A Mage's Guide to Aussie Terrors (R'iyah Family Archives #2)

by A.J. Sherwood

“Yeah.” Nico tried very hard to maintain Serious Face, but it kept getting spoiled by the childlike glee in his eyes. “I promise to protect you, Ruby.”

“And he’s hella cute now,” Wicky confirmed. “Oooh, that must be salt in an open wound for Spencer. That sparks joy.”

Garen could soothe and defend, as he liked to do. Nico would go on the offensive.

“Fears and trauma aren’t rational. It’s alright to admit when you’re hurting. I would vastly prefer that over you pretending you’re fine. Okay?”

“Alright, perspective time. Bel Bel, if I’d injured myself while running, but chose to just wrap it and not tell anyone I’d hurt myself, would you be upset?” “Well…yes. I’d rather know so I could help you. But this is different—” “How the hell is it different? Because it’s a mental wound and not a physical one? The pain’s the same, isn’t it?”

“That means you’ll be nearby to play with me.” “Hell yeah, man.” Visions of things they could do danced through Nico’s head. His voice turned dreamy. “We’re going to get into so much trouble together.”

Nico was a fan of ambushes. When he wasn’t the one being ambushed, at least.