Page 17 of Discord
“I never liked Helena, even before I knew what she did to you, Balthazar,” Ripley said. “She threatened to kill me because Ballard Delacroix asked me to be his lab partner in potions class instead of her. He didn’t ask me because he wanted to date. He was fucking miserable at it and needed all the help he could get!”
Ravyn started giggling.
“He started a few fires even with your help.”
“Don’t remind me,” Felix groaned. “That bastard singed my tail more than once.”
“What the actual fuck went on at the Academy of the Profane?” I asked. “I wanted to go there more than anything, but Helena needed to be expelled, and I’m not sure why Ballard wasn’t… if he couldn’t even brew a simple potion.”
Ripley, Ravyn, Felix, and Killian all shrugged like I should have known the answer.
“Ballard wasreallyshitty at potions, but that was just about the only thing he was bad at. Professor Krauss loved him, and he was fierce in battle magic class. He’s working for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau now, bringing in bad guys and not brewing potions at all, so it all worked out.”
“I still wish they had given me a chance,” I grumbled.
“You’re in the middle of some deep shit, young Morningstar,” Ravyn said. “No one is going to be blaming demons for this one. We’ll expose a bunch of rich ass snobs for trying to start a war with Hell. When people find out you helped stop it, well, I bet they aren’t going to give a shit about anything your ancestors did. You’re going to find a lot of doors opening, but if you hurt my sister, I’ll kill you.”
I laughed, even if it wasn’t remotely funny. Ravyn wasn’t joking. Based on their banter, Ripley hadn’t met any good men who treated her well and neither had Ravyn. Ravyn could tell feelings were getting involved between all of us, and she’d end anyone who ruined that for her twin.
Just like that, it was over. Ravyn and Killian stood up like they were leaving.
“Heal your vampire’s dick. I don’t need to be here to witness that. Cursed dick is just traumatizing to look at. It’s probably worse for him. Put it back to normal and don’t do anything I wouldn’t with it.”
“I’m not that flexible. We need to do this again.”
“We’re going to have to if you’re planning on breaking into that shipping container. Your thing has always been books. I deal with dangerous magical items every day.”
“Yeah, I know. You brag about that all the time. We are definitely going to need your help. Now, get the fuck out of my library so I can help my boyfriend with his dick!”
Boyfriend? We were official now? I wasn’t complaining about that, none of us were. And it was high time someone helped Balthazar.
11
Ripley
Balthazar was totally naked and sprawled across my sectional before Ravyn and Killian were even out of my apartment. I peeked, because he fucking looked good naked, but I wasn’t even remotely ready to remove his curse. They had passed me the journal, I’d seen what it entailed, and I had the ingredients… but I still needed to make a magical poultice.
“Balthazar, I haven’t even assembled the ingredients!”
“It feels good to air it out, and I like when you peek.”
“The rest of us aren’t peeking and would appreciate you not airing your balls out in the living room,” Felix said.
Felix wasn’t looking, but Reyson totally was. Bram was pretending not to, but I could tell he appreciated the view. Gabriel and Felix were totally against naked vampires in the living room. Personally, I wouldn’t mind staring at every last one of them naked, but I reminded myself I wasn’t fucking this up.
“Just take the curse off,” Gabriel said. “That looks painful.”
Bram adjusted his crotch.
“I’m getting sympathy pains.”
“I’ll go get the ingredients,” Felix said. “I still don’t know why this requires being naked in the living room.”
I sat next to Balthazar on the sectional.
“I wish I knew Helena was your ex. She was a very talented witch, but she’s bat shit crazy. I would have approached it differently when I was trying to break the curse the first time.”
“It’s okay, Ripley. If I knew she was so infamous at the academy, I would have avoided her altogether. She’s the special kind of insane that has an entire entry in one of Minerva Krauss’s journals.”
