Azara. You turned eighteen months ago, and you haven’t even gone out to celebrate.” My Emi really was the best g-ma out there. Eighteen was the legal drinking age in Azar, not that anyone really bothered checking anyway. Age was one of those more fluid constructs among the supernaturals.
“I could give Mara a call…” she continued.
“No!” I snapped more harshly than intended. Ryx and I hadn’t parted on good terms last he was here. He was trying to convince me to enroll in NU, and I basically told him I’d rather spend the rest of my days in the ashy pits of the Underworld. He hadn’t taken it well. “I’ll shoot him a message.” I motioned to my watch and pretended to dictate to the sleek device.
Emi tossed me a pleased smile. “Good. It’s about time you had some fun, Azara. This is your last summer of freedom. Wherever you end up, everything is going to change once you’re an adult.
She couldn’t have been more right.
“Come on, Murphy, just go already.” I tugged on the leash and the three-heads of the demon hound stared up at me. Head number one cocked to the side while the other two stuck out their black tongues at me.
Darkness settled over the quiet street, the stark gray buildings looming over Emi’s cute little house. Being Lucifer’s ex-love did come with some perks. We had the nicest home in the neighborhood. Not that the small cottage would’ve been considered anything to look at it in the human world, but in the bleak Nether Lands it could’ve been a palace.
I walked Murphy further up the block as he sniffed at the dirt sidewalk. “Any day now, buddy.” A loud ding pulled my attention from Emi’s infuriating pet to my watch.
Ryx: Home for the weekend. You up for an outing? ;)
Craptabulous. Emi had totally gone behind my back and talked to her friend. Maybe I should just ignore him. I dismissed the message and shoved my hand in my pocket to continue my slow walk down the street.
Cursing the stupid canine, I turned the corner and barreled into a hard body. Shitzu! I jumped back as the familiar overbearing scent of citrus filled my nostrils. Ryx loomed over me, a few stray tendrils of auburn hair tumbling over his eyes.
“Well, isn’t this your lucky day? I was just on my way to see you.”
All three of Murphy’s heads growled, and I clapped my hand over my mouth to keep the laugh from slipping out. The crazy mutt never did like Ryx. “Lucky me,” I mumbled.
“Did you get my message?”
“Nope.”
He glanced at my watch which was all lit up with a missed notification symbol and frowned. Stupid traitorous watch. “Anyway, wanna do something tonight? There’s a new club downtown we could go check out.”
I shrugged, reigning Murphy’s leash in. “I don’t know. I’m kinda beat from—from helping Emi pack up boxes of old clothes.” Sheesh, smooth, Azara. No one was supposed to know about my training with Mezlor.
“Riiight.” His lips curled into a snarl as his eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what your problem is, Azara. What makes you think you’re so much better than me? Than everyone here?”
“I don’t!”
“Yes, you do. You stick your snooty little nose up to everything and look where it’s gotten you—friendless, boyfriendless and alone.”
I slapped my hands on my hips and glared at the demon douche. “Listen you jackhole, I choose not to associate with people I don’t have any interest in. You just happen to be one of those.”
He shook his head, a flash of crimson darkening his hazel eyes. “Fine by me, Azara. This was my last attempt at making nice and I only did it for Emi. I don’t understand how the two of you could even be related. She’s the sweetest demon I know, and you…” He clucked his tongue. “Maybe you’d prefer the company of the Fae. They’re all entitled, arrogant creatures just like you.”
I spun around fuming and dragged Murphy back down the street. Who did that demon bastard think he was? Just because I didn’t want to spend the rest of my days in the Nether Lands didn’t make me arrogant or entitled. He’d probably never gone further than the Underworld. He had no idea what else was out there, but I did. I refused to feel bad for that.
With each stomp toward the house, an idea took more detailed shape in my head. Ryx might have been an idiot, but maybe he wasn’t completely