Demon Kissed - Katie May Page 0,62

the belly rubs and gets back up onto his feet. He looks normal as he walks through the room, but when he goes to sit down on the couch, he jumps onto it, spins three times, and then lays down with his ass in the air and his face resting on his hands.

“He can’t go to school like this,” I say dully. He’ll never get to go to college. Never get married.

I run a hand through my hair. And while I want to rage and scream, I know deep down that this was an accident. I saw the footage. Akor actually didn’t do more than any other high school guy would have if someone had grabbed them.

Jason’s death was an accident.

But it still hurts.

My eyes connect with Akor, and I can see the tortured look on his face. Is his pain demon power just as unconscious as Van’s lust power seems to be? Does it waft off of him like cologne, and instead of causing orgies it causes…tragedies?

My thoughts are interrupted by Van’s response to my last statement. “Oh, no, he definitely can’t go to school. He’d try to eat everyone’s brains,” Van tells me, as if this should be obvious.

My nervous giggle turns into hysterical, terrified laughter. “What? You let him come lick me! What if he’d bitten me?”

“We obviously wouldn’t let that happen.” Zolroth crosses his arms and tucks his wings in as he stares at me like I’m overreacting. But can he really blame me for being a wee bit dramatic?!

Jason lifts his head, pushing up to all fours on the couch. “I wouldn’t eat you, Kat. You’re my person. Even though your brain smells delicious.” His butt starts to waggle again when I make shocked eye contact.

“What are we gonna do?” I whisper. Jason’s parents are going to wonder about him, and everyone at school will be worried.

“Hey, now, none of that. We’ll take care of it,” Raz orders.

I glare at him, and rage just bursts out of me. He’s so damn arrogant. And wrong. He can’t even back that statement up. I take a step closer and waylay him with words. “Like you took care of bringing Jason back? Like you’re taking care of me and my summons? William left with Janie tonight, and we didn’t even notice! How the fuck is anything you do helpful? You’re not taking care of anything!”

Raz’s nostrils flare, but he doesn’t respond, just stares down at me as I pant in fury. The only hint that he’s even heard me is the red that flashes behind his eyes.

Akor snaps his fingers, distracting me from my standoff, when a chew toy appears in his hands. It’s a bright red squiggly thing, and he squeaks it. Jason jumps off the couch and immediately lunges for the toy, snagging it in his teeth and growling playfully.

“We’re taking great care of him. See? He’ll be the most spoiled zombie ever.”

I want to facepalm. I want to laugh. And I want to puke. Simultaneously. “I swear to God, I think you guys are trying to ruin every aspect of my life.”

“Never, darling. That would counter the prime directive,” Zolroth says as his wings disappear and he sprawls out lazily on one of the red couches.

“Which is?” I ask.

“To convince you that Hell is better than Heaven.”

I laugh.

But when Raz and Kastros both turn disapproving looks on Zolroth, I realize that the posh demon is serious.

“Wait. What?”

“Why do you think a summons is so utterly important? Why do you think we can’t just drop you like a sack of potatoes and leave?”

A strange, guttural growl erupts from Kastros when Zolroth says this, and the giant demon takes a threatening step toward the British one.

“It’s because, with a summons, we have the opportunity to prove to you that human rules are arbitrary, structure is empty, that the straight and narrow path is meant to quash your spirit and leave you hollow. We’re here to convince you that the only beliefs that matter are those in here.” He taps his heart. “What does your heart believe, Kat?”

Damn him for taking my rant and turning it into this philosophical quest that’s somewhat fascinating. I fill up with a million questions, each battling for priority. I can’t even sort through my answer to his question because, honestly, right at this moment, my heart’s more tangled than a ball of yarn entrusted to a cat.

But Raz does what he does best—ruins the moment by giving orders. “She needs to get