I stared up in exasperation. “Really? Now you are being ridiculous!”
Just at that moment, Maria, the housekeeper, walked in with a tea tray. She took one look at the demon on the ceiling and screamed, dropped the tray and fled the room. I winced.
“Now look what you have done!” I snapped at the demon.
A mewling, apologetic noise calmed my annoyance a little. Then the sound of my father’s voice caused my heart to drop.
“Seb, are you okay? Why is Maria screaming?” said my father as he walked in. His eyes flicked up to the demon. “Gosh!” he exclaimed as he paled and stepped back, hitting the wall.
I sighed. It really was turning into one of those days where nothing went right.
“Do you need help banishing it?” asked my father, as the tingle of his magic filled the room.
I jumped to my feet, my heart now hammering in sudden dread. “No!” I exclaimed, far louder than I had intended to.
My father gave me a startled, confused look, but his magic dissipated.
Relief swam through me, making me shake. That had been far too close. I had nearly lost Jinx. My stomach clenched at the thought, giving me sudden clarity. Losing Jinx would be far, far worse than my parents’ disapproval. Even if they disowned me.
Besides, the decision was out of my hands now. I took a deep breath. It couldn’t be helped now. The damage was done. I might as well give Jinx what he wanted.
“Dad, this is Jinx. My boyfriend.”
Jinx dropped down from the ceiling, by the time his feet touched the floor he was fully in his human form. All long dark hair, beautiful face and shit-eating grin. He bounded up to my father and flung his arms around him.
Dad squeaked a little and went completely stiff but otherwise stayed calm. I was impressed.
“So, what was all this about?” asked Dad weakly.
Sheepishly, I broke the salt circle with my foot. “We were having an argument.”
Jinx still hadn’t let go of Dad, who was bearing the hug stoically.
“About?”
I groaned, I had to admit it did look quite bad. I could understand why Dad was worried. He had walked in to see me sitting in a protective circle.
“The fact that I didn’t want to introduce you,” I confessed.
Dad blinked at me in surprise. But then we both winced at the sound of Mom’s voice.
“Septimus, what on earth is going on?” she said from just outside the door.
I groaned. The shit really was about to hit the fan.
She walked in, already all dressed up for the night. Perfectly coiffed hair, expensive pale blue skirt suit, heels and everything. She took one look at Jinx, with his arms wrapped around Dad and paled.
Jinx finally let go of my father and went to bound up to her. I managed to catch him around the waist as he passed and pull him close to me instead. That woman had never once hugged any of her children, she was not going to tolerate a hug from a demon.
Mom took a step back, literally clutching her pearl necklace. The woman was such a cliche.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
I took another deep breath. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Jinx.”
Her blue eyes narrowed, and she fixed Jinx with a glare that would have terrified most people. Jinx withered under it. His shoulders slumping miserably. I pulled him closer to me and glared back angrily at my mother.
“An incubus?” she sneered. So much scorn and disapproval dripping off of her words that I swore I could taste it on my tongue.
