I lunge. He vanishes in a swirl of shadow—reappearing ten feet down the hall. “Slade,” Piper hisses, grabbing my sleeve, “please don’t murder your brother in the middle of Hell.”
Draven draws himself up, smoothing his jacket. “Listen to your mate.”
I snarl. “Shut—”
But the bond pulses. Piper swallows. Draven smirks like he knows exactly what just happened. “Let’s go before someone else in the court decides to test their luck.”
Reluctantly, I let her guide me toward the portal chamber.
The air crackles around us all the way home.
***
The moment the portal flickers out behind us, something feels…wrong.
Lights on. Scent of cinnamon. A faint thump from the living room.
Piper stiffens. “Rhea’s here.”
I blink. “Already?”
She rounds the corner—and stops dead.
Rhea stands in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, hair a wild halo around her face, wearing an expression that can only be described as done. Newt sits beside her in what appears to be a tiny cat-sized corner of shame. Rhea jabs a thumb toward him. “Your fuzzy demon gremlin clawed my four-hundred-dollar curtains. FOUR. HUNDRED. DOLLARS. PIPER.”
Newt meows loudly. Zero remorse.
Piper’s face softens. “Oh, baby—”
But Newt leaps straight into my arms. He curls there, purring like I’m his chosen deity.
Piper’s jaw drops. “Excuse me.”
I stroke the cat’s head. “He likes me.”
“He liked me FIRST.”
Draven wanders in, looks at the scene, and snorts. “Gods above, the creature has taste.”
Rhea turns sharply, eyes narrowing at him. “And… Who areyou?”
Draven’s smirk blooms instantly. “Draven Athalar. And you are?”
“Done with today,” she snaps. “And apparently with your face.”
He clutches his chest dramatically. “You wound me.”
Piper mutters under her breath, “Oh, fuck—hell no. Absolutely not—”
I set Newt down, and the traitor immediately twines around my legs. Rhea glares at him. “Traitor beast.”
Draven watches Rhea the way a python watches a spark—interested, surprised, maybe even a little baffled. “Fiery,” he murmurs.
Rhea shoots back, “Annoying.”
They lock eyes. The tension sharpens. Piper drags a hand down her face. “I am too tired to deal with a hate-flirt right now.”
I step closer to her, steadying her by the elbow. “You’re exhausted.”
