“A crystal. They were big mad. Threatened to hex us.” He shivers. “But I made up for it. All I had to do was let them have one of my scales.”
“I swear you’re Arson’s mini me,” I rumble with amusement.
“Maybe, but a wolf?” Mac looks over his shoulder at the fading celebration again.
I chuckle. “Long story, but Dray’s alright. He makes Arson happy, so…” I shrug, letting my words trail off.
“What about those other guys?” He nods towards the rest of our brothers and their mates walking a short distance ahead of us, eyeing the newest additions with curiosity. Lake is decked out in his wedding attire, which means he has now clambered onto Nico’s back for a piggyback ride home, and Hemingway is walking hand in hand with his adorkable little mate.
“Well, Nico’s mate is Lake. The sassy blond one. He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s amazing too. He can actually make Nico smile,” I say, and Mac’s eyes go wide.
“No way. Likeactuallysmile?”
“It’s true.” I glance at my brothers walking up ahead. “Then there’s Dempsey. He’s Hemingway’s mate. He owns an antique bookstore.”
“Oh damn. Hemingway must be in paradise.” Mac chuckles.
“He is.” I smile as warm feelings spread through my chest. “It’s nice to see my brothers happy.” Finding a mate, let alone a fated mate isn’t anywhere on my to-do list. If anything, I’d say it’s item number one on myhell-to-the-nolist. But if getting all shackled to one man is their kink, then more power to them.
“Lord?” Mac asks.
“Nah, still being Lord. I’m not sure where he stands on the mate thing. If he wants one, he keeps that desire close to his chest.” I give him a knowing smirk. “If hedoesfind a mate, I hope to hell they like being bossed around.”
Mac snorts in agreement.
“And you?” He cocks his head.
I grimace and squeeze his shoulder again. “I’m a free bird. I’d rather clip my wings than settle down. The world is full ofintriguing people, and I plan to hoard as many experiences as possible.”
“That sounds about right.” Mac chuckles before his smile fades. “Maybe I’ll find a mate someday, if I can shake this demon before he drags me to the underworld.”
“Hey.” I stop walking and turn to my brother, holding him by the shoulder. “You’re a Drake and we protect our own. You’re not going anywhere. Don’t even think like that.”
He nods, smiling slightly as we exit the woods into the clearing where our cars are. I lead him to my sports car, nodding at Lord to tell him that I’m on it. If any of us are prepared to handle a demon, it’s me. I’ve spent my fair share of nights drunk on incubus pheromones—I know how they think and the games they play. The lower-level ones are even easier to handle. Shouldn’t take me long at all to find the demon and deal with him.
Once we’re in the car, I fire up the engine, glancing at Mac before I put it into gear.
“Do Mom and Dad know where you are?”
“No.”
“Okay. Call them and tell them you’re visiting with me. You’ll be staying here until we’re done with your demon problem.”
Mac nods. “Can I still go out though?”
I huff with amusement at his priorities. Can’t say I blame him, honestly. “Hard to say, little bro. Depends on how dangerous this demon is. He’s got you jumbled enough to hunt your brothers down in the forest, so I’d say you need to lay low for a while.”
Mac pops his bottom lip out in a pout, looking like the teen whelp he was when I last lived at home. He’s a young man now, but I wonder how prepared he is for the real world. Judging by the trouble he’s in with a demon, not very.
This isn’t how I planned to spend my evening, but I can still go out and sniff around a bit. Maybe some of my friends downtown have spotted a new demon around. Assuming the demon followed Mac, but I’m pretty sure he did. It’s almost like I can smell him. My nose twitches and my dragon rumbles deep in my chest, doubly agitated now with a potential threat lurking around.
“Hey, did you fuck the demon?” The question comes out more gruffly than I mean for it to, but the smell hanging all over my little bro is… well, there’s no way to put it other thanhorny.
Mac pulls his head back and makes a gagging noise. “Fuck no.”
“Such a reaction. You don’t find demons attractive?” I grin and call up a handful of blurry memories from nights long past, spent with various species of demon in my bed.
“Do you?” He arches an eyebrow at me.
