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“I had a bonfire,” replied Khloë.
Sliding his arm around her shoulders, the incubus said, “That doesn’t sound bad.”
“In the middle of a hotel venue room,” Khloë added. “We threw chairs on the fire. Roasted marshmallows on it. Some people stripped naked and danced around it. There was also a food fight at one point, but I don’t remember who started that. I do remember that quite a few guests smeared frosting on their faces so they looked like battle marks. And there was the part where the Queen tribute band got so shitfaced they tossed their guitars into the bonfire after singing ‘We Will Rock You.’”
“But everyone was glad about that, because they were shit,” Harper cut in. “Of course, Khloë knew in advance that they were shit. She knew everyone would think they were shit and get annoyed.”
“I didn’t expect them to chase the band around the room or start throwing hellfire orbs at them,” said Khloë.
Harper snorted. “Yes, you did.”
After a moment, Khloë nodded. “Yes, I did. Who knew those guys could run so fast?” She lifted a finger. “I definitely didn’t think Lou would turn up and start singing Lionel Richie songs, or that he’d coax the band into being his backup dancers. They were pretty good at dancing. Just really shit vocalists. All in all, it was a good night. Right?”
Raini slanted her head. “I’d like to say no, but I actually did have a blast.”
Keenan turned to fully face his mate. “The owners of the venue didn’t try to throw you out?”
“No, because Grams promised we’d have an incantor undo any damage with magick,” Khloë replied.
Levi looked at Jolene. “And did you?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the Prime. “My word is my bond. Breaking it here, there, and everywhere would only make me look weak.”
“Demons generally don’t expect imps to keep their promises, though,” the reaper pointed out.
“I always aim to defy expectations,” said Jolene.
“I know a few professional party planners,” Knox told Raini. “I’ll have Harper text you their contact details later, just in case you decide you’d like some help.”
“Thanks, but Belinda will be a no-no,” said Raini, referring to a planner who’d been a pain in the ass when helping Harper with a past celebration.
He gave a knowing nod. “Yes, I thought as much.”
They talked for a little while longer, and then Harper announced she needed to leave and give her boy a bath. Asher said his goodbyes to everyone, including Maddox, not looking whatsoever intimidated by the tall stranger. He left Raini until last, pyroporting onto her lap and using his little hands to squish her cheeks.
“Ow,” she whined.
He giggled. “Want kisses!”
As she always did, Raini pressed kisses all over his face and neck, making him giggle like crazy.
“I go home now,” he said, sliding off her lap.
“Okay, little dude. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Scooping up Asher, Keenan nodded. “Tomorrow for sure.”
Harper snickered, and then she, Knox, Asher, Khloë, and the sentinels left.
“We’ll also head home now.” Jolene gave Raini a one-armed hug. “You take care, sweetheart.”
After Jolene and Maddox exchanged stiff farewells, Ciaran teleported his grandmother and her sentinels away.
Maddox stalked toward Raini, slow and fluid. “Are you sure you want to try goading your boycotter?”
“I was inspired by you.” She arched a brow. “Isn’t that what you’re doing to the archangel? You want the attacks on your lair to stop, so you taunted the person behind them. I want the boycotting to stop, so I’m baiting the asshole behind it. I don’t think there’ll be a lot of danger involved in that. They’ve been too much of a coward to face me so far, so they can’t be all that powerful.”
“It may not be fear that’s stayed their hand, it could be something else. And yes, you’ll be able to deal with the situation if it comes to that. Still, I need you to promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“I promise. But I want the same promise of you, and I want you to mean it. Don’t look at me like it’s a ridiculous request. I get that you’re a badass, but even badasses can be caught off-guard. You can’t let a little thing like arrogance blind you.”
“It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence in my abilities.”
“I’m not hearing you promising me you’ll be careful, I don’t know why that is.” She rolled her eyes when he hesitated. “Come on, it won’t kill you.”
“Fine, if it’ll make you feel better, I promise to be careful.”
“Good. Wasn’t so hard, was it?” Raini put a hand to her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
“You haven’t eaten dinner yet?”
“Nope.”
He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Then how about we eat out?”
“Go on a fake date like Jolene suggested, you mean?”
“No,” he said, his brow briefly creasing. “I want to take my anchor, a person whose company I enjoy, to dinner.”
