Page 43 of Hex
The banter falls dead at our feet and the silence between the five of us grows to the point of deafening.
“I’m not delusional enough to think the Dei Djinn will give us a face-to-face, and if we don’t figure out what the fuck is going on, then this threat will be hanging over Sage’s head forever.” I stare at Pierce, then Slay, and finally land my glare on Slash. “We know there’s a one-eyed djinn involved. How many could there be?”
“I mean, you’re not wrong, but the kyn of Faloria won’t take too kindly to four demons and a witch wandering around their lands.” Pierce cocks his head to the side, then adds, “We could do more harm than good.”
“This is what we’re going to do.” As one, we give Slay our attention when he takes on his role of leader. Technically, we are all equal under the eye of the Moirai but Death trumps…well, everything else, so we don’t fight it.
“Please let there be even just a little bit of killing. Or fighting.”
“Slash. Focus.” I glare at my brother, hoping he’ll shut the fuck up so Slay can continue.
“I’m surprised you’re not begging for some nookie.”
“Satapti, please don’t encourage him.”
“You’re right. A good fucking always gets me fired up for more killing.” To my horror, his words are followed by a fist bump with Sage and now I have to question every one of my life choices. Like living so close to him in Georgia where our houses surround the lake we’ve owned for the last few hundred years. We could always move to Scotland and live in Sage’s castle, even though Europe isn’t my soul-seeking territory and vampyres don’t take too kindly to outsiders.
“As I was saying…” More glaring from Slay as he tries to take back control of this conversation. “I’ve got a plan.” Pointing to Pierce and me, he continues, “You three go to Faloria, get some intel on the kidnapping but make it look like you’re showing the new witch around, be touristy or some shit.”
“I’m also a demi-goddess, if that helps.” Sage beams with pride and I’m willing to bet it’s more about being able to contribute than her actual status.
“It might, to be honest. Ryetoh houses the gods. You being there wouldn’t be an affront.” He doesn’t finish his line of thought but we all know that the logical continuation to that phrase isunlike us, the demons.
And that’s fine, I’m not a fan of the djinn now, either. Fuck those assholes for taking my chosen one.
“Got it.” Pierce takes out his phone and checks the time. “When do we meet back up and where?”
“We’ll call when we get word, but if you don’t hear from us in the next three hours, we meet at the apartment.” Slay turns to Slash and continues. “We’re going to The Brew, but not for drinks. I want to know who the fuck thought it was a good idea to attack our kyn.”
“Fuck yeah. I’ll forgo a drink in lieu of a beating.” It’s always unclear, when it comes to Slash, if the beating he’s looking for is for him or others. But that’s a Slash problem and we haveour own to deal with, starting with finding the fucking one-eyed-patch-wearing djinn.
“I’ve been here before.”
I grab Sage’s hand and squeeze. I’m not surprised by her declaration. While in captivity, she was moved quite a lot. It was one of the reasons it took us so long to find her.
“Do you want to turn back? We can find ano—” Sage stops moving and the way our soul bond is playing whack-a-mole with my neurons, I’m going to take a wild guess and say she’s two seconds away from blasting me with her goddess light-show.
“Zelos Adofo Hack Conquest. Do not speak to me like I’m a fragile being afraid of my own shadow.” We’re no longer holding hands, and when I turn back, her eyes are still two different colors but there’s a bright, white circle around her pupils. I’m pretty sure she’s barely controlling her powers and it doesn’t take a genius to know I need to shut the fuck up or risk feeling, first hand, the extent of her goddessness.
“Duly noted, Satapti.”
“Damn, she just dropped every single one of your names. Slash is going to be pissed he missed this.” Pierce and I speak at the same time. He may be the most reasonable of us all but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to punch his clean-shaven face.
“Ugh, sorry.” Sage shakes her entire body like she’s trying to rid herself of water droplets, then smiles as though we weren’t two bad comments away from being fried. “There’s got to be a middle ground between happy and feral. I’ll figure it out.”
My brother and I both stare at her, wondering if it’s safe to speak.
“Can we not make a big deal out of this? Considering this is all very new to me, I think I’m handling it pretty fucking well.” I’m not going to stand here and pretend her confidence and badassery isn’t a turn on.
So, I don’t.
Instead of answering her, I eat up the space between us, sliding my hands across her cheeks and around her head until our mouths are fused together in an explosion of lips and tongues. There’s nothing sexier than knowing your bonded mate is a force to be reckoned with.
“Not to be a downer but, I’m still here.” Pierce clears his throat, reminding us that we have a mission and not a lot of time to do it.
“Sorry, Piercival. Sometimes we just forget the world exists around us.” I frown at the name she calls my brother and when I turn my gaze to him, he’s just as lost. “King Arthur? The Holy Grail?” Sage throws up her arms and shakes her head. “He’s one of three knights to find the Holy Grail. Percival. Oh my goddess, nevermind. It’s not witty if I have to explain it.” Then she stomps away.
Stomps. Like a toddler.
