narrowing of his eyes.
“Um…”
“I was cornered after school today,” Zolroth continues, flashing me a tight-lipped smile. Darkness lingers just beneath the surface, but where that darkness came from, I have no idea. “Some of the girls told me that Katrina was playing footsie with some dude named Wade during the decathlon practice. Isn’t that right, Kastros?” He turns towards the burly giant, who merely grunts in response, his impassive expression never changing as he levels me with an almost incandescent glare.
“Hold on! Hold on! Abort mission! Abort!” I hold my hands up placatingly.
“Why are you playing footsie with Wade?” Raz demands, his scowl etched firmly in place. I seriously wonder if that man ever smiles. Honestly? I don’t think so. My guess is that he popped out of his mother like that. Or hatched from his egg like that? Or materialized in Hell’s bowels like that?
Note to self—look up demon biology and how demon babies are made.
“Katrina! Why the fuck were you playing footsie with Wade?” he repeats in a low, guttural growl.
Hearing someone as domineering and haughty as Raz say “footsie” nearly sends me spiraling over the edge. I bite down on my lip to contain the sudden surge of giggles that wish to escape.
“He’s an asshole on the team with us,” I explain. “Trust me. We weren’t playing footsie. I was actually trying to kick his ballsack.”
The livid expressions on their faces transform into pain as they cup their hands over their pants.
“His ballsack. Really, Katrina?” Zolroth winces, as if I’m the horrible person here. Men and their cocks, I swear.
“I don’t get why you guys were freaking out over… Where’s Akor?” I glance over my shoulder anxiously, unable to spot his neon pink mohawk anywhere. Panic curdles low in my stomach as I attempt to get a grasp on my tumultuous emotions. Is he with Adam? Oh God. Did he go to see Adam?
The demons stare intently over my shoulder, and I turn just in time to see Kastros finish signing something. It’s not normal sign language, though. I know at least some signs from when the doctors feared I would lose my hearing for good, after the accident. This must be DSL—Demon Sign Language.
“Kastros says that he saw Akor leave a minute ago,” Zolroth translates, brow cinched in concern. “With some… Fuck!”
“With some what?” I bite anxiously at my nail as the demons exchange a wary four-way glance.
“Oh, just all of your knives,” Van responds, already turning back towards the television, as if this conversation is boring him.
“What?!” I screech in alarm. “Why?
“He’s probably going to the party,” Raz growls, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He’s going to try to kill Wade.”
“Wait! Back up! Slow down! Retreat! What is this about killing Wade with my fucking knives?” I fight off an encroaching headache as I glare at all of the demons.
“Zolroth?” Raz says evenly, turning towards the man in question. Zolroth nods immediately, standing from the couch, grabbing a fleeced-lined coat I hadn’t even noticed before and stalking toward the door. He pauses in the doorframe, turning back to me with a blinding smile.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful,” he purrs, his accent curling around me before he disappears into the night.
I’m freaking flabbergasted. What is this about murder and knives and Wade?
“Don’t worry.” Van rolls his cinnamon eyes as he flips through the channels. “Zolroth will stop Akor before he goes…stabby.”
“Goes stabby?” I screech. Oh God. Is this my end? Dying of a brain aneurysm in a room full of demons too sexy for their own good?
“Katty?” Adam’s soft voice has me spinning on my heel, heart juddering up my throat until I’m practically choking on the damn organ. I quickly move to block him from entering the living room.
“Adam? What are you doing up? You should be in bed.” I try to keep the panic and unease out of my voice, but it creeps in unbidden, contaminating each word with its sickly poison.
“I thought I heard—Kastros!” My little brother’s sleepy face transforms into a bright, energetic smile as he rushes around me, towards the towering, silent giant.
Kastros’s face softens exponentially as he crouches down to scoop my brother up in his arms. Adam giggles as Kastros easily carries him in one arm, the demon’s expression more open and vulnerable than I’ve ever seen before.
And me?
I’m trying to get my erratic heartbeat under control and not vomit everywhere.
“Come see my new train!” Adam squeals eagerly as Kastros drops him back on his feet. Immediately, my