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Loren stayed in the centre of their group as they made their way down the sidewalk. Palm tree fronds and bits of garbage crunched under boots and shoes—and, in Dallas’s case, sandals. It didn’t take Loren long to realize her decision to stay in the middle of the group wasn’t really her decision at all, but one the Devils were making, likely from Darien’s instruction.
Dallas was walking ahead of her, Maximus at her side. Loren tried her best not to laugh when she heard Max whisper, “Could you have worn louder shoes?”
The witch replied, “These are technically sandals, Max.”
“If you have to run, you’re going to trip and die. You know that, right? I’ll never understand that type of footwear in a city like this.”
They always bickered. It reminded Loren of herself and Darien. In fact, when she glanced up at Darien, who was walking at her left, she saw that his cheek was tilted upward with a smile.
“Remind you of someone?” Darien murmured. His attention was on the House of Souls, the silhouette of the old structure appearing quickly out of the gloom.
“I didn’t know you could read my mind.”
“We’re on the same frequency now, baby.” The trace of humor in his words faded as he added, “Your heart is skipping.” When those intense eyes settled on hers, it skipped for an entirely different reason.
“I’m a little nervous.”
His fingers closed around her wrist, thumb brushing across her racing pulse. He raised her hand to his mouth to press a kiss to the back of it. “As long as you are with me, I will always protect you. Bodyguard, remember?”
She drew a deep breath. “I remember.” She wished she could say the same to him. If anything ever happened to him, and she was unable to help, she would never forgive herself.
He gave her hand a light squeeze before letting go.
And then they were in front of the wrought-iron gates, and it was too late to worry anymore.
A lithe figure was walking the flagstone path that cut through the lawn, the heels on her ankle boots clacking hollowly. Mahogany hair fell to her shoulders in a cut that was blunt and angled, the color bringing out the dusting of freckles on her paper-white skin.
“You guys owe me big time for this,” Aspen Van Halen hissed. She swung open the gates, wincing as the hinges squealed. She pointed a long-nailed finger at Darien. “And if I get excommunicated, you’re taking me in and switching your name to the Eight Devils. Got it?”
The shadows of the bars on the gate passed across Darien’s face as he offered her a teasing smile. “Come on now, Asp. You know I would never let that happen.”
With a grin, Aspen stepped to the side to allow them through. “He does care,” she declared.
Darien placed a hand on the small of Loren’s back, ushering her forward. “I meant I would never change our name to the Eight Devils,” he clarified. “That sounds fucking ridiculous.”
Aspen wound up and punched him in the shoulder.
He rubbed the spot where she’d hit, a deep laugh slipping through his lips. “You’ve been working on that right hook.”
The Reaper gave him a cheeky smile before her attention went to Lace. “Lacey.” She dipped her chin in greeting. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise,” Lace replied. Her platinum hair glowed as brightly as the bulbs on the cast-iron streetlamps.
“I wonder if we’ll ever get more than a few weeks in before we’re banned from being friends again.”
Lace’s red-painted mouth quirked. “I wonder.”
When Aspen caught Loren looking at her, she gave her a discreet wink. Memories of the Devil’s Advocate flooded her mind, making her blush cherry-red, just as she had back then.
Aspen’s bob swung as she gestured toward the house with a canting of her head. “Get inside. Hurry.”
Dallas was the last to walk through the gates, and as soon as she took the first step, Loren swore everyone cringed at the snap of her flip-flops against her heels. “What about the spells?” Her red hair blew in a breeze as she glanced at Tanner in search of the answer.
“Aspen was kind enough to give me the day off,” Tanner replied.
Ivy raised her arched brows at Aspen. “Maybe Malakai should promote you to hacker.”
“I’d be good at it,” Aspen said with a smile. “I had to break into Malakai’s computer and program you guys to be allowed in. And let me tell you, it was not easy.” She pinned Darien with a wide-eyed stare and pointed a finger at him. “Which is exactly why you’ll take pity on me and offer me your home if I get kicked out. Right?”
