“Get used to it,” Everly said, grinning. “It happens a lot.”
Akira cleared her throat, and for the first time, the tension cracked a little. “I suppose this is as good a time as any to share our feelings?”
Miryam snorted. “Hell, I hope not. I try to leave my emotional baggage in my other suitcases."
Katy perked up, eyes narrowing on the newcomers. Everly could practically see the female vibrating with questions. “Actually, this is the part where I push away the emotionally cogent crap a wiser female has said and I get to grill the two of you about this whole mating thing with Raphael and Nico. Because I swear, if you two end up as demon princesses and a shaman queen or whatever and don’t spill the tea, I’m going to dye your hair pink in your sleep.”
“Umm,” Miryam raised her hand. “What does cogent mean?”
Lola grinned, finally, and elbowed Katy. “It’s about time you started back up with the ‘word of the day’. I was beginning to think all that sex had killed your brain cells. ”
Katy rolled her eyes. “Maybe temporarily, because of lack of oxygen. But I bounce back pretty quick.”
“Based on what I heard earlier, I can attest to that,” Lola laughed.
“Never mind,” Miryam shook her head. “I don’t want to know anything. No words, no sexcapades, or any other personal information that may make it obligatory to share my own life.”
“Too late,” Katy sang. “You’re in the girl click now, simply by showing up here with the succubus eye candy. Spill it.”
Akira lifted a brow. “You want details about what, exactly? The part where I acquire a tattoo that apparentlyonlyNico has? Or the part where before even knowing I was to be his mate, I realized I apparently have a thing for men who look like they’re one psychotic day away from being in a true crime documentary?”
Miryam rolled her eyes. “You think that’s bad? Try being claimed by a demon who apologizes every time he touches you, as if he’s afraid he’ll catch feelings and spontaneously combust.”
Everly snorted. “You two are going to fit in just fine.”
Katy leaned forward, all sharp interest. “Okay, but, like . . . was there this instant attraction? Did either of them show any interest, or did that only happenafterthe markings? And is it the whole ‘I’ll kill anyone who looks at you’ vibe? I never thought I’d like that, but it’s sexy as hell.”
Akira and Miryam exchanged a look.
“I think he was attracted right off the bat,” Akira said.
Miryam nodded. “Definitely. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“What about Raphael?” Lola asked.
Miryam looked a little apprehensive. “He’s a little harder to read. But, from what I can gather, what little he has said to me is that he doesn’t think he’s worthy of me.”
Katy groaned. “Ugh, one ofthose.You’re too good for me. I’ve done all the bad things and therefore if I touch you I’m going to taint you, blah, blah, blah. You’re going to have to screw that right out of him.”
“Katy,” Lola snapped. “What the hell? I thought your brain cells hadn’t died? You sound like someone from the other side of the tracks who has the vocabulary of a street thug.”
“Have you met any street thugs?” Katy challenged. “You shouldn’t judge. For all you know, they’re perfectly nice humans who just don’t have access to a thesaurus or internet. Or maybe they just didn’t learn to read. I’m ashamed of you, Lola. To act so superior.”
“Oh shut up,” Lola waved Katy off. “You’re a judgy heifer. Don’t even pretend you’re not.”
Everly watched the interaction between the two girls with fascination. Shockingly, female shifters talked a lot less. They tended to simply scratch the hell out of each other and then go on about their business.Thiswas much more interesting.
“If you’re mating is anything like a Damarian mating, reading him will become easier, because you’ll feel what he feels. Intense as hell, but also handy. For instance, with Gage, if he’s angry, I know. If he’s hungry, I know. If he’s thinking about sex, I definitely know.” Katy turned back to the other two females. “Okay, what else do you have?”
Miryam coughed. “Well, there’s been too much going on for us to move past the ‘oh hell I’ve got a demon tattoo on me.’”
Lola threw up her hands. “You two are hopeless.”
Akira grinned, a little more at ease. “Better than helpless.”
Everly picked her cup back up and sipped her tea, content as the girls’ banter started to unravel the tension. There wouldalways be fights, always be pain, but there was laughter, too. Strength, stubbornness, and so much love it could heal the world if only the world would let it.
“Alright,” Everly said, gathering their attention once more. “Back to the things wecandeal with right now. After all those things are dealt with, we can revisit Nico and Raphael.” She gave Miryam and Akira a pointed look. “And we will. For now, as I said we don’tjustwait. We support. We plan. We help those who need it, heal. And when the time comes, we remind these idiots why they can’t live without us.”
