Page 52 of A City of Smoke and Demons
Jem looked absolutely livid. His face was tight, nostrils flared, lips a thin line.
‘Morning,’ Ezra said.
‘Morning?’ Jem repeated, shoving his pistol away. ‘Morning? What the absolute fuck did you two think you were doing? If you wanted a quick shag, you could have done that back at the club. Do I need to remind you, Ezra, that you’re being hunted by the goddamn Devil?’
Ezra winced. ‘No, and if you did, you don't need to anymore, not after last night.’
Jem came closer, glaring at the both of them, disapproval leaching from every line of his body. ‘What happened?’
Ezra told him about the Familiars. He didn’t mention his panic, or Analise’s, making the whole thing into a casual night of hiding from supernatural creatures. Jem stared at them, then shook his head, muttering under his breath. With a sigh, he ordered them back to the Canem Club, where they were to remain.
Neither of them argued.
Ezra set the teapot down, rubbing his temples as a glowering Jem swept into the kitchen. ‘I guess making you breakfast won’t change the way your face looks, will it?’
‘How could you be so stupid?’ Jem seethed.
They’d already had this argument, which was less of an argument and more Jem shouting at Ezra and Analise once they got back to the club and now, their windows were locked.
‘I wasn’t thinking,’ Ezra mumbled.
‘You were, but you were thinking with the wrong head,’ Jem snapped. ‘Did you believe helping her break out and wander the streets of London while you’re marked by the Devil would make her somehow forgive you, Ez?’
‘No,’ Ezra said. ‘She was going out that window with or without my help. Was I supposed to let her go alone?’
‘You were supposed to stop her,’ Jem said, sinking into a seat. ‘And no, making me breakfast will not make me any less angry at you, but I am hungry—so I’ll take three eggs.’
‘Three? Tobias making you work for it?’
Jem gave him a foul look, which didn’t abate until a plate of eggs was sitting in front of him. ‘I swear, this is one of the only things you’re good at.’
‘I knew it—you only want me for my cooking.’
Jem looked up from his plate, expression tight, and sighed. ‘Are you sleeping with her?’
‘No.’
‘But you would, if she wanted you?’
‘Are you my mother now?’ Ezra growled. His mouth was suddenly dry. He could feel her beneath him, see the look in her eye as he pressed himself closer to her and his stomach tightened.
‘I’m your friend and I don’t want to see you get hurt,’ Jem said gently. ‘Just … be careful.’ He pushed his plate away and stood. ‘Lira and Analise are meeting us there.’
‘Where exactly?’ Ezra made himself breathe. He could do this, whatever it was. He could see her and not think about the previous morning or how she made his blood heat. She hated him. If he just reminded himself of that, everything would be fine.
‘The basement.’
Ezra frowned. ‘Why aren’t you at work?’
‘I took the day off.’
Jem never took the day off. In all the years Ezra had known him, his friend never skipped work, or school. If anything, that reminded Ezra of the seriousness of the situation. Mollified, he followed Jem to the basement.
Analise and Lira were indeed waiting, the latter wearing a cheerful expression and the former looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. Dressed in his customary head to toe black, Jem was like an oversized bird of prey. He jumped onto the platform and positioned himself in the centre as the door at the top of the stairs opened and another black-clad figure descended.
Ezra’s stomach dropped, familiar fear causing his muscles to stiffen and his nerves to fray.
Tobias’ eyes cut to his, dark and filled with loathing. Ezra swallowed, watching the man who had been given the task of dragging him back to face Izellan, the Unseen’s senior officer. Tobias Marth, Jem’s lover and a member of the Order of the Dawn.
