“No, I don’t.”
Rhea’s lips curl into a wicked grin. “Oh, she enjoys something, alright.”
“Rhea,” I warn.
But she’s already circling me like a shark drawn to drama. “Pipes, babe, I love you, but you look like you slept three minutes and have beenrefusing to process something emotionally significant. Spill.”
I grit my teeth. “Not here.”
“Why not? Because of him?” She jerks her chin toward Slade, eyes gleaming.
“Yes!” I hiss. “Because of him.”
Slade smiles like I handed him a compliment wrapped in velvet. “She means she’s distracted by me.”
I whirl on him. “I mean I cannot think straight with youbreathingnear me!”
His brows lift. “My breathing affects you?”
“Everything about you affects me!” The words fly out before I can choke them back. Rhea makes a noise suspiciously close to a celebratory shriek. I slam a hand over her mouth, and she licks my palm. “Rhea!”
She shrugs. “Don’t put your hand near my face if you don’t want consequences.”
Slade’s shoulders shake with quiet, entertained laughter.
I snap toward him. “Stop enjoying this!”
“Impossible,” he says simply.
I might explode. Explode… and then haunt everyone out of spite.
Rhea loops an arm through mine. “Okay, come here. Girl talk. Private. Away from Captain Demon Thirst Trap.”
“No,” Slade says immediately.
Rhea freezes. “I wasn’t talking to you, shadow boy.”
“It wasn’t a request.” He steps closer, voice a low rumble. “She doesn’t leave my sight.”
I jab a finger into his chest. “I am notyoursto monitor!”
“You summoned me,” he says for the thousandth time like a broken record.
“Byaccident! We are NOT rehashing this.”
“You still did it,” he argues smugly.
“That doesn’t make me your property!”
His jaw ticks—just slightly. “I never said you were property.”
“Then stop acting like I have a tracking collar!”
“I’m ensuring your safety,” he practically whines.
“From WHAT?” I demand. “You? The mistletoe? The universe’s poor life choices?”
Rhea watches the argument with visible delight. “Oh, this isjuicy.”
