tiny whiskers and alert ears. "Really, Talon. It's perfect."
"See?" He shot a triumphant look at the others. "She loves it!"
"The question is," Jasper's voice carried a note of amusement, "what exactly are we supposed to do with all of this during the ritual?"
Talon's face lit up with unholy glee. "I have so many ideas—"
"No," Rhodes, Ashland, and Misha said in unison.
"Maybe," Felix countered with a wicked grin.
"Yes," I said firmly, stepping forward to place a kiss on Talon's cheek. "Not everything, but... some of it. After all," I added, picking up the butt plug with deliberate slowness, watching their eyes darken as one, "what's the point of being claimed by chaos if we don't embrace a little... spontaneity?"
The air in the chamber suddenly felt charged with more than just ritual energy. Talon looked like he might combust with excitement.
"You're going to be the death of us," Rhodes muttered, but he was smiling now.
"But what a way to go," Felix added, already rearranging some of the rabbit figurines to form a circle around the edge of our ritual space.
I met Ashland's eyes across the room, surprised to find them twinkling with amusement rather than annoyance. He gave me a slight nod, as if to sayYour choice, little rabbit.
And it was. These ridiculous, powerful, protective demons were mine to claim as much as I was theirs. If that meant incorporating bunny masks and ceramic figurines into our ancient demon ritual... well, that just made it perfectly us.
Misha quietly moved to stand before me, and I looked up at him. “For you.” He shoved a long box into my hands and crossed his arms across his chest.
“What’s this?” I asked, lifting off the lid. “What?!” I gasped when I saw the contents. My bunny blades. “How?”
“I found them on Scorpio’s body after the fight. I just finished cleaning and polishing them. I didn’t want any of that fucker’s—”
I threw my arms around his waist and squeezed. “Thank you, Mishy Bear.”
His palms found my ass, and I was lifted up, bringing our faces closer. I had one arm thrown around his neck and my other pressed against his chest as I gripped my beautiful weapons. His eyes swirled with tenderness, and he whispered, “I love you.”
I smiled, loving the way those words sounded coming out of his mouth. “I love you, too.” Then I leaned in and kissed him, sealing my words with a kiss. It started out sweet and slow, and then ramped up to level one hundred. I was so ready for all of this, and I frowned when Misha set me back down with a knowing smirk. He knew exactly what he did to me.
"Okay, now what?” I asked impatiently, looking to Rhodes, who was going to implode if he didn’t get to lay out the facts sooner, rather than later.
