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Joelle waved a hand. “I know whatThe Hex Reportis. You wanted to talk about today’s headline?” Who knew years of keeping her conversations non-confrontational would come in handy when navigating her new friendship with a demon hybrid?
“The witches lost an ancient relic, and it’s not the first they’ve misplaced. Their former rulers did a bang-up job of handing magical weapons over to enemies.” The sarcasm in Alys’s voice made for an odd combination of cheerful and evil. “This time a necklace that sucks and stores magic like a big ole battery went missing. Nothing says danger quite the same as losing a powers source. They call it a torque.” She threw clothes at Joelle who scrambled to catch them. “Gods help us if the thing siphons more than just witch-born magic.”
Clutching the yoga pants and top, Joelle focused on the possibility of what the artefact might be capable of harnessing. “What do you mean more than witch-born magic?”
Alys leveled her with a chilling stare. “I’m a pain bringer. Did my brother or your family share any specifics of what I can do?”
Joelle felt the blood drain from her face and suddenly she wished she hadn’t asked so many questions. “No.”
“I won’t use my magic on you unless you ask nicely.” Alys shot her a grin, a devilish gleam in her gaze. “Supernatural clients pay big money for my powers at my club—a unique way to blend their pleasure with a little pain. Or a lot.”
“Your kink club?” When hadthisbecome the safer topic?
“Yep. Now, get changed.”
Glancing at the worn clothes in her hands with the kittens-and-clouds print, she asked, “Are we going there now?” Wearing this?
“Of course not. That is unless you want. We have something for everyone no matter what you’re into.”
Joelle didn’t know what she might beinto. Her first experience with anything sexual had sent Alexei running, but she wouldn’t discuss that with his sister.Awkward.Better that she avoid the subject altogether. “Let’s start with something a little less…stimulating.” She fumbled with the word choice and hoped she’d gone with an answer that wouldn’t offend her new friend.
Alys’s smirk said that she knew how uncomfortable talking about her business made people. “Sure thing. A late morning workout with some self-defense basics work for you since you said you wanted to learn?”
She agreed and—within the hour—regretted that she hadn’t picked the kink club as it might’ve been the less painful option. Heck, even the makeover would’ve been less dangerous no matter what could’ve happened with scissors and such. What Alys thought of as “basics” included punching, kicking, and combo drills that seemed to be cut straight from an action hero movie. Sprawled on the ground, Joelle panted to draw a full breath. Her magic simmered beneath her skin, ready to heal the soreness and bruises that would no doubt be coming.
“Huh,” Alys said. “I figured your brother would’ve taught you at least the easy stuff given how he used to compete in underground matches.”
“Because our guardian forced him to fight. The Order used him as a draw to bring in supernaturals so they could track them.”
“You mean to mark them for death like they did Nita’s family.” The sadness in Alys’s voice made her stomach churn and her heart ache.
Knowing her brother had helped the Order simply to spare her from more torture heaped the guilt higher. “Josh wouldn’t have done it except to save me.”
“Big brothers will do a lot for us.”
“He’s not even my real brother. We’re…” Kidnapped. Forced together without knowing they hadn’t been blood relatives. The truth didn’t fit into an easy description. “Adopted.”
“Me too. Doesn’t make our brothers any less protective of us. Alexei searched the world for me when the witches locked me up. I’m the reason he has those archived articles at the warehouse. He blames himself. Thinks it had something to do with our research into supernatural origins, but I’m not sure the witches didn’t just do it out of spite for our family’s power. Either way, I didn’t hold your brother’s involvement in those deaths against him. It’s why I agreed to meet with him this morning to grab your stuff.”
“How did you get him to agree to a meeting?” Especially when her brother would be in uber-protective mode after the bombs and the burning at last night’s party.
“Easy. I needed to meet with his witch so I arranged to pick up your things. She sent your sleeping potion by the way.”
“Thanks.” While the potion meant no more nightmares which was wonderful news, it also meant no more reason to cuddle up with Alexei. Probably for the best since she’d frightened him into leaving. “Going to the witch safe house must’ve been difficult given they locked you away.” The latter seemed nicer than sayingshoved you in their prison. How hard must it have been for her to attend the witches’ party and pretend everything had been fine?
Alys shrugged. “We had to get a spell for Kyle.”
“To help him sleep? Eddie mentioned they sedated him.”
“No, more of a lost-and-found charm. But enough talk.” She bounced on her toes, seeming to still have boundless energy which was sick after so much exercise. “Let’s get you ready for your first rumble. Unless you want to move on to weapons. I’ll let you play with my rocket launcher.” The taunt came out as an unsettling sing-song.
Joelle groaned. Gods save her from the domineering demon royal family and their idea of fun.
ChapterThirteen
Beating an Order operative almost to death didn’t improve Alexei’s mood. Turning the man over to the witches for interrogation had seemed a waste, but violence hadn’t made the operative talk. Maybe magic would.
Alexei had stopped by the warehouse to shower off the blood and change into clean clothes before heading home. While he wouldn’t have bothered any other night, Joelle waited at his house with Alys, Nita, and Eddie. Those three had practically moved in while he’d been away.
