Mallory is wearing all white today, like she’s heading to the dojo or a cult meeting. The look should make her come across as soft and welcoming, but she’s really just giving off icicle vibes. To top it off, her blonde hair is wound into such a tight bun we may all leave here with a headache because of it.
She steeples her fingers together like a praying mantis and has the nerve to stare at me like I’m a bug she wants to squash. “That gargoyle has been passed down through Dimitri’s family for the last seven hundred years. When demons first came to this realm, humans thought they could use stone figurines to ward their homes.”
She smiles, but it’s a creepy expression.
“They believed the gargoyles would come to life in the face of danger and prevent demons from infiltrating their house. They even carved their mouths open to better consume evil spirits.” Mallory points at the creepy thing’s gaping mouth with a crimson-painted nail.
“Superstitious nonsense, of course. The demons got in no matter what.” She turns and aims her smile directly at Sheena. “Hello dear, I’m Mallory.”
Sheena introduces herself quietly, while everyone else ignores the freaky, demonic history lesson.
Mallory doesn’t address Callum or Ciprian at all—as if two members of our group aren’t her actual sons. Instead, she leads us straight to the formal dining room. My mom gives me an exasperated look over my gargoyle stunt before linking her arm with Sheena and catching up to Mallory. They pull my mate away before I can intervene, seating Sheena between them at the round mahogany table.
Somehow I end up stuck between the feuding brothers, who appear to have struck a temporary truce based entirely on booze.
Like he’s trying to stress me out, Ciprian plops down next to his mom and chugs an entire glass of wine before starting on another. Without a word, he reaches across me and passes the bottle to Callum. I give the wine a longing look but choose to drink from my glass of water instead. Someone has to keep tonight on track.
Sheena seems torn between her own discomfort and glancing between the brothers with concern. The chatter is patchy and awkward. I try to break the tension with a joke, but no one laughs. My only saving grace comes from the plate of cheese cubes and salami on the table. I stuff my face to avoid speaking.
“Joshua and Dimitri should join us soon,” mom says as she sets her phone down and picks up a cracker. “Mallory, these appetizers are wonderful. I just love a charcuterie board.”
A little of Mallory’s icy demeanor begins to thaw until she notices the small mountain of crumbs gathering around me. I brush them on the floor as soon as she looks away.
“Thank you, Sarah.” Mallory rotates her desert fork to align with the plate. “I thought, since this was a family dinner of sorts, we could have something casual.”
I choke down a laugh. Nothing screams casual like cloth napkins, crystal goblets, and staff darting around the room. When Sheena’s water glass refills on its own, she lets out a concerned squawk.
“That’s just the mazzikin, dear.” Mallory’s explanation does nothing for Sheena, who’s now staring around the room with suspicion. “They’re a type of lesser demon. Invisible but incredibly useful for running a household.”
Mallory trills a laugh, like calling all her staff lesser to their invisible faces is not only acceptable, but also funny. Sheena nods politely, but her lips are pressed tightly together.
“How did you all meet?” Mallory asks, addressing Sheena directly.
“It was actually at a bar where I worked.”
Our girl smiles, but I can sense Callum’s mom charging up to deliver some cutting remark. “We met Sheena while working the case in Wyoming,” I say, jumping in. “She was the only thing worth finding in that place.”
“Ahumanbar?” Mallory sounds scandalized.
“Well, yes.” Sheena laughs. “Until recently, I wasn’t aware there were any other kinds of bars.”
We’re saved from hearing Mallory’s take on that by footsteps in the hallway. Seconds later, my father and Dimitri join us, and I’m surprised to see Idris trailing along behind them.
What the fuck?
Callum and I exchange loaded looks, but we say nothing.
“Sorry for the extra mouth to feed, Mal.” My dad’s voice booms across the table as he claps the fae on the back. Callum’s mother grimaces. The only thing she hates more than surprises is that nickname, and it cracks me up every time my dad uses it.
“Idris was hoping to join us for dinner,” Dimitri says.
Mallory gives her husband a cutting look, then motions in the air with her finger for the mazzikin to hurry up. The scrape of a heavy wooden chair punctuates the silence as another place setting appears.
“Of course, Idris. You have a standing invitation. I’m glad you finally used it,” Mallory says.
The fae gives her a charming smile as he takes a seat in between Callum and Dimitri—directly across from Sheena.
“Gideon and Callum, I believe,” Idris murmurs as though he doesn’t know damn well what our names are. “I owe you both an apology for that awkward moment earlier. I must confess, when I woke up this morning, I never expected to encounter a full-blooded djinn. Much less one so beautiful and... undamaged.”
