“Does he really want to be here? With my collar? I can remove it and send him home with you, if that’s what he wants.”
The demon’s vivid green eyes narrowed. “That is so sweet I’m going to be sick.”
He turned to his brother and they chatted away for what felt like an eternity. Eventually the prince shuddered and grimaced.
“All this sweetness is making my skin crawl.”
I grinned. Jinx really wanted to stay with me. He wasn’t too young and was well on the road to forgiving me. After the darkness of the last few days, this brightness was dazzling.
Jinx kept talking to his brother, like he would never stop. It was lovely to hear his voice. But sad to realize how much pent up stuff he had to express.
“Where is this incubus called Ezekiel?” demanded the prince with his eyes blazing into mine fiercely.
I swallowed in fright at the same time as my ego died. Apparently Jinx didn’t have much to say to me at all. He had other things to tell his brother.
“Umm… we ran into him at the Royale Hotel on Main Street.”
The prince just glared at me. I’d never seen anyone look so thoroughly unimpressed.
Hastily, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my messages. There was one from Ezekiel. I’d never been so glad to see a text message. It was a shame I’d been too wrapped up in my drama with Jinx to check my phone. It was rude that I hadn’t replied to him. He seemed like a nice guy.
I held up my phone, to show the prince the message. He stared at it.
“That’s his number,” I offered, hoping it would be enough.
The demon turned on his heels, strode back into the shattered array and disappeared.
I stood frozen to the spot as my mind struggled to process everything that had just happened.
“Is Ezekiel in trouble?” I asked, as my heart sank. I didn’t want to be a snitch.
Jinx shook his head vehemently. Piquing my interest even more. The prince’s reaction had seemed odd enough.
“What the hell is going on?” I said aloud.
It was far too complicated a question for Jinx to be able to answer, but he surprised me.
He pointed at the array, then sketched a bump over his belly, followed by the classical mime for baby. The old rocking your arms back and forth. Next he did a dramatic ‘poof’ gesture of something disappearing.
I stared at him in excitement, a thousand thoughts crowding my mind. But very few were focused on what he was telling me.
“Your brother had a baby that disappeared?” I said distractedly. I wasn’t interested in that.
Jinx nodded, his eyes glowing in satisfaction at being understood. Before I knew what I was doing, I was clutching his shoulders and shaking him.
“I’m such an idiot!”
Jinx gave me such a bewildered look it nearly made me laugh.
“Sign language! We can learn sign language!”
He blinked at me in astonishment. His thoughts had clearly been on his potential nephew and I did feel guilty for being so selfish, but the thought of Jinx being able to communicate more with me was far too compelling. I couldn’t contain my glee.
A slow delighted grin spread across his face and it was all I needed to see. I grabbed his hand and started hauling him towards the living room and the TV. I was sure YouTube would have some videos for beginners.
“I’ll just clear all this up then!” yelled Ezme after us, but I knew she didn’t really mind.
We nearly got to the living room before Jinx came to a sudden halt.
