Tibby followed my gaze again. “That’s Phoenix Falls.”
“Badass.” I bounced on my heels before a familiar glimpse of long black hair caught my attention.
Mom was already walking toward the group next to the gate.
“Is Slater ready for the exam?” Mom asked Bram, the Chaos Representative, with a small smile on her lips.
She’d managed to get Dad to investigate Bram’s brother to see if he was worthy enough to become an agent, and he found he was a very capable candidate.Apparently. I’d been too busy helping HQ’s lab test more potions to care about any of that.
“He is,” Bram told her, and I took my chance to greet the powerful woman beside him.
“Pandora!” I squealed, throwing my arms around the slender soul eater and hugging her tightly. “Oh my Fates, it’s been so long! How are you?”
“It’s only been a couple of months,” she giggled as we pulled away. “I’m great, though. It’s a lot more peaceful in the Demon Capital without a dark magic cult breathing down our necks and trying to kill me constantly.”
“Oh, I can imagine.” I flashed my fangs. “But if anyone tries to kill you again, let me know, and I’ll end them first.”
A large black wolf manifested next to her and moved its enormous head to search for danger.
“I’m fine, Chaos,” she assured the large wolf manifestation with a kiss to the head before it faded back into Bram.
Every muscle in my body stiffened as I noticed the demon that was standing next to Bram.
Fucking Fates, he was hot, too!
How hadn’t I noticed him until now?
Especially when he was looking at me as if I’d just offered him a lifetime supply of my favorite spicy noodles with a neurotoxin drizzled over them.
He was tall—taller than the handsome vampire had been. He was 6’4”, easy. All lanky limbs and so much chaotic charm. He had an angular face and red eyes that glittered. He didn’t look as dangerous as the vampire had, but there was a power within him that I could almost taste on my tongue. His magical reserves had to be deep. His short, fiery red hair stuck up in ways that felt too purposeful to be accidental, but it fit him well.
AndFates, the aroma of daisies and jasmine clung to him.Sunshine in a bottle. Not at all what you’d expect from a demon with a literal skull tattoo crawling up the front of his neck, but I almost liked that better. The skull on his neck was surrounded by a web of delicate leaves and ink. His collarbone bore the word “Love”, script-thin, like a teasing desire whispered against his tanned skin. He didn’t have any scars. Not visible ones, at least. But his aura screamed chaos. It was a bloom of color. Almost every color possible. Perhaps it was because he was a chaos demon like his brother, but something told me it was something more than that.
He was practically drooling, and a stunned open-mouthed smile was directed toward me. He stared at me like I’d just walked out of his favorite fantasy and became real.
“This is my brother, Slater Havoc.” Bram gestured toward him.
“I think I’ve met my mate,” Slater, the red-headed chaos demon, blurted.
My eyes widened.
Huh?
“What?” Bram gasped.
“Where?” Pandora stared at Slater’s chest. “Your soul isn’t reaching out to anyone’s. Are you sure?”
Slater slid up to me, smiling brightly. “Only the Fates could bring me someone so beautiful.”
I blinked. He might’ve been crazy, but he was also super hot.
“You blinked.” His eyes sparkled. “That was totally a flirty blink! You’re into me, too, right?”
Bram’s elbow pierced Slater’s ribs, and Pandora burst into a fit of giggles.
“Uh…” I blinked again.Oh, no.“That wasn’t a flirty blink!”
“Are you positive?” His smile dropped, and I swore I felt a pang in my chest.
