Page 54 of King’s Kismet

“Nope,” my vampire continued. “No fucking thanks. Even I have limits. Clearly, you two do not.”

Briggs snorted when I tipped my head in agreement.

I hadn’t really found any limits with them. Everything was up for negotiation.

And Briggs and I had experimented as wolves. It wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be, but it was fun.

I wouldn’t complain about doing it again.

Not that I could verbally complain if I wanted to...

Because the mage still had not unmuted me.

“Are we just going to lie here and talk?” Stone asked. “Can’t we do this at home?”

I cut my eyes at him. “No. If we’re home, then something will fall apart and need fixing, or someone will concoct a master plan and we’ll have to save the people from righteous damnation.”

“I hate it here,” he continued, as if he hadn’t heard me.

“He’s complaining,” I yelled into the mage’s mind. “Mute him.”

“Why are you screaming?” Palmer asked aloud.

“I’m not. It’s just so fucking hot and humid. And the sun makes wearing black fucking hot,” Stone droned on, mostly to piss the mage off. “When are we going home?”

I pointed at my demon, though my words were only for Palmer. “Seriously? Listen to him. Why are you picking shit with me?”

“Because you were being a brat,” the mage replied.

“Are you talking to Sloane?” Novak inquired. “Why can’t I hear her screaming at you?”

“I had dirt all over me,” I mentally snarled. “All I wanted was a bath.”

“And now you’re clean,” Palmer shot back.

Vaughn chuckled. “Sort of.”

I glared at him. “Throw me in the water again. We will fight.”

“I can’t hear you,” he confessed. “But I know that look. You have multiple forms of magic that could have stopped you from landing in that pond.”

“You caught me off guard.”

Briggs tightened his arms around me, nuzzling against my neck. “Barbie, it was just a little dirt.”

I scoffed, though no sound came out. “Just a little dirt, my fucking ass. It’s still in my hair. And pond water isn’t the same as clean water and soap.”

“If I unmute you,” Palmer began, shaking his head like he already knew the answer to his question. “Will you calm down?”

“When you unmute me, I’m going to chew you out. Then shower.”

“So, no,” he stated.

I struggled in Briggs’ grasp, and he grunted as I wiggled to free myself. The longer our bonds were in place, the more powerful they became. Which was lovely. Until moments like this, when I really wanted to overpower him and knock the mage flat on his gloriously ripped back.

Maybe later, I would drag my nails through the cuts of his muscles and make him bleed for muting me.

Palmer’s stormy eyes sparkled as he smirked. “Play with me, Love. There’s a punishment for that.”