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As the oldest, I was the most powerful. And whereas my brothers’ skills lay in tracking, wards, and elemental magic, mine were more…visceral. Put it this way: I didn’t earn my reputation as the butcher of the ninth circle with my words
Catching Mori’s eye over the top of the man’s head, I asserted my authority by mouthing the universally recognised code of siblings—even demonic ones. Dibs
Despite what others thought about us, consent was everything with demons. Trust me, nothing else will give you a healthy respect for the word no than centuries of torturing sexual predators.
“But okay, let’s pretend that’s actually why you followed him home…but watching him sleep? That was creepy enough as a plot point in those shitty vampire books. At least he had the excuse of being fictional. What’s your justification?”
Beneath all the pomp and circumstance, angels were just demons who lived more boring lives.
Stepping out of my building, I glared at the streams of people flooding the pavement. The good thing about being a teacher? All the holidays. The bad thing? Everyone else also being on holiday.
“And I’m telling you that you deserve the world, and I’ll keep telling you that until you believe me. You don’t want to get off the sofa? I’ll sit with you. You’re having an anxiety attack? I’ll talk you through it. No matter what you’re thinking or going through, I’ll be at your side. Nothing about you can scare me away. That’s the good thing about demons. Your darkness cannot contend with mine.”
“Speak for yourself,” I said, running my tongue up the side of his shaft. “You forget I grew up in Hell. We aren’t big on UV down there.”
“I know.” I frowned at Cal. Something about the way he wouldn’t meet my eyes aroused my suspicions. “What are you planning?” “Nothing,” he replied quickly. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh really? So you’re not planning on following me home and then lurking on my roof for the next two days?” He shot me a disarming grin. “It might have crossed my mind.”
I frowned at Cal. Something about the way he wouldn’t meet my eyes aroused my suspicions. “What are you planning?” “Nothing,” he replied quickly. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh really? So you’re not planning on following me home and then lurking on my roof for the next two days?” He shot me a disarming grin. “It might have crossed my mind.”
“Please, you can practically taste the depression in the air.” Harlow wafted his arms around him like one of those women who cleansed places with sage. “Besides, if your plans are anything like what you did yesterday, I’m sure your sofa and Netflix will cope without you.”
“That’s not it at all. None of us thinks you’re weak. For Satan’s sake, you teach teenagers. Willingly. If that doesn’t show you’ve got a core of steel, I don’t know what will.”
“You’re almost as dramatic as me. I love it. I knew I was right to choose you to be my best friend.” “Do I get a say in the matter?” “Please. I’m never wrong about these things.”
“I love my brother, but he can be stubborn. He has this warped idea that you need to choose him for him, not because you feel obligated to. Me though? I don’t particularly care about your feelings, so I’ll tell you how it is.”
“Give me the name, and I’ll ensure he truly suffers.” “I’m not sure whether to be touched or frightened.” “Always both,”
“I think we’ll hold off on introductions for now. The two of you will either kill each other or end up fucking.” “Let’s hope for option two. Now, give me all the details. Is he hot?”
“I’m fine. I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ve been through worse.” “I don’t think reminding me of that is the smartest thing to do right now, sweetheart. I’m barely holding on to my control as it is.”
Before I could respond, Cal spun me around so my front was against the wall. With rough hands, he yanked my hips back and kicked my legs wider apart. Grabbing my wrists, he lifted them above my head and put my hands flat against the wall. “You’re not to touch yourself,” he growled as his teeth snagged my earlobe. “Your pleasure is mine to give. Understand?”
“Regardless, they wouldn’t dream of saying a word. Not unless they want to spend the rest of the evening reknitting their bones together.” I stared at him. “I can’t decide if that’s hot or deranged.” He shot me a wink as he tied a towel around his waist. “Always both, sweetheart.”
He wasn’t in a costume—told me he was dressed as an Average Joe, but not to worry, nothing about him was average.” Cal winced. “Oof. That’s a shitty pickup line. “It was, but correct me if I’m mistaken—didn’t you ask me if I liked what I saw and then offer to practise with me all night?”
Cal stopped and spun me to face him. “I would never hurt you. You could carve out my own heart and crush it beneath your boot, and I would still thank you for your time and attention.”
“You’ve never cried happy tears?” I asked, aghast. “No,” Harlow said, tapping his lips with a manicured nail. He’d gone for a deep-red polish this week, claiming he’d been inspired by how the blood looked on his hands after the fight.
“So you’re telling me you’ve hidden travel-size bottles of lube all over the flat?” I stood and looked down at him, splayed over the table with his chest heaving. One of his heels was on the table's edge, leaving him totally exposed to me. His skin was flushed pink, a light hue covering him from head to toe. I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Do you want to discuss this now, or would you rather I get on with actually using it?” “The second one,” he rasped. “Definitely the second one.”
“You thought their fighting was foreplay?” “There’s a thin line between love and hate, and those two have been dancing along it for centuries.”
“Haven’t you had enough sex today? Cal, give the poor boy a break.” “Don’t give the poor boy a break,” I whispered in Cal’s ear. Cal gave a deep groan. “Fuck, you’re killing me here.”
“Fucking, cunty, bastard, evil demon.” The litany of insults was spat from Oscar’s lips as his hips humped the air helplessly. “So fucking help me, if you don’t finish the job this time, I’m doing it myself.” “Now, now,” I replied, pushing back into him mercilessly. “We both know it’s going to be worth it in the end.” “If I ever get there,” he muttered darkly. I chuckled. Who knew Oscar would be this fun to edge?
Mori stood to one side while Harlow and Cal placed shields over him. They’d made it sound far cooler than it looked. Which was essentially them putting their hands on him and frowning while he stood still.
“Okay, look at it this way. Don’t you want to have privacy the first time he tells you and you accept the bond? And something for him to fuck you against? A wall, perhaps? Or maybe a sturdy table?” I hid my face with a groan, which meant I heard rather than saw Cal whack Harlow upside the head. “What? We have ears, Cal. You aren’t as discreet as you like to think.”
“Who are you?” He sketched a mock bow. “Dagon, at your service.” I eyed his hand dubiously, staying on the floor. “Prove it.” He scratched at his head. “Um…okay. Have you heard the story about Mexico?”
Dagon scratched at his neck. “I was thinking I might find a place around here. I can’t see why you all picked Southampton. It was a trash heap a century ago, and I doubt it’s improved much since then.”
“Please tell me you’ve never used butter as lube?!” “Less of the judgment, please. I’m not the one who had to be taken to A&E because he was too scared to buy a dildo, so he used a shampoo bottle instead.”
