“He’s definitely going to strut everywhere,” Zavida says as he lets go of his tails to hold his hand out. “I think I’ll be the best at trying this out; my motor control is top-notch from gaming.”
Angelo steps in front of him, shaking his head as he looks at the demons. “Wrong. I’ve picked more locks since I could toddle. I’m the heir to a gang, remember? I mean, the pretty boy down there probably knows how to as well. Experience in real life trumps what you did on a screen every day of the week.”
Slade flushes, but he nods in agreement. “I definitely learned how to pick locks and crack safes young. My parents run the biggest MC in Bay City, not that I enjoy discussing it much. They’re… not the most desirable caregivers.”
That makes the prince laugh, and his fellow demons join in. “Slade, I’m going to assume thatno onein any of these families has parents who would win awards for their child-rearing skills.”
“Definitelynot,” I mutter. “My family is gilded with blood as well.”
“Man, we’re all screwed,” the panda says sheepishly. “But that’s what has us doing all of this to help a fuckton of people who we’ve never met, and I think that’s what is important. Give those picks to the Gemini, and let’s get this show on the road.”
The willowy demon nods and hands the case to Angelo, who gets down next to Slade to look at the lock. He and our siren murmur to one another for a moment as they look at the tools. Hopefully, whatever Anton brought isn’t missing something they think they need. I’m getting hungry and tired, and I can tell the others are as well. I don’t know how demon/shifter hybrids behave when they get hangry, but I know how Lucas and Kaspar behave.
It’s not something I want to experience, truthfully.
“Okay, this looks pretty simple. All the magic people should be ready to work once I get the tumblers popped, just in case the asshole who did this put layers in. Got it?”
Everyone murmurs their approval as the demon inserts the picks into the ornate hardware. He tilts his head, obviously listening as he moves the picks carefully. He takes longer than I expected, but eventually, there’s a loudclickand the knob turns. Angelo and Slade high-five, but the moment he removes the tools, a visible shield encases the damn doorknob as if it was waiting for him to do so.
“Son of a bitch,” Slade says as he turns back to us. “Angelo was right about the magic. This is probably a job for Anton and Iggy to start. I can try to help if needed, but I’m not really a caster by nature.”
Stepping forward, I mutter a quick spell under my breath to get a visual of the enchantment on the damn thing. I tilt my head as a delicately intertwined set of magics appears, making me groan. This is more complex than we imagined, and it’s definitely not what I’d expect from a student in my lower-level courses. The construction is more graduate-style and beyond, especially with the hints of combined magical sub-types.
“Someone quite skilled did this,” I finally say. “I think we might need to send for Liam to assist. There’s a hint of Fae magic in it along with demonic and general magical wielder stuff. I won’t be able to unravel it without him here to ensure I don’t trip something I’m unaware of.”
The bushy-tailed demon waves his hand. “I can go get him. I know where to pop in, and, hopefully, they’re all in Jasper’s room as directed.”
“They’d better be,” Jasper grumbles as he considers it. “Go ahead, Zavvie. Grab the prince and tell the others they have to stay in the damn room until we return to deal with dinner and sleeping arrangements.”
Angelo shrugs, looking unconcerned with the dragon’s wrath from his spot on the floor. “Fine. But if we’re all staying here for longer than the night, we also need your techie to assist with devices that work down here. My group especially does as we’re heading into Hell proper afterward.”
“Another brilliant idea,” the prince says wryly, but he relents. “We will work on that in the morning. I do not want anyone running around after we’re settled in. It raises the chances of being caught with undeclared visitors by a thousandfold.”
Zavida salutes him and opens a small portal to duck into. His cheek makes the rest of us laugh, but the dragon just glares. The panda sighs, shaking his head as he glances at Anton, and I watch them have a conversation silently via facial movements. It makes me smile, as Morgana does that with Lucas and Liam, which frustrates the fuck out of the dragon and me. Slade, like now, is usually pretty laid back about it. That kid is so happy to have support that I’m not sure anything thatanyof us do would piss him off.
Except that he’s been a little cheeky with you since he and Morgana got together, and you noticed.
Running a hand through my hair, I go back to thinking about what the group from Bay City and even Lucas have been saying. They’re right, of course, and the not-so-subtle nudges aren’t just applicable to the damn dragons. I’m an outlier, too, and it’s from my own stupid shit that was drilled into me by my father and his ilk. Deep down, I know that mages or any of our brethren aren’t better than other species, even the oldest families who hoard power. In fact, it’s all just smoke and mirrors for most of the dipshits he hangs out with, as their lines have been diluted over the years despite their focus on purity and keeping the heritage intact.
“Damn ingrained bullshit is what it is,” I mutter, and I’m surprised when the prince walks over to me with a curious expression.
“Briarton, I don’t know what you’re mumbling about, but if it’s regarding the criticism? I think I understand.” He sighs, the dangerous tail twitching at his feet as he says softly, “My childhood was abusive and formed a lot of bad habits, no matter how hard I fought to avoid it. I don’t like sharing emotions as that was a pain point, and now I’m in the middle of more people than I ever prefer to be stuck alone with. Perhaps you’re suffering similar issues?”
I snort. “Yes, I am. I had shitty formative years, though likely not as bad as yours. Bad enough to fuck up my ability to form and act on attachments, plus a great deal of stupidity about other species and whatnot. My brain knows it’s rot, but occasionally, when I feel threatened, it pops up. I shield myself with the echoes of the wealthy morons my family still mingle with.”
“Bravado to stay safe… Yes, I can relate.” He looks at the others as they chat easily and grits his jaw. “I’m fine when I don the mask of the haughty prince and heir to the throne in sizable crowds and around random beings. I struggle when it’s like this or smaller and I have to… be real.”
I’m willing to bet he doesn’t tell anyone that shit, and he’s only unloading on me because I’m not a demon.
“I’m fine with mingling and even in private, but… my issues pop up when I have to be vulnerable to people as well.” I shrug as I adjust my glasses. “We’re all a mess in this secret cadre, I fear, but the women bring us to a balanced center. At least, that’s what I believe Morgana does for us, even if I haven’t admitted itto her. She’s also quite good at calling my ass to the carpet on another matter I’m struggling with.”
He arches a brow. “If you want the siren, he’s clearly head over heels and waiting foryouto declare your intentions. I recognize the behavior from when I first knew I wanted Zavida. He waited too and let me lead, which meant we’re lucky we got together at all. Slash and Xerxes gave me grief until I dealt with it. The others, too, but none as much as those two. I’m grateful now, though I don’t express it enough.”
The portal opens again, and I’m cut off as the foxy demon and the Fae prince step out with the scowling dragon bodyguard. Liam nods at me, and then at Slade, before he turns to Jasper.
“I’m told you have a multi-layered enchantment with Fae magic? I’d be happy to help, though I dislike being away from my recovering mate. Lucas likes to pretend to be tough, but he is a young shifter and has been put through a lot physically in recent times. If someone doesn’t curb his instincts to puff up and ignore it, he might injure himself more.”
“Zav can take you back as soon as we untangle the lock, Prince Liam. I understand being concerned with mates who don’t pay attention to their own safety.”
