“Bazis reading a series of love letters,” Baz responded.
“Love letters?” Nemo asked. “Isn’t it about Supra and the asylum?”
“It’s Damien D’Bolique’s journal,” Baz said.
“Diabolic? Who’s that?” I asked.
“According to Levi, it’s the man who not only built Verfallen, but also made Supra, the evil corporation behind it all.Mwha ha ha,” Baz laughed theatrically. “A real evil mastermind.”
“And he wants Baz,” Nemo said. “Thisis what we need to be focused on. But who knows what Orson cares about.” He waved towards the door. Surprise, surprise: Nemo and Orson weren’t getting along. That wasn’t new, but Nemo’s concern about Baz immediately put me on edge.
“He wants Baz?” I asked in confusion. “Is this about what Zero warned us about?”
“Something like that, at least,” Baz sighed. He pushed the journal away from himself. “But this doesn’t make any sense.”
“What doesn’t?” I asked.
“This isn’t a super villain,” he said, motioning towards the journal. “He’s not even supernatural. From what I can tell, he’s human.”
“That can’t be right,” Nemo said.
“Damien was born powerless in a family of witches. They rejected him.” His green and red eyes flipped up to us for a moment. “Anyway, Levi thought this journal would help us know who we’re up against, but it’s all about Damien falling in love. Apparently, he was a shifter’s mate.”
Nemo snorted. “Rejected by family and a shifter’s mate. Sounds familiar.” Baz slowly looked up at him. The subject of Baz being Nemo’s mate, too, was still an awkward subject.
“Anyway.” Baz pulled the journal closer, pressed a finger to the paper, and began reading it slowly. “Last night, you were tired. It makes your voice low and breathy. It’s my favorite sound in the world. When I smiled at you, you went all red—he meant blushing,” Baz corrected. “It keeps going on like that, but his partner isn’t a normal shifter. Get this, he has a magical coat he puts on and takes off.”
“A coat?” Nemo asked.
“Like a second skin. It transforms him. Damien hasn’t seen it. They had a fight about it two pages back.” Baz flipped backwards a moment. “Damien said they’re family because he’s his mate so he should see it. He feels like he isn't trusted. Anyway, I’m learning more about this shifter, Damien'sbijou, than Damien. He’s describing everything about this guy. And I meaneverything. I could pick Bijou's cock out of a lineup, if for some reason his cock was in a lineup. Anyway, it was as if all Damien did was watch Bijou. A little creepy, honestly. He’s completely obsessed.”
“There’s nothing creepy about that,” I said. Baz and Nemo gave each otherthe look. It was the one reserved for when I wassaying something charming. Or charmingly insane. Whatever. I sighed and rolled my eyes, stretching my arms above my head.
“I’m still tired. Whatever Orson gave us made me groggy.” I eyed them both. “How long have you two been awake?”
“Before we got here,” Nemo said.
“Oh, did you two fall asleep?” Baz joked.
“You didn’t?” I kicked the scratchy blanket off, giving it a glare of disapproval.
“I did for a moment. I was surprised it worked at all.” Baz mindlessly flipped through the journal.
“Baz, what exactly are your powers? I thought it was just poisonous?—”
“Venemous,” he mumbled.
“Venemoustouch,” I said. “Why didn’t you mention you’re immune to fire?” He shut the book and looked up at the two of us. His long, emerald hair was pulled away from his angular face. A red eye and a green eye flipped between the two of us.
“Didn’t seem important. Also, how should I know the extent of my powers?” He asked, baffling me. Despite escaping a burning building, he looked freshly showered, but I knew that was a lie. Baz had an odd way of looking and smelling clean, no matter the situation. A quirk I was beginning to suspect was something more. Was it the venom? Or maybe his phoenix ancestry?Lucky bastard.
“You have vertical slit pupils sometimes,” I said. “Did you know?”
“Yes, I’m aware of theeye thing.” Baz slipped a gloved finger into his thin, black turtleneck, running it across his neck to loosen it.
“Night vision, then,” Nemo said.
“What?” Baz asked.
