Page 53 of Malice

“I’ll go with,” I say, and everybody stares at me dubiously. “I mean it. I wanna pay her a visit.”

“That might not be the smartest thing to do right now,” Antonio says, eyes meeting mine just quick enough for me to know he means it’s not a good idea because there’s a demon voice in my head but also because I’m the last person Larissa wants to see.

“We all know that Larissa runs her mouth when she’s angry and seeing me is going to piss her off. She was really close with those idiot hunters who tried to attack us during dinner. Dumb and blindly loyal was Marcus Henry’s type. If they knew something, they might have spilled it to Liss and if she’s angry enough, she might say something she’s not supposed to to try to bait me.”

“I don’t know,” Leo says, as he thinks out loud. “I think if she knew something, she would have tried to use it to stay out of jail. Throw anyone else under the bus to try and save herself.”

“I suppose you’re right.” I tear the bottom off my cupcake and put it on top of the frosting, making a little sandwich. Taking a big bite, I allow my eyes to fall shut for a few seconds as I chew. I’m physically and mentally tired.

“I’m beat,” Antonio says, as if he can read my mind. “I’m going to go to bed.”

Mabel puts the spoon down. “I’ll show you to the other room,” she tells Leo.

“You don’t have to,” he says, being polite. “I can figure it out, I’m sure.”

“I don’t mind at all. It used to be Wren’s room, but she didn’t pick out all the pink. It was like that before she got here and I haven’t had time to do any redecorating.” Her lips pull up into a smile. “It’s been exciting since Wren got here.”

“Exciting is one way to put it,” Devon notes and I can’t help but chuckle.

“One of these days things are going to be so boring,” I begin, “you’re going to wish I was getting into some sort of trouble just so we have something to do.”

“I’ll believe that day when I see it,” Leo laughs. “When you go looking for monsters, you find them. And when you’ve gone looking for monsters but aren’t currently looking, they find you.”

“Seriously,” I agree. “A few days break would be nice. We could find a beach and do nothing but sit in the sun and drink.” I catch Mabel’s expression and quickly add, “and enjoy the moon over the ocean. It’s magical looking at night.”

“You know, you never had a wedding,” Mabel says and then eyes my brothers. “They just signed the papers here in the house. I’ve always wanted to plan a beach wedding! What about in Mexico? Tulum or Cancun are very predictable but for a reason.”

“Nah, Vegas with an Elvis impersonator is more Wren’s style,” Antonio teases.

“Hah,” I retort. “Italy would be my top choice. But nowhere touristy. In some little village no one but the locals know about. And it would be small. Nothing crazy. No drone-shots.”

“But those make such good reels,” Mabel presses. “It would go viral!”

“You could have a wedding,” I say to her. “Actually, did you?”

Mabel nods. “I’ll show you the photos tomorrow. We’ve been married for over a century now.”

“That’s a long time,” I say with a yawn. Finishing my cupcake, I take a second to be grateful for my training. Being able to have horrible shit happening all around without freaking out is definitely a learned behavior.

I go upstairs, quickly shower, brush my teeth, and get into bed. Xavier comes into the room right as I turn the light off, stripping out of his clothes and getting into bed with me.

“How are you doing?” he asks as he pulls me into his arms.

“I’m okay.”

“Be honest.” His lips brush against my cheek as he talks.

“I’m stressed. Scared I’m going to run out of time, and Toni made a really point that the demon isn’t sending lesser demons here to speed up the process but to try and watch me, figure out my game plan and then be one step ahead.”

“That is a good point,” Xavier says after a moment of consideration. “I won’t let that happen.”

I’m too tired to ask him how. Right now, I just want to believe him. He runs his fingers up and down my arm, relaxing me.

“It’s funny you mentioned historians earlier or I might not have thought to ask him,” Xavier says softly.

“Ask who?”

“David Fuller. A North Carolina historian. He was able to find records about Abigail.”