“Firsts don’t matter, sunshine. You’re my only, and that’s all that matters.”
Nathan’s lips parted, awestruck, and a blush crawled up his neck. “You can’t just say stuff like that,” he breathed.
Storm smirked. “Try and stop me.”
* * *
Eventually,Storm had to concede to Nathan’s plans for the day. On his way to the Rink, he sent a text in the group chat and requested they all meet him there. Some of them were likely already there, but he only wanted to tell this story once. He didn’t want to relive the moment he’d discovered Nathan on the front lawn any more than he had to.
Talon’s car was absent from the parking lot when he arrived, as was Shadrach’s, but that wasn’t surprising. He found both demons waiting inside with the others when he entered. Not for the first time, he envied their ability to teleport wherever they wanted to go.
They were all huddled around a steaming carafe of coffee at the snack bar, passing the box of sugar around and adding various creamers to their cups. Storm swore each one of them preferred a different flavor.
“Why are we here so early?” Alex asked, yawning.
Storm debated having a cup of coffee, but he didn’t trust himself not to crush the little styrofoam cup. He folded his arms, deciding to barrel right into it. “Nate was attacked last night.”
The humans looked far more alarmed than the demons, who showed only mild interest at the statement.
“What? Is he okay?” Luke asked.
“He’s mostly fine. He’s got a bite wound on his arm and some scratches. It was another possessed human. It tried to force a pill down his throat.”
Alex’s eyes widened, and Talon’s head tilted.
“He didn’t swallow it,” Storm added quickly, and all the humans relaxed. “He gave it to the guild’s doctor to analyze.”
Talon rolled his eyes. “That’s a shame. I would’ve liked to have seen it for myself.”
Ira folded his arms, looking discomfited. His hair spilled in loose curls around his face and shoulders. “I’m sorry, Storm. I didn’t see anything about this attack. Is he really okay?”
Storm forced himself to take a deep, calming breath. He was beyond pissed about what Nathan endured last night, but it wasn’t Ira’s fault. “Yeah, he’s okay. He was pretty shaken, but he seemed better this morning. It’s not your fault for not seeing it. It’s not like you get to choose your visions.”
Wolf nodded, wrapping an arm around Ira.
Storm sighed. “The truth is… he and the other paladins tried to do an exorcism and save the human, but it didn’t work. The demon broke through just like that footage he showed us, and Nate… ended the human’s life. It severed the connection that the possessor was using and prevented it from breaking free.”
“Wait, wait,” Talon said. “You’re saying itwasbreaking free? The human wasn’t quite dead, and the demon was on its way out when Nathan killed the human to keep the possessor from getting out?”
Storm nodded wordlessly.
“That’s not what happened in the footage we saw,” Talon said, glancing around at the others. “The human’s chest exploded, and he died. But this new one, it was almost out.”
“They’re learning how to do it,” Ira said grimly. “And they’re getting better at it.”
“What happens when one of them breaks out?” Alex asked. “What’s their plan?”
“That’s what we need to figure out,” Storm said. “Nathan wants to come by tonight and go to In Extremis. He thinks someone there might know something.”
“That could be,” Wolf said reluctantly, “but whether they’re willing to talk to us now is the real issue.”
Storm’s eyes slid to Talon. “That’s why I was hoping a heavy hitter like yourself might tag along.”
Talon gave a grudging sigh, and Shadrach laughed.
“We’d be happy to,” Alex said with a beatific smile, leaning into Talon’s side.
Talon shook his head, looking resigned. “You know, my life was a lot easier before you came along, little bird.”
