“Well, I’ll be,” I mumble to myself. Must be some kind of demon perk. Speakin’ of demon perks…
Like I knew where it was all along, my eyes cut over to the scythe that’s propped up against the wall beside the bed. Looks like it stayed within reach all night. Even though the blades aren’t there anymore, I know that if I wanted, I could make them reappear quicker than I could blink.
I walk over to it curiously, my fingers skimmin’ over the wood and metal bands. I really do wanna talk to this Delta woman, if for no other reason than to find out more about this. I know what I felt yesterday when I fought with it, and it was unlike anythin’ I’ve ever experienced.
I felt strong. I felt whole. Like I’d gone my whole life missin’ a page in my book, and then it was just suddenly there, ready to fit into my spine so everythin’ could make sense.
I had doubts. Of course I did. When I met Alder and Flint and hard truths started rainin’ down on me, doubts plagued me. I took everythin’ in stride, as is my way, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t wonder if I could really be who and what they thought.
But last night, when Mickey attacked and I got to see firsthand what really happened durin’ a tribulation—when that scythe fit into my hands easier than blinkin’—all those doubts flew right out the shattered bay window.
I was meant for this.
Goin’ into the attached bathroom, I quickly shower and blow dry my hair since the humidity of Georgia won’t let it air dry. Once that’s done and I’m all dressed, I take a breath and force myself to go face the guys. It’s not gonna be pretty, but it needs to be done. Hopefully, they’ll go easy on me.
As I open the door, I realize that I’m not sure what time it is, so maybe they’re still sleepin’, but no such luck. As soon as I start walkin’ down the hall, I can hear the low murmurs of their masculine voices. I follow the sound until I find myself knockin’ lightly on their office door.
Their voices stop, and a second later, Flint swings the door open and greets me with a grin as his eyes sweep over me. His black hair is combed back in a sexy flop that’s still slightly damp, and he’s wearin’ jeans slung low on his hips, and a T-shirt that fits his form, moldin’ to his every curve.
Of course he’d have to look mouth waterin’ this mornin’. Wouldn’t want to dull that shine and make things easier on me. Then again, he could probably roll around in manure and wear a potato sack, and I’d still lick my lips in interest.
He just has that air about him that gets a girl’s blood pumpin’. Lord knows my mouth watered plenty last night. You’d think I’d be dehydrated by now, but that doesn’t keep things from kickin’ into high gear as I take him in, and all kinds of places on me start to get wet.
“Good, you’re awake. We were just talking about you,” he tells me as he steps back from the door, invitin’ me in.
Alder is leanin’ against the desk, his yummy forearms and downright sinful body on display. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he looks stern as ever in his T-shirt and jeans. I just want him to whisper good girl in my ear and then bend me over that desk he’s perched against, but I chase that thought away with a bat because that’s the kind of thing that got me into this embarrassin’ mess in the first place.
I want to drop my head in my hands and peek at them through my fingers as I beg them to forget what happened last night. The show of desperation they both witnessed will probably be hard to forget, but with time, maybe it could be left behind us.
Instead of slinkin’ into the room with shame floatin’ in my wake, I choose not to cower in the face of my mortification. Instead, I hold my head up high and take it like a woman.
“Did you sleep well?” Alder asks me, his eyes quickly dippin’ down my body and back up.
“I did. Very well, thank you,” I reply, ignorin’ the vision of a drenched pillow that pops up in my head. I hope they didn’t check on me last night and see that. “And you?” I ask politely in return.
“Tossed and turned,” he says with a casual shrug, his gaze droppin’ to my lips for a second before lookin’ away.
I pause for a moment, not sure how to take that. I look at Flint and then back to Alder. They don’t look sheepish or uncomfortable like they’re embarrassed for me and aren’t sure how to act. They look...hungry.
“We were just talking about the Ophidian,” Flint tells me, and all thoughts of the needy glint in their eyes gets put on the back burner as I think through what happened last night and the safety of my parents.
“You think he’ll send more people to try to get to me or my parents?” I ask with concern.
“Maybe. We’re not sure how extensive this Ophidian’s network is,” Alder answers.
“And you’re sure that my parents are safe?” I ask, worry hikin’ up my tone.
“Yes,” Flint answers without hesitation. “This Morax was counting on Mickey bringing you to him. If he’d had backup, we think they would have intervened to help when things went south for Mickey,” Flint explains. “But it was just Mickey, and we quickly got your parents to a secure location where they can’t be traced. No one saw. Alder shifted them out of here very quickly.”
“You think it’s better for them to be away from me, but not at our trailer,” I guess.
Flint nods. “Exactly. Demons can sense demons. It’s why we were worried
