Phoenix rolled his eyes dramatically. “Don’t threaten me, mate. I outrank you.”
“Are you threatening him?” said Raya. A hard glint came into her eyes.
“No! I need his help. That’s all.”
Raya, somewhat mollified, returned to setting up the board game.
Phoenix sighed heavily and stood up. “I must postpone your thrashing for a later time,” he said to Raya. “Will this take long, Andromalius?”
Andy shook his head.
“Fine. Let’s go. I’ll see you later, witch.”
“Later, demon. Bye, Andy.”
The two demons left by the front door.
Phoenix’s red wings unfolded. He shot into the sky first, followed closely by Andy.
“What was that all about?” said Andy.
“What?”
“Don’t play innocent demon with me. You’re no good at it,” said Andy as they flew side by side through the moonless night. “You gave me all that song and dance about not getting mixed up with mortals, and here you are cozying up for board game night with Raya?”
“It’s just a lark,” said Phoenix, rotating onto his back to stare up into the endless sky.
Andy snorted.
“I’m allowed to be hypocritical and inconsistent. I’m a demon,” said Phoenix.
“No kidding.”
“What do you want with me, anyway? Dragging me away from hearth and home in the dead of night—”
“Hearth and home? You’re not inconsistent—you’re insane! Since when did you call anywhere home?”
“It’s just an expression,” said Phoenix.
Andy felt more confused than ever. He tried to shake it off, literally shaking his wings in flight as if to shed loose feathers. “Let’s pay a visit to Erin’s ex.”
“Will that make you less grumpy?”
“Maybe,” said Andy, his face settling into grim lines.
“Did you discuss this with her, by any chance?”
“No.”
“Brilliant,” said Phoenix, meaning the exact opposite. “Of course, she doesn’t want revenge any more.” He pulled up short and froze in mid-air as the realization hit him. “But you do.”
Andy, who had overshot Phoenix, spun around and covered the distance back to his fellow demon. “What does it matter? We’re wasting time.”
Phoenix’s wings beat slowly. “We have all the time in the world. Why are you rushing into this?”
“Are you going to help me, or not?” Andy gained altitude and prepared to dive.
“When have I ever said no to revenge?”
