Demon Kissed - Katie May Page 0,105

and tempting on top of pecs that could only be unnatural, they’re so perfect. Without meaning to, I find myself stepping toward him.

Van grabs my forearm and gently pulls me back. “Kat, slow down. Dajiel, can you turn off the lust please?”

I shake my head to try to clear it and look over at Van. “That’s not Dajiel.”

He laughs. “Yes, it is. Tatrys is a bit of a prick and loves to use his illusion powers to confuse people. Making all of the males in their murder look the same is one of his favorites.”

I remember the karaoke demon and nod. “Oh. Didn’t realize that. But that will make it far easier to tell you all apart now.” I turn back to Dajiel with a friendly smile.

His return grin is a bit tight, probably because he doesn’t like Van telling him what to do. To ease the tension, I say, “Thanks so much for watching Jason for us. I know Adam’s missed him.”

“Yeah! Where’s my zombie-man-dog?” Adam asks.

“People? Are those my people?” Jason comes barreling out the door, shoving past Dajiel and then doing jazz hands as he jumps up and down in excitement.

Are jazz hands the human equivalent of tail wags? I wonder.

My deep thought is interrupted when Dajiel invites us in.

We walk into their apartment, Jason carrying Adam and giving him Eskimo kisses, and I’m immediately awed, just like I was downstairs, but also a little bit horrified. Except for a golden-hued wooden floor, everything in the entire apartment is white. Even the stones for the magical stone pit and the column of fire (they seem to be a supernatural demon staple) are white here instead of red.

How do they not spill anything?

Dajiel gestures toward the couches. “Take a seat. Everyone else is out…running errands and whatnot. Anyone want a drink?”

The guys all say they’ll take some lemonade, and Dajiel disappears for a second, re-emerging with a pitcher and glasses that look like they’re made of carved crystal and belong in a museum.

I so do not belong in this place.

Adam has no such qualms. He and Jason are soon jumping on a white couch, and I have to hurry over and hiss at him not to ruin the furniture.

“Relax,” Dajiel waves them off. “They’re fine. Breaking rules is good for them.”

The front door bursts open. Arariel struts inside, shaking out her wings and carrying a paper grocery sack. “I’m so glad that—” She stops mid-sentence when she sees us, surprise lighting up her face. “Ooh, visitors! Let me just go toss this head in the fridge.”

“Head?” Jason perks up.

She wags a finger at him. “None for you, silly. You’re going home.”

Jason pouts, but she doesn’t listen, just sashays through the room and into the kitchen. When she’s back a minute later with a blood-red drink in her hand, I’m hesitant to ask what it is.

Yeah, I’m squeamish about it, okay?

Dajiel challenges the guys to a round of darts down in the pit, and they all immediately spread their wings and fly down. Guys and competition.

Arariel comes over and sits down next to me. She puts a hand on my thigh, squeezing. “So, how are you?”

I shrug. “I’m alright,” I lie as Jason and Adam run down the hallway toward the bedrooms, giggling. I would have been nervous, but Akor’s told me at least five times that once Jason imprints on those he considers family, he’ll never harm them.

“No, really. Tell me,” she coos.

I sigh and turn toward her. “I’m confused. What can you tell me about Centers?” I ask her, because it seems better than asking the guys and hearing them talk more about their fated mate. I feel like asking them would be like tearing out my heart and setting it on top of an operational deli slicer.

Arariel tilts her head and her lips get even more pouty as she thinks. “Well, a Center is the fated mate of a flock of angels or a murder of demons.”

“But they’re a liability too, right?” I ask quietly, leaning close because I’m desperate for information but also definitely do not want to be overheard.

She nods. “Yes. Normally, demons and angels can’t be hurt, much less killed. But whenever they’re around their Center, all bets are off. The Center is a weakness, a liability, a way to restore balance and remove any flocks or murders that have grown too powerful.”

I suck in a breath. So I was right. My demons have a fated mate. And she’s also the reason they’re