Page 19

He reached toward me and tapped my tiny blackbird earrings. Oh. I loved the little birds Maya gave me for my birthday.

“Now, you’re going to let me take care of this since it’s Ezra’s fault it happened.”

“It’s not my fault humans are sensitive creatures.” Ezra scowled at me as if I did something wrong when he was the one spouting nonsense.

Maybe they were dangerous after all. The guy beside Ezra looked at me like I was something to eat, and Ezra’s gaze held the kind of cold that made me flinch. Only Ash seemed kind and warm.

“The broom’s in the closet over there,” I said, glancing at my phone as he turned away.

Before I could grab it, a solid, warm body pressed against my back and a deep, soothing voice whispered in my ear, “Ignore Ezra. I do.”

Startled, I jumped off the counter, nearly stepping on the glass again. My back hit the refrigerator, and I hissed at the pressure on my foot.

Perched on the counter I’d just vacated, a lean man—similar in build and complexion to the alternative guy—smiled at me, blue eyes sparkling under the fluorescent kitchen light.

“Jesus, how many of you are there?”

Ash snorted, sweeping the glass into a dustpan.

The young guy pushed platinum-white hair from his forehead, the longer strands flopping over the shorter sides. He was leaner than the others, wiry strength showing in his frame. He shrugged. “Just us four.” He leaned back on his palms, black T-shirt bunching above his belt.

I gaped, and his lips curved into a broad, impish smile as he swung his feet.

He radiated trickster energy—mischievous, yet shadows lingered in his eyes, contradicting the boyish charm.

My nose wrinkled as I filed away first impressions of the men in my home: a hungry panther, a charming demigod, a cold vampire, and a mysterious trickster. Why did my thoughts turn to poetic mush around them?

Criminals, Rae. They’re criminals. Get a grip.

“Okay, can someone tell me why you’re in my house and why I shouldn’t be calling the police right now?” My gaze darted to the phone on the counter again.

Any other time, I’d have called the cops without hesitation. But these men gave me a strange feeling, and I never ignored my instincts. Even with the day unraveling, I knew to trust my gut.

“Your laws don’t exactly do anything to us,” the one sitting on the counter said.

“Everyone has to follow the law.” When he only shrugged, I looked at Ash—the only one who seemed approachable. “Why are you here?”

“If I knew, I’d tell you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That’s what I tried to say when I came downstairs,” the alternative guy said, holding up the old book the woman gave me and pointing to the symbol on its cover. “I think we’re here because of this.”

“Shit,” Ash murmured.

6

DEMONS

RAE

“You broke into my house to steal an old book?” I pushed off the fridge and turned away, hand on my forehead to gather myself. I couldn’t believe this was all because of a book. “Take it. Some woman gave it to me. I couldn’t understand anything in there except that silly game.”

Ash glanced at the book. “Game?”

“Spell. Ritual. Game. I don’t know what you want to call it. Hocus pocus occult crap. Nothing to worry about. If you want it, take it and go.”

They exchanged glances before the alternative guy stalked forward, stopping toe-to-toe with me. “Show me.”