“Atlas, then?” Julian’s eyes grow dark, his hands gripping the handles of the chair until his knuckles turn white.
A small chuckle leaves me. “No, Julian. I’ve just come to talk.”
“Oh. Talk,” he repeats. “Uh, about what?”
Well, here it goes. Time to swallow my pride.
“I need to apologize to you. For what has happened. What I said—”
Julian waves me off, interrupting me. “Don’t worry about it, man. You weren’t in your right mind.”
I clench my jaw. His interrupting me and calling memanisn’t helping my desire to make peace here.
“It’s just that,” I grit out. “I… I haven’t been particularly kind to you. Evenbeforethe demon.”
“The incubus,” Julian corrects.
Asshole.
“Same thing,” I answer defensively. “Will you let me speak?”
With a grin, Julian imitates the motion of zipping up his lips and throwing away the key.Iwish.
“As I was saying, you’ve taken good care of my brother and my family. Me included. I should be a bit nicer to you. I don’t think you should die, and I no longer believe you should get out of my house.”
“You believed I should move out?” Julian asks, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“What did I just say?” I snap. “God, you’re impossible!”
The man just laughs, standing from his chair before pulling me into a very uncomfortable, nonconsensual hug.
“Don’t worry, Atticus. I forgive you.”
“Young Master Atticus,”I correct.
“Nah, I’m way past that. If you have a problem with it, take it up with my boss.” Julian pulls away, winking at me.
The issue is, Father would definitely side withhimon this one. And even though he annoys me beyond belief, I find myself smiling.
He’s really wiggled his way into my world, hasn’t he?
“Aw, you even smile for me now!” Julian coos.
My smile shifts into a sneer, and I push past him and head for the door. “Enough. I’ve said my piece.”
Julian cackles, yelling after me, “I love you too, brother!”
I’m still glaring as I step inside, immediately running into Atlas.
“Oh no,” he says, his smile falling away. “Are you fighting with Julian again?”
I soothe my brother’s hair, kissing his forehead. “Why don’t you ask him and his unstoppable mouth?”
“Unstoppable indeed, isn’t that right, little bunny?” Julian asks, suddenly right on my heels.
“Julie!” Atlas screams.
At the same time, I say, “Oh, god. I’m leaving.”
