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I looked between them suspiciously. “Well, you guys are both hundreds of years older than me, so maybe quit acting so childish.”
“Childish?” Florian blinked at me incredulously. “Did you know how you were behaving with Quilliam back there?”
“Quilliam?” Sterling narrowed his eyes. “Are we talking about that douchebag who tried to blow you up that one time, then the other time?”
“You slashed his tires,” Florian offered helpfully. “That Quilliam.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Sterling chortled, clapping his hands. “Good times.”
I stamped my foot and folded my arms. “I was not misbehaving. I acted completely appropriately in the presence of someone who was minutes away from roasting my ass. Or my chest. Whatever, point is, the guy’s an asshole, and I can’t be held accountable for my actions around him.”
“Aww.” Sterling threw an arm over my shoulder, his flesh and his skin freezing cold even through his leather jacket. “Isn’t he adorable when he pouts? Look at him sulking.”
“It’s cute,” Florian said. “He gets all red, then his skin starts glowing.”
I looked down at myself, and he was right. My sigils were pulsing right through my shirt. I gathered my arms around my chest, keeping them there and letting my emotions settle. The Black Market was the last place I wanted to be exposing myself, it being the city’s epicenter of magical activity and everything.
“Settle down,” Sterling muttered close to my ear. “We don’t want anybody kidnapping you for your organs. They’d probably fetch a pretty penny in a chop shop, too. You never know who wants an extra spleen. Hmm. Nephilim spleen.”
I shuddered at the thought. Florian nodded in silent agreement.
“Don’t worry,” Sterling added, this time speaking through a cheery grin. “You’re safe with us. Uncle Sterling will make sure you’re okay.”
The thing is, he was right. With my friends around, I never felt vulnerable. I made sure to hide my smile from Sterling, and the three of us continued on out of the Black Market.
Sterling was, unsurprisingly, welcomed back into Paradise with open arms. Artemis had clearly taken a liking to him, maybe because of their shared affinity for darkness and the moon. Actually, it might have been as simple as a matter of compatibility. They both had that laidback vibe, and Artemis really valued the casual, relaxed life. She never even questioned Sterling about showing up without an offering of Snacky Yum-Yums.
To my surprise, the same courtesy was extended to Raziel. I’d summoned him to help me test out the bracer, using a simple communion that involved a sheet of paper, a hastily drawn circle, and a spot of my blood. I did this all from a comfy spot on the ground, because hey, I needed to stretch my legs, plus I hadn’t quite managed to buy or build myself a proper desk yet. Sorry.
Raziel showed up in a huff and a pillar of golden light, his hands pushed into his hips as he frowned down at me. “You couldn’t be bothered to do a proper circle, maybe? Entice me a little with a scented candle, maybe a sprinkle of flower petals?”
I frowned back up at him. “It’s a communion, not our first date.”
Artemis walked by just then, helping Priscilla with some of the cocktails. She nodded at Raziel in acknowledgement. “Oh. Hey. Sup.”
“Oh. H-hello.”
And that was the end of that conversation. No mention of Snacky Yum-Yums, for once. Either Artemis was too eager to get to her pitcher of frozen margaritas, or she was starting to see Raziel as someone who wasn’t just another pain in the butt.
“So,” Raziel said, collecting himself once Artemis was out of earshot. “Why did you call me here, exactly?”
“I need a favor.”
“Evidently the case.” Raziel sniffled. “Seems to be the only reason you ever summon me anymore. Can’t we go out and explore sometimes? I’d like to see more of the world, but through your eyes. Eat your food. See your sights. Smell your smells.”
It almost made me laugh, but I grimaced instead. “Maybe ‘No’ to that last part. But in all seriousness, Raz, is that really how you feel? I’m sorry if it seems like we just use you as an encyclopedia.” I straightened my back, folded my legs under me, and gave him my sincerest, most serious look. “I promise to let you know next time me and Florian go hang out somewhere, with or without Sterling.”
Raziel turned over his shoulder to look for Sterling, then back to me. “I suppose that’s fine. He still appears to be frightened of me, but he seems friendly enough. That said, I could just look down on you from upstairs like I always do, find you that way. Though I couldn’t exactly see you tonight, try as I might. Have you learned to disguise your spiritual emanations?”
I couldn’t help the way the smile broke across my face like sunshine. Raziel’s response was to squint at me suspiciously.
“So you have,” he mumbled.
“So I have. That’s actually why I called you here tonight. I wanted to test this bracer out and see if it really did hide me from entities.” I raised my forearm at him, fist closed, which I’m pretty sure is a fairly rude gesture in some cultures, but I wanted to check if he could see the bracer to begin with.
Raziel folded his arms and scoffed. “I’m not some genie who just shows up every time you please, Mason. Every time you rub your magic lamp.”
I scratched the end of my nose, grinning. “What’s all this about rubbing my magic lamp, now?”
